Snow in december....

It's been a loooong time.

So much so, that we frequently make our own in these parts. See?

I can't tell you how happy both of these events make me - when they occur ;-)



yes, it takes not much..

feeling like a millionaire........

A tip from a coworker that made my weekend!
http://uktv.co.uk/food/recipe/aid/516853

Allotment update II

These are my perennials in July. Most of the bounty get's eaten when I'm there.
I've tried blackberry muffins on thursday, but we both didn't really like the butter used in the recipe. If you have a tried and true one - please let me know!



There will be more in the weeks to come:


And much more... so really - think about leaving a comment with a good recipe please?


I simply cannot get enough of those! As soon as they turn dark purple, they're gone!


And if they are finished - the next tree is right behind!


The sour cherries are now few and far between, but I already have about 3 kilo's of them frozen right now. For fall and winter, when I have time to make jam again.


The gooseberries have gone to the wasps this year - I was a few day's late picking them - they will be back next year though....


You might think of leaving them as waste - yes, in some way's it is, but I really do enjoy the variety of critters feeding of the garden.

Butterflies!

Allotment update.

I've spent a lovely afternoon in the allotment on tuesday.
The thing I can grow best are still thistles - to my great chagrijn! And then I've found this:



AMAZING!
I was not brave enough yet though....


Plenty to choose from at this time of year anyway:

Shallots, given to be by a neighbor and pushed into the ground on may 9th:


Pods, those rarely make it home though. I eat them fresh from the bush, cooked they lose much of their appeal to me:


I was really late sowing these, they can go into the ground in february, it's even recommended because of lice liking them. I sowed early may, and haven't found a single black spot yet, maybe it's because I LOVE dill!



I let them bloom - and use the flowerheads and seeds in vinegar based recepies. Because there is plenty they will come back next year. I will not weed them as I love the smell of them if brushing against them.

My "saladbowl":


The .... the... what ARE you calling these? It's a kind of pea... .Anyway, they need a few more day's


So is the sweet corn.



this will be an industrious evening again - as this was only the first load brought to the car:

Microgardening

Have a look into my back yard.




Yes, it's tiny, and another two weeks and I'm gonna have to go out with a machete at hand, just to reach the shed ;-)








Meanwhile I'm eating my way through it!

Focus

As with all things in live - you see what you're prepared to see.
Look:



not particulary nice?
Look closer:



Still - why is it that I smile about the wonderous surprises life throw's us, every time I step out the back door?

I look even closer:




And since I've decided that this is what I want to think about, focus on, when I step out the door - my world became a better place to live in.



Try it!

Duiveltje is proud....

to announce this:



Made by his new friends:








Jeez, he isn't used to share the center of attention ;-)

Little bits of time......

...... in between the usual stuff like work, sleep, laundry.....
I enjoy every minute I can spend tending to my plants. I've started late with everything - like usual about a month. And still I'm able to start harvesting the first little presents right about now.

Enjoy!



Just a promise now.. but I enjoy them already:



My little backyard setup looks like this now:

right side greenhouse:


left side greenhouse:


between the greenhouse and the house. Only about 1,70 meters wide, very sunny - southside of the house, and protected enough to grow just about anything.