Kindly control your animal
Many years ago, eight years at least, I was walking Dr Quito and his new wife, The Contessa. Suddenly a large dog jumped out from the shadows and sniffed them. He worried them but did not bite. Dr Q had just recovered from a nasty ‘left for dead episode’ on Newmarket Heath. Just the mere sight of a big dog had him shrieking. The Contessa followed suit. So in one movement I swept the Min pins up from the ground and tried to shift the dog away. The owner just kept his distance and observed. As his dog leap to the height of my...
read moreVisiting Celia Hart’s open studio 2008
There is something magical about Celia. This was the last day of her open studio and garden. An irresistible combination. As with most of the Cambridge Open Studios, Celia’s place is as intriguing as her artwork. Many bloggers know her as Magic Cochin. She writes the excellent Purple Podded Peas blog. Celia is that wonderful combination of talented artist and knowledgeable gardener. Living with Cliff, two cats and her chickens she is busy yet relaxed. Her studio and garden is an oasis of calm. The small exhibition was delightful. I was...
read moreStrange eggs
Sometimes I find an egg with a small deformity on the shell but last month I found these two weirdly shaped eggs. What was going on? The larger one is Carol’s (aged three) and the one with the twist was laid by Barbie (aged four). I rushed back to the cottage and fired up the computer. DEFRA has a good, informative article relating to eggs here. Irregularities in egg shells can indicate a host of horrifying diseases. However as Carol and Barbie look well and healthy the cause is clearly age. If you don’t replace your hens every two...
read moreThe ten minute soup challenge: Low fat spicy tomato and courgette soup recipe
“What do you think galengal tastes like?” My mum shrugged. “I would leave it if I was you.” I was examining the spices to add to our ten minute soup. So I put back the galengal and grabbed a small jar of Massaman Thai curry paste. This includes a lot of the ingredients that I use for our soup all in one jar – chilli, lemon grass, tamarind, corrriander and a few others such as shrimp and cumin. Galengal has a small walk on part too. We don’t eat soup every day for lunch. Sometimes we still eat a...
read moreLandslide
“This bread looks mouldy. Or is it just dusted with flour?” Danny held the slice under the light. “It’s definitely mould.” We had some sliced bread in the barn freezer so I pulled on my wellies and went out. I knew that something was wrong when I tried to open the door. There was a scraping sound of glass on concrete. The way to the freezer was barred. I shot back to the kitchen. “Danny, come quickly. The shelving unit has collapsed. Most of the demi johns were on the top shelf. My dark brown one is smashed....
read moreGarlic sprouting inhibitors – beware
In the autumn of 2006 I split a fat head of French garlic and planted it in a sunny position in the kitchen garden. Even though we grow our own, our supply is supplemented with huge heads of garlic that Jocelyn and Miles bring back from France. Danny pottered down to the engine room (gardening wise) of our ship and christened it The French Row. “When will we see these French ones sprouting?” “They’ll send up shoots in the spring if all is well.” In the spring it was clear that all was not well with The French...
read morePerfect present
I was half an hour late for work this morning. My friend Tessa had bought me the perfect present. I couldn’t tear myself away, wanted to examine it, even test it out. But there wasn’t time for that. Danny and I looked at it through the plastic wrap and breathed a huge sigh of relief. It’s just what we’ve always wanted, since we started curing our own bacon a few months ago. “I’m so sorry that I’m running late. My friend arrived with a surprise present and I couldn’t just say thanks and leave...
read moreBlackcurrant vodka (schnapps)
My fruit cages have given me so much pleasure, both in the construction and the ogling the of fruit. But I’ve been under pressure recently and only had time to pick raspberries. “Tonight I must have half an hour to pick the currants (white/red/black) otherwise I’ll miss them.” So Danny volunteered to cook the vegetables and I sauntered down to the currant and gooseberry patch with a large trug. There was a reasonable harvest from the white currant bush. Just enough to make one bottle of white currant vodka. The dessert...
read moreHaybox cooking: how to make a haybox and save energy by Huw Woodman
Huw Woodman from the Bushcraft Magazine has been looking at ways to save energy, by using the old-fashioned haybox! Mrs Beeton’s famous 19th century cookery book makes reference to a haybox. What’s one of those? It’s a box full of insulating hay that keeps a stew or other hot dish at sufficient heat so that it cooks without having to keep it in the oven or on the stove for hours. If you think how a conventional stove hot-pot works, you heat the ingredients up to the boil and then you simmer it for a long while whilst it...
read moreRHS Hampton Court Flower Show 2008
Home after a twelve hour round trip, tired yet exuberant. There’s nothing like a day at the flower show for recharging your batteries. Our big UK flower shows are massive in every sense of the word. Tickets are booked months before and the day shimmers in the distance. A best day out, looked forward to and then treasured for months afterwards. Guaranteed to be packed with memories. Two days of the show are reserved for just RHS members (UK Royal Horticultural Society) but I like going on the days when the gates are opened to the great...
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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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