We managed a couple of afternoons at the allotment, although once again on one occasion we were rained off. In stark contrast on the second visit, it was warm and sunny.
We are still clearing and digging over beds. We have about another eight left although two of these house dahlias and they won’t be dug until the first frosts kill off the top growth.
That doesn’t mean that, once the beds are cleared, our work on the plot will come to an end. We will then have to tackle all the areas that are waiting for some renovation. We just need the weather to cooperate.
Last week, we removed nets from our raspberries and blueberries. It sounds like a simple job but isn’t. Some of the new growth had to be teased out of the netting or failing that snipped off. Then there are the brambles that pop up in unwelcome places and entangle their thorny stems in the netting. Once the netting is off pieces of bramble have to be carefully removed before the net can be stored away.
Another major task was to lift one bed of carrots. Unfortunately, they can’t be left in our clay soil as they would either rot or become slug fodder.
From left to right – top row Aron & Top Weight
Bottom row – Flakee & Romance
Once lifted the tops of the carrots were twisted off and composted. The carrots were taken home where they will be stored in boxes of compost in the garden greenhouse.
Martyn posted a video of harvesting the carrots here
We harvested a few other things as well as carrots.
We harvested some more chillies from the garden greenhouse and a plant growing on a windowsill in the house. The three plants were bought as they were advertised as suitable for growing as pot plants. They will hopefully overwinter in the house.
Away from our gardening activities, we had a day out at Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal where we met up with some friends.
For much of the day it threatened rain but, against all odds, it managed to stay dry.
There were some swans on the lake and just one cygnet, however it was difficult to take a half decent photo.
Our walk extended across the lake and into the deer park.
The last time we visited this area, it was rutting season and the stags were bellowing to one another. This year, although we were only a week earlier, all was quiet and no deer put in an appearance. 
At any rate we had a good walk.
Ruby has to be kept on a lead in the grounds so there was no chance of a game of fetch which she was trying her best to initiate. She hopefully pulled a ball out of Martyn’s bag when we stopped for a snack.
As a treat, for Ruby, we made a stop at Temple Newsam on our way home where she finally managed a game.
Onto last week’s meals, I made a quinoa pilau into which went some of our onion, garlic, tomato, green chilli, carrot,and potato, along with peppers and sweetcorn from the freezer.
Another meal was a spicy turkey dish that used some of our onion, garlic, tomato and peas from the freezer. It was accompanied by onion bharjis made with what was left of our overwintering onions. I used briwn rice rather than cauliflower rice.
Finally until next time stay safe and well.
I am again linking to Harvest Monday at Dave’s Our Happy Acres blog.
Brambles sneaking into my raspberries as well from my neighbour’s garden, which is quietly and happily rewilding itself, much to the enjoyment of the wild things. Very sweet of you to make sure Ruby had her off-lead games with her ball. She is so adorable.
We love watching Ruby having fun CJ. Her joy is infectious.
Your onion bhajis always look so delicious – I really must try to make some one day.
Brilliant title and some excellent carrots, ours have been mostly dodgy this year.
And I love that top photo – I can just imagine the sound of that water. How lovely it looks
Do have a go at bhajis, Belinda – they are so easy to make.
The season is indeed winding down but I’m sure that you still have lots to do at the allotment Sue. That’s a good haul of carrots! I really miss my allotment raspberries. I grew ‘Polka’ and although the pickings were always slimmer at this stage of the year there was usually enough to top up my breakfast muesli or porridge 😀
WE will always have lots to do at the allotment, Anna.
Poor Ruby, it must be so frustrating but a necessary evil being on her leash. At least she got off the lead for a little while.
Ruby actually likes being in a lead, Debbie. We have a retractable one which has a range of 8m so she can explore and run around but we can call her back if she is likely to get in the way of other people. After she has had a game of lead she caomes and asks for it reattaching. If we are just walking and Ruby is off lead she sticks close to us but when on the lead she runs around. I think she fee;s confident that she knows we are on the other end.
Lovely pears and raspberries. Carrots may look a little odd but they taste good and cook up well.
We don’t mind odd looking carrots at all, Sue
Fascinating Sue. Do you dig up your dahlias or just leave them in the ground?
We dig them up, Denise. We have left them in in the past and covered them with plastic sheeting which we covered with straw but it’s easier to lift them so we can sort out the bed and tidy things up,