At last - I finally have a daffodil that has deigned to open – albeit a miniature one – but at least it is progress. Each day seems to include the four seasons at the moment - snow, rain, fog, frost and sunshine - not very promising, considering it is nearly the end of March.
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| Crocus |
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| Anemone Blanda --oo0oo-- Garden Vandals |
As to the vandals in the garden – Sparrows and Badgers. The sparrows have taken a liking to the Primulas and have been hopping around pulling the heads off – chirping away as if all is well with the world. Good game good game they are calling. This is fun, come on let’s do it some more. Then there are the Badgers who have decided to dig up my tulip bulbs, maybe they are looking for worms, or maybe they just fancy tulip for dessert. Whatever it is it has me tearing my hair out. Who says gardening isn’t stressful.
--oo0oo--
A Dish to Make
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| Chicken, Leek and Potato Layer |
--oo0oo--
A Cake to Bake
A little booklet came with the Daily Telegraph on Saturday – featuring Paul Hollywood's recipes from his new book 'Bread'. I saw Oatmeal Parkin and remembered that my mother used to make it when we were kids, so I thought I would give it a go. Disaster. The recipe was faulty. After I had followed it to the letter I thought, that doesn’t look right, it looked more like a Flapjack mixture. So I pulled out my mothers' old Bero baking book but Parkin wasn’t listed – then I pulled out a war- time recipe book, 'We'll Eat Again' - no, it wasn’t listed in there either. Thank goodness for Google - I eventually found what I was looking for – Mr. Hollywood’s recipe didn’t include flour – no wonder it didn’t look right. Rather than waste all the ingredients I just added the flour to the mixture in the hope it would turn out alright. Let’s just say it is not as good as mother used to make. So if you have the booklet, beware, check the recipes first.
A Book to Read
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| What if you had the chance to live your life again and again, until you finally got it right? |
--oo0oo--
Are you finally seeing signs of spring in your garden?
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| The frogs in the wildlife pond have been very active and we have our first bundles of frog spawn. I hope it survives the changeable weather. |
Lovely crocus selection Elaine and well spotted the recipe error, wonder how many others made the same mistake.
ReplyDeleteI don't seem to have as many crocus this year - not quite sure what's happened to them. I suppose I should contact someone and let them know about the recipe but I can't be bothered.
DeleteWell, the newts are back in the pond and leaves are breaking on the gooseberry bushes... it's a start ;-)
ReplyDeleteWe used to have loads of newts but they all seem to have exported themselves into my neighbours pond. Bloomin cheek.
DeleteOh you lucky thing! Frog Spawn. You must be warmer than we are! I've noticed the birds attacking my kitchen window baskets again for nesting material. They took the lot last year and I was hoping that this year they would leave me alone. Ho hum, keeps them warm (they'll need to!). Have a great week. Chel x
ReplyDeleteWe always get plenty but last year a lot of the tadpoles didn't develop into frogs and just stayed as they were. Not sure why.
DeleteI too have that Be-Ro recipe book.
ReplyDeleteBridget.
It is the only cookbook my Mum possessed she obviously knew the Parkin recipe by heart
DeleteGirl I hear you because we are having the same four season a day weather here also.Thunderstorms this morning so no tell what else is to come yet today. LOL! Well those bad birds. I hope they do not find my primroses. Mine are just starting to grow though. Have a lovely week and I hope your weather settlers into spring and only that real soon.
ReplyDeleteWe had some lovely sunshine for a little while today, so I was able to get out and finish turning the soil in one of the borders - a job which has been delayed over and over due to the changeable weather.
DeleteThe different crocuses are lovely. I always hope frogs will be attracted to my pond but I only occasionally see a frog or toad when I'm gardening. I've never had Oatmeal Parkin; I'm now intrigued by it. It was interesting to read about the recipe you came across; someone obviously got that very wrong.
ReplyDeleteWe have always had plenty of frogs, not so many toads though and the newts have disappeared.
DeleteI'm well used to recipe disasters, but always think it is me.. it is gratifying to know that sometimes, maybe, it was not.
ReplyDeleteI'm not the worlds best cook or baker but I knew enough to know something wasn't right.
DeleteA true harbinger of spring: the daffodil. I noticed that ours are finally poking through. Can't wait to see their yellow faces smiling in the sun. You dish looks so good. I never cook with leaks; perhaps I should. How does one scare away badgers? I would be quite annoyed.
ReplyDeleteBadgers are really difficult to get rid of - no matter how well we fence the garden if they want to go somewhere they find a way.
DeleteOooh, that stripey crocus has caught my fancy! I've enjoyed Kate Atkinson's other books but haven't read this one yet. Have heard good things.
ReplyDeleteThey are my favourites but not many have appeared this year - I will have to buy plenty more in the autumn. I am enjoying the book as I have all her other books.
DeleteI'm amazed that you have frogspawn, I would have thought it was far too cold, we tend to get ours in April.
ReplyDeleteIt's lovely to see your crocus and min daffs, they are gorgeous. Mine are always closed due to the lack of sun.
It's the same here, sun, hail, rain and snow!!! It is confusing to wildlife....speaking of which I am MOST envious of the fact you have badgers even if they are chomping on your bulbs....and those naughty sparrows are endangered and few people get to see them so you must be doing a good job of taking care of them.
I laughed out loud re your flourless recipe and really like the look of that book.xxxxx
Yes, I was surprised to see the frogspawn too - the frogs have been pretty active in spite of the cold. The badgers are a real nuisance digging holes for latrines etc. don't know why they pick on my garden.
DeleteThe Bero cookbook was the standard in our house. I wish I still had it. Frogs are disappearing in Canada. Very worrying. The swampy area where we used to listen to them has been silent for 20 yrs or more. We were delighted to hear them in our new locale at the coast. I think I will read up on habitat in an effort to create a friendly environment in our new garden.
ReplyDeleteWe have always had frogs right from the start when we dug our first pond. I always make sure there are plenty of places for them to hide and keep cool in the summer.
DeleteA very springy post even if the weather isn't very springlike! Flighty xx
ReplyDeleteIt seems to be getting worse before it gets better.
DeleteAn odd sort of March isn't it, happy that your daffs are starting to emerge, shame about the recipe. I love Kate Atkinson, will have to look out for that book.
ReplyDeleteI usually wait for books to come out in paperback but the reviews were great so I couldn't wait.
DeleteReally enjoyed your post, and like you, I am noticing spring trying to pop up through the changeable weather!
ReplyDeleteIt really is a struggle for the garden this year everything is way behind.
DeleteThe frog spawn in your pond is very early, I have not yet seen it here, too cold I suppose. Last week ponds and ditches were even covered with a thin layer of ice. We always have many, many frogs in our water area. I was so surprised you had a badger in your garden, it is a pity of the tulip bulbs of course, be have no badgers over here and I never saw a living one, only dead badgers along the roads in Wales, which were hit by cars. I also saw just 2 mini Narcisses coming into flower, I hope weather shall be a bit warmer soon, so that we have plenty Narcisses with Easter.
ReplyDeleteBadgers seem to have a habit of getting themselves run over by cars - but even though they are not kind to my garden I wouldn't wish them any harm.
DeleteI really like this style of post Elaine: a little bit of this and that is perfect. Too bad about the baggers or whatever is decapitating the primulas! At least you have a few bulbs in bloom. We still have dreary snow here.
ReplyDeleteHow delicious that Chicken, Leek and Potato Layer looks! You may have to start including recipes.
What a disastrous cookbook promotion of Paul Hollywood's new book! It was probably a typo to admit the flour, but still, what a terrible error.
I really like the premise of the book you are reading. How often have a wished I could go back in time and get things right!
Thanks Jennifer - whilst the garden is still pretty dormant I have enjoyed the opportunity to include other aspects of my life.
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