Cars, chickens, cats, courgettes and cakes

Has it really been 10 days since I last blogged? Actually its not surprising seen as most nights have been spent driving up and down the motorway to exchange cars with family members since the demise of the Fiat Shed.

At least thats one thing that got sorted, on Wednesday we collected the new chariot, a lovely metallic grey Renault Scenic that WILL NOT become 'the car that goes to the tip' which is what turned the Fiat into the Fiat Shed. No way José. S'lovely.

As for work and the whole redundancy thing, that seems to have turned out ok for me (very surprisingly) which Im sort of pleased with, or at least will be when I find out what my new role involves. I dont really want to go into the ins and outs on here, it wouldnt be fair to the party that wasnt as lucky as me.

Other than that, things have been swelling to huge proportions in the Beecher garden, vegetables and chickens alike.

This shot, which I used for HSMSHS for the word 'Three' was taken on 30th June...

You can see Snowdrop there at the front enjoying the fact that the newbies are now allowed to free range in the garden having had their wings clipped. See how her tiny pink comb has grown a little?

Now see this photo taken about an hour ago while I sat on a concrete flag freezing my back side off hoping she'd keep still for two seconds..

How much has her comb grown in just 11 days!! Im thinking its all the greenery she's now chomping on along with the biddly wigs and worms. They arent half as skitish as they were although Snowdrop is completely neurotic. She dances about, falls over, forgets she cant fly and is generally, no offence meant, a proper dizzy blonde. Rosie is the playful one, you'd never think that chickens would play would you but they do. The new girls go round in a group generally, safety in numbers from top dog Nutmeg sort of thing, but they play hide and seek, chase and tag. Honestly, its really funny to watch. Bluebell who was originally the shyest of them is the first to have feed from my hand. Only two pecks but its a start.

Isnt she pretty? Despite what dad says, she isnt crossed with a vulture.

Some sad news from yesterday concerning this little girl..

Jess from next door, you'll probably remember her as the cat we sort of adopted because they didnt seem to be looking after her. On Wednesday night she was lying by the pond looking very miserable, barely lifting her head to see me. In an attempt to get her to move, I gave her some food, which thankfully she got up to eat ravenously and I stroked her little bony head before she wandered off. Last night as I let the chickens out, as I walked back to the house I noticed her lying under the patio table, which is a place she settled often for shelter when it rained. It turned out to be her last resting place as she had died.

That photo was taken last May, yesterday when she passed she was a quarter of the size. Its strange because it was only last weekend I had a converation with my neighbour from the other side, mother of Sid the cat. She asked me if I knew who the pathetically thin stray belonged to that they fed occasionally and allowed into their kitchen when it was cold or raining. She couldnt believe me when I told her she wasnt a stray. At least there were two of us willing to give her food and shelter. RIP Jess cat.

In garden news it seems I havent been doing my watering can duty as I should have been. I know this because on Sunday, everything was green and doing 'ok', then after the torrential rain Monday/Tuesday everything exploded.

The makings of corn appeared...

The courgette plant went mad...

The strawberries went red and juicy..

The tumbler tomotoes multiplied massively....

and the beetroot became the first thing to be harvested...

There's something satisfying about pulling up vegetables you've grown yourself. Even if you do give it all away because you arent that keen on beetroot..

I think Im going to have to learn how to make tomato chutney as perhaps it wasnt such a good idea to grow 12 tomato plants that are now all a million feet tall.

Lastly, Amanda Magpie showed her talents are endless on Sunday when she put together some cakes for me for high tea, so I could use my cake stand. As Amanda does commissions, the spec was 'red and pink' with a quintessentially british afternoon tea feel. Look what Amanda came up with, arent they amazing?

Absolutely beautiful.

Perfect for afternoon tea. Amanda's website should be up and running very shortly on Manchester Tarts. Ive seen a sneak preview and it will make your mouth water. She will also have on line ordering to make it even easier.

Thats about it really.