Garden Spells

Thanks go this week to my little pear tree for delivering a second helping (around another 30 or 40 pounds) of delicious pears from the top branches. We couldn't reach the very top layer but, to our pure delight, the next morning, after a very cold night, they had dropped to the floor. A couple of weeks ago, the little tree seemed to be throwing pears at me to let me know it was ready for me to pick them, which I thought was really odd, as I have just been reading a book called 'Garden Spells' where a little apple tree kept throwing apples at people, and when they ate them, it showed them a future event that would change their lives. It was a good book as it was an unusual magical story which I really enjoyed. Fortunately the only thing my pears told me was to put them in two new recipes I have found, one being an Italian Country Pear Cake, the other, Pear Frangipan Tart. I have also found another new recipe to use up apples from the plot which is Apple Parkin. I still have the frangipan one to bake, but the others are hot out of the oven and looking and smelling good. But, the proof will be in the eating... Oooh, I just thought I bet the pear cake will go really well with a glass of pear cider which I have also just discovered.. pearfection!!

Roll Up! Get Yer Fresh Produce Here!!

Summer Days, Drifting Away~~~

It is now the fag end of the growing season, however, we are still collecting a bounty of veg and fruit when we get the time to go down to the plot. Unfortunately, this year we haven't been able to spend as much time as we would have liked down there, due to the lousy weather we had, making said wedding cake, going to quilt fairs and, of course, work, but we have still managed to grow some good stuff. The courgettes, have, as usual, been prolific. (Note to self not to grow so many next year). We have had more beans (both French climbing and dwarf) than we could eat, loads of apples, pears (90 pounds so far and we have only cleared half the tree), raspberries, which are still coming thick and fast, swedes, another 12 pound courgette, really large onions, potatoes... the list seems endless!!
There have been some lows, however, not least of which is the tomatoes again succumbed to the dreaded blight - next year we have resolved not to grow them on the plot but to use space in the poly tunnel up by the Social Club.
The red cabbage and brocolli which started out so promisingly, ended up as pathetic weedy things which we had to pull up -my New years resolution is not to grow any thing that requires netting as it is ineffective as the butterflies and every other insect can get through it as the holes in the mesh are too big.

How to Catch A Molly ~~~
Take one tethered Ferret to get one Molly - in at night. Anyone with a cat will know they don't do curfew well. Molly has to be in before the moths fly or else we won't be able to get her in at all. It has become a real game trying to think of different ways to outsmart her at coming in time. Knowing how she feels about Ferret getting any fuss from us, we decided to use him as bait under the tree, like Big Cat hunting. It worked. Tonight, that is. Tomorrow, we will have to think of something else. Being black, we worry about her being out in the dark, even more so since we saw her sitting on the car park and a car drew up and pipped and she just sat there totally unperturbed. The lady kept pipping - no joy - Bri had to go and get her, how embarrassing was that? Very. Everyone now thinks she is deaf, not daft.

Wedding Cake Walk - Part lll

Uncle Bri's Very BIG Adventure (and Plum's too)
We really crossed the border this weekend when we ventured Oop North to the wedding. To every one's amazement, including ours, we didn't get lost, and Bri got us there safe and sound. We had instructions from the AA (no, not Alcoholics Anonymous) and we followed them to the letter and ended up at a garden centre...
He got us back on track, and we made it to the beautiful country church down a long lane with time to spare. In fact, we arrived so much on time, on seeing the totally deserted church and grounds, we almost panicked and thought that we may have gone to the wrong one. We then spotted the beautiful flowers around the arched wooden gates and knew we were right. The ceremony was lovely and our little great-niece, who has just learned to talk, cheered and clapped all by herself when our nephew ( her uncle) said 'I Will'. It was a wonderful moment to remember. She was so good on her first venture into church. The Reception was full of fun and the day was a really happy one. The cake, however,succumbed to its fate and was cut into lots of pieces as I watched the knife go in. It tasted good though!
We decided, however, not to tempt fate by staying over and followed our cousin home... it was dark, and we can't be trusted!

Wedding Cake Walk Part ll

Aunt Plum's Big Adventure (Bri's too, of course)
Well, there are just four days left to our nephew's Big Day, and the cake is done, in the box, and ready for collection to go to the florist. Phew!! I really did it, what a learning curve, but now I have calmed down a bit, and can almost sleep I can reflect on an adventure never to be forgotten and I think I'm glad I did it! The worse bit for me is yet to come. It will be when the Happy Couple pick up that knife and I shall have to stop from hurling myself onto the table to stop them from cutting it. What has got me through it, though, was Bri and my family's unwavering faith in me and my memories of my Dad always saying to me, " just do your very best", and my Mom always telling me, "you can do it". I guess they were all right, and so I thank them...
P.S What I really learned, was making a cake for tea is one thing - a Wedding Cake completely another!!

Wedding Cake Walk

If I thought yesterday was tough, and it was, seven hours of smoothing and polishing all three tiers with marzipan and icing, covering the board and crimping (all new terms to me), today is dowel and assembly day. I am scared witless! If I make a mistake at this stage there is no going back and no time for corrections, (even if I knew how to) Wow! I just scared myself even more. The Girls at the cake shop where I bought the stuff said it would be O.K. as long as I don't panic and take things slowly, so I will. I have to say at this point that one of our neighbours works at the Little Cake Shop and has given me loads of advice, but she is away for a few days camping and not back until after the deed is done. Will it be a walk in the park or a roll down the hill? Time will tell!

Wedding Cake Blues

I woke up this morning with one thing on my mind and a gibbering wreck...
it was to start on our nephew's wedding cake. This has terrified me for two years since he asked me to do it, as I have never made one before, only an occasional quick birthday cake, but, he insisted that I did it, and who can say no to our dear nephew who is about to tie the knot next week? So first up, the small madeira cake which is the top tier and the most important. I need to get this right.
Two hours later, frazzled but not too unhappy with my effort, it is marzipanned, smoothed and polished and stuck to the turntable! Half and hour later, it has been prised off and carefully placed on a piece of foil to dry ready for the next step. I will remember not to go over the board with the marzipan next time. Just the middle and bottom fruit tiers to go !

Blowin' In the Wind

Well it's that time of year again. Time to give the quilts a blow ready for those chilly nights which I suppose are just around the corner. Unless, we have an Indian Summer and it's going to sizzle all September what do you think,? My money's on the chilly nights.

Jam Today and Jam Tomorrow and the Next Day...

...And probably the next. I have made more raspberry, rhubarb and ginger, beetroot and horseradish chutney, and today flaggingly, made 'Sarah plum'. I called it this because my best friend Sarah grew the plums and I (Plum), preserved 'em. Along with the strawberry and the earlier raspberry and gooseberry jam and pickled beetroot the cupboard is heaving. How I'm going to fit in the piccalilli, still to be made with our last veggies Heaven only knows! What I do know is that I am all pickled and jammed out...

Jeepers! Now My Frog Has Turned Into Don Juan

What a shocker! Bri may now have Spanish blood. The marriage certificate of great grandpa and granny turned up this week. Next step was to investigate grannie's past and we find she had yet another son, living with her in 1891 who we hadn't come across before. She'd lied about her age by five years and got herself a job in The Queens Music Hall, Poplar, London, where she also lived and of which we found a photograph. Did great grandpa get her the job seeing as he was a musical agent? This family is full of surprises. Great Grandpa may have been born in Paris, but all of his children have Spanish names including Raphael the new one we have found. So was great grandpa's parents Spanish or just one of them? We won't know that until the next certificate arrives. This is turning out to be fun.

It's Been a Funny Old Week... So Far

'Ere, Where's My Raspberries? - Tuesday
All I have been able to pick at one time so far this year, is a 300 gram punnet. Utter disapointment. At this time last year, I had already made eight jars of lovely raspberry jam. However, my 300 grams were perfect specimens and turned into one lovely large jar. I shall keep hoping to be able to harvest a larger haul before the season is over. Meanwhile, I shall savour every scone I put it on.


I Had a Treat Today. - Wednesday.
The postie, who wasn't on strike today, delivered a small package, just the kind you love, especially me as it turned out to be a book from Bri. He had bought me Good Fare, a book of wartime recipes from the Daily Telegraph which is full of tasty, economical dishes. I got excited when I found what I could do with that giant courgette that Molly was so scared of, I don't know why I never thought of it myself . The recipe is called Mock Goose...it turned out to be stuffed marrow (in my case courgette) with sausage meat, breadcrumbs, chopped onion, sage and an egg. Yummy, eh? I'm going to enjoy this book.


A Pilgrimage - Thursday.

Now, this really was a treat! We went on our annual pilgrimage to the Festival of Quilts held at the NEC. Plum was on a quest. She had to find a particular thread to finish her quilt and also needed to pick the brains of the experts as she is looking for a new sewing machine that will not only quilt, but, it seems to me, will also make the tea and decorate the house!! She had to do all this in record time so that we could meet her pen friend, Ann, from Ireland who was also probably on a quest of her own by the look of the bags she had when we met up with her. When we arrived at the halls, it was scary to see so many ladies of all ages, milling at the entrance waiting to pounce on the unsuspecting traders, talk about 'Zulus, thousands of 'em!' When the doors opened we all rushed in, almost bowling over the poor ticket collectors in our haste to see everything and part with our cash. We did two and a half hours without even seeing any of the displayed quilts but Plum was full of information and had found and bought stuff I never knew we couldn't live without! The morning disappeared so fast, I was looking forward to a comfort break, so off we went, met up with Ann and got ourselves stamped, so we could return (for a second round of murder and mayhem as the ladies were getting really serious shoppers by now). I went off to the gents, but, when I opened the door, there were three women in there! I rushed out again and checked that I was in the right one. Yes, I was, so I went back in and asked the ladies why they were in there, to which they replied, ' that it was needs must as the queue for the ladies was so long!' They remained. We had a nice visit with Ann, returned to the fray, and actually managed to see the winning quilt. Until next year - I'm done!!!!

My Prince Has Turned Into a Frog - Friday.

We have turned back into Time Travellers this week. It must be getting towards Autumn as we usually return to this occupation when the nights start to draw in. We are doing quite well in our journey into the past as we have discovered ancestor upon ancestor and gone back in each case to the beginning of the 1830's - so far. We have had one stumbling block all the way through, and that is Bri's great grandfather, Charles. But this week, to my complete amazement, we not only found him, but he turned out to have originated in Paris and was a 'theatrical musical agent', whatever that was!! We now can't wait to find his great, great grandfather and what he was doing in Paris but, at the moment, we are looking for his great granny...has anybody seen her?