Check-In Post April 4th 2021

[badly_knitted]

Hello to all members, and welcome to our regular daily check-in post. Just leave a comment below to let us know how your current projects are progressing, or even if they're not.

Checking in is NOT compulsory, check in as often or as seldom as you want, this community isn't about pressure it's about encouragement, motivation, and support. Crafting is meant to be fun, and what's more fun than sharing achievements and seeing the wonderful things everyone else is creating?

There may also occasionally be questions, but again you don't have to answer them, they're just a way of getting to know each other a bit better.


Today's Question: No question today.


If anyone has any questions of their own about the community, or suggestions for tags, questions to be asked on the check-in posts, or if anyone is interested in playing check-in host for a week here on the community, which would entail putting up the daily check-in posts and responding to comments, go to the Questions & Suggestions post and leave a comment.

I now declare this Check-In OPEN!

Comments

[badly_knitted]

Another 8 arm warmer rows, but my arms have had it.

Spent two hours digging in the garden and didn't even get halfway across my patch of ground. I know I'll have to dig the whole patch twice, because the soil here is very heavy and sticky, still wet from winter, and weed roots are easily overlooked or mistaken for worms. It was hard work and everything hurts now, but the weather's about to turn cold again so I'll have a few days to recover before I have to get back out there.

Had my second toasted Hot Cross Bun today, and managed not to set fire to it this time. Success! There was plenty of smoke, but no flames. Good thing I don't mind the charred bits.

[smallhobbit]

That's a lot of digging. Glad you're not longing setting fire to your hot cross buns!

[badly_knitted]

I've had enough of digging already, but so much more to do. I was looking forward to it until I started, lol!

Might prove to be fluke, we'll see when I toast the next one!

[smallhobbit]

I finished my cross stitch today! I need to neaten up the fabric, but once that's done I shall be posting a picture. It was good timing as I'm following an online embroidery stitchalong from tomorrow, so we'll see how that goes.

[badly_knitted]

WOW! Well done, looking forward to seeing the picture.

Good luck with the stitchalong!

[annofowlshire]

Hurray for finishing!

[smallhobbit]

Thank you!

[annofowlshire]

Lots and lots of gardening activities today, mostly sowing vegetable seeds in the conservatory (which is my acting potting shed). I wanted to do the floral hanging baskets but with frost on and off through the next week I didn’t want them to take up space in there, too, so I’ve left those for another week.

Bolstered by my success with foraged wild garlic, today I tried cooking with foraged stinging nettles. I made nettle/wild garlic/parmesan scones. They turned out tasty. My garden may be a while yet, but at least I can eat something grown on the property!

I thought I’d spin tonight. The Mr said wanted to go play a computer game so I’d be on my own. But then he came out and said that, actually, he’d like to watch a movie with me instead. My second sock was pretty much nearing bind-off so I set about in a panic to find a non-spinning crafting project to do while TV-ing! I didn’t want to just cast on another pair of socks which is basically what I’ve been doing for the last year in lieu of making a decision on another project (pandemic exhaustion, I think). I’ve been seeing people post about their cross stitching lately, and I have to admit that it’s not proven my favorite craft in the past but I pulled out a kit designed by a friend that I’d started and abandoned more than a year ago because, hey, it was all good and ready to roll.

To my surprise, it went enjoyably, and I think I’ll carry on with it for a while.

[badly_knitted]

What veggies are you sowing?

Yes, hanging baskets take up a heck of a lot of room if they have to kept inside. I only did them once, and never again, although to be fair I don't really have anywhere convenient to hang them.

The scones sound yummy, I love that you're using some of the wild-growing plants.

Cross stitch can be very relaxing it you're in the right mood. I love it, but I'm impatient. I start something and right away I want to finish it to start on something else, so my stitching isn't always very neat.

[annofowlshire]

Oh my, the list is long... I’m doing most everything from seed this year, so I’ve sowed:

Butterscotch Squash
Cucumbers
Cucamelons
Fennel bulb
Kale (Nero di Toscana)
Asparagus
Pumpkin
Jalapeno
Mini corns
Peas
Broad beans
Snow peas mix (mangetout in the UK)
Fiery Leaf salad mix
Beetroot
Brussels Sprouts
Artisan Bumble Bee Blend Cherry Tomatoes
Cardinal (purple) Bell Peppers
Dragon’s Tongue (rocket variety)
Italian Beefsteak Tomatoes
Black Tomatoes (Indigo Rose)
Red Onions
Physalis
Lettuce
Rainbow Chard
Brown onions
Dragon’s Tongue
Cherry tomato plant
Purple Leeks
Yellow Courgette

And several things that really ought to be planted direct like the carrots, another kale, parsnips, purslane, watercress, cauliflowers, etc. That’ll start as soon as this blasted frost goes!

Also a full array of herbs for both the patio and the garden. I have picked up some potted herbs just to get us started since I determined it would cost me more to keep buying cut fresh/dried herbs than investing in a handful of potted ones for our most used in cooking until our seeded ones establish.

I’ve started a few flower seeds, but mostly waiting until I do the baskets and I’ll start them in there.

Mr has also planted a dozen fruit trees and many berry canes.

... we’re not the sort of people do things by halves, I guess XD

I’ve not usually bothered much with doing flowers in past gardening seasons, but the new house has a large, plain frontage with several hooks for baskets already installed, and courtyard patio that is separated off from the garden by the drive, and I feel that all that begs for a lot of baskets, pots, etc filled with colorful flowers to decorate it. I’m also planning on having potted herbs out there in easy reach of the kitchen since it’s a bit of a trek down to the garden.

[badly_knitted]

Wow, excellent selection, and I'm pleased to see the less usual tomatoes. I'm a big fan of unusual varieties. I used to grow a lot but haven't had time in recent years.

Flowers are good among the veggies too, companion planting. I know marigolds are good with tomatoes but I forget what else is recommended.

Just wait until you're enjoying your home grown veggies and fruit! All the effort will be worthwhile.

[annofowlshire]

Our “philosophy” on edible growing is to focus on unusual/expensive/difficult-to-get veg (we have some “common” veg in there as well, because it’s nice to have fresh and to hand). And I also like a colorful plate!

I plan to mix herbs and some flowers in among the veg as well, although all of this assumes I’ve gotten a lot more of those blasted weeds out of the way! But much of it (the warm weather veg) can’t go in until June or so I have time... or so I keep telling myself....

I haven’t done this scale of edible gardening in several years. I’m really looking forward to the summer although I suspect I’ll be drowning in excess veg even if a lot of it fails XD Maybe I can set up an honesty box outside of our gate... XD

[badly_knitted]

A sensible philosophy. I'm sure there will be people who appreciate any excess veg, or you can freeze quite a lot of things for use over winter, make green tomato chutney with unripened tomatoes... The list is endless.

I recommend Bob Flowerdew's book on companion gardening if you're interested, it's a mine of information on what grows best with what.

[medievalrosalie]

You are seriously inspirational! The garden sounds fantastic! I haven't cross stitched for years, but a young colleague at work has just been bitten by the bug, so it's cute to see her try to convert everyone who works with us into cross-stitchers! What is your design?

[annofowlshire]

You say “inspirational,” I say “foolhardy” XD

I’m doing this design: https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/714955724/baby-rainbow-dragon-cross-stitch-kit

It was perhaps a bit large and ambitious for someone who had not done much cross stitch in the past. XD (They have since released a smaller version which would have been better, but I’m already working on this one.)

The art is done by a friend of mine, and converted to cross stitch by another friend.

[badly_knitted]

That is such an adorable design!

[smallhobbit]

Hooray for doing some cross stitch. Strangely for most things while I like to see instant results with cross stitch I'm happy to take my time and just watch it grow. My latest took just over 5 months, and the larger Klimt one I did before that took about 20 months.

[annofowlshire]

For this particular one, I want to hang it in my son’s room while he’s still young enough to think it’s cool XD

[badly_knitted]

An excellent goal!

[badly_knitted]

You're so wonderfully patient with your cross stitch!

[medievalrosalie]

I did manage to finish a linen apron I was working on, so that's finally done! It's nothing fancy. Rolled hems at the sides and back and a waistband. It's not gathered but it will be very useful for medieval events. One can never have too many aprons.

[smallhobbit]

Nothing fancy, but still quite a lot of work I think!

[badly_knitted]

Well done! Another item ticked off your list.