04 February 2011
Birthday Blog Bulletin
One year old today! In just one year this blog has been read in 40 different countries!
26 January 2011
FROM GARDENING TO COOKING. You're never too old to learn!
On a dark and miserable day and with a new kitchen and an invitation to an Aga demonstration - off we went to Hills of Ledbury and took our seats at 11:00am. Exactly 2 hours later this is what Marcia had cooked without using a single top plate except for an egg, the toast and the drop scones
- Bread
- Toast
- Bacon
- Sausages
- Eggs
- Tomatoes
- Mushrooms
Roast shoulder of lamb - Roast shoulder of lamb
- Pork casserole
- Roast potatoes
- Carrots
- Potatoes
- Fennel
- Cheese sauce
- Toasted cheese sandwich
- Sponge cake
- Meringues
- Drop scones
- Salmon steak Quiche
- Mixed vegetable stir fry
- Bread & butter pudding
- Shortbread
- Rice
Even if you hate Aga's - just how impressive was that? All ready for us to eat and there were only about 20 of us. It did inspire me to make some more scones today - and there are only 3 left!
24 January 2011
Hyacinth Flop - Cure
Unusually, this year I've decided that prevention is better than cure. Every year when I bring hyacinths into the house, they put on masses of growth and when the are at their very tallest and fragrant best, they flop - badly! As we all know Hyacinths are immensely top heavy and this means rescue splints and ugly string. However! This year; not only have I used some twiggy supports, but I've used Hazel catkins for added prettiness! The damp potting medium provides enough moisture to sustain them.
Look who sneaked into the top photo!
23 January 2011
Chickens versus David Austin!
Everything is NOT coming up roses thanks to chickens!
10 January 2011
Back to gardening after the snow
Despite it being Thursday, it was back to gardening after all the snow. Chris finished digging in the rabbit wire and we finished off the end of path between the garage and the hedge where it joins the drive. We split the remaining pieces of Western Red Cedar and cut them to size before digging them in and using them as a low retaining wall. 05 January 2011
Eggsact Statistics:
2010 Egg production:- June.....29
- July....116
- Aug...122
- Sep...116
- Oct....113
- Nov...107
- Dec.....98 TOTAL LAID: 701
Income
Total sales @ £1 per half dozen: £22.00
Outgoings
Corn/Layers Mash:: £27.49
Total number of eggs given away or enjoyed by ourselves - erm..... about 569? We found only one with a double yoke but I figure we're well in pocket despite the extra time spent raking and tidying up after them. The cost of housing is not factored in as we figure that it was a capital expense and in any case we enjoyed building all the additions! Other bonuses include far fewer slugs and snails eating the Hostas etc.. Major downside was the fact that they discovered the vegetable patch but it took them until September! We plan to fence around it before spring - another cost but I daresay that we'll enjoy doing that too. Can I argue that fact that they keep us fitter? Also, they're always let out at 8:00am on the dot which means that Al brings up the morning coffee - MAJOR bonus!!! Who wants to be an egg millionaire anyway?
27 December 2010
Christmas Day in the Teme Valley
Despite the miserable, grey and dripping thaw and the brown slushy roads now, our Christmas Day walk in the Teme Valley could not have been more beautiful or more spectacular. The snow transformed the entire landscape and it was quite magical. Never have I taken more photos!
Comments from the coop:
- Christmas lunch of meal worms & salad much enjoyed
- Fed up with being confined to barracks by deep snow
- Egg production down
- Warm layers' mash for breakfast tomorrow
For even more snowy scenes check out:
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