Thursday, 28 July 2011
Sunday, 17 July 2011
toms
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When To Pick Tomatoes - Organic Gardening Articles
If you have started your own tomato garden, have worked at it for months, tending to the plants, making sure they got all they needed, and you are now trying to find out what the best moment for harvesting them is, please read on. You will learn when to pick tomatoes to get the most out of you hard labor.
When to pick tomatoes is a personal option. If you need one or two tomatoes to satisfy your family’ daily needs, then the wisest thing to do is to pick the ripest tomatoes, and leave the rest to mature on the plant. The best thing to do, therefore, is to let your tomatoes ripen on the plant. It is not wise to pick them all at the same time, unless you are thinking of freezing them or using them for preserves, because they do not last for a very long period, even if kept in the fridge.
If you allow your tomatoes to ripen on the plant, you will probably see that they do not turn bright red, they get rather orangey. This is because the substance that gives tomatoes their red color does not form if temperatures are too high. If you live in a very warm climate, then, you may not get red tomatoes, but they will still be as tasty as ever.
Another good indicator that will tell you when to pick tomatoes is firmness. The tomatoes need to be colored (whether orange or red) and firm, but not rock-hard. If they are at that stage, let them stay on the plant for a couple more days. You must also be careful not to let them get too ripe, because when they are too soft they attract birds and other garden pests.
Finally, the last thing you must take into account to know when to pick tomatoes is climate. If most of the summer has passed, and you are still left with some green, not yet ripe tomatoes on the plants, it is imperative that you pick them all before the first spell of cold weather, even if they haven’t reached their normal size yet. If you leave them on the plants and the cold gets to them, they will be ruined completely. Once you have picked all these green tomatoes you can speed up the ripening process by putting them all into a box, one next to the other, making sure they are not on top of each other, and adding a couple of ripe apples. Close the box, leave it like this for a couple of days, and you will see that when you remove the lid they are ripe. The reason for this is that the apples, when ripening, emit a gas called ethylene that accelerates the ripening process.
Hopefully, this article has solved the problem of when to pick tomatoes, giving you clear guidelines and tips on how to make the most of your tomato crop. The feeling of actually picking the fruit from the plant is great, and one that every gardener, should experience!
Author Patricia Wainwright Resource: Get all the facts about gegetable gardening and gardening articles at GreenThumbArticles.com!
Article Source: When To Pick Tomatoes
Article From: Organic Gardening Articles
When To Pick Tomatoes
By Patricia WainwrightIf you have started your own tomato garden, have worked at it for months, tending to the plants, making sure they got all they needed, and you are now trying to find out what the best moment for harvesting them is, please read on. You will learn when to pick tomatoes to get the most out of you hard labor.
When to pick tomatoes is a personal option. If you need one or two tomatoes to satisfy your family’ daily needs, then the wisest thing to do is to pick the ripest tomatoes, and leave the rest to mature on the plant. The best thing to do, therefore, is to let your tomatoes ripen on the plant. It is not wise to pick them all at the same time, unless you are thinking of freezing them or using them for preserves, because they do not last for a very long period, even if kept in the fridge.
If you allow your tomatoes to ripen on the plant, you will probably see that they do not turn bright red, they get rather orangey. This is because the substance that gives tomatoes their red color does not form if temperatures are too high. If you live in a very warm climate, then, you may not get red tomatoes, but they will still be as tasty as ever.
Another good indicator that will tell you when to pick tomatoes is firmness. The tomatoes need to be colored (whether orange or red) and firm, but not rock-hard. If they are at that stage, let them stay on the plant for a couple more days. You must also be careful not to let them get too ripe, because when they are too soft they attract birds and other garden pests.
Finally, the last thing you must take into account to know when to pick tomatoes is climate. If most of the summer has passed, and you are still left with some green, not yet ripe tomatoes on the plants, it is imperative that you pick them all before the first spell of cold weather, even if they haven’t reached their normal size yet. If you leave them on the plants and the cold gets to them, they will be ruined completely. Once you have picked all these green tomatoes you can speed up the ripening process by putting them all into a box, one next to the other, making sure they are not on top of each other, and adding a couple of ripe apples. Close the box, leave it like this for a couple of days, and you will see that when you remove the lid they are ripe. The reason for this is that the apples, when ripening, emit a gas called ethylene that accelerates the ripening process.
Hopefully, this article has solved the problem of when to pick tomatoes, giving you clear guidelines and tips on how to make the most of your tomato crop. The feeling of actually picking the fruit from the plant is great, and one that every gardener, should experience!
Author Patricia Wainwright Resource: Get all the facts about gegetable gardening and gardening articles at GreenThumbArticles.com!
Article Source: When To Pick Tomatoes
Article From: Organic Gardening Articles
Friday, 24 June 2011
warning to previous recipe
If you happen to have read my blog
Christmas is Coming, then beware. Buy a bloody big cake tin. I have ended up with not one, not two but five yes that's right five Christmas cakes. All very good I might add but all different sizes. Problem is I cannot even pass them on to the children as they may end up being a little tipsy. The RBL will get one for their Christmas raffle, but it looks like Karen and I will be eating Christmas cake for a while so come the actual day will be sick of Christmas cake. MMMM I wonder if i would get done for feeding the birds cake. Has any one ever seen drunk birds flying? Maybe an experiment is in order. But then the garden could end up bieng infested with alcholic birds. Entertainment on tap.
Wednesday, 22 June 2011
As Usual a Politician taking the Military for Granted
Military 'should stick to fighting', says David Cameron - UK Politics, UK - The Independent
TOMMY
by Rudyard Kipling (1865-1936)
I went into a public-'ouse to get a pint o' beer,
The publican 'e up an' sez, "We serve no red-coats here."
The girls be'ind the bar they laughed an' giggled fit to die,
I outs into the street again an' to myself sez I:
O it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, go away";
But it's "Thank you, Mister Atkins", when the band begins to play,
The band begins to play, my boys, the band begins to play,
O it's "Thank you, Mister Atkins", when the band begins to play.
I went into a theatre as sober as could be,
They gave a drunk civilian room, but 'adn't none for me;
They sent me to the gallery or round the music-'alls,
But when it comes to fightin', Lord! they'll shove me in the stalls!
For it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, wait outside";
But it's "Special train for Atkins" when the trooper's on the tide,
The troopship's on the tide, my boys, the troopship's on the tide,
O it's "Special train for Atkins" when the trooper's on the tide.
Yes, makin' mock o' uniforms that guard you while you sleep
Is cheaper than them uniforms, an' they're starvation cheap;
An' hustlin' drunken soldiers when they're goin' large a bit
Is five times better business than paradin' in full kit.
Then it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, 'ow's yer soul?"
But it's "Thin red line of 'eroes" when the drums begin to roll,
The drums begin to roll, my boys, the drums begin to roll,
O it's "Thin red line of 'eroes" when the drums begin to roll.
We aren't no thin red 'eroes, nor we aren't no blackguards too,
But single men in barricks, most remarkable like you;
An' if sometimes our conduck isn't all your fancy paints,
Why, single men in barricks don't grow into plaster saints;
While it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, fall be'ind",
But it's "Please to walk in front, sir", when there's trouble in the wind,
There's trouble in the wind, my boys, there's trouble in the wind,
O it's "Please to walk in front, sir", when there's trouble in the wind.
You talk o' better food for us, an' schools, an' fires, an' all:
We'll wait for extry rations if you treat us rational.
Don't mess about the cook-room slops, but prove it to our face
The Widow's Uniform is not the soldier-man's disgrace.
For it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Chuck him out, the brute!"
But it's "Saviour of 'is country" when the guns begin to shoot;
An' it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' anything you please;
An' Tommy ain't a bloomin' fool -- you bet that Tommy sees!
TOMMY
by Rudyard Kipling (1865-1936)
I went into a public-'ouse to get a pint o' beer,
The publican 'e up an' sez, "We serve no red-coats here."
The girls be'ind the bar they laughed an' giggled fit to die,
I outs into the street again an' to myself sez I:
O it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, go away";
But it's "Thank you, Mister Atkins", when the band begins to play,
The band begins to play, my boys, the band begins to play,
O it's "Thank you, Mister Atkins", when the band begins to play.
I went into a theatre as sober as could be,
They gave a drunk civilian room, but 'adn't none for me;
They sent me to the gallery or round the music-'alls,
But when it comes to fightin', Lord! they'll shove me in the stalls!
For it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, wait outside";
But it's "Special train for Atkins" when the trooper's on the tide,
The troopship's on the tide, my boys, the troopship's on the tide,
O it's "Special train for Atkins" when the trooper's on the tide.
Yes, makin' mock o' uniforms that guard you while you sleep
Is cheaper than them uniforms, an' they're starvation cheap;
An' hustlin' drunken soldiers when they're goin' large a bit
Is five times better business than paradin' in full kit.
Then it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, 'ow's yer soul?"
But it's "Thin red line of 'eroes" when the drums begin to roll,
The drums begin to roll, my boys, the drums begin to roll,
O it's "Thin red line of 'eroes" when the drums begin to roll.
We aren't no thin red 'eroes, nor we aren't no blackguards too,
But single men in barricks, most remarkable like you;
An' if sometimes our conduck isn't all your fancy paints,
Why, single men in barricks don't grow into plaster saints;
While it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, fall be'ind",
But it's "Please to walk in front, sir", when there's trouble in the wind,
There's trouble in the wind, my boys, there's trouble in the wind,
O it's "Please to walk in front, sir", when there's trouble in the wind.
You talk o' better food for us, an' schools, an' fires, an' all:
We'll wait for extry rations if you treat us rational.
Don't mess about the cook-room slops, but prove it to our face
The Widow's Uniform is not the soldier-man's disgrace.
For it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Chuck him out, the brute!"
But it's "Saviour of 'is country" when the guns begin to shoot;
An' it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' anything you please;
An' Tommy ain't a bloomin' fool -- you bet that Tommy sees!
Christmas is coming
It has been a while since I have been here. Who would have thought a week off work and no time to blog. Quick update, visited the Aquarium in Plymouth, very good Grace loved the FISH. The photos were not much cop though.
The toms, cucumbers and melons in the greenhouse are coming along fine and dandy.
The girls caught a tummy bug and not been very well at all, but they are all back to normal and eating like they have never been fed before.
Anyway back to the present, what does this list of ingredients make:
1lb raisins
4oz chopped dried apricots
2oz cherries
2oz dried cranberries
4oz prunes
8oz sultanas
4oz peel (if you don't like this then the zest of 2 oranges)
3 preserved root ginger balls chopped
1 1/2 tsp vanilla essence
1 tbsp brown sugar
1 1/2 tsp ground cloves
1 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1 1/2 tsp nutmeg
1 1/2 tsp ground ginger
1 1/2 tsp salt
4 tbsp brandy
4 tbsp dark rum
4 tbsp port
4 tbsp water
9oz butter
9oz self raising flour
9oz demerera sugar
5 eggs
8in loose bottom cake tin
grease proof paper.
stout
Thats right you guessed it Christmas cake. All the fruit are at present soaking in a alcholic's dream punch and the kitchen smells like a distillery.
Karen and I will mix and bake the cake either tomorrow or Friday.
The last time I did the cake this early it was lush, so this one should be as good with a spot of luck. Then it will be just a case of turning and feeding the cake every two weeks up til the end of November then the decoration. Note to self do not give any cake to the girls and make a non alcoholic one for them.
The toms, cucumbers and melons in the greenhouse are coming along fine and dandy.
The girls caught a tummy bug and not been very well at all, but they are all back to normal and eating like they have never been fed before.
Anyway back to the present, what does this list of ingredients make:
1lb raisins
4oz chopped dried apricots
2oz cherries
2oz dried cranberries
4oz prunes
8oz sultanas
4oz peel (if you don't like this then the zest of 2 oranges)
3 preserved root ginger balls chopped
1 1/2 tsp vanilla essence
1 tbsp brown sugar
1 1/2 tsp ground cloves
1 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1 1/2 tsp nutmeg
1 1/2 tsp ground ginger
1 1/2 tsp salt
4 tbsp brandy
4 tbsp dark rum
4 tbsp port
4 tbsp water
9oz butter
9oz self raising flour
9oz demerera sugar
5 eggs
8in loose bottom cake tin
grease proof paper.
stout
Thats right you guessed it Christmas cake. All the fruit are at present soaking in a alcholic's dream punch and the kitchen smells like a distillery.
Karen and I will mix and bake the cake either tomorrow or Friday.
The last time I did the cake this early it was lush, so this one should be as good with a spot of luck. Then it will be just a case of turning and feeding the cake every two weeks up til the end of November then the decoration. Note to self do not give any cake to the girls and make a non alcoholic one for them.
Monday, 13 June 2011
Peppa Pig and Muddy Puddles
Grace found on the way home today her first muddy puddle. She walked into the middle of it pointed and said "water".
No muddy puddle just like Peppa said I. Mistake number 1. Grace then proceeded to be Peppa Pig and splash in said muddy puddle. As she was wearing her wellies not a problem until she decided with much arm waving that she needed to wash her hands. As I started to dig out the wet wipes from the tardis that is the bottom of the pram Grace had jumped the gun and was washing her hands in the muddy puddle. Grace then noticed me and obviously thought I know good idea lets sit down in the muddy puddle! I got to her just before her little bum touched the water. No harm done. Hands were wiped clean and puddle now nearly empty was left for the next little Peppa wannabe.
No muddy puddle just like Peppa said I. Mistake number 1. Grace then proceeded to be Peppa Pig and splash in said muddy puddle. As she was wearing her wellies not a problem until she decided with much arm waving that she needed to wash her hands. As I started to dig out the wet wipes from the tardis that is the bottom of the pram Grace had jumped the gun and was washing her hands in the muddy puddle. Grace then noticed me and obviously thought I know good idea lets sit down in the muddy puddle! I got to her just before her little bum touched the water. No harm done. Hands were wiped clean and puddle now nearly empty was left for the next little Peppa wannabe.
Thursday, 9 June 2011
Digestive Biscuits I mean Hobnobs
Yesterday on a whim attempted to bake Digestive biscuits. But due to not having all the ingredients on the recipe they turned out more like Hobnobs. Very good all the same.
150 g (5½ oz) plain wholemeal flour
1 tsp baking powder
½ tsp salt
½ tsp bicarbonate of soda
30 g (1 oz) medium oatmeal
20 g (¼ oz) bran
100 g (3½ oz) dark muscovado sugar
50 g (1¼ oz) unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
4 tbsp milk, or as needed
now the bran I did not have, so I upped the oats up by 20g.
Basically you mix all the dry ingredients then mix in the wet to make a dough. Roll in to a log wrap in greaseproof and put in to the fridge for half an hour. I put it in the freezer as it seemed a bit wet.
Take out the roll slice it up and bung in the oven for 12 min on 190.
Hey Presto Digestive/hobnob biscuits.
Sorry there is no pictures of the results but they did not last long at all, what can I say, not a lot mouth full!
150 g (5½ oz) plain wholemeal flour
1 tsp baking powder
½ tsp salt
½ tsp bicarbonate of soda
30 g (1 oz) medium oatmeal
20 g (¼ oz) bran
100 g (3½ oz) dark muscovado sugar
50 g (1¼ oz) unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
4 tbsp milk, or as needed
now the bran I did not have, so I upped the oats up by 20g.
Basically you mix all the dry ingredients then mix in the wet to make a dough. Roll in to a log wrap in greaseproof and put in to the fridge for half an hour. I put it in the freezer as it seemed a bit wet.
Take out the roll slice it up and bung in the oven for 12 min on 190.
Hey Presto Digestive/hobnob biscuits.
Sorry there is no pictures of the results but they did not last long at all, what can I say, not a lot mouth full!
Wednesday, 8 June 2011
Green Green Green
Today is our fortnightly recycling collection day. We are given a multitude of different coloured bags for different types of waste.
Pink for clothing, shoes and textiles
Green for glass bottles and jars
Blue for newspapers, magazines, catalogues, brochures, junkmail. stationery and telephone directories
and Clear for food and drink cans empty aerosols, plastic bottles and aluminium foil.
This service is provided by Cornwall County Council. Well done to them I say. Our household weekly collection on a Monday has been reduced from 6 or 7 black binliners to just 3 per week.
I wonder though how long it will last? At our last property the same council refused to take glass one week. The reason
Health and Safety
. Those dreaded three little words.
After that incident we refused to recycle as we seemed to be wasting our time. We had been provided with all the above bags but still they refused to collect. So far here we have not had the same problem. I have put a little bit of wood out just to see if they take it. It is able to be recycled, it would fit in the van they send but somehow I doubt they will take it and will say you have to got to the waste disposal centre in Saltash. Which would be all well and good if I had a car but I do not. Then they will say ring this number and the council will come out and pick it up whilst charging me for the privalige. We shall see. If they do not take it then bonfire night or the local building site skip it is then!
Tuesday, 7 June 2011
One Week Holiday - 12 Days Off - What to Do?
Finally a week off work. The beauty of my shift is that when I get a week off it feels like two due to the nature of the shifts.
Great now what to do? Unfortuneately Karen is unable to take time off with me apart from the weekend, so am left to my own devices (and the Girls).
First off definates- Saturday is the 90th Birthday of the Royal British Legion, and Callington Branch is holding a fundraising "Egg Banjo/Coffee morning" with various fundraising stalls at Callington town hall which I have volunteered for. Note dig out regimental blazer and tie.
My mate Dave's tattooist is holding a tattoo party all day Sat so after fundraiser, will get my last tattoo touched up, slight error on the original, long story but it will not take much to correct.
Apart from that nothing planned, usual household chores, grass cutting etc and time out with the Girls. I am sure that I will fill the other 11 days and that they will pass much too quickly.
Great now what to do? Unfortuneately Karen is unable to take time off with me apart from the weekend, so am left to my own devices (and the Girls).
First off definates- Saturday is the 90th Birthday of the Royal British Legion, and Callington Branch is holding a fundraising "Egg Banjo/Coffee morning" with various fundraising stalls at Callington town hall which I have volunteered for. Note dig out regimental blazer and tie.
My mate Dave's tattooist is holding a tattoo party all day Sat so after fundraiser, will get my last tattoo touched up, slight error on the original, long story but it will not take much to correct.
Apart from that nothing planned, usual household chores, grass cutting etc and time out with the Girls. I am sure that I will fill the other 11 days and that they will pass much too quickly.
Saturday, 4 June 2011
From the mouths of Babes
Can you remember those silly playground arguments...My dad is bigger than your dad etc.Well it says something about the health of the country in Modern Britain today when I was returning from the park with the girls and we passed a group of small boys squabbling as they do. At this point the classic line was heard Well MY Mum is Fatter than Your Mum.
I was quietly laughing to myself all the way home. But then I realised later that maybe that it was not so funny. The media and Govt. keep banging on at us about how much more obese the nation is today, the importance of diet and exercise blah blah blah.To be fair I generally ignore them as luckily am naturally slim. The problem is that people do not care anymore. A group of small boys consider it quite normal and are even quite proud of the fact that "my mum is fatter than your mum"
I was quietly laughing to myself all the way home. But then I realised later that maybe that it was not so funny. The media and Govt. keep banging on at us about how much more obese the nation is today, the importance of diet and exercise blah blah blah.To be fair I generally ignore them as luckily am naturally slim. The problem is that people do not care anymore. A group of small boys consider it quite normal and are even quite proud of the fact that "my mum is fatter than your mum"
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