Just started another blog
http://ali4horsesthoughts.blogspot.com/
think this may be the start of my mid-life crisis??
Chinzano, Liverpool
1 week ago
Monday, 31 January 2011
Tuesday, 18 January 2011
First post of 2011
I've started this year with such a feeling of optimism and happiness, perhaps because of the end of 2010 being so cold and dark with snow etc, but I have really noticed a change since the winter solstice. The days are certainly longer and small signs that spring is on its way are appearing too. Although I fully expect to have some more snow before this winter is over!
The first order of business this year has been our annual seed order - especially as we have the polytunnel this year. I want to grow the things I love to cook with most of all - no more huge gluts of stuff that has to be made into chutneys or pickles but I reckon the best use of our time and effort (and to save us money from our food bill) is to grow to the cook's (ME!) order.
My list for this year (so far) includes;
potatoes - first earlies and Pink Fir Apples (my fave)
salad leaves
peas
broad beans
onions - red and white
shallots
garlic
tomatoes - Tigerella, Gardeners delight and Tumbling Tom
swiss chard, kale and cavalo nero
courgettes (but only a few - really don't want the glut of them again!)
cucumbers
herbs
runner beans
beetroot
Our chickens have started laying again with me getting one or two eggs a day - this is so lovely as they are building up to Valentine's Day which always seems to be when they come back to lay. I haven't had any eggs from my Cream Legbar for ages, but I think as she is a pure breed, she is less likely to lay than the others - I don't really care, she is so pretty and makes up for the lack of eggs by her delightfully scatty nature and funny 'old lady hat' head.
Zac, Brea and Poppy - our horses are all well, and due to the snow and relatively dry weather have been living out most of the winter. They are so much happier being able to move around in these types of conditions rather than having to stand overnight in a cold stable - this is the reverse of what normally happens when we have cold, wet rainy weather when they would much rather be in. P and I fitted a heat source tape with thermostat to my stable water pipe which thankfully has kept the water from freezing even down to -18oC. This has made a huge difference to my routine of carrying water from the house every day when the pipe had previously frozen - also made a difference to my poor elbows too!
The countryside around us is so beautiful at this time of year - the low winter light seems to give everything such wonderful colours. The woods behind our house are a wonderful blend of purples, browns and greens - Birch are my favourite at this time with their smoky purple haze. I'm feeling inspired to get out and about with my Christmas present, a new camera, although I don't have a clue about photography - I'm really excited about it - watch this space!
The first order of business this year has been our annual seed order - especially as we have the polytunnel this year. I want to grow the things I love to cook with most of all - no more huge gluts of stuff that has to be made into chutneys or pickles but I reckon the best use of our time and effort (and to save us money from our food bill) is to grow to the cook's (ME!) order.
My list for this year (so far) includes;
potatoes - first earlies and Pink Fir Apples (my fave)
salad leaves
peas
broad beans
onions - red and white
shallots
garlic
tomatoes - Tigerella, Gardeners delight and Tumbling Tom
swiss chard, kale and cavalo nero
courgettes (but only a few - really don't want the glut of them again!)
cucumbers
herbs
runner beans
beetroot
Our chickens have started laying again with me getting one or two eggs a day - this is so lovely as they are building up to Valentine's Day which always seems to be when they come back to lay. I haven't had any eggs from my Cream Legbar for ages, but I think as she is a pure breed, she is less likely to lay than the others - I don't really care, she is so pretty and makes up for the lack of eggs by her delightfully scatty nature and funny 'old lady hat' head.
Zac, Brea and Poppy - our horses are all well, and due to the snow and relatively dry weather have been living out most of the winter. They are so much happier being able to move around in these types of conditions rather than having to stand overnight in a cold stable - this is the reverse of what normally happens when we have cold, wet rainy weather when they would much rather be in. P and I fitted a heat source tape with thermostat to my stable water pipe which thankfully has kept the water from freezing even down to -18oC. This has made a huge difference to my routine of carrying water from the house every day when the pipe had previously frozen - also made a difference to my poor elbows too!
The countryside around us is so beautiful at this time of year - the low winter light seems to give everything such wonderful colours. The woods behind our house are a wonderful blend of purples, browns and greens - Birch are my favourite at this time with their smoky purple haze. I'm feeling inspired to get out and about with my Christmas present, a new camera, although I don't have a clue about photography - I'm really excited about it - watch this space!
Tuesday, 14 December 2010
Thursday, 2 December 2010
Christmas Cake and SNOW!
Wow - what a completely mad end to November, beginning to December! We have now spent a week with sub-zero temperatures and heaps (about 16 inches!) of snow.
A couple of weeks ago I started to make my Christmas cake. I use a recipe from a Good Housekeeping AGA winter cook book, you cook the cake overnight in the bottom oven of the Aga. Although this year I made a few (!) mistakes with the recipe!
I got a bit over enthusiastic with the chopping and soaking of the dried fruit and put the cherries, peel and brazil nuts in with the rest of the fruit to macerate overnight in port and Cointreau - I'm really hoping it won't affect the taste of the finished cake.
It looked (and smelled) ok once it had finished baking, and I'm now 'feeding' it with brandy once a week up until the week before Christmas when me and the kids will ice and decorate it.
Meanwhile - outside we are living in a winter wonderland! Snow hit the North East of Scotland last Thursday, 25th November and hasn't really stopped since. Schools are all shut so we have all been stuck at home, thankfully my husband can work from home so he's been able to help with getting water out to the animals, clearing paths and bringing in logs etc!!
They say a picture conveys a thousand words - so I'll post the next few photos and let them speak for themselves.
Hard to believe that we'll ever see anything green in the garden again when everything is so white outside. Still counting our blessings that we have all our hay in for winter feeding, and our logs are all chopped and stacked to keep us nice and cosy inside. I am really wishing I had heated waterers like the ones we had for the horses when we lived in Canada, but apart from that it is so beautiful outside and getting us all in the mood for a lovely Christmas holidays - time to get the skis out I think.
A couple of weeks ago I started to make my Christmas cake. I use a recipe from a Good Housekeeping AGA winter cook book, you cook the cake overnight in the bottom oven of the Aga. Although this year I made a few (!) mistakes with the recipe!
Meanwhile - outside we are living in a winter wonderland! Snow hit the North East of Scotland last Thursday, 25th November and hasn't really stopped since. Schools are all shut so we have all been stuck at home, thankfully my husband can work from home so he's been able to help with getting water out to the animals, clearing paths and bringing in logs etc!!
They say a picture conveys a thousand words - so I'll post the next few photos and let them speak for themselves.
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| View across the glen |
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| Keeping the horses water filled up |
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| Zac, Brea and Poppy |
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| Robin in the stables |
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| Garden - what garden? |
Hard to believe that we'll ever see anything green in the garden again when everything is so white outside. Still counting our blessings that we have all our hay in for winter feeding, and our logs are all chopped and stacked to keep us nice and cosy inside. I am really wishing I had heated waterers like the ones we had for the horses when we lived in Canada, but apart from that it is so beautiful outside and getting us all in the mood for a lovely Christmas holidays - time to get the skis out I think.
Tuesday, 9 November 2010
October catch up
October has passed by in flash it seems. The shed has now been completed (see above) - and just needs the doors put on before the winter weather sets in.
We had a lovely holiday on a beach sailing club in Turkey - a first for us and enjoyed by the whole family. Sadly, just before we left we discovered that one of our cats, Oscar, had been killed on the road outside our house. He was only a year old and a fanatical hunter and unfortunately had spread his territory to the field on the other side of the road. We still have his brother Spooky, but really miss him as he was a really affectionate wee chap.
The kids are now back at school and we are starting the headlong rush towards Christmas and New Year. Our daughter is sitting prelim exams in November and our oldest son is getting ready to play his trumpet in a number of concert band events.
The horses are now coming in at night, for a bit of respite from the wet weather and also to 'save' our paddocks from turning into mud. They seem happy with this, Zac (our oldest horse) especially!
Wednesday, 22 September 2010
More photos
Just been out to move electric fence for the horses. With this cold weather I'm now giving them more grass every day. So far the paddocks are standing up well to the rain we've had, but it could all turn to mud quite quickly.
Zac and Brea waiting for me.
This is the railway carriage we've got grand plans for. It's an old stock car and was previously used as a field shelter. The idea is to restore it and then use it as a summer house.
P (my husband) has helped one of his friends dismantle a deck, in return for getting to recycle the decking. We'll have a deck around the front of the carriage, hopefully to sit and drink gin and tonics on! (Not on a day like today though)
View of field from railway carriage.
Meanwhile Coco checks out the ground works for the new tractor shed. It's slow progress due to the horrible weather but at least it's progress!
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Zac and Brea waiting for me.
This is the railway carriage we've got grand plans for. It's an old stock car and was previously used as a field shelter. The idea is to restore it and then use it as a summer house.
P (my husband) has helped one of his friends dismantle a deck, in return for getting to recycle the decking. We'll have a deck around the front of the carriage, hopefully to sit and drink gin and tonics on! (Not on a day like today though)
View of field from railway carriage.
Meanwhile Coco checks out the ground works for the new tractor shed. It's slow progress due to the horrible weather but at least it's progress!
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Saturday, 11 September 2010
some photos from a peaceful week
I've been having a quiet, reflective time this week. Started off last Sunday by a visit to Findhorn, one of my favourite places. Situated in a beautiful spot on the Moray coast, there is a calm energy to the village and, of course, it's the location of the world famous Findhorn Foundation.
http://www.findhorn.org/index.php?tz=-60
Next week, my husband (P) is going to be digging and building, as we are cracking on with building a new shed for hay, tractor bits, log storage etc. As usual,our romantic plans about getting on with the railway carriage have been put down the priority list, as we have to get on with the practical stuff first! Never mind, it's all good and moving forwards which is the main thing.
On Thursday this week, P and I took the opportunity of a free afternoon to go for a walk around the Back o'Bennachie. It is a very beautiful spot, perfect for a quick walk - the photos speak for themselves I think.
I love spaces like this, the smells, sounds and atmosphere are so wonderful - I really feel as if I'm reconnecting and recharging, it's good for the soul.
http://www.findhorn.org/index.php?tz=-60
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| Darling daughter and 3 dogs on Findhorn Beach |
Next week, my husband (P) is going to be digging and building, as we are cracking on with building a new shed for hay, tractor bits, log storage etc. As usual,our romantic plans about getting on with the railway carriage have been put down the priority list, as we have to get on with the practical stuff first! Never mind, it's all good and moving forwards which is the main thing.
On Thursday this week, P and I took the opportunity of a free afternoon to go for a walk around the Back o'Bennachie. It is a very beautiful spot, perfect for a quick walk - the photos speak for themselves I think.
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| Sculpture in the burn |
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| "the tumbling of the waters is the teeming of life" |
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