So much rain! Huge drops splashing on the paving. The flowers drooping their soaking petals. The pond almost overflowing as the clouds burst overhead. I did want some but not every day. Glimpses of the sun are more than welcome and it’s a treat when I can venture out into the garden.
Between showers I harvested the last of this summer’s rhubarb and froze it. These last sticks were thinner than the Spring pickings but they won’t go to waste. When I’d trimmed and washed them I chopped them into small pieces. I always speed this up a bit by lining up the sticks to cut across several at once.
Saves time and my energy. The small chunks need no special preparation. They freeze perfectly just as they are.
The gooseberries were beginning to fall off the bush. Their lovely transparent skin and slight softness showed me that they were ready. I gathered them cautiously, avoiding the vicious thorns.
There weren’t enough to save so I made a fruity bread pudding with them using my air-fryer.
After washing and topping and tailing, I put them in a heatproof bowl and stirred three good tablespoons of sugar around them. Baked them for twelve minutes at 135C in the air-fryer, checking now and then, until the juice ran.
I used some crusts and leftover bread, adding half to the gooseberries and pressing them down to soak up the sweetened juice. Then I whisked an egg into about 300mls of milk with a tablespoon of sugar. I added the rest of the bread and carefully poured the milk mixture over the bread, pressing it down gently to make sure it soaked up the moisture. Left it to soak for a short while, then baked it at 140C for twelve minutes in the air-fryer.
I allowed it to cool and we ate two helpings each. Absolutely delicious.
When we had a few blue-sky moments I was out with my camera searching for lovely colours and textures. Here are some I snapped.
The birds drop lots of seeds during winter and I find grassy plants growing underneath the feeders. Various kinds of cereal like oats and wheat spring up. Although they drive me mad they are often very interesting to look at.
Last year the pond had a leak and had to be drained and relined. It was a lifeless hole in the ground. Repaired and refilled, nature quickly brought it back to life. Frogs found their way back and activity began again.
The tadpoles are whizzing about and come up to the surface to nibble bits of dry leaf or insects which have fallen in. They seem to grow randomly. Some are still very small, others are big and showing signs of legs. Some have all the features of tiny frogs but still with a bit of a tail. I managed to take a couple of photos.
The squashes are doing well. They might need feeding with liquid seaweed soon because the little fruits are swelling and they’re in boxes of home-made compost instead of in the ground. They’re vigorous plants and are stretching out across a paved area. I’m hoping the warmth of the paving will help them to grow. I will nip off the growing points in a day or two so the plants will concentrate their energy into growing a few good fruits instead of lots of small ones.
Delicious vegetables to be enjoyed roasted or made into soup during the winter. They store well in a cool room.
The cake supply is running low so I will have to do some baking soon. Perhaps more of my tasty iced and spiced squares. Such a delicious treat and easy to make. I’ve still got chocolate brownies and banana loaf in the freezer so we won’t starve but I like to have plenty stashed away. All these cake recipes are in my Earthy Homemaker’s Cookbook, available in paperback or kindle form. Easy to do and with clear step-by-step instructions.
Make the most of any sunshine that comes your way and enjoy a lovely baking session when the sky turns grey. Bye for now. With you again next week.
Living a contented creative life. 