We Plough The Fields And Scatter.

And so, our little mini home harvest has begun. Not on the scale to concern Duchy Estates or suchlike but significant in its own small way. Not that I like that Gregg Wallace much (contribution to value of my TV licence fee somewhat nil in my opinion.) but the programme Harvest was something different, relevant to us all and supporting of what the backbone of this country is - farming. I found it refreshing and whereby I don't have an army of 80 employees picking apples we did share the same feeling of fruit success after the diabolical previous year. We have one ancient apple tree (our planted orchard hopefully will fruit next year) that when having a good year just produces divinely sweet, juicy apples. The crop is so plentiful I plan to take some into DDs class to enjoy as the 'snack' fruit produced by an outside company usually deals in soft carrots, rock hard tiny pears or squidgy tomatoes. May as well share, after all only so many crumbles, pies, sauces etc can you make in limited time especially when you have enough tomatoes to feed most of the county! Chillis too - hot little so and so's as I found out when tasting one...stupid thing to do, sticking a piece of chilli on your tongue! Still, lesson learned and I banked the gallons of water consumed as good detox fodder.

So it's all pick, make and bake but hugely satisfying. The lambs go next week and the piggery is recovering well. Depending on the winter we get pigs may be able to move in April time. Floss too is doing well. Chicks are 9 weeks old now and in the big girls pen with Misty, Roxy and Penny. 2 chicks have gone, being obvious cockerels so 4 chicks remain. One of those we think might be a boy but reasonably sure the other 3 are pullets. 'Runty' survived despite being born last, smallest, left outside one night and being squashed by the extending run. One of the grey ones too survived being retrieved by Blaze early in her life. Tough little girls - they'll do well. Unlike Jack... we had to get rid of regrettably as we had no space or purpose for him. He continued to grow and even with back protection was damaging our girls. With Floss out raising her chicks the other 3 became so stressed egg production and feathers dropped. Tough management decisions ensued. That's what all this is about really. Utter respect for Mother Nature but management of everything from feed costs to land rotation and livestock.

The dogs remain well. Horsley is entering his annual SAD syndrome season so most nights he chooses not to be a family lounge dog and sulks on husband bed treating us to a snoring crescendo every so often. Blaze needs treatment for a licking addiction but is settling into home life well. He's super out on the fields, bouncing like a stag and jumping gates with pinpoint accuracy. As he's never been used to inside life it's taken him longer to know what to "do." We've spent a lot of time reassuring him that it's ok to relax and sleep of an evening and no, you don't have to retrieve things to me constantly. As sweet as it is, socks, tea towels, slippers, apples, eggs (which stay intact) and the classic baby wood pigeon are not appropriate! Still deciding whether to keep him entire (beautifully bred) or castrate him as H is (bit too fond of holding hand/arm etc with teeth - gentle but massively antisocial!) We'll see. He's 2 in November so by Xmas we should know where we are.

Must dash, will update again soon. If you get a chance to, make sure you sample some of this years harvest. Buy British and buy fresh - taste the hard work of our farmers up and down the country. To quote a well known supermarket you really can 'taste the difference.'

Have a great week
xx


Weather:

Life was easier when Apple and Blackberry were just fruits.

I found this quote the other day and was amused by it greatly. DH's Blackberry became like the '3rd woman' in our relationship at times and now we find ourselves hating the Apple brand yet owning more blinking Apple products than Granny Smith has apples.... So, it was while sat in the study, once again, getting frustrated with iTunes (seriously am I getting old or is it just not user friendly for the non geek?) that I thought sod it, life's too short so I headed off to check the apples and toss the windfalls to the chicks. Then DD and I took a trug and picked some blackberries. It set me thinking (I know - must have been the sushi I had for lunch) that I must share my favourite apple and blackberry pie recipe as we are at that time of year. Now don't get me wrong, I love a bit of Ramsey and Blanc (it's the bad boy and French, older men...all the time) but when it comes to baking you can stick Mary Berry in your 'Great British Nod Off' kitchen and lock her in as we all know Delia rules! 'Where arrrrree ya?' (non footballing fraternity can YouTube 'Delia Norwich Rant' for amusement here.

It's Friday, it's the weekend, the weather is going to be, umm. ok (possibly.) It's the last weekend before the great return to school. The kids are fed up, bored and let's face it, most of us parents are now skint with shares in Clarks and Teflon coated clothing having risen significantly. So. Don't give in to the 'just-give-them-the-iPad', get out in the hedgerows. Yes. Really! Now I know DH planted me my own thornless blackberries after one year too many of complaints of prickles in my paws and stains on the french manicure BUT I have picked wild blackberries every year since I've been here. It's worth it and I can say, honestly, they are definitely sweeter than any other year I've known. They freeze and are gloriously free. If you're really lucky and on the ball you'll find some damsons (damson gin) and sloes (gin again) to make. Look it up first though so you don't go picking deadly nightshade! :-) You see how helpful I can be?

So the recipe is on this link http://www.deliaonline.com/recipes/galleries/blackberry-fare/apple-and-blackberry-pie.html  Stuff the making pastry bit - that's why god invented Jus-Rol. It couldn't be easier. I mean, come on, how long do you think I can spend in the kitchen? I'm the woman who buys cookery books whose spine has colours that match and tone the kitchen. Mind you, I can buff my bling a bit too and tell you I make jams - Delia again. Can't share her recipe as it's in my vintage 'How To Cook' book of hers and doesn't seem to be online but if any lovely readers have found a good online recipe pop the link in comments.

Enjoy - the weekends here! Oh 4 more 'top' tips:
1. Pick blackberries from the waist up (if you have male dogs you'll know this)
2. Smaller blackberries are excellent in a Pimms
3. Lemon juice is great for getting the stains off your hands - and save the manicure for afterwards.
4. It's quality time with little ones. No TV's, PC's, phones or otherwise. Be the adult. Start the conversation and just 'talk.' Not even Blackberry or Apple can charge you for that!

Mx