Garden · 25. April 2023
I became keen to grow flowers when I learned that it would draw pollinators to the garden, and could contribute to us obtaining even more bountiful food. So away I went and got a lovely cottage and native garden growing. I grow flowers everywhere (...)
Country Kitchen & Recipes · 08. March 2020
I have made the pastry gluten free as I have coeliacs disease. It's taken me along time to perfect, but now although theres many different ingredients to the Irish original, it tastes similar and has the same crunch as it comes hot out of the oven.
Garden Travel · 01. May 2019
Hawthorn Cottage is a green little oasis that took our breath away. As we entered the quirky little home, you could be fooled into thinking that you had actually walked into a book cover and entered a fantasy land. I couldn't believe we were going to live here for a whole week!
Garden · 23. October 2018
By the time we pulled into the driveway at home it had been springing for a good couple of weeks. Weeds to the knee, tall grass and all the late daffs blooming. Every single vegetable had bolted to seed. It was apparent that (...)
Garden · 17. May 2018
They work hard most days to provide us with eggs (everyone needs an RDO) but it's hard not to lose patience over the winter months. I hold up a big blue tinged egg that Zelda lays, she's easily our best layer, and gather the girls around. I show them the big egg, point at it and tell them...
Garden · 16. April 2018
It feels like only a ninny would say that Summer was too long, it was though, long, hot and very dry. It hung on for longer than usual. The dizzying heat has a cabin fever like effect on the human psyche. Staring at brown hills, watching
Country Kitchen & Recipes · 19. March 2018
Oh with the bizarre return of "high summer" temperatures, and a really dry brown view of our hills to contend with (poor farmers), ice-cream making has returned to lift my spirits while in the kitchen (aircon firmly back on while cooking).
Plant Guides · 05. March 2018
Perfectly sized to be eaten by one person, the old heirloom variety called "Lemon Cucumber" (because of the colour of the skin, not taste) ticks all the boxes!
It's prolific, easy to grow, even here in our cold temperate climate, and miraculously develops a thick skin once it's picked, but remains sweet and juicy on the inside, without a hint of bitterness at all! It also tends to have a longer growing period than other cucumbers.
Country Kitchen & Recipes · 12. February 2018
All the "Back to School" hype of the last couple of weeks led me back to the cookbooks and trolling the internet for some healthy style snacks for the lunch boxes. One of my sons tends to be a "grazer" so I figured some light bread style muffins filled with vegetables from the garden might be just what was needed.
Garden · 27. December 2017
As the dust settles after the flurry of present giving and incessant pavlova making, and the turkey is (almost) all eaten, it's finally time to sit down and enjoy some quiet time here in the hills.