tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17886691459669441172024-03-13T15:16:07.112+00:00A Stubborn Optimist ~ An Ecotherapy blogECOTHERAPY, HIKING AND ALL THINGS GOOD Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01475182740888543862noreply@blogger.comBlogger100125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1788669145966944117.post-60457282215643510872020-05-25T15:49:00.000+01:002020-05-25T15:49:39.537+01:00How are you, friend?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: none; letter-spacing: 0.1px; white-space: pre-wrap;">I don't usually let a year go by without mentioning and championing the annual mental health awareness week. However, this year I have been suffering myself ironically and haven't been able to write about the allotment or even the allotment patio. My depression has been heavy, anxiety unbearable at many points and I just don't feel engaged. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-variant-ligatures: none; letter-spacing: 0.1px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Even though it's getting like a lush jungle out there, I haven't even taken a photograph or a good look at things until 5 mins ago.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YaswVhkSL8s/XsvW5LBVQrI/AAAAAAABKiY/ZNbdd-ilbYo3ovqnDMfGkouLZhvGhIFRwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/DSC08236.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="most of the allotment patio - a stubborn optimist blog - Carrie Gault 2020" border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YaswVhkSL8s/XsvW5LBVQrI/AAAAAAABKiY/ZNbdd-ilbYo3ovqnDMfGkouLZhvGhIFRwCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/DSC08236.JPG" title="most of the allotment patio - a stubborn optimist blog - Carrie Gault 2020" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #202124; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-variant-ligatures: none; letter-spacing: 0.1px; white-space: pre-wrap;">I must say though that many things are going great with our plants. Everything especially in the patio where most predators ( bar the snails) are yet to know about the tasty foodstuffs. </span></span><span style="color: #202124;"><span style="font-variant-ligatures: none; letter-spacing: 0.1px; white-space: pre-wrap;">OK</span></span><span style="color: #202124; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-variant-ligatures: none; letter-spacing: 0.1px; white-space: pre-wrap;"> our turnips and spinach seem to be bolting and the wild winds on Friday/Saturday hurt the leek seedlings but there's little to complain about. Also, I'm not sure why but all the spring onions are growing droopy - I don't mind it and they look yummy but it's odd....</span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">leeks which bounced back, the many broad bean flowers, bolting spinach, droopy scallions</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-variant-ligatures: none; letter-spacing: 0.1px; white-space: pre-wrap;">I've been hiking around where we live with Andrew and Toby. Yes, there are very few footpaths but we are loving the exercise that we would usually have to wait for the weekend to do. Boy we have found some beautiful places... How glorious it is to see wild strawberries, gorse, bluebells, ferns, violets, sheep and even horses and donkeys.</span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-variant-ligatures: none; letter-spacing: 0.1px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-variant-ligatures: none; letter-spacing: 0.1px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-variant-ligatures: none; letter-spacing: 0.1px; white-space: pre-wrap;">I hope you know that wherever you are, whatever you're feeling these days, it is valid. If your thoughts are negative please talk to someone you trust. If it comes to it talk to me, my lovely.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-variant-ligatures: none; letter-spacing: 0.1px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Hugs</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-variant-ligatures: none; letter-spacing: 0.1px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Carrie</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-variant-ligatures: none; letter-spacing: 0.1px; white-space: pre-wrap;">xx</span></span><br />
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Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01475182740888543862noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1788669145966944117.post-91482182767470751232020-05-08T18:32:00.000+01:002020-05-08T18:32:45.750+01:00It's all going swimmingly<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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There have been some truly beautiful days this week again and Andrew and I have had a few late lunches out on the patio. On one of those days Andrew planted up some of our mixed lettuce and a few wee baby chard 'bright lights' into the last patio pot; we still have so much other delicious food stuffs to pot up but where? how? we can't get more pots! I guess everything else such as the sweetcorn, leeks, squash were always going to have to go to the allotment proper.<br />
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We do have lots of lovely little flower pots for my flower seedlings and more radishes (we've been eating them like they're going out of fashion!). Oh I look forward to planting them up and seeing colour abound, big thanks to Flighty again for sending me the seeds. There will soon be marigolds, nasturtiums and some sunflowers alongside my happy little geum 'Queen of Orange'; I'll also have some for the allotment plot :)<br />
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So everything is going swimmingly here and we are going to the plot tomorrow to get on top of the explosion of weeds that has happened thereI shall take my camera and share the news from that side of the allotment story too.<br />
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Beautiful broad beans flowers abound</div>
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coriander and spring onions getting on great </div>
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radishes, turnips, potatoes, spring onions and spinach!</div>
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Just noticed that some of the spinach 'amazon f1' has started to bolt as it is wont to do, never mind though, we have been eating it with nearly every meal, it's been so tasty. We have perpetual spinach now as well so all will be fine in the end.<br />
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spinach and beetroot with baby round carrots just starting their journey</div>
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Toby say's Hello ("bork") and wags his tail at you,<br />
Hugs and love<br />
Carrie<br />
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Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01475182740888543862noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1788669145966944117.post-12673350746007199722020-04-25T16:07:00.000+01:002020-04-25T16:08:55.595+01:00More Allotment Patio<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
You join me outside with Andrew who is planting up another vegetable crate to add to the lovely jumble of allotment pots we have on the patio. Everything is going terribly well and there aren't even any pests on the plants (bar one slug), unlike at the main allotment plot where everything is being tackled by everything! It can't just be me - there are a lot more insects (hover flies in particular) and sweetly singing birds around this year - no??<br />
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So we are making an allotment box out of an orange plastic crate; we got this one discarded outside a farmers' market. Andrew carefully opened up a grow bag with scissors running along one end and poured all the contains out into a trug. Then he trimmed the other end and cut up the seam along the back length of the plastic. Laying this rectangle out, he lined the crate before emptying all the compost back in, spreading it evenly. This one is being planted up with coriander plugs, spring onion plugs (multi sown) and carrot seeds (<i>rotundo</i> - little round ones), see above.<br />
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Toby is over by the tulips and the water feature (which he frequently drinks from) laying in the sun and every now and then stretching and getting more comfortable; he's being a good boy.<br />
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Elsewhere in the patio allotment the mangetout peas are starting to romp away up the trellis support, the turnips have gone a bit bonkers with a growth spurt and the radishes are so juicy and plump we are eating them everyday with baby perpetual spinach too.<br />
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The potatoes are just starting to show their tips which I find very exciting and the broad beans are slowly (strongly) climbing up by their bamboo sticks and the flowers teasingly get bigger every day.<br />
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In the greenhouse my flower seeds are looking lovely but still a little too wee to plant up yet in the empty pots I have beside me. We also have baby celery, purple sprouting broccoli, Brussel sprouts, kale and lettuce seedlings in there, all looking well.<br />
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In the cold frame here, we have leeks (multi sown) and a wide variety of chard and beetroot varieties.<br />
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I hope you are having a good weekend my lovelies. Stay well and happy growing!<br />
Hugs<br />
Carrie xx </div>
Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01475182740888543862noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1788669145966944117.post-27206117463751820692020-04-17T13:04:00.001+01:002020-04-17T13:04:57.163+01:00The allotment patio<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Hello, gorgeous people! *waves* and welcome to this special outdoors blog post live from my patio :) I sit here with a coffee in the sunshine with Toby and Andrew (who is working from home).<br />
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I hope you are well and keeping safe and sane in this weird quarantine period. It's actually not that bad really, is it? We have to stay at home with our TVs and books and blankets to do battle with this horrid virus. It could be a lot worse I guess. (OK I know it's Hell for some and I'm sorry xx)<br />
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So the mini allotment here is growing really well and I so happy to see the seedlings everyday slowly getting bigger and stronger in the mini greenhouse. The ones that are planted out are looking great and personally I would like to have these vegetable pots and flower pots every year - it looks so lush and green out here!<br />
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Beside me we have growing<b> cabbages, coriander, radishes, turnips, spinach, beetroots, potatoes, leeks, spring onions, carrots, broad beans and peas!</b> We came up with a fab idea for the potatoes in fact (I'm sure others have thought of this before but it excites us) - putting them in pots as usual and growing multi plugs of spring onions on top = a champ pot ;)<br />
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The first crop of radishes will be ready in a about a week - they are so rewarding to grow, I'd forgotten all about them over the past years but you get a crop in no time at all and they are so pretty. We have a heck of a lot so it's just as well we like their feisty peppery taste.<br />
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I have also just noticed that the broad beans have tiny flowers appearing and the mangetout peas are starting to cling unto the trellis behind them - you notice every little detail everyday instead of every week and it's utterly charming. I recommend this to everyone if you have even the smallest outdoor space - pots, grow your veg in pots and you can even add colour with marigolds!<br />
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I'm also noticing more of the joyous springtime changes that happen in the garden too. Since the start of the week the beech hedge has become greener every day, dropping its brown leaves and letting the new green leaves unfurl - its beautiful. The acers and the maple leaves are opening like paper fans and god grief there are so many hover flies and bees - I never noticed before - oh and the bird song!<br />
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Tulip pots -<br />
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We've already had a beautiful flush of daffodils and after these blooms there are alliums to come.<br />
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Things continue at the allotment plot too but I'll save that for another post.</div>
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What's happening with you these days?</div>
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Virtual hugs </div>
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Carrie</div>
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Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01475182740888543862noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1788669145966944117.post-90284673456071963982020-04-03T16:23:00.003+01:002020-04-03T16:36:46.656+01:00Spring 2020<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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It's not like any <i>normal</i> spring is it? We all know what's going on out there beyond the window panes and to be honest I think there are far too many sources of news about it - the information would choke a donkey! Let's just put a stubbornly optimistic spring slant on it all and say - whoopie we have 2 veg plots now; one at the allotments and one here in the back patio :)<br />
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Let's start with what we've done most recently at the plot:<br />
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<li>Planted out the 3 new fruit trees in the long back bed with the other fruit trees and bushes</li>
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<span style="color: #cc0000;">Prunus Cerasus <i>Schattenmorelle</i></span></div>
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A sour tasting juicy, bright red cherry which is self fertile. Blossoms appear in April and subsequent fruit hangs on partly weeping branches.<br />
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<span style="color: #674ea7;">Prunus domestica <i>Stanley</i></span></div>
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Supposedly one of the tastiest, sweet and juicy plums out there, with a beautiful smooth deep blue/purple skin and orange-y flesh. Mostly self fertile, blooming late in spring with harvests ready at the start of autumn.</div>
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<span style="color: #e06666;">Malus <i>Jonagold</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Large, reddish, vigorously fruiting apple tree with crisp, sweet honey flavour. A</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"> cross between the crisp <i>Golden Delicious </i>and the blush-crimson<i> Jonathan</i>. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Blossoms are bright pink in spring and harvests are ready in the autumn, when some trees are showing colourful leaves.</span></div>
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<li>Planted out the first of the broad beans (<i>the Sutton</i>) and covered them in fleece (see first photo)</li>
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<li>Harvested the last of the Purple Sprouting Broccoli and had our second harvest of forced rhubarb (and thus crumble - yum)</li>
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Back home on the patio we now have our potatoes (<i>Pentland Javelin</i>) planted in three 30 litre pots, with a few left over to take to the allotment tomorrow. We prefer to grow them in pots (10 litre of soil per potato) as the harvest is so easy and mess free. </div>
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Of course as you can see by the photograph we also have our cold frame in the patio at the moment with healthy seedlings almost ready to plant. Plus the lean-to greenhouse is full of more happy little seedlings doing their thing. </div>
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Lots of work to do this weekend at the plot but we are looking forward to it (social distancing will be enforced!)<br />
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Love and hugs to you all, stay safe xx</div>
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N.B. I simply cannot get this song out my head today - She's an easy lover, hahaha</div>
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JkRKT6T0QLg">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JkRKT6T0QLg</a></div>
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Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01475182740888543862noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1788669145966944117.post-10738542293215689702020-03-24T20:08:00.001+00:002020-03-24T20:08:28.392+00:00Allotments are safe (for now)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">We awoke to an email from our council telling us that our Allotments were closed after the news from the Prime Minister last night. SHOCK! But I had just seen that <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zquwDBDc3D8" target="_blank">Michael Gove MP had clarified that allotments can stay open</a> as a source of exercise. It's simple - just practise social distancing!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Andrew was on the case in a flash and tweeted our council twice about the discrepancy and within a couple of hours it was all sorted out and things are fine again. Our little haven and extra food source is safe and open - phew! - big sigh of relief = Aahhhhh-llotment. Let's just hope it stays that way!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sunday felt like a proper summers day but sadly I felt too mentally ill to go to the allotment. Andrew ventured forth however and got the first harvest of </span><b style="font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">forced rhubarb</b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"> (</span><i style="font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Glaskins Perpetual</i><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">). Joy! - we hopefully will eat it tonight in a crumble. He also got more purple sprouting broccoli- oh it was delicious in our tagine :)</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Andrew also bought in lots of grow bags and compost to the house so we can grow extra food on the </span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">patio this year. The idea being we can help out family and friends with fresh veggies when needed. So </span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">f</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">ar we've had 100% germination on everything so we have </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><u>a lot</u></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> of seedlings.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">We've got <b>Broad Beans</b> (The Sutton), <b>Spinach </b>(Amazon F1), <b>Radish</b> (Scarlet Globe) and <b>Turnip</b> (Purple Topped Milan) hardening off in the wee makeshift cold frame at the minute and they look great. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">More stuff is in the greenhouse, with candles lit if its going to get near freezing:</span><br />
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<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Beetroot</b> (Boltardy)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Leek</b> (Musselburgh)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Spring Onions </b>(White Lisbon)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Cabbage</b> (Greyhound)</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Mangetout </b>(Oregon Sugar Pod)</span></span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;"> And lastly we have <b>celery</b> and <b>celeriac</b> in a heated propagator, they are slowly coming up.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; text-align: left; white-space: pre;">Yesterday saw Andrew bring the big potato pots up home and one wasn't emptied! </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; text-align: left; white-space: pre;">Surprise spuds </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre;">and </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre;">t</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre;">hey look and feel beautiful - we'll take any happiness we can get</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">In the coming days there will be lots more sowing done. Plus the newly chitted </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">potatoes (Pentland </span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">J</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">avelin) </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre;">need planted. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre;">We usually do this on St Patrick's day but the weather was awful this year.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre;">That's enough for now I think,</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre;">Be safe, be kind, look after yourselves</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre;">Hugs</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre;">Carrie </span></span></div>
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Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01475182740888543862noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1788669145966944117.post-18844766922331432582020-03-13T15:55:00.002+00:002020-03-13T15:55:48.849+00:00Seedling success (so far)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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The world appears to be crumbling around us all with Corvid-19 and to be honest it's all a little bit scary, so let's just remind each other to be safe, to wash those hands and look out for each other albeit from a distance. No more on that topic from me - I think we are a bit saturated with information and what if scenarios...<br />
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Instead, as this is an allotment based blog, we should all focus for now on seeds and seedlings and how utterly joyful it is that things are going so very well on that front. At least they are here; I certainly hope they are with you, if indeed you have started.<br />
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Happy happy us we have the following seedlings:<br />
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<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Broad Beans <i>'the sutton'</i></li>
<li>Cabbage '<i>greyhound'</i></li>
<li>Spinach <i>'amazon F1'</i></li>
<li>Beetroot <i>'boltardy'</i></li>
<li>Spring Onion <i>'white lisbon'</i></li>
<li>Turnip '<i>purple topped milan'</i></li>
<li>Radish '<i>scarlet globe'</i></li>
</ul>
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It's such a joy to see them all and I especially like this bit of germination when they are just pushing the soil aside and making the final preparations to show themselves :) Even on my darkest mental ill health days - these babies bring a wee smile to my face.<br />
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Mangetout<br />
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But all the seedlings are at home, "what news from the plot?", I hear you ask. Oh well I am pleased to inform you that there are buds on the blueberries, purple sprouting broccoli for the harvesting and wonderful forced rhubarb, umm, forcing away!<br />
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The garlic and neighbouring tulips are looking super healthy too so we are pleased and aching to get down there and do some of the other many jobs we have in mind.<br />
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Happy weekend<br />
Carrie<br />
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P.S. Just one thing, say you were to be self isolating for a few weeks - what are your favourite novel recommendations - for a good time? Maybe your all time favourite book? maybe one you just finished? I'm really interested to know. </div>
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Now....</div>
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HUGS </div>
Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01475182740888543862noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1788669145966944117.post-86679310868813013082020-03-06T15:23:00.002+00:002020-03-06T15:23:58.625+00:00With thanks to the Bee Gees<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I haven't been online much and only wrote 2 blog posts last month but my mental health has been seriously poor and I haven't done much of anything to be honest. However this isn't what I want to talk about - I have the Bee Gees' Greatest Hits playing and let's get groovy :)<br />
"Night Fever - we know how to do it!"<br />
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The weather.... I don't want to talk too much about the weather as it will only get us all down, BUT lordy, it has not be favourable to the allotmenteer, has it!? Here, by the sea, we have just had pesky rain, hail and very cold winds, enough to stop us from going to the plot. Why, could someone tell me, is the weekend weather always worse than the weekday (when we can't get stuff done!)?<br />
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Seed planting at home has begun, just a few trays so far but enough to be us excited. We (rather Andrew to be honest) has been planting them in the dining room so I can take photos and be involved.<br />
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Next seeds <u>I'll</u> be planting as Flighty, wonderful Flighty send me some of my favourite flower seeds and I always have room for pretty, bee friendly flowers ;)<br />
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Here's the seedlings we have at the minute.... Spinach, Cabbage and Broad Beans :)<br />
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We have lots of seeds to be sowing but we aren't worried as we don't want leggy seedlings when it gets time to plant them out; it looks like it's going to continue to be poor for a wee while yet.<br />
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Oh and the potatoes are just beginning to chit and are firm and healthy.<br />
"You should be dancing!"<br />
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This weekend has better weather in store, according to the weatherman, so fingers crossed my friends, we can but hope. Love and hugs ("love it such a beautiful thing!")<br />
Carrie</div>
Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01475182740888543862noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1788669145966944117.post-37205334280652108002020-02-14T11:52:00.001+00:002020-02-14T11:52:46.341+00:00Recently on the plot<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: inherit; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit; white-space: pre-wrap;">Cars in the near distance, a great mass of geese in the sky and many sweet song birds in the hedgerows - the noises that both accompanied our visit to the plot and soothed our minds. Sometimes, even in the damp, its a truly wonderful place to be.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; white-space: pre-wrap;">I got to work with the oscillating hoe, did I tell you we got one? Haha, I feel we haven't quite gotten over the shock and joy of this new find.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">During the week Andrew got us more seeds in Poundstretcher (</span></span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">varieties</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> we wanted and for only 79p) and 3 bare root fruit trees in Lidl for £15! </span></span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Bargains</b></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">. The online bare root tree order fell through as though we'd paid the £5 delivery fee, they wanted £15 more!? £20 to deliver a £15 tree, no thank you.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6jFnBwNwiR8/XkWdphex0CI/AAAAAAABJnY/YYQBOICt9E0snQpg_im-LSD8tG5qaFb4QCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/DSC07869.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6jFnBwNwiR8/XkWdphex0CI/AAAAAAABJnY/YYQBOICt9E0snQpg_im-LSD8tG5qaFb4QCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/DSC07869.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2 Prunus and a Malus (more in a future blog post)</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Due to Storm Ciara the ground was sodden so we couldn't plant the trees but we put them </span></span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">together </span><span style="font-family: inherit; white-space: pre-wrap;">in a big pot with lovely new compost. The pot is in a sheltered corner until a better day.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Next, posts where first driven into the ground in the back of the site. Then, we had bought wind break netting on Saturday so we screwed it up with batons and cut offs we have had around the place. Little rustic looking from the back maybe but functional!</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-g5KEFkhwDsE/XkWffu_FebI/AAAAAAABJnk/4cMB_4VMHgMEXbizQbxytEdJCCEOKp9iwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/DSC07893b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="743" data-original-width="1600" height="296" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-g5KEFkhwDsE/XkWffu_FebI/AAAAAAABJnk/4cMB_4VMHgMEXbizQbxytEdJCCEOKp9iwCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/DSC07893b.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Somehow having created a little barrier off from the rest of the field, I suddenly had the feeling of belonging. Belonging to this small plot that is ours, more so than I have in years. And with that I felt more assured that I am an allotmenteer, I belong to this wider circle of people and the feeling was lovely (if fleeting).</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: inherit; white-space: pre-wrap;">*</span><span style="font-family: inherit; white-space: pre-wrap;"> We've been eating the PSB and the kale tops, this week too. Don't overlook those bolted kale flower buds, they taste wonderful!</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It's really time to give the shed some loving! </span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">We have so much to get rid of out of it, a corner to repair and lots of fresh paint needs applying. We had thought of getting a new one but this one is dandy - just hard done by. A</span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">s we had the tools with us, I bravely decided to take down the lovingly handcrafted 24a sign I made some years ago out of odd broken up tiles; time to move on.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-A0O2nP63_YU/XkWcOEsbWJI/AAAAAAABJnE/9xibVbuhmtY1vlSBkNjSQFSMhGRFlPqFQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/sign%2Bcollage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1090" data-original-width="1600" height="434" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-A0O2nP63_YU/XkWcOEsbWJI/AAAAAAABJnE/9xibVbuhmtY1vlSBkNjSQFSMhGRFlPqFQCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/sign%2Bcollage.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Love and hugs (especially as it's St Valentines' day!)</span></span><br />
<span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Carrie</span></span></div>
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Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01475182740888543862noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1788669145966944117.post-51476347059973984492020-02-06T15:57:00.000+00:002020-02-06T15:57:29.926+00:00The fun begins!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Last weekend at the plot we worked hard, fitting a new water butt tap, lifting the last of the weeds and grass and mulching the heck out of everywhere; great work but a boring blog post, ahaha. However yesterday Andrew had a day off and we spent it making notes in our<br />
new allotment planner book, going to the local nursery for netting and an oscillating hoe (the best thing EVER) and going to the plot to make further plans.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lTJNVR03cQY/XjwvW0VMI8I/AAAAAAABJi4/9Y1Ed2HIrhsEic25wlsc5Xc5c9eBucHeQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/DSC07851.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Andrew and the oscillating hoe - astubbornoptimist.blogspot.com - Carrie Gault 2020" border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lTJNVR03cQY/XjwvW0VMI8I/AAAAAAABJi4/9Y1Ed2HIrhsEic25wlsc5Xc5c9eBucHeQCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/DSC07851.JPG" title="Andrew and the oscillating hoe - astubbornoptimist.blogspot.com - Carrie Gault 2020" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Andrew and the new oscillating hoe. Look at that soil, lovely</td></tr>
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On the plot at the moment - <br />
the Purple sprouting broccoli is ready, the garlic is flourishing and the kale has bolted.<br />
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We have decided that the back of the plot is going to be home to our 2 fruit bushes, rhubarb and fruit trees. The rhubarb <i>'glaskins perpetual'</i> crowns are just poking their sweet heads up through the thick mulch now and I for one am very excited. We are going to get 2 more crowns and simply fill that space up with rhubarb-y yuminess.<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ITyXIkpv2_k/XjwwxHp4UAI/AAAAAAABJjE/X95XwsgOYzIQgVcEOMOUx3Y8L2E7wUymACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/DSC07856.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="rhubarb poking up - astubbornoptimist.blogspot.com - Carrie Gault 2020" border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ITyXIkpv2_k/XjwwxHp4UAI/AAAAAAABJjE/X95XwsgOYzIQgVcEOMOUx3Y8L2E7wUymACLcBGAsYHQ/s640/DSC07856.JPG" title="rhubarb poking up - astubbornoptimist.blogspot.com - Carrie Gault 2020" width="640" /></a></div>
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The damson tree is going to get a friend in the shape of a cherry '<i>stella</i>' tree, we're just waiting on it arriving. The blueberries are just going to stay the way they are and the apple trees support arch is coming out now that they have established and are happy (the timber is rotting away anyway).<br />
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The seed buying started at the weekend and more last night and more this afternoon. Little but often, getting our favourite varieties for the best price and new fun types to try alongside. It's almost the most exciting time of the whole allotment year I think - this panning and anticipation.<br />
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The potatoes are chitting away in the shed - '<i>Pentland Javelin' </i>first earlies.<br />
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There shall also be changes made around the shed and compost areas but I'll leave those as a surprise. Oh and we are taking a big interest in the hedgerow line behind our shed and are going to make it a better place for all the many birds and insects that live in there. All shall be revealed in time :)<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ldoVX__FRbU/XjwyHHYMZdI/AAAAAAABJjY/BIoRYreQZsE9X-xGGTAT7soX2h768yLQQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/DSC07864.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="the hedgerow - astubbornoptimist.blogspot.com - Carrie Gault 2020" border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ldoVX__FRbU/XjwyHHYMZdI/AAAAAAABJjY/BIoRYreQZsE9X-xGGTAT7soX2h768yLQQCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/DSC07864.JPG" title="the hedgerow - astubbornoptimist.blogspot.com - Carrie Gault 2020" width="640" /></a></div>
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Hugs<br />
Carrie</div>
Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01475182740888543862noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1788669145966944117.post-2398124311841217892020-01-25T15:42:00.000+00:002020-01-25T15:44:46.609+00:00Are you local?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: "roboto" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.1px; white-space: pre-wrap;">So there we were on Saturday morning last lambasting the weather for being so terribly cold and windy (and secretly both wishing we had nowhere to go). But work was waiting to be done for our plot and by golly we were the only ones to do it!</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: "roboto" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.1px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #202124; font-family: "roboto" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-variant-ligatures: none; letter-spacing: 0.1px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Hence we went to our preferred local builders/farmers supply shop but it was closed due to a bereavement. The place was humming with people obviously waiting for the hearse to pass; boy that puts your day into perspective. After a think we remembered the other</span></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: "roboto" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.1px; white-space: pre-wrap;"> local builders' yard and though it was busy we got posts and wood boards. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #202124; font-family: "roboto" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-variant-ligatures: none; letter-spacing: 0.1px; white-space: pre-wrap;">On the way to the plot then we nipped into the nursery next door. Looking for bare root fruit trees and a cherry '<i>stella</i>' in particular but no tree for us. However I got new gloves and they kindly gave us six used compost bags.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: "roboto" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.1px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Dropping off the wood at the plot we realised it was time for a coffee break (with apple sponge). We drove off to Whitehead (quite local) to fulfil this need and after we had refreshed ourselves we took those 6 empty compost bags to the sea side and gathered a lot of fresh seaweed. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--s5lYrwbHZk/XixdF4f2t1I/AAAAAAABJd0/rj-m2VNJyqgIbc_Ct9pjyryV6Y1TD-wWACEwYBhgL/s1600/DSC07804.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="seaweed - astubbornoptimist.blogspot.com - Carrie Gault 2020" border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--s5lYrwbHZk/XixdF4f2t1I/AAAAAAABJd0/rj-m2VNJyqgIbc_Ct9pjyryV6Y1TD-wWACEwYBhgL/s640/DSC07804.jpg" title="seaweed - astubbornoptimist.blogspot.com - Carrie Gault 2020" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">lovely (not too rubbishy) seaweed</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: "roboto" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.1px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br />Oh it was a heck of a weight but when we got back to the plot with it all, it only covered most of one bed! Wow. Like when you cook spinach, this seaweed will wilt down to nothing much and introduce loads of good nutrients into the soil.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HNjJ4xJ6QKI/Xixd2gKT99I/AAAAAAABJd8/j5D9KJ8tX-cF2PpEeg4YM3pRlfHGUvcOQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/DSC07821.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="seaweed on the bed - astubbornoptimist.blogspot.com - Carrie Gault 2020" border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HNjJ4xJ6QKI/Xixd2gKT99I/AAAAAAABJd8/j5D9KJ8tX-cF2PpEeg4YM3pRlfHGUvcOQCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/DSC07821.jpg" title="seaweed on the bed - astubbornoptimist.blogspot.com - Carrie Gault 2020" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">almost covered the whole bed - note broken fence in background..</td></tr>
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<span style="color: #202124; font-family: "roboto" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-ligatures: none; letter-spacing: 0.1px; white-space: pre-wrap;">And so that was Saturday, boy I look forward to the days when there is light much longer into the day.</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: "roboto" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.1px; white-space: pre-wrap;">After a good day it is very common for me to have a bad day, mentally. This is exactly what happened last Sunday (and has lasted all week, even now). Therefore I didn't get to the allotment on the second afternoon and thus there was no hammer action for me! I know you are all terribly sad about this. Take consolation in the fact that I later learnt Andrew fixed the fences, the worst raised bed edges and such with an electric screwdriver and screws - where's the danger and excitement in that?! Haha</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Z1bVJYNnB_Q/XixanzvqPgI/AAAAAAABJdg/F0xl9pS-nFAODRXPZLuK171ld7dgsHutwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/20200119193017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="hard work at the plot - astubbornoptimist.blogspot.com - Carrie Gault 2020" border="0" data-original-height="1213" data-original-width="1600" height="484" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Z1bVJYNnB_Q/XixanzvqPgI/AAAAAAABJdg/F0xl9pS-nFAODRXPZLuK171ld7dgsHutwCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/20200119193017.jpg" title="hard work at the plot - astubbornoptimist.blogspot.com - Carrie Gault 2020" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Andrew's hard work</td></tr>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2HiJf9wnCaY/XixbVQYasbI/AAAAAAABJdo/wZIMPGhyx284agjhyWtAp8PerXz6QmVSwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/20200119192915.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /><img alt="sunset at the plot - astubbornoptimist.blogspot.com - Carrie Gault 2020" border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2HiJf9wnCaY/XixbVQYasbI/AAAAAAABJdo/wZIMPGhyx284agjhyWtAp8PerXz6QmVSwCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/20200119192915.jpg" title="sunset at the plot - astubbornoptimist.blogspot.com - Carrie Gault 2020" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: "roboto" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.1px; white-space: pre-wrap;">That's all for now friends. I haven't been to the plot today either but I have hopes that tomorrow will be a better day (I always have hope!)</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: "roboto" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.1px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Love</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: "roboto" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.1px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Carrie x</span></div>
Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01475182740888543862noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1788669145966944117.post-11043428353237505082020-01-16T15:27:00.000+00:002020-01-16T15:27:21.118+00:00First visit to the plot in 2020!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2y9G4gbWnpQ/XiB_hCVGqYI/AAAAAAABJaI/8rgkREJ8EpUpMOGAj2seyW0t7QEl0S7WwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/1st%2Bplot%2Bvisit%2Bof%2B2020.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="header - astubbornoptimist.blogspot.com - Carrie Gault" border="0" data-original-height="315" data-original-width="560" height="360" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2y9G4gbWnpQ/XiB_hCVGqYI/AAAAAAABJaI/8rgkREJ8EpUpMOGAj2seyW0t7QEl0S7WwCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/1st%2Bplot%2Bvisit%2Bof%2B2020.png" title="header - astubbornoptimist.blogspot.com - Carrie Gault" width="640" /></a></div>
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Hello darling friends - I live! Yes, it has been a lifetime in blogging terms but I am still here, still going strong and despite the weather I am still your stubborn optimist!<br />
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Who would believe it? - The world seems a mess with this climate emergency and so much serious, scary politics and it's only the 3rd week of the new year. It would break one's heart if one where to dwell on it all. So instead let's just focus on the macro level and think about the poor wee neglected A24a 😊 How's it doing?<br />
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It was with much trepidation we visited the plot last Sunday and though the path down to it was a boggy mess, the plot itself was surprisingly OK. Better than that in fact as all our garlic [Solent Wight] was up and (bar two which looked like they had be pecked by birds), all look great! Plus, right next to that is a lovely line of tulips coming up too, the gorgeously dark colour of the petals hinted at in the leaves.<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8HRq1j0cHDk/XiB7p7Xp3NI/AAAAAAABJZk/TWGmg-p0pFIkkYkx3JAaoI6Ymxed-AB9gCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/garlic%2Bup.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="garlic - astubbornoptimist.blogspot.com - Carrie Gault" border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8HRq1j0cHDk/XiB7p7Xp3NI/AAAAAAABJZk/TWGmg-p0pFIkkYkx3JAaoI6Ymxed-AB9gCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/garlic%2Bup.JPG" title="garlic - astubbornoptimist.blogspot.com - Carrie Gault" width="640" /></a></div>
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Another bed blessed us with utterly delicious kale [Cavolo Nero] to harvest and take home for dinner. It went into the loveliest curry, made by Andrew. Also in that bed we also have super healthy looking purple sprouting broccoli growing well - things are looking good!<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Rye2yCL0bKA/XiB75EGXIsI/AAAAAAABJZs/9QN9eqT1WAQ59ffB2pApJLxCu693uos7QCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/kale.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="kale - astubbornoptimist.blogspot.com - Carrie Gault" border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Rye2yCL0bKA/XiB75EGXIsI/AAAAAAABJZs/9QN9eqT1WAQ59ffB2pApJLxCu693uos7QCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/kale.JPG" title="kale - astubbornoptimist.blogspot.com - Carrie Gault" width="426" /></a></div>
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The only downside is the rotten wood all round the place that needs replaced and fast. The main fence has snapped in two at the entrance as well - this Saturday guess who's going to the timber merchant?! I can't wait to see the whole place revamped and ready to face the year and indeed years to come. We have a keen vision for 2020 (haha, 2020 vision) and we have to make a start with new bed edging and possibly even an extra tree. Watch out world - I may have a hammer in my hand this weekend! 😮<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NVo1FbWQd5o/XiB8VK5w80I/AAAAAAABJZ8/gqZz88DWsQQM_7Lmdai4frHyeZL3YCF_gCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Screenshot%2B2020-01-16%2Bat%2B14.41.47.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="andrew's photo of the plot - astubbornoptimist.blogspot.com - Carrie Gault" border="0" data-original-height="561" data-original-width="747" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NVo1FbWQd5o/XiB8VK5w80I/AAAAAAABJZ8/gqZz88DWsQQM_7Lmdai4frHyeZL3YCF_gCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/Screenshot%2B2020-01-16%2Bat%2B14.41.47.png" title="andrew's photo of the plot - astubbornoptimist.blogspot.com - Carrie Gault" width="640" /></a></div>
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Andrew's photo of the plot and me photographing the kale - my photo below :)</div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-b1h8jBJpFWc/XiB72pzokYI/AAAAAAABJZ0/UqsA8vQuw9s7KzHNNmZHl3UmAYzUY9h1ACEwYBhgL/s1600/kale%2B2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="lovely kale harvest - astubbornoptimist.blogspot.com - Carrie Gault" border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-b1h8jBJpFWc/XiB72pzokYI/AAAAAAABJZ0/UqsA8vQuw9s7KzHNNmZHl3UmAYzUY9h1ACEwYBhgL/s640/kale%2B2.JPG" title="lovely kale harvest - astubbornoptimist.blogspot.com - Carrie Gault" width="426" /></a></div>
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<span style="text-align: left;">Much love and best wishes to you all</span></div>
Carrie x</div>
Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01475182740888543862noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1788669145966944117.post-47294005862136092932019-11-29T14:20:00.000+00:002019-11-29T14:20:21.559+00:00Looking back on November<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
What a difficult month mental health-wise; it has gone by in a whorl of confusion, despair and exhaustion. I reluctantly had to accept all the help and support that was offered me just to drag myself through the days. Time moved in a odd way, feeling like it was stretched out long and never ending but somehow also slipping through my fingers, days upon days wasted. I couldn't be more thankful that today I feel a little more in control.<br />
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I haven't been out that much (obviously) and anything I have done has been very relaxed. It seems perfectly understandable that any afternoons out have been in wooded surroundings with my camera and Toby. <b>Ecotherapy heals</b> :)<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-14Tr0CgGmwY/XeElr47HNfI/AAAAAAABJGw/CTv_i-5zqrgYNCsCmtUtS5Is8vIeqilbwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Screenshot%2B2019-11-29%2Bat%2B13.59.32.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="A Stubborn Optimist - Ecotherapy blog ~ C.Gault 2019" border="0" data-original-height="713" data-original-width="478" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-14Tr0CgGmwY/XeElr47HNfI/AAAAAAABJGw/CTv_i-5zqrgYNCsCmtUtS5Is8vIeqilbwCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/Screenshot%2B2019-11-29%2Bat%2B13.59.32.png" title="A Stubborn Optimist - Ecotherapy blog ~ C.Gault 2019" width="428" /></a></div>
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Blogging will hopefully be made more enjoyable and easier by this wonderful new laptop and my early Christmas present from Andrew of an incredible new lens for my camera.<br />
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I will end this first blog in a while with some of my most liked photographs I have taken for Instagram this November (for the Fat Mum Slim month of colour prompts and for myself) with said new lens!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RlFRvqp2rKc/XeElm9npLGI/AAAAAAABJHI/mte6VuqLj_0Af01iJ82p-nMnGIlaBBXIwCEwYBhgL/s1600/Screenshot%2B2019-11-29%2Bat%2B13.52.25.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="A Stubborn Optimist - Ecotherapy blog ~ C.Gault 2019" border="0" data-original-height="749" data-original-width="744" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RlFRvqp2rKc/XeElm9npLGI/AAAAAAABJHI/mte6VuqLj_0Af01iJ82p-nMnGIlaBBXIwCEwYBhgL/s640/Screenshot%2B2019-11-29%2Bat%2B13.52.25.png" title="A Stubborn Optimist - Ecotherapy blog ~ C.Gault 2019" width="634" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the last Geum of the year</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ewNuT3oQWGg/XeElmB5GrzI/AAAAAAABJGk/bg2I7URa_mgzck3vvdviu_AS32UGTGwawCEwYBhgL/s1600/Screenshot%2B2019-11-29%2Bat%2B13.55.21.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="A Stubborn Optimist - Ecotherapy blog ~ C.Gault 2019" border="0" data-original-height="747" data-original-width="593" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ewNuT3oQWGg/XeElmB5GrzI/AAAAAAABJGk/bg2I7URa_mgzck3vvdviu_AS32UGTGwawCEwYBhgL/s640/Screenshot%2B2019-11-29%2Bat%2B13.55.21.png" title="A Stubborn Optimist - Ecotherapy blog ~ C.Gault 2019" width="508" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Moonrise at Nendrum</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eFu16_Pv6Q0/XeEllbyiGFI/AAAAAAABJHA/cHqAMOOeQ_MLBk1_H7ilPI_TzxSJYWBKACEwYBhgL/s1600/Screenshot%2B2019-11-29%2Bat%2B13.56.07.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="A Stubborn Optimist - Ecotherapy blog ~ C.Gault 2019" border="0" data-original-height="714" data-original-width="472" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eFu16_Pv6Q0/XeEllbyiGFI/AAAAAAABJHA/cHqAMOOeQ_MLBk1_H7ilPI_TzxSJYWBKACEwYBhgL/s640/Screenshot%2B2019-11-29%2Bat%2B13.56.07.png" title="A Stubborn Optimist - Ecotherapy blog ~ C.Gault 2019" width="422" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Withered willow leaves</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cc9DHjiANFw/XeElnPUUrRI/AAAAAAABJHE/M7tY405aOIE4ZSKy-2m_x3Ew99hZTWwBACEwYBhgL/s1600/Screenshot%2B2019-11-29%2Bat%2B13.57.27.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="A Stubborn Optimist - Ecotherapy blog ~ C.Gault 2019" border="0" data-original-height="471" data-original-width="714" height="422" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cc9DHjiANFw/XeElnPUUrRI/AAAAAAABJHE/M7tY405aOIE4ZSKy-2m_x3Ew99hZTWwBACEwYBhgL/s640/Screenshot%2B2019-11-29%2Bat%2B13.57.27.png" title="A Stubborn Optimist - Ecotherapy blog ~ C.Gault 2019" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunset at Nendrum</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4DPLMYIndz0/XeElu9jmvkI/AAAAAAABJHQ/1xp4OWa6uaYDHWpHZoML0hfagDxjQgb5gCEwYBhgL/s1600/Screenshot%2B2019-11-29%2Bat%2B14.00.23.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="A Stubborn Optimist - Ecotherapy blog ~ C.Gault 2019" border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="709" height="432" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4DPLMYIndz0/XeElu9jmvkI/AAAAAAABJHQ/1xp4OWa6uaYDHWpHZoML0hfagDxjQgb5gCEwYBhgL/s640/Screenshot%2B2019-11-29%2Bat%2B14.00.23.png" title="A Stubborn Optimist - Ecotherapy blog ~ C.Gault 2019" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A puffball in the moss</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UQr3LuSRLOY/XeElxC3mdgI/AAAAAAABJHU/hWftkNjJYIARC29HhXvXgqcr89Jd96YkwCEwYBhgL/s1600/Screenshot%2B2019-11-29%2Bat%2B14.01.27.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="A Stubborn Optimist - Ecotherapy blog ~ C.Gault 2019" border="0" data-original-height="714" data-original-width="747" height="610" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UQr3LuSRLOY/XeElxC3mdgI/AAAAAAABJHU/hWftkNjJYIARC29HhXvXgqcr89Jd96YkwCEwYBhgL/s640/Screenshot%2B2019-11-29%2Bat%2B14.01.27.png" title="A Stubborn Optimist - Ecotherapy blog ~ C.Gault 2019" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beautiful rust</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MAlMLEn2x88/XeElxKX89QI/AAAAAAABJHU/TwEjhfwpezk3AgHt-UdJSkYqJhMi34BFwCEwYBhgL/s1600/Screenshot%2B2019-11-29%2Bat%2B14.02.42.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="A Stubborn Optimist - Ecotherapy blog ~ C.Gault 2019" border="0" data-original-height="501" data-original-width="748" height="428" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MAlMLEn2x88/XeElxKX89QI/AAAAAAABJHU/TwEjhfwpezk3AgHt-UdJSkYqJhMi34BFwCEwYBhgL/s640/Screenshot%2B2019-11-29%2Bat%2B14.02.42.png" title="A Stubborn Optimist - Ecotherapy blog ~ C.Gault 2019" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gingerbread and coffee</td></tr>
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I love Autumnal colours so it seems :)<br />
STAY WARM my friends and best wishes for the month to come!<br />
Love Carrie<br />
xx</div>
Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01475182740888543862noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1788669145966944117.post-84729243793350851752019-11-01T15:17:00.001+00:002019-11-01T15:17:25.497+00:00Retrospectively<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
To be honest the fallout from my walk back home alone last week left me in a pretty bad state and I haven't been able to pull myself out of it yet. I'm hoping this weekend will be fun filled and work some sort of magic on me. I just think it's important to be clear - I am ill and I probably always will take a step forward and two back, but darn it I am not going to stop trying!<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8nDSNtGLb5o/XbxLaqmGDiI/AAAAAAABI5A/TyS-Q7Fwj9kk5wJonMLDlFG0VZ0U1YPkwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/DSC07068b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="darker months - A Stubborn Optimist ~ an ecotherapy blog - C. Gault 2019" border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8nDSNtGLb5o/XbxLaqmGDiI/AAAAAAABI5A/TyS-Q7Fwj9kk5wJonMLDlFG0VZ0U1YPkwCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/DSC07068b.jpg" title="darker months - A Stubborn Optimist ~ an ecotherapy blog - C. Gault 2019" width="640" /></a></div>
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So the time has arrived to embrace the cold and dark days, augmented by the the warm glow of flickering candlelight. My plans are to revel in this time of reflection and also use it for conjuring joyous plans for the future. Thank goodness for the allotment and all the hiking we have to do, places yet to visit and books to read.</div>
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To finish this post I am going to do a wee recap of October's Photo-a-day in association with <a href="https://fatmumslim.com.au/" target="_blank">Fat Mum Slim</a>. It was Free Choice month and to be honest again, I didn't like this past month much; I prefer a challenge and to see how other's interpret the same specific prompt.<br />
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Here are some of my most liked ones of the month...<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EO0rrXdeE24/XbxH8cDtq2I/AAAAAAABI4c/9Z2xBNpeGnkKuTbkr7iuCaZfTo36MVZtACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Screenshot%2B2019-11-01%2Bat%2B14.48.42%2B-%2BEdited.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="October photo 1 - A Stubborn Optimist ~ an ecotherapy blog - C. Gault 2019" border="0" data-original-height="545" data-original-width="543" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EO0rrXdeE24/XbxH8cDtq2I/AAAAAAABI4c/9Z2xBNpeGnkKuTbkr7iuCaZfTo36MVZtACLcBGAsYHQ/s640/Screenshot%2B2019-11-01%2Bat%2B14.48.42%2B-%2BEdited.png" title="October photo 1 - A Stubborn Optimist ~ an ecotherapy blog - C. Gault 2019" width="636" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3ga_OQ0nFXE/XbxH8r9N7II/AAAAAAABI4k/lQb0Em4b_psgGFHMyHUjBxcKIdoLNw-SQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Screenshot%2B2019-11-01%2Bat%2B14.51.18%2B-%2BEdited.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="October photo 2 - A Stubborn Optimist ~ an ecotherapy blog - C. Gault 2019" border="0" data-original-height="538" data-original-width="541" height="636" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3ga_OQ0nFXE/XbxH8r9N7II/AAAAAAABI4k/lQb0Em4b_psgGFHMyHUjBxcKIdoLNw-SQCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/Screenshot%2B2019-11-01%2Bat%2B14.51.18%2B-%2BEdited.png" title="October photo 2 - A Stubborn Optimist ~ an ecotherapy blog - C. Gault 2019" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1X3so7k0-1c/XbxH8V3zyMI/AAAAAAABI4g/Xd_CEB5D6Ts-Hg5aJ1uezpjgNAhPO_6GQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Screenshot%2B2019-11-01%2Bat%2B14.52.59%2B-%2BEdited.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="October photo 3- A Stubborn Optimist ~ an ecotherapy blog - C. Gault 2019" border="0" data-original-height="541" data-original-width="540" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1X3so7k0-1c/XbxH8V3zyMI/AAAAAAABI4g/Xd_CEB5D6Ts-Hg5aJ1uezpjgNAhPO_6GQCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/Screenshot%2B2019-11-01%2Bat%2B14.52.59%2B-%2BEdited.png" title="October photo 3- A Stubborn Optimist ~ an ecotherapy blog - C. Gault 2019" width="638" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZOo-Y00LELs/XbxH-Pyx7wI/AAAAAAABI4o/4nL3Lk1nd8sdjQgROpYAbgZO-j1fgjA8gCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Screenshot%2B2019-11-01%2Bat%2B14.54.28%2B-%2BEdited.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="October photo 4 - A Stubborn Optimist ~ an ecotherapy blog - C. Gault 2019" border="0" data-original-height="539" data-original-width="537" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZOo-Y00LELs/XbxH-Pyx7wI/AAAAAAABI4o/4nL3Lk1nd8sdjQgROpYAbgZO-j1fgjA8gCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/Screenshot%2B2019-11-01%2Bat%2B14.54.28%2B-%2BEdited.png" title="October photo 4 - A Stubborn Optimist ~ an ecotherapy blog - C. Gault 2019" width="636" /></a></div>
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Love, hugs and wishes for a warm and cosy home each day<br />
Carrie<br />
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Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01475182740888543862noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1788669145966944117.post-563068249383949652019-10-29T18:03:00.002+00:002019-10-29T18:06:25.956+00:00A triumphant plot departure<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
OK, before I tell you a single plot thing or show you one photograph we must address a very unexpected and wonderful piece of allotment related news...<br />
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This past Saturday I walked home from an afternoon at the plots by myself! All alone, on my lonesome, unaccompanied and indeed, solo. WHAT? Yes my friends it is possible, though it has taken me a good few years now to even think of trying. I did it, I survived and I may even do it again 😌<br />
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<span style="color: #b45f06;">****</span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2hZshja8jn0/Xbh9rkbRtxI/AAAAAAABI2k/RfoqmPRiYhcwBR4Ag0u69QMEoj_zCKb7ACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/DSC07048.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt=" a fern - A Stubborn Optimist - an ecotherapy blog - C.Gault 2019" border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2hZshja8jn0/Xbh9rkbRtxI/AAAAAAABI2k/RfoqmPRiYhcwBR4Ag0u69QMEoj_zCKb7ACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/DSC07048.JPG" title=" a fern - A Stubborn Optimist - an ecotherapy blog - C.Gault 2019" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">cheeky fern</td></tr>
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It was a cold day and though the sky was blue there had been a lot of rain the night before = a soggy field of plots. Never mind though; we had plans to enact and dreams to conjure up about our little slice of Eden.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LG5ZIeTlGWs/XbhDCheLbVI/AAAAAAABI2U/tAgbcNMgJKQMZk-Dzk1wOHiaPpkYPnwkACEwYBhgL/s1600/DSC07053.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="the blueberry bed - A Stubborn Optimist - an ecotherapy blog - C.Gault 2019" border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LG5ZIeTlGWs/XbhDCheLbVI/AAAAAAABI2U/tAgbcNMgJKQMZk-Dzk1wOHiaPpkYPnwkACEwYBhgL/s640/DSC07053.JPG" title=" the blueberry bed - A Stubborn Optimist - an ecotherapy blog - C.Gault 2019" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Toby guarding the weeds and my bag at the blueberry bed</td></tr>
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<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WOToOSXI1D4/XbhC-XLvaPI/AAAAAAABI2Q/j0ScOOeXEJ4b166O2fW_Jprxz9um_sOXgCEwYBhgL/s1600/DSC07052.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="the tree path- A Stubborn Optimist - an ecotherapy blog - C.Gault 2019" border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WOToOSXI1D4/XbhC-XLvaPI/AAAAAAABI2Q/j0ScOOeXEJ4b166O2fW_Jprxz9um_sOXgCEwYBhgL/s640/DSC07052.JPG" title="the tree path- A Stubborn Optimist - an ecotherapy blog - C.Gault 2019" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Toby at the path between the trees</td></tr>
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I finished off weeding the blueberries (finally) and got the areas under the apple trees and path cleared too. It doesn't sound like much but boy it was a hot mess and the weeds were wicked and had long roots.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hefCD44AcGU/Xbh9LJvBpvI/AAAAAAABI2c/6TyKFzSf1S86VPBViZSGdtTHBM6zJSdVACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/DSC07040.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="rotten apples - A Stubborn Optimist - an ecotherapy blog - C.Gault 2019" border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hefCD44AcGU/Xbh9LJvBpvI/AAAAAAABI2c/6TyKFzSf1S86VPBViZSGdtTHBM6zJSdVACLcBGAsYHQ/s640/DSC07040.JPG" title="rotten apples - A Stubborn Optimist - an ecotherapy blog - C.Gault 2019" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">rotten apples at all stages of decay under the trees</td></tr>
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Andrew finished his bed too which was mainly grassed over and then he tackled the external paths (those between the different plots) and used the strimmer the hack back the knee high grass there. The whole place is a lot safer now.<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-30rHELoAXZY/Xbg9vdWkzqI/AAAAAAABI18/arijmJgXq9Auunhi4EPs8TGdp8NwzoodQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/saturday%2Bplot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="plot as I left - A Stubborn Optimist - an ecotherapy blog - C.Gault 2019" border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="542" height="470" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-30rHELoAXZY/Xbg9vdWkzqI/AAAAAAABI18/arijmJgXq9Auunhi4EPs8TGdp8NwzoodQCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/saturday%2Bplot.jpg" title="plot as I left - A Stubborn Optimist - an ecotherapy blog - C.Gault 2019" width="640" /></a></div>
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Next up we thought about our hedge and tree options for the make over. Plus this coming weekend there shall be skips on site and we have a lot to get rid off so we're really looking forward to it.<br />
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See you soon,<br />
Hugs,<br />
Carrie</div>
Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01475182740888543862noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1788669145966944117.post-72655737727229302982019-10-25T19:16:00.000+01:002019-10-25T19:16:39.574+01:00A ray of sunshine<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
One day in the mental health darkness of the past week stands out - Monday. Bless it. Monday was my saviour in that Andrew took the day off and we went to the allotment for some much needed ecotherapy.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XQyY0dW6kmE/XbM1X1y0PlI/AAAAAAABIzs/ay3OOAk961EvPRjvUO_XHQ5066Tsw8sUgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/DSC07002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XQyY0dW6kmE/XbM1X1y0PlI/AAAAAAABIzs/ay3OOAk961EvPRjvUO_XHQ5066Tsw8sUgCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/DSC07002.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">looking a lot better = happy soul :)</td></tr>
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We weren't there for that long but we did get stuck in to our respective areas and weeded our wee hearts out. I was at the blueberry bed at the back of the plot whilst Andrew finished the squash bed and started tackling what is still the kale bed. We now feel as though we are getting on top of things and the excitement is building for the new ideas that we want to implement (the trees and hedging and keyhole paths).<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cQjESurRhFw/XbM2ukifYfI/AAAAAAABIz4/Ry9N3f_GRfIXYRc--xT3DE7gunx70RKpACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/DSC06984.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cQjESurRhFw/XbM2ukifYfI/AAAAAAABIz4/Ry9N3f_GRfIXYRc--xT3DE7gunx70RKpACLcBGAsYHQ/s640/DSC06984.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">blueberry bed - BEFORE</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jtk3x_-otV0/XbM2wpEpN8I/AAAAAAABIz8/_pVEZ3iVzZMX2Bg8SX6vceryQSLnf8LmgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/DSC06991.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jtk3x_-otV0/XbM2wpEpN8I/AAAAAAABIz8/_pVEZ3iVzZMX2Bg8SX6vceryQSLnf8LmgCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/DSC06991.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> blueberry bed - AFTER</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zCBCJO9RiNo/XbM7DhiX-tI/AAAAAAABI0U/6zgJWexWUJgrM9ao7amPb4xPuAGoutO5ACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/DSC06990.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zCBCJO9RiNo/XbM7DhiX-tI/AAAAAAABI0U/6zgJWexWUJgrM9ao7amPb4xPuAGoutO5ACLcBGAsYHQ/s640/DSC06990.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Andrew happy at work getting rid of those darn weeds</td></tr>
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Toby was a good boy especially as he was close to both of us - what a nervous little fella he can be!<br />
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Now we find ourselves firmly in the grip of Friday and have just been to one of our favourite cafes for a coffee and a wee talk about the plans for the weekend. Boy do I look forward to my weekends 😀<br />
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Hugs to all and may you have a lovely weekend yourself.<br />
Don't forget the clocks go back on Saturday night!<br />
Carrie xx</div>
Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01475182740888543862noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1788669145966944117.post-11196013428870188112019-10-16T14:05:00.000+01:002019-10-16T14:05:56.567+01:00Back on the plot<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Two days at the plot, reclaiming it from the weeds and general neglect has given us a boost that was sorely needed - friends we are back in love with allotmenting (or as I keep calling it in my head 'aplotmenting'!?).<br />
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<span style="color: #b45f06;">** </span>The first day back was Sunday afternoon on the 6th of the month and Andrew <b>planted the garlic</b>! The Solent Wight is in and I have my fingers crossed it will do much better this season. We planted the last lot last April as plug plants and they simply didn't do, maybe because it's best to plant your garlic direct in the autumn and let it get a darn good freezing before it starts to put on the growth in spring.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-m2Xk7JmZlo0/XacLPK3VP_I/AAAAAAABIvA/0jnFS8Xos0gRUbzF3nQE1SujdbBojIIigCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/garlic%2Boctober%2Bcollage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="planting the garlic cloves - A Stubborn Optimist Blog - Carrie Gault 2019" border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="694" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-m2Xk7JmZlo0/XacLPK3VP_I/AAAAAAABIvA/0jnFS8Xos0gRUbzF3nQE1SujdbBojIIigCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/garlic%2Boctober%2Bcollage.jpg" title="planting the garlic cloves - A Stubborn Optimist Blog - Carrie Gault 2019" width="275" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">looking good</td></tr>
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Andrew got the two espalier <b>apple trees pruned</b> that day too whilst I continued my struggle with reclaiming the plot from the grasp of nature. Honestly I felt unwell and too weak to enjoy the activity and the sight of the place so overgrown and in need of tremendous renovation and filled me with dread. Usually I'm excited by tidying up and improving but that day it all felt so overwhelming.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UZOup4noOAo/XacNVX8wnII/AAAAAAABIvQ/EJvbvAbET4gmRfX0YQ6yYcCIn2kubWhuACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/DSC06866b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="pruning the apple trees - A Stubborn Optimist Blog - Carrie Gault 2019" border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UZOup4noOAo/XacNVX8wnII/AAAAAAABIvQ/EJvbvAbET4gmRfX0YQ6yYcCIn2kubWhuACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/DSC06866b.jpg" title="pruning the apple trees - A Stubborn Optimist Blog - Carrie Gault 2019" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">pruning the apple trees</td></tr>
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No photo, sadly (oh how I tried) but I saw a lovely frog on the plot and there was such bird song and more worms than usual. But my mental health was just too poor - I felt utterly ashamed to be myself even though no one could even see me. Time to go home. (I'm getting panicky even thinking about it)<br />
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<span style="color: #b45f06;">**</span> On Saturday 12th we were back and I was in fine fettle and ready to work hard! Oh we have exciting plans I so hope we can achieve :) A new shed, lots of fruiting trees, and a curtain of wonderful native hedges to provide shelter and a sense of a secret garden for me.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-W47cOLG8glw/XacUjgovEcI/AAAAAAABIv8/FK5kvqUnNmk8QLrNL8OnwOuNhraKnm3CgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/DSC06930.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="the new plan for 2020 - A Stubborn Optimist Blog - Carrie Gault 2019" border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-W47cOLG8glw/XacUjgovEcI/AAAAAAABIv8/FK5kvqUnNmk8QLrNL8OnwOuNhraKnm3CgCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/DSC06930.JPG" title="the new plan for 2020 - A Stubborn Optimist Blog - Carrie Gault 2019" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">exciting new plan!</td></tr>
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The rain tried to put us off but we simply waited the worst of it out in the car and then got started. Both of us tackled the re-wilding of the plot and by the time it was getting cold and darker we had reclaimed some paths and most of the rotation beds - hoorah! We even had time for a freshly brewed tea there on the plot bench.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T0cFIIScDwQ/XacQ69-jMZI/AAAAAAABIvk/SmPOpROTT8UVQ9QsmyqdU4TfJVjQCZ6iwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/DSC06892b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="stopping for tea - A Stubborn Optimist Blog - Carrie Gault 2019" border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1472" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T0cFIIScDwQ/XacQ69-jMZI/AAAAAAABIvk/SmPOpROTT8UVQ9QsmyqdU4TfJVjQCZ6iwCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/DSC06892b.jpg" title="stopping for tea - A Stubborn Optimist Blog - Carrie Gault 2019" width="367" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">stopping for tea</td></tr>
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The new wee slit paths are being put in so as to facilitate my shortness and inability to reach anywhere near the middle of our beds to harvest or tend to the plants. Incidentally, we brought home <b>a harvest</b> <b>of potatoes, a last sweetcorn cob and some kale</b> :)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XJ6cNDg3xcI/XacP7qSdaeI/AAAAAAABIvc/Yl9G7Y9osCc5jGD5MGjqByWlF6XgTcl4gCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/DSC06901b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="harvesting potatoes - A Stubborn Optimist Blog - Carrie Gault 2019" border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1384" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XJ6cNDg3xcI/XacP7qSdaeI/AAAAAAABIvc/Yl9G7Y9osCc5jGD5MGjqByWlF6XgTcl4gCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/DSC06901b.jpg" title="harvesting potatoes - A Stubborn Optimist Blog - Carrie Gault 2019" width="276" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">harvesting potatoes</td></tr>
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Love and hugs to you all - I hope you will tag along for our renovation journey<br />
Carrie xx</div>
Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01475182740888543862noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1788669145966944117.post-66206166891363275722019-10-07T13:06:00.002+01:002020-08-23T14:52:29.709+01:00Castle Crom and finishing the Sliabh Beagh Way<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-odl7jcDghOw/XZsTOpVJygI/AAAAAAABIpU/vQeauTTJJ4IsDgb03ntgGFDDCdUaz5ubQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/DSC06649.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Crom - A Stubborn Optimist - an ecotherapy blog - Carrie Gault 2019" border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1531" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-odl7jcDghOw/XZsTOpVJygI/AAAAAAABIpU/vQeauTTJJ4IsDgb03ntgGFDDCdUaz5ubQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/DSC06649.jpg" title="Crom - A Stubborn Optimist - an ecotherapy blog - Carrie Gault 2019" width="304" /></a></div>
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Last weekend we spent a fabulous time in a renovated pig sty under a museum at the Crom Castle estate. How's that for an opening sentence?<br />
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These old spacious rooms have been very skilfully turned into glamping pods and we had 'Wilbur' for the night (named after the famous pig in 'Charlotte's Web') complete with two beds, a table and chairs, a mini fridge and microwave and a bedside table. It was so much better than camping ever could be and we loved it.<br />
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The Crom estate is right on the water of Lough Erne and had we been a bit earlier we could have hired a boat and visited some of the many islands there. We'll do that next time. This trip was more about the glamping experience and being in County Fermanagh for a nice early hike on the Sunday morning.<br />
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There is however the old Castle to be found and enjoyed, a massive 800 year old yew tree <span style="font-family: inherit;">(<span style="background-color: white; color: #111111;">among six trees from across Northern Ireland shortlisted for the Woodland Trust's Tree of the Year</span>), </span>walks around the estate, cattle and deer and old buildings to discover. Plus the newer, private castle on the grounds to gaze at and dream of a luxurious life with a butler etc :)<br />
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Oh there were bats at night flying right above our heads; it was the best...<br />
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A good night's sleep and hearty porridge for breakfast and we were on our way to finish the last stretch of hiking in these here parts :)<br />
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We finished the last part of the Sliabh Beagh Way (part of the Ulster Way) by Sunday afternoon! 40 miles knocked off our total now and now we only have 100 miles to go to finish the whole circuit. It's so hard to believe until we break it down into all the many many long hikes we've done over the two and a half years. So many fabulous days out getting to see the real bones of our country like you just can't do from a car.</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Here is a great link to the <a href="https://sliabhbeaghadventures.ie/trails/walking/sliabh-beagh-way" target="_blank">Sliabh Beagh Way</a> for you!</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eDbCH9WXGkI/XZsTU6BKkPI/AAAAAAABIpY/foMbbQul5iwiWPS4yxjKZw9AAauwS_k3wCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Screenshot%2B2019-10-06%2Bat%2B12.54.44%2B-%2BEdited.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Sliabh Beagh Way, abandoned cottage - A Stubborn Optimist - an ecotherapy blog - Carrie Gault 2019" border="0" data-original-height="517" data-original-width="539" height="382" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eDbCH9WXGkI/XZsTU6BKkPI/AAAAAAABIpY/foMbbQul5iwiWPS4yxjKZw9AAauwS_k3wCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/Screenshot%2B2019-10-06%2Bat%2B12.54.44%2B-%2BEdited.png" title="Sliabh Beagh Way, abandoned cottage - A Stubborn Optimist - an ecotherapy blog - Carrie Gault 2019" width="400" /></a></div>
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This section was 12 miles and though my hip/back hurt so much I had to take double the painkillers, we did it and enjoyed ourselves at the same time (Toby too). We got a little rained on but apart from that it was perfect hiking weather - I LOVE Autumn.<br />
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It was a great trip and next on the agenda is the Sperrins - exciting! There are so many photos from this wee weekend that I'm going to put lots up on my Instagram if you want to pop over there. I'm still so behind myself it's ridiculous but I am trying hard to catch up!<br />
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Hugs galore<br />
Carrie<br />
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Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01475182740888543862noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1788669145966944117.post-14630759683779671292019-10-04T18:35:00.003+01:002019-10-04T18:35:49.158+01:00Daily photo challenge update (week 5)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
It's Friday already and time for another fabulous photograph roundup :) The <a href="https://fatmumslim.com.au/" target="_blank">Fat Mum Slim</a> September prompts finished with these being the last few, below.<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uWfzy-2lcBw/XZd9Z1fSJpI/AAAAAAABIm0/31D6PimmVvsU4clavsmT66K-4XNppes-wCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Screenshot%2B2019-10-04%2Bat%2B18.10.51%2B-%2BEdited.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="A Stubborn Optimist - an ecotherapy blog by Carrie Gault 2019' Currently reading'" border="0" data-original-height="543" data-original-width="536" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uWfzy-2lcBw/XZd9Z1fSJpI/AAAAAAABIm0/31D6PimmVvsU4clavsmT66K-4XNppes-wCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/Screenshot%2B2019-10-04%2Bat%2B18.10.51%2B-%2BEdited.png" title="A Stubborn Optimist - an ecotherapy blog by Carrie Gault 2019 'Currently reading'" width="393" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #262626;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Currently reading... North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell. Almost finished in fact.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #262626; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">What's my name??? 😂🤣</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #262626; text-align: left;">My inspiration is...everywhere!</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #262626; text-align: left;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #262626; text-align: left;">In capturing moments of beauty (big and small) to help me cope with mental ill health.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06;"><b>October</b></span> is a <b>free choice month</b> which basically means you can take a photograph of whatever you wish but you have to do a new one every day. This means we're getting to see the things that really tickle people and most photographs are a little more personal. I prefer the challenges better when everyone has their own take on the same subject however.<br />
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<span style="color: #bf9000;">*******</span></div>
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Our <b>garlic</b> bulbs arrived - hoorah! We got 'Solent Wight' again this time from <a href="https://www.simplyseed.co.uk/" target="_blank">Simply Seed</a> and have high hopes that unlike last year's batch (supplier?) they we love our allotment and do excellently well. It's been sad not having our own supply this year - it seems the plot now has <u>all the diseases</u> going and the soil is poorer but we have plans to change that. It was reassuring to read the Sarah Raven called this variety<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i> '<span style="background-color: white;">the best of all British </span><span style="background-color: white; font-weight: bold;">garlic</span><span style="background-color: white;"> varieties which does well in our colder, greyer climes'.</span></i></span><br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2eqTwLDU-gY/XZeBnbJyDKI/AAAAAAABInQ/fHaybLbIwkYv2LfCpXYphGhzuhzbRLPrQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Screenshot%2B2019-10-04%2Bat%2B18.28.50%2B-%2BEdited.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Solent Wight Garlic by Simply Seed (A Stubborn Optimist - an ecotherapy blog by Carrie Gault 2019)" border="0" data-original-height="396" data-original-width="403" height="392" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2eqTwLDU-gY/XZeBnbJyDKI/AAAAAAABInQ/fHaybLbIwkYv2LfCpXYphGhzuhzbRLPrQCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/Screenshot%2B2019-10-04%2Bat%2B18.28.50%2B-%2BEdited.png" title="Solent Wight Garlic by Simply Seed (A Stubborn Optimist - an ecotherapy blog by Carrie Gault 2019)" width="400" /></a></div>
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We also got lots of tulips to plant there and at home and some gorgeous tete-a-tetes.<br />
That's part of our weekend ahead though.<br />
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I hope you are all well and happy,<br />
Carrie</div>
Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01475182740888543862noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1788669145966944117.post-46930566569433584692019-10-01T14:44:00.000+01:002019-10-01T14:44:49.118+01:00September's plot visit<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I come today to my blog with a confession - I only visited the allotment plot once this past month! *you all point and say "shame" at me* But at least I went, right? And it got me feeling bad and wanting to work harder over the winter to have a better growing year this time round :)<br />
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We are going to plant more trees on the plot and more flowers in the hedgerow for the fabulous bees. It's rather exciting. First we need to clear and cover the beds and gather seaweed and other organic soil improvers and plan, plan, plan! Oh and how I would love a new shed, but alas we can't have everything.<br />
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Anyway <i><b>that</b></i> visit saw us clear one bed and gather a pretty surprising harvest. Please enjoy the story through the magic of my photos.....<br />
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The plot from the far end looking back at Andrew </div>
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and Toby</div>
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A BEFORE of bed 1 😟</div>
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AN AFTER of bed 1 😀</div>
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Toby doing a stop check on the apples we harvested</div>
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Most of the harvest before the heavy rain came </div>
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Yep, we got thoroughly poured on just as we have finished the first bed clearance and gathered up what we could as a harvest from across the plot. I have some nicer photos of our wee harvest though....</div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-l22JCnljkUM/XZNVPgu8IXI/AAAAAAABIkY/4TIK6N0-rBo6PmQ5EY6BETZIdxcqanvigCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/fruit%2Band%2Bveg%2Bcollage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1118" data-original-width="1600" height="446" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-l22JCnljkUM/XZNVPgu8IXI/AAAAAAABIkY/4TIK6N0-rBo6PmQ5EY6BETZIdxcqanvigCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/fruit%2Band%2Bveg%2Bcollage.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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The loveliest squashes, only a few apples but they were wonderful with our bounty of damsons in a couple of crumbles :) And we ate a good lot of the potatoes and scallions with the climbing beans for dinner!</div>
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I mean I know it's not great and you aren't sitting there gobsmacked, but I should remind you that in comparison to the work put in this was a lot of good tasty food.</div>
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We were away all weekend camping and walking and I look forward to sharing that soon. I hope you are all happy and have your bulbs picked, if not planted already - our garlic arrived today, hooray!</div>
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Love and hugs from (a sleepy)</div>
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Carrie</div>
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Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01475182740888543862noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1788669145966944117.post-5660893825066966932019-09-27T13:38:00.000+01:002019-09-27T13:40:01.742+01:00Daily photo challenge round up (week 4)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Oh my lovelies, I can't apologise enough for my absolute forgetfulness; it's shameful and believe me I am writing this with my head hung. I still haven't written about the allotment from 2? weeks ago and last weekend we did more hiking which I have neglected to get blogged for prosperity!<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ds9s0zg0QEM/XY389KyQqvI/AAAAAAABIhY/e7vyGZDKlj4RRtfwLFdTCvUcitpLVnALgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Coffee%2Bdip%2Bme.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1234" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ds9s0zg0QEM/XY389KyQqvI/AAAAAAABIhY/e7vyGZDKlj4RRtfwLFdTCvUcitpLVnALgCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/Coffee%2Bdip%2Bme.jpg" width="307" /></a></div>
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I need to go on an intravenous caffeine dip or I'll never get stuff done...</div>
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HOWEVER it is Friday (again!!) and thus it is time for a daily photo prompt round up in association with <a href="https://fatmumslim.com.au/september-photo-a-day-its-alphabet-month/" target="_blank">Fat Mum Slim</a>.<br />
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We've come to the end of our alphabet and towards the end of the month - eek!. It's been enjoyable and I think I may be getting my camera groove back 😀 The last few days are non-alphabet prompts, as you will see here with 'Words' being today's prompt.<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3u4lgXlJdmw/XY3-plpaHmI/AAAAAAABIhs/SLrnAyQNobMPzL8QJnCDbNT94LHUz8vxgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Screenshot%2B2019-09-27%2Bat%2B13.15.51%2B-%2BEdited.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="538" data-original-width="539" height="398" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3u4lgXlJdmw/XY3-plpaHmI/AAAAAAABIhs/SLrnAyQNobMPzL8QJnCDbNT94LHUz8vxgCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/Screenshot%2B2019-09-27%2Bat%2B13.15.51%2B-%2BEdited.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: , "blinkmacsystemfont" , "segoe ui" , "roboto" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">U is for Unicorn talisman; always on my backpack.</span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BTCERiW2D2k/XY3-piQQhsI/AAAAAAABIho/SrTb9eahdMczRDdBRvT2wrrrfjgUZYMawCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Screenshot%2B2019-09-27%2Bat%2B13.16.59%2B-%2BEdited.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="538" data-original-width="538" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BTCERiW2D2k/XY3-piQQhsI/AAAAAAABIho/SrTb9eahdMczRDdBRvT2wrrrfjgUZYMawCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/Screenshot%2B2019-09-27%2Bat%2B13.16.59%2B-%2BEdited.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5VvNexyqBi4/XY3-iSo40hI/AAAAAAABIhk/qpqeitRdTJwcHKbvvipxpHkUh29TeAhaQCEwYBhgL/s1600/Screenshot%2B2019-09-27%2Bat%2B13.18.39%2B-%2BEdited.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="531" data-original-width="540" height="392" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5VvNexyqBi4/XY3-iSo40hI/AAAAAAABIhk/qpqeitRdTJwcHKbvvipxpHkUh29TeAhaQCEwYBhgL/s400/Screenshot%2B2019-09-27%2Bat%2B13.18.39%2B-%2BEdited.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wVBkHwRcdw0/XY4BE7CuVJI/AAAAAAABIiM/RlT8EgTzhB0R3i8wjeG5pjM6DzXciDLIQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Screenshot%2B2019-09-27%2Bat%2B13.23.40%2B-%2BEdited.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="536" data-original-width="539" height="397" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wVBkHwRcdw0/XY4BE7CuVJI/AAAAAAABIiM/RlT8EgTzhB0R3i8wjeG5pjM6DzXciDLIQCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/Screenshot%2B2019-09-27%2Bat%2B13.23.40%2B-%2BEdited.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uMDqwcuyr9A/XY4BEw_BieI/AAAAAAABIiI/STgCJo73l2cyO-fgP54UgghDqFZEe8IPQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Screenshot%2B2019-09-27%2Bat%2B13.24.41%2B-%2BEdited.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="538" data-original-width="539" height="398" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uMDqwcuyr9A/XY4BEw_BieI/AAAAAAABIiI/STgCJo73l2cyO-fgP54UgghDqFZEe8IPQCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/Screenshot%2B2019-09-27%2Bat%2B13.24.41%2B-%2BEdited.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: , "blinkmacsystemfont" , "segoe ui" , "roboto" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Y is for the Yellow signs we followed all along the Cumbria Way this spring.</span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EY0rF56Hyzc/XY4BEDRdqlI/AAAAAAABIiE/xkUJNqgSbSseSkMYivbKfqOoBSZqu_GlQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Screenshot%2B2019-09-27%2Bat%2B13.27.29%2B-%2BEdited.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="541" data-original-width="541" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EY0rF56Hyzc/XY4BEDRdqlI/AAAAAAABIiE/xkUJNqgSbSseSkMYivbKfqOoBSZqu_GlQCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/Screenshot%2B2019-09-27%2Bat%2B13.27.29%2B-%2BEdited.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RTCeikZ_V5g/XY4A8mbHsFI/AAAAAAABIiQ/vM0qKYWyz7II-4FNx1ah55elJeqOWzGOQCEwYBhgL/s1600/Screenshot%2B2019-09-27%2Bat%2B13.28.46%2B-%2BEdited.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="541" data-original-width="538" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RTCeikZ_V5g/XY4A8mbHsFI/AAAAAAABIiQ/vM0qKYWyz7II-4FNx1ah55elJeqOWzGOQCEwYBhgL/s400/Screenshot%2B2019-09-27%2Bat%2B13.28.46%2B-%2BEdited.png" width="397" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #262626; font-family: inherit;">And there we have it for another week. I endeavour to my fingers tippy tapping on the keyboard more this week coming and catch up on myself. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #262626; font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">HUGS</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #262626; font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">Carrie x</span></span></div>
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Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01475182740888543862noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1788669145966944117.post-87095369446175184862019-09-20T11:41:00.000+01:002019-09-20T11:41:27.294+01:00Daily photo challenge round up (week 3) <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
It's amazing but I'm out and about hiking this Friday with Andrew again (he's taking a holiday day to capture this amazing weather) and thus I will be taking my photo for today ('T') whilst doing that. I'll have to do another updated post 😄<br />
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Also, and this shows what an idiot I am... I forgot to share with you my triumphant return to the allotment last Saturday! I understand if you "tut" at me but I will make reparations and fill you in soon. I shall tease you by adding that we had a great wee harvest and the place looked, umm, memorable.<br />
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Anyway the weekly round up in association with <a href="https://fatmumslim.com.au/september-photo-a-day-its-alphabet-month/" target="_blank">Fat Mum Slim</a>,will wait for no-one!<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-R_lBntZJvgI/XYPiO8W14OI/AAAAAAABIbw/4hiKdKKNQfIrQb4lS7AMZiZvT4RCuEPswCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Screenshot%2B2019-09-19%2Bat%2B21.15.12%2B-%2BEdited.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="533" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-R_lBntZJvgI/XYPiO8W14OI/AAAAAAABIbw/4hiKdKKNQfIrQb4lS7AMZiZvT4RCuEPswCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/Screenshot%2B2019-09-19%2Bat%2B21.15.12%2B-%2BEdited.png" width="393" /></a></div>
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N is for Namaste, friend</div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VAXo1AQo3Cs/XYPiojveOAI/AAAAAAABIb4/nXVZdMCUUsoPXJhtq7srv7jJj3hLH5yywCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Screenshot%2B2019-09-19%2Bat%2B21.17.23%2B-%2BEdited.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="537" data-original-width="543" height="395" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VAXo1AQo3Cs/XYPiojveOAI/AAAAAAABIb4/nXVZdMCUUsoPXJhtq7srv7jJj3hLH5yywCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/Screenshot%2B2019-09-19%2Bat%2B21.17.23%2B-%2BEdited.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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O is for Organ in a church in Ballycastle</div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k6SWptBS6Zs/XYPkrf-ld6I/AAAAAAABIcE/ElqsVCW1aBw_M50jDY97ITZQQAkcpYLJwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Screenshot%2B2019-09-19%2Bat%2B21.22.03%2B-%2BEdited.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="541" data-original-width="540" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k6SWptBS6Zs/XYPkrf-ld6I/AAAAAAABIcE/ElqsVCW1aBw_M50jDY97ITZQQAkcpYLJwCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/Screenshot%2B2019-09-19%2Bat%2B21.22.03%2B-%2BEdited.png" width="398" /></a></div>
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P is for Pink Petals and Penpal letters</div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dy0gVgWLFD8/XYPliDNKTcI/AAAAAAABIcM/b22S8acY-LIFeNLT_btVuBhCHGKCA3byACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Screenshot%2B2019-09-19%2Bat%2B21.28.40%2B-%2BEdited.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="539" data-original-width="535" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dy0gVgWLFD8/XYPliDNKTcI/AAAAAAABIcM/b22S8acY-LIFeNLT_btVuBhCHGKCA3byACLcBGAsYHQ/s400/Screenshot%2B2019-09-19%2Bat%2B21.28.40%2B-%2BEdited.png" width="396" /></a></div>
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Q is for Quintessentially Toby. <span style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;">He loves a darn good nap in his cosy bed but pick up a camera and that eye opens instantly!</span> </div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q45oVcHsSLk/XYPmikNo10I/AAAAAAABIcY/63GnQ6SSlhklRQyq_zRibwSrcaHguGUYQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Screenshot%2B2019-09-19%2Bat%2B21.32.26%2B-%2BEdited.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="535" data-original-width="535" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q45oVcHsSLk/XYPmikNo10I/AAAAAAABIcY/63GnQ6SSlhklRQyq_zRibwSrcaHguGUYQCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/Screenshot%2B2019-09-19%2Bat%2B21.32.26%2B-%2BEdited.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;">R is for Rich Radiant Red Boston ivy in the back garden. A stunner already 🍁</span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hmZxzj2Msy8/XYPnfyGWAKI/AAAAAAABIcg/O8pETZJdqyoKd5UT-ElRRjzbmwx0xQv_wCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Screenshot%2B2019-09-19%2Bat%2B21.36.16%2B-%2BEdited.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="535" data-original-width="535" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hmZxzj2Msy8/XYPnfyGWAKI/AAAAAAABIcg/O8pETZJdqyoKd5UT-ElRRjzbmwx0xQv_wCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/Screenshot%2B2019-09-19%2Bat%2B21.36.16%2B-%2BEdited.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;">S is for Skull. in this case a badger's skull.</span></div>
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T?</div>
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Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01475182740888543862noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1788669145966944117.post-7673041355691969862019-09-16T15:37:00.001+01:002019-09-17T18:12:53.536+01:00The Carntogher History Trail<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iAoz1uWi8NY/XX-HFMdUl-I/AAAAAAABIXU/50ZxbQdIvao4ZkZc6c96LJ-HmqMNYuvSwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/andrew%2527s%2Bphoto%2B1%2B%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Hiking the Carntogher history trail - photo by Andrew Gault for 'A Stubborn Optimist' blog" border="0" data-original-height="1224" data-original-width="1600" height="305" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iAoz1uWi8NY/XX-HFMdUl-I/AAAAAAABIXU/50ZxbQdIvao4ZkZc6c96LJ-HmqMNYuvSwCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/andrew%2527s%2Bphoto%2B1%2B%25281%2529.jpg" title="Hiking the Carntogher history trail - photo by Andrew Gault for 'A Stubborn Optimist' blog" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; letter-spacing: 0.1px; white-space: pre-wrap;">"</span><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-ligatures: none; letter-spacing: 0.1px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Carrie, thy name is Vanity!" I rebuked myself out loud...</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit; letter-spacing: 0.1px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Why was I was wearing foundation on my face whilst out hill-walking? That's not me. Dear friend, lashings of factor 50 was what I needed on this gorgeous and sweaty day. But then I only realised that when we were half way up this strenuous mountain climb battling through waist high flax and bog.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.1px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.1px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">OK, it was actually just a gorgeous big hill with some dodgy mucky areas, then an old cobbled carriage road under foot; perfect for my first hike in months. It was just that the sun was blazing, there was no shade and my hip hurt...</span></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NHnItPgilY0/XX-AvRan93I/AAAAAAABIW4/aMjP3Rh19wQ5izVqOccch9a5q7h3i2hzACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Screenshot%2B2019-09-16%2Bat%2B13.29.17%2B-%2BEdited%2B%25281%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="137" data-original-width="103" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NHnItPgilY0/XX-AvRan93I/AAAAAAABIW4/aMjP3Rh19wQ5izVqOccch9a5q7h3i2hzACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Screenshot%2B2019-09-16%2Bat%2B13.29.17%2B-%2BEdited%2B%25281%2529.png" /></span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-variant-ligatures: none; letter-spacing: 0.1px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Welcome to the Carntogher area near Maghera (County Londonderry), a very important archaeological and environmental area with the best ever views of our wonderful countryside. The walks there are signposted by a local group called <a href="http://www.ancarn.org/en/Visiting-Carntogher/carntogher-history-trail" target="_blank">'An Carn'</a> and </span></span><span style="font-variant-ligatures: none; letter-spacing: 0.1px; white-space: pre-wrap;">facilitate</span><span style="background-color: white;"><i> 'a greater understanding of our past and [tracing] man's impact on the local environment from the neolithic period to the present day.'</i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">(Their logo is also in the shape of the hill we climbed :))</span><br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PrGkfn1xkfQ/XX-N983Zp3I/AAAAAAABIX8/rOMOdsvwBCEvRJ2UMZdLkjjJitlTp9GlQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/DSC06412.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Carntogher history trail photo 1 - Carrie Gault - A Stubborn Optimist blog" border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PrGkfn1xkfQ/XX-N983Zp3I/AAAAAAABIX8/rOMOdsvwBCEvRJ2UMZdLkjjJitlTp9GlQCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/DSC06412.JPG" title="Carntogher history trail photo 1 - Carrie Gault - A Stubborn Optimist blog" width="400" /></a></div>
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All was flat as we started our ascent</div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XPJt8NKGYAE/XX-TOdSgKTI/AAAAAAABIYc/gNObkSAhzYUJzAsAXLRBX0pAa2o9vUAhgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/DSC06430a.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img alt="Carntogher history trail photo 2 - Carrie Gault - A Stubborn Optimist blog" border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XPJt8NKGYAE/XX-TOdSgKTI/AAAAAAABIYc/gNObkSAhzYUJzAsAXLRBX0pAa2o9vUAhgCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/DSC06430a.jpg" title="Carntogher history trail photo 2 - Carrie Gault - A Stubborn Optimist blog" width="266" /></a></div>
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Getting right up to the top and looking back</div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ovnwOtjobUA/XX-RwR3lRwI/AAAAAAABIYQ/2_z2SpxCC_cJDbQoxmookR9d_E_08TJ6ACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/DSC06434a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Carntogher history trail photo 3 - Carrie Gault - A Stubborn Optimist blog" border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ovnwOtjobUA/XX-RwR3lRwI/AAAAAAABIYQ/2_z2SpxCC_cJDbQoxmookR9d_E_08TJ6ACLcBGAsYHQ/s400/DSC06434a.jpg" title="Carntogher history trail photo 3 - Carrie Gault - A Stubborn Optimist blog" width="266" /></a></div>
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A a bronze age cyst on the way down :)</div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ppu_MKmmWDY/XX-JGShDToI/AAAAAAABIXw/_KJ-CsYHpUknMPaHkfdfCmojVZWVoz3cACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/DSC06453.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Carntogher history trail photo 4 - Carrie Gault - A Stubborn Optimist blog" border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ppu_MKmmWDY/XX-JGShDToI/AAAAAAABIXw/_KJ-CsYHpUknMPaHkfdfCmojVZWVoz3cACLcBGAsYHQ/s400/DSC06453.JPG" title="Carntogher history trail photo 4 - Carrie Gault - A Stubborn Optimist blog" width="266" /></a></div>
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Gorgeous old farms and abandoned farm houses along the way</div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5LhveL7J6DI/XX-UbGolQuI/AAAAAAABIYk/CGET8Vvh_AQc_hqECmVRYy6pVKaL82ATgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/DSC06450.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Carntogher history trail photo 5- Carrie Gault - A Stubborn Optimist blog" border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5LhveL7J6DI/XX-UbGolQuI/AAAAAAABIYk/CGET8Vvh_AQc_hqECmVRYy6pVKaL82ATgCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/DSC06450.JPG" title="Carntogher history trail photo 5 - Carrie Gault - A Stubborn Optimist blog" width="266" /></a></div>
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Very quiet country roads for miles</div>
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Love and hugs<br />
Carrie</div>
Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01475182740888543862noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1788669145966944117.post-77026707019676874882019-09-13T11:30:00.000+01:002019-09-14T14:05:32.180+01:00Daily photo challenge round up (week 2) UPDATED<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Thank you for your comments you gorgeous people - I do so love you and feel well and truly welcomed back to the blogging world - *hugs* I will get around to reading all your posts very soon!<br />
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I'm off on an adventure with Andrew today looking at some important archaeological sites; he was going for work and I asked to come along. So, my Friday photo will be taken whilst I'm out hiking I'm hoping.<br />
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So here we go with this the letter prompts for this week G to M 😀. Thanks as always go to the fabulous Australian <a href="https://fatmumslim.com.au/september-photo-a-day-its-alphabet-month/" target="_blank">Fat Mum Slim</a>.<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-t-1ILhIJkRY/XXqfNuqgLAI/AAAAAAABITs/HLxeGzw-n543UXd9WRGtotsCepfwWAdWQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Screenshot%2B2019-09-12%2Bat%2B20.36.41%2B-%2BEdited.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="541" data-original-width="541" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-t-1ILhIJkRY/XXqfNuqgLAI/AAAAAAABITs/HLxeGzw-n543UXd9WRGtotsCepfwWAdWQCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/Screenshot%2B2019-09-12%2Bat%2B20.36.41%2B-%2BEdited.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: , "blinkmacsystemfont" , "segoe ui" , "roboto" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">G is for Gorgeous dark Grey stones in my new birthday bangle. (Plus a Gorgeous rose!)</span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Bw5XvJBmINQ/XXqfMNYKnZI/AAAAAAABITo/RzywKPddoOQObwVvsgnG5icuZRB-FA8jgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Screenshot%2B2019-09-12%2Bat%2B20.37.35%2B-%2BEdited.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="539" data-original-width="536" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Bw5XvJBmINQ/XXqfMNYKnZI/AAAAAAABITo/RzywKPddoOQObwVvsgnG5icuZRB-FA8jgCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/Screenshot%2B2019-09-12%2Bat%2B20.37.35%2B-%2BEdited.png" width="397" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: , "blinkmacsystemfont" , "segoe ui" , "roboto" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">H is for..Heather in bloom up in the wilds of the Causeway Coast.</span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jbT5GE0o83o/XXqgJs31p3I/AAAAAAABIT4/DYmXYiUUMTc9AZ4xAe4p0c5q7fConATswCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Screenshot%2B2019-09-12%2Bat%2B20.42.15%2B-%2BEdited.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="539" data-original-width="538" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jbT5GE0o83o/XXqgJs31p3I/AAAAAAABIT4/DYmXYiUUMTc9AZ4xAe4p0c5q7fConATswCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/Screenshot%2B2019-09-12%2Bat%2B20.42.15%2B-%2BEdited.png" width="398" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: , "blinkmacsystemfont" , "segoe ui" , "roboto" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;">I is for Incense</span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mpx5x4EXvfo/XXqh1zN22xI/AAAAAAABIUM/NCRaatdRCicYvjkBx-nbz9VAVXvsgMKRgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Screenshot%2B2019-09-12%2Bat%2B20.45.38%2B-%2BEdited.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="538" data-original-width="534" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mpx5x4EXvfo/XXqh1zN22xI/AAAAAAABIUM/NCRaatdRCicYvjkBx-nbz9VAVXvsgMKRgCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/Screenshot%2B2019-09-12%2Bat%2B20.45.38%2B-%2BEdited.png" width="396" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: , "blinkmacsystemfont" , "segoe ui" , "roboto" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;">J is for jigsaw!</span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1z9mlW_UT9Y/XXqhicDgh_I/AAAAAAABIUE/VG-Te-Yu4GsSjhZljR_bg5hbNIU_MV8WACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Screenshot%2B2019-09-12%2Bat%2B20.48.30%2B-%2BEdited.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="539" data-original-width="537" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1z9mlW_UT9Y/XXqhicDgh_I/AAAAAAABIUE/VG-Te-Yu4GsSjhZljR_bg5hbNIU_MV8WACLcBGAsYHQ/s400/Screenshot%2B2019-09-12%2Bat%2B20.48.30%2B-%2BEdited.png" width="397" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: , "blinkmacsystemfont" , "segoe ui" , "roboto" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;">K could only be for Knitted. I knitted this person when I was a kid and they have guarded my books gallantly ever since.</span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UaMlZwtSMSM/XXqifjhKS0I/AAAAAAABIUU/Z0pPI_Ak6ZQFYKNw2IiUWMvZpPJ5aUF3gCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Screenshot%2B2019-09-12%2Bat%2B20.53.15%2B-%2BEdited.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="541" data-original-width="537" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UaMlZwtSMSM/XXqifjhKS0I/AAAAAAABIUU/Z0pPI_Ak6ZQFYKNw2IiUWMvZpPJ5aUF3gCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/Screenshot%2B2019-09-12%2Bat%2B20.53.15%2B-%2BEdited.png" width="396" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: , "blinkmacsystemfont" , "segoe ui" , "roboto" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;">L is for Lichens and Leaves on the forest floor.</span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PYnEzbXL77o/XXzlYChYTUI/AAAAAAABIVc/8LxnTUjShI89MC8HacEzXI2Uc8unGUy2gCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Screenshot%2B2019-09-14%2Bat%2B14.02.13%2B-%2BEdited.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="535" data-original-width="543" height="393" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PYnEzbXL77o/XXzlYChYTUI/AAAAAAABIVc/8LxnTUjShI89MC8HacEzXI2Uc8unGUy2gCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/Screenshot%2B2019-09-14%2Bat%2B14.02.13%2B-%2BEdited.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;">M is for moss. I love moss</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: , "blinkmacsystemfont" , "segoe ui" , "roboto" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: , "blinkmacsystemfont" , "segoe ui" , "roboto" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;">Love and hugs</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: , "blinkmacsystemfont" , "segoe ui" , "roboto" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;">Carrie x</span></div>
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Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01475182740888543862noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1788669145966944117.post-62773438920594855502019-09-06T20:39:00.001+01:002019-09-06T20:39:27.328+01:00A new start and weekly photo challenge round up (week 1)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: "roboto" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.1px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sometimes my intentions aren't easily converted onto actions. I struggle with myself and the things I want to do are foremost in my mind but simply won't come to fruition.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: Roboto, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-variant-ligatures: none; letter-spacing: 0.1px; white-space: pre-wrap;" />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #202124; font-family: "roboto" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-variant-ligatures: none; letter-spacing: 0.1px; white-space: pre-wrap;">I've had photographer's block and writer's block; that is, 'bloggers block' for a very long time now. So long that for me writing even this is like pulling my own teeth.</span></span></span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: Roboto, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-variant-ligatures: none; letter-spacing: 0.1px; white-space: pre-wrap;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: "roboto" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.1px; white-space: pre-wrap;">I shall just get this awkwardness over with and say "Hello dear friend, I'm back!"</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: "roboto" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.1px; white-space: pre-wrap;">I'm starting up with the weekly Friday 'daily photo review' again. If you remember I joined up with the fabulous <a href="https://fatmumslim.com.au/september-photo-a-day-its-alphabet-month/" target="_blank">Fat Mum Slim</a> last year, doing her prompts for daily photography inspiration (I did a total of 27 weeks running)along with hundreds of other people all over the world. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: "roboto" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.1px; white-space: pre-wrap;">This month we are doing the alphabet to begin with so....</span><br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_AgyLdF4bTM/XXKqYHM1t1I/AAAAAAABIQA/y5NEtMK1In8zb7BY-4qbjl7hywE23IcvQCLcBGAs/s1600/Screenshot%2B2019-09-06%2Bat%2B19.47.10%2B-%2BEdited.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="534" data-original-width="534" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_AgyLdF4bTM/XXKqYHM1t1I/AAAAAAABIQA/y5NEtMK1In8zb7BY-4qbjl7hywE23IcvQCLcBGAs/s400/Screenshot%2B2019-09-06%2Bat%2B19.47.10%2B-%2BEdited.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ke0jW9un6ow/XXKs0DNQyBI/AAAAAAABIQg/4tVUOEGYSHMgkhbwygp1deBDlCJGUMXiACLcBGAs/s1600/Screenshot%2B2019-09-06%2Bat%2B19.52.23%2B-%2BEdited.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="538" data-original-width="538" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ke0jW9un6ow/XXKs0DNQyBI/AAAAAAABIQg/4tVUOEGYSHMgkhbwygp1deBDlCJGUMXiACLcBGAs/s400/Screenshot%2B2019-09-06%2Bat%2B19.52.23%2B-%2BEdited.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;">A is for Advertising</span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PFXB6de5kH8/XXKsN3Z8xdI/AAAAAAABIQQ/gvUVM0Bey1kxTyXqqKnZ2d4GjY2LhFMLACLcBGAs/s1600/Screenshot%2B2019-09-06%2Bat%2B19.52.46%2B-%2BEdited.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="542" data-original-width="542" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PFXB6de5kH8/XXKsN3Z8xdI/AAAAAAABIQQ/gvUVM0Bey1kxTyXqqKnZ2d4GjY2LhFMLACLcBGAs/s400/Screenshot%2B2019-09-06%2Bat%2B19.52.46%2B-%2BEdited.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">B - Box of Belgian Chocolates.</span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pX4XGghtS_w/XXKyl4lAYGI/AAAAAAABIQw/8SCLoCGDXSsQGAFgldc5rMX9cXF2uQ4EQCLcBGAs/s1600/Screenshot%2B2019-09-06%2Bat%2B20.21.22%2B-%2BEdited.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="542" data-original-width="545" height="397" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pX4XGghtS_w/XXKyl4lAYGI/AAAAAAABIQw/8SCLoCGDXSsQGAFgldc5rMX9cXF2uQ4EQCLcBGAs/s400/Screenshot%2B2019-09-06%2Bat%2B20.21.22%2B-%2BEdited.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">C is for Coffee beans</span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZDSjpQeZaiA/XXKylRPWZQI/AAAAAAABIQs/rjDqy6SbUx4-Qy546Uz7qScEvnvNUkp6wCLcBGAs/s1600/Screenshot%2B2019-09-06%2Bat%2B20.21.44%2B-%2BEdited.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="539" data-original-width="540" height="398" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZDSjpQeZaiA/XXKylRPWZQI/AAAAAAABIQs/rjDqy6SbUx4-Qy546Uz7qScEvnvNUkp6wCLcBGAs/s400/Screenshot%2B2019-09-06%2Bat%2B20.21.44%2B-%2BEdited.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">D is for Diana F+ 😁</span></div>
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I haven't used this and I ought to, shame on me.</div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tfeiTqtK1SY/XXK0SWM816I/AAAAAAABIQ8/GT50InebeNEYn_2aXR98vwdqg6HzW0ingCLcBGAs/s1600/Screenshot%2B2019-09-06%2Bat%2B20.25.37%2B-%2BEdited.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="510" data-original-width="535" height="381" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tfeiTqtK1SY/XXK0SWM816I/AAAAAAABIQ8/GT50InebeNEYn_2aXR98vwdqg6HzW0ingCLcBGAs/s400/Screenshot%2B2019-09-06%2Bat%2B20.25.37%2B-%2BEdited.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="text-align: left;">E is for Elephant and rather extravagant one too.</span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xAPuer0-vO0/XXK1M-yMszI/AAAAAAABIRE/FSXjSNJYskkKMtc009n5bF7VEmngYnLCACLcBGAs/s1600/Screenshot%2B2019-09-06%2Bat%2B20.34.24%2B-%2BEdited.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="544" data-original-width="537" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xAPuer0-vO0/XXK1M-yMszI/AAAAAAABIRE/FSXjSNJYskkKMtc009n5bF7VEmngYnLCACLcBGAs/s400/Screenshot%2B2019-09-06%2Bat%2B20.34.24%2B-%2BEdited.png" width="393" /></a></div>
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<span style="text-align: left;">F is for Ferns in the Forest.</span><br style="text-align: left;" /><span style="text-align: left;">Beautiful Glenarm forest last Sunday</span></div>
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<span style="text-align: left;">Hugs and love</span></div>
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<span style="text-align: left;">Carrie</span></div>
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Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01475182740888543862noreply@blogger.com12