I made strawberry jam today. I have 4 little pots, sitting in my kitchen , definitely asking to be photographed for a magazine cover! The 4 pots represent our first picking of strawberries, and oh, how sweet they are when they come from your own garden.
I feel very housewifely when I make jam, must be a sort of throwback to the ladies who loved filling their larders with produce. Actually , so do I. It's very satisfying to know you have grown something and then made it into something yummy.
We have one rather sad gooseberry bush in a row of 6, which actually has berries, so that's not going to make jam. What can you do with a small handful of gooseberries?
Thursday, May 31, 2007
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Memories
So many of the blogs contain beautifully written stories of memories of childhood, people, families etc. It has made me look back at my childhood too.
My father died when I was about 7 years old, and my clearest memory of that is walking home with an aunt and being able to read the For sale notice on our house......I still feel that sense of shock that I felt then. Although I was only young I loved that house, on the Gower peninsula, looking over the water. My bedroom had deep purple clematis peering in at the window, the garden was an area of mysteries and hiding places, and my favourite pastime was to slide down the sloping lawn in the birdbath! What strange things one remembers.
We moved to Cornwall to live with grandparents who had retired there. My mother had never worked (in the 40s it wasnt always what one did), and widowed with 2 small children she would not have been able to set up her own house. For me as a child it was heaven. I adored my grandparents and they had a big enough house so that we could be slightly separate. We lived on a lane facing the water, and had a little sailing dinghy. Needless to say I cast myself as Nancy and a very Swallows and Amazon childhood ensued, shared with my cousins who had also moved nearby. All day was spent on or in the water, and the days were of course, long and sunny...every day. We formed our own clubs, we held musical shows on the lawn for the neighbours, we sang carols in winter. We four children were the only ones on the lane, and we must have brought some interest into the quiet lives of the neighbours! We rowed across the creek to do the shopping in the small village shop, and tried so hard to persuade the lady who ran the shop that 'Mum says we can have ice creams'. Upon which she would get on the telephone to mum.......
Oh those years of safe childhood, just after the war. We could and did roam anywhere and everywher, by boat or bike. Sadly my grandchildren dont have that possibility now. But , oh, the memories!
My father died when I was about 7 years old, and my clearest memory of that is walking home with an aunt and being able to read the For sale notice on our house......I still feel that sense of shock that I felt then. Although I was only young I loved that house, on the Gower peninsula, looking over the water. My bedroom had deep purple clematis peering in at the window, the garden was an area of mysteries and hiding places, and my favourite pastime was to slide down the sloping lawn in the birdbath! What strange things one remembers.
We moved to Cornwall to live with grandparents who had retired there. My mother had never worked (in the 40s it wasnt always what one did), and widowed with 2 small children she would not have been able to set up her own house. For me as a child it was heaven. I adored my grandparents and they had a big enough house so that we could be slightly separate. We lived on a lane facing the water, and had a little sailing dinghy. Needless to say I cast myself as Nancy and a very Swallows and Amazon childhood ensued, shared with my cousins who had also moved nearby. All day was spent on or in the water, and the days were of course, long and sunny...every day. We formed our own clubs, we held musical shows on the lawn for the neighbours, we sang carols in winter. We four children were the only ones on the lane, and we must have brought some interest into the quiet lives of the neighbours! We rowed across the creek to do the shopping in the small village shop, and tried so hard to persuade the lady who ran the shop that 'Mum says we can have ice creams'. Upon which she would get on the telephone to mum.......
Oh those years of safe childhood, just after the war. We could and did roam anywhere and everywher, by boat or bike. Sadly my grandchildren dont have that possibility now. But , oh, the memories!
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Floods in the south
We came back from the sunny south yesterday.
It was at least sunny till Saturday, with temps of 3o degrees . Then we woke up to a valley that looked like a lake. the rain had come down so heavily, lock gates had refused to open, the River Seyoune had burst its banks...and the whole valley was flooded. Fortunately our niece's house looks down over the valley so wasnt in any danger. But it was amazing to see the Pompiers, our firemen , evacuating low lying farms, bringing children, parents and animals to higher ground. All the little local roads were closed, and the power of the water roaring off the fields onto the road below had to be seen to be believed.
Back in Brittany, and all is calm...ish. High winds have killed 3 people on the coast, and more is forecast. And this is nearly June!
It was at least sunny till Saturday, with temps of 3o degrees . Then we woke up to a valley that looked like a lake. the rain had come down so heavily, lock gates had refused to open, the River Seyoune had burst its banks...and the whole valley was flooded. Fortunately our niece's house looks down over the valley so wasnt in any danger. But it was amazing to see the Pompiers, our firemen , evacuating low lying farms, bringing children, parents and animals to higher ground. All the little local roads were closed, and the power of the water roaring off the fields onto the road below had to be seen to be believed.
Back in Brittany, and all is calm...ish. High winds have killed 3 people on the coast, and more is forecast. And this is nearly June!
Saturday, May 19, 2007
Oh the English!!
Yesterday evening we were persuaded to go with some friend to an 'English fish and chips evening'. In Brittany.
Maybe 30 people were in the little restaurant, the only common denominator being that they all spoke the same language. The sweet staff had arranged the tables in an L shape so we all squeezed in and around the tables.and waited.
Why? Because there were 8 adults and 5 children still to come.
7pm went by (the designated hour) , 7.30 came , and so did the families.
'Oh' they said to the organiser, 'didnt realise we would have to sit separately. We have PAID, you know.' (We had all paid)
Politely the organiser asked people if they would leave their places and sit somewhere else so the families could all sit together. Much shuffling. Didnt work.
'Oh', they said to the organiser, 'We have BOOKED, you know, and if you book a table in a restaurant you do expect to sit together'.
All said with gleaming smiles, and an air of assumption that their way was the only way.
Cue for a sweet waitress to bring in more tables, move one set of people to another table....and yes, they all sat together. As they had expected.
Footnote; growl from husband...next time anyone asks us to an English evening....say NO!
Maybe 30 people were in the little restaurant, the only common denominator being that they all spoke the same language. The sweet staff had arranged the tables in an L shape so we all squeezed in and around the tables.and waited.
Why? Because there were 8 adults and 5 children still to come.
7pm went by (the designated hour) , 7.30 came , and so did the families.
'Oh' they said to the organiser, 'didnt realise we would have to sit separately. We have PAID, you know.' (We had all paid)
Politely the organiser asked people if they would leave their places and sit somewhere else so the families could all sit together. Much shuffling. Didnt work.
'Oh', they said to the organiser, 'We have BOOKED, you know, and if you book a table in a restaurant you do expect to sit together'.
All said with gleaming smiles, and an air of assumption that their way was the only way.
Cue for a sweet waitress to bring in more tables, move one set of people to another table....and yes, they all sat together. As they had expected.
Footnote; growl from husband...next time anyone asks us to an English evening....say NO!
Friday, May 18, 2007
More flowery bits
I love my garden!!
All of a sudden everything is flowering, things that I didnt even plant, like those delicious baby pansies...they just arrived. For a one year old rockery I think it's doing well, due mainly to lots of good friends who have brought me bits and pieces to push in the beds.
And this week we go away, I'm almost tempted to stay at home, as I dont want to miss the roses bursting out in flower. I've asked them politely to slow down, so maybe they will.
We had such a burst of sun yesterday, it was so warm that we ate dinner out side on the terrace, first time this season. The birds were chirrupping on till well after 8pm, cicadas were singing, and it was idyllic.
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
My mountain goat
Finally managed to put the photo of the mountain goat on! He was all alone when we drove up the side of the mountain between France and Spain, thousand foot drops on one side, and a husband saying 'Dont look, just drive, you'll be FINE!'.
Off to the south
Oh bother, my computer wont let me add an image today, dont know why, but it sometimes has these momentary sulks.
We are off on Sunday to see our niece who lives further 'down' France, near Agen. It is quite different country side there, and we often visit and go off into the Pyrenees. The photo I wanted to add was of a mountain goat.
They wander around the mountains, and you often drive round a twisty corner , slowly, to find a group? (what's the collective noun?) of goats, lying around all over the road, leaning on their elbows, chewing grass, and doing the equivalent of saying, 'Heeeeeeey man', as they give a casual wave. Move? No way. you just have to wait until with a sneer on their faces they decude to stagger to their feet and graze somewhere else.
There are wild ponies in the hills near the Spanish border, called Pottocks by the locals. they are famous for carrying resistance fighters and their gear over the borders during the war. Nice gentle little ponies.
So, maybe I wont be able to get on the site for a while. Wifi doesnt figure largely in some areas of France, but I might be lucky to find a connection somewhere.
We are off on Sunday to see our niece who lives further 'down' France, near Agen. It is quite different country side there, and we often visit and go off into the Pyrenees. The photo I wanted to add was of a mountain goat.
They wander around the mountains, and you often drive round a twisty corner , slowly, to find a group? (what's the collective noun?) of goats, lying around all over the road, leaning on their elbows, chewing grass, and doing the equivalent of saying, 'Heeeeeeey man', as they give a casual wave. Move? No way. you just have to wait until with a sneer on their faces they decude to stagger to their feet and graze somewhere else.
There are wild ponies in the hills near the Spanish border, called Pottocks by the locals. they are famous for carrying resistance fighters and their gear over the borders during the war. Nice gentle little ponies.
So, maybe I wont be able to get on the site for a while. Wifi doesnt figure largely in some areas of France, but I might be lucky to find a connection somewhere.
Monday, May 14, 2007
no title
I wrote 'no title' mainly because i couldnt think what to blog about. Then thought, well, why not just talk.
So.........our lovely friends have just departed back to the Gironde. Although it's been a 24 hour visit time seems to have slowed down and given us elastic hours.
They have a 'gite care' business in the South, and look after 20 holiday homes for people, gardening, cleaning pools, and seeing people in , and out. As they said, you really see people as they are in those circumstances. There are of course, lovely visitors, but there are also the ones that seem to think that they have a right to treat the places as they would their homes, because they are paying. Actually I wouldnt want to see their homes if that's how they behave, sad stories of folk walking off with a TV set, using all the house towels for swimming and then leaving the lot by or in the pool, children being allowed to draw on walls......I wont go on. And thwe assumption is that they can depart leaving the place filthy. What makes human beings like that??
It's raining again today, but the plants are happy, except for my Clematis that has lost all its petls overnight. And it is a huge PURPLE one too, so that's a bit sad. The roses are climbing well and flowering beautifully. I'm very happy with my garden's progress.
So.........our lovely friends have just departed back to the Gironde. Although it's been a 24 hour visit time seems to have slowed down and given us elastic hours.
They have a 'gite care' business in the South, and look after 20 holiday homes for people, gardening, cleaning pools, and seeing people in , and out. As they said, you really see people as they are in those circumstances. There are of course, lovely visitors, but there are also the ones that seem to think that they have a right to treat the places as they would their homes, because they are paying. Actually I wouldnt want to see their homes if that's how they behave, sad stories of folk walking off with a TV set, using all the house towels for swimming and then leaving the lot by or in the pool, children being allowed to draw on walls......I wont go on. And thwe assumption is that they can depart leaving the place filthy. What makes human beings like that??
It's raining again today, but the plants are happy, except for my Clematis that has lost all its petls overnight. And it is a huge PURPLE one too, so that's a bit sad. The roses are climbing well and flowering beautifully. I'm very happy with my garden's progress.
Saturday, May 12, 2007
Busy, busy.....
Busy weekend ahead. More beans. Rhubarb. Spinach. Isnt that enough?
Well, we also have friends coming to stay, last minute decision, and as they are great favourites, and driving up from the Gironde in one day , we will be thrilled to see them. They are the special sort of friends with whom you take up the conversation as if you had never stopped talking, even though it might have been months since you saw them. Also they are very good at accepting you for what you are, so it matters not that every surface isnt polished today. Good friends are few and far between and we treasure them.
Got to go and make beds, make a cake, run to supermarche.......
Well, we also have friends coming to stay, last minute decision, and as they are great favourites, and driving up from the Gironde in one day , we will be thrilled to see them. They are the special sort of friends with whom you take up the conversation as if you had never stopped talking, even though it might have been months since you saw them. Also they are very good at accepting you for what you are, so it matters not that every surface isnt polished today. Good friends are few and far between and we treasure them.
Got to go and make beds, make a cake, run to supermarche.......
Friday, May 11, 2007
The beeeeeans
Today is the day of the broad bean cull. My husband grows them, and yes, I pick them.
But it doesnt stop there. a huge basket this morning has taken me hours to pod, and my fingers..... Broad beans leave fingers a horrid sort of brown colour, which is impossible to wash off. It's with a feeling of being very (dare I say) CL, that I whisk them into boiling water for two mins, cool, and put into bags for the freezer. Tomorrow there will be exactly the same thousands waiting to be picked.
I have a serial veggie grower for a husband. He forgets that we are no longer seven, but reduced for many years now, to two. Still he plants for hundreds! Next will be the French and runner beans. We've done the purple sprouting , we're doing the Rhubarb, and he is just nurturing a seed trayof a million lettuce! That's what comes of being an ex farmer.
But it doesnt stop there. a huge basket this morning has taken me hours to pod, and my fingers..... Broad beans leave fingers a horrid sort of brown colour, which is impossible to wash off. It's with a feeling of being very (dare I say) CL, that I whisk them into boiling water for two mins, cool, and put into bags for the freezer. Tomorrow there will be exactly the same thousands waiting to be picked.
I have a serial veggie grower for a husband. He forgets that we are no longer seven, but reduced for many years now, to two. Still he plants for hundreds! Next will be the French and runner beans. We've done the purple sprouting , we're doing the Rhubarb, and he is just nurturing a seed trayof a million lettuce! That's what comes of being an ex farmer.
Thursday, May 10, 2007
Last garden
This is a photo of one of my previous gardens. Why do I leave them just when they are
growing, full of colour, beautiful?? It's just one of those things, I guess....we move. After several years in Brittany the sun of the southwest beckoned, and we moved to the Gironde. We hit the hottest summer for decades there, thankfully had a pool installed, and watched the garden turn brown. But, had two years of fun there, in a huge house, lots of room for entire family to visit, with a secondary house in the grounds. It's called 'taking on too much', and as one of our children said...not acting your age. Hmm.
It wasnt practical to stay, after a DVT, and husband with poor eyesight getting worse, so off we went and came back to Brittany, hence the new house. It's hard to put roots down as you get older, but I comfort myself with my new garden, which is showing all the signs of doing what is expected of it, and growing.
Tuesday, May 8, 2007
8th May
It is our Bank Holiday in France, and is celebrated with ceremony. Most of the village meet up at the Mairie and process down the street to the Monument in the Centre of the village.There we gather round while a large, very, arrangement of flowers is placed on the steps of the monument to the fallen of wars 1 and 2.
The Mayor reads out the message written by General de Gaulle, the standards are lowered, and there is silence for two minutes. Except for the cars which grind by without any thought of what is going on.
If there are medals to be awarded they are presented by the mayor, with much bluff handshaking and kisses. Then the moment everyone has been waiting for......free drinks all round at one of the 5 pubs we have in the village. This is courtesy of the Council, and is thoroughly taken advantage of!
Sadly, although there must be around 20 English families living locally only two or three come to the ceremony.I know it is appreciated by the Mayor that we turn up, and it's a part of village life for us.
The Mayor reads out the message written by General de Gaulle, the standards are lowered, and there is silence for two minutes. Except for the cars which grind by without any thought of what is going on.
If there are medals to be awarded they are presented by the mayor, with much bluff handshaking and kisses. Then the moment everyone has been waiting for......free drinks all round at one of the 5 pubs we have in the village. This is courtesy of the Council, and is thoroughly taken advantage of!
Sadly, although there must be around 20 English families living locally only two or three come to the ceremony.I know it is appreciated by the Mayor that we turn up, and it's a part of village life for us.
Monday, May 7, 2007
Sewing
Britany doesnt seem to have as many Craft type group things as further South....or maybe I jsut haven't found them. so a friend and I have started our own Patchwork and quilting group, for anyone, whether French, english or whatever.
So far we are only small, ie 7 people, but they are so enthusiastic, and it is a joy to teach them. There are quilts and cushions under way, and who knows, we may get to Exhibition standard! Well....a little something in the Village Hall maybe.
What I'd really love to do is to go to Lancaster county and see the Amish quilts.
So far we are only small, ie 7 people, but they are so enthusiastic, and it is a joy to teach them. There are quilts and cushions under way, and who knows, we may get to Exhibition standard! Well....a little something in the Village Hall maybe.
What I'd really love to do is to go to Lancaster county and see the Amish quilts.
Saturday, May 5, 2007
Plant
Plant has fianlly got a name. It's a Sparaxis, and I found it purely coincidentally, in the Garden centre, where I saw a pack of bulbs with the picture on the front. Checked it with my RHS book, and that's what it seems to be. I think it must have got slipped in the original M and S bag of allium bulbs, which are about the same size.
It's a welcome addition to the garden.
We have been here exactly one year now, having bought part of a field and had a house built. For me it is so important to have a lovely garden, and we are working hard to create this. Roses are a passion of mine, and I've recently had a delivery from David Austin....am so looking forward to seeing them in flower.
Thursday, May 3, 2007
Summer's here
Gorgeous day here, sunny and very bright. the weather forecast for the summer is VERY hot. I've put the geraniums out, though the locals say not till after 10th May, but I'm taking the risk. They are certainly appearing on windows and in pots around the village.
We went yesterday to Larmorplage (Un peu, do you know it?) Had lunch at a resaurant practically on the beach, with the sound of waves rolling in, and a small murmuring from thwe dozen or so people on the beach. It was lovely to walk all the way back to the car , shoes off, and sand in the toes.
We went yesterday to Larmorplage (Un peu, do you know it?) Had lunch at a resaurant practically on the beach, with the sound of waves rolling in, and a small murmuring from thwe dozen or so people on the beach. It was lovely to walk all the way back to the car , shoes off, and sand in the toes.
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