Happy Days!

Gosh, I didn't realise I'd been away from my blog for quite so long.  It has been busy round these parts, infact I'd almost go as far as manic.  We've barely been in our house for more than an hour before we've been out and about again (inevitably arriving late as usual...).  We've been enjoying BBQs, coffees, dinners with friends, superhero fancy dress parties, birthday events, weddings, food festivals and, of course, time down on the allotment. Phew! I feel exhausted just recounting the events :-).

This photo is from Ben and Jerry's ice cream festival where you could eat unlimited amounts of ice cream for free.  A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!

This photo is from Foodies Festival in Battersea Park where I tasted and discovered elderflower liquor. It has now become my tipple du jour.  This creation made me smile!

I thought you might like to see how the allotment is doing.  Lots of crops are in season and we could practically live off the produce! We've managed to produce 15 courgettes (well, they look more like marrows really don't they?!) a week.

I've had to get creative with my use of courgettes in the kitchen to keep things interesting.  We've had them stuffed, fried, made into fritters, raw in salads....you get the picture! I even tried a courgette cake and it was delish.

If you also are at a loose end with courgettes coming out of your ears then here's the link to Nigel Slater's courgette cake. YUM!

The lavender is just so beautiful and seeing the bees so happy makes me feel content. I heart bees.

We've had a LOT of runner beans and broad beans too.  Runner bean cake anyone? Hmmm that's going too far I feel.....:-)

This is my runner bean living arch.  I had this idea of creating it as a feature and it actually worked.

Blackberries already nearly ready! Hasn't anyone told them they're too early this year?! Wait til autumn fellas.

Corn on the cob soon! Whoo!
 I hope you enjoyed your browse through my allotment.

I've never seen these before...

The allotment plots are looking so cheerful at the moment.  I'm in love with these flowers (Californian Poppies I'm told). I've never seen them anywhere before, have you? They have grown wild and the different shades across the plots look sooo beautiful. I'm drying some pods out so that I can keep the seeds and scatter them in my garden one day.  My fingers are crossed for my own garden as we've been living in a flat with a shared one for the last five years.  My dream garden definitely includes these beauties!

Isn't nature just wonderful?
*Sign of contentment*

Bursting into life

I've been a busy bee of late and am enjoying my first evening in a week at home, chilling. Soooo nice to put my feet up and have a cuppa. The allotment is looking F-A-B and it's getting exciting now that there is produce to eat and more on the way.  Here are some pics so you can see how it's all coming along.
(Ignore the weeds...!!!)

Eat your heart out Mr McGregor!

Where's the Green Giant?

Raspberries are making their way into my morning cereal.

Lavender pouches as pressies for friends this year!

Wow!

My sunflowers are almost ready. Woop!

So proud of my runner beans.  They didn't grow last year but are making up for it now!

Can't wait to cook something using the gooseberries! Mmmmmmmmmmm.

Last week Mr C was away on business so I spent the week catching up with friends. Lovely it was too! One of the jobs I wanted to do was to find elderflowers to make cordial.  It was on my to do list and when I saw Rebecca's post on the cordial I knew I had to do it.  I'd been looking for weeks for the tree but, knowing me, I was worried I'd end up making cowslip cordial.  BLEUGH!

Well.......eventually I FOUND THE FLOWERS! OK, that's a lie.  My friend Han found the tree.....right outside my back door!!! *Can you believe it was there all the time whilst I was googling pictures of the flowers?!*

There are lots of recipes out there on the web and I followed a pretty standard one.  I decided to freeze the cordial in ice cube bags so each time I want a drink all I have to do is pop one cube in and add fizzy water.  It will last for at least a year in the freezer and makes your drinks lovely and chilled. Mmmmm.

The last flowers are still on the trees so there's still time to make cordial!

Fancy a cuppa?

Oh what a dreary day in London it is. 
Bleugh.
I've been busy the last few days on a little crochet project.  I'm still rippling my heart out on my giant blankie but I fancied a mini project that I could start, and thankfully finish! Oh, I could hardly put it down.  My fingers were working overtime on this one.
What is it, you ask? Well.....ok then.....here it is.......

A tea cosy!!! This was a joyous little project! The basic pattern came courtesy of the brilliant Alice at Crochet with Raymond which you can find here.  I used some left over Rowan wool and a gorgeous Liberty button.  Do you love buttons too? They make me feel so happy.

Last night I went out in London and happened to walk past Liberty.  It has the BEST haberdashery department I have ever seen and is packed with amazing eye candy of the crafty variety!
I managed to escape with only a few *modest* purchases including this assortment of buttons.

Oh they make my heart leap!

I remember as a child that sorting my mum's button box was the ultimate treat! She had (and still has!) this huge old-fashioned tin full to the brim with interesting buttons.  I loved touching them, counting them and looking at all the shapes and colours.  They still haven't lost their charm for me!

Anyhoo, I'm desperate for a cuppa to cheer up this dreary day (see the light in the next photo, tsk!!).

See you later!

Liz x

Ripe, strawberries ripe!

As a child I had the part of the strawberry seller in our school production of Oliver! "Ripe, strawberries ripe!" was my one line (I was so proud!). Today, as I picked my strawberries down at the allotment, the song sang out in my head.  The unusually warm weather has led to a bumper crop of the delicious things this year..WOOP!
Check out my beauties!

We've had about 300 strawberries over the past 3 weeks! It's hard to believe that something soo sweet is actually good for you. :-)

As the slugs and snails seemed to be chomping through more than their fair share I decided to pick all the ripe ones today and managed to pick 1500g worth!!!

What to do with all those strawberries????

My first ever attempt at making jam!

The jam pan has been somewhat a cause of tension in our household.  We live in a small maisonette. 

If you open a cupboard be warned, something will fall out.

Our usual scenario begins like this.....

Mr C: ARGH! OUCH! All your things are cluttering up our cupboards! What's this? A jam pan?

But you've never even made any jam! Can't you give it away to someone?

 I'm pleased with my first attempt! And now the jam pan can stay!

Bring on the preserving!

Any ideas about what to do with the next batch of strawberries??

O I do love to be beside the seaside!

 Oh I do love to be beside the seaside! Over the past month or so I have been lucky to visit not one, but two seaside resorts! Perfect if, like me, you heart the sea. It all kicked off with a weekend with my hubbie and parents in Broadstairs.

 I spent much of my childhood here so I get soooo excited as we get within a few miles of Broadstairs.  My mind starts racing with all the things I'm going to do.  There are a few things I love to do each time I go there:
Seaside crazy golf - check.
Run on the beach - check.
Visit to the BEST girlie bits and bobs shop (Arrowsmiths) - check
Fish and chip supper - check.
AND
THE ULTIMATE chocolate milkshake from Morellis (I actually grinned the whole way through drinking this) - check!

Then, the following weekend I went off to Padstow in Cornwall.  What a lucky lady!  This has to be one of my most favourite-ist places on this planet. 

 We stayed in an Elizabethan farmhouse B&B in the hamlet of Crugmeer.  We have been here a few times and just adore it.  There are fabulous views from the house and the beach is a 5 minute walk away. BLISS!
If you look carefully you can see our B&B on the cliff top in the next picture.

Look at the gorgeous view from our room window.

 Within minutes of arriving our stay kicked off with a clotted cream tea - it has to be done, right? The healthy eating went right out of the window this weekend!!

We enjoyed lots of walks, kite flying, rock climbing, cider and ginger beer.  I never realised how yummy ginger beer is, seriously, I'm hooked.  All very famous five (minus the cider!).
 Here are some photos of the gorgeous views for you to enjoy.

This is my father-in-law sketching away. 

Bunting up in celebration of the Royal Wedding.

We rounded off our trip with a visit to Rick Stein's seafood restuarant for a blow out meal.

Very delicious it was too!

 As I'm writing this I feel so happy! *sigh of contentment*.
I cannot wait for my next visit to the sea.

Sunshine makes me happy

We have had the most GLORIOUS couple of days in my my patch of the South East. It has been so hot that it has felt like we're approaching the summer break, not the Easter break.  I've been away from my blog for a while and if I'm honest......I haven't had the easiest few months.  In my head I had my future sort-of mapped out and my life has changed in ways that I didn't anticipate or expect...maybe more about this some other time. But, do you know what? Today I felt good, reallllly good.

The sunshine has inspired me to eat salads and drink homemade lemonade.  Not only does homemade lemonade taste soooo much better than shop bought lemonade, making it is an absolute joy! I love the feel and vibrant yellow of lemons, not to mention the fresh smell that permiates the house.
I recomend this recipe:   http://www.deliaonline.com/recipes/type-of-dish/party-food/accompaniment/home-made-lemonade.html
It's a winner!