Breakfast time

 It's just after 9am and I've been working out in the garden since 07.30. I've cut a huge amount off the wisteria.  It was making a takeover bid for the front of the house.  If it wasn't so beautiful for about three weeks I'd be taking it out. Oh but! when it flowers, I realise why I haven't chopped it down. I spent ages chopping it into tiny pieces so that it'll break down easily.  I'm trying to get the outdoor stuff done before the heat builds up. I think it's arrived so I'm going to enjoy this little treat from the garden.  

Fresh picked strawberries and cream with a sprig of mint.  I always eat the garnish and ordinary garden mint when it's fresh picked is delicious. I'm off now to get the ironing done before the heat becomes unbearable. Stay hydrated and cool today my blogging friends. 

Beautiful Buxton

 Tony and I have spent the weekend in Buxton where we've wandered around beautiful gardens and met amazing people. I think I'm in love with Buxton, there's just so much to see and do here. If I didn't have to get home to water all my plants I would gladly book a few more days here and take in a couple of shows..

While wandering around looking at gardens a lovely gentleman stopped to talk to us and though he hadn't opened his garden this year he invited us to take a look at his garden.  He gave us a guided tour. This is a photo of his driveway at the side of the house.

While walking in the park we were treated to this tree hugging crow. It was probably trying to stay cool.

Tony and I love Thai food so booked a table here last night.  The meal was delicious and very reasonable. 

We're packing up to leave but we'll be back. Our Hotel couldn't have been situated in a better spot for exploring 

Snails

A couple of days ago I ordered some pond snails. They arrived yesterday and are already hoovering the algae from the pond. Bless em, they're tiny little things. It'll be fascinating to watch them grow.  I'm keeping my fingers crossed that they don't get eaten by the frogs and newts

We danced our legs off at the ceilidh last night and I slept like a log until just after 5am. I wish I could sleep longer but I've always been an early riser. Looks like we're heading for a mini heatwave so please stay hydrated folks.

Lovely fresh veggies

 It's the time of year when the cucumbers are producing far more than we can keep up with.  Usually I give them away but this year I'm pickling them. 

And tea tonight is rainbow trout and I'm serving it with yummy veggies fresh picked from my garden 

Tinned mango pulp

 Several years ago I bought a large tin of mango pulp. It's been sitting in the cupboard ever since.  This morning I have used it to make ice lollies and ice cubes.  The remaining pulp I turned into a lovely dessert using a raspberry jelly which I dissolved in about half a pint of water. I stirred in the mango pulp and whipped some double cream into it.  As soon as it's properly cold it'll go in the freezer

 The cream has tempered the sweetness as it was very sweet. I think a small scoop with some thick yoghurt will make a lovely dessert. The ice cubes will be lovely in a glass of sparkling water (or gin)

Buxton open gardens

 I've just booked a long weekend in Buxton.  We're planning to visit the open gardens and if anyone can suggest anything else worth seeing please let me know. 

Ladybird transformed from larvae

 I've spent a large part of this morning watching ladybirds transform. 

 I've tried for a couple of hours to catch the exact moment that they start to pop out of the skin but to mo avail. Would you believe that the second one popped open while I was uploading this video. I've spent the past hour trying to capture a video of number three as it opens but I've given up. It'll be sheer chance if I'm able to film it at the exact moment 

Sticky weed

 I've just been watching a YouTube video about the benefits of sticky weed AKA Cleavers. Apparently it has enormous health benefits so I popped out into the garden and pulled some from my border where I'd spotted it scrambling among the hostas. After a thoroughly good wash and a quick blast in the blender I've put it into the fridge to infuse.  I'm supposed to leave it a couple of days then strain the juice. My plan is to turn the juice into ice cubes and pop it into a glass of apple juice. You can actually put the leaves in salads and they taste very mild. I'm off out to see if there's any more in the garden.  I'll throw some leaves into the big box of salad that I make up every few days. It's so handy for a quick meal. 

Not really a bargain

 I've just had a newsletter from one of our local pubs. The offer is four pints for £15.  My eyeballs nearly bled as I muttered 'do you know how many pints of milk £15 would buy'. I'm so pleased that I'm not a drinker.  I'm perfectly content with an occasional glass of wine or a tin of cider from Aldi. I could put several nice meals together for Tony and I for £15 and that would include a cider shandy or two. Farmfoods have little 1.1kg chickens for £1.99. I could buy two and we'd have half each for two days. The bones and roasting juices would make lovely soup base or stock. Most of the veg we eat comes out of my garden but even if I bought a bag of frozen mixed veg it would be around £1 and would do the two days. That's using £5 and leaves another £10. Like I said, I'm so pleased that I'm not a drinker.

It's been quite cold for June

 This morning I went for a walk with some friends.  It was cold when we set off but the coats came off halfway round.  While I was out walking Tony went and collected some more free compost for me. Then while he was out at his men's pie club this afternoon I did all the laundry. I thought it would dry nicely  but it turned quite cold and I've had to pop it on the clothes horse to finish drying. We had tea quite late as Tony picked some friends up from the airport.  They have spent the past three weeks in Canada and I am looking forward to hearing all about it.

On the garden front I sowed a load of mange tout peas. We'll have them in stir-fry and salads if we get a decent crop.  My Cobra beans are flying away now and hopefully I'll be able to harden them off and get them planted out by the weekend.  With a bit of luck the slugs will leave them alone. Strawberries are coming  thick and fast and the grapes on the vine are swelling nicely.  I think there's probably ten bunches which is far more manageable than the forty we got last year. .