Happy Christmas everyone
I’ve just had a panicky call from The Chicken Lady. “I can’t find my Brussels sprouts. I’d rather have them than turkey. Have you got any spare?” Luckily I’d bought some extra ones – we do have a few in the kitchen garden but the plants weren’t very productive this year. Christmas traditions are so strong. Christmas isn’t Christmas for Danny if there’s not a ham to guzzle. Christmas stockings are a must for me. Talking on the phone to my mum this morning she wanted a list of everything that Danny had put in mine. “A...
read moreNew Min Pin Dogblog Post
Swept up in the rush for Christmas. Why do I always leave things to the last minute? Dr Quito has saved the day and magically lifted a paw and written a new Min Pin Dogblog post. And I thought that he was snoozing beside the wood burning stove all day. He must have crept upstairs when I tramped through the snow to the Post Office. Min Pins are mysterious and sometimes amazing creatures…. Despite repeated questioning Inca still refuses to reveal the truth.
read moreCatnip filled bird toys to delight you and your cat
Danny and I designed these little birds together. I wanted to make gingham birds but D reckoned that a heavier material would give the birds a longer life. We eventually chose this sturdy cotton upholstery material. The birds are filled with 10g of dried catnip. The beaks and tails are made from ribbons which are secured safely within the inner seam. The eyes are indelible ink dots. These will be available in our shop when Danny has a break from work later today. The Min Pins are fascinated by them –The Contessa stole one and hid it in...
read moreMixed game casserole with shitake mushrooms recipe. For the slow cooker.
The freezer bit of our indoor fridge freezer has finally died. RIP you temperamental old geezer. You have no idea of the heartache that you have caused us over the years. The fridge is still working, thank goodness and we have a small backup freezer in the barn. So I’ve been cooking up things that used to be in the defunct freezer. Yesterday it was mixed game casserole. The essential ingredient for this, apart from the game element, are the shitake mushrooms. If you can’t get fresh ones use dried ones (10% of the fresh weight) soak and...
read moreEnduring love
We were really worried about Dr Quito this morning. He was very scratchy with Inca and even growled when I tried to pick him up. “I think that he’s in pain, Danny. Cold house and an old damaged body. I’ll put him back under the duvet after breakfast.” He was keen to be cosseted and returned to the goose and duck down duvet (an extravagance that I’ve never regretted. Even when we’re raiding the piggy bank to buy milk at the village shop). But he continued to tremble and mutter. Finally when the wood burning stove had warmed the...
read moreBehind the scenes: update
Our online shop is buzzing and that’s why you’ve heard nothing from me for a few days. The lavender birds and hearts are going very well and the last few days have been awash with felt, gingham and ribbons. Our local shop has had to order in more supplies to keep up with our demand! Exciting stuff. The most heartening thing is that we are both working on the online shop. Designing the products together – Danny has a good eye for colour and detail. At the moment I’m responsible for making up the stock and Danny manages the orders and...
read moreOur online shop is now up!
Wey hey. Danny has mastered the techie side of our on line shop and it’s up! Just a few items but we will be adding more over the next day or so. Click on the tab under the header marked = Gifts = to enter and have a poke around. I’m very excited about it. The start of a whole new Cottage Smallholder adventure.
read moreThe mouse intruder
We have caught loads of mice over the past three months but there is one that has survived all attempts to trap him. He is living behind the cooker. Clearly a highly trained mouse survival expert, he scoffs at our humane mouse traps and evades the killer traps. Danny has become obsessed with this interloper. It’s war but as yet there is just a lot of muttering about poison and sterilising the worktops several times a day. Dispatching vermin is my department. If we leave the kitchen for a few minutes the mouse is back – with a trail of...
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