Cucumbers, Melons and Mud

The last of the cucumbers and my only surviving melon have now been harvested. The cucumbers although very bitter of skin, taste lovely once the knobbly, bobbly skin has been peeled away and the pigs love the skins, so nothing is wasted.

The polytunnel is still very productive, with broccolli, rocket, carrots, parsnips, herbs, red chillis and even a few each of lemons and limes all waiting to be harvested as and when we need them. The beetroot are just starting to fill out and the leeks are coming along nicely and will follow on perfectly from the leeks growing in the raised bed by the back door, that we are currently dining on.

The melon in the title - in it's own little egg cup!!

This morning the world is wet and windy, and the prospect of wading in to feed the pigs is not a good one, but the light is fast appearing and soon they will be up and demanding their breakfasts, so it's time to get togged up and wade through the lake that used to be a puddle, to the shed with the now mended roof, to prepare breakfast for the chickens and pigs.

This is the most dismal and dark morning to date, it's now 7.45 and still the sky is dark with only glimmers of light on the horizon. But saying that, we are not having the atrocious weather that my son and his family are suffering in Workington, Cumbria.

My thoughts go out to the family, friends and colleagues of Bill Barker, the policeman who died doing his job so heroically, and saving many lives last week. My son was only 15 minutes away from crossing that bridge in his truck. No matter what the weather, we are still here and life goes on, and for that we are thankful.

Sue xx