Tomato harvest

I've taken advantage of all the ripe tomatoes in our friends' greenhouse (with their permission, of course!) They're  away on holiday and I'm watering their plants in a 40ft polytunnel.

So we now have several jars of tomato and red onion chutney...the chillis came in useful for this.  Should be delicious with some crackers and strong cheese.

Another gorgeous scent

The scent of lavender is filling my sewing room (aka our spare bedroom)...and it's so relaxing.  Good job there's no bed in there now, otherwise I'd be having a siesta!

I just use scraps of embroidery from old worn, stained or frayed traycloths ..I always think it's such a shame not to enjoy them when someone has spent so much time with needle and silks.  They make really pretty lavender bags to pop into underwear drawers or wardrobes.

Scents of summer

You know what it's like when you've been away...one of the first things you notice is the state of the garden.  This year it it's clearly been hot because there are big brown patches on the lawn.  At least it doesn't need mowing.

The other main change is in the veg plot.  There are loads of peas and French beans to pick...sonny obviously ignored my pleas to come around and help himself to some. 

And the sweet peas were not really flowering before we went, but now there's a profusion; they're one of those flowers that do need picking all the time. 
Their scent is unmistakeable...so sweet!

A touch of creativity

I am not...not...not a flower arranger but every year we have a flower festival in our local village church and I have learned that actually everyone is a bit creative.


This year I raced from Summer School and stood in dismay in front of the space I was supposed to fill. I was "doing" Ireland armed with flowers (I didn't even know the names of some), a bodhran, race programmes, binoculars and a few other bits and pieces. About an hour in, the church quiet, cool and filled with the scents of flowers, I realised that I was enjoying myself - in a really calm mood. It worked a spell!

Hot Air

 

Noreen and I enjoyed the Hot Air literary festival this weekend and found Emma Bridgewater's talk inspirational.  The place was buzzing...just what Stoke needs!

 

If you get chance to visit the factory in Hanley there's a shop full of goodies, a cafe, and loads of events going on this summer.

 

There's just one word for it!

 

 

Orange and ginger cake

This was a very simple cake to make because all you have to do is beat all the ingredients together and put in a loaf tin. Bake for about 40 minutes in a moderate oven (test with a skewer to check that it's cooked). Allow to cool and turn out onto a wire tray. I made a little icing with icing sugar and some left over squeezed orange juice - but of course this is optional
10oz (275g) self-raising flour
I teaspoon baking powder
6oz (175g) soft brown sugar
8oz (225g) butter
3 eggs
Juice of 2 oranges
4 teaspoons ground ginger.

Enjoy!

Growth spurt

We've been enjoying the salad leaves for a few weeks now...they're so reliable to grow and I love being able to pick fresh leaves.  It might even be salad weather this weekend!

But everything's going wild in the garden, including weeds.  The French beans and runner beans are planted out now.

 And the sweet peas and sugar snap are through as well.

Gosh...these photos in our little veg patch aren't very exciting are they?  All so green, but less green than they were before I grubbed up the chickweed.  Didn't show you that, did I?