Malva Pudding...no finer South African pudding

One of my favourite Christmas presents last year was Bought, Borrowed & Stolen by Allegra McEvedy. It's a collection of recipes and knives from around the world. Allegra has travelled to a variety of countries and collected a local kitchen knife and a collection of recipes from each place and given a little story behind each, it's enchanting. One recipe alone has made this a Christmas favourite - ROOIBOS MALVA PUDDING! I don't think there is a South African alive that has not been fed Malva Pudding at some point in their life, and I have yet to meet a single soul who hasn't fallen under it's spell. Given a 'Rooibos edge' it is taken from 'magic' to 'sublime' it's a perfect combination.

Making it and eating it for the first time was divine, the smell filled the kitchen and then the whole house, my mouth watered and I watched the oven closely, waiting for it to be ready so I could dive in and taste it. It was worth the wait! This will become a regular in our home, dinner guests beware.

9 little ladies all like yoghurt

The lovely Anney at Cock and Pullet here in Norfolk told us, some time ago, that we should give the ladies a bowl of live Natural Yoghurt every now and then, that it was good for them. She wasn't wrong! the girls love it! They dive in and instantly they have the chook/yoghurt version of a 'milk moustache' 9 little white faces dipping in and out of the bowl as fast as they can till every last drop is gone. That usually only takes a minute or two.

With that in mind, I have been quite experimental with their treats and have found there is very little they won't eat. (I don't give them meat of any sort - it's a personal choice, and no garlic or onion leftovers either) But all veg gets eaten, every last morsel and I have found that boiling carrots, squash skins, potatoes and their skins makes them a treat too.  They get boiled pasta, a bowl of warm porridge on cold days, berries, nuts - anything I can get my hands on. If they don't like something or it's not good for them, they simply won't eat it. It's that easy. 

As a result, I have 9 healthy beautiful ladies who have so far given me an abundance of beautiful eggs every day since they arrived and I have a queue of customers to prove it.

I love a Christmassy House!

Pasteis De Nata...mmmmm

Some time ago I went to visit a good friend of mine from my school days who now lives in Lisbon. She took great delight and went to great effort to show me the best Lisbon has to offer in 4 days. Without doubt the favourite of these was Pasteis de Belem. There is no competition.
We ordered our coffees and custard tarts, Alexandra had been building this moment up throughout the day and the expectations were high. They didn't disappoint, they arrived at the table still warm from the oven. We sprinkled them with cinnamon and icing sugar and tucked in...I have wanted to go back ever since, the tarts would be worth the flight alone!
So with much excitement, I found a recipe that appeared to stay true to the original - no short cuts. I made a couple of unsuccessful batches. The sweet flaky pastry proved elusive. So have decided to go with ready made All Butter Flaky Pastry instead. The custard, although time consuming, was perfect so I figured that to cheat on the pastry was allowed surely?
And what a winner it was! Even though they are nowhere near as perfect as those made in Lisbon, they are delicious enough to do, so I'm not complaining, and I am saving myself the airfare.

The Greenhouse just keeps on giving

I posted this picture some time ago when the cold was meant to have set in and the greenhouse put to bed for the winter. It's now February, the greenhouse has been neglected and plants left to their own devices, it's a mess! But would you believe, I am still finding tomatoes and chilies? The little lemon tree is still going strong and the other plant, although a little withered are all going strong! I'm amazed! Even the couple of days of -13 degrees and the pile of snow we had recently has done little damage - if any! This is going to be a bumper year of crops I feel it in my bones, so watch this space!

Winter time is the best time on our sofa

The clocks have gone back, the fires lit, there's a chill outside and everyone in the house is on the sofa, this is winter at its best.

I never complain about winter and the cold cause it's such a special time in our house, our cat loses her attitude and tolerates the dogs in order to join in on the sofa where life is good. Generally Sunday afternoons are about roasts and afternoon naps where the house is dark when you wake up and you have to stagger around flicking light switches while still half asleep. The dogs tuck right into your sides and the cat waits impatiently for us to settle so she can climb on one of our laps and sleep, for obvious reasons this never happens in summer but I wish it would.

Vintage Repairs

Of the varied bits of work that make their way through my studio, one of my favourites are the vintage dresses, not only does it give me a chance to breathe new life into them, but I get a chance to have a close-up look at how the olds craftsmen and women of yesteryear made their clothes. Everyone has their own way of sewing up and finishing a garment and no one persons way is the right one. So while I'm replacing broken zips, letting out or taking in waists, changing hemlines and replacing lost beads, I take a good look at the construction, inside and out - it helps, not only to teach me alternative methods of construction but also to improve the methods I already have.

Some of the dresses have so much work in simple details (like the neckline pictured) it's clear that someone has sat and painstakingly sewn on beads and bindings, so as far as possible, I do the same, hand sewing delicate stitches even when I know a sewing machine would breeze right through it - it makes me feel like I'm showing some sort or respect, like I am making up for all the times I have watched designers buy vintage items only to cut them up for colour samples or tea dye them, shred them or distress them as I stood by horrified that these beautiful delicate garments that had survived for years only to be destroyed irreversibly on a whim .

Mangle Mania in Titchwell

In what seems like the worlds most unfair trade (a dozen eggs isn't anywhere near enough) these 3 beauties dropped through my door this morning. As previously blogged Amanda Colville is the very talented Print Designer behind Mangle Prints and last week over a coffee, I expressed my love of her hand-printed Christmas cards, she told me she would send me some and would only take some of the ladies eggs by way of payment.

These cards are a steal at just £2 each and are limited prints of only 50 or 100 each, so really should be framed when Christmas is over - how could you not?

Locally they are sold at Creake Abbey studios, but should you be from further afield, click on the link above and you will be taken straight to her ETSY shop where you can buy them, worth every penny!

Vin-Stitch is up and running

Slowly and steadily Vin-Stitch is taking off, as word slowly spreads and people in the area become used to the fact that this service exists, the work comes in.

As much as is humanly possible, I intend to sew on my old treadle Singer sewing machine and will be sewing by hand using couture techniques, especially when repairing and altering the vintage dresses that are making there way to my studio, it just feels right!

Chilli time!

Finally, after what seems like forever, the chillies in the greenhouse have started to turn red and are ready for harvesting. First up are the Thai Chillies and Twilights, as instructed, I have left them a couple of days so the stems can shrink and dry a little before I will hang them in ristras and put them in the lean-to, along with the garlic and onions, to finish their drying out ready for use in the cold winter months ahead. The Orange Habaneros and Paper Lanterns appear to be next, pics to follow.

Curtains to Cushions

Hidden Norfolk Talent

It's not often I meet independent artists whose talent I champion, one such person is Amanda Colville of Mangle Prints. I very kindly received a a carefully packaged bundle of hand printed bunting (pictured) after admiring it on twitter and it now hangs in our guest bedroom window where it catches the light and admiring glances from staying guests, She works from home in Kings Lynn creating all manner of hand printed items (most recently her sublime Christmas cards) Her prints are so beautiful they should be sold in Liberty and all manner of swish Department stores in fashion loving cities across the globe. How such an incredible artist can remain a 'Norfolk Secret' is a scandal, she deserves support and recognition, If you seek something so sublimely tasteful and individual, you would do well to purchase one of her pieces - or indeed her stunning bunting and Christmas Cards. 

Teddybear Sunflowers my new favourite

How could you not fall in love with these? It's like 'Van Gogh in a Vase'

The ladies are still firing in all cylinders

I'm not sure what it is that I am doing, but after chatting to other owners of chickens in the area, I have found out my 'ladies' are still laying a great amount of eggs. While I know that the numbers should be dwindling in preparation for the lack of eggs we are meant to receive over the winter months, I am still averaging a decent 6 or 7 out of 9 chooks per day. So the sales continue unabated, Brads going to build an honesty box to sell any excess eggs from outside the house like true country folk and the ladies are due to be moved from the allotment to the back garden in time for winter, I can't wait!

I long for Buenos Aires

I fell in love with Buenos Aires and it's people from the moment we set foot on Argentinian soil. If ever a time came when I have to leave the beautiful Norfolk shores, you can fine me there. I will be sipping strong coffee on a sidewalk in chic Palermo, scouring antique shops and markets in San Telmo or photographing the the exquisite architecture in virtually any part of the city. The Argentinians have style - in abundance. The shops are beautifully decorated, cafes styled to perfection and the people themselves the friendliest I have met by far.

It easily replaced Dublin as my favourite city in the world (I do not count Cape Town in this list as nothing could top it)

I lost my heart to Buenos Aires and am desperate to return and see more of Argentina....one day....for today in windy Norfolk though, I dream.

Vin-Stitch

Since I finished working full-time in London a couple of months ago, I have been waiting for the right opportunity to present itself. Something a) that would earn me a living, b) that I love doing and c) would not involve travelling to London endlessly. 

It seems that opportunity has arrived and will involve some hard work and cash so I have set up a little business to earn me some cash to put into the venture that will take place ready for the summer season of next year. It's unbelievably exciting and my dream business so watch this space!

In the mean time Vin-Stitch has opened its doors. I am saving all money made to fund next years business. I will be taking in all manner of alterations, mending and pattern cutting here in North Norfolk. Something thats definitely missing in this area.

All major sewing jobs will be out-sourced to a very reliable seamstress in Brighton who takes in work to make money to give to animal charities - her passion. So it's win - win all round!

Here's to next year!

Check out my plums!

After what seems like forever, the plums on the allotment have started to change colour. Almost there! To be fair, it's not much of a crop (10 plums max) but I'm hoping for big things from all the fruit trees next year. Everyday I peek between the branches to see if today might be the day that I pluck one and eat it right there where I stand, a lovely totally organic plum warmed by the sun....almost there!

I say tomato, you say tomato...

The tomato glut is about to begin. And I'm ready! There will be tomato chutney, tomato sauce, ketchup and bottled oven dried tomatoes made. The plants in the greenhouse are now touching the ceiling and are all positively drenched in blossoms and tomatoes, 3 varieties - Minibel (won't bother with this one again) Gardeners Delight and Moneymaker and they smell DIVINE!

Tea for three

On Tuesday afternoon I had a lovely friend of mine called Kelly and her Nan over for tea along with the simply beautiful baby Kara. We feasted on home made scones as well as home made Lavender biscuits and Poppy Seed biscuits. My Granny was right tea does indeed taste better from a china cup, what a lovely way to pass away an afternoon with great company, tea, scones and beautiful china...it took me back to my Grannys house in Bulawayo where tea was an afternoon ritual served at the same time every day on a tea trolly. The tea was served sweet and hot no matter the weather and the sound of teaspoons clinking on china was like music to me ears meaning it was time to come inside ffrom playing and wash my hands....my Granny did everything with style!

Beautiful Bibury

The Summer Allotment Haul Begins

Gilly Guillemot of Brancaster

Yesterday morning as soon as the dogs and I got onto the beach, I noticed this little still bundle that looked like a baby penguin washed up on the sand. The dogs ran over for a closer look and I dashed over to stop them. The poor little thing moved but was too exhausted to do anything but lie there.

I scooped it up and we headed for the car while I made a call to the one person who would know what to do and where to take it - Lin!

She told me of the wildlife RSPCA in East Winch and from my description told me it was a Guillemot.
The mad dash began, the dogs and I bundled into the car and Gilly lay exhausted on my lap as we raced to get her help. It was like a movie, full of screeching tyres and slamming brakes (thank-you to my iphone for directing me there)
They seemed confidant she would recover, admitted her and packed her off to see a vet. I was assured she would be released as soon as she recovered (bar major ailments)
I never knew this amazing facility was available to the wildlife of Norfolk and I hope everyone uses it whenever they see animals in need, which, by all accounts, is regularly here in Norfolk!

The Butternuts are coming, the Butternuts are coming!

I'm so excited, our Butternut plants have started fruiting and there are LOADS of flowers! When I first arrived on theses shores over 19 years ago, I could only find Butternuts in specialty stores for extortionate prices....so something that was eaten regularly at home became a luxury.

Fast forward to today and I have 4 plants ready to provide me with as much as I could possibly want! Life is indeed good! (If only I could get some South African Gem Squash!)

Two new ladies - my favourite birthday gift ever!

The evening before my birthday Brad insisted I go to the allotment with him while he dug up potatoes for dinner and there they were! 2 beautiful little bundles, they were in the run with the rest of the ladies (whose feathers were definitely ruffled)

I am blessed with a very content bunch of girls, who quickly and without much fuss sorted out the hierarchy and everything settled back to normal rather easily.

I named them "Betty" and "Frankie" and fell in love immediately. 

Betty a soft bundle of white and ginger feathers is challenging Rose in my heart for firm favourite, she's my little shadow and waits for me at the gate, busies herself around me as I do my daily routine and lets me pick her up and cuddle her without so much as a squeal or a squeak. She's cross between a Light Sussex and an ISA Brown. She's a darling and rushes to me for protection when the others chase her from the food or treats and remind her that she, as the smallest of the bunch, is on the lowest possible ranking amongst them. She will hide behind my legs and cosy up to my back as I crouch or kneel...I melt!

Frankie(named after my Granny) is a mesmerising mix of a Bluebelle and Nera so she has the dark grey/blue head of the Bluebelle, a neck which is streaked with Orange all the way down to her chest with a blue laced body - she's a beauty and she knows it. She too is clingy to me -I guess that's to be expected as they find their feet and place in the coop. I shall be sad should it ever stop, selfish of me I know but I love having our wee conversations as I go about sorting their coop out each day.

A Bowlful of Cherries, that's it, a Bowlful

It was with a flurry of excitement that I picked all the cherries off our 2 year old cherry tree yesterday. Quite a few had been lost to splitting (but were scoffed by the 'ladies' with glee) from the extended dry patch we had not so long ago and then the sudden deluge of rains we have had of late, but those that survived filled a small bowl and were scoffed last night after dinner with relish! Lovely Morello cherries...soft and ever so slightly sour.

I'm hoping next year will bring a bumper crop that I can turn into jam at the very least and a cherry pie at the very best!

Surely there is nothing more beautiful?

Sammy Scarecrow works overtime at the minute

My first Greenhouse and I'm hooked!

My amazing hubby and father-in-law sorted out the greenhouse we managed to acquire a few weeks ago and straight away I filled it with all manner of plants. On a rainy day with a cup of coffee, there is no better way to while away the hours, trust me they fly by!

I have 3 different varieties of tomato and aubergines, chilli's, cucumbers, 2 hanging baskets of strawberries, peppers, a lemon tree (as mentioned in an earlier post) and trays and trays of flowers (sunflowers, pansies and lavender) as well as a few trays of sweetcorn seeds that will be heading off to the allotment shortly.

It's magical to see how plant flourish in the warm temperatures, they love it!

How did I never have one of these sooner?

A Lemon Tree has 9 Lives

Brad bought a lemon tree last year for the grand old price of £1 and we figured we would give this notoriously tricky fruit a bash - it's my favourite and I've dreamt of owning my own fruit laden lemon tree ever since I saw my Auntie Joan walk into her garden and pick a fresh lemon for our Gin and Tonics on a hot summers day in Johannesburg a few years ago.

Our climate in Norfolk is nothing like it is in South Africa so I knew I would have a hard time keeping it alive, never mind fruiting!

Last summer it grew about 10cms and gave off a few lovely leaves - enough to give me hope....and then a very very harsh winter came and even though I brought her under cover the few days of -8 degrees seemed to have killed her off. In spring, with a heavy heart, I went to pull her from her pot to make way for yet another Hydrangea and noticed signs of life, she had indeed survived, if only just!

I watered her and brought her into our new greenhouse where, very quickly, a leaf appeared,  and then another and another!

Watch this space....that dream may yet come true...

Bircham Windmill

Anyone in North Norfolk on a break with children HAS to pay Bircham Windmill a visit, it's loaded with things to amuse, entertain and educate inquisitive children. There are a variety of farm animals that they can get close to and even feed. Sheep are milked, bread is baked and farm activities are taught, all in order to show children how it all works.

As a family you can hire bicycles and head off into the countryside with a picnic or scoff freshly baked - and very yummy - scones freshly baked on the premises.

Honestly, no visit to this area is complete without taking your children to this little treasure.

Blakeney and Morston

What is it about crabbing that reduces even the most hardened adult to a screaming child?

Brads nephews came to stay and all they wanted to do was go crabbing, and to be honest so did we!

The quay in Blakeney was lined with families squealing with excitement and delight as they filled their buckets with more and more crabs, children ran between the groups to compare hauls and exchange tips, while their parents kept on crabbing and crabbing and crabbing. What a fun way to pass time and tire out excitable children.

Janet Jackson was right, the best things in life really are free!

And The Roses Keep Coming...

Everywhere I look in our garden the roses are in bloom and I can't pick them fast enough, every possible bottle and vase has roses crammed in, each room as them in a variety of colours. Surely this is on of life's simpler pleasures? Every now and them I get the sweet smell of roses as I enter a room or pass a table hosting these  beautiful blooms and I'm instantly reminded of the sweet summers of my youth when roses seemed to REALLY have scent.

Our Jasmine is coming into bloom (my favourite summer scent by far)  - it's just outside the back door so I don't have to go far to be reminded just how wonderful summer really is and just how blessed I really am.

Roses are red

Or rather roses are red or yellow or pink or white or combinations of all...

The man who lived in our house before us was clearly passionate about roses, the garden is filled with them in every shape and colour, I myself have bought a load of roses since moving to Norfolk so our garden appears to be that of a crazed rose fan - like the crazy cat lady down the road when I was growing up (they were EVERYWHERE, loads of them!)

I am by no means an expert when it comes to these beautiful flowers, they survive and flower in spite of and not because of me.

But there is nothing more pleasing than a house filled with roses.... in jars, bottles or vases all picked from your own garden.

Farewell Speckled Lilly

On Wednesday evening I rushed up to the allotment to collect Lilly and take her home in the hope that I could make her better, she had been getting better earlier in the week but I received a text from my friend Lorraine to say she had taken a turn and was very poorly indeed.

So I dashed from the train to find poor Lilly in a wee pile inside the coop, the severe winds that have been bashing the North Norfolk Coast this week had done nothing for her fragile state, she didn't fight or make a sound she just gave in and let me tuck her into my arms and take her home where she let me open her beak and feed her-not a good sign.

Anyway, I took her outside for some fresh air and with a shiver and a sigh she died in my arms, my heart broke a little as I wept.

I buried her under a rose bush in the garden so I think of her daily. I still feel a twinge each time I collect eggs and there is no speckled egg from her, I think they were my favourite.

Lilly loves a drama

Late last week the lovely Lilly started acting oddly and wasn't her usual busy self. Being a novice to all things ''chook'' I thought it might be that she was either Crop or Egg Bound - so I furiously set about steaming and massaging the poor thing to no avail. Her crop was large and full of liquid that sloshed about when it was rubbed. So I googled the symptoms and was surprised to learn that she might have 'Sour Crop' Why have I never heard of this?!?

I did as they suggested and turn her upside down and massaged her crop to empty it - which occurred immediately and did it a couple more times for good measure.

This morning I found my old Lilly back to her usual self - the relief! But I will be keeping a close eye on her for the next few days

The chook education continues!

Our rescue dogs are a constant delight

Battersea Dogs Home in London has supplied us with two VERY different but equally adorable and loved pups without whom our family would not be complete.

A few years ago we adopted Kea, a Staffie and Border Collie Cross who is an angel on earth, she's a beautiful black and white dog with the appearance of a Staffie but taller and slimmer and the colouring and markings of a Border Collie including the white tip on the tail. She has an up-turned nose and a passion for playing footie on the beach and chasing seagulls.

Because she was so perfect we decided to adopt Adam a Staffie Cross with possibly a boxer but we are not sure. He's a handsome boy with pale blue eyes, wrapped in grey blue markings and a white body with back legs like Gollum and a seemingly endless appetite (pictured above) who we thought would be much the same as his sister, the little picture on the Battersea website made him seem like the sweetest little angel ever to touch earth. The reality was quite different and so far Adam has chewed EVERYTHING he gets his teeth into including post, the interior of my car, the wall and Keas collar (while she was wearing it!)

He yawns constantly like he has the hardest like any dog has ever known, he will do anything for a biscuit and follows us like a shadow, he smells and sounds like a piglet whenever he does anything and to be honest we wouldn't want him any other way!

Luckily Kea has endless patience with him and doesn't mind sharing her basket with him (he decided straight away he was not sleeping on his own and has been found stretched across he back while she sleeps)

They are a perfect blend and a perfect addition to our household.As 2 people determined not to have a Staffie, we changed our minds when we saw how many need homes and we are so glad we did!

Titchwell Village - our new home

North Norfolk Coastal Path...simply breathtaking

The Allotment has sprung to life!