Green Chrysanthemums, American Tapestry, Vintage Boots and Antlers

Last Thursday was an eventful one, I had taken the day off work to mind the dogs and arranged with our friend Jo to go to the market and auction in Fakenham early in the morning. The market always produces little gems at bargain prices (the tea pot posted later)
I bought the vintage boots at the auction house for £30 and a few treats at the market and then the two of us braved the rain and headed for the shops at Creake Abbey Studios.
I have wanted some mounted antlers for ages, I found this set and the American tapestry which I bought immediately. The lady in the shop kindly gave me a discount of 10% so I couldn't say no.
The antlers now hang high up on the wall in our stair well and the tapestry awaits a suitable hanging rod before it takes its place on a wall.
The flower stall in Fakenham has a great variety of flowers at great prices. I found these green Chrysanthemums there, I've never seen them before but they're gorgeous no?

Plum Wine

I local friends father loaned me his book HOME MADE COUNTRY WINES, and I was hooked. I set about immediately making Plum and Strawberry Wine as a first experiment. I bought the fruit locally, approached the local baker about buying some fresh yeast and set in all in action. Today there is the steady bubbling of the Plum Wine in the demijohn and this morning I shall do the same with The Strawberry Wine that has been fermenting away in a bucket for the required 7 days. The only down side to making your own wines is that the process requires patience - something I lack in large quantities!

Its exciting though and I can't wait to have my first glass of home made wine!

Grilled Sardines - Portuguese Style

Baked Figs - Full Tummy

So this evening we baked these Figs, and boy were they YUMMY! We just followed the easy recipe (click on link) and smothered them with cream. That's it, easy peasy! Tomorrow I shall head straight out and get some more...

Orchids, Chilli's, Tomatoes, Roses and Allotment Booty

Today was a busy one, everything around us here appears to be in bloom or ready to harvest, the roses in our garden have sprung to life again and these gorgeous pinky flowers smell HEAVENLY, the large variety of chilli's I planted earlier in the year and have tended and fussed over since, have mostly flowered and are all slowly producing tiny chilli's that are just loaded with fire. I pulled up yet more potatoes, we collected the strongest smelling leeks ever from our allotment, along with some Rhubarb, Sweetcorn and yet more  Patty Pans! Our Tomato plants are weighed down with the volume of tomatoes (Money Maker - produces an extra ordinary amount of tomatoes)

A friend of ours came to stay and gave us this miniature Orchid that's bursting with flowers, I have it next to the bed and every morning (apart from Hubby) it's the first thing I see - a beautiful start to the day.

Chilli Jam

Nigellas Chilli Jam

Watch closely, these chilli's are about to turn into Chilli Jam ala Nigella Lawson....

Its from her Christmas Recipe Book and is really really yummy! I made some last year rather unsuccessfully - it turned out to be a yummy chilli sauce instead! So here goes attempt number 2.

Pics to follow

Mmmmm Strawberries! Almost there....

Coffee and Ouma Rusks

There is nothing more South African to me than coffee and Ouma Rusks, I have found a brilliant website called Bokke Foods here in the UK where I can have all my favourite treats from home delivered to my door....and I do! Regularly! Guava Rolls, Boerewors, All Gold Smooth Apricot Jam, Lunch Bars - the lot!

This morning as soon as I woke after a night of too much red wine, the first thing I wanted was coffee - and rusks(luckily I try keep a tin of them in the cupboard all the times)

Homesickness and hangover cured!

Today was a glorious day and we drove around the countryside taking friends to 2 car boot sales, a church fete and vintage fair before having a delicious Sunday Roast at the The Lifeboat Inn in Thornham.

Life in Norfolk is a joy every day.

Curried Pickled Fish, 3 Hydrangeas and a Yacht

I went back and bought the toy yacht I spotted at Martins exhibition the other night, I'm obsessed with the Union Jack, I thinks its absolutely beautiful and cool beyond words!
This afternoon I went in search of an Bumble Bee house at our local gardening centre and came home with 3 beautiful Hydrangeas and 3 pots instead (I simply cannot resist a bargin)
This evening I will be attempting a dish my Grandmother used to make when I was a child in Zimbabwe. Traditional South African Curried Pickled Fish, the smell takes me back instantly and I can remember each detail of the lunch table where I first tried it at 25 Yeldham Road, Bulawayo. The crisp white napkins, the clink of sparkling silver cutlery against my Grans china plates. My mouths watering just talking about it. Its eaten cold, with some salad and fresh white bread with butter - my idea of a perfect lunch on a summers day.
It sounds unpleasant, but I assure you its anything but....