Friday 29 June 2012

A Wild and Weedy Garden of Delights....


A lovely day today.. the wind did rage ..and ragg the trees but we seem to be in a sheltered spot...


 so it was nice to spend some time moochin in the garden.



Will picked a whole heap of Elderflowers ... they smell just so delicious...the air is scented with them.... they are just so 'Summer'.




Whilst I tackled the Gooseberries .... big.. fruity... juicy berries to give a zing to our pies and puddings!



 Hubby P espied me at my picking from his shed/oops sorry 'workshop'....and not wanting to be left out ... it is a very Summer-y thing... a nice 'Harvest Natures Bounty' kind a thing...he tackled the bushes with gusto!
He tells me he is a natural because he knows for a fact ...'He Was Found Under a Gooseberry Bush' .... its perfectly true his Mother said so!
As we picked I began to think that maybe it was a good idea to foster this 'picking the Gooseberries' being a manley ... 
rugged even...sort of thing to do...afterall the bushes were very, very prickly. If anyone was going to be scratched to death and have a bad back ....well... these manley sorts can bear it that bit better than me.
Of course I will make the puddings and pies!



 We had an awfully big dish full...



 Just look at this little lot ....they looked and smelled amazing ...such bounty ....we are so lucky to be able to step into our garden...our own little bit of Eden ....and harvest such wonders.


Whilst I wandered the garden ... and brushed past the plants the Lavender gave up its scent ....so strong in the fresh sun warmed air.
I couldn't resist a bunch for the house. 




The sound of a chainsaw shattered the fragrant stillness of the garden ....I went to investigate and found Will sawing logs ready for the fire.
Free wood! ... always a thrill...
Will had done a 'Tree Job' the other day and brought home some of the wood....the people whose trees were thinned don't have a wood burner ....and were happy to give the wood to Will... lucky for us.
I must say some of it was burnt tonight ...we are still lighting the woodburner ....its chilly in the evenings ... and it dries the washing. 
The wood is/was Ash ...it burns green.... doesn't have to be stored/seasoned/dried out. 


What did I do with my bounty?

Well the Elderflowers are at this moment turning themselves into Elderflower cordial...a wonderful fragrant drink ... It will keep well and give touch of summer in the dark cold months.
A cordial ... we dilute it with plain water, fizzy water, vodka if you like....or even poured over icecream....its lovely.

The Goosegogs I 'topped and tailed'...what a job...I did notice Hubby P managed to wriggle out of that one... very busy 'making a living' was his line..
Anyway they are in the freezer ready for future use ....I may make a bit of jam...and the rest will be used for fruit crumbles, pies and the like.
Anyway ....what have you been doing today? how is your garden growing...I noticed my Sprouts are doing well with all this rain ..

Do drop me a line/leave me a comment ... like to think I am not just babbling on to myself!..

Bye for now x