Sara HjelmToday it is 69 days until the summer solstice & it’s raining, very slightly, but still. The afternoon should be better. + 7° right now at 11 am
#sarasspringcount23
After yesterday’s hard work (washing, cleaning floors, spray painting pots, planting ginger, etc, I was more or less knackered …
Ended with foot-bath before tumbling into bed in clean sheets.
#sarasspringcount23
Ended with foot-bath before tumbling into bed in clean sheets.
#sarasspringcount23
So I decide there is no panic today. I can have some fun baking & as I had a bunch of bought plums it’s Two Fat Ladies’ Plum Kuchen (out of season, I know & sorry all Germans, not the original, but best I’ve ever tasted)
Ready for 1st time in the oven …
#sarasspringcount23
And after some 20 min next is egg yolks whisked with sour cream poured over and back in the oven for another 40 min
(Really using ingredients from Easter, but it leaves me with 4 egg whites… )
#sarasspringcount23
(Really using ingredients from Easter, but it leaves me with 4 egg whites… )
#sarasspringcount23
Done and cooling off. Perfect dessert.
The rest is pure idleness - reading perhaps.
Dinner is done, straight from the freezer - “Lapskojs”.
Non Swedes can look that up, I’m too lazy to explain, but if you have eaten in a Swedish school canteen you’ll know…
#sarasspringcount23
Friday & 68 days until the summer solstice
Outside it’s cloudy, +10°, but feels much colder without sunshine. Now at 13 pm I have to give up & retreat to inside to warm up for awhile
#sarasspringcount23
Outside it’s cloudy, +10°, but feels much colder without sunshine. Now at 13 pm I have to give up & retreat to inside to warm up for awhile
#sarasspringcount23
So far I’ve curated some meat for smoking or drying or both + filled the bird feeders & oiled the pole to avoid the most creative of the squirrels
#sarasspringcount23
#sarasspringcount23
In the end I moved the ginger pots inside last night.
Sunday there might be frost
I’ve read up on growing & harvesting ginger, but advice on containers (deep or wide), or what to do if you want to harvest continuously & keep to next year are diverse @eyebeams ?
#sarasspringcount23
Sunday there might be frost
I’ve read up on growing & harvesting ginger, but advice on containers (deep or wide), or what to do if you want to harvest continuously & keep to next year are diverse @eyebeams ?
#sarasspringcount23
Saturday & another dry, cloudy morning
It is 67 days until the summer solistice & all rain has been canceled for the next 10 days in weather forecasts. It’s very dry.
I will have to tend to some of the rhododendrons today. They look very sad & need water…
#sarasspringcount23
I start with the sad red bush at the back of the garden & find that all pieces to connect my water hoses are somehow missing & I can only use one at the time=shorter length
After trying alternatives I give up- I’ll go hunt in the basement, but first more ☕️…
#sarasspringcount23
#Watering ##dryweather #chillyweather
It’s really chilly. I need to warm up & get both gloves & woolen socks in rubber boots.
Inside cat Alice is sound asleep on the sofa. She has apparently realized that company today will be space…
#sarasspringcount23
It’s slow going. So far the 2 huge rhododendrons have been watered + the small new cherry. Next up are the larger ones along the fence, the blueberries & the larger new trees
And so much for my efforts yesterday oiling that pole, clearly not enough oil …
#sarasspringcount23
I’ve also started to raking together fallen branches for mulching. The amount of cracked nutshells in those piles is staggering
#sarasspringcount23
#sarasspringcount23
Another grey morning to be followed by a warm & sunny afternoon. I’m curating my website, drinking ☕️, considering options…
In the end I turned off the water, so more off the same today!
It’s now 66 days until the summer solstice & only April so why hurry?
#sarasspringcount23
As yesterday the patio got too warm mid afternoon.
Today’s dinner is the healthy kind to compensate. (Saturday’s was anything but …)
#sarassspringcount23
Today’s dinner is the healthy kind to compensate. (Saturday’s was anything but …)
#sarassspringcount23
It’s a lovely day with full sunshine - this week will be full summer weather, but no rain in sight…
It is 65 days until the summer solstice, mid of April & feels like May. Early bushes & trees have huge buds or small leaves
#sarasspringcount23
It is 65 days until the summer solstice, mid of April & feels like May. Early bushes & trees have huge buds or small leaves
#sarasspringcount23
I’m almost finished arranging & filling pots, gathering plastic chairs for oiling - cleaning away winter.
I’ve spent some time ordering hose-connections, rubber hammer, fresh cement, paint & more wooden benches on sale
Around me nature more or less explodes…
#sarasspringcount23
I’ve spent some time ordering hose-connections, rubber hammer, fresh cement, paint & more wooden benches on sale
Around me nature more or less explodes…
#sarasspringcount23
6 am … not really time to get up yet. Even the deer are still resting (can you see them?)
Today it’s 64 days until the summer solstice & -2° this early
I ordered a food delivery, arriving in a few hrs, more or less only herbs in pots for outside
Another sunny, but a bit cold morning is over. It is now 63 days until the summer solstice. One more cold night ahead, then two really warm days before rain and cooler, more April like weather. Even frost …
#sarasspringcount23
#sarasspringcount23
I’ve been busy dividing my time between cleaning the grill after smoking meat during the night, receive yet a delivery of herbs & salad in pots including 1 unexpectedly not potted, but lovely red rose while watching Garden Rescue season 22 & drinking ☕️
#sarasspringcount23
#sarasspringcount23
One pot of basil goes straight inside to a lager pot, but the Q is which of these others do not have to be moved inside next week
Or covered during nights:
2 kinds of parsley
Salad
Salvia
Rosemary
Spring onions
I have a list of more, but I think I’ll wait
#sarasspringcount23
That smoking spiral works perfectly, I now have a large piece of really cheap, cold smoked meat to use for bacon, but it sure leaves you with a lot of cleaning. Small pieces can go into the dishwasher, but not the grill itself.
#sarasspringcount23
#sarasspringcount23
I’d better get going, repotting.
Still windy & cold. Too windy for spray paint. But some carpentry perhaps. Now more coffee, inside to warm up…
Cannot wait for tomorrow
The garden plants know nothing about a cold future (look, 1st magnolia flowers @MrEFinch)
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April 20 & 62 days until the summer solstice, 2 months…
Today we expect pre summer temperatures. At 10.30 it’s already +10° in the shade
Before I go out I try to deal with a strange enough thing these days- too much food
I got not just herbs yesterday, but also bread/veggies
Things pre-packed was right amount, the rest was much more than enough for one person & def for my fridge
Bread was exchanged for larger loafs
#sarasspringcount23
Things pre-packed was right amount, the rest was much more than enough for one person & def for my fridge
Bread was exchanged for larger loafs
#sarasspringcount23
The person packing must have thought all those spices called for more
Must be a keen veg family…
4 fennels instead of one
1 large melon instead of 1 small
3 zucchini & 4 aubergines instead of one each
1,1 kg of sliced toast & 1 kg Danish rye bread😱
Etc…
#sarasspringcount23
Must be a keen veg family…
4 fennels instead of one
1 large melon instead of 1 small
3 zucchini & 4 aubergines instead of one each
1,1 kg of sliced toast & 1 kg Danish rye bread😱
Etc…
#sarasspringcount23
Most urgent was bread & also the meat I cold smoked
Need to go into the freezer downstairs, packed portion-wise
The veggies can wait but will have to be processed Sat/Sun
So I have spent the morning slicing meat & rye bread & repacking
Almost done …
#sarasspringcount23
Need to go into the freezer downstairs, packed portion-wise
The veggies can wait but will have to be processed Sat/Sun
So I have spent the morning slicing meat & rye bread & repacking
Almost done …
#sarasspringcount23
At 8.45 it was still light enough to see my efforts planting herbs. Tomorrow will be even warmer. I’ll oil those chairs.
For safety some had to move inside 1 more night. The salad will be moved up on the stairs outside the door.
In the end my son passed by and relieved me of some bread and helped cut cat Alice claws
#sarasspringcount23
For safety some had to move inside 1 more night. The salad will be moved up on the stairs outside the door.
In the end my son passed by and relieved me of some bread and helped cut cat Alice claws
#sarasspringcount23
Busy morning when it’s 61 days until the summer solistice
First I woke too early. Then got the message that the tail of beef I’d ordered for a Persian stew would not be included, so started cooking the lamb shanks I’d defrosted already. It took some hrs but the result is 👍🏻. Of & on I cut ivy, tried to read up on soil for tarragon, sage & tai basil.
Q is what to serve as an addition besides saffron rice… fried aubergine, green/yellow zucchini or fennel (I have all). Anyone?
#sarasspringcount23
First I woke too early. Then got the message that the tail of beef I’d ordered for a Persian stew would not be included, so started cooking the lamb shanks I’d defrosted already. It took some hrs but the result is 👍🏻. Of & on I cut ivy, tried to read up on soil for tarragon, sage & tai basil.
Q is what to serve as an addition besides saffron rice… fried aubergine, green/yellow zucchini or fennel (I have all). Anyone?
#sarasspringcount23
It’s getting really hard to breath if you are at all allergic to pollen. In the end I spend the afternoon sleeping, gaining some of what was lost during the night.
When I get outdoors I find this. It’s easy to forget how fast it happens each year - spring…
#sarasspringcount23
When I get outdoors I find this. It’s easy to forget how fast it happens each year - spring…
#sarasspringcount23
Fantastic weather, but yet 60 days until the summer solstice. Only April. Next week will be cold and rainy.
Decided to clean northern windows- a true eyesore in the morning sun. So moved & pruned plants, including the new basil.
#sarasspringcount23
Decided to clean northern windows- a true eyesore in the morning sun. So moved & pruned plants, including the new basil.
#sarasspringcount23
I now have table full of plants, but still no clean windows as I ended up making pesto. Which is typical me. Cooking as a hobby sucks when you live alone.
The pesto is really tasty though & I had loads of Parmesan taking up space…
#sarasspringcount23
The pesto is really tasty though & I had loads of Parmesan taking up space…
#sarasspringcount23
Took cuttings, dipped in honey. We’ll see …
It’s really time to go outside
And for some more coffee!
#sarasspringcount23
It’s really time to go outside
And for some more coffee!
#sarasspringcount23
It’s getting extremely hot .. more like a summer dress than what I wear. I’ve managed the first thing on my most urgent list: water all recently planted trees, blueberries & the 10 barefooted sloe bushes that rest waiting under a pile of soil
#sarasspringcount23
#sarasspringcount23
The new expandable red hose is fantastic. It reaches all the way down to the hammock.
Next on the list is 2 areas along the fence, behind the currant bushes, that needs weeding & more covered cardboard before the rain on Monday
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3rd on my list is to clear an area in the garage right inside the door before the delivery arriving Monday
Lots of things huge, heavy & sensitive to rain: 1 bag concrete, 4 wooden benches in pieces, etc
Hopefully the person coming can just put it inside
#sarasspringcount23
Lots of things huge, heavy & sensitive to rain: 1 bag concrete, 4 wooden benches in pieces, etc
Hopefully the person coming can just put it inside
#sarasspringcount23
Moving inside to consider dinner while it cools off- obviously some of all that excessive amount of veggies
More experiments among them too - turmeric & sun-chokes
(dug down bucket for the latter not to spread?)
I’ll plant the remaining herbs later
Tomorrow…
#sarasspringcount23
Managed to complete almost all, weeding & cardboard placed, herbs planted (the tarragon looks really sad. Had fell down in the water so got extra sand & perlite). The tai basil is inside to join its cousin
#sarasspringcount23
#sarasspringcount23
The garage will be tomorrow, piece of cake as I checked.
Up above you can see the end of the warm weather, definitely a change on the sky. Tomorrow morning it will be raining & more normal April temperatures. Good for inside things. Cleaning windows for ex.
#sarasspringcount23
Up above you can see the end of the warm weather, definitely a change on the sky. Tomorrow morning it will be raining & more normal April temperatures. Good for inside things. Cleaning windows for ex.
#sarasspringcount23
It sure was a cold & rainy morning, but now at 6pm it’s clearing up. It is now 58 days & about 20 hrs until the summer solstice, June 21.
More rain tomorrow…
#sarasspringcount23
More rain tomorrow…
#sarasspringcount23
I more or less did what I set out to do
1 window cleaned, cuttings also from the Thai basil✔️
Space cleared in the garage för tomorrow’s delivery & the car moved to the side to get in✔️
(Poor tarragon moved inside, we’ll se if it recovers)
#sarasspringcount23
As I’ve sat on the patio on and off today the wren is dropping moss in my hair. He is complaining about my presence loudly & improving at least 2 of the nests, picking moss from the bean tree (that sure needs to get rid of some)
I’ll have to be careful pruning
#sarasspringcount23
I’ll have to be careful pruning
#sarasspringcount23
At least some of the tulips I dug up & stored in the garage until autumn seem to have made it.
Time to call it a day.
Tomorrow I’ll mulch some branches & unpack that delivery
Maybe clean another window…
#sarasspringcount23
And with all that pesto … what else would there be for dinner?
#sarasspringcount23
#sarasspringcount23
It sure is a grey rainy morning as I wake to the disappointing message that the delivery is rescheduled to Tuesday
I give upon the tarragon, cut it down + put it outside to fend for itself & make ☕️
It’s is now 58 days & 4,5 hrs until the summer solstice
#sarasspringcount23
And as I planned my day the 1st of several packages arrived after all - the 4 benches, for some strange reason registered as 4 individual items & including a useful pallet
This will be a fun assignment for my son & daughter in law visiting 2 days next week. I do need new oil laze though …
#sarasspringcount23
I’ve spent some time trying to clean my best but broken spade to prepare for its new shaft - chisel, drill, hammer, you name it.
In the end I have to give up & set the old stuck, wood on fire…
If not enough it will go on the grill. I really need it.
#sarasspringcount23
#creativity & #recykling
In the end I have to give up & set the old stuck, wood on fire…
If not enough it will go on the grill. I really need it.
#sarasspringcount23
#creativity & #recykling
There was a 35% change of rain today & sure enough it’s raining & windy as well.
The garden & the meadow in front of the house is now turning green with grass.
It is now 57 days, 4,5 hours until the summer solstice June 21
#sarasspringcount23
It sure is chilly outdoors, only 7° & feels worse Electric tools or machines are out of the Q in the rain
Tonight we might get frost…
I’m waiting for next delivery of my order. There was a long list of things. I had better print it out to have some control
#sarasspringcount23
Gratefully every item on the list was included today
Except for checking that, I’ve done nothing in the garden but watched the birds & squirrels fight over nuts & apples under the rhododendron
The wren has now attracted 2 females to inspect his nests overhead
#sarasspringcount23
#springgarden #birds @birds
Except for checking that, I’ve done nothing in the garden but watched the birds & squirrels fight over nuts & apples under the rhododendron
The wren has now attracted 2 females to inspect his nests overhead
#sarasspringcount23
#springgarden #birds @birds
I’d need someone like @GunnarValinder or @ACErnehall , more knowledgeable & able to document their progress, they are very quick out & in of the ivy
#sarasspringcount23
I now have 4 different crow birds visiting: Pair of hooded crows from across the road, parts of the jackdaw gang, the pair of magpies & recently 2 jays that have decided to settle down near by
Squirrels chase them all away even if double their own size
#sarasspringcount23
It’s 56 days, 5 hrs until the summer solstice, a cold morning, some 8° & raining on and off. At 6 in the morning there sure was frost & more to come Friday night
#sarasspringcount23
This was supposed to be a sunny day, but no. I really hope no fruit trees or berry bushes decide to bloom
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#aprilweather #gardening
#sarasspringcount23
#aprilweather #gardening
I watch one of the 2 jays picking up whatever the nuthatches & tits have dropped from the bird feeder, but it’s very cold compared to last week. Def woolen socks & thick gloves today.
In the end I have to take my coffee inside
#sarasspringcount22
#birdsite #springgarden @birds
In the end I have to take my coffee inside
#sarasspringcount22
#birdsite #springgarden @birds
It is now 54 19 hrs until the summer solstice
A sunny day, but cold until 5pm
I spent time sewing a “new” sweater for my cat, offering an old tunic that was beyond repair
When the wind died down the patio warmed up & I oiled the remaining 6 plastic chairs
#sarasspringcount23
Tomorrow we are promised less wind, I’ll probably water those newly planted trees again, but tonight will be really cold.
Stupidly I bought 2 Campanulas for some color outside the door
I have to carry them in & out as they cannot take less than +5°
#sarasspringcount23
Sun is setting & immediately the temperature goes down below what’s pleasant without jacket & gloves. Time to go inside, finish the sewing & get something to eat
The woodpecker seems to agree & loads up some energy before nightfall
#sarasspringcount23
#birds @birds
The woodpecker seems to agree & loads up some energy before nightfall
#sarasspringcount23
#birds @birds
Wow…
That sure was a misty morning. At 7, only a couple of degrees above freezing.
Having my morning coffee it disappears in no time
And gratefully no wind so more time outside today
That ginger is doing fine & the chairs look amazing compared to before
#sarasspringcount23
