The things that really wind you up for no "sensible" reason. Keep it poiite.
 
I dislike:-
The way Americans call soil "dirt" like its rubbish to throw away.
Anything that features a woman in a cardigan and beads who sells flowers and overpriced seeds
A man who promotes No Digging as the answer to life the universe and everything as if its a sin to wield a spade.
TV Gardeners with perfectly manicured, weedfree gardens.

I'm intrigued by the Celtic Wheel of Life  but know very little about it. So its my homework for this year!
If anyone can contribute anything useful - and I don't mean scoffing about it being for witches and pagans - please do so. I'm looking at it with an open mind and hope you can too!

The end of January/beginning of February is called Imbolc and it marks the midpoint between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox. When we welcome a return to the light, lambs are born, spring flowers are emerging. Snowdrops are brought into the house. Candles are burnt and bonfires lit. 
It's also St Brigid's day when crosses are woven from rushes in Ireland and ? Scotland so Imbolc is paired with the Christian calendar. 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imbolc

Its also Candlemas - from the Christian calendar https://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/common/candlemas
.......and there's a Full Moon - the Snow Moon tonight.
Snowdrops are known as Candlemas Bells. 

So many traditions and beliefs coming together. 
I'm going to celebrate Imbolc in my own little way . I'll pick some snowdrops and light a candle. Tonight I'll look for the Snow Moon.

Sorry about the rambling. Just trying to understand it all!

'Oh wee sleekit cowering beastie' (Think that's the way it goes?)
How many are partaking of the 'Haggis, neeps & tatties'

I've got mine ready to cook up, but I did struggle with only a skemmy small swede in the shop as everyone must have had the same idea?

Looking forward to it later!

I’ve just filled in a form to be a trial grower for she grows veg.      looking for growers in 

Eastern & Western Scotland
The Highlands and outlying islands
Wales
Northern England

Imagine that  you're deciding what to eat today - maybe its inspired by a recipe or something that you often make and enjoy. With experience, you know that there are some ingredients that aren't essential and you can replace them with something else which will have a similar taste or texture. 

Now the pedants will say that if the recipe requires an onion, it has to be an onion - not a leek, spring onion or the leaves of elephant garlic.
Similarly if it requires cabbage, it can't be kale, cauliflower leaves or sprouts. 
Spinach must be spinach - not chard or beetroot leaves. 
A salad must have lettuce........

All year round I can pick leaves of spring onions, leeks and elephant garlic, chard, cut and come again lettuce, rocket and various other salad leaves. They're all quite easy to grow and undemanding. 
However, I struggle with cabbage, cauliflowers & sprouts, broccoli, bulb onions and heading lettuce.

So why put myself through all the work and expense when I could grow the taste substitutes with relative ease.

Suggestions welcome for other easy taste substitutes.

What seeds are you saving? 


Snap dragons. My first lot of seeds this year.

Seems about right to me?  Does it apply to the UK? What are your thoughts?

https://cdn.realfood.gov/DGA.pdf

We've been discussing on another thread our likes and dislikes when it comes to food. Fussy lot, aren't we.

Imagine that all of G&G are coming to visit you and will be expecting something to eat. Can you suggest a menu, or even one item, that all of us would eat?

I’ve been drinking water. I never do that unless I’m at death’s door.

I had my first archery lesson last night 7.30-9.00. It was indoors of course and really enjoyable. I have signed up for a block of four Monday evenings to add a new string to my bow (if you will excuse the pun!)  Once through the initial training I will be allowed to utilise the facility once a week at a very cheap rate!  Surprisingly, none of the 15 arrows I shot strayed from the target and I even had one in the bullseye! We were trying different distances to target and it seemed to me that the further away they were the more accurate I was (Or it may have been me getting used to the Olympic recurve bow.?)

Next week we will be shooting with sighrs, which in the back of my mind, I feel is cheating? but going forward I would have a choice of type of bow and what additions I would add to it!

I was a bit worrried because I wear glasses, but it didn't seem to interfere with accuracy and I was very pleased with the result!