The Cottage Smallholder

The radio is my lifeline. They key resource for finding about the world outside the cottage gates. If I’m working outdoors, which I have been for quite some time, I move in a mute world news wise. Danny fills me in with key events but loads of things pass me by. Last week I was Read More »

It started last year. I sampled some homemade mayo at a client’s house. I was making a chicken salad lunch for a golf widower. Their homemade mayo was stunning. Light, tasty and sublime. He liked it too. The next week it was the same menu with a pivotal difference. “It will have to be the Read More »

We have had bumper crops of runner beans for three years now. I am sure that part of the reason for this is because I have planted sweet peas with my runner beans. The combination is beneficial for both. The scented sweet pea flowers attract insects and this increases the pollination and yield of the Read More »

For the past few days the dogs have been allowed upstairs to sleep. The bedroom is a territory without dog baskets. They would be an affectation. On the rare occasions that the dogs are allowed upstairs, they sleep in our bed. Our tribe love the treat of leaping onto the human dog basket. Each one Read More »

My grandfather was born in the 1870′s. His father was a diplomat in Buenos Aeries. One of seven sons, he was brought up in an age when terrifying stories were used to teach children important facts. This is the story he told my mum as a young girl: “One day we were invited to a Read More »

I’ve had a thing about frogs for years. At university I was actually called Frog. I like to think that this referred to my fondness for this amphibian rather than a similarity in legs, feet or grin. When I moved into the cottage, my mum raised frogs and toads in aquaria in the kitchen. The Read More »

“These will make your hair curl.” Mrs Fromont wielded a large metal spoon into a vast steaming pot and served a pile of broad beans onto my plate. They loked like old men’s toes that had soaked too long in the bath and I didn’t want them. I had curly hair and longed for straight. Read More »

When I opened the wall of the Emerald Castle this morning Mrs Boss was sitting as far from the nest as possible. The ducklings peeped out at me from beneath her wings. Bright eyed and curious. The stench from the nest was rank. One egg was whole the other two were piped. This means that Read More »

When I think about Hellmann’s I remember that old commercial. A hungry man finds a stale crust of bread in the fridge, spreads it with a dollop of Hellman’s and munches with a beatific smile. The commercial worked for me. I bought some and, although it didn’t seem to have quite the same effect on Read More »

Hatching has stretched over three days now. Freddie (hatched Tuesday) and Tipex (hatched Wednesday) with an ultra white tip to his bill. This morning we opened the side of the castle and discovered Eric standing a bit wobbly on dark black legs with matching feet and bill. Mrs Boss is still sitting so there still Read More »