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. .

Cowboys in Yorkshire????

 Tony and I have spent the afternoon at another Open Gardens event.  Imagine my surprise to meet The Yorkshire Cowboy coming towards us. I can assure you that cowboys are a rare sight in Yorkshire 

 

Today's Open Gardens were held in the little village of Coxwold and we met some absolutely lovely people. The gardens were a real treat too. I'm  already scanning the list for next weekend to see where to visit next.

Dalton Village open gardens

 We're just heading home from a visit to the Dalton Village open garden. The gardens were without exception absolutely beautiful and the people there were some of the warmest friendliest we've encountered at open gardens. Lunch in the village hall cost the grand sum of £3 though I gave them extra as it was so delicious and £3 seemed such a paltry amount. I've bought a couple of pretty pelargonium and plan to take some cuttings from them. 

I'm ready for a nice cup of coffee now