Author Archives: Earthy Homemaker

The year is swiftly flying by. August already and changes in the garden. The apples and pears are falling. Telling us they are almost mature enough to pick. Daily checking now to see if they yield when lifted gently. If they come away when cupped in the hand they’re ready to harvest. If they stayContinue reading “Late Summer.”

The weather has been gentle since the days of extreme heat but the garden has suffered. A few things look shrivelled and may be past their best. I’m hatching plans for an Autumn make-over. When one door closes another one opens! Last autumn I planted several lilies. They were called “Brasilia”. A beautiful pale lilyContinue reading “Beans Galore”

At last the weather has cooled and the garden has slaked its thirst! Some things have suffered despite our efforts but hopefully they will revive and continue to give us pleasure. One of the things I love about a garden is that it’s full of surprises. You never know what’s going to crop up. ThisContinue reading “Garden Surprises”

With these hot days of summer the garden is curling up in places. The dry soil is slow to respond despite continuous watering. In places it’s crisp underfoot. Luckily the best part of the garden is the bit viewed from the house and that’s holding its own. The bees are keeping busy and a fewContinue reading “Daisies and Desserts”

This dappled light through the window during the evening is a pleasure to see. It set me thinking about how wonderful glass is. Everything from a window pane to a delicate crystal wineglass is a thing of beauty and yet so functional. We don’t often appreciate the wonder of glass as a product. Even ancientContinue reading “Jewel Colours Inside and Out.”

As much as I love strawberries, I’ve had my fill now of picking and preparing them! We’ve had many scrummy bowlsful though and I have a good stash in the freezer. I will make some jam on a cold winter’s day. A favourite job in my warm kitchen when rain is lashing the windows andContinue reading “Enjoying Summer Fruit”

It’s been a busy week in the garden and kitchen. Harvesting is in full swing and I don’t want to waste a scrap. Strawberries are ready every day so I’ve been squirelling away all the surplus. The freezer is almost full now with scarlet treasure for the winter. I might make strawberry jam this year.Continue reading “A Busy Time of Year”

I love Summer. Longer, light-filled days. The calm and gentle atmosphere of the garden in the evening after a very hot day. The welcome showers after the dry heat. The abundance of flowers, fruit and delicious vegetables. So much to enjoy. June is my favourite month with roses, foxgloves, poppies, marigolds and campanulas. Bees hummingContinue reading “Summer Days and Sewing Patterns”

The weather is very changeable. One minute the sun is beaming, the next the clouds are covering the sky and the rain comes splashing down. The garden though is loving it. All the plants are thriving with the warmth and moisture. I dug up a few new potatoes. Still small but really delicious. The skinsContinue reading “Roses and Raindrops”

There’s been quite a buzz going on with the Platinum Jubilee celebrations. I have not been involved although I’ve enjoyed the atmosphere. I’ve been busy in my own way. You might remember from last week I had a disaster with mail-order grafted tomatoes. Not good, I’m afraid. The plants perished and I panicked at theContinue reading “Nutty Bites and Nectarines”