Wednesday 27 November 2013

Winter things

A few things from my week.  Frost, followed by beautiful sunshine and clear skies.


A football scarf knitted for the littlest boy.  It was originally supposed to be for sharing, but as it happens he doesn't much like to share and he's very good at getting his own way.  So he's claimed ownership and no-one who values their eardrums dares to contradict him.  The colours are those of our town's football club, the team his brothers play for.  I wanted to add a fringe.  He most definitely did not want a fringe.  He does know his own mind, this little boy of mine.  So there's no fringe.


Inside, it was time to do the seed order.  It's done via the allotment association so there's a discount of one-third.  I've tried to be sensible and only order things that everyone likes.  Although I do have an overwhelming urge to grow some of those enormous blue squashes.  I'm trying very hard not to, as I'm the only one who really likes squash.  But we all know that I'll end up sowing a few, and then planting all of them out, even the extra ones that I only sowed in case not many came up.  I'm sure you can put squash flesh in cakes though, can't you..?


I've also been browsing a lovely allotment book I won in Jo's giveaway.  I've never won anything in a giveaway before and I can't tell you how thrilled I was.  It's full of fantastic allotment ideas, and pages to jot things down in.  I'm not going to save it, or keep it in pristine condition, I'm actually going to use it to write notes on varieties tried, planting times, useful suggestions etc.  I've learned over the years that these things are for using, not saving.  Too many times I've kept things for best, or for a special time, and they end up not being used at all.  It will be really helpful to have somewhere to keep all of the information that I currently jot down on old envelopes and scraps of paper.  All the useful tidbits that I read on various blogs will have a home.




I've bought my calendar for 2014.  I always find I need as big a space as possible because sometimes I need to fit in several things in one day.  It took me a while to find one with maximum writing space, but last year I found this...



...and I have to say it's perfect.  Loads of space to write in all the stuff of life, as well as a couple of areas for notes.  I always pause a little when the new calendar arrives.  I riffle the pages and wonder what they will hold.  But I don't dwell on that for too long, I'm quite happy to wait and deal with it all when it happens.

I'm kind of wishing my middle boy's chosen reading books didn't have names like "Mangler, the Dark Menace" and "Brutus, the Hound of Horror".


I'm trying to steer him towards "Stig of the Dump" and "A Bear called Paddington".  But unfortunately he seems to like a little dark menace in his life.

I made a short trip to the allotment yesterday.  I pulled up a few weeds, put down some cardboard to try and stop more coming up in their place, attempted a bonfire (too soggy) and took a couple of photos of my scarf - which is more my colour than the red and black one.



I'm really enjoying the long dark evenings.  No guilt at not being outside doing things.  The lights are on, curtains are drawn, all the little people and furry things are safely stowed away in their nesty places and there's just me and my laptop or book.


I've just finished PD James's "Death at Pemberley".  Not really sure what to make of it.  It's a sequel to Pride and Prejudice, with a murder in the Pemberley woods.  I was quite enjoying it until the murder, then it all got a bit tedious.  I was glad to finish it in the end.  I don't think people should mess with Jane Austen.  She cannot be equalled.  Although it's possible that "Mangler, the Dark Menace" comes close.

39 comments:

  1. I am certain that Jane Austen is currently turning in her grave, wishing that she had been the one to bring "Mangler, the Dark Menace" into the literary canon. You can do lots of baking with squash; I'm assuming these are like zucchinis/courgettes? Have you tried zucchini bread? It's easy and very good.

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    1. They are similar to courgettes, so I think recipes for that would work. I haven't tried zucchini bread, I'll try it next year when I will no doubt have a zucchini glut.

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  2. I found a recipe for squash cake which was very good - just add the grated squash and some spices and it tasted good and froze well too. Love the photo of the hoar frost. Glad I'm not the only one who can't bear to use a new notebook in case I spoil it - you are right these things are for using though!

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    1. That sounds good, a bit like carrot cake maybe. I'm a bit of a devil for collecting lovely notebooks. I do love them so - all those possibilities.

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  3. Hi CJ. I read Death at Pemberley a while back and must say that I was disappointed. I agree that people should leave Jane Austin alone. You can't improve on her writing and many have sure tried.

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    1. I was disappointed as well. It did start promisingly though.

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  4. I am sure there are many things that could be done with squash (or courgettes if harvested when small), you could make chutney and enjoy it all through the year... I love your scarves, did you make your own, too?

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    1. Thanks Sandra, I did make mine as well, and I have to say I enjoyed knitting with that wool more than the black and red!

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  5. Love your first picture. Snow on the leaves with water droplets. Looks amazing!!

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    1. Thanks, it's always novel when the first frosts hit!

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  6. Hello,
    The first picture is beautiful... It is interesting to see you order your seeds already now... I even fail to think about planting bulbs so they come out in time at the beginning of Spring... I should keep a journal of the mistakes I make to improve my gardening skills.

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    1. I wouldn't have ordered the seeds yet except for the 33% discount for ordering by 30 November! That pushed me into action.

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  7. Thank you for visiting me. You do live in a lovely part of the world, though it's a long time since we were there.
    I do agree about trying to 'extend' the classics such as Jane Austen, and wish they wouldn't.

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    1. And thanks for visiting here too Elizabeth. I have enjoyed reading your blog.

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  8. You could always make pumpkin pie - we also use squash in curries and tagines where it sort of hides. It also is used in a sort of carrot cake type recipe.

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    1. Pumpkin pie is a good idea; I've never tried one but they always look nice.

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  9. gorgeous frosty photo. I have some cake recipes with squash in. I'll email them to you. and as for boys and gruesome books, I have one of those too.

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  10. Thank you for the link and mention. Glad you're enjoying the book, I know what you mean about not using these kind of books for their intended purpose, I've been just the same over the years but you're right, they're meant to be used. I can't get on with calendars at all, I've always used a diary and recently gone back to my filofax, which I love, it really keeps me organised. We all love squash in our house, I just wish I had more luck in growing them. I'll be having yet another attempt next year.

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    1. You're welcome Jo, I was so chuffed to win the book. I need a calendar on the wall so that I can point at it and say, "But it was on the calendar..." I didn't have huge success with squashes last year, but like you I will be trying again.

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  11. As always a most enjoyable post, and terrific pictures.
    It's always fun to grow one thing that you want to even though you might not like it.
    Regardless of what middle son is reading it's better than not reading at all. Flighty xx

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    1. Thanks for your words of wisdom Flighty, you're right of course. I shall grow the enormous blue squash that I really want to grow, and middle boy will no doubt keep reading ghastly beast books. And I shall keep trying to tempt him with other things. and no doubt all will be well in the end.

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  12. I was very interested in your thoughts on 'Death Comes to Pemberley'. I read it a while ago, now, and I wasn't sure about it either. I didn't dislike it, but it didn't thrill me. I wonder whether I'll enjoy it on TV this Christmas.
    I must get a large calendar for 2014 that I keep tripping over. I forgot an important family birthday last week and I still feel guilty about it.

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    1. I shall have a look if I see it on TV, maybe it will be better on screen. Even with a big calendar things escape me sometimes. Every time I miss something I say it will be the last time. But it never is...

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  13. I'll be interested to hear how you get on gardening by the moon.

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    1. I'm laughing - I get a bit jumpy down in my dark bottom corner of the site as it is when the sun starts to go down. The people at the top can garden by streetlight, but down at the bottom it's dark and scary.

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  14. You are far more organised than me my seed ordering is usually done in a rush in late winter!

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    1. Only because there was a discount on offer for early ordering! There's no organisation anywhere else in my life at the moment.

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  15. Well done on the win, Jo is lovely isn't she.
    If it's any help I recently made macaroni cheese and added a puree of butternut squash to the sauce after finding the idea on Pinterest. My super suspicious 13 year old son didn't spot it and ate the lot.
    I have been buying an academic diary for years, so much easier when you have children to not have to chop and change.
    Lisa x

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    1. Jo is indeed lovely Lisa. I like your macaroni cheese idea, thanks for the tip.

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  16. There are so many wonderful things you can do with squash, little squash cakes that you have with a main meal, a chocolate and squash cupcakes with cherry brandy, squash bread similar to zucchini bread, squash soups with porcini mushrooms and bacon, oh my I can ramble on and on. I love how organised you are with your allotment and that calendar does look just what you need for a family. Enjoy your weekend xoxo

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    1. Fantastic, thanks for all of those great ideas. I should just point out that despite the calendar and the early seed ordering, I'm not feeling at all organised at the moment!

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  17. Your frost picture is so beautiful! There is nothing like planning and ordering you seeds in the warmth and dreaming of next year's produce.
    Sarah x

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    1. Thanks Sarah. You're right about the joy of being inside, dreaming grand dreams. Love it.

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  18. I love the gray scarf, it is just so wonderful. I am a fan of gray. I read that book ages ago and I remember I loved it until the murder, too.
    Hugs,
    Meredith

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    1. Thank you Meredith. I love gray too, although I do look a bit deathly when I wear it. And sometimes when I don't.

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  19. I love Jane Austen... so maybe I should try Mangler?
    Lovely post.

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  20. Someone else who orders from DT Brown!
    I also thought Death at Pemberley was tedious. As you say, the original is the best.

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