Harvest time

  It was harvest time, across the road, a few days ago - a rather hazy photo from my bedroom window, but the air was full of dust from the activities.  Unfortunately, if I am not mistaken, next year's crop should be the disgusting (but apparently very profitable)   rapeseed.  Still, I would much prefer that to a field full of houses, as threatened! 

 

  Came back from the plot yesterday with a large container of raspberries, plus a few blackberries I spotted hanging over the fence as I walked back up the path, even more courgettes, three bunches of sweetpeas, three lovely, white gladioli (to give to my friend Debbie as it was her birthday), and 'Sweet Aperitif'' tomatoes and a cucumber, from the greenhouse at home.  In the greenhouse the garlic is drying off, ready for plaiting together - it's very fat and juicy and much better than last year's.

 

 



 

 

 

The two grapevines at the side of my house are looking very promising for a good harvest in mid October.  I must do something with last year's grapes in the freezer before then though.  There are just about enough for some more grape jelly.  As well as the tiny, and very prolific 'Sweet Aperitif' I am also growing 'Pomodoro' tomatoes in the greenhouse (and on the plot), and this morning I enjoyed the first ripe one, sliced, with a little salt and olive oil, on toast.  It made me think of Mike, as this was one of his favourite breakfasts.  Delicious!

Last Monday A & R took me to see their forthcoming wedding reception venue, where we met up with R's parents.  What a delightful place, and something to really look forward to - can't wait.  Then we all came back to my house for a meal, which I had prepared earlier.  Using one of those sneaky courgettes, which hide under the leaves and grow into mini marrows, I sliced across it, into four pieces and then, by scooping out most of the inside, but leaving a base, I basted them with a little olive oil, and left them to soften up in a hot oven, while I cooked down a mixture of mince, onion, garlic, tinned and fresh tomatoes, the scooped out remains, oregano, basil and paprika, and some stock and thickening.  Then the little 'cups' were filled and returned to the oven for a bit longer.  When we returned home, after our day out, I grated cheese on the tops, and returned them to a hot oven while I prepared and cooked some new potatoes (must grow some next year) and french beans from the plot.  After our meal, the R & S and our grandchildren turned up, and we all caught up wedding preparation talk, and holiday experiences.  A lovely evening.

Wednesay's walk with Mollie and Frank was from Lyth Hill in Shropshire, with panoramic views towards the Welsh Hills.  The hedgerows were already full of ripe blackberries, with lots more to come, sloes, damsons and crab apples.   In one of the little villages, Mollie took us to look at these interesting buildings, complete with old petrol pump.  Whilst most of the footpaths were well marked and used, there were one or two which gave us the distinct impression that the local land-owners were not too keen for us to find them, even though they were marked on the maps. Fortunately, on their first walk in this area, had persevered down these unmarked and overgrown paths, in their efforts to find their way, according to the map, but I had to agree with them, that if, by lack of signage these paths were missed and unused in the future, they could possibly be lost for ever.

 Yesterday I actually got round to a day of of jewellery making, and feeling quite creative (sometimes things don't go well) I produced quite a few items.  The creative feeling is still with me today, which is a bit unfortunate, as I really ought to get some gardening done, as planned.  I'll never get anything done if I keep blogging, will I?  And now I have to catch up with the jewellery blog!