I’ve spent the last four days enjoying everything our little slice of Norfolk has to offer. Instead of getting on with farm chores (apart from the essential, every day chores), I have spent lots of time catching up with friends, laughing, drinking, cooking, gardening, walking and eating out, it’s been idyllic and has felt like a proper break.… Continue reading Roast rump of beef…
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…
It’s no secret that I love marmalade. I love its sticky oozy-ness and golden orange colour. Seriously, what’s better than some bitterly sweet marmalade on top of freshly toasted bread slathered with lashings of butter? Earlier in the year I entered two jars of Seville Orange marmalade to the World Marmalade Awards. Having heard nothing I assumed I needed… Continue reading The World Marmalade Awards…
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
At the end of last week we took delivery of our beef. Having sent two beasts to slaughter in February, after more than 21 days hanging, and a vigorous cutting process, it arrived. Luckily, in the week before its arrival we made sure we used up all the things that get pushed to the bottom… Continue reading A freezer full of beef…
For me, steak on a Saturday night is something I revere and a proper treat (and yes it always tastes better on a Saturday). Not only because a tasty steak can’t be beaten but because ours are home grown. All of our cattle spend the majority of the year outside – growing slowly in order to produce the best meat. Now,… Continue reading Beef – our cutting list for the butcher…
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…
For the past few mornings I’ve woken up to a blanket of mist covering the farm. For the first couple of days it cleared as the sun rose, however today it lingered until the sun set. Accompanying the mist there have been equally impressive sunrises and sunsets. Because the air has been so clear the skies have been magnificent.… Continue reading Haggis, neeps & tatties and misty morning starts…
This morning we awoke to a vast and beautiful frost. Everything was covered in a delicate layer of what looked like shimmering crystals as the sun rose higher. I was late up so the dogs were out and about a little later than usual and took off on the scent of deer. It was an… Continue reading The weekly joy of Country Life…
Yesterday we headed out for a day of partridge shooting, inevitably there were a few pheasants, duck and pigeons. After a busy day crossing acres of plough on foot and consuming bowls of homemade soup, a few Norfolk nogs and the odd sloe fizz we ended a successful day with a good bag. We had nine guns on the… Continue reading A partridge day…
