At this time of year a warm kitchen is the best place to be. Often called “the heart of the home”. I love it on a Winter day with rain lashing the window.
I had some parsnips to use up so I thought I’d try them in my cake squares. These are not guilt-laden cakes; just simple, sweet and satisfying. I will put the recipe on next time. They bake beautifully in 25 minutes and are the perfect snack with a cup of tea.
As usual I rinsed the egg white from the eggshells and popped them in the bottom of the oven on a metal plate while the cake baked. This is a useful tip if you grow tomatoes like me. The baked shells break up into the tiniest of fragments and it’s easy to pound them into a powder in a bag. Then they can be sprinkled into the tomato compost to provide calcium. I’m grateful to whoever suggested this in a gardening magazine because my tomatoes have been much better. I also add them to my compost bins for added nutrients.
Meanwhile, despite the weather, the garden is thriving. The birds are bobbing about and calling to one another.
More flowers have appeared. A few early Crocuses which the bees are finding already.
Lots more Snowdrops are appearing at different stages around the garden. The Hellebores are a delight with their lovely colours, pretty centres and beautifully shaped petals. The Garrya has even longer tassells, draping gracefully on the branches.
The two Clematis on the arch are flowering a bit now but more buds have yet to open. The one on the left of the arch is “Freckles” and I think the one on the right is “Wisley Cream”. A while since I planted them so I’m not sure.
At this time of year we usually enjoy my “Red Winter” Kale but Wood Pigeons have bitten off all the leaves! I have never needed to cover them before. It was never a problem but this year I went down the garden and discovered they had been ripped to bits. Needless to say, they are now covered and I’m waiting for new leaves to grow.
I love wildlife in the garden but pigeons can be a nuisance. They eat all the food if you put it out for the little birds, they will eat any cabbage, broccoli or kale plants and they trample all over any low-growing flowers. Beautiful birds but I wish they’d behave themselves!
In the tunnel, snug and safe, the Garlic plants are coming up. Planted in October, they’ve had their necessary cold spell and now the days are lengthening they will grow away and provide a crop in May.
Indoors, I’m progressing with my knitting. This section of the front of the cardigan has a pattern. Interesting instead of straight rows but I need to concentrate. I’m easily distracted and confused when doing a pattern. Working hard to keep it going though and so far, so good.
Just a few weeks and we’ll be enjoying those wonderful days with glorious flowers and blue skies. Here’s a little painting I did of Spring flowers. Painted with gouache from one of my photos.
Stay safe and find lots of lovely things to help the Winter along. Bye for now. With you again next week.
Living a contented creative life. 