Goodbye January

Can you believe January is almost over!! It has been a very hot month here in this neck of the woods and our garden has struggled.  This is my first year of having raspberries and while they are beginning to produce a few berries, the leaves look burnt to a crisp in some parts!  
The veggie garden has not done so well this year, I think that came down to us being away when we should have been planting out...... Those couple of weeks can make all the difference, so holidays will not be taken during the October/November period in future!! 
 
However, this goes to prove how growing some veggies

 in among the flowers can be beneficial .......last year I planted a Roma tomato in my garden along the front fence........ Just so it would be away from hubbies beloved gross lissie tomatoes .... It produced well, and I allowed a couple of the tomatoes from it to fall to the ground and stay there....     Now this year, here I have some lovely Roma tomatoes that have grown all by themselves!  Yes they are smaller, but don't let that stop you, they still have a wonderful flavour, and they still make relish and cook up well!!  Best of all...... No cost at all!!

Egg production has decreased a little with the heat stress being felt by the girls,  and of course Scarlet (the white silkie) and Mary (the small black pekin) have decided its perfect for going

broody!  With no rooster (unable to have them here) and now at capacity of  number of hens allowed here............ they are sitting on empty nests!  The 4 young hens I kept from the chickens are growing and by Autumn they will be close to laying - meaning we will continue to get eggs throughout the winter this year!


A reminder to those who were taking part in the dishcloth swap - time to mail out this week please.

And Finally for those who are working with me in the "Simplify my Home Challenge" how have you gone with the January Missions?  If you need to take a look at them, there is a tab at the top of the pages where you can find all the info.  I've been busy working in my kitchen to rearrange, declutter and wipe down cupboards, pantry and such.  If like me you also work part time, then you don't always get the time you would like, so concentrate on those parts that really annoy you, or are on show when visitors turn up.    Keep tuned............. the Feb list will be up shortly!
Hugs to all,
Sharm