The unknown plant that I thought was nemesia I have now changed that opinion and I think that it is a type of phlox.
Anyone any thoughts?
Monday, 10 June 2013
Phlox
It's been a gorgeous week here in the UK, every day for a week or more has been one of bright hot sunshine and blue skies. Besides a couple of days work in London I have been lucky enough to be off and able to enjoy it. Sadly, the weather is a bit grey today for the first time in ages and rain is forecast. Oh, well, at least I won't have to water the garden today.
The unknown plant that I thought was nemesia I have now changed that opinion and I think that it is a type of phlox.
Anyone any thoughts?
The unknown plant that I thought was nemesia I have now changed that opinion and I think that it is a type of phlox.
Anyone any thoughts?
Tuesday, 4 June 2013
Cheap and cheerful lentil curry
Tonight I made a dead cheap and delicious lentil curry. Everything in it is cheap after the initial outlay of spices, which will last for many a curry in the future.
Ingredients.
1 lg onion, chopped
3 cloves of garlic, crushed
4 green chillies chopped
350ml water
4g turmeric
140g red lentils
30g yellow split lentils
4 tbsp of oil
2 dried chilles
2 tablespoons of curry leaves
Teaspoon of mustard seeds
Teaspoon of cumin seeds
1 can of chopped tomatoes
Method
To a pan of 350ml water add the onion, fresh chilli, turmeric
and all the lentils.
Bring to the boil and simmer slowly for 35 minutes or until
the lentils are soft. Add more water if it gets dry.
Break up the lentils with a potato masher, add 2 teaspoons
of salt and the can of tomatoes, mixing well.
Bring back up to a gentle simmer and cook to a thick sauce
for 10 minutes, remove from heat.
Warm the oil in a saucepan over a medium heat, add the
garlic, curry leaves, cumin seeds and mustard seeds and dried chilles and cook
until the garlic browns.
Pour the oil and spices into the lentil pan and cover.
After 5 minutes stir the lentil mix well, taste and season
to suit, garnish with coriander leaves if you have any.
I reckon this was 4 of my greedy portions.
Sunday, 2 June 2013
Garden bursting into Summer.
Well it was a long time coming, but the garden has erupted while I have been away. A few flowers here and there, but mostly the promise of much to come.
The Pearl d'Azur clematis has taken well and I can't wait until the time that it eventually climbs over the whole archway with it's sky blue flowers.
This is what i call the Azalea bed, even though there is only one azalea in it - the tall thing in the middle. Remember last year it had mildew, well this year, so far, it is as healthy as a vegetarian athlete. The azelea was the first ever thing to go into this new bed last year (hence the name) and I bought it after flowering time, so I still have no idea what colour it is. Some people may thing this is an odd thing to look forward to, but I can't wait until it bursts forth with it's wonderful flowers. Also in this bed are delphiniums, alliums, wallflowers, sweetpeas, Shasta daisies, mint and forget-me-nots (I think) and a bright red old fashioned rambling rose on the right, ready to go over the wooden archway.
This potted azelea is about to come out in flower too. It was another one I didn't know the colour of and it promises deep pink flowers soon.
The central bed is all planted up now (canes in the middle are to deter the pooing cat). Sweet peas, lavender, nasturtiums, sweet william, foxgloves, delphiniums, hollyhocks, lupins, iris and something I forgot to label! haha. It's like a chorus of Percy Grainger.
The decking pots are all coming along nicely, I love it on here, it is a complete jumble of sweetpeas, clematis, tomatoes, fruit bushes, geraniums and loads more.
The other side. The lovely standard baytree was a 40th birthday gift from a friend.
Sometimes a gamble ends up being a wonderful surprise. I bought this plant from B and Q last year, 10p because it was finished and unlabeled. It clung on like a small dried up weed over winter and then this happened! It is so pretty. I think it is nemesia but someone may like to put me right on that. A 10p bargain indeed.
The raised vegetable bed now has sown into it leeks, spring onions, runner beans, broad beans, lettuce, rocket, carrots and purple sprouting broccoli. Some are looking better than others (I have never had much success with leeks and carrots are a first for me)
The Tess of the d'Urbevilles rose is beginning it's climb up the obelisk. I planted a potato plant (the purple flowers) alongside it to hopefully entangle itself in there too.
While I was away I bought this tin bath, I though it would be perfect for something in the garden.
I have drilled holes in the base and added plenty of crocks. Next spring I thought it would look good absolutely filled with one colour of tulips, but for now, I have filled it with 22 bright red geraniums.
It should looks stunning when they all come out.
Not much left in seed trays now. There are some pots with fresia in, some with gladioli. Some night scented stock and some cornflowers, all in their seedling stage, but most things are looking good. Weirdly the worst thing that I tried to grow from seed this year was the lobelia. I tried two sorts and neither have come to much. Well, you live and learn.
The Pearl d'Azur clematis has taken well and I can't wait until the time that it eventually climbs over the whole archway with it's sky blue flowers.
This is what i call the Azalea bed, even though there is only one azalea in it - the tall thing in the middle. Remember last year it had mildew, well this year, so far, it is as healthy as a vegetarian athlete. The azelea was the first ever thing to go into this new bed last year (hence the name) and I bought it after flowering time, so I still have no idea what colour it is. Some people may thing this is an odd thing to look forward to, but I can't wait until it bursts forth with it's wonderful flowers. Also in this bed are delphiniums, alliums, wallflowers, sweetpeas, Shasta daisies, mint and forget-me-nots (I think) and a bright red old fashioned rambling rose on the right, ready to go over the wooden archway.
This potted azelea is about to come out in flower too. It was another one I didn't know the colour of and it promises deep pink flowers soon.
The central bed is all planted up now (canes in the middle are to deter the pooing cat). Sweet peas, lavender, nasturtiums, sweet william, foxgloves, delphiniums, hollyhocks, lupins, iris and something I forgot to label! haha. It's like a chorus of Percy Grainger.
The decking pots are all coming along nicely, I love it on here, it is a complete jumble of sweetpeas, clematis, tomatoes, fruit bushes, geraniums and loads more.
The other side. The lovely standard baytree was a 40th birthday gift from a friend.
Sometimes a gamble ends up being a wonderful surprise. I bought this plant from B and Q last year, 10p because it was finished and unlabeled. It clung on like a small dried up weed over winter and then this happened! It is so pretty. I think it is nemesia but someone may like to put me right on that. A 10p bargain indeed.
The raised vegetable bed now has sown into it leeks, spring onions, runner beans, broad beans, lettuce, rocket, carrots and purple sprouting broccoli. Some are looking better than others (I have never had much success with leeks and carrots are a first for me)
The Tess of the d'Urbevilles rose is beginning it's climb up the obelisk. I planted a potato plant (the purple flowers) alongside it to hopefully entangle itself in there too.
While I was away I bought this tin bath, I though it would be perfect for something in the garden.
I have drilled holes in the base and added plenty of crocks. Next spring I thought it would look good absolutely filled with one colour of tulips, but for now, I have filled it with 22 bright red geraniums.
It should looks stunning when they all come out.
Not much left in seed trays now. There are some pots with fresia in, some with gladioli. Some night scented stock and some cornflowers, all in their seedling stage, but most things are looking good. Weirdly the worst thing that I tried to grow from seed this year was the lobelia. I tried two sorts and neither have come to much. Well, you live and learn.
Saturday, 1 June 2013
Nice to be missed and a weekend in Brighton
Hello everyone. Big apologies for most of May being missed on my blog, I have pretty much been away since my last post, but had a lovely time. Plenty to blog about. I don't seem to have lost any followers but sorry for the massive gap.
Rather than drive home every weekend, I had a gorgeous long weekend in Brighton with a very good friend, visiting the open art houses which are part of the Brighton festival. For those of you who don't know, Brighton is a very artistic city and hundreds of artists open their houses up for the public to wander into every weekend in May and admire their artwork (and nose around the houses, fingering their dusty knick-knacks). I didn't buy anything, as most of it was very expensive but we had a lot of fun, admiring skill and sniggering at the people who are not so skilled but still think their artwork deserves £400 price tags.
Some people go to town decorating the front of their houses.
And some exhibits want to to kill you.
I have never really been to this city and it was good to be shown around by someone local and knowledgeable. We visited the lanes, which are full of interesting shops that sell everything you could never want. Anyone for some dolls of pure evil?
It was perfect weather and the Pavillion looked lovely in the sunshine, as did we, of course.
and then a quick trip down the pier.
We went to lots of coffee shops and had fun just wandering around the museum and an old Regency house (with some very dubious art installations films of fish swimming backwards) inexplicable to my mind, but good for a laugh. The house itself was a wonderful example, although in the middle of renovation.
For a city break, this was a charming place and so much nicer a city to visit than London. I recommend it very highly. It gave me a much needed boost in the middle of a difficult few weeks away.
And many thanks to Adrian for a lovely weekend and very good photos (as you can see, they are a cut above my usual photographic offerings).
Next time, more on what has been happening in the garden at home, some sourdough delights and lemon curd.
Rather than drive home every weekend, I had a gorgeous long weekend in Brighton with a very good friend, visiting the open art houses which are part of the Brighton festival. For those of you who don't know, Brighton is a very artistic city and hundreds of artists open their houses up for the public to wander into every weekend in May and admire their artwork (and nose around the houses, fingering their dusty knick-knacks). I didn't buy anything, as most of it was very expensive but we had a lot of fun, admiring skill and sniggering at the people who are not so skilled but still think their artwork deserves £400 price tags.
Some people go to town decorating the front of their houses.
And some exhibits want to to kill you.
I have never really been to this city and it was good to be shown around by someone local and knowledgeable. We visited the lanes, which are full of interesting shops that sell everything you could never want. Anyone for some dolls of pure evil?
It was perfect weather and the Pavillion looked lovely in the sunshine, as did we, of course.
and then a quick trip down the pier.
We went to lots of coffee shops and had fun just wandering around the museum and an old Regency house (with some very dubious art installations films of fish swimming backwards) inexplicable to my mind, but good for a laugh. The house itself was a wonderful example, although in the middle of renovation.
For a city break, this was a charming place and so much nicer a city to visit than London. I recommend it very highly. It gave me a much needed boost in the middle of a difficult few weeks away.
And many thanks to Adrian for a lovely weekend and very good photos (as you can see, they are a cut above my usual photographic offerings).
Next time, more on what has been happening in the garden at home, some sourdough delights and lemon curd.
Saturday, 11 May 2013
Saturday, 4 May 2013
Very Quick Stew
I go away working for 4 weeks tomorrow (minus weekends) so really didn't want to be cooking much today but still wanted something delicious.
Time for a quick stew in the slow cooker. This recipe was given to me by a friend in Brighton, so if it's good, all credit goes to you Adrian.
A few changes here and there based on what I had in the house.
Brown off some cheap casserole beef in oil with some shallots (didn't have any so added chopped onion instead) cook for a couple of minutes and add a tablespoon or two of flour.
Add some beer. (I got a cheap bottle of beer from Lidl and shoved that in) and a glass of red wine, didn't have any so added a glug of port. Crumble in a beef stock cube and add some button mushrooms (again, no button mushrooms in Lidl so some chopped up chestnut mushrooms.)
That's it! Bung it in the slow cooker for a few hours.
I did that at 9 this morning and I am not kidding when I say it took me 5 minutes. It took me twice as long to find the bottle opener, this being a virtually tee-total house.
Here's how it looks after 8 hours, the smell is heavenly.
Will serve it later with mashed potatoes and peas and let you know how it is, seconds for lunch tomorrow and then any left will go into the freezer for a portion or two on one of the weekends I am home. I love quick and tasty cooking like this.
Time for a quick stew in the slow cooker. This recipe was given to me by a friend in Brighton, so if it's good, all credit goes to you Adrian.
A few changes here and there based on what I had in the house.
Brown off some cheap casserole beef in oil with some shallots (didn't have any so added chopped onion instead) cook for a couple of minutes and add a tablespoon or two of flour.
Add some beer. (I got a cheap bottle of beer from Lidl and shoved that in) and a glass of red wine, didn't have any so added a glug of port. Crumble in a beef stock cube and add some button mushrooms (again, no button mushrooms in Lidl so some chopped up chestnut mushrooms.)
That's it! Bung it in the slow cooker for a few hours.
I did that at 9 this morning and I am not kidding when I say it took me 5 minutes. It took me twice as long to find the bottle opener, this being a virtually tee-total house.
Here's how it looks after 8 hours, the smell is heavenly.
Will serve it later with mashed potatoes and peas and let you know how it is, seconds for lunch tomorrow and then any left will go into the freezer for a portion or two on one of the weekends I am home. I love quick and tasty cooking like this.
Friday, 3 May 2013
Knackered.
Sometimes my wish to be home goes against my better judgement. I did a show in London last night and then drove home listening to my usual selection of radio plays to keep me awake. Got in at 3.20 this morning and my head hit the pillow at 3.30. Of course, being me, I was awake at 6 as usual. I'm good for nothing today - which is a shame as I have to go and do one of my old ladies gardens in a while. Wish me luck - I feel like death.
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