Saturday 27 May 2017

Of apricots and knees



Chelsea Flower Show has been a visual treat hasn't it. I didn't get to go, but I've seen the odd bit on tv, in between going to copious amounts of cricket and athletics. The above is a garden we visit regularly that was a Chelsea garden a few years ago. It was moved, and it's settled into its new home beautifully. The planting is still doing well and it looks as lovely as ever. That's a wild duck on the water there. It's a rain garden, designed to deal with rain and also to be good for wildlife. The little building is a repurposed shipping container.

Sadly the garden and the plot don't quite measure up. Once Chelsea wears off it'll all be fine though, I just need to stop seeing the stars.






See? All terribly normal. Never mind, normal is good no?

I spent a hot sweaty afternoon yesterday at the Minor Injuries Unit with the middle boy who fell off of his scooter. His knee swelled up horribly. We're waiting for a hospital appointment now to see if there's a problem. I have everything crossed - he has some away things coming up that he'll have to miss if it's not good news.

Do any of you know why I might have a tin of apricot halves in the cupboard? I seem to remember I was wandering around in blogland and I saw something delicious and rushed out and bought the apricots to make it. No idea what it might have been now or where I saw it. I don't think it was an apricot upside-down cake. Maybe a tarte tatin? If anyone happens to remember seeing apricot deliciousness somewhere perhaps you could point me in the right direction.

The littlest boy is in birthday countdown mode. In fact the excitement is so intense this year (puppy - need I say more) that sometimes we can barely breathe. Bearing in mind it's half term now and everyone is home and one of us can't get out and about much it might be a bit of a long week. I am bracing myself.

22 comments:

  1. So sorry about MB! I hope it's nothing serious and he can get on with his away plans. Have you decided on a dog breed and will it be a puppy or adopted older? I'm so excited for you all! You will be so in love.. I just know it. ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

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  2. These plants are gorgeous!!! Not normal at all. :) Is the one shot near the end a peony ready to open? It reminds of an artichoke..Ha! I must be hungry. Not sure why you have the can of apricots, but I think slicing them thin, fanning them atop a nice wheel of brie, and baking would make a lovely appetizer or dessert. Now I'm really hungry!

    Your poor little guy. I hope he is okay. It's really terrible to be hurt just as school is letting out (at last I think for your kids). Most of ours are let out between now and maybe the second week of June.

    Even I am excited about the dog! Although my two can be a handful, especially at the lake when they want to run wild, I would have six if I could! Before you know it, the little critter will be like a family member and you will wonder how life was before him/her.

    I've been at the lake by myself for over a week. I've been busy doing everything but my writing and posting a blog. Hopefully after the holiday here. I'm not one for staying here in the wilds alone (Ha!), but I really needed some time alone and some soul searching. Nothing like nature to give you that opportunity. Nature however, decided to rain on my parade so hopefully next week will be better!!

    Hope you are having a wonderful weekend, Clair!

    Jane x

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    1. Yes, it's an artichoke, it's in my fridge now. Great suggestion re the apricots, thank you. CJ xx

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  3. I thought it was an artichoke too! I thought about going to Chelsea this year as I no longer have to dash home to do the school run. Unfortunately, I didn't realise that you have to book well in advance and the tickets were all sold out. Maybe next year. That knee sounds really painful - fingers crossed it's nothing serious. I can't wait to see 'Birthday Dog'! xx

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  4. ouch, hope the poorly knee is ok soon, and you survive half term xxx

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  5. A nice post and lovely pictures. Normal is definitely good. I hope that middle boy is okay.
    Have a good week, which I guess might be rather hectic. xx

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  6. Knees can swell alarmingly when cross. Hopefully it's a sprain and nothing more. Half term here too, a week in between GCSEs but we're coping well. Dog excitement! I can't wait to be introduced to the new family member. To be honest, Chelsea is a wee bit too perfect for me, give me a wild garden full of tendrils and whimsy and worm casts and small nibble holes in leaves and petals and I'm happy. I think your plot is perfect. It's real and you can't get better than that. Wishing you a lovely half term xx

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  7. Lovely garden you have there! Hope the little man geta better soon! Xx

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  8. SO much excitement getting a puppy. I know you will do most of the work but you just might get most of the love too. Puppy smell is to die for! Good luck to your middle son with his injury.

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  9. The garden is at Slimbridge isn't it? We were there on Friday. I've spent today sorting through hundreds of bird photos. We stayed near Gloucester and went to the steam railway gala on Saturday. I hope that the knees news is good.

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    1. Yes it is, it's settled in there beautifully. Hope you had a good day there and in Gloucester. CJ xx

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  10. I hope his knee is okay. My kids are getting hurt so often lately. I think they must be in growth spurts; I feel like they get more clumsy when they are. The garden photos are beautiful. I don't know of any apricot recipes but I love apricots, even from a can! I just bought a bunch of canned pineapple yesterday because I had a coupon. I'm trying to think of ways to use it now. Upside-down cake is in our future for sure!

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  11. I have a Nigel Slater crumble recipe that works best with tin apricots rather than fresh, it has a pistachio crumb and is wonderful. Let me know if you'd like me to email the recipe!hope the knee is okay... And enjoy half term!

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  12. Uh oh! Hope middle boy is doing okay! Boys will definitely keep the E/R busy, won't they?

    Love the photo of the bumble bee. He's so chubby cute!

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  13. Hope the knee isn't causing your boy too much pain or discomfort. As for the pup related anticipation, I can almost feel it, reading your post. If it's any help, my dad used to make an apricot and coconut crumble using canned fruit, brown sugar, butter and dessicated coconut. It was delicious.

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  14. wow, such lovely photos transporting me away from my desk :-) Oooh there is a fab recipe for an apricot sauce that goes with ham or gammon. You thicken the apricot juice with arrowroot and then add a splash of white wine vinegar, some ground cloves and ground ginger and the apricots chopped into chunks and end up with the amazing tangy sauce. Delish. If it takes your fancy I'll find the proper recipe. :-)

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  15. Hey CJ,
    I love your allotment shed! It's so photogenic! And your garden always seem so pretty and productive. And user friendly too. I do hope your the knee wasn't anything serious. We've arrived at the land of constantly bruised shins here. God knows what Olly gets up to at school....
    Leanne xx

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  16. That's a beautiful artichoke. I hope your boy is okay. I can almost feel your littlest jumping around like a puppy himself in anticipation mode. I'm not sure what you were planning but I would recommend a breakfast bread. I recently made this cake and cut some fresh apricots, but I bet tinned ones would be fine w/or in place of the jam. https://food52.com/recipes/69203-tartine-chocolate-almond-cake

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  17. Your photos are stunning! I hope the middle boy's knee is all good, knees take a long time to heal. I am quite exited about your puppy, too. Counting down the days to see it (although of course I have no idea how many days this may be). xx

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  18. I can highly recommend an apricot crumble...de..lici..ous x

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  19. Oh dear, I hope middle son is ok? Looking forward to a puppy update soon. No more dog news here as yet but I continue to be puppy broody. X

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  20. You life is a like a living Beatrix Potter book. <3

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