Welcome to another episode of "Veg i inked today!", that strange time of the week when we take a break for the norm and cast our eyes over the sometimes more artful side of fruit and veg!
Now usually i pick a few veggies to ink, and decide when i get home. It's hand to have a back up just in case one goes wrong. So why of why didn't i do that this week?!!! Whilst shopping this afternoon. i made the rash and over confident decision to try just one veg. Not only just one, but one that i knew i would probably have trouble with.
It was a challenge though, so i took it on....sadly i fear i should have left it in the supermarket!
Please ladies and gents, accept my apologies.....for the TOMATO!!!
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What an unsightly mess!!! I tried doing something different this week and used crackle paint. Bit of a tip for you....crackle paint does not like vegetables!!!
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Bit's came off, some didn't crackle. It did give me a nice white base to ink on, which i was looking forward to as i wasn't relishing inking on a red background.
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There are a few nice colours there, but nothing that jumps out at me. It was a nightmare to handle too, with paint coming off each time it was touched. Not good.
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So as you can imagine, the veginkability rating for this will be poor I'm afraid. It will have to be a 2!
Sorry but that's all this little red fella deserves. I was sure that the shiny red smooth skin of this veg would be a pleasure to ink, but alas it was not to be.
As you know though, we learn by our mistakes and this week i learnt a lot.
Oh yes, whilst i remember, some people have in the past asked if it is real fruit that i ink, so here's the proof....i cut this weeks subject in half for a piccy.....in fact i think this piccy is nicer than the complete thing!
On a more positive note, i have been balancing out my fruit and veg inking habit, by learning to grow my own fruit and veg at home. I figured that it would be cheaper too, so I've started with the basics, onions, peas, carrots, potatoes, strawberries and a grape tree.
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All is going well so far, I've learnt a lot thanks to the Internet and some wonderfully helpful friends. Hopefully i will succeed with growing it all, and become a little more self sufficient.
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As well as all this, i have been trying to attract more wildlife into my garden. As well as birds and the usual visitors to my pond, i wanted to do my bit to save the bee. I haven't got the room or experience for a honeybee hive, so instead i bought a solitary bee hive.
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What do you call a place of shelter for bees though? Well where might you stay when you go away?....A Bee & Bee of course!!!
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Pretty cool eh? :)
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At first Maddy was quite concerned that i was getting this for the garden, she knows me too well i guess! However i scoured the Internet for advice from beekeepers who were most helpful. It would appear that this will attract and provide a shelter for "solitary" bees that you get in the garden. So only one bee will shelter in each hole and maybe lay an egg.
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Apparently it is really hard for bees to find shelter, and there are so many reports of them dieing off, so i hope that i will get some visitors to my Bee & Bee.
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This particular hive is made in stackable sections, so it will be great for education the kids and also for cleaning when it's not in use.
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So that's it from me this week, wish me luck with my fruit and veg growing...and that you don't see me running down the road with a swarm of bees around me! :)
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Take care all.....till next week.
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