We’ve had lots more rain this week. It seems once the rain starts it doesn’t know when to stop. Accompanying the rain we have been treated to strong winds. It’s been generally unpleasant although the sun has struggled to make brief appearances.
The allotment is very soggy so any work on the plot is still on hold. We did however need more parsnips and leeks so we popped to the allotment to do some harvesting and check on any damage. Other than enviromesh being blown off some beds and a piece of weed control fabric being shredded, we seem to have got off lightly.
Enviromesh had partially blown off the bed where the onions, garlic and shallots are growing which provided us with the opportunity to check how they were doing before repegging down the mesh.
They seem to be doing OK.
Digging up the leeks and parsnips was a messy job as the soil has been turned into very sticky mud.
Despite being caked in mud, we were pleased with the parsnips. So far we have only had one misshaped root. We had expected this to be a problem due to germinating the seed on damp, kitchen towel. Some of the tiny roots were becoming curly by the time we could get them in the ground. They are a good size too.
Some are too large to use for one meal. Where this is the case we freeze some as peeled parsnip soon goes brown. We cooked them from frozen as they also go brown if thawed.
Before bringing them home the roots are given a quick wash.
This video shows just how muddy it was harvesting the parsnips.
We managed to take Ruby out for some walks but she couldn’t avoid running in the mud.
She started off lovely and clean but that soon changed. As she was due to be groomed mid-week a shower was on the cards which soon took the smile off her face.
On New Year’s Day, our walk was in a nearby park where the effect of all the rain was evident from the amount of water in the beck.
The water level was as high as I have seen it and in parts, the beck had overflowed. (For those of you not familiar with the word beck it refers to a small stream or brook).
Another day on our way to Temple Newsam we passed a field that lies between the canal and River Aire. You could be forgiven for thinking it was a lake rather than a field.
At Temple Newsam we spotted some new visitors on the lake. As well as a grey heron we spotted two great white egrets. It was difficult to take a clear photo as they were at the far side of the lake foraging amongst the reeds.
At Temple Newsam Ruby became reacquainted with the goats, She looks out for them now when we pass their enclosure.
After our appliance failure on Christmas Day we needed to buy a new microwave and oven so had to do some serious shopping. The new microwave is up and running and a new oven will be fitted next week. Martyn’s birthday was on Sunday but he wasn’t impressed by my suggestion that an oven and microwave would make a good birthday present.
Ruby’s birthday is on Monday the 8th, she’s much easier to please and a good walk and game of fetch will satisfy her.
Finally some of last week’s meals.
A chicken pilaf used our onions and green beans, sweetcorn and peas from the freezer.
I made a batch of tomato sauce using our frozen tomatoes some of which accompanied some tuna fishcakes into which went our potatoes, onion and red chilli. I used two tins of tuna as the recipe seemed more potato than tuna. The tuna was in spring water so I added some sweet chilli sauce.
Into a turkey curry went our onion, garlic and frozen peas. This was served with homemade onion bhajis. I didn’t make the cauliflower rice.
Finally, I made a vegetable stew using our leeks, onion, garlic, parsley, potato and frozen broad beans.
That’s all for this week so as always stay safe. and well
Your alliums look lovely! We got rain here then it turned bitter cold. It’s supposed to be below freezing for much of the coming, then hopefully will thaw.
It’s been bitterly cold here too, Dave. So far today it’s bright and sunny but still cold.
Oh I have just been catching up on your posts Sue and what a day to have an kitchen appliance failure! Glad to hear that you will soon be sorted with replacements. I can understand Martyn’s reluctance to have an oven and a microwave as a birthday present 🤣 Wishing you all the best for the new year and a new growing season!
He’s a spoilsport, Anna maybe he’ll accept a washing machine
the whole country has taken a pasting, and now we freeze as the cold comes in. Roll on summer and we can complain about the heat instead!
Happy Birthday Ruby! Hope you get spoiled with lots of treats.
Ruby says thank you and her preferred gift is lots of cuddles
I’ll settle for a lovely spring, Debbie