Yesterday was a deluge from beginning to end... but not a complete waste of time as it allowed me to finish decluttering the study/craft room and finally I have space to use my sewing machine.. hurrah. All my craft stuff bar a few items is now all in one room and in two plastic containers one for materials the other for projects - easy peasy.
I, now, no longer have any excuses not to finish those outstanding tasks which I have to date not finished due to time and machine constraints.. so expect updates on the refitting of curtain liners forthwith.
I managed to declutter some 8 bags of rubbish, it was so lucky that the bin men were due to visit yesterday as that made a huge difference to me and meant that once it was gone it was gone forever and could not be retrieved.
Some of the stuff was temporarily put into the spare room, however this is not the long term home for this and it will be sorted and rehomed as soon as possible as guests are booked in to stay and therefore it needs to be done before they arrive.
Other stuff needs to be put into the garage awaiting someone to pick it up, and others to the recycling points and charity shops.. I even went through my remaining books with a hard head and these will be recycled to the book swaps and charities as I have read them but won't be reading them again.
After another afternoon swim with the pond boys, I left them to dry off while I prepared a red lentil jalfrezi which I had with some naan bread.. and it was lovely, hot and spicy just what I needed after a dry dusty day on my knees which today are sore and aching.
I am still looking for something, without much success although I know I packed it I have no idea of where it might be.. but I have one more cupboard to look through and it can only now be in there so that will be what I am looking for next week while I am on holiday.
The garden didn't make too much progress, after the lovely sunny day on Friday when I managed to dig over a yard of the border and remove about a sack of stones I decided to enjoy the sunshine and read a book while the boys had fun running around. My lettuce leaves are now seedlings, and my lavenders have also taken root while I am just waiting for the sweet peas to produce. I love spring and the idea of growing things don't you?
Showing posts with label Garden. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Garden. Show all posts
10 April 2012
18 August 2011
Sweet Peas
I had not long picked the flowers, pretty much a daily task, before I took this picture. I can still hear my dad telling me to pick the flowers but stupid me liked to see them on the plants in the garden - not realising at the time that if you don't pick the flowers the plant goes to seed. So now I make myself, and put them in a small vase which helped to make the smell of boy dogs in the living room much nicer ;-)
I will let them go to seed eventually, but not for a little while, I would like to enjoy my flowers for a little bit longer.
17 August 2011
Home Grown
This week we were able to pick a couple of beans, already long enough to be eaten and with some new potatoes, cabbage and lamb made for a delicious dinner.
26 June 2011
Potato Harvest
I can't remember the variety, but they were lovely and went from being part of a plant to on the plate in under two hours and the texture was absolutely gorgeous. Me, I'm a picky potato eater and don't always like them especially if they taste a little earthy; but these little chaps were like ambrosia on the tastebuds.
The last time I had potatoes like this, was when Dad was still alive, but it certainly won't be the last time I attempt to grow them. Still searching for some late seed potatoes to plant for harvesting late summer.
14 June 2011
First Produce
We didn't get that many, but as a first attempt I was delighted with the outcome and the flavour was great. They were harvested, cooked and eaten within two hours.. even Birds Eye couldn't do any better.
Served up with English lamb steaks, fresh carrots (though not home grown) and some Cornish cauliflower they tasted like ambrosia and I finally get it, why Dad grew his own. It wasn't the savings in money, but the enhanced flavour and knowing it was your own hard work.. Bless you Dad, it has only taken me the best part of 50 years to work that out.. I obviously wasn't there when they handed out the brains lol.
So I am hoping to get some more seed potatoes in, I think I have a chance with the extended growing season down here to get one more crop in and enjoy the fruits but certainly planning on doing more and have my name down for an allotment as well.. nothing like future planning.
03 June 2011
Plantings
On the left are the fuschia cuttings I took, out of the six I got four growing and all now have been planted in the garden.On the right are the wigelia cuttings, they have been slower but are still getting there.
The last planter, also another plastic bag, contains runner beans. This year decided to try this method as the dogs sometimes run riot in the garden, but have a cunning plan for next year involving raised beds which will also improve the soil as underneath the grass it is very poor and contains lots of stones.
29 May 2011
Green Fingers
I know I have mentioned that my Dad was the gardener in my life, while my style of gardening is very much either grow or die.. take your pick :-)
Well, finances are hard (aren't they all for all of us these days) and buying shrubs and plants for the garden horrendously expensive so I have been collecting cuttings from shrubs and plants including two fuchsias (one red one white) as well as wigelia and a few others.. Not from people's gardens needless to say, but where they have grown wild or in public byways.
They have been thinking about doing something for a while now in the corner of the kitchen, but I am pleased to report that they have made up their mind and have decided to sprout new leaves. To be fair to them, the conditions are probably not ideal as it is a sunny kitchen so very warm but possibly too warm on occasion. Will try to remember to get pictures later on.
I had some rooting powder, which came down from the back of beyond, and it was kept for just such a purpose as this.
I am on the lookout for some box hedging, I miss my box hedge I will admit. One of my neighbours has got some in containers and I have asked for cuttings when she prunes them later this year.
My list includes a varieagated californian lilac as well as a dwarf lilac but I may have to bite the bullet and buy those ones.
Well, finances are hard (aren't they all for all of us these days) and buying shrubs and plants for the garden horrendously expensive so I have been collecting cuttings from shrubs and plants including two fuchsias (one red one white) as well as wigelia and a few others.. Not from people's gardens needless to say, but where they have grown wild or in public byways.
They have been thinking about doing something for a while now in the corner of the kitchen, but I am pleased to report that they have made up their mind and have decided to sprout new leaves. To be fair to them, the conditions are probably not ideal as it is a sunny kitchen so very warm but possibly too warm on occasion. Will try to remember to get pictures later on.
I had some rooting powder, which came down from the back of beyond, and it was kept for just such a purpose as this.
I am on the lookout for some box hedging, I miss my box hedge I will admit. One of my neighbours has got some in containers and I have asked for cuttings when she prunes them later this year.
My list includes a varieagated californian lilac as well as a dwarf lilac but I may have to bite the bullet and buy those ones.
28 February 2011
The Garden at Tre Agan - Update
The sun is out, it has some lovely warmth to it and life is looking promising in the garden at Tre Agan.
My seedlings are coming along great guns, with my marigolds practically bursting into 1 inch seedlings in 24 hours.. which will provide me with plenty of flowerheads for making some more handcream later on in the year.
My sage seedlings are also going great guns, with me having already thinned them out already. I hate having to decide which ones are going to be left growing and which ones to discard.. I feel like a killer.. which in reflection I was.
No signs yet of the sweet peas, peppers, pansies or viola's but it is warm and bright and I am ever the optimist.
I have planted the buddhlea today, I chose a davidii from the choices I had and the clematis are looking strong and healthy with lots of shoots on the plants so I am eagerly looking forward to when they have flowers on them.
My seedlings are coming along great guns, with my marigolds practically bursting into 1 inch seedlings in 24 hours.. which will provide me with plenty of flowerheads for making some more handcream later on in the year.
My sage seedlings are also going great guns, with me having already thinned them out already. I hate having to decide which ones are going to be left growing and which ones to discard.. I feel like a killer.. which in reflection I was.
No signs yet of the sweet peas, peppers, pansies or viola's but it is warm and bright and I am ever the optimist.
I have planted the buddhlea today, I chose a davidii from the choices I had and the clematis are looking strong and healthy with lots of shoots on the plants so I am eagerly looking forward to when they have flowers on them.
21 February 2011
Plantings
Yesterday I dug out some trays, and planted some seeds, I have black pansies, some beautiful violas in purple and cream. Some Cupani Sweet peas which are black and some lovely golden marigolds.. all to go into the garden.
My sage seedlings are growing apace and soon will need transplanting into bigger pots to bring on; I have some pots which when put into the ground will allow the plant to grow through them so they will be transplanted into these when ready. I am not quite sure where they will be planted yet, whether it is out in the front garden or in the back but they will be lovely wherever they go.
I also set some seeds taken from some small, very sweet peppers which I dried out ready for spring and I am hoping to grow these at the back of the house as it is very sheltered and a real sun-trap.
I am still looking for some lavender and a variegate californian lilac called zanzibar and have tracked it down to Barncoose nurseries so hopefully that will happen soon.
I want to get a magnolia tree, I had to leave the one which was given to us after Mum died back in Cranfield but I love the early show of colour and would like to get them.
I am looking out for suitable cuttings from fuschia and buddhlea shrubs to plant out.. perhaps I am more of a gardener than I originally thought.
My sage seedlings are growing apace and soon will need transplanting into bigger pots to bring on; I have some pots which when put into the ground will allow the plant to grow through them so they will be transplanted into these when ready. I am not quite sure where they will be planted yet, whether it is out in the front garden or in the back but they will be lovely wherever they go.
I also set some seeds taken from some small, very sweet peppers which I dried out ready for spring and I am hoping to grow these at the back of the house as it is very sheltered and a real sun-trap.
I am still looking for some lavender and a variegate californian lilac called zanzibar and have tracked it down to Barncoose nurseries so hopefully that will happen soon.
I want to get a magnolia tree, I had to leave the one which was given to us after Mum died back in Cranfield but I love the early show of colour and would like to get them.
I am looking out for suitable cuttings from fuschia and buddhlea shrubs to plant out.. perhaps I am more of a gardener than I originally thought.
13 February 2011
Sunday Catchup
This is my time to catch up with things, on what needs doing and what can wait for a little longer..
Paperwork that needs completing weekly:
Then on top of that any washing/ironing etc.. while at the same time pushing the hoover around to pick up any stray Murphy dog hairs.
I had a quick look around the garden today and think I have spotted some shoots on the clematis I planted last year.. keep your fingers crossed as these guys had a hard start with the dry weather last year.
I am growing some Sage plants (well what else do you expect?) I had a lovely Sage brush up at the Back of Beyond but obviously couldn't transplant it down here so we start afresh.
I am also looking for a couple of lavender plants, and have to identify which varieties to grow, as well as a rosemary bush which I know will need a sandy soil for better drainage and I am going to acquire some fuschia and buddhlea cuttings from bushes I frequently see on my walk and rest assured they are in public spaces rather than in gardens.
Paperwork that needs completing weekly:
- Hours worked (additional)
- Contact Notes for each student updated
- Update 'To do' list
- Travel claims calculated
- College work/reading
Then on top of that any washing/ironing etc.. while at the same time pushing the hoover around to pick up any stray Murphy dog hairs.
I had a quick look around the garden today and think I have spotted some shoots on the clematis I planted last year.. keep your fingers crossed as these guys had a hard start with the dry weather last year.
I am growing some Sage plants (well what else do you expect?) I had a lovely Sage brush up at the Back of Beyond but obviously couldn't transplant it down here so we start afresh.
I am also looking for a couple of lavender plants, and have to identify which varieties to grow, as well as a rosemary bush which I know will need a sandy soil for better drainage and I am going to acquire some fuschia and buddhlea cuttings from bushes I frequently see on my walk and rest assured they are in public spaces rather than in gardens.
24 January 2011
Thoughts are turning to Summer
My thoughts are turning to the year ahead, well it is nearly the end of January after all!
I would like to get some time in the garden, to make it visually more attractive, and to perhaps train Murphy to do his toilet in one spot (when I work out where that will be); he is very good bless him and has been from day 1. If you let him out into the garden before bedtime with the words hurry up he goes straight out and has a pee... mind you he is rewarded with a biscuit (or 3) when we go to bed.
SOH went out with his mates the other evening, Murphy and I couldn't settle all evening. I was cold, after the football and had a nice bath, TV was crap, tried watching something I had recorded earlier but eventually we settled down for a night's sleep. I was startled awake by a big booming bark, from the bottom of the bed, as SOH returned home and put the keys in the front door. I always wondered how protective of us he might be, but big scaredy cat that he is I am not sure as a burglar I would want to face the animal behind the noise.
Murphy is protective of me when we walk out in the dark mornings, but even these are getting lighter a bit earlier and we meet some of the regulars. Ruby the boxer being one, they wanted to play but time was short this morning and I didn't have the time to let him off the lead so we had a trot round the parks. When I have charged the camera up, I will do a picture diary of our morning walk.
Back to the garden, I want to try my hand at potato growing in a bag, and possibly some carrots as well but I hope to get an allotment patch soon so that more veggies can be grown and the garden just for pleasure. I guess more of Dad rubbed off on me than I thought.
I would like to get some time in the garden, to make it visually more attractive, and to perhaps train Murphy to do his toilet in one spot (when I work out where that will be); he is very good bless him and has been from day 1. If you let him out into the garden before bedtime with the words hurry up he goes straight out and has a pee... mind you he is rewarded with a biscuit (or 3) when we go to bed.
SOH went out with his mates the other evening, Murphy and I couldn't settle all evening. I was cold, after the football and had a nice bath, TV was crap, tried watching something I had recorded earlier but eventually we settled down for a night's sleep. I was startled awake by a big booming bark, from the bottom of the bed, as SOH returned home and put the keys in the front door. I always wondered how protective of us he might be, but big scaredy cat that he is I am not sure as a burglar I would want to face the animal behind the noise.
Murphy is protective of me when we walk out in the dark mornings, but even these are getting lighter a bit earlier and we meet some of the regulars. Ruby the boxer being one, they wanted to play but time was short this morning and I didn't have the time to let him off the lead so we had a trot round the parks. When I have charged the camera up, I will do a picture diary of our morning walk.
Back to the garden, I want to try my hand at potato growing in a bag, and possibly some carrots as well but I hope to get an allotment patch soon so that more veggies can be grown and the garden just for pleasure. I guess more of Dad rubbed off on me than I thought.
20 October 2010
The Garden at Tre Agan
It is a South facing garden, and has sunshine from morning to evening which is great in one way as it is a suntrap, but I would like to have some shading for Murphy.
The stone wall needs clearing of all the weeds, brambles and everything else. but you can see some of the stones near to the pine tree. The fences are 6 ft high, which provides a nice amount of privacy, but we have also installed this brush fencing which you can see on the picture middle left. This is where the clematis are planted as they get some shade in the morning.
The picture on the left is one of the two clematis I have planted. Neither one of which is blooming very well, but it has been hot and dry, when they were planted and now is cooling down rapidly as we head into Autumn so I expect them to do nothing until spring time.
And that is the limit to the garden here at Tre Agan, I would love to train some apple and pear trees against the opposite fence, but equally given the softer climate here I would love to have a peach or nectarine bush.
While it isn't as huge as the garden at the back of beyond, it is big enough to have some nice planting and I want to get some fucshia plants in, but not so big that it will take up all my time in taming it which was starting to be a big problem at the back of beyond.
Any and all ideas for planting welcomed.
23 June 2010
What a beautiful evening
The weather is glorious, wall to wall sunshine with just a cool breeze to take the edge off the heat but all the same it is wonderful and dry. For those people on holiday, it must be lovely to be able to enjoy it and sitting here in my office looking out I just want to be out there too.
I have a couple of planters to pot up tonight with some busy lizzies, marigolds and some Winston Churchill Fuchsia's which will look lovely and put a dividing boundary between us and next door who children like riding their bikes over our piece of garden despite being politely asked not to. So these long tubs will mark the boundary and look pretty too.
Hopefully I have enough plants to plant up the big blue planter which this year will just have annuals planted in it while I think what to plant. I need to replace the lavenders, rosemary and herbs from the Back of Beyond and sadly my dwarf lilac didn't make the transition nor a hardy fuchsia that was lovely. I would like some philadephus and a californian lilac the varieagated variety which was just turning into a nicely shaped shrub but we neither had the time nor the space to bring them all and given we lost the two we did bring I cannot be sorry to have left them behind.
I also want to plant a honeysuckle and have found one that I can take a cutting from, which has the most glorious scent and will look nice in one corner of the garden and growing along the top of the wall, I also need to get some suitably spiky plants to deter visitors from entering/leaving the garden that way lol.
Plans, Plans, Plans and somehow it was nice just watching and imagining in the sunshine last night.. Browning was right when he said Oh to be in England now that April's here... well make that sunny June and warm evenings full of bird song and quiet fox cubs exploring the fields and hedgerows and this is a beautiful land.
I have a couple of planters to pot up tonight with some busy lizzies, marigolds and some Winston Churchill Fuchsia's which will look lovely and put a dividing boundary between us and next door who children like riding their bikes over our piece of garden despite being politely asked not to. So these long tubs will mark the boundary and look pretty too.
Hopefully I have enough plants to plant up the big blue planter which this year will just have annuals planted in it while I think what to plant. I need to replace the lavenders, rosemary and herbs from the Back of Beyond and sadly my dwarf lilac didn't make the transition nor a hardy fuchsia that was lovely. I would like some philadephus and a californian lilac the varieagated variety which was just turning into a nicely shaped shrub but we neither had the time nor the space to bring them all and given we lost the two we did bring I cannot be sorry to have left them behind.
I also want to plant a honeysuckle and have found one that I can take a cutting from, which has the most glorious scent and will look nice in one corner of the garden and growing along the top of the wall, I also need to get some suitably spiky plants to deter visitors from entering/leaving the garden that way lol.
Plans, Plans, Plans and somehow it was nice just watching and imagining in the sunshine last night.. Browning was right when he said Oh to be in England now that April's here... well make that sunny June and warm evenings full of bird song and quiet fox cubs exploring the fields and hedgerows and this is a beautiful land.
23 May 2010
Whewwwww
SOH and I sweated buckets, literally. The storage container with all our stuff in was in full sun, and we baked like potatoes trying to get the stuff into the lorry. Part 1 on saturday was to get the heavy stuff, the washing machine, fridge etc into the lorry and over to the house... part 2 was on Saturday afternoon which was to load the remainder of the stuff from the container onto the lorry, leaving just a few things for Sunday morning. By the time the second load was on board we were ready for a meal, having a chinese from the Hong Sing in Redruth, such a lovely place and surprisingly empty so we were quickly served.
A bottle of Black Tower Rose went down well and by 8.30pm we were bushed so had a quick shower and slept like logs until 6am. We had breakfast before starting again, to set ourselves up for the day and also for good dietary reasons. The fridge had been settled in and switched on and the novelty of having a freezer again after 5 months meant I could shop later to fill it up.
The contents of the lorry was unloaded into the garage in less than an hour and while we stopped to sort out the washing machine with help from SOH's Dad, we enjoyed a moment in the sunshine before taking the old sofa to the skip and returning the lorry and picking up the car before I could indulge in a little retail frozen food shopping.
I got home to find a team of people, well actually SOH's Dad, starting to mow the back garden and once I had unpacked the shopping it was nice to sit and enjoy the sunshine with a little trimming.
We enjoyed a meal of Roast Pork, with potatoes and vegetables followed by Treacle Tart with clotted cream and a little bit of TV before we crashed into bed for the evening.
A bottle of Black Tower Rose went down well and by 8.30pm we were bushed so had a quick shower and slept like logs until 6am. We had breakfast before starting again, to set ourselves up for the day and also for good dietary reasons. The fridge had been settled in and switched on and the novelty of having a freezer again after 5 months meant I could shop later to fill it up.
The contents of the lorry was unloaded into the garage in less than an hour and while we stopped to sort out the washing machine with help from SOH's Dad, we enjoyed a moment in the sunshine before taking the old sofa to the skip and returning the lorry and picking up the car before I could indulge in a little retail frozen food shopping.
I got home to find a team of people, well actually SOH's Dad, starting to mow the back garden and once I had unpacked the shopping it was nice to sit and enjoy the sunshine with a little trimming.
We enjoyed a meal of Roast Pork, with potatoes and vegetables followed by Treacle Tart with clotted cream and a little bit of TV before we crashed into bed for the evening.
16 October 2009
Friday... at last
A whole weekend of work awaits.. the shed clearance stuff needs to be sorted into two piles, the stuff to give given away on freecycle and the remainder to be sent to the skip...
The garden needs a tidy up, the leaves swept, a new branch for the rats to run up and down on and to chew... though the old one is still good for a little while longer it will be good for them to have another one in standby.
There is some painting still to be done, mainly gloss work and a few fiddly bits that need addressing.. the majority of packing has been done, just the stuff needed for day-to day is still in the house..
The sale is progressing slowly, my buyers have now had an offer on their house, but their buyer has only just put theirs on the market... which means sadly the bungalow in Cornwall is now in doubt as they want to see movement.. still it was a risk that at the time was worth taking.. now I think we will see what is available when there is time ahead and when the contracts have been exchanged.. the option to put the stuff all into storage was always on the cards and means as cash buyers we will be in a very strong position to move quickly.. always look on the bright side.. as the more sombre side is not as good...
The garden needs a tidy up, the leaves swept, a new branch for the rats to run up and down on and to chew... though the old one is still good for a little while longer it will be good for them to have another one in standby.
There is some painting still to be done, mainly gloss work and a few fiddly bits that need addressing.. the majority of packing has been done, just the stuff needed for day-to day is still in the house..
The sale is progressing slowly, my buyers have now had an offer on their house, but their buyer has only just put theirs on the market... which means sadly the bungalow in Cornwall is now in doubt as they want to see movement.. still it was a risk that at the time was worth taking.. now I think we will see what is available when there is time ahead and when the contracts have been exchanged.. the option to put the stuff all into storage was always on the cards and means as cash buyers we will be in a very strong position to move quickly.. always look on the bright side.. as the more sombre side is not as good...
05 October 2009
Monday Musings and rants...
Thankfully apart from high winds overnight Friday into Saturday, the weather held up as mostly dry and I managed to catch up with the washing... which meant a whole pile of ironing on Sunday... sigh.. you never quite manage to get the good news without the bad.
It has turned progressively colder, the sun has lost it's summer heat and although warmish, it is definitely not hot any more...
The garden is also very, very dry. With deep earth cracks near the apple tree, I haven't seen those in quite a while. The last of the cookers were picked on Sunday, I plan on turning those into something but I haven't quite decided yet... torn between a crumble or a pie but I wish I could find the recipe my mum used to make which was a cake but like a shortcake with stewed apple in the middle of two layers...
Has anyone noticed how dire tv is on a Saturday night, if you aren't into strictly come dancing, withwannabe celebs doing their thing for over 2 hours... or wannabees trying to become celebs on the X factor... the only saving grace is watching Merlin, and even then my mind wandered elsewhere..
What happened to putting on entertainment for the family instead of falsely competing for the same audience? I don't mean Saturday night at the London Palladium, or even the Morecombe and Wise show but a family film, a good drama.. Casualty now shunted to post 9pm means no opportunity for a late night film.
I for one am sick of watching strictly come celebrity get me out of the kitchen shows... that seem to dominate the schedules.. fair enough to have competition for charities to compete for money as in the hole in the wall, but let the public do it instead of celebs.. I'm sure the charities can rustle up some jo publics to help.
Stop wasting my money, in providing celebs with air time that don't deserve it.. instead provide them with a vehicle in which they can demonstrate their acting abilities... or leave them to find a more meaningful life.
Finally I want my life back, or I am going to throw the television out...
It has turned progressively colder, the sun has lost it's summer heat and although warmish, it is definitely not hot any more...
The garden is also very, very dry. With deep earth cracks near the apple tree, I haven't seen those in quite a while. The last of the cookers were picked on Sunday, I plan on turning those into something but I haven't quite decided yet... torn between a crumble or a pie but I wish I could find the recipe my mum used to make which was a cake but like a shortcake with stewed apple in the middle of two layers...
Has anyone noticed how dire tv is on a Saturday night, if you aren't into strictly come dancing, with
What happened to putting on entertainment for the family instead of falsely competing for the same audience? I don't mean Saturday night at the London Palladium, or even the Morecombe and Wise show but a family film, a good drama.. Casualty now shunted to post 9pm means no opportunity for a late night film.
I for one am sick of watching strictly come celebrity get me out of the kitchen shows... that seem to dominate the schedules.. fair enough to have competition for charities to compete for money as in the hole in the wall, but let the public do it instead of celebs.. I'm sure the charities can rustle up some jo publics to help.
Stop wasting my money, in providing celebs with air time that don't deserve it.. instead provide them with a vehicle in which they can demonstrate their acting abilities... or leave them to find a more meaningful life.
Finally I want my life back, or I am going to throw the television out...
17 September 2009
We Plough the Fields and Scatter
We plough the fields and scatter
The good seed on the land,
But it is fed and watered
By God's almighty hand:
He sends the snow in winter,
The warmth to swell the grain,
The breezes and the sunshine,
And soft, refreshing rain.
A very modern looking tractor and plough working at Mattocks Farm
© Copyright Glyn Baker and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence
Yep, they are out ploughing today round the Back of Beyond, a true sign of Autumn. Not that the weather isn't changing much, it is still warmish though a lot cooler in the morning and the nights are drawing in fast with it being dark by around 8pm.
I like Autumn, generally, the lush gold colours of the turning leaves on the trees, the warming sunlight all gently ease you into the dark winter months ahead but this year I feel regrets at losing the Summer which once more was not the heatwave that was predicted but more like a few good days and then a few worse days...
I am sure when I was a child, summers were long sunny days full of hosepipe bans and dry dusty days.. this year was a mix of torrential downpours and colder days with the odd occasional hot day when it was so hot that doing anything until evening was unwise..
The garden is beginning to slow down and grow less quickly (though I wish the weeds would take the same stance as the plants lol) and it has become a tidying up project rather than a growing project... soon it will be time to let it sleep.
09 September 2009
Memories of Summers Gone by
Dad was the gardening expert in the Back of Beyond, he could grow almost anything and usually did in the garden until the day he died. Sadly I have not inherited his ability, and especially to my regret my inability to grow tomatoes as by the end of the season we had too many to eat and I had to hunt around for ideas of what to do with them.
So if you have :
6 lbs ripe tomatoes any variety and all varieties - adds to the flavour
1 teaspoon celery salt
1 tablespoon salt
8 oz (225 g) granulated sugar
2 teaspoons paprika
Pinch of cayenne pepper
½ pint (285 ml) distilled white vinegar or I used cider vinegar
Method: Wash the tomatoes and chop them (or put them through a juicer is even better) There's no need to skin or remove the seeds. Put in a pan and cook slowly until pulped, stirring occasionally.
Press through a sieve (omit this if you used a juicer) and return the puree to a clean pan. Add the remaining ingredients and stir until the sugar has dissolved. Bring to the boil and then reduce the heat and simmer gently until the sauce has thickened.
It makes about 2 pints (1.1 litres) of sauce, I used to freeze it in portions of about half a pint perfect for adding to sauces so much better than tinned tomatoes or even passata.
I used in in making spaghetti bolognaise, as it made it light and yet spicy at the same time... I keep looking out for people with a glut of tomatoes but so far I am not having a lot of luck :-)
So if you have :
6 lbs ripe tomatoes any variety and all varieties - adds to the flavour
1 teaspoon celery salt
1 tablespoon salt
8 oz (225 g) granulated sugar
2 teaspoons paprika
Pinch of cayenne pepper
½ pint (285 ml) distilled white vinegar or I used cider vinegar
Method: Wash the tomatoes and chop them (or put them through a juicer is even better) There's no need to skin or remove the seeds. Put in a pan and cook slowly until pulped, stirring occasionally.
Press through a sieve (omit this if you used a juicer) and return the puree to a clean pan. Add the remaining ingredients and stir until the sugar has dissolved. Bring to the boil and then reduce the heat and simmer gently until the sauce has thickened.
It makes about 2 pints (1.1 litres) of sauce, I used to freeze it in portions of about half a pint perfect for adding to sauces so much better than tinned tomatoes or even passata.
I used in in making spaghetti bolognaise, as it made it light and yet spicy at the same time... I keep looking out for people with a glut of tomatoes but so far I am not having a lot of luck :-)
07 July 2009
Have been busy searching for a recipe
Of what to do with the redcurrants.. didn't want to make jam as the beautiful red rubies deserved better than me ruining them..
So I tried gently cooking them with some sugar and spooning some over strawberries and ice-cream...mmm now that was a good combination..
Next I am going to try this :
Baked vanilla cheesecake
Anyone got any other suggestions?
So I tried gently cooking them with some sugar and spooning some over strawberries and ice-cream...mmm now that was a good combination..
Next I am going to try this :
Baked vanilla cheesecake
- 8 digestive biscuits
- 50g butter , melted
- 600g cream cheese
- 2 tbsp plain flour
- 175g caster sugar
- vanilla extract
- 2 eggs , plus 1 yolk
- 142ml pot soured cream
- Heat the oven to 180C/fan 160C/gas 4. Crush the biscuits in a food processor (or put in a plastic bag and bash with a rolling pin). Mix with the butter. Press into a 20cm springform tin and bake for 5 minutes, then cool.
- Beat the cream cheese with the flour, sugar, a few drops of vanilla, eggs, the yolk and soured cream until light and fluffy. Pour into the tin. Bake for 40 minutes and then check, it should be set but slightly wobbly in the centre. Leave in the tin to cool.
Anyone got any other suggestions?
06 July 2009
1st Harvest
I had a redcurrant bush in the garden, and while the dogs were alive I never had any currants...
The reason why?
The dogs kept out the neighbours cats from the garden and the birds could comfortably eat my redcurrants and strawberries leaving me with none but I didn't mind as when I last had redcurrants it was years ago and I prefer raspberries.
Now the cats have free reign, I have lost most of the birds from the garden and as a result I managed the other night to pick over 3lbs of redcurrants.. a bittersweet moment.
I have frozen 2lbs and the other went into a saucepan with some sugar and gently stewed.. last night I had this compote served over raspberries and yoghurt... it was superb and I looked at a small pot in the supermarket which had 200g of redcurrrants in for 1.99 so I reckon I have an expensive commodity there..
Will have to plant a new bush when I get to Cornwall as I think I like redcurrants, I know I like white currants but I have never seen any plants for sale.. anyone else know where I can get them from?
The reason why?
The dogs kept out the neighbours cats from the garden and the birds could comfortably eat my redcurrants and strawberries leaving me with none but I didn't mind as when I last had redcurrants it was years ago and I prefer raspberries.
Now the cats have free reign, I have lost most of the birds from the garden and as a result I managed the other night to pick over 3lbs of redcurrants.. a bittersweet moment.
I have frozen 2lbs and the other went into a saucepan with some sugar and gently stewed.. last night I had this compote served over raspberries and yoghurt... it was superb and I looked at a small pot in the supermarket which had 200g of redcurrrants in for 1.99 so I reckon I have an expensive commodity there..
Will have to plant a new bush when I get to Cornwall as I think I like redcurrants, I know I like white currants but I have never seen any plants for sale.. anyone else know where I can get them from?
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