Charting the progress on my allotment in Leeds, West Yorkshire. Wednesday, 30 December 2015. The End Of An Era. It was back in March 2009 that I took on my first allotment and I started this blog on the 1st of April so that I could track the progress I made on it. This is the first photo I posted and shows the plot as it was before we started clearing, weeding and digging.

Four Appliances to Buy and One to Skip. For a lot of people, coffee can be an expensive habit. Every day, I decided to finally invest in the best espresso machine I could afford. I chose this Nespresso machine. Since I put my garden to sleep.

Friday, 17 July 2015. I expect it was the same in many other places this far south. The weather has been warm and close for a while, but with not very much rain. Mr C took some pictures of the flying ants. This one is of them mating. Sadly it seems after mating, the drone then dies. We found this one above, inside the house on some roses, but put it back outside. Sunday, 21 June 2015.

Tuesday, August 4, 2015. Well I hope summer is treating you all well, its treating us very well. We are enjoying the fruits of our labour from the garden, we have had a huge array of strawberries, raspberries, red and black currants and gooseberries which we are making little Jars of pleasure with. It seems to be popular we have made 50 jars and only have three left. Last weekend we butchered two pigs. We have acquired a couple of new customers and we hope they are all enjoying their pork.

It is all coming together slowly. Last Wednesday these appeared on our roof. 12 solar panels to generate some electricity for us and help the planet. Jonquils in vase on end of my kitchen counter.

Every house where love abides and friendship is a guest, is surely home, and home sweet home for there the heart can rest. Sunday, October 12, 2014. Making chili powder with garden peppers. Peppers grew well in the garden and I wish there were more. It was kind of an experiment and I enjoyed it. I love my Presto digital food dehydrator.

Gardening and family life by the sea. Cerulean blue skies, family days and ping-pong. We were in London to see the Summer Exhibition.

Busy, Busy, Busy and a Chickeny Update. Saturday, August 15, 2015. Cue the chocolate hazelnut spread, chopped nuts, puff pastry and flaked almonds.

The House with the Blue Door. Monday, 17 August 2015. Hello there - thank you for dropping by, and for all the lovely comments which you made about my holiday posts. I continue to be delighted every time I get one and it means a great deal that you still enjoy stopping for a while at my blog. I would have shared a photo with you, but it was rather reluctant to emerge from the tin, and we ended up scooping it rather than slicing it. Ah well, not very photogenic but it still tasted good.