onions

Normally I leave my onions in situ to dry naturally but this year I have had a plague of moles who have developed a taste for raw onions, so had to come up with another plan for drying them

the picnic table came in very handy

and now they are all home and hanging, hopefully should see us through the year

getting crafty again

I was asked by a friend here to make a gardening pinny, I did, she loves it and never wants to take it off!!! result

also made a tea cosy for my sister-in-law who is training to be a vicar

perfect slogan, how often does the chance to put that on a home-made tea cosy come around?

Also embarked on peg bags, this is the first one I have made, given to my dear friend Pat, who doesn't want to use it!!!! not sure if that is a result or not, but if you're not going to use it Pat, can I at least have the pegs back!!!

14 poppies

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

garlic

I have been growing vegetables, either organically or bio-dynamically for nearly 15 years. I had never had a problem growing basic veg until we moved to Portugal. I can grow alot more varied veg here than I could in UK and often can get two harvests in one season which is great, but I have not been successful with potatoes, garlic or onions, probably due to lack of water, So this year I have been determined to at least grow enough onions and garlic for us for one year. I think I may have succeeded. I was a bit disapointed when the garlic started going to seed in April, so quickly whipped the heads off and flooded them regularly

Aside from the usual pathetic small ones

the rest seem fine and contrary to everything I've read about plaiting thick necked garlic, 

I managed it and am pleased to say I now have 7 large plaits

French apricot jam

Thanks to a friend, I was given enough apricots to make this delicious jam, it has the added benefits of a vanilla pod and the kernels from the fruit, split and skinned

the whole house was filled with it's delicious aroma

jam, tarts and puddings

We are having our best fruit year so far on the farm, in fact, it seems this area is having a bumper fruit season all round. I am coming home with at least a kilo of loganberries a day.

Rapidly running out of space in the freezer has meant having to make jam.....which normally I wouldn't do at this time of year, but for once the flat we rent comes into it's own, sub zero temperatures (inside the flat) during the winter months means staying at home is grim, staying at home when it's 30 degrees outside however is an absolute pleasure........

15 jars of loganberry jam

Loganberry and raspberry tart

and a summer pudding packed with loganberries, raspberries, strawberries and blackcurrants

blooming marvellous

 

 

 

 

 

crafty old bags and other stuff

Having recently re-organised all my fabrics and old clothes, 

I came across some old cushion covers. Fed up with all our hats, gloves and scarves in cardboard boxes. I decided to make some bags out of the cushion covers, with some scraps for handles and a nifty folding in of the corners at the bottom, and removal of zips, I think they are rather funky

Another teacosy made for our friends Hannah and Derrick who recently got married

and a pin cushion as a mothers day present

green supper

freshly picked today

and turned into this

a broad bean, pea and asparagus risotto, a dash of vermouth, butter, chicken stock, arborio rice, salt and pepper, so fresh tasting it was squeeky

a picnic fit for a queen

first proper picnic of the year, freshly picked salad leaves, refried broad bean risotto cakes, mozzarella and tomato salad (not home-grown!) and strawberries and cherries all washed down with a nice bottle of cheap portuguese wine, wish all Sundays could be like this, thanks Wendy for sharing with us......