Home-grown Lemon

My lovely little lemon!

My plants seem to survive despite me - I have more enthusiasm than skill - so it's lovely to see a lemon on my little tree, it'll mature over the winter (when I bring the tree inside) and then I'll pick it!

Autumn Colour

Drove along some wonderful Suffolk country lanes today and loved the emerging autumn colours - and it was such an amazing day, very warm, blue skies - beautiful. Just love Suffolk!

Fear of Public Speaking

Most people would rather die than speak in public - are you one of them? I was. Would you rather have the ground open up and swallow you than have someone ask you to say a few words or give your opinion? I know how you feel.

If I was chosen to give feedback in a workshop, for example, my knees would shake, my heart would thump like crazy and my mouth would dry up - my voice didn't sound too good either! Worst of all there was a little voice in my head telling me that I was going to make a fool of myself in front of my audience. 

Where did the voice come from? Probably from several experiences from my school days but one I remember especially - I was asked to step in, almost at the last minute, in a dramatic production at high school and had very little time to learn the lines. I was certain before I went on stage that I'd not be able to do it - I had the worst stage-fright of my life and not only made a fool of myself, but mortified my parents into the bargain. After that I was convinced that I couldn't learn lines and hated speaking before an audience.

If only I'd discovered Toastmasters International in my teens. 

I've been a member for seven years now - attending my local club and practising public speaking has become a hobby! Am I mad?? Eight years ago I would have thought so. Practising public speaking among other supportive people who are in the same boat is amazing. Getting feedback that moves me on and uplifts me is a revelation. Giving feedback to other club members to help them grow as speakers makes me grow too  - one of the best moves I ever made was to screw up my courage and go to that first demo evening.

It's not that I no longer get scared - I do - but I've learned, and am learning, to control the nerves. A bit of adrenalin is useful, it keeps me focussed. I'm working on my gold award - we follow an educational programme in communication and leadership - and I've done things within Toastmasters that I thought I'd never be able to do. Most of all I've conquered my fear of speaking in front of my peers and learned to leap out of my comfort zone. And most surprisingly, I've learned that it's tremendous FUN! 

Would you like to feel more comfortable speaking in front of others; to grow in confidence and perhaps even develop as a skilled public speaker? Visit the Toastmasters International website and see if there's a club near you.

If you're in the UK visit the District 71 website too.

I'd love to know if this post has been useful to you.

Apple Cake

Norwegian Apple Cake

We've been eating a lot of this lately - due to the bumper crop of apples from our ancient tree. I've filled three more large jars with  Apple and Apricot Chutney this afternoon too.

Whisk 8oz caster sugar with 2 large eggs until pale, thick and creamy
Melt 4oz butter in 1/4 pint creamy milk and bring to the boil
Pour boiling butter and milk into sugar and egg mixture, stirring to combine
Sift in 6 1/2 oz plain flour and 3 teaspoons baking powder
Stir mixture ensuring there are no lumps of flour
Pour into a greased and floured roasting tin (I lay a large sheet of baking parchment in the tin instead and pour the batter onto that)
Peel, core and slice 3 - 4 Bramley cooking apples (I've used eating apples successfully too) and lay the slices thickly on top of the batter.
Sprinkle with 1oz caster sugar mixed with cinnamon to taste (I like lots)
Put into a preheated oven 200 degrees C, 400 degrees F, Gas Mark 6
Cook for 20 - 25 minutes.
Cool in the tin and cut into slices.
Enjoy on its own, with cream, creme fraiche, ice-cream....... Yum, Yum!

A Welcome Find

I found a small, ripe fig after all! Not standing on ceremony I ate it immediately - it tasted sweet and delicious.

Wasted Figs

Figs

What a shame all the figs that are covering our tree won't ripen. It seems such a waste and there's nothing unripe figs can be used for as far as I know - does anyone know any different? If they can be 'chutneyed' or pickled I'd be glad to hear about it.

Dog's Dinner

It's Dinner Time!!!

It begins around 4.00 pm. Heavy sighs, grumbles and small whimperings....she's telling me it's time for dinner. Dinner time is at 5.00 pm but if she can get it before....  She doesn't realise that then she's got even longer to wait for the bedtime Bonio!

Michaelmas Daisies

Michaelmas Daisies

I know Autumn is here when the Michaelmas Daisies bloom. Seeing them takes me back to my primary school playground on a foggy autumn day, I can still see the daisies that grew in the border beside the playground and feel what I felt then - memory is an amazing thing! I've always loved Michaelmas Daisies.

Houseleek - Cornwall

I photographed this plant at the Minack Theatre, Cornwall. I think it's a Houseleek but much more beautiful than any I've seen before. 

I found this interesting article on the uses of Houseleek - click here to find out more.

Poppies - tenacious plants!

Last Spring the fields where we walk the dog were so full of poppies that I think they must have been sown on purpose. It seemed to be a mix of poppy and barley. It was a glorious sight.

The fields last Spring

Then, one day, we went for our walk and the fields had been cut! It was so disappointing but, they're not my fields - there must have been a reason. Since then nothing else was planted and the fields have lain fallow with thistles, daisies and all kinds of wild plants taking over.

Out walking yesterday I noticed that the poppies are staging a 'come-back'! They truly are tenacious plants - and a very welcome sight, especially at the back-end of the year. I felt thoroughly cheered-up.

Sweet Pickled Cucumber Slices

As promised yesterday -
My family love this. I use the prickly ridge cucumbers that grow outside. I scrape the prickles off when I wash the cucumbers. You can peel them if you want the slicing to be easier but the skin looks attractive in the pickle and helps keep the slices together.


Sweet Pickled Cucumber Slices

3 large or 4 to 5 medium ridge cucumbers
3 large onions
2 oz salt
1 pint (570ml)white wine vinegar
1lb (450g) soft brown sugar
1/2 level teaspoon turmeric
1/4 level teaspoon ground cloves
1 tablespoon mustard seeds
Sterilised jars (I put clean jars - without their lids- into the oven on a low Gas - about 1/4 to 1/2 - 110 to 130 degrees Celsius and take them out when the pickle is ready)

Thinly slice cucumbers and onions.
Layer cucumbers and onions in a large colander, sprinkling each layer with salt.
Place a suitably sized plate over the salted slices and press it down with a heavy weight.
Leave for 3 hours.
Squeeze out as much liquid as possible from the cucumber and onion slices.
Put vinegar, sugar and spices into a large saucepan and stir over a medium heat until the sugar has dissolved.
Add drained cucumber and onion slices and bring up to the boil.
Simmer, uncovered, for 1 minute only.
Remove pan from heat.
Using a slotted spoon, spoon the cucumber and onion slices into the prepared, sterilised jars.
Boil the spiced vinegar mixture, uncovered, for 15 minutes and then pour into the jars.
Seal the jars when cold.
Store for a month (to mature) before serving.
Enjoy.

Useful Conversion Tables

In a Pickle

Sweet Cucumber Pickle

I'm half-way through making another batch of this very popular pickle - very popular with family, especially my grand-daughter. It takes far longer to make than to polish off a jar - if I'm not vigilant! 

I'll post the recipe tomorrow - must get back to the pan!

Do Dogs Eat Anything???

Scavenging Dog!

I wouldn't let her up the garden to eat the fallen damsons so she's eating a runner bean!

Rice Pudding Recipe

I love making and eating this rice pudding when the weather turns cold. I had some milk to use up today so there's a delicious pudding waiting for me in the kitchen. I love the flavour of cardamoms but they can be left out if you don't like them.

2 oz pudding rice
1 oz sugar
1 pint milk
6 cardamom pods
nutmeg


Butter a baking dish (I use a Pyrex casserole with a lid)

Put the rice, sugar and milk into the dish

Slightly crush the cardamom pods with the flat of a knife and drop into the milk, rice and sugar mixture (optional)

Grate nutmeg over the surface of the milk (to taste) (optional)

Cover and bake in the oven for 2 hours at Gas 2 / 150 degrees Centigrade / 300 degrees Fahrenheit

Allow to cool a little and enjoy!

"How to make the perfect rice pudding"

Walking the Dog

Just walking the dog!

Natural Structure

I don't know what sort of thistly, prickly plant this is but I love the structure.

Frog Watching

My grandson and I watched a small, green frog jumping through the long grass today. I don't know a lot about frogs but I assume it was a common frog.

Air Show

The amazing Red Arrows...

...at the recent Lowestoft Air Show.

My first time at this superb local event where entrance was FREE and attendees were asked to make a small donation of £3.00 (at least). Many people apparently pay in the way out, having had a wonderful day. I was very happy to support the event with a £3.00 donation and I hope the organisers continue to provide this spectacular annual show. Many thanks to them from a first-timer who had a great day!

For much better photos than mine click here.

Silver Hedgehog?

Something strange on the road - it looked like a squashed, silver hedgehog - I didn't want to poke it about to see!

I passed it again when walking the dog yesterday and investigated - it was a scouring pad!

Sunset

It really is...

...better than...

...television!

Blackberries

It's blackberry season - yum, yum!

Waterfalls

Love waterfalls.

This You Tube clip is one of my favourites, the Staubbach Falls, Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland - also known as the Horse's tail. I read that the poet, Coleridge, loved it too.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a_4sZ4v31DM

"Retrieve? Who? Me?"

Golden Retriever Chilling Out

Our dog has always been a rubbish retriever, unless....

...the object to be retrieved.......

...is thrown into water!

Crabbing

Although we're waiting for a repair on the boat and can't take it out, the family have still enjoyed crabbing from the pontoon. Through the summer holiday children could be seen up and down the pontoons in the marina enjoying this 'sport'. So it was a shame to read that the  British Open Crabbing Championship  at Walberswick had to be cancelled this year due to over-popularity! 

Duck and Lapwing

Touch-down imminent!

The lapwing was unimpressed.

Event Food

Food at events is so much better now. I had a very tasty hog roast bap at a garden show today - large slices of beautifully cooked pork with stuffing and a pretty good apple sauce. There just doesn't seem to be an elegant way to eat such an enormous filled roll but I did my best. Unfortunately I was then too full to have dessert from the pancake van :-(