Sowing Seeds and Fishy Cakes

April is a month of sunshine and showers, lovely lambs and Easter eggs. Gentler days are ahead of us at last and the land springs to life.

In my garden the plum trees have opened their beautiful snow-white blossom for the attention of the bees. I hope a frost won’t damage them but most years they survive and give me enough plums for tasty jam.

In the tunnels I’ve sown parsnip seeds, Spring onions, radishes and carrots. The first sowing of carrots has germinated so I’m checking their moisture daily as the tiny seedlings are near the surface of the soil. No sign yet of the peas I put in. They do take a while but I suspect the seed was far too old. I’ll resow with nice fresh seed I think.

My broad beans are growing outside in the garden but some have been nibbled by slugs and I’ve had to cover them with netting to prevent pigeons from snapping at the leaves. Wood pigeons are handsome birds but they can be a bit of a nuisance in the garden.

The Spring cabbages are growing now. Half of them were munched by caterpillars and are looking very ragged but the other half are doing well. It’s a mystery how these particular caterpillars have ended up in the tunnel. That’s gardening for you! Nature has some sneaky tricks.

I grew some “Little Gem” lettuce seedlings in the new greenhouse and I transplanted fifteen into the tunnels. I pick individual leaves once they’re big enough and leave the plant to replace them. No need to pull up a whole lettuce.

The beautiful marsh marigold (Caltha palustris) at the corner of the pond was magnificent until a few days ago. Sadly, the heavy rain and strong wind have flattened it and it looks very forlorn. Here’s how it looked before the weather took its toll.

A few early tulips have brought elegant flowers and lovely colours to the garden. A few more will follow.

I have three Japanese Acers. They are all lovely. One has grown to be a medium sized tree and looks very graceful. It has tiny inconspicuous but interesting flowers in Spring.

The frogs have been busy in the pond. There’s some frogspawn now although not as much as previous years.

My new Brunnera I planted in a pot last year is doing well. It has bright blue flowers and the silvery leaves are fresh and lovely. A good perennial for a shaded spot in the garden.

More flowers and pleasing things in my garden right now.

I’m always thinking of ways to use food and to provide nutritious tasty meals that aren’t too difficult to make. I like fish but Cod and Haddock are overfished now so I buy Pollock. It’s so much cheaper and frozen fillets steam over vegetables in my one-pan meals in about six to seven minutes.

I wondered if they’d make good fish cakes. I partially thawed two fillets, dabbed them a bit with kitchen paper then chopped them into pieces. I put them in the food processor with 50g of bread ( cut off crusts), a sprig of parsley from the garden and the juice of half a lemon. Sprinkled with salt and pepper and whizzed them all together. I didn’t add onion or garlic because that would overwhelm the delicate flavour of the fish.

I moulded two small cakes with my hands but the mixture was wet. That would make the heated oil in the frying pan spit so I dipped them into plain flour and coated them all over. Then I browned them in moderately hot oil on both sides until crisp and golden. They were tasty and satisfying served with vegetables. Will be making these again.

I’ll be baking more of my Iced and Spiced Squares for Easter. They’re my favourite cakes. A good crumby texture with delicious spice and the added pleasure of icing on top. If you have my Earthy Homemaker’s Cookbook you’ll find the recipe in my Sweet Treat Squares section. Although in my book I include dried milk in the ingredients, it isn’t absolutely essential if you don’t have it in the cupboard.

Finally, here’s a painting I did a few years ago. Nothing shouts out Spring like daffodils! Drawn from my own photo taken in the garden then painted with gouache. These daffodils are called “Pippin”. Sadly, I’ve lost them but at least I have a photo and a painting.

With you again in a couple of weeks. I hope the weather will be kind to us and the gardens glorious. Bye for now.

Spring Sensations and a Sweet Treat

March is a month of Spring joy, weather changes and for us, our wedding anniversary. Married for sixty-one years!

We usually buy something for the garden to mark the occasion. This time we’ve had two beautiful hanging baskets full of bright little flowers.

Such a busy time in the garden! I’ve started sowing seeds cautiously because nights are still very cold. Although temperatures are high inside the greenhouse and tunnels during the day it’s easy to forget that they plummet at night.

So, I’ve sown and germinated “Little Gem” lettuce in the greenhouse. These are hardy. I’ve sown carrots and kohl rabi in one of the tunnels and peas in the other one. The pea seeds, “Hurst Green Shaft”, are years old so it’s a bit risky. They might not germinate. However, pea seeds can last for years so I thought I’d try them. Broad beans are just beginning to peep through the seed compost.

I have mentioned before that I make my own compost. I haven’t bought any for years. For seeds I mix two parts of homemade leafmould and one part of homemade compost. If it’s a bit rough I riddle it to remove bits of hard material but I’m not too fussy about it. For potting, I mix two parts of compost with one of leafmould. Things grow well and it costs nothing. Also means I’m not collecting plastic bags.

The frogs have been busy but frogspawn has only just appeared. Snails and slugs are crawling out again and eggshells are appearing. A few cunningly disguised caterpillars are about as well and easily spotted ladybirds are everywhere.

Sometimes it’s not a bad thing to be a bit untidy in the garden. What we often regard as waste nature finds a use for. I found a lovely bee was resting peacefully on a Rudbeckia seed head I hadn’t cut down.

I had a pot of lovely little tulips and violas which were a glorious sight a few days ago. Here’s what they looked like. Sadly, strong wind and heavy rain have left them bedraggled and looking quite miserable since then.

Lovely Spring colours are lighting up the garden. The hyacinths are sensational and the fragrance is so pleasing as it wafts around. I have two patches of corydalis beneath the fruit trees showing off their pink flowers and the yellow of daffodils can’t be matched.

I found two tiny toadstools in a pot. So lovely. Some gardeners are a bit worried when they find fungi in the garden but they’re an essential part of the ecosystem and do no harm. I’m fascinated by them.

I’m always so glad I went to the trouble of preparing and freezing lots of strawberries in the summer. Gardeners often say strawberry plants should be replaced every three years but mine are several years old and produce kilos of fruit. Delicious fresh but also lovely in winter, thawed and stewed gently with a little sugar. Fabulous warm with ice-cream or cold with Greek yoghurt.

Something else I froze a few months ago was my courgette and ginger loaf. It was just like fresh when I thawed it. A really nice moist and sweet treat served sliced with a spread of butter. I thought up this recipe when I had courgettes in the garden but they’re available from the supermarket all year round. It’s not in my Earthy Homemaker’s Cookbook so I’ll explain it here.

Courgette and Ginger Loaf
You will need a loaf tin and I used a cake tin liner to make it easy to turn out.
1 small Courgette, approx. 150g
2 Large Eggs
100g Caster Sugar
135g Self-raising Flour
1 heaped teaspoon Baking Powder
15g Bran
100g Sunflower Oil
2 lumps Stem Ginger
1 tablespoon Ginger Syrup from the jar

Grate the courgette, chop ginger into small pieces. 
Grease the tin if not using a liner.
Heat the oven to 180C/160C for fan oven.
Put all ingredients into the mixing bowl and beat well.
Spread in tin.
Bake for 35 minutes.

Check with a skewer to the centre. If it comes out cleanly it's done.
Worth doubling up the recipe and freezing one for later. Keeps very well.



With you again in a couple of weeks time. Enjoy the lengthening days and sunny spells, the daffodils and bursting buds. Bye for now.

New and Old in the Garden, Apples and Houseplants

March heralds the beginning of Spring! It can be unkind but there will be some lovely days full of sunshine and bright flowers. Much to look forward to with Winter behind us.

There’s been excitement and soul searching in the garden! Big decisions and deliberation.

A new greenhouse has been erected and I can’t wait to fill it with seed trays. I’ve popped some bought pots of daffodils in there to bring a bit of cheer to an empty space.

The plan was that the old greenhouse would be removed. That’s proven to be a source of anguish. We emptied it and were about to have it demolished but it’s such a lovely wooden structure, bigger than the new one and has served us well for many years. We can’t bear to see it go so Allan is going to mend it with new wooden parts.

I’ve bought a dozen broad bean plants. I kept them in the greenhouse for a week until the outdoor bed was ready and since then I’ve planted them out. Pigeons love new fresh leaves so I’ve covered the plants with netting for the time being. I might do a few more from seed so I have an extended crop and some to freeze.

In one of the tunnels I have a few Spring cabbages, my favourite “Spring Hero” variety which I’ve grown for many years. They were looking a bit tatty and it was obvious they were being nibbled. An inspection found the culprits! Bright green caterpillars. How the butterflies or moths got in to produce these offspring I’ve no idea. We keep the doors shut at all times except while we’re watering.

The cabbages look a bit forlorn but will soon pick up and grow beautiful big juicy heads.

Wildlife is always a feature of our garden. The frogs have been busy in the pond. I love to hear them croaking and see them splashing about.

We’ve had some sunny days but very wet ones as well. I caught a few shots of flowers with raindrops on them. I love to see them.

Other lovelies continue to catch my eye. The hellebores are still opening new blooms and this deep purple one with its contrasting centre is a really special one. The pink one has the opposite contrast with its dark centre. So many variations of this beautiful plant.

Wonderful to see new life in the garden. Although it’s untidy there are lovely things to catch my eye.

I bought a Sarcococca. It’s a lovely shrub which has evergreen leaves and flowers in Winter with a heady scent. I want to plant it where I can enjoy the perfume.

A few other lovely images around the garden.

We’ve had a problem with mice and, unfortunately rats, in the shed. We’ve stored surplus apples in there successfully for more than twenty years but sadly they now seem to be attracting these invaders. Such a pity! I loved having supplies of apples whenever I wanted them in the winter months and the aroma in the shed was fabulous. So, I’ve prepared and used the last of the cooking apple harvest.  We enjoyed some stewed and I froze a few containers of slices.

I’ve mentioned a few times a tip for preparing apples but I always find someone who doesn’t know this so it’s worth mentioning again. Lemon juice is not the best way to prevent apples browning while they’re being prepared. Salted water works brilliantly and is always ready in the kitchen. Just add a tablespoon or so to a bowl of water and slice the apples into it. Swish them around a little to cover them.

When I drain the salt water away I rinse lightly then cook immediately. Or, if I’m freezing slices, I drain but retain the salty coating. This prevents browning when the apples are thawing. They never taste salty.

A couple of my houseplants needed repotting. I just buy houseplant compost for this as I don’t want to bring in any unwanted visitors or fungi from the garden. My Calathea had outgrown its pot. It’s now looking splendid and is very happy where it sits. My Maranta (prayer plant) was looking sickly because I had moved it to where it wasn’t having sufficient light. I cut it back and re-potted it. It’s currently in a windowsill but I think it may be too hot in a few weeks time so will have to find somewhere more suitable. I have a crazy cactus which produces long spaghetti-like growths trailing on the floor. Mad but I like it.

I hope Spring is filling you with pleasure in your garden and in the countryside. Such a lovely time of year. With you again in two weeks time. Bye for now.

New Beginnings, Pesto and a Painting

February has been extremely wet and dull! It’s hard not to be low in spirit. However, I gave myself a talking-to and wrote a little poem.

Gardener's Frustration

The relentless rain patters down,
The sky so grey and dreary.
My plants will surely drown
Which will make me very teary.
Winter days seem endless
When the garden's out of bounds
And my mind and body restless
As I listen to these sounds.
But when the clouds drift away
And sunlight spreads its cheer,
There will be a gardening day
At last, and flowers will appear.
So I mustn't be downhearted.
I know the rain won't last.
My gloom will have departed
And the Winter will have passed.

Much to look forward to! The new greenhouse is to be erected this week. The base has been prepared and is now ready.

I’m a bit apprehensive about having a solid floor as the old greenhouse had a raised soil bed with gravel beneath. I expect I’ll soon be used to it and at least I won’t have weeds growing on the ground or ants building nests under the path .

Time to take stock and to tidy up. There are still lots of dead stems which I left to shelter wildlife but now they need to be removed to allow new growth to thrive. The snowdrops are looking lovely beneath the apple tree and early crocuses have opened their flowers whenever the sun peeped out.

The birds seem to be calling and pairing up. Two robins are around together and one has been singing constantly despite the rain. A pair of dunnocks seem to be happily pecking under the bird feeders and the blackbirds have been rather feisty.

The hellebores are still giving me pleasure in their Winter beauty. They don’t seem to mind what the weather throws at them.

Evergreens are essential in any garden. I value mine for their year-round interest. The big conifers have substantial trunks and I love to peer underneath the sweeping leaves to see that woodland effect. I have recently lost two favourites in pots but they were very old and had come to the end of their life. New ones have taken their place and look fresh and pleasing.

On breezy days our lovely windchimes sing to us. These are called Earth Chimes. I was never keen on windchimes until I heard these in a visit to a sensory garden. Most chimes tinkle or clank but these are beautifully musical and don’t overpower the natural sounds of the garden.

In Summer I grow basil in the greenhouse. It’s delicious in my Italian-style salad. In Winter when it’s too cold to grow it I buy supermarket leaves and make pesto. I usually use Lancashire cheese for my recipe and cashew nuts as I don’t like the taste of pine nuts. I had Cheshire cheese in the fridge so I used that instead to make a new batch. My recipe is in my Earthy Homemaker’s Cookbook. Very easy to make and freezes perfectly in small containers. So handy to use with pasta, a baked potato or crackers. Tastes so much better homemade. When I first bought ready-made pesto I thought it was horrible but freshly made it’s absolutely delicious. Of course, I customised the recipe to suit our tastes.

After many requests from my regular readers, a few years ago I compiled my recipes and published them in book form. I called it Earthy Homemaker’s Cookbook. Simple, nutritious and inexpensive recipes with full instructions. This is the only advertisement you’ll ever encounter on my blog because this is only a pastime for me, not a money-making venture. Just in case you may be interested in my recipes, here’s the link for my cookbook.

https://geni.us/eANQu

You might remember I started a new painting. I have finished it and I’m fairly happy with it. One or two little niggles but generally ok. I worked from my photo of late Summer flowers I’d picked, drawing it first with pencil then painting it with gouache. I prefer gouache to traditional watercolours because they’re bolder and I enjoy a defined image rather than a washy one.

I hope you’re finding ways to withstand the Winter. Spring isn’t far away! With you again in a couple of weeks. Bye for now.

Garden Changes, Beauty and Beans

February already! There’s an old rhyme which, I think, says, “February brings the rain, then it brings the snow again”. We’ve certainly had the rain. I hope it doesn’t bring the snow!

On a better day I tidied one of the tunnels. There were some tiny carrots which were too small to use, so I composted those and weeded the beds. I found a few good carrots which I pulled up and cooked. Tasted so good! In the other tunnel I fed the garlic with liquid seaweed. It seems to have grown well but the leaves were a bit yellow. Probably needed some nourishment so I obliged.

The old greenhouse has given wonderful service but the wood is rotting and the old-fashioned glass is a bit dangerous. Allan has mended it in places but it’s really past it now. It’s sad to discard something which has been loved but it really is time for a new one.

We decided to use a different area of the garden for the new greenhouse. It will be delivered very soon so it’s quite exciting. Need to do some preparation first and although in the past we would most certainly have done it ourselves we’re having the work done for us.

One of the things I value a greenhouse for is starting seeds in the Spring. The bench will be full of seed trays and pots from March onwards. I don’t start earlier (except for tomatoes, in the house) because the plants can’t be planted outside until frosts have finished.

We haven’t had a lot of frost so far this Winter and the garden has plenty of new life. The oriental hellebores continue to delight me and the snowdrops are showing more flowers every day.

Apart from the flowers, there are pleasing sights around the garden if I look carefully. A lovely leaf, a ladybird snuggled in among leaves, and some interesting fungi on an old tree stump. A pretty weed and a fancy cyclamen leaf also caught my eye.

The thermometer is a little weatherworn but still functions well and I love a favourite piece of pottery which Allan made. The wind sculpture has been whizzing around in the storms.

I have a small Sarcococca which has grown extremely slowly. I almost gave up on it because it was near the outdoor tap and was often squashed as we moved around. At last it has flowered and is looking healthy. It’s evergreen, has a wonderful Winter fragrance and after the flowers fall it produces glossy black berries. A lovely plant.

The early crocuses are pushing up beneath the bird table. Not opening their pretty flowers yet but a pleasing sight. A few have been nibbled.

Indoors, my Christmas gift of an Amaryllis ( aka Hippeastrum) has grown tremendously tall and its flowers are spectacular. I have one from my son every year and love watching them emerge and give a dramatic display.

I made a meal for a special occasion but didn’t want it hot as I wasn’t sure my guests would be on time. So I made a selection of cold dishes which were just as tasty but more flexible. Here’s my Bean Salad which was a great favourite.

Bean Salad

1 tin Baked Beans
2 small sticks of Celery
2 Apples
1 small onion (optional)
Mayonnaise
Salt and Pepper

Tip the beans into a colander and rinse away the tomato sauce with cold water. Drain and pat dry with kitchen paper.
Put the beans into a bowl.
Wash celery and use the tenderest stalks. Chop them into small pieces.
If using the onion, chop into small pieces or slice thinly.
Peel, core and chop the apples into small pieces.
Add celery, onion if using, and apple pieces to the beans. 
Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
Add a spoonful of mayonnaise and stir well to combine. Just enough to bring the mixture together.
Good served hot or cold.
It can be blended if a smooth sauce is preferred. Keeps well in the fridge for a few days or can be frozen.
You might think it odd to use baked beans instead of plain haricot beans. Trust me! You have the wonderful sweet flavour from the baked beans and the texture is good but you don't want the sauce as it would be too wet. It's a nice accompaniment to meat or cheese.
Very simple, cheap and delicious.

I’ve started a painting. The photo I’m working from is a very poor choice but I’ll try to compensate. Early stages yet. Drawn with pencil then painted with gouache.

I hope Winter is speeding by for you too. Enjoy whatever pleasures the season has to offer. With you again in a couple of weeks. Bye for now.

Frosted Beauty, Baking and Contemplation

Winter may stretch ahead but there are welcome signs of renewal to lift my spirits in the garden. The weather has brought us snow, frost, storms and rain but it’s all forgiven when the sun shines.

A few frosty days decorated leaves in a pleasing way and brought beauty to a frozen scene.

When the frost melted there were glistening drops to enjoy on lovely flowers. Scarlet haws lay beneath the hawthorn tree on the dark soil and the beech leaves glowed in the leafbin.

Evergreens are so valuable for their year-round show and the winter honeysuckle (Lonicera fragrantissima) scents the cold air with its perfumed white flowers. The faded beauty of retained leaves add interest to the bare borders.

The hellebores are opening more of their beautiful blooms. I need to add some of these again to the garden. I lost a few when we had some paving work done. The “Double Ellen” series are really fabulous. Their petals and centres are so varied and fascinating.

A cheeky dandelion has pushed up quite vigorously in a pot but even this is a welcome visitor at this time of year.

When I removed the sprays of winter foliage from my Christmas vase display I discovered one sprig of holly had little white flower buds. Holly produces lovely tiny white waxy flowers so I put the sprig into a small vase in the kitchen windowsill. I hoped the flowers would open. They haven’t, unfortunately, but it was worth a try.

We had some work done while the trees were dormant. Very pleased with the result. Not too drastic but unwanted branches removed. The beech tree is beneath overhead cables so it needs reducing every couple of years. It’s full of ivy but we don’t mind. The bees love the flowers, the birds eat the berries and they nest among the leaves.

We asked for a bag of woodchip to use in the Hotbin. Apparently, they speed up the heating process and make the compost break down a bit faster. I hope so. Compost is so vital in our garden with its poor sandy soil.

Indoors, it’s time to use the squashes which I stored in Autumn. I’m very pleased with the “Ukichi kuri” which I grew last year for the first time. I used to grow “Buttercup”, a very tasty squash, but tried these instead. Not too big, easy to peel with a paring tool and make very nice soup. Haven’t roasted them yet but I think they will be good. So pleasing to look at as well.

I’m using apples which we stored in the shed. The mice have wriggled in somehow and found them again but not too much damage yet. The Cox apples are now very mellow with a lovely texture and flavour eaten raw but they’re also delicious cooked.

I’ve baked a chocolate roll to freeze for a special occasion. Full of flavour and a sweet treat. Here’s my recipe. A Swiss roll tin is needed plus greaseproof paper.

Chocolate Swiss Roll

3 large Eggs
75g Caster Sugar
60g Self-raising Flour
2 heaped tablespoons of Cocoa Powder (approx.26g)

Butter Cream or alternative filling.

Lightly grease the tin and line with greaseproof paper, slightly overlapped at the edges.
Beat the eggs and sugar until a trail forms in the mixture. This will take a few minutes.
Heat the oven to 200C/180C for a fan oven.
Weigh the flour and add the cocoa to it. Sieve a little at a time to the egg mixture and fold in gently until it's incorporated.
Spread carefully into the lined tin.
Bake for 10 minutes.
Put a fresh sheet of greaseproof paper on the worktop. Sprinkle with icing sugar.
Allow the cake to cool slightly then tip upside down onto the fresh paper. Carefully peel off the baking paper and roll up using the new paper.
Make butter icing.
Allow the cake to become completely cold then unroll and spread with the butter icing.
Reroll the cake. Don't worry if it splits a bit.
Good to eat straight away or can be frozen.

An alternative filling could be just jam. Cherry jam and whipped cream make a Black Forest gateau effect.


Last year I treated myself to a big mixer to make my baking a bit easier. I’d toyed with the idea for a while but wasn’t sure it would be worth the expense. I’m so glad I finally did it. A favourite piece of kitchen equipment now.

Wishing away the Winter and yet glad of a rest from daily gardening. Time to reflect, make plans and be excited about the treasures to look forward to. I hope your Winter will pass well and bring unexpected pleasure.

With you again in a couple of weeks. Bye for now.

A Fresh New Start

A new month, a new year! Happy New Year everyone. The festivities are over and time for a reassessment, New Year resolutions and looking ahead.

Snow has fallen and covered the garden in a pure white blanket. A timely reminder that Winter has begun.

Although the garden is mostly dormant there are some lovely plants which defy the weather. Before the snow fell I captured a few of these with my camera.

I have a male Skimmia which has raspberry pink flowers and a female Skimmia which produces scarlet berries from tiny white flowers.

Evergreens are wonderful to have in Winter. Their bright glossy leaves shine out on dull days and give life to the garden. Euonymus shrubs are my favourites with their green and gold or green and cream variegated leaves. They also grow happily in our dry sandy soil.

Clematis cirrhosa is another favourite at this time of year with its lovely bell flowers and its dainty leaves. It can spread vigorously but I love it.

I haven’t as many vegetables in the polytunnels as usual so I intend to remedy that situation for next Winter. I usually have parsnips but they didn’t germinate well last Spring so my meagre crop was used before Christmas. Celeriac is another staple we enjoy at this time of year but I experimented with celery instead. Not very successful so I will return to celeriac this year.

I do have a few carrots left and parsley. Nice to have fresh parsley for soups although I do have some in the freezer for days when it’s too cold and slippery on the paths to venture down the garden.

The garlic I planted last Autumn is growing well in one of the tunnels. I hope it will be a good crop. The fresh sweet taste of homegrown garlic is so good.

In the greenhouse I have a few winter lettuces. Unfortunately the ancient greenhouse roof leaked a bit and some of these rotted. The remaining ones are fine and provide a small amount of fresh green leaves now and then. I only remove the medium sized leaves and leave the centre of the plants to grow more. No need to remove a whole lettuce plant.

My son gave me some Summer bulbs for Christmas. A packet of mixed which includes Gladioli and a packet of Ranunculus which apparently need soaking before planting. So when the weather improves I have a project to find where to place these.

I’m not a fan of Winter but it is a time for rest and planning for the next wave of gardening. I need to sort out my seed packets and to order any replacements. A pleasant task which fills me with enthusiasm for growing food and flowers. I’m not very adventurous in my vegetable growing. I mainly stick to the ones we know and enjoy. I did try two new squash varieties last year though and I was pleased with those.

Because it’s not practical to go outside during these very cold days I find knitting relaxes me when I’m restless. I’ve started knitting a jumper in chunky yarn. I found the plastic needles I was using gripped the yarn and prevented it from sliding on and off easily. Hard work! Although I have many metal needles I hadn’t got them in this size. I’ve now replaced the plastic ones and knitting is much easier with them.

During a previous Winter I was inspired to write a poem about snuggling down on a cold day when there’s no pressure to do anything. When we have that feeling that there’s no place like home. I hope you enjoy it.

Home By The Fire

Chasing away the blues
Lying on the sofa,
Having a lovely snooze
And being just a loafer.
The fire is singing along,
Its logs burning brightly
With a gentle soothing song
That falls on me so lightly.
The sights and sounds of home
Drift softly in my senses.
No desire to stray or roam,
No need for false pretences.
Familiar noises in my ear,
It's where I want to be.
I know that I belong here
Where I can just be me.

Lots to look forward to with luck and a willing spirit. I hope we all have a good year ahead of us. Bye for now. With you again in a couple of weeks.

Merry Christmas

A very Merry Christmas! The year has flown by and here we are again in the festive season. It’s such a busy time but I hope it’s an enjoyable one for all my readers.

Amid the frantic preparations let’s take a moment to calm our nerves with a few moments in the garden.

Although the weather has not been kind at times a few rosebuds offered up a pretty display last week while snowdrops made their first appearance. This is not as surprising as it may seem. Roses are hardier than sometimes believed and some snowdrops do flower this early in the winter.

My Clematis cirrhosa is in full flower now. Draped elegantly over an arch it looks lovely from the window as I look out on the garden.

My oriental hellebores are budding but this particular one flowers from Autumn until Spring. It’s a beauty and its ivory white blossom lights up an otherwise drab border during these dull days.

Viburnum hillieri has bold scarlet berries next to the Garrya elliptica with its long graceful catkins.

The pond was looking interesting after a storm when Cotoneaster leaves had sprinkled on the surface. Tiny red droplets of colour mingled on top with the pesky duckweed.

I clipped greenery from around the garden to make a wreath. Bit easier this year because I bought a willow ring to insert the stems into. It may not look professional but I enjoy doing it and all the sprigs are from our garden. I used Holly, Euonymus, conifer leaves and Skimmia berries.

I also found pretty foliage for a vase with some Cotoneaster berries and Rudbeckia seedheads. I love this Christmas alternative to flowers. Bringing greenery into the house used to be considered a way of ensuring Spring would come again. I have no superstitions but I still find it a pleasing thing to do at Christmas.

With food in mind, I usually decorate some little cakes and make mince pies with my homemade mincemeat. Always appreciated by the family and guests. This year, for the cakes, I tried something I saw on a few little videos. A brilliant idea which looked so simple. Hmm! Not simple for me. The idea was to create a little wreath in icing on the top of the cake and add dots of red for berries. Looked so easy but didn’t work when I tried. Anyway the cakes look cheerful and taste just as good. At least it gave us something to giggle about!

For a few years I made a vegetarian flan on Christmas Day. It was really delicious and a pleasant change from all the meat we eat at this time of year. It contained ground cashew nuts, sprouts, leeks and carrots in a pastry case. I roasted potatoes and parsnips to go with it and cranberry sauce. It really is a satisfying and tasty meal. The recipe for it is in my Earthy Homemaker’s Cookbook.

Now, because I have a long-term illness, I find it too much work and I can no longer make a traditional Christmas meal. So last year I cooked a one-pan version of a turkey dinner. It’s so much easier and still tastes delicious so I will do it again this Christmas day. I recommend it for anyone who struggles with a traditional Christmas dinner.

I cook a turkey breast the day before. Then on Christmas Day I make a little stock from chicken stock cubes and add potato chunks, sprouts and carrots. I allow them to cook for a few minutes then add pieces of the cooked turkey. When the vegetables are tender I stir in some dissolved cornflour to make gravy. Then it’s ready to serve with cranberry sauce. Much easier than the usual meal and hardly any washing up afterwards. All the Christmas flavours in one pan. Parsnips can be added or roasted as an accompaniment.

Homemade cranberry sauce is easy-peasy and so full of flavour. Just simmer the fruit until it softens, then stir in sugar to taste. A glistening ruby-coloured treat.

For a tasty dessert over Christmas, I toast pecan pieces and make a simple chocolate sauce to serve with vanilla icecream in a tall dish. Absolutely delicious, looks special yet so easy. For the chocolate sauce I carefully stir cocoa powder with a few drops of milk until a paste forms then add a little more milk. I microwave it for about thirty or forty seconds to heat it. It thickens a bit then I pour it warm over the vanilla icecream. A sprinkle of the toasted pecans makes a fabulous combination of flavours. A favourite with my family. Extra pecans are always asked for because they’re wonderful toasted.

If you try this, here are a couple of tips. To make the chocolate sauce it’s important to stir the cocoa and milk gently to begin with or the cocoa powder flies up and coats everything. So do this slowly then a bit more vigorously once the chocolate paste begins to form. For the pecan nuts, begin by breaking in small pieces into a baking tray. Heat the grill and toast for a couple of minutes. Then stir to turn them over and toast again. The nuts may look very dark but will be very good.

Whether you like to cook or not, I wish you the merriest of Christmases and I hope the New Year will bring everyone good health and happiness.

With you again in the New Year. Bye for now.

Fading Beauty and Christmas Preparations

Almost Christmas and much to do. While the garden is sleeping I have time to prepare for the festive season. In between activities I wander around the damp garden for a breath of fresh air and to seek out glimpses of end of year beauty.

Although the flowers have faded there are lovely leaves, moss and seedheads to please my eye. Euonymus “Blondie” is always glowing no matter what the weather. It sprawls across the paving and shines out on the dullest day.

Cotoneaster leaves and berries are scarlet beauties and even the gooseberry leaves have lovely tints. Other leaves still look fresh and verdant.

Then there is moss, lichen on tree branches, seedheads and ivy along with evergreens to put on a show when all else lies dormant.

Dried corkscrew tendrils on my Clematis montana “Freda” are interesting too.

The leafbin has been piled high. The wind, rain, frost and snow will break down the leaves into useful leafmould. I will use this to make potting and seed compost.

We have a lovely Chinese pot with a bonsai conifer in it. It’s a lovely feature of the garden.

With Christmas in mind, I love to make much of the food myself. I’m afraid I used to over bake my mince pies. It was a family joke because the pastry was hard! But I’ve finally worked it out. I enjoy making my own mincemeat, which I only need to do every couple of years because it keeps and matures so well. You can’t beat a warm mince pie, dusted with icing sugar and a glass of sherry. A winter treat. I make as many mince pies as I can and freeze them so we can continue to eat them after Christmas.

Another favourite of mine is a roulade. It looks special as a dessert but it’s just a simple Swiss roll filled with whipped cream and something extra added. I make it and freeze it for Boxing Day or New Year. I open freeze it on a baking tray with some greaseproof paper under it, then once it’s solid I wrap it and replace it in the freezer. I unwrap while still frozen as soon as I need it and place it on a serving plate to thaw. That way the cream isn’t disturbed when I pick it up.

Two of my recipes for this are in my Earthy Homemaker’s Cookbook, with full instructions. If you have it already you’ll find them in my Puddings section. If not you’ll find it with this link:

https://geni.us/eANQu

I thought it was time to start using my stored squashes. I grew “Uchiki Kuri” this year, a new one for me, so I didn’t know if it would be tasty. I hadn’t tried squash soup before so I made some to see if it would be flavourful. I used a small onion, a stick of celery, two vegetable stock cubes and the flesh from my squash. Blended it when it was cooked. Absolutely delicious!

Before Christmas I like to make something festive. Just simple crafts, I can’t do anything too sophisticated. This year I made some felt holly leaves and berries to place on the napkins at the table. They look nice against the white of the fabric and can be lifted off again when I wash the napkins.

I made a paper template for the shape and cut out six. Then I cut felt berries and glued them on with a dab of Copydex. Very simple to do and I think they will look nice. The colours aren’t bright on my photo but they’re actually a lovely holly-green and scarlet.

I hope Christmas is a creative time for you too and not too stressful. It’s such a busy few weeks but I feel it’s a distraction from the winter gloom and gives me a focus until snowdrops start appearing in the garden.

With you again as Christmas approaches. Meanwhile, stay warm and happy. Bye for now.

Seasonal Pursuits

November is rushing by and thoughts of Christmas are uppermost. The weather has changed to seasonal cold with frosty mornings. Although this has finished off some of the plants there are highlights here and there.

The winter Jasmine is flowering with its cheerful little blossoms. It’s a vigorous plant and needs cutting back every couple of years but it’s such a welcome sight when the rest of the garden can look dreary.

On blue-sky days the berries glisten and their scarlet beauty pops against the azure backdrop.

Clematis cirrhosa has begun to flower. I thought it had given up last year but it’s now full of buds again and will soon be lovely. I have “Freckles” with pink splashes inside the bell flowers and “Wisley Cream”. “Freckles” always seems dominant.

Now the garden is mostly dormant I search for beauty here and there. A few lovely glimpses caught my eye.

The runner beans had their fling and it was time to save seed. I let some pods dry on the plants, then removed the beans. These are now stored in a little brown envelope and will grow next year’s crop. I haven’t bought runner bean seeds for many years. It’s so easy to do this and very satisfying. The seeds need to be fully dry and stored in a dark, cool place until next Spring. These are an old variety called “Scarlet Emperor” and they’re very reliable.

The parsnips have been very good in chicken soup. Only one or two remain in the polytunnel now as I didn’t have a good germination rate this year. Parsnips can be a bit temperamental at the seed-sowing stage but once they germinate they can grow to a big size and are a valued winter vegetable.

The garlic is growing well. I scattered comfrey pellets around them to add nutrition. They’re breaking down now and I need to carefully work them into the soil.

Parsley grows abundantly in the polytunnels despite being in very dry poor soil. It’s lovely to have fresh green sprigs to add to soup. It freezes well too but I enjoy fetching some fresh leaves from the garden.

I’ve planted some winter onion sets. These are a variety called “Snowball”. The name speaks for itself as the onion skins are white. I’ve never grown these so I hope they’ll come through the winter and grow away when light and temperatures increase again.

In the greenhouse I have winter lettuce; a variety called “Arctic King”. These provide some welcome fresh green leaves to add interest and nutrition to a sandwich, when foods can become a bit stodgy.

I brought my peppers into the kitchen and put them on the windowsill. They haven’t done very well because I didn’t look after them this year but I have one ripening nicely and almost ready to use.

I made my Christmas cake with the much-needed help of my lovely daughter Sam. We really enjoy doing this together each year and we usually do it on my birthday. This year was no exception. This is an old photo of us but the same happens each time.

The cake always looks a bit lumpy because I line the baking tin with greaseproof paper which makes creases round the sides. It doesn’t spoil it. It’s still delicious when it’s ready at Christmas. When it’s cold I wrap it in fresh greaseproof paper and store it in a tin. Twice before Christmas I prick the top and spoon sherry over it. Smells amazing and tastes fabulous.

I confess I forgot to include my Christmas cake recipe in my Earthy Homemaker’s Cookbook but I put it on my blog last November. If you’d care to try it, scroll back to find the recipe and detailed instructions. Let me know if that’s a problem.

While the weather was wet, cold and miserable I contented myself with some knitting. Here’s “Purrcy”. He was a soothing project during a stressful week. I’m so pleased with him. He’s the cutest cuddly toy I’ve made.

I hope your Christmas plans are going well. It’s only stressful if you leave it till the last minute. The run-up to Christmas can be such a pleasure. It helps to dispel the dread of winter. At least, it does for me.

Bye for now. With you again in a couple of weeks.