2026 - What I did today.

That's beautiful, SC. I can "see" it flying.

I finished weaving my 6 willow swallows today. I definitely improved over the 6 . First 2 I’m keeping as they’re not good enough for anybody else. The other 4 I’m reasonably happy with. I’ve got some willow left over so I’m going to attempt a basket with them. If that hurts my hands as much as making the swallows did. Then that’ll be the end of my willow weaving hobby. But very pleased I’ve had the chance to try it. Something I’ve wanted to try for years. Still not actually taken any photos of them yet.

We really need pictures SC.

Still not a good picture. But here is one of the swallow I’m happy with. 

It's a brilliant picture and a truly stunning swallow. You are so clever. They'll sell like hot cakes, if you're prepared to put your hands through the torture.

My 'what I did today' pales into insignificance. I finally traipsed up the now unfrosty grass to the GHs. Collected another small pot of compost to warm up and sow some more onions. Regretted walking on the veg patch soil to retrieve the insect mesh and came off with boots like clod hoppers, caked in oodles of mud. I had to walk up and downm n the mossy lawn to scrape some of the muck off. On the way back down I noticed a daff bulb out of the soil and, instead of my usual walking past and ignoring it, I thought I'd give it a bit of a chance and plant it deeper. Silly me! Soil is solid, no digging going on there. I did my best and apologised to the daffy. The ice on the pond is over an inch thick, P said I could have walked on it. No chance!

its Roots week and my birthday so I thought I'd treat myself to a furtle in the Roots section of the Little Shop.
I pulled up a carrot, two radishes and a Mooli radish. So much excitement!!
Next I furtled for Mashua and Oca in the defrosted buckets, I emptied the Mashua tub into a trug as it was easier to pick out the mashua that way. There were about 6 of a decent size and a few small ones/fat roots that I replanted immediately, using the same compost mixed with coir.
Next up was the Oca tub. They were more exciting to harvest because they were bright red and easy to spot. There were 12 decent size ones and a few tiddlers. Once I've mixed the old compost with some coir, I'll plant the tiddlers and all the roots as they seemed to be raring to grow.
For the record, the cuttings that I took of the Oca have grown well. I may transplant them into another big pot. With the mashua tuber that I pulled up a couple of weeks ago, I replanted the root end and that is also growing.

Not a lot of garden related stuff happened today. Tidied up the area the willow sticks had been soaking . I’d covered them with tree bags and pinned down with rocks. As didn’t want them freezing into one big clump. That would have been very annoying if that had happened. Found some weeding tools Bob wanted to borrow. Started making a new money box for the barrow.

I do like your swallow SC he’d look good hanging on a wall.

Nothing in my frozen garden.
  I did empty and clean the ice maker/water storage in my fridge freezer there’s no way we’d be needing either for a while.

Not very exciting and definately not able to do anything outdoors! My day was spent hoovering from top to bottom. I also have a carpet washer which I put to good use on the living room carpet but it was the long runner in the passage that really brightened up after a good wash!

It's bladdy hard work and took all day, but was worth it. I even think Kato aproves, curled up on his leopard skin blamkee on the couch. Hr has a differnt outlook now as I moved the furniture round a bit!