Lavender Wands & Lusciousness

The harvesting has been continuing at a nice gentle pace. Yesterday I cut some fresh lavender stems from my top terrace, they are longer and more slender than the other lavender stems I'm air drying. I used the fresh stems to make some lavender wands. The stems have to be dry and freshly cut so they are malleable and can be bent into the required shape to create the little cage that surrounds the buds. It's the first time I've made them. I used 17 stems per wand and I used up 4 metres of fine ribbon for three wands. It took about an hour to make all three. I'm super pleased with them and will make some more in the next few days. They were a bit fiddly but easy to make.

This lush roasted nectarine salad with home made pesto is a first for me too. I saw it being prepared on Nicolas Fairford's YouTube channel, he's a real sweetie and loves everything "elegant & cool" and has created a high end lifestyle for himself. Here is his recipe if you would like to make it yourself.

Ingredients:

2 x peaches or nectarines, bunch fresh basil, 2 scant handfuls pistachio nuts, 30gms parmesan cheese, fresh rocket, burrata or mozzarella, lemon juice, large garlic clove, olive oil, salt & pepper.

Preparation:

Wash nectarines, slice into 6 to 8 pieces, place in roasting tin skin side down, with some olive oil, roast for approx 15 mins at 180c. Make Pesto 3 tbsps olive oil, 2 pinches of salt, half a bunch of fresh basil, juice of half a lemon, 2 scant handfuls pistachio nuts, 30gms of parmesan, large garlic clove and splash of water to create the right consistency. Blitz all the pesto ingredients together in a small blender, until it resembles a creamy yoghurt.

Plate Up

Fresh rocket, warm nectarines, Burrata, basil leaves, few pistachios, lots of lovely dressing and S&P.

My next 'first' will be lavender biscuits, I'll let you know how that turns out

Current Mood -Too Hot & Grumpy

This is an actual photo of me staring down the Universe and politely requesting it gets a bloomin move on with our house sale. And whilst I think about it how about people doing their jobs quickly and efficiently, perhaps the Universe could help a little with that? I can't fathom what has happened to people's intelligence and work ethic. Sorry this is turning into a rant. But honestly so much of this modern world drives me mad.

I'm grumpy because I'm too hot and things I'm trying to get on with are D-R-A-G-G-I-N-G. A nice wee trip to Norfolk is planned and a wonderful place to stay has been found, the itinerary has been researched and drafted for maximum seaside fun and joy. BUT I'm waiting on one of the folk coming with us being granted leave from work, it's been almost a week and I'm stressing we will lose the accomodation. Not their fault just the slowness of their employer's internal machinery.

My husband got a call this morning from the hospital his poor Mum has been in for four weeks. It was the pharmacy there asking us what medication his Mum is on. I couldn't believe it, she's been in hospital all this time, has she not been taking her tablets? And why are they not looking at her GP's notes or calling the surgery, or perhaps just ask his Mum? When the Mr asked the response was they don't link up with other parties, not even the hospital the pharmacy is in.

I'll be back dear reader very soon with a much nicer post to make up for my grumpiness. I do hope you are all managing to keep as cool as you can, enjoy the rest of your weekend.

Enjoying the heatwave in Penrhynside, Llandudno.

The Harvest Has Begun

I'm determined this year to make the most of what Mother Nature has to offer. I do have a knowledge of herbs and flowers for health and for culinary purposes, but truth be told I have been a bit lazy in the past. Now I have decided to create my own Apothecary and to grow as many herbs and foods as I can. Organic and fresh is the way forward. I recently attended a couple of 'herbal' evening events with a local lass who taught me a few new things and sparked my interest to boot.

These two books will be invaluable.

Oh How I Wish I could Go To This Event

A London Outing Brunswick & Beaton

Greetings dear readers, I thought I would share a few details of my last outing to London a few weeks ago. A rello from new Zealand was visiting and I thought a wee visit to a superb Georgian House built in the mid 1700s would be a treat for her and us, I wasn't wrong. This gorgeous building once stood in five acres of parkland, situated in Vauxhall opposite The Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens as featured in Bridgerton. Sadly the poor building is surrounded by many lanes of traffic and noise and loomed over by monstrous high rise blocks, it is now blocked off from the river too. But dear readers I still adore the building, why would I not? The faded grandeur and fragility of the house is simply charming. It has been on my 'hit list' for many moons and I'm super pleased we have finally visited.

It is the perfect London spot for a few drinks and nibbles, well away from the heat and hustle of central London. The food was pricey but the venue made up for that. It is only a short stroll to The Garden Museum in Lambeth Palace, which was next on our list. This is also a very nice spot to meet for drinks and the food is excellent, sitting in the tranquil garden it felt like a million miles from all the noise and crowds. I wanted to take a look at the current exhibition, Cecil Beaton's Garden Party, which is on until 21st September.

If you have never visited The Garden Museum I urge you to go, such a treat.

I Don't Like This Feeling

My dear readers you know me for the upbeat, pocketfull of joy gal that I am. But yes, even I can feel out of sorts and dare I say it a bit down in the dumps. As you know the Mr and I have been keen to move to Norfolk for some time. The universe has conspired against us. I'm feeling thwarted and I don't much care for it.

I'm reading a DH Lawrence compilation at the moment and this quote from The Captain's Doll struck a chord with me.

"The future! The future! The future is used up everyday. The future to me is like a big tangle of black thread. Every morning you begin to untangle one loose end-and that's your day. And every evening you break off and throw away what you've untangled and the heap is so much less: just one thread less, one day less. That's all the future matters to me".

Apologies for the glumness, it will pass.

On a happy note I'm pleased to welcome another follower who has kindly pressed the follow button. Welcome Celine.

Summer Solstice Celebrations

I hope you all had a fun Summer Solstice and celebrated in your own way. The Mr and I were invited to a party in an orchard, not just any old orchard but the one my dear friend who passed away in 2020 used to own. The orchard stands in front of the 17th century little cottage she used to live in. It was a special evening. I took some food along made from one of her recipes I have. It felt like she would have approved. There were lots of folk, children and dogs and everyone was very chatty and happy. A great evening. I made myself a floral headdress which was much admired. I did wonder if it might have been a bit over the top but no it was a success.

After such a joyful day yesterday I got myself in gear today to attend to some chores and something happened rarer than a strawberry moon..................... I cleaned the inside of all my windows, oh how they sparkle. It doesn't happen very often my dears.

My Homespun Life This Week

Last week was a bit of a whirlwind, my son and his girlfriend came to stay at the beginning of the week. Then the Mr and I went down to London to see a visiting cousin over from New Zealand, then on Friday an old chum came to stay for the weekend with her partner. I'll post about our London adventures in my next post. So this week I've tried to slow down a bit, catch up at home and focus on some quieter activities.

I decided to finally make use of the lavender I harvested towards the end of last Summer and made some lavender bags to keep the pesky moth at bay. I removed the buds for the little fabric sachets and put the very dry stems in our kindling basket, waste not want not, I think they will smell very sweet when burned. (Not any time soon though methinks). Blimey it's hot isn't it?

A few overripe bananas were begging to be made into a banana bread. I use a very simple recipe that I found on the back of the M&S banana bags.

The Mr can literally hoover this bread up, so although I make it with minimum sugar levels, I don't make it all the time as we are both mindful of our sugar intake. It is absolutely delicious with coffee or tea, very dangerous.

A very warm welcome to my latest follower Annabelle, thank you very much for pushing the follow button. The views on my blog are rising extremely well of late, I've already reached last month's total. Could I please encourage all you lovely folk who view and enjoy my blog content to follow me. It encourages me to post more. I know it's only a small blog but I enjoy posting and interacting with this special community.

Mary Webb My (Re) Discovery

Hello my blogging friends, apologies for the fuzzy image start to this post but I'm paying the price for not taking real time images when I should have. This post is about my wonderful discovery whilst staying at Leighton Lodge on the gilding course last month. On arrival I noticed a blue plaque on the wall commemorating the birthplace of Mary Webb. In my mind I thought I had never heard of her, but once in my room I discovered some books about her and I was reminded that I had read one of her amazing novels, Precious Bane. This review from The Virago Press: '

Prudence Sarn was born with a cleft palate, her ‘precious bane’, for which she is persecuted as a witch by her superstitious neighbours. Hiding from daily ridicule, she takes refuge in the wild Shropshire countryside, developing a profound love of nature. Furtively, Prue longs to be loved and harbours a hopeless passion for Kester Woodseaves, the weaver. Prue’s brother, Gideon, is engaged to her only friend, but in his ambition for wealth at any cost, he incurs the wrath of his would-be father-in-law whose act of vengeance results in Prue being accused of murder. Only Kester, who has perceived her true worth, can defend her from the wrath of her accusers. Winner of the 1926 Prix Femina Vie Heureuse Prize, Precious Bane is a novel that enchants with its beauty and its timeless truths'

. Often compared to Emily Bronte and Thomas Hardy, Mary's writing is an intricate tapestry of words, featuring folklore, legends and local customs. Describing her deep relationship with all nature but Shropshire in particular. Nature was her life, her passion, it was part of her and she it. (She is quoted as saying how fortunate she was in being born and brought up in Shropshire's magical atmosphere). Sadly she didn't receive the acclaim she was due in her lifetime, and often struggled to make ends meet. Her health too was an ongoing issue for her as she developed Graves Disease, a thyroid disorder when she was in her early twenties. This condition worsened throughout her short life. It was Stanley Baldwin who championed her body of work posthumously, at a speech at The Royal Literary Fund Dinner April 1928, establishing her name and bringing her work the recognition and success it deserved.

I have just purchased a collection of her work through the online Oxfam site and very pleased I am too.

I implore you to seek her out she will not disappoint. I would also recommend the Gladys Mary Coles book on Mary Webb to wet your appetite and to give you an understanding of the woman behind the magic. "Let fall your golden showers, laburnum tree! Break the grey casket of your buds for me- Soon I shall go where never gold is seen, And who will be with you as I have been?

A Gilding Course & A Discovery

I have been on my travels again, this time to Shropshire to attend a Gilding Course. I have ambitions you see to 'gild up' my new home, once we actually sell our current property and get moving that is. The course was part of the many varied offerings at Leighton Lodge, under the auspices of father and daughter Roger and Katie. Together they run a much acclaimed school of decorative arts called Master The Art. (Unfortunately, dear reader you know my naughty blogging system won't allow me to create a link to them, grrrrr). My old friend George stepped in at the last minute to enjoy the course with me as my son couldn't make it as planned. This is me on the left of the picture, looking very professional in my 'artisan' dungarees, ha ha.

I have to admit that I didn't quite master the art of water guilding, but am very happy with my abilities to oil guild. Please note and admire my gilded walnut, yes they will be in abundance come Christmas.

This is an early photo of Roger in his Colefax and Fowler days looking every inch the debonair man about town. At 86 years he is still full of the joys of life, fuelled by copious amounts of nicotine and STRONG coffee. He was funny and very patient, a Master Guilder, and we couldn't have hoped for a more skilled and sweet teacher. George and I stayed in the flat at the top of Leighton Lodge and it was sooooo comfortable. Muddy the boisterous and vocal pooch kept us safe throughout.

This piece of thrifted furniture is first on my hit list for gilding and beautifying.

I best tell you all about my discovery in the next instalment for fear of you all falling asleep.

Beltane 3 Story Crow

This last litte titbit features a talented duo, Tamsin and Oliver, otherwise known as Story Crow, who delighted us all at the festival, with tales of witches and magical folk.

The little film I made at the time unfortunately won't load but this clip from Youtube features the same story they told to us. I hope you get the flavour.