MONDAY 19TH MAY - mmm........nettles!

NETTLES.

These freebies make the perfect alternative to spinach. We have plenty in our garden and they take no effort to cultivate. They are not sprayed with anything and therefore can be considered a great organic nutrient!


I have made soup with them in the past but not today as we have a cauldron of leek,tomato,red pepper and lentil which we have been slurping. So today it is Lasgne Verdi. It does take a little more time than removing it from the packet but we always make our pasta as it is only eggs, flour and water and now pureed nettles. We had a traditional lasgne last night and the excess pasta is drying so it can to be stored for the future.

and this is it!

It requires all the cake cooling racks and a great deal of work top.

We have to get on with using and preserving the results as nettles are best picked by June 1st as after that date they start to get woody and tough.
Try it but you need to be quick!


The Lasange verdi was superb!

WEDNESDAY 14TH MAY - summer and du maurier

The weather has turned and it is suddenly summer!

This means that it is the Du Maurier festival again. This is the 10th time this has taken place in the delightful little town of Fowey on the south coast of Cornwall.







Daphne du Maurier (1907-1989) wrote many of her popular books in Cornwall at Bodinnick and Menabilly both close to the town of Fowey. She is probably best known for 'Rebecca', 'Frenchman's Creek' and 'Jamaica Inn'. The festival is a celebration of her life and work with literary events accompanied by an assortment of cultural entertainment throughout the week in varied venues around the town, It is such fun and there is a festival atmosphere all week everywhere. I went with A,M and L to hear Dr. Phil Hammond talk about his book and the NHS! I am going again on Sat. eve with P. It is all good fun. The venue is delightful with views over the estuary.

Fowey River!

TUESDAY 6TH MAY - hidden Cornwall - 1

Yesterday we decided to begin our personal quest to explore little corners of our home county that we have never been to, even though we have lived this way for nearly 24 years. This started with an article in the local paper about a place we have often passed but never stopped.
We browsed the map and decided the area around Belowda beacon would be our first jaunt.
About 12 miles from home we began.
We took the road to the west of Castle an Dinas ( an Iron Age Hillfort), then went via Trewolvas and into the upper reaches of the tiny River Menathyl. This was such a beautiful valley we stopped in a gateway and enjoyed pasties and a flask of tea.

This was the lane we were driving along - typical of Cornwall.




We had lunch in this gateway. The only sound was the birdsong and the buzzing of a solitary bee. The Spring flowers were such a delight colouring the verges.

Bluebells everywhere.

Celendines. too.

Gorse on the hedge tops.

Lots of Stitchwort.

We went on through the tiny hamlet of St. Wenn and past the farmsteads of Trelver,Tregolls, Tregustick Tregawne and into another very pretty hamlet of Ruthernbridge. This bridge is a pack horse bridge which I really want to find out more about.

I do like these old fashioned signs long way they remain.

We left the bridge and went up a tiny valley through Withielgoose and past Withielgoose Mill.
We found this Celtic Cross by the road near the farm called Tremore.

We then left this hidden corner and 2 miles away joined the A30 to go home.

We were delighted with our little excursion..

I saw this little blue flower and thought it was a violet at first but perhaps it is vipers bluegloss but it is very pretty.

One of the things I love about this county are the place names stemming from the ancient Cornish language.