Cattle · Country life

The cows head back outside…

Today started early, with preparations to move the Highland cattle outside for the summer. After de-hitching the harrow and attaching the stock trailer to the tractor I had the opportunity to practice my reversing skills (or lack of them) with the trailer attached. Having done a bit of trailer reversing on Cromer beach (complete with fishing boat)… Continue reading The cows head back outside…

Cooking · Country life · Kitchen garden · Rhubarb

For the love of rhubarb…

Let’s get one thing straight – I love marmalade. Generally I like food – a lot, and, on a par with marmalade, I rate rhubarb. Rhubarb is one of those quintessentially English foods that remains largely seasonal. Each year in the garden, together with courgettes, it’s the vegetable I always tend to have a glut of. This… Continue reading For the love of rhubarb…

Country life · Gardening · Kitchen garden · Spring

…getting my gardening on

The past week has been so gloriously sunny here in Norfolk. I’ve been making the most of it by getting on with tasks in the garden in an attempt to get ahead before it gets much warmer and the weeds take over. Tasks completed so far: Pruning roses, dogwood, honeysuckle, hydrangea and fruit trees Mulching borders Planting vegetable… Continue reading …getting my gardening on

Cooking · Country life · Gardening · Kitchen garden

Kitchen garden planning…

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…

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…