I’ve managed to do quite a bit of crochet in the last week, just picking up and putting this down as soon as my right hand starts to feel sore. Granny squares always grow so fast, which I think is probably part of their popularity. My other Coast Blanket squares, I think, are 30 rounds, so I haven’t got much to do now on this last one. Then I can undo the joined squares and rejig the blanket to make a sensible size, rather than a long narrow blanket suitable for a giant.
I double stacked my propagators out of the way, to take this picture by the brightly lit utility room window. I only planted my seeds last Friday and today see lots of them have shooted. I’m very pleased. Up periscope!
I’ve tried sprouting sunflower seeds (food grade, specifically sold for sprouting and micro greens, I haven’t picked them out of the wild birdseed mix!) The sprouts were very tasty; buttery and crunchy as I’d heard, so now I’m growing some as micro greens to compare.
Also I’ve planted peas for eating as pea shoots. Plus, I’ve started off my pointed red peppers (fingers crossed) since they take so long to grow I need to get them going earlier, rather than later. Next month it will be tomatoes. I’m already having requests for plants. A relative wants me to grow him some yellow tomato plants, as he doesn’t have any seeds left. I’ve agreed, especially if I can have some of his Balconi Red plants. They’re amazing producers, giving a really high yield of cherry tomatoes on just one bush. I’m not buying anymore tomato seeds either. I’ve got a multi-pack of a dozen varieties from a Lithuanian producer. I was thinking they might be dodgy, especially as I couldn’t read the packets (!) but the varieties I planted did very well last summer. I passed on so many young plants at an evening group I go to on a Wednesday evening, that one of them teases me now and likens me to Del Boy trading out of the back of my car. She’s convinced I should be charging, but I think it’s better to give freely!
I have pics in my highlights of my sprouts, micro greens and other planty pics on Instagram, if you’re interested. (Click the IG link top right to go through to my profile.)
Anyway, the focus today is making and reading, I’m definitely going off on a tangent!
One of my current audiobooks is making me laugh so much! I prefer to listen to Caitlin Moran’s books because she’s such an entertaining narrator. It’s quite rude, she generally holds no wishy-washy views about things and I don’t find myself agreeing with everything she says; as I feel there are lots of generalisations about men. But I have been thinking about some of the points she raises, the book is definitely making me reflect. That’s no bad thing.
What are you making and reading this week? I am interested. Have you planted any seeds lately?
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Linking up again with Kat and the gang for Unravelled Wednesday.
The Little Room of Rachell 
No starts for our garden yet…though Fletch has been gathering seeds. Your crocheting reminds me that I need to get back to making Granny Squares so that I will have enough for a blanket (at some point in time). I like the greens in your square. But the plan today is to cast on for new socks and maybe do some stitching. Then find a book among all the unread ones on our bookshelves!
Tell Fletch I’m a fan, it’s you who reads the horse ride across America book together after dinner, isn’t it? He always sounds like a lovely person in your posts.
I wonder which book you’ll choose?
I’m a big fan of Granny squares — maybe because, like you said, they come together quickly. (And they’re so versatile!)
No seeds started here yet — just the little oak trees that sprouted from last fall’s acorns. You reminded me how much I enjoy sprouts, though. They had sweetness, a little kick, a little crunch! Not sure I’ll much in the ground this spring, though I do have my eye on some ferns and hellebores in the nursery catalog.
The hellebores are out here and looking so pretty. Pink, a dark purple and lemon, I can’t decide which I like best.
Which are your favourite sprouts? I’m eating an alfalfa and red cabbage blend this week. It’s odd though – the red cabbage aren’t as red when mixed. I think I’ll sprout them separately and mix them together afterwards next time.
What a pretty blanket. You have a great start on gardening and are very sweet to give plants freely. I wish you lots of success.
Thanks Jane
I cannot grow things so I’m impressed by your success already!
Also by your approach to changing the blanket – you haven’t sounded annoyed at all, just matter of fact ‘me from the past made a blanket for a slim giant, I’m going to change that now’.
I bet you could grow some sunflower microgreens, it’s as easy as cress and mustard.
Oh no, not annoyed at all. Rather intrigued as to what I was thinking, although I suspect I know really… “Is there any way at all to get out of making another big square?!” I’ve had a break from crocheting granny squares for several months, or more, so don’t mind at all now.
Good for you, crafting is fun and re-doing just means more crafting, right?
Definitely! Since I’ve had hand issues (2018) I’ve slowed down and just enjoyed what I can do. It is what it is and I’m just glad I can do some knitting and crochet still.
I am away for a weekend shortly, seed planting will start once I’m home. Don’t think I have ever grown anything that I planted from seed indoors myself, that was Eric’s provence. Love the granny square. The colours are working well together.
You’re going to have some fun then! I love it. And it’s so tempting to try alsorts of things.
Thanks but I can’t take credit for the colour changes, it’s a variegated ball. I really love Hayfield spirit yarn
Those daffodils with your shades of grey crochet are stunning together! (no seed starts here yet, but soon!!) And don’t you just love a great audiobooks narrator?! (I find that authors reading their own books are the BEST!)
Aren’t they? Daffs are still only £1 a bunch, even with everything else going up in price. I call them instant sunshine!
If they’re good at narrating, definitely! Sometimes I’m sure some add in little asides that aren’t in the physical book. Or, they sing, which is fun. Bob Mortimer (who I don’t think you will know in the USA) did a cracking job of his book. I listened to it recently.
Your daffodils make me smile :)
Me too :-)
Those daffodils make me so happy! They are so cheerful. I picked up a bunch of white and lavender tulips at the grocery yesterday and they are brightening up all these rainy, gray days we are having. I miss the sunshine! I also picked up a pack of cosmos seeds to plant later on this spring. Happy first day of March! Spring and longer days are right around the corner and I couldn’t be happier.
Your tulips sound lovely. Such a small purchase which give immeasurable pleasure.
Glad to see you’re also under the rainy grey skies. Why should we suffer alone? Ha! Actually yesterday, after a huge hail storm which left the ground white, it brightened with blue sky and fluffy white. Even a little sunshine!
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