Thursday 26 April 2012

Spinach Wars and Spring at The Larches

Well, after all that wet stuff yesterday it's quite nice here today, not as nice as when I took the photos the other day, but acceptable. The warm wet weather has spurred on the spinach planted last Autumn and yesterday I waged war, making a strange but tasty Spinach and Sweet Chilli Pesto. I've frozen pots of it as a vegetarian option with a kick.

Recipe:

Wash spinach (I had approximately 1000g)
Place in huge cook pot with lid and a small glass of water, season to taste with salt and pepper
Chop garlic finely and add to pot
Wilt leaves till they are good and soft
Drain
Add butter, a generous amount of olive oil and a bottle of good Sweet Chilli Sauce
Blend to a smooth paste
Add caster sugar and extra chilli if required

Serve hot over pasta or cool and add mayonnaise to use as a dip.








 






















Tabby


Cosmos


Dahlia seedlings

Friday 20 April 2012

Gullible Lou

I do love our builders, really I do, and they are tireless workers, skilled and kind. If I was to be slightly picky it would be that the fact that they listen to Radio 1, loudly, is slightly challenging. It's not the music I object to, actually I'm loving the music, it's the DJs... they witter about trashy subjects. [OMG I'm old!] ... Now if they played Radio 4 on full blast I’d be happy,.... Hey ho.

They are full of fun. The plumber likes nothing better than to appear at a window suddenly, only happy when I shriek in terror. I’m going to get him back but I haven’t quite worked my master plan yet. All of them are wind-up merchants! Today the long awaited shower tray arrived. I whooped and cheered as the boss contractor and his second in command carried the large slab of stone upstairs. They called out good-naturedly to the plumber working in the tiny family bathroom,

‘No, no, don’t worry mate, we’ll carry it up for you, don’t worry about our backs, least we could do!’

The plumber was grinning, used to the abuse. As they set the tray against the wall I felt sick. The tray was a key ingredient in the bathroom and nothing could progress till this was in, with the pipes set beneath it. It was already two days late and now here it was, a massive piece of stone resin.... in aquamarine.

‘White. White. It’s supposed to be white.’ I stammered.

‘They don’t come in white,’ offered the contractor.

‘Just aquamarine,’ added the plumber.

‘Like a swimming pool,’ said the second in command.

‘But it said white on the Internet,’ I wailed.

We four stood and stared at the bonkers coloured tray.

I realised that a key decision needed to be made. Either I could send it back and hold up the project for the next two weeks or I could learn to live with a Hockney inspired shower tray. Thank God we’d opted for white wall tiles and light marble floor tiles. My husband was going to go mad.

The contractor handed me the delivery note. ‘Ah bless.’ He said. ‘Don’t worry Lou, the aquamarine protection stuff peels off. It'll be white underneath.’

‘Phaaar!' Exhaled the plumber from a crawl space. 'What you tell her so quick for? I wanted to wait till she phoned her old man!’

So that’s how it’s going to be eh? ..... Be very afraid boys, be very afraid......remember, I’m the one who makes the coffee and supplies the cake and cake can be flavoured in so many ways... Hmmmm, where's that chilli powder?

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Don't forget, if you haven't voted for me to win a Blogging Literary Prize yet, pleeeeease do so. Section 8 of the Lit! Section. Click here. Thanks. xx

Sunday 8 April 2012

Pink, the lamb that felt chilly.

I was tempted into a thrird lamb! She's tiny and cute. Last week she didn't feel well so we kept her warm and brought her into the kitchen for some extra love.


She's almost all better now as you can hear from the clip. (if you can't see the clip in the email, click the title of this post and watch online - soooo cute.)

We've had several Easter egg hunts here at the Larches, hope you've had fun too.

Happy Easter.

Lou

Sunday 1 April 2012

Award - Please vote for me.... I'm begging now!

Fabulously, I've been shortlisted for a Brilliance [aw shucks] in Blogging Award

There are 12 categories and I'm very honoured to be one of 20 blogs nominated in the Lit! Category, especially when you read the criteria for this group:

Lit!
Most blogs have writing at their core. But some blogs feature writing that makes it hard to stop reading. Whether a blog reads like a compelling bestseller or gorgeous poetry, this award celebrates the words on the page.

Wow-wee, what an accolade. I'm chuffed even to be nominated but to win.... sheesh!

Please, please vote for me in this competition. All you have to do is click this link  CLICK! and choose The Archers at The Larches under the Lit! Section.

Thank you in advance my lovelies...

The Archers at The Larches

Lou - Chicken whisperer....

Lou - Chicken whisperer....

Snowy and Moon

Snowy and Moon