New Plants and Cookie Biscuits

Hello everyone. 

It has been another sunny week here in this small corner, but there have also been a few cooler breezes and some rain showers on Thursday, which were very welcome.

As the temperatures have been lower than we have been used to over the last few weeks, hubby has been getting on with constructing the rest of the raised beds nearest the decking. 

The last bed was much more of a challenge, as is usually the case with a project. After the rain on Thursday, hubby was able to lift the old turf, but the ground was very compacted underneath, and we have quite heavy clay soil. He started turning the ground over and found a metal spike for a rotary clothes line. It took some time to dig that out, and it must have been there over 25 years, longer than we have been in this house. Having removed that spike, almost next to it, he found another one. This was of his own making for a rotary line we put in over 20 years ago. Hubby had set that in concrete, never to be removed!! It took a sledgehammer and a heavy-duty jackhammer drill to break it up. Then he had to fill the crater he had made. At least now the ground has been properly turned over, and once the compost and manure are added, any new plants should have a good start in our garden.

I have not done any digging this week, but instead I have been busy buying plants. A friend of ours had recommended two new garden places to visit - one has great air conditioning in the cafe and a good selection of plants to tempt. Then further down the road was a wonderful nursery, again with lots of very good plants. 

I'm afraid I came away with several plants for my new garden beds. 

French Lavender

English Lavender

Anemone

Choisya(Mexican orange blossom)

Hebe

Santolina

Geum

Chives

Oregano

Rosemary

Once they have all filled out some more, they will be perfect. I still need some other plants, but I think a good start has been made.

This week, my tomatoes have started ripening. At first the colour change was slow, but now there are lots of ripening tomatoes that I can start picking and using. 

D is on holiday at the moment, so I am missing my baking partner. This week, I found a new helper to bake with. Hubby usually stays out of the baking zone, but the chance of cookies at the end of the day encouraged some practical support. These were the cookies/biscuits we made.

It was a very easy recipe that I adjusted to the ingredients I had to hand.

Here is my own version.

It was a very easy recipe that I adjusted to the ingredients I had to hand.

Here is my own version.

Traditional Sugar Biscuits

350g/12oz plain flour

1 tsp bicarbonate of soda

2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp grated nutmeg

115g/ 4oz butter

225g/8oz caster sugar (I used granulated sugar)

1/2 tsp vanilla essence (or essence of your choice)

1 egg

1/2 cup milk

Topping

A mix of crystallised sugar and cinnamon for sprinkling on top

Method

1. Sift the dry ingredients together except the sugar, and set aside.

2. Cream together the butter, sugar and vanilla essence until light and fluffy. Add the egg and beat to mix well.

3. Add the flour mix alternately with a spoonful of milk until a soft dough forms. ( You may not need all the milk). Wrap in cling film and chill for about 45 mins.

4. Heat the oven to 180℃/350℉/Gas 4

5. Roll out the dough to a thickness of 3mm/ 1/8 inch. Cut into rounds with a floured biscuit cutter and transfer to a baking sheet. Sprinkle with sugar and cinnamon topping. Bake for 10-12 mins until golden brown. Allow to cool and enjoy.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend, everyone, and have a good week ahead.

B x

July Short Break Part 2

 Hello to you all. I hope you have had a lovely week.

In this small corner, there has been the odd respite from the heat, but only for a short time. I am very glad we bought the parasol when we did because sitting under the shade it gives has been wonderful.

We have still managed to have some meals outside, especially first thing or for our evening meal. This week we had our new table arrive, which will mean that we can eat outside even more. We only bought two chairs as it was a mix and match with the furniture. We loved the table, which is a perfect size for us, but not the seating, which was benches. I need a chair with a back. The chairs we liked had backs and arms, but we weren't sure how they would fit under the table. Now we know it works; we can buy the rest of the chairs. 

Back now to a very sunny Derbyshire, to share the rest of our few days away with you.

I have wanted to visit Bolsover Castle for some time, and our short break presented the ideal opportunity. The Peverel family built the original castle, but during the Medieval period it fell into disrepair. Over several years, the property exchanged hands until the ruins were sold to Sir Charles Cavendish, who wanted to build a new castle. It was not built for defensive purposes but for elegance and high society living. One of his sons, William, was a fine horseman and horse breeder. He was also an expert in manège, a form of dressage. The tower that was built as part of renovations became known as 'The Little Castle'. My favourite room in the tower was the Star Chamber, which has tiny lead stars on the blue ceiling. Charles I and Henrietta Maria visited Bolsover in 1634 to be entertained.

Our tour guide was excellent, and he explained lots of the details. The only downside was that it lasted for over an hour and a half!!

While we were in the area, we also visited Buxton and Matlock to see their well dressing displays. I have seen some wonderful examples of these on some other friends' blogs, so it was great to see some for ourselves. 

Well dressing is an old English tradition in Derbyshire and the Peak District, where local communities decorate wells and springs with beautiful hand-crafted pieces of art made from petals, leaves, seed heads and other natural materials. The designs are set in large boards of soft clay. Tradition suggests that it is a way of giving thanks for the fresh water supply from surrounding springs. 

Before we returned back home to sunny Birmingham, we spent a morning at Cromford Mill. It is the world's first water-powered cotton spinning mill which was developed by Richard Arkwright and is now classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Arkwright chose Cromford for his mill because of the year round water supply needed to power his machinery. He aso built housing and developed the village for his employees to support maximum production.

After spending time looking at some of the restored buildings and machinery, we took a brief walk to St Mary's church where Richard and other members of the family are buried.

Then it was  back to our own small corner.

The garden was looking very sad and droopy when we got home, but it is looking much better now, at least in some places. I have been waiting and waiting for these lilies to flower, and now they are producing flowers every day. The variety is called 'Stargazer ', and it is just that. I shall be buying other varieties to add to them for next year. I think they are stunning. Also, the first sunflowers are blooming, and the bees are loving them. 

The weather will be hot again next week, but there may be a chance of a shower. However, even though it is uncomfortable to be outside here, I am thinking of all those who are particularly suffering with the heat and wildfires and all the dangers they bring. I pray that you will be safe.

Take care, everyone.