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Diary of a Country Girl

Kate, living a country life in Norfolk, England. Gardener, cook, hobby farmer – as keen as mustard and mad on dahlias…

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Month: February 2017

Country life

My trusty stalwart…

26th February 20171st March 2017 KateLeave a comment

As I started gardening a couple of days ago, the sun came out and I just had to remove a layer, it felt so warm. I hung my trusty Barbour on a redundant fork and realised how tatty it had become. Day in and day out the coat hangs loyally in the boot room until… Continue reading My trusty stalwart…

Cooking · Country life · Gardening · Kitchen garden

Kitchen garden planning…

20th February 2017 KateLeave a comment

It’s that time of year again when I find myself knee deep in seed packets, deciding what to plant and where. The challenge for me is deciding what vegetables to grow and how many of them. For the past two seasons we’ve ended up with what seems like thousands of courgettes and broad beans. I’m… Continue reading Kitchen garden planning…

Country life · Dog walks · Gardening · Spring

Farm find of the day…

15th February 2017 Kate2 Comments

For the past couple of days the weather has been mild and sunny, so I’ve been making the most of it and tidying the garden ready for the season ahead… Weeding the borders ready for mulching Pruning roses and figs Clearing moss Washing down the greenhouse   It’s truly wonderful to be back out in the garden,… Continue reading Farm find of the day…

Country life · Spring

Guest Blog: Lambing

14th February 201714th February 2017 KateLeave a comment

Being a Norfolk girl through and through the county is in my blood. I love its variety, its passion for agriculture and the bucolic life it offers. Across Norfolk today, lambs are currently popping up and springing into life. On our farm we raise cattle so over the weekend I headed out to speak to a Norfolk… Continue reading Guest Blog: Lambing

Country life · Nature · Spring

Signs of Spring…

12th February 2017 KateLeave a comment

Aside from a covering of snow today – which was thoroughly enjoyed by the dogs – it truly feels like spring is on the way. So much so that I thought I’d compile a list of things that I’ve seen or heard that give a clue to Spring being just round the corner. Longer days – The… Continue reading Signs of Spring…

Cattle · Country life

The abattoir…

8th February 2017 Kate2 Comments

Today I dealt with rats as big as rabbits, mice and a trip to the abattoir, and all before 6.30am. It all started at 5am, not a time that particularly agrees with me. I hate getting up at that time. Normally early starts signal a holiday but today it was a very different story. By 6.15am we needed… Continue reading The abattoir…

Cooking · Exercise

One word, running…

1st February 20171st February 2017 KateLeave a comment

I’ve decided to get back into running…and I have started, honest! My motivations? A general need to improve fitness and two weddings in June. I used to run quite a lot but it’s been years since I’ve taken it seriously. A lot of that has to do with living in the country, as winter running… Continue reading One word, running…

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I’m Lantern Festival ready! Throughout the year I’m Lantern Festival ready! Throughout the year I’m making necklaces to mark specific days and events, today’s celebrates the Lantern Festival which marks the end of the Chinese New Year period. Traditionally its spent with family and friends, looking at the moon, sending up lanterns, dancing and dining. Happy weekend one and all... #chinesenewyear #china #lanternfestival #chineselantern #lantern #chineselanternfestival #woodennecklace #handmade #homemade @beadsdirect @swarovski #imadethat #lockdownlife #lockdowncrafts #norfolk #handmadeinnorfolk #madeinnorfolk #crafting #diaryofacountrygirl
The first leveret of the year rescued from the inq The first leveret of the year rescued from the inquisitive jaws of the dog. Every year she finds a few and each time she gently picks them up and carries them in her mouth until I pick them up and replace them where they were! A gorgeous sight and a sure sign that spring is on its way! #leveret #spring #hare #babyhare #countrylife #farmfind #farmfindoftheday @bbcspringwatch #springwatch #wildlife #norfolk #norfolkwildlife #diaryofacountrygirl #mothernature #picoftheday #farmlife
Lunch! Seville orange meringue pie - refreshing, t Lunch! Seville orange meringue pie - refreshing, tart, sweet, soft and crunchy - hello!! January is always so much better thanks to these mighty oranges... #sevilleoranges #meringuepie #pie #meringue #curd #homecook #lovetocook #fortheloveoffood #eatnorfolk #eatnorfolkphotos #norfolk #norfolkcook #lockdownlunch #diaryofacounteygirl #baking #homebaker
A beauty of a hellebore has unfurled in the garden A beauty of a hellebore has unfurled in the garden, the petals are delicately brushed with green and peppered with flecks of pink, my favourite colour combination. About four years ago I grew a number of hellebores from seed and this is the first year they’ve really bloomed, patience in the garden is always worth the wait... #hellebore #grownfromseed #homegrown #norfolk #norfolkgarden #greenfingers #instabloom #blooms #diaryofacountrygirl
Happy valentines one and all. My latest homemade n Happy valentines one and all. My latest homemade necklace has certainly brightened a day of decorating... #happyvalentines #valentines #jackvalentine #norfolk #woodennecklace #valentinesnecklace #woodenjewellery #handmade #heart #heartnecklace #norfolkcraft #madeinnorfolk #handmadeinnorfolk #diaryofacountrygirl @swarovski @beadsdirect
It’s a treacle tart kind of day. Gooey, golden a It’s a treacle tart kind of day. Gooey, golden and gorgeously sweet, peppered with sea salt and almonds... #tart #treacletart #countrycook #homecook #treacle #goldensyrup #homemaker #lovetocook #fortheloveoffood #eatnorfolk #eatnorfolkfood #norfolk #norfolkfood #diaryofacountrygirl #norfolkcook
What a view! Norfolk skies... #norfolk #snowscene What a view! Norfolk skies... #norfolk #snowscene #snowedin #snowday #england #eastanglia #southnorfolk #countrylife #diaryofacountrygirl #blueskies
Happy Chinese New Year! I’m busily getting ready Happy Chinese New Year! I’m busily getting ready for tonight’s feast with the aid of my latest homemade necklace. It’s been fiddly, frustrating and fun. I’ve set myself the challenge of making a new necklace a month but this month there will be three. Tonight we’ll be dining on homemade sweet and sour pork, Cantonese soy chicken and Choi sum... #chinesenewyear #chinesenewyearnecklace #lunarnewyear #yearoftheox #happychinesenewyear #chinesedragon @beadsdirect @swarovski #handmade #handmadenecklace #woodennecklace #dragon #woodenjewellery #norfolk #madeinnorfolk #handmadeinnorfolk #jewellerydesigner #necklace #jewellery #woodenart #thankgoodnessihaveanma #diaryofacountrygirl
Thank goodness for the arrival of tulips into the Thank goodness for the arrival of tulips into the house, brightening every corner. These blooms look gorgeous in our test tube vase @thenorfolkwoodstudio... #tulips #norfolk #woodenvase #woodvase #testtube #testtubevase #handmade #dovetail #handmadeinnorfolk #madeinnorfolk #southnorfolk #norfolkbusiness #wemadethat #diaryofacountrygirl
It’s a coffee-outside kind of morning. A smatter It’s a coffee-outside kind of morning. A smattering of more snow, crocuses springing up and sunshine... #crocus #snow #snowedin #norfolk #norfolksnow #countrylife #snowshine #england #eastanglia #diaryofacountrygirl
White chocolate creme brûlée tart, creamy, sof White chocolate creme brûlée tart, creamy, soft, crunchy and sumptuous. All that is needed this week... #cremebrulee #whitechocolate #tart #homecook #homebaker #lovetocook #norfolk #norfolkfood #fortheloveoffood #homecooking #countrycook #diaryofacountrygirl #homecooking #eatnorfolkphotos
What a gorgeous day. Still snowed in... #snowedin What a gorgeous day. Still snowed in... #snowedin #norfolk #thisisengland #southnorfolk #eastanglia #snowday #countrylife #diaryofacountrygirl #snow
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