Handmade fantasty felt bird lavender bags
The small investment in the old sewing machine is paying off on the fun stakes. Absorbed by the possibilities that seem limitless from a newbie point of view. Yet alarmed that the precious needle might snap. Longing for small sharp scissors to cut a fine line (found them at Tescos and spare needles, just in case!). Practicing my curves, learning how to thread a bobbin and listening to the radio. Discovering that I had a whole load of inherited cotton thread on wooden reels. Bliss. I reckon that it’s at least 40 years since I last used a...
read moreEasy and deluxe prawn, spinach and gnocchi recipe
I adore prawns. Could eat them everyday. Two favourite recipes are Donagh’s Gambas al pil pil and Clare’s prawn gnocchi. Prawns are expensive but often there are great reductions to be found in the frozen food section of the supermarket. Yesterday I discovered through MySupermarket.com that Tesco Finest Canadian prawns were half price. Perfect. With a limitless budget I probably would have bought uncooked prawns for added flavour but the cooked prawns tasted fine. The beauty of Clare’s dish is that it can be assembled and cooked in 15...
read moreThe potpourri project: first outing with my smellies to the Withersfield Christmas Bazaar
This summer I became interested in scent. I’d invested in The Scented Room: Cherchez’s Book of Dried Flowers, Fragrance and Potpourri. I wanted to use scent both to enhance mood and also battle with the pests that were chomping through our clothes. The latter was a big priority. I grew up in the era of moth balls. Ancient maiden aunts would arrive for family functions wearing clothes that reeked of these ghastly balls. It was evident that they clearly worked well on the moth population but also on every other thing that was alive in...
read moreThe Duchess
The last few days have been a bit stressful and frantic. Searching in vain for a replacement car. Meanwhile I was rushing about stocking up on anything too heavy to collect in the bicycle trailer. Friends have been very kind and generous. The Contessa’s diabetes has become very unstable and she had to be rushed to the vet – S and The Chicken Lady drove me down to Newmarket in the snow to collect her. Seraphina offered to lend me her car, every other week. But living in a village we need our own car. Then Danny came up trumps and...
read moreEgyptian walking onions
“Look the Egyptian walking onions have arrived!” I was opening an envelope that had dropped through our letterbox. Danny looked bemused. “In Finland they are called Air onions.” “You didn’t get them sent all the way from Finland did you?” Panicky cash strapped yelp. “Well yes. They were cheaper than buying them in the UK – including postage.” “But do we need them?” “Yes. These are perennial onions. Once you plant them you should have them forever.” “Ahhh.” The word perennial brings out the purr in D. I...
read moreLaunch of the Min Pin DogBlog
Finally the Min Pin DogBlog is up and running. Min Pins are extraordinary dogs. Brave, protective and independent – small dogs with big personalities. My parents discovered the breed when they were living in Germany. Their first one was called Nippy (the name for the waitresses at Lyons Corner House in London at the time). When I was 30 I bought my first Min Pin – Fly. Since then there have always been Min Pins in the house. Life would be very dull without them. There will soon be a tab at the top of the page to access the DogBlog....
read moreWild garlic: Ramsons (Allium ursinum)
Back in the last century, when I was at boarding school, the music and science block was a short five minute walk from our classroom. This is also where I was taught to play the violin by The Missing Link but that’s another story. In Spring there were frothy cushions of wild garlic either side of the road. No one was keen on singing lessons so one day we thought that we’d spice things up a bit and eat some wild garlic. “Then we’ll open our mouths as wide as possible as we sing.” “Yes lets! She can’t complain as for once...
read morePreparing for a gap between cars
We discovered this week that Danny’s company car is being replaced by a monthly car allowance. Panic. The car goes on Tuesday. Paying the tax will go on for another year as it was paid a year in arrears. Grrr. “Why don’t we get Jalopy repaired? She might be old but she’s a good car.” “I only get the car allowance if the car is suitable for carrying clients.” “Oh…” During a really hot summer a couple of cans of paint exploded in Jalopy’s interior giving an interesting patina to the roof and seats. And of course...
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