It's been a very windy day here in Dartford Kent, i was worried about all the blossom on my fruit trees but all seems well but interestingly we have had a large number of birds-mainly starlings feasting on bugs and insects that have fallen to the ground due to the winds so a silver lining in the way of food for the birds and also getting rid of unwanted pest's (I think!!!)
Wet and windy here so I went to Hayes GC at Ambleside with a friend. Didn't get to see the plants outside due to the rain but we had a late lunch in the cafe before going onto Lakeland Plastics.
I've always wanted to make proper pastry, learn how to bake and make real bread. It was one of life's pleasures as a child watching my mum bake, make cakes and scraping the mixing bowl out afterwards. Also wanted to do something more imaginative with stuff grown in the garden this year other than pasta dishes, bakes and gratins.
So came home armed with a couple of books on how to make pies and baking, plastic containers to freeze stuff in, a rolling pin, ceramic balls (for the flans I'm gonna make with all that home grown produce ), yeast and various tin foil containers to make pies and bake bread in .
Wish me luck, if it's a wet weekend I'm gonna have a baking day.
Stockton sunny although windy, nice and warm, greenhouse open and Sonny the little dog wet. He was chasing the water as I filled the cans and knocked a plant pot over so I soaked him he will not do it twice.
Zoomer, Pastry is so easy to make I put my brain out of gear doing it. All three types are used here sweet spicy and raised, these days I do cheat using the mixer. My lot will all be here tomorrow eating their way through my food. They should not be hungry after the big meal at the wedding last Sunday, gannets have nothing on them.
Wet, but not anywhere as windy (gales) as yesterday, thank goodness. No damage done. About 10C outside at the mo.
The garden looks very 'lush' now, still the odd late Narcissus out, but after the dry spell lots of my spring bulbs went over very quickly. My Tulip pots have perked up & the 'rogue' ones in various borders are all up & out as usual. I dont ever try to comp[ost old tulip bulbs now!!
I have made a note of what should be starting as it's so late this yr. So easy to forget. J.
Only light breeze again & after a glorious start went for a walk round an open garden.
Didn't take coats - bad move!! The showers started gently at first then as we chatted to the gardeners it got heavier & heavier until they fled indoors & we made haste for the car!!
Got home, it was completely dry there, but the rain soon started.
As you say, Jo it's very "lush" out there now, but we still have lots of daffies still out & the tulips in pots are super.
Did some potting up and sowed more seeds. What a difference a week makes, toms are romping away now with peppers, chillies and aubergines beginning to put on a spurt. there are far to many seedlings for the space I have and it's so difficult to cull them to the compost heap.
Been pleased with all my spring bulbs, as some die back others have flowered. One variety of daffs bloomed with 3 to 5 heads.
Frank- starting off with a quiche, fruit pie (have a glut of rhubarb) and I'm gonna try making Italian Focaccia bread. How difficult can it be, hope it's as easy pezzsie as you say.
Frank - on the baking front, not brill for the first attempt,my efforts have along way to go before I'll be asking others to taste. Looked through some cook books and settled for scones and Focaccia bread with pastry made up for a quiche and pie tomorrow.
Scones didn't rise as much as expected and the bread was a little hard on the outside. I'm not throwing in the towel just yet though.
Posts
It's been a very windy day here in Dartford Kent, i was worried about all the blossom on my fruit trees but all seems well but interestingly we have had a large number of birds-mainly starlings feasting on bugs and insects that have fallen to the ground due to the winds so a silver lining in the way of food for the birds and also getting rid of unwanted pest's (I think!!!)
We have had bright sunshine all day. I was waiting for the rain and wind we had forecast but it never came.
Wet and windy here so I went to Hayes GC at Ambleside with a friend. Didn't get to see the plants outside due to the rain but we had a late lunch in the cafe before going onto Lakeland Plastics.
I've always wanted to make proper pastry, learn how to bake and make real bread. It was one of life's pleasures as a child watching my mum bake, make cakes and scraping the mixing bowl out afterwards. Also wanted to do something more imaginative with stuff grown in the garden this year other than pasta dishes, bakes and gratins.
So came home armed with a couple of books on how to make pies and baking, plastic containers to freeze stuff in, a rolling pin, ceramic balls (for the flans I'm gonna make with all that home grown produce
), yeast and various tin foil containers to make pies and bake bread in 
.
Wish me luck, if it's a wet weekend I'm gonna have a baking day.
Glorious here; light breeze, sunshine & the odd cloud. The tulips all look happy!!
Stockton sunny although windy, nice and warm, greenhouse open and Sonny the little dog wet. He was chasing the water as I filled the cans and knocked a plant pot over so I soaked him he will not do it twice.
Zoomer, Pastry is so easy to make I put my brain out of gear doing it. All three types are used here sweet spicy and raised, these days I do cheat using the mixer. My lot will all be here tomorrow eating their way through my food. They should not be hungry after the big meal at the wedding last Sunday, gannets have nothing on them.
Frank.
Wet, but not anywhere as windy (gales) as yesterday, thank goodness. No damage done. About 10C outside at the mo.
The garden looks very 'lush' now, still the odd late Narcissus out, but after the dry spell lots of my spring bulbs went over very quickly. My Tulip pots have perked up & the 'rogue' ones in various borders are all up & out as usual. I dont ever try to comp[ost old tulip bulbs now!!
I have made a note of what should be starting as it's so late this yr. So easy to forget. J.
Only light breeze again & after a glorious start went for a walk round an open garden.
Didn't take coats - bad move!!
The showers started gently at first then as we chatted to the gardeners it got heavier & heavier until they fled indoors & we made haste for the car!!
Got home, it was completely dry there,
but the rain soon started. 
As you say, Jo it's very "lush" out there now, but we still have lots of daffies still out & the tulips in pots are super.
Another wet day so the garden got a good water.
Did some potting up and sowed more seeds. What a difference a week makes, toms are romping away now with peppers, chillies and aubergines beginning to put on a spurt. there are far to many seedlings for the space I have and it's so difficult to cull them to the compost heap.
Been pleased with all my spring bulbs, as some die back others have flowered. One variety of daffs bloomed with 3 to 5 heads.
Frank-
starting off with a quiche, fruit pie (have a glut of rhubarb) and I'm gonna try making Italian Focaccia bread. How difficult can it be, hope it's as easy pezzsie as you say
.
Newport, TF10.
Been tipping down for the last few days - that'll stop soon as I'm about to connect my new water butt up !!
Another wet day, rained for most of it.
Frank - on the baking front, not brill for the first attempt
,my efforts have along way to go before I'll be asking others to taste. Looked through some cook books and settled for scones and Focaccia bread with pastry made up for a quiche and pie tomorrow
.
Scones didn't rise as much as expected and the bread was a little hard on the outside. I'm not throwing in the towel just yet though.