seaside crofting: February 2020

29 February 2020

February 2020

Can you recognise any of us from this line up ? !!

I think the cold must have got to us !

It's very strange how so many of us like to get cold and wet on a Sunday morning

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A team effort laying some concrete for Janette -
many hands make light work helped along with lots of cups of tea

💛💜💚

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February has been the month to give our animals a bit more protection from the wind and rain

although Wilma is not too sure about the fashion parade

"Do I look like I want to go for a walk in this wind ?"

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A snowy view from the bus on the way to the dentist in Dingwall

And when it's cold and wet on Thursdays Janette and Lorna keep the blues away at their Croft Fresh pop-up cafe
in the Church of Scotland from 11am until 2pm,
it's THE place to be to catch up with everyone's news.

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Thank you to all the Thursday night Disco Dancers at
"JUST DANCE"
in Aultbea Church of Scotland

YOU have donated £101 during February towards
the buying and running of the Church of Scotland !
Well done !

Keep on coming, keep on dancing,
wear pj's or sequins, just come along,
chocolate biscuits included !

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We are very lucky in Aultbea to be able to host some wonderfully talented artists

Monday evening should be a real treat !

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Any news or events that are happening at the
Aultbea Church of Scotland
can now be found on the newly created Facebook page "Aultbea Community Hub"

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Book of the month

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The Phone Co-op

This month we have both changed our mobile phone contracts to The Phone Co-op, an ethical company that is a 100% member owned co-operative.

Wow! What a difference to be able to speak to a real person and not have to talk to a digital voice or tap away for nearly an hour on a chat line.

This company is a real delight to deal with

💜💛💚💙💜

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Quote of the month

"You will always find an answer in the sound of water"

Chuang-Tzu

Sent with 💚💛💜💙
from Malcolm and June and the Gang

1 February 2020

January 2020

Welcome to 2020

Hello everyone, hope you enjoy this month's blog 💚

We have a new recruit for our Sunday morning swims !
Welome to Janet, great that you have come to join us.

before the swim......

and after the swim.....

but still smiling !

thank you Stan Miller for the group photos,
much appreciated

💙

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On the croft

A lull between play-fighting bouts

A new crop for 2020

We grow and eat a lot of potatoes but occasionally we do get a bit of blight.
Our favorite seed company,
"The Real Seed" company may just have the answer.

We are going to give oca a try; grow and treat just as you would any potato but blight resistant.

The Real Seed company give fabulous information on all their seed packets; where they are from, how to grow them, how to save the seeds etc.
Their website is well worth a look at.

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Sweet potatoes are another crop that we are going to try; they don't grow from seeds or tubers but from "slips" evidently and to produce the slips you cut a sweet potato in half, place it in water and wait for it to sprout and grow roots.

We'll see what happens, there are several youtube videos out there on how to do this if you fancy having a go.

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Visitors to the croft this month

Keith and Elke all the way from Norway,
good to see you both, happy travelling xx

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Books of the month

Thank you Helen and Malcolm for sending us the 2020 edition of this fascinating book, we've already started planting our first earlies by the phase of the moon !

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This book has only just been published and it's one of the loveliest books that I have bought; life-enhancing recipes, beautiful photographs, informative and lovely to hold.