Energise your day. Frogs and two great blogs.
It’s the first day of spring! The frogs must have known this. Our annual bacchanal had started in the large pond when I went down to feed the chickens on this cold and blustery morning. Six couples were clinging on and having fun. And then I spoilt it all by appearing with a large camera and small black and tan Min Pin. All frogs submerged as one. Still attached. I didn’t know that it was such a special day. I love frogs but still don’t speak their language despite living alongside them for 16 years. Two superb, upbeat blogs...
read moreBest stuffing recipe for chicken, turkey or game: Pork, cider soaked raisins and pine nuts
The Chicken Out Campaign is working. Masses of people are avoiding the cheap intensively farmed supermarket chickens and visiting their local butchers to find free range birds. When I went in to see Fred Fitzpatrick (Exning Road, Newmarket) on Saturday I had a small chicken on my shopping list. “I’m sorry Fiona but we’ve sold out of those.” “How about a medium one?” “All gone.” “Have you got any chickens at all?” “Maybe.” A small chicken from Fred is much cheaper than the...
read moreThe Hottie
I feel the cold. As a child I used to question my mother closely. “What happened to me when I was a baby and couldn’t speak? I must have been freezing.” “It’s easy to check if a baby is cold. If you felt chilly I put an extra layer on you.” This was before the days of central heating when people could go to see a movie, eat fish and chips on the way home in a taxi and still have change from sixpence. I have used a hot water bottle on and off since I could indicate that I needed some extra warmth and comfort...
read moreEaster tree
I have never made an Easter tree before. In fact I didn’t know about them until I saw one at Carol’s house. She had made it for her grandchildren to enjoy. And she loved it too. A few weeks ago I chatted to Nicky who tends Anne Mary’s garden. “I always make an Easter tree. I used to pretend that it was for the children but now they’ve grown up I’ve realised that it was always for me.” Nicky added that if you leave the twigs in water they will eventually develop roots and you can plant these to make new...
read moreThe promise of chocolate
I love Easter. The squeaky clean green of the grass. The first primroses. Drifts of daffodils in gardens rather than the supermarket displays. And chocolate. Good thick 70% armbreaking stuff. Savoured in the greenhouse, behind the wheel of Jalopy and in bed. One terrible year Danny ate my Easter Eggs. I’d offered him a bit and he took this as a green light to gradually, secretly, wolf the lot. I’m a one chocolate a day sort of girl. Danny is an egg an hour sort of guy. I was happy just admiring the boxes for a couple of weeks until...
read moreHome smoked bacon in your chinmey: Tips and tricks
I woke up on Thursday and realised that I was missing an essential item in my wardrobe. I had to get a hoodie And I wasn’t planning a heist at Cheveley Post Office. It’s pretty sooty when I stretch up into the canopy of our inglenook fireplace, to hang our home cured bacon. This could be the answer to keeping clean. I hadn’t realised how clingy soot is. “You’ve ruined your cardigan.” Danny was trying to brush off the soot. “Do you mean I’ve got to wash it?” The next morning there was a...
read moreBest vegetarian recipes: Anne Mary’s polenta sweetcorn bake
Before we go anywhere, this is not a portrait of Anne Mary. She has served this dish at every summer party that I can remember. I am not a big eater but having tasted this once I always make a beeline for it. And often return from the sunny garden for more. Under cover of going to fetch a pud, I creep back again for yet another surreptitious taste. This is a perfect veggie recipe, quick and easy to make and very moreish. AM gave me the recipe years ago but I made it for the first time only last week. No wonder it tastes so good. All that cream...
read moreUpdate on Marco and Gep. Our two male guinea fowl that were adopted by The Chicken Lady
Marco and Gep had settled really well chez The Chicken Lady at the other end of the village. “They spend their time preening and gazing at each other,” she explained. “Preparing for the arrival of the girl friends,” chipped in her husband. A couple of weeks ago I was introduced to their girlfriends. They had a pit stop on their nuptial journey to meet their new husbands. Three pretty pearl grey guinea hens were in a sturdy wooden crate in the boot of TCL’s car. Pearl grey actually looks like darkest grey with...
read moreColeslaw á la Cottage Smallholder recipe
Mike serves his Boston baked beans with coleslaw. I watched him grating and chopping the vegetables by hand. It seemed to take forever. Then he started to add the ingredients for the dressing one by one, straight into the chopped vegetables, tasting every now and then. Mayonnaise, vinegar, sugar, pepper and I missed the rest as I had to rush down to Swan Meadow before Jalopy got a ticket for loitering too long in the car park. “How odd to serve hot beans with coleslaw.” I thought as I shot down Saffron Walden High Street. I...
read moreDucks on the pond
It won’t be long before wild Mallard ducks find our pond again. They see the long stretch of water and swoop in. It must seem the perfect spot. A generous pond with a good supply of goldfish and frogs. A safe and secluded haven for a pair of ducks to nest and raise a brood of ducklings. Perfect without the Min Pins. These are hunting dogs and our pack work as a team. Running at speeds in excess of 23 miles an hour a waddling duck wouldn’t have a chance. I try to avert disaster and actively discourage ducks in our garden. As soon...
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Recent Comments
{ I was thinking the same as Magic Cochin but then like you I don't have my phone attached by an umbilical cord wherever I go.... } – Wed 8 :47 pm
{ Good point but I don't tend to take it about with me everywhere 
} – Wed 7 :25 pm
{ Doesn't your mobile phone have an alarm setting? C x } – Wed 6 :32 pm
{ I would put it towards a bbq, it's just a shame you can't purchase some sunshine from b&q } – Wed 12 :04 am- { Hi Lesley The clucking means that she is brrody also plucking her own feathers is a sign too. } – Tue 11 :58 pm
- { Hi Lesley They have to stay in the broody coop 24/7. Could you put in a garden shed or garage? } – Tue 11 :57 pm
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