The Homely Year

8oz, 225g self-raising flour
3 eggs
6oz, 175g butter
6oz, 175g caster sugar
1 Bramley apple chopped up into small pieces
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Prepare a round 6-8" tin
Cream butter and sugar. Gradually mix in the beaten egg. Fold in the flour and cinnamon. Mix in the chopped apple. Bake in a moderate oven for about 50 minutes

We have many calves running about at the moment, but this one has different colouring, and is, I think, quite cute.

Phew! Don't get me wrong, I really enjoy the village open gardens event - wouldn't do it otherwise - but it'll be a relief to get back to normal hit and miss gardening.

The afternoon was sunny and dry, but not too hot for folks to enjoy. We had plenty of visitors...don't know how many exactly...as usual, after the first half dozen, I forgot to count.

Couldn't believe how fast it went though and we met some interesting people, including someone we know who had lived in our house from the age of 8 to 16. He told us his sister had been born in our sitting room!

As you know Margaret & enjoy having a good look around Charity shops etc. Well, I was intrigued by this the other day. It purports to forecast the weather, by what happens to the liquid. Has anyone else seen anything like this before? Is it a load of tosh? Have I wasted £5?!

Hope Margaret & Les enjoy their Open Gardens event today.

It gave me quite a surprise to see this toad sitting in the greenhouse...hope he decides to take up permanent residence. I'm sure there'll be loads of tasty morsels for him - nice and damp too. What more could a toad want?

A June meadow is surely one of nature's true beauties, so I thought I'd photograph this for you before the mower calls.

....that's our garden right now. On Sunday, several of the gardens in the village are open for a good cause (money towards a new village hall). It's loads of work to get ready...absolutely love doing it though...and it really focuses the mind on weeding, pruning, deadheading, sweeping and so on.

I'm trying to make the most of these long evenings by taking time to just wander and enjoy all the flowers and scents (and taking photos).

5oz, 15g self-raising flour
3oz, 75g ground almonds
6oz, 175g butter
6oz, 175g caster sugar
1 teaspoon almond extract
2 large, or 3 small eggs
Butter a baking tray. In a food mixer, mix all ingredients until well blended. Put in tray. Bake in a moderate oven for about 25 minutes. When cool, remove from tray and cut into squares.

Delicious, I promise....if you like the taste of almonds!

I've just made some cushions in anticipation of a lovely hot summer - will the forecasts be accurate? ...we'll see!

I found a remnant of batik style printed cotton that cost very little and sewed simple cushions that I can use on our garden bench, or the green plastic chairs (don't like plastic chairs very much but they serve a purpose). Cushions should make them a bit more comfy.

It's interesting checking out what's doing well, and what's not doing so well in the garden. Beans, peas type stuff going great guns, carrots not so hot. Think our soil is on the heavy side. Weeds are growing particularly well.