25Nov

Street Fair

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Had a wonderful day yesterday at the Whitehead Victorian Street Fair, such an lovely atmosphere with the townfolk, stall holders and retailers in their finest Victorian garb. The crowds arrived in their hundreds and the hustle and bustle of the activities, including fire eaters, penny farthing cyclist and a hog roast were spectacular. This was the […]

19Nov

The Aga Can

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When we bought our house about 20 years ago, there was a red Aga in the kitchen. I hated it…I didn’t like the colour red, I wasn’t a great cook and didn’t have a clue about how to use it. The flue was in the wrong position so when it was windy (always up here on The […]

13Nov

I wish, I wish

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I wish, I wish….don’t we all, but I wish I could be one of those people who calmly works through their chores, concentrating on completing one task before starting another, not getting distracted. I do try, I make a list and try to stick to it but I always get waylaid, another idea comes into […]

11Nov

Yuletide Gatherings

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Have been harvesting more bits and pieces from the garden, the weather’s been quite settled so the seedheads are hanging on nicely. I’ve been gathering birch branches, crocosmia, libertia, angelica. The alliums, nigella, eryngium and honesty had already been cut and dried and the pussy willow I’ll leave for another week. While I have to […]

10Nov

Good Game, Good Game

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What with winter closing in, we’re battening down the hatches and thinking of heartier fayre on the food front…any excuse for some good old Co Antrim stodge – a few pounds on the hips means we can turn the thermostat down on the ancient oil guzzling boiler (we’re in the process of choosing a wood […]

07Nov

Willow Hearts

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I love willow – it’s the easiest, most vigorous crop you can grow and it has so many uses. It supports the greatest range of wildlife of any single crop grown in the UK…hundreds of invertebrates and dozens of birds. Enjoying my usual Sunday morning lie in, last week, I opened my December edition of […]

06Nov

Small Beginnings

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Today’s TasksDried orange slices:Slice thinly (too thick and they never dry properly but too thin and they fall apart – practice makes perfect!) blot on paper towels or place on a clean dry tea towel and fold over to gently press and remove excess moisture. Place on cooling racks and set on top of the […]

05Nov

Tis The Season

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….and all that. I now feel a mixture of excitement and panic at this time of year. I have always loved Christmas but was one of those people who refused to buy a present or write a card until I could pour a quadruple Baileys and play my beloved Best of Christmas Songs CD….sometime in December, […]