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.

MONDAY 28TH APRIL- the glorious garden

A LOVELY WEEKEND.

The weather this weekend has been lovely. Sunny with a slight but warm breeze so last evening after an afternoon working in the garden we had our first barbecue of the year. We dug in the freezer and found the a pack of honey roast sausages and some unlabelled burgers from the local farm shop. On cooking them we were correct and they were what we had thought, that was pork and apple. We discovered a pack of rolls also in the freezer, which had been unwrapped so had got to that rather crunchy inedible state. We of course ate what we could, the mayo and tomato moistened them a bit. It felt as if summer was not far away.

Sunday - woke up late so therefore got up late. What a delightful treat.

Back in the garden yesterday. Here is the good news.

Three weeks ago (see post MONDAY 7TH APRIL) we planted lots of seeds and the shallots and they have all begun to sprout except one. Here is the list ;
spinach, rocket, shallots, spring onions, radishes, garlic, Russian tarragon, parsley, corn salad, Italian leaf salad ( a variety which I can't tell you as the packet has blown away) and the only one which is still dormant is Lollo rosso but there is yet time.

I am always excited when things begin to grow. I feel very strongly that there should be no chemicals involved in this cultivation so this is the story of my little organic garden fertilised with organic multipurpose compost and manure from a local smallholder.

Also yesterday the rest of the crunchy bread was converted into two Bread and Butter puddings - one nutmeg and orange and the other just cinnamon. Delish!

A simple but most satisfying way to spend the weekend.

THURSDAY 24TH APRIL - BJORK

REVIEW: Bjork in Plymouth - Western Morning News.

Date: 23-04-2008
Rock royalty arrived at Plymouth Pavilions in a blaze of glory amid a fanfare of brass, fluttering flags and banging drums. As the Icelandic queen of avant guard pop, Bjork is never one to do things to do things by halves and she certainly didn’t on Tuesday night, giving the Pavilions crowd one of the most sonically and visually stunning shows ever staged at the venue.

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This concert was a surreal experience. We went with no idea of what was to come and the treat of the unexpected was truly amazing. The audience consisted of people from right across the age range and everyone certainly had a fantastic time. I would love to see her in concert again if the chance arose.

TUESDAY 22ND APRIL - more live music

Now if you are a regular visitor to this blog then you will know I love live music.
Well tonight we are going to hear/see something different.

BJORK

I am really excited -don't have any idea what it will be like.

I will tell all tomorrow.

MONDAY 21ST APRIL - A touch of Cuba.

Friday evening saw us, with some friends, beetling along the road to The Plymouth Pavilions. The Beuna Vista Social Club were in town. Very few big name bands get into Cornwall as it is geographically such along way from the rest of the world on the peninsula. That is changing slowly as The Eden Sessions do bring bigger names here these days and this hopefully will increase.

Two hours,no interval, of lively Cuban jazz music was a great way to spend an evening. It was vibrant and a huge amount of fun.

I realise that it is not necessary to see big names and that the lesser known musicians can give every bit as much fun, but the big names should to be seen if the opportunity arises. I think every chance to experience live music is worth every minute. Big names, small names, new names it is all good.

We got back home and had coffee to complete a good evening and P. found some crumpets whch we toasted with butter..........yum. A great evening shared with good friends.We all had had a great time.