Dozing Daphne

Daphne has grown so much now she has reached the old age of 10 months. When we first got her she filled less than half of that bed. She seems big to us but is still tiny compared to kato!

How Daphne likes to help in the garden. Preferably from her bed, all warpped up!

Just brought a loom - eeeeek!

House Progress

The last few weekends I have spent mainly in the garden due to the upstairs of the house looking like some sort of Crystal Maze challenge with so many floorboards up revealing important pipes and wires as a new heating system was being installed. I thought better to keep out of it as much as possible when you are a tad clumsy as I am! The house now has all new radiators and is actually warm all over (instead of just when stood next to the heater!) so it suddenly is starting to feel much more homely.

Next up some more plastering and an ensuite to be fitted once we have chosen it!

The garden is getting nicely green and gradually the neighbours are getting more hidden again behind foliage. I have been focusing on a small area each time and clearing the top layer of weeds, removing the far too numerous Ash suckers and any new holly sprouting up. There are also a good deal of small old stumps where the previous gardener has chopped then buried it which I am getting out.

 We want to extend the grass to the top of the garden so have been clearing anything in the way and replanting anything that might be worth keeping in a corner.

The pic above is where my new raspberry patch is - hmm we'll see if any fruit appear - not holding my breath - luckily there is a nice greengrocer only 5 mins walk away!

This holly beast is going to be tamed! I am removing all the lower branches (when I can  get to them after removing the outer layer of prickly leaves) and aim to clear underneath so we can grass it. I only spent one afternoon on this side so far but you can see from the clear earth how much I have already removed. It all is quite easy to chop/dig out -just so much of it! The plan is for the lowest branches to be head height. That's this weekend sorted!

Needed the exercise of all this gardening after dinner with friends on Saturday night at a new burger place in the Northern Quarter in Manchester. It has no sign (except a neon burger in an upper window) and when you get in there you have to loiter for a table, which is bit tedious but the lush cocktails served in jam jars tide you over - I had 2 Ragamuffins which had jack daniels and fresh berries in (took a pic but didn't come out very well). My burger didn't appear with the others' but there were chicken wings and chilli fries to eat while waiting. It was pretty good when it arrived. The place was only a pop-up and is closing again on Saturday - judging by the queue and number of people inside I'm sure it will be packed.

Now then, anybody out there?

There seems to be a distinct lack of blog activity this side of Christmas - but never fear, here I am again, with baking news! 

Decided, having watched Julie & Julia, and Rachel Khoo, I decided on a French baking project, and have made a brioche. It is light and delicious, and not nearly as tricky to make as I thought. Here it is, pre oven, and post.

I also, experimented with some pork - in red wine and spices (cinnamon and clove, and some ground coriander). The idea came from my flavour thesaurus - am amazing book - as I was looking for something interesting to do with pork. This was nice, but too red winey, and to be honest, needs perfecting. 

However, I also made some delish potatoes, in layers, with onion, olive oil, and tomato on top. Here it is in a  raw state. 

Now come on the rest of you! Buck up!