With the latest lockdown rules prohibiting our usual apple juicing squad from visiting, we have been somewhat tardy in getting going this year. However, with the apples determined to demonstrate the effects of gravity, we pulled ourselves together on Wednesday and dragged the apple press out. Lachlan and I had collected the apples in theContinue reading “The Press Gang”
Category Archives: cooking
Brownian Locomotion*
(* the process by which random thought is produced by the collision of fleeting ideas whilst walking) I love the autumn, the long low light, the snap in the air and the crackle underfoot, but most of all the colour. Spring and summer are ephemeral, all pink and blue and frothy, with darts of primaryContinue reading “Brownian Locomotion*”
The crabapple challenge continues
Day two of my crabapple challenge saw a further load of the orange lads, and also a first pick of the little yellow ones, despatched. As a starting point I separated out the particularly attractive crabapples from my first picking. It was brutal. One small brown spot or an asymmetrical bulge and they were choppedContinue reading “The crabapple challenge continues”
Crabby, moi?
We have two crabapple trees in the orchard and this year they are festooned. The first to ripen has long, reddy orange fruits which are perfectly edible raw – I think they have a tang of lychees – but which cook up beautifully. They generally crop well and every year brings the crabapple challenge. LyraContinue reading “Crabby, moi?”
Pick of the crop
Harvest time is in full swing on the Ruthven homestead. We have moved on from Lavender to soft fruit. The strawberries were lovely but we (and Squirrel Nutkin) simply scoffed them all. Our gooseberries were somewhat underwhelming – only enough for 6 fools (I shan’t name them – it would be unkind). Luckily, Anne nextContinue reading “Pick of the crop”
The tardy correspondent
It has been a few days since the last post. Things are becoming a little more normal here at Ruthven, the vista of life is opening up. We have had not one but two visitors to liven things up (Thomas and Anne) and I think we have all benefitted from differing perspectives and a licenceContinue reading “The tardy correspondent”
Playing in..
It has been too windy for gardening the last two days so, at long last, there has been an excuse to stay in between dog walks. In a fit of enthusiasm, on the first day of indoor weather I mopped and polished the kitchen floor. I later took Lyra for a muddy walk in theContinue reading “Playing in..”
Tomorrow was indeed another day
After a day in the doldrums on Tuesday, the sun came out yesterday and lifted everyone’s mood. The weather sage (Keith – he looks at the forecast rather than cat pictures on twitter) had predicted this and we had already planned to abandon all cooking and have a takeaway to maximise time outside. It wasContinue reading “Tomorrow was indeed another day”
Another lockdown birthday
Wednesday saw Keith’s 66th. The festivities commenced at breakfast with indecent quantities of sausage. The now traditional bunting was still out (it has now been agreed that we may as well leave it up until my retirement celebration at the end of the month). Home made cards and wellington themed gifts were produced. Lachlan rustledContinue reading “Another lockdown birthday”