Decided this evening to cook a vegetarian pizza. Rosemary from the garden, roasted pumpkin cubes (from home grown pumpkin), carmelised onions and garlic, last summer's semi dried tomatoes and homemade ricotta. Amazing how tasty such vegetarian things can be…. rustic but delicious.

It's hard to catch a photo of these two at play as they move so fast. Young Truffles the kitten has had no-one to romp with. The other two cats despise her because she is so enthusiastically playful. However, Poppy the puppy has no such qualms, and is very keen to join in any game, … Continue reading The games they play

Sleepy, rainy afternoon; perfect conditions for making a triple batch of halloumi and time to bottle off the sparkling rhubarb. Poppy the new puppy has worn herself out playing with kittenTruffles, so for once she is still enough to take her photo.  That's my neck pillow, so you can see how tiny she is. While … Continue reading Rainy winter afternoon

You wouldn't think that there would be much produce about at this time of the year. However, look what has come our way just this last couple of days - hazelnuts, apples, olives, pink peppercorns and medlars (they are not rotting despite outward appearances - they are bletting in readiness for making medlar liqueur). Then … Continue reading Winter Harvest

So here is the new addition to the family - Courtney gave her to Robert. She came with her name, Poppy, which suits her well. Truffles the kitten would love to be friends, but when she smooches Poppy, the puppy jumps enthusiastically wanting to play dog-style, and then Truffles runs. After that the chase is … Continue reading New addition to the family

Yesterday there was dense fog, now this morning the frost has moved in. It's a little chilly, but my goodness it's pretty. These photos were taken an hour ago - but now you can barely see past the edge of the verandah as the fog has returned. This all bodes well for the quality of … Continue reading And then there was frost…..

Bit chilly and foggy this morning? Yes indeed. It was minus 3 outside earlier, and not much warmer now by the feel of it.  It's the thickest fog since we've been living here. Rosie the middle cat is keeper of the fire - she sits meaningfully in front of it when she considers it needs … Continue reading Foggy Valley

Now a very kind lady named Sue (who came to a cooking class here) recently sent Robert a lovely warm beanie. She had spun the wool and knitted the hat herself. Robert is very fond of it, but he's not the only one. Tom adores it. When Robert is bending over weeding in the garden, … Continue reading The woollen beanie

There have been lots of bits and pieces needing attention in our kitchen, and supplies are getting low of some preserves. There were for instance, the last of our tomatoes that simply will not ripen, so this is end of run (sob) for the year. The very last scrappy stragglers have gone the way of … Continue reading The dregs of autumn produce

He could, of course, be outside in the winter sun, but ex-feral Tom prefers an old woolly jacket on the couch, with the wood heater warming the room for good measure. Don't think he suffers from too many trust issues any more. Good life for a cat I think.