Living a contented creative life.

The days are lengthening, just slightly but even a bit is welcome. Even though the garden is damp and dreary there are signs of life. Snowdrops will be in flower in about a week and the birds are singing. Looking for mates and anticipating Spring, no doubt. Bulbs are peeping through the soil. I have seen a few Ladybirds about too.

I intend to sow some broad bean seeds in the greenhouse soon. They are very hardy. Some people grow them outdoors through the winter months after an Autumn sowing but I haven’t tried that. I usually buy some plants and put them out in April but this year I will grow my own. I have always grown runner beans and French beans from seed so why not the broad beans? Not sure why I’ve never done this. New year, new ventures!

I’m fancying a bit of knitting again. Before Christmas I made a few little things. Some of my regular readers will remember the crackers I knitted and a pair of cherries with leaves and stems which will make a nice brooch.

I enjoyed these small projects. The book is enjoyable to browse and the patterns are easy but very clever in the way they shape the flowers or fruit. I made two flowers; a rosebud and a carnation. A very relaxing hour or two to take my mind off the worries of the world.

I’m thinking of trying to do some snowdrops and a spray of lavender flowers. I will put some photos on to show them if I succeed.

I finally got round to bottling my parsnip wine. It’s been in the demijohn for two years so I thought it was about time. Homemade wine does improve with age so no harm done but it’s the time of year when I usually make some more.

Although I do all the winemaking myself I have a bit of help from my husband to cork the bottles. It takes a hammer, a corking tool and a bit more muscle power than I’ve got.

Slightly disappointed with my new wine. It’s usually a glorious golden colour but it’s paler this time. Tastes fine though. Perhaps the parsnip juice was not as colourful to begin with. When it’s first fermenting it looks extremely cloudy but eventually it ends up usually looking like this. It tastes absolutely wonderful.

I keep the wine in a cool dark place for a year or more before opening and drinking. Something special to enjoy in the winter months.

So looking forward to daffodils and tulips again. I put a lot more bulbs in during Autumn and it will be a lovely surprise when they all pop up. A few years ago I saw some pretty tulips for sale at Attingham Park in Shropshire. The arrangement in a basket was so pleasing that I took a photo and later painted a picture from it. Here it is.

Although tulips never seem to last in my garden they are a beautiful sight in their first year. I’ve had some pretty ones in gorgeous colours. Here are some which I grew over the last few years.

As much as I love flowers my mind is never far from food so I also enjoy growing fruit. I’m using some gooseberry jelly I made a couple of years ago and it’s so good with a bit of greek yoghurt. When gooseberries are made into jam or jelly they turn red and look wonderful.

If you’ve never grown gooseberries you’re probably thinking of those hard and sour green things from the shops. The ripe fruit in the garden is so different. Picked at their peak they are softer and really sweet and tasty. When I was washing and topping and tailing them last summer I ate loads as I worked because they were so tempting.

When we bought our house we were lucky to have fruit trees already in the garden. I have added gooseberries, blueberries, strawberries, raspberries and rhubarb. Freezing them or bottling and storing apples means we can have fruit throughout the year.

Cooking apples store well but any blemished ones rot pretty quickly so if I can catch those in time there is still plenty of good apple to cook. When I peel and prepare them I slice into salted water. No need for lemon juice. Salt water works well to stop them from browning before you cook them. Stewing is simple and delicious when there’s no time to make a pie. Also brilliant with pork or chicken as apple sauce.

Enjoy your winter treats, whatever they may be. Please feel free to leave comments. It’s so nice to hear from you. With you again in a few days.

Most trees are completely bare now. The leaves have fallen and have blown away to lie in heaps until the earth reclaims them. But how beautiful those trees are without their green foliage.

The little painting above is one I did of a favourite tree at Dudmaston Hall in Shropshire. The structure of the branches and the sturdy trunk are clearly defined in the colder months. Here’s a poem I wrote about winter trees.

Winter Trees

The naked trees stand proud and tall,
Dark silhouettes against the sky.
The rooks gather and loudly call
From their vantage points on high.
Every branch and each little twig
Is stiffened for good reason,
Matured from Summer's sappy growth
And fit for Winter's season.

Assailed by frost, rain and snow,
Pounded by every stormy wind
That through their branches often blow,
Their gaunt forms are stripped and thinned.
And yet stripped back and laid bare
Their beauty is so outstanding.
It makes me want to stand and stare,
The view is so commanding.

The snowdrops are pushing up and little white flower buds are just peeping out. The hellebores are opening their beautiful flowers, so delicately pretty and yet as tough as old boots. The frost, rain and snow have not bothered them at all.

The hellebores I show here are old favourites but I have some new ones I planted last year which I’m looking forward to seeing. They have a few buds but might take a while to mature.

Over the last few weeks I’ve been thinking ahead to the new year’s planting. Mostly tried and tested vegetables, ones we especially enjoy and which seem to thrive in our difficult conditions. The soil is poor and sandy and the bottom of the garden slopes slightly to what gardeners call a “frost pocket” so no fuss-pots allowed here. Anything exotic can be left to southern gardens with plenty of sunshine and a long season.

I might try celeriac again though. I did grow some years ago and although they were tiny it was encouraging. They are a lovely celery flavoured veg which are nice raw or cooked. Our soil has had a lot of pampering since then and I’m a much more experienced gardener than I was the first time around so who knows? Might get better results.

At this time of year I often make jam. It’s the best time to do it when it’s cold outside and the kitchen is a welcome retreat. I save any excess fruit throughout the summer and freeze them. Strawberries, apples, plums, redcurrants, gooseberries and blueberries. Then I mix some together to make a really tasty jam.

Sometimes I make crab apple jelly as in the photo above, but that’s another story.

My favourite jam is strawberry but a close second is my mixed fruit. You simply can’t buy that. It’s unique. Commercial jams are usually separate fruit flavours so the combination of garden fruit is deliciously different and the texture is so much more substantial. The apples help the setting process because they have a lot of pectin.

It’s easy to make jam as long as you’re organised before you start. I weigh the fruit and add roughly the same weight of sugar. Apples help it to set but you can also buy jam sugar which has pectin added. Don’t believe anybody who tells you to add lemon juice. There is no pectin in lemon juice however nice the flavour may be! You can of course just use ordinary granulated sugar but you might have to boil a bit longer to set it.

The fruit needs to be gently stewed in a small amount of water so that you draw out the maximum amount of juice and soften the skins.

While the fruit stews and before the sugar goes in it’s a good idea to assemble all the equipment. A large stock pan will do if you haven’t got a jam pan. Mine will take about 3 and a half pounds (about 1 and a half kilos) of fruit and corresponding sugar.

This makes about 5 jars of jam so I wash 6 just in case and I rinse thoroughly then place them in a cold oven and switch it to a low heat. The lids need to be dried on kitchen paper and put somewhere warm while the jam is cooking. Luckily I have a heater in the kitchen which is ideal for this.

I place a large wooden chopping board next to the hob with a layer of newspaper and some kitchen paper so that the hot jars won’t be shocked by a cold surface when I ladle in the jam.

When the fruit is ready stir in the sugar until it has dissolved. Bring the sweetened fruit to the boil and allow to boil rapidly until it’s beginning to set. This might take 20 to 30 minutes so needs a stir now and then to stop it from sticking to the bottom of the pan. A very long handled spoon is a help with this as the jam spits and bubbles vigorously. Hot jam on the hand or arm is a serious business.

From time to time, after 10 to 15 minutes, place a small amount of the jam onto a cold plate and allow it to cool for a minute. When the surface begins to wrinkle the jam is setting and ready to put into the jars. A funnel which fits into the mouth of the jar helps to keep the side of the jar clean.

Keep the jam warm and stir any air bubbles back into the jam. No need to remove what’s often described as the scum. It isn’t scum, it’s air and will disappear as you stir. Ladle the hot jam in, leaving a small space at the top and screw the lid on firmly using a cloth to protect your hands.

As the jam cools in the jars you should hear a pop as a vacuum is formed which seals the lid. If this happens the jam will keep indefinitely because air can’t get into the jar.

Perhaps these photos of my strawberry jam will explain the process.

I hope you feel inspired to have a go if you have some fruit in the freezer. Apple and plum is a delicious combination and sets well. Strawberry is superb and any mixed fruit is yummy and satisfying on some hot toast or with some yoghurt.

With you again soon. I hope the snowdrops will be almost in flower by then. Whatever you will be doing I wish you well. Stay safe and warm and enjoy your home comforts.

We’ve had snow, frost , fog and rain during the last week. Slippery paths in the garden, frozen puddles and frost-rimmed plants. Had a walk around the other day when a frosty morning tempted me out with my camera.

I love the way the frost outlines the edges of the leaves and fragile petals. Surprising that a few flowers are hanging on despite the cold and I even saw a ladybird. I hope it managed to survive the low temperature.

Christmas treats are dwindling now and the winter demands comfort food. If you find yourself craving for satisfying things to warm your tum and make you feel happy try my easy pudding. I call it Apple Pobs Pudding. When we were children, if we were unwell, we were given “pobs”. This was a dish of bread soaked in sweetened warm milk. My pudding is a version of this. Like a bread pudding but with the addition of apples for extra flavour and a lighter texture.

I use a white bloomer from Tesco for this. I’ve no doubt other bread can be used but the white bloomer makes it especially good.

Apple Pobs Pudding

2 cooking Apples
300 ml of milk
4 tablespoons Sugar
1 large Egg
Half a White Bloomer Loaf
Butter

Peel and slice apples into salt water
until needed.
Warm milk a little. Beat in egg and
2 tablespoons of sugar.
Put half the bread, broken into 
pieces, into a baking dish.
Gently pour half the milk onto
the bread to soak it.
Arrange rinsed apple slices on top.
Sprinkle the other 2 tablespoons
of sugar over apples.
Put the rest of the broken bread
on top and carefully pour the
remaining milk and egg mixture
over.
Press down gently to ensure the
bread takes up the milk.
Dot with butter.
Bake at 190c/170 C fan oven for 25 - 30 minutes. 

Really good hot or cold, either as it is or with cream, greek yoghurt or custard. If you like cinnamon with apples just sprinkle a little over the apples when you’re making the pudding.

Things don’t always go to plan in my kitchen. I bought some plums for stewing and I washed and stoned them, then placed in a pan to cook with a drop of water. I set them on the hob and turned the heat up to get them going. Went to sit down for a minute.

You guessed it! About 15 minutes later I thought I could smell something and heard a noise. I’d completely forgotten about them. The plums were burning! Luckily I could tip out the top ones and they were perfectly good to eat. However the pan was a burnt mess with plums stuck to the bottom.

So I did what I usually do. I learned this trick many years ago. If you put a small amount of water in the pan and sprinkle in some soap powder (laundry detergent) and leave overnight, the burnt-on stuff comes away cleanly. So no harm done. Just a wash and thorough rinse and good to go again.

This works beautifully on a roasting pan. No amount of rubbing will bring off the burnt-on fat after a roast has cooked but this little trick works like magic. Also good for burnt potato pans if you forget and let them boil dry.

Away from the kitchen, I haven’t done much on my latest intended painting yet. I have almost finished the drawing but it’s really difficult to draw lots of paintbrushes crowded together. I mustn’t hurry it though. I’ll try to make a good drawing before I apply the paint.

Here’s an old painting to be going on with.

Summer flowers are lovely to paint but so are Still Life subjects like this. I particularly like trying to capture reflections and shadows like on these kitchen storage tins. I have photographed so many things around the house and painted them. Sometimes I use gouache, as I’ve done here, with an underlying drawing to get the shapes. Other times I use a big canvas and acrylics to make more of an impact.

The only problem with being an amateur artist is that our house is full of paintings taking up room. Although we have many on the walls the supply keeps coming every time I’m in the mood to paint! There are worse problems! Nice to look through them now and then to refresh my memory.

While we’re all confined to home it’s perhaps a good time to look at and renew our pleasure in the things around us. Things that make a house a home. It might be a treasure you were given as a wedding present or just a piece of pottery picked up for pennies at a charity shop. I have many things I’ve picked up over the years and they contribute a lot to my feeling of home comfort. Here are a few of mine.

It’s so easy when you’re leading a busy life to take your home for granted and not to notice the little details which make your home unique and special. It bears the stamp of your personality. It reflects your tastes and what is important to you. Now is a good time to take stock and to appreciate the little things which give you pleasure.

Stay safe and well. Keep enjoying the simple pleasures and the bigger picture will fill out as you go along. Feel free to share your own treasures and comments.

With you all again in a few days.

The snow has been falling for the last few days. On Saturday it fell silently in huge lacey flakes covering everywhere in a silent blanket. I didn’t venture out into the cold, preferring to stay warm and dry but I took some photos through the windows.

I wrote a little poem about the fascination which snow has for us all, no matter how many times we’ve seen it.

Snowfall

Snow lies low upon the ground,
Just a sprinkle, nothing more.
The snowflakes fall without a sound,
Melting fast against the door.
A zillion crystals light and bright
Drift earthwards, dancing on the breeze,
Illuminating ink-black night
And clothing fast the naked trees.
A beautiful vision, white and pure,
Covering everything in its way.
Winter's cruelty we must endure
But thrill each time to its display.

Since Saturday the snow has been melting and I ventured outside to catch a few glimpses of the shining drops and to see how the plants were doing. A few nice flowers brightened the garden, despite the weather.

Although I find winter very hard I try to appreciate as much as I can. Taking photos is one of the things which makes me look, to see the beauty around me, even though its cold and the garden is looking very drab.

Being in the warmth of the kitchen cooking and baking comfort food is another pleasurable way to pass the short dark days.

I made another one-pan meal at the weekend with lamb cutlets and vegs. I added some of my parsnip wine to tenderise the cutlets and add a little extra something to the rich stock. Cooking them all together in a small amount of water and adding an oxo cube makes a strong and delicious gravy.

I love one-pan meals. They’re not only easy and economical but they taste so much better than plain boiled vegetables. When I do cutlets like these I simmer them for 45 minutes before I put in the vegetables so that they are tender. A dash of wine helps too.

Years ago I used to go every Wednesday morning to a boot sale. It was really what might be called a fleamarket. Mainly commercial traders selling everything from tins of old buttons to vintage furniture. I loved it. You never knew what treasures would turn up. I enjoyed haggling and paying pennies for nice bits and bobs and I had lots of lovely pottery from there which I now treasure.

One of the things I spotted in a tray of old cutlery was a small teaspoon with a little figure on the handle. Later, I discovered these are known as “apostle spoons”. I bought two, simply because I liked them, along with some other old teaspoons.

But then I discovered that the apostle spoons were really useful. Have you ever noticed that recipes which include spice ask for teaspoon measures, only to discover the teaspoon won’t fit inside an average spice jar! The smaller apostle spoons slide in perfectly so I’m so glad I bought them.

I have to give them a little shine with some silver polish now and then but that’s a pleasant job so I don’t mind.

We haven’t started on the Christmas cake yet. With so many treats on the go we thought we’d hold back. Today might be the day though! A slice with a glass of sherry. Festivities prolonged in our house. I still have some mince pies and Christmas puds in the freezer so the treats will get us through the winter.

The chocolate log has been enjoyed but I think next time I will use whipping cream. I usually do but for some reason I used double and I found it a bit stiff. It needed extra cream to go with it. Small portions though with all the chocolates being eaten!

The sun is shining today. It seems warm and bright but it’s actually very cold outside. I went down the garden to fetch carrots, a leek, a turnip and some parsley. Glad of a breath of fresh air but happy to be back in the warmth. The sun is flooding the living room and highlighting things in a golden light.

I hope the year has started well for you despite the difficulties we’re all experiencing. Stay warm, safe and healthy.

Back with you again in a few days.

Christmas has gone all too quickly and here we are beginning a new year. These are difficult times so more than ever we need to appreciate home comforts, good food and share our love in whatever way we can. It’s a good time to feel renewed and hopeful for the future. I hope you all had a happy Christmas despite the difficulties this year.

I made my festive flan on Christmas Day. Here I am, in action, snapped by my husband.

It tasted as good as ever, with delicious roast potatoes and my cranberry sauce, despite having a blocked sink while I was making it! Soon sorted by my very capable better half.

Well, it wasn’t a white Christmas but snow soon followed. It was melting very rapidly so I had to be quick with my camera. Still plenty of interesting features to find and photograph.

One thing I love to do at this time of year is to start planning the garden and to order fresh seeds. I didn’t do well with squashes or sprouts in 2020 so I’m determined to succeed this year. We love a type of squash called Buttercup. It’s a big green skinned one with very tasty orange flesh.

Supermarkets only seem to sell Butternut squash, most of the time, but gardeners have a wide variety to choose from. I would like to try more but this one is a firm favourite.

If you’ve never grown them, give it a try. Start the seeds in early May indoors and plant out after any risk of frost at the beginning of June. They need a sunny spot and trail over the ground or can be supported on a trellis. You will be thrilled with the results. The winter squashes will keep for about 3 months without refrigeration.

Homegrown vegs have so much flavour. Shop vegetables have been grown from seeds conditioned to resist pests and diseases. While this is no bad thing, unfortunately the taste and tenderness is bred out of them. Nothing tastes as good as garden produce and the pleasure of gardening and eating your own vegetables or fruit is fantastic. Not to mention the health benefits.

As I always say with cooking and other things I do, they shouldn’t be over complicated. I think some gardening books and programmes are off-putting because they insist on techniques which are unnecessary, difficult and sometimes expensive. Some years ago I discovered Garden Organic and became a member. They have much advice for sensible, practical approaches to gardening. I’m also a fan of Charles Dowding with his no-dig methods. He has run a market garden successfully for over 30 years using these ideas. Well worth visiting his website.

Our fruit cage has collapsed with the snow. My husband, Allan, built it about 15 years ago and although it has had a few repairs it’s stood up very well for all this time. It has protected blueberries, strawberries and raspberries from the birds. Now we really do need to replace it. I suggested a ready-made kit to save Allan a lot of work but I think he will still prefer to build it from scratch using wood and netting like he did before. He’s a very resourceful man. Like me he enjoys being creative and finding innovative ways to do things.

In January when parsnips are abundant either from the garden or when the shops sell them off cheaply after Christmas I often make parsnip wine. I learnt the craft from a little book, “Wine Making the Natural Way” by Ian Ball but now I use my own recipe. It produces a wonderful winter wine which is warming and delicious. I have some ready to bottle and will do that while I can’t do any outdoor work.

The method is probably too detailed to be offered here but if anyone would like it please let me know. What I will say though is that it is completely unnecessary to add chemicals or other bits and bobs to home-made wine to make it clear. It ends up perfectly clear if you do it carefully. I have been doing this for at least 30 years and the wine is pure golden beauty. As you will see by my photo.

I had some smoked salmon, some vegetables and some creme fraiche to use up so I made a nice tasty one-pan meal. Saves fuel and it’s light on dish washing but also delicious to eat.

I chopped a leek and gently cooked it in a drop of olive oil in my deep frying pan, added a small amount of water and half a vegetable stock cube (essential to the flavour of the sauce). I added carrots, potato chunks and some frozen green beans, brought it to the boil then turned down the heat and simmered it for 20 minutes with the lid on until the vegs were tender.

When it was ready I took it off the heat and stirred in a good spoonful of creme fraiche and the smoked salmon cut into pieces. Stirred it to mix and to warm the salmon. Easy to spoil smoked salmon if it’s over-heated.

Easy and very satisfying. A really nice meal.

I was itching to start painting again. I don’t usually leave it for long but Christmas has taken my attention and I’ve been happily knitting and baking. My approach to painting is the same as everything else. I don’t make a mystery of it.

I just paint what I like in my own way. It seems to work. It’s not sophisticated. I have nothing to tell the world. I have no distinctive style and I cover a range of subjects. I find beauty in ordinary things and I try to paint what I see. That all keeps me happy although I’m constantly striving for perfection (whatever that may be!).

I started drawing some paintbrushes yesterday so that I can paint them when I’m satisfied with the drawing. First I took a photo of the brushes. I always work from my own photographs. That’s part of the creative process for my paintings. Now I’m working on the pencil drawing to get the shapes.

I’m working on watercolour paper in a block of sheets glued at the edges. These blocks are a bit more expensive but allow me to paint without the tedious business of wetting the paper and fixing it to a drawing board. It gives me more spontaneity when I have the urge to paint. No faffing about.

I shall paint this with gouache, which is a bolder kind of watercolour. I like the definition it gives. I’m not much for wishy-washy paintings. Just my taste, of course. Many people love that washed and loose effect. I like colour and defined shapes. This requires quick and accurate brush strokes to achieve the effect I want. Very satisfying when I get it right.

Sometimes I use acrylics or water-mixable oils on canvas boards. For these I paint straight onto the canvas without drawing first. It’s easier to change the shapes if they need correction when using acrylics or oils.

I hope you all find lots of creative things to do in the coming months. Don’t be downhearted that we all need to stay at home. Make sure your home is a haven and a busy productive environment and you won’t mind not going out half so much.

Best wishes to everyone for 2021. With you again in a few days.

Just a couple of days and it will be Christmas. I hope everyone is feeling prepared now and looking forward to it. Things are very difficult for everyone this year so it’s probably more important then ever to appreciate the small details that contribute to the bigger picture.

My own preparations are going quite well but I have had an easy time this year because I haven’t had our usual family celebration to cater for. This will be true for so many of us. Just a few jobs to do before the big day.

I start celebrating early to stir up that Christmas spirit. The mince pies and sherry are already on the go.

The wood has been gathered in for the log fire. It will be lovely and dry and give a good blaze. We have lots of twigs and dry flower stems to form a base beneath the logs so once the paper is lit it will flare up and burn quickly.

On Christmas Eve during the day I have some last minute jobs to do.

I will be cooking a tiny ham. Don’t need a big one for just the two of us this year. I usually roast it but because it’s small I intend to cook it in my thermal cooker. I shall simmer it for about 15 minutes on the hob then pop the pan into the thermal container and let it cook slowly for an hour or two. I might put a glaze on and let it set for a few minutes in a hot oven. It all depends on energy levels by that time.

I have some little sponge cakes in the freezer. I shall thaw some and ice them so they are a bit more special and tasty.

I make my mince pies with plain shortcrust pastry so a nice dusting of icing sugar peps them up and gives a sweet kick.

Then one final task is to go down the garden to gather my vegs for the festive flan I make on Christmas Day. Leeks, Carrots, Parsnips and Parsley. Usually Sprouts as well but as I said in a previous post I haven’t succeeded in growing them this year. So disappointed but that’s gardening for you! You win some, you lose some, every year.

I wash and trim these and keep them in the fridge so my Christmas morning is a pleasant time in the kitchen, listening to my music and sipping sherry, with the minimum of work.

I must remember to thaw my cranberry sauce. Essential for us. Christmas dinner wouldn’t be the same without it. Richly glowing and full of fruity flavour.

My Christmas jumpers are ready. One daft one for Christmas Eve and a more tasteful one for Christmas Day.

Looking forward to plenty of chocolate and wine.

The good thing about all this frantic work towards Christmas is that it concentrates our minds so that we’re not dreading the winter months. We’re far too busy. Plus it takes our minds off ourselves, as we search for pleasing gifts for loved ones.

When it’s all over I love that sense of renewal. A fresh start, a new year, good intentions. And new life around us in the garden and countryside as the Snowdrops, Hellebores and early Daffodils begin to show. My camera will be busy.

I hope you all have enjoyed the preparations for Christmas and you have a peaceful and happy time. I sincerely hope that the restrictions we are all experiencing will not be a burden and some happiness will come your way.

Here is my Christmas card to you all. I painted it many years ago. It is terribly sentimental and unrealistic but it’s a family favourite of ours and I hope you will like it too. Have a lovely Christmas and I’ll be back in the new year.

Love and best wishes for 2021. xxx

We’ve had a few nice days this week so I’ve managed to do a bit of work outside. The polytunnels had become very humid with the damp air and mild temperature. The slugs were having the time of their lives, so I thought, “Right! Must get out there and tackle them!”

I removed all the yellowing leaves from the Spring Cabbages and the ones which the slugs had feasted on. Luckily the damage wasn’t too severe. The inner leaves are still perfect and will form beautiful solid heads once they start growing again from about February.

Sadly, I’ve had a complete failure with sprouts this year. The plants are tiny and the sprouts are like pin-heads! I usually use them in my festive flan on Christmas Day so I’m very disappointed. Had to buy some frozen button sprouts. They’re quite nice but don’t match up to homegrown in flavour and sweetness.

Got some nice winter vegetables though. Leeks, parsnips, carrots, turnips and salad leaves. I shall use the carrots and leeks along with my homegrown parsley in my flan.

There are some pretty things in the garden, even now. The two Hebes, pink and purple, are full of flowers.

The Hellebores are beginning to flower. I have a large cream one which is spectacular every year. Cyclamens are lovely and so hardy.

I have a lovely pink-flowered clematis called “Freda”. My sister gave it to me as a gift because it bore my name. Right now it is a bare tangle of stems but the other day I was thrilled to discover a beautiful nest behind it. Perhaps a Robin’s nest. Made of grass, it was perfectly round and bowl shaped. The photo doesn’t do it justice. It was difficult to find a good angle.

While it was sunny the other day I made a Christmas wreath to hang on the garage door. It may not look very professional but all the bits of greenery came from the garden and I enjoyed the creative process. I couldn’t find any holly berries this year so I used some Skimmia instead. Just as bright and cheerful.

Of course I had to write a little poem!

Christmas Wreath

The beauty of the holly sprigs
Arranged in a pleasing way,
Their berries glowing brightly
Make a seasonal display.

Elegantly the ivy trails
And splays its lovely shapes.
Its leaves so dark and shiny
As around the wreath it drapes.

Spikey rosemary takes its place,
Adding fragrance to the show
And finally some scarlet ribbon
Tied in a pleasing bow.

The wreath with all its greenery
Is more than decoration.
It represents the circle of life
And signifies creation.

No recipes today but if you need a quick and easy pud and you have baked some little sponge cakes, try this. A cake with a good spoonful of some quality jam ( best homemade) and a dollop of greek yoghurt. Delicious and oh so simple.

Presents wrapped, tree up, cards delivered and cards arriving in the post. Something going on every day. Good to be busy doing enjoyable things.

So much to tell you at this time of the year! I hope you have enjoyed my ramblings. Enjoy the season. With you again before Christmas.

The tree has been decked with its finery and the cards have begun to arrive in the post. Our tree may not be the most sophisticated but it’s loaded with many happy memories. The big baubles are 50 years old and so are some of the the little bits and pieces which I made with the children when they were tiny. Other ornaments have been made or bought by our son and daughter over the years. So it has a special meaning for us and with each year the items become more precious.

A few years ago, because our son worked over Christmas, we began to have our family get-together the weekend before Christmas Day. We had all the usual Christmas food, treats and activities and we exchanged our gifts. We liked it so much that it became a family tradition and we still like to do it, although this year it won’t be possible.

During our festive weekend we ate lots of meat in a traditional way so when I thought about our own Christmas meal, for myself and my husband, I decided a vegetarian alternative would be enjoyable. At first I thought a flan with stilton cheese might be good but it was too rich and heavy on the digestive system. Eventually I made a recipe containing cashew nuts and seasonal vegs.

The flan is delicious so we have it every Christmas Day and I serve it with roast potatoes, roast parsnips and cranberry sauce.

It is full of Christmas flavours with button sprouts and Cox apple. I love making it on Christmas morning with a glass of sherry to sip and listening to my cd of The Messiah. My Christmas Day would be incomplete without it. I use homegrown vegetables for the best flavour and the pleasure of gathering them from the garden on Christmas Eve to prepare them ahead of time. If you’re vegetarian, or like me you just like to have an alternative at times, this is a perfect meal. Trust me, it is so tasty, you might find like us, you will begin a new tradition.

Festive Flan serves 4

Pastry to line a 23cm/9" flan dish
1 cup Plain Flour
1 third cup of Sunflower Oil
1 quarter cup of cold water

1 large or 2 small Leeks
2 medium Carrots
Baby Sprouts
1 large Cox Apple
small bunch Parsley
1 Kallo veg Stock Cube
75g ground Cashew nuts
Salt and Pepper
1 level tablespoon Cornflour
400ml water
Olive Oil

Make pastry by putting flour, oil and water into the food processor and whizzing. Grease the flan dish. Switch off machine, gather the pastry and press into the flan dish, making sure there are no gaps. Prick pastry all over with a sharp fork and put the dish into the fridge for 20 minutes.
Heat the oven to 190C/170C fan oven.
Bake the pastry case for 10 minutes, then put aside while you precook the vegetables.
If you are serving roast potatoes with it, boil the potatoes for 8 minutes. Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in the oven in the roasting tin while the potatoes cook. You may need a little more if you are doing lots of roasties. Then tip the boiled  potatoes into a sieve and shake well to rough up and dry them. Carefully add them to the heated oil and spoon the oil over the potatoes covering all surfaces. Pop them in the oven to roast.
Chop parsley and grind the cashews. Slice carrots and leeks.
Heat a little olive oil in a frying pan and cook the leeks gently for a few minutes. Don't let them brown. Add the carrots and stir. Cook for 2 or 3 minutes.
Add 400ml water and the stock cube. Bring to boil, turn heat down and simmer for about 6 minutes.
Meanwhile peel the apple. Add apple chunks and sprouts to the pan. Cook for about 5 minutes.
Add the ground cashews. This will thicken the stock but if it seems too thin thicken with a little cornflour mixed with a drop of cold water then stirred into the pan. Stir well.
Put all this into the pastry case and bake for 20 minutes.
Serve with roast potatoes, parsnips and cranberry sauce.

It helps to prepare the vegetables the day before, so the process is straightforward and saves less time on Christmas Day or any day of your choice over the festive period. I hope you will try it and enjoy it as much as we do.

After the flan we prefer a light dessert. We love Christmas pudding but save it for another meal. Our favourite is strawberries with Greek yoghurt or vanilla ice-cream. I always have strawberries in the freezer from the summer harvest. I cook them gently with a little sugar, allow them to cool and chill them in the fridge. Served in a pretty glass bowl they look and taste wonderful. Leaves room for lots of chocolate and wine.

Of course, we all have our Christmas favourites and you might not like ours. The important thing is not to overwork and become stressed so a few simple things like quick desserts can be a good thing.

After these busy days and the winter weather I’m so grateful for the log fire.

I wrote a poem to sum up how I feel about 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
Driftly 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.

They say that “home is where the heart is”. Well, that’s certainly true for me.

I hope you’re enjoying the preparations. Comments are very welcome. Be with you again in a few days.

The Christmas cactus is beginning to flower. A timely reminder to get on with things. So much to do at this time of year yet food still has to be prepared for everyday. Life goes on despite the season.

I bought some peaches last week. They said “ripen in the fruitbowl”. It would have to be a magic fruitbowl to ripen these peaches. Even after a few days they were very hard and very sour! I sliced them and simmered them in a saucepan until they were tender. About 20 minutes. Then added sugar. Result – absolutely delicious.

Of course you can buy tinned peaches but they taste completely different to these. It’s hard to believe that something so unpalatable can be transformed into something so tasty and pleasing. If you find you have bought some disappointing fruit then I recommend you try stewing them. Not just an improvement but an actual treat.

Thinking ahead again for Christmas I baked our favourite little sponge cakes to stash away in the freezer. One or two tested, of course! I find these easy to make and so handy to have in. Once thawed they can be iced in different ways – buttercream, icing on top with added decorations or lovely just with some good jam.

Very easy to make. Just put 4 large Eggs, 200g Caster Sugar, 200g Self-raising Flour, 2 heaped teaspoons of Baking Powder and 200g Sunflower Oil in a bowl and beat well. Put into bun tins. I use little paper cake cases to line the tins. Bake at 180C/160C fan oven for 16 – 18 minutes. They freeze perfectly and thaw quickly. If you fill with buttercream they can be frozen with the filling already in them. For glace icing, do this after thawing, when you’re ready to serve them. Un-iced they make good sponges for making trifle.

We’re not strictly vegetarian but we do try to eat less meat and enjoy alternative meals. I find cashew nuts a good standby for vegetarian dishes and I use them in various ways. I grind them and add them to a one-pan meal to make a creamy sauce or stir into pasta with garlic, salt and pepper and cream. I also use them for my festive flan which I make on Christmas Day as an alternative to meat. Might not sound exciting but trust me, it is absolutely delicious and satisfying. Full of Christmas flavours and enjoyed with roasties and cranberry sauce. I will post the recipe for this next time.

I found a recipe for savoury cashew cakes in a vegetarian cookbook. The recipe didn’t work! I just got into a very sticky mess! I liked the idea though so I came up with my own version which we enjoy now and then. Here’s my recipe.

Cashew Cakes. Makes 4
250ml Milk ( I use Oatly but dairy 
is fine)
1/4 cup Cornflour
crushed Garlic clove
1/2 cup Sweetcorn (frozen or tinned)
100g Breadcrumbs
50g ground Cashew Nuts
Salt and Pepper

Heat the milk with the crushed garlic.
Mix the cornflour with an extra drop
of milk until dissolved.
Stir cornflour into boiling milk,
stirring well as it thickens.
Remove from heat.
Add sweetcorn, nuts, breadcrumbs
and salt and pepper.
Allow to cool completely.
With your hand form four flat
cakes.
Heat oil to medium temperature
then fry cakes, turning half-way
through, until nicely browned.

If you prefer, a finely chopped
onion can be added to the hot mixture
instead of the garlic.

Good with a green veg like broccoli
and your favourite pickle.

With all the card-writing, baking, wrapping presents and so on I haven’t had time to paint. I’m really missing it. As soon as Christmas is over my paints will be out and the brushes will be stroking away. In the meantime, here is a cheerful little picture I did a while ago. It’s painted with gouache. Not seasonal but bright colours to lift our winter spirits.

I hope you enjoy the blog. Please feel free to comment. It’s a pleasure to receive some feedback. With you again in a few days.

Winter has arrived. The garden is wet and cold but there are compensations. Lots of nice winter vegs to eat for example, safely tucked away in the polytunnels.

Lovely leeks, carrots and parsnips make hearty, warming soups. I love walking down the garden to fetch good things to cook.

Although many of the perennial plants have died down now until Spring some hardy sorts are just beginning to show off. The hellebore buds are gradually swelling and the winter clematis are beginning to flower. Clematis cirrhoza “Freckles” has a few pretty blossoms and the “Winter Beauty” has a few white buds on show. Some of the primulas are pretty but sadly the slugs love them too.

We’ve had a lot of rain and gloomy grey skies this week. Good excuse to bake, knit and sew. Also to use my camera. I love to see the dripping leaves, flowers and berries and the crystal drops with the light shining through them. Every opportunity, I’m out with my camera.

Here's a little poem I composed which sums up how I feel.
Rainy Days

Raindrops patter on the pane. 
I will the sun to shine
But all in vain.

Watching cloudy skies I sit.
No gardening today,
Perhaps I'll knit.

But when the raindrops slow
I fetch my camera
And out I go.

My eyes are full of rapture
As shimmering drops
I try to capture.

I'm so happy on my quest.
Sometimes the wetter days
Are just the best.

While it’s been wet I’ve been happily baking, knitting and sewing. I made my orange and cranberry cakes again. The first lot went in a trice. This time I doubled the recipe and baked the mixture in a roasting tin then cut it into squares.

Sunny days are few and far between at this time of the year when I can go out and do some garden work. However, it’s a good time to do some of those indoor jobs which have been on a list for ages. Today I felt very virtuous because I caught up with some mending I’ve had in mind for a while.

Some of the stitching around the edge of a bedspread had come loose and a little tear needed repairing. So I fetched out my sewing machine and set to work.

My husband is not a man to buy new clothes. The older something is the better he likes it. So when his favourite workshirts become tatty round the collar I turn the collar. In other words, I unstitch the bit that holds the collar, turn the collar over so the worn bit is underneath and then stitch it back into place. I did one of these today.

Before you start thinking I’m some kind of a martyr I must admit that I actually enjoy doing this!

I was helped by my handy little stitch ripper to open up the seam before removing the collar and turning it over. When the shirt is being worn again the old tatty bit lies underneath and doesn’t show. Good job done and one happy man.

If you like sewing, this stitch ripper is a vital tool. It removes tiny stitches that scissors just can’t reach without cutting the fabric. I also use it to remove labels from clothes because I find they prickle and irritate the back of my neck. I’ve had mine for many years but they are probably still available at sewing shops.

It was a pleasure to use my sewing machine again. I haven’t had it out since last Christmas when I made some little felt Christmas stockings to use at the table instead of crackers.

It’s nice to keep busy on these colder days. I’m not a fan of Winter so I have to find pleasurable things to pass the time and make it seem to go more quickly. I hope you’re all enjoying being creative as much as I am and if you don’t feel inclined, I hope you’ll enjoy reading about mine.

Be with you again in a few days. Bye for now.