The Reed Warbler: garden

Showing posts with label garden. Show all posts

Thursday, 23 August 2018

Autumnal days are here ....

Don't know how it's with you, but over here there's a definite nip of Autumn in the air.
Though I've still got some (french) sunshine coming my way,
I'm quite ready to embrace it.
I'm sure this has a lot to do with the wonderful Summer we've had so far.

Eating every possible meal in the garden was almost a rule.

You can find the Rustic Hanging Bottles here

You can find the Wooden Scandi House here

This year I was very late sowing and the heath wasn't very helpful either,
but there still were enough flowers to fill my Jugs.

Both Hogben Jugs are available on our website and can be find here

A lovely customer gave me the idea for this display, 'love in a mist' in an Espresso Mug

For the third year in a row my 'Cafe au Lait' is flourishing,
even after I left the bulbs hibernate in my border during Winter

The pond was the most popular spot for all wildlife this year

But also my Buddleia

Trying to hang on that Summer feeling I like to preserve all its produce in a box

You can find the Wooden Window Box here

Now the days are drawing in, I like to cook meals that have to simmer
or bake cakes.
Any excuse will do and this time it was the youngest son
coming home from a holiday trip on Ibiza.

You can find the Wooden Cookbook Stand and Tea Towel here

I saw the recipe of this cake on Facebook at a friends profile
and because the men around this house love coconut I gave it a go.

I dare say with success.

I already shared this photo on my Instagram and there were a lot of requests
to share the recipe, so here it is.

This is what you need for the Coconut Cake:

*For the Cake Base:

- Sponge Flan Base 200gr

*For the filling:

- 30 gram Cornflour

- 480 ml of Cream

- 3 Egg Yolks

- 150 gram Sugar

- 55 gram grated Coconut

- 2 tablespoons Butter

Put the 480 ml Cream in a saucepan and add the Cornflower.

Whisk until the Cornflower has completely disappeared.

Then whisk the Egg Yolks and sugar in its total through.

Put the fire on medium heat and bring to boil while constant stirring.

Once it boils, take it off the heat and stir in the Coconut and Butter.

Pour the mixture over the Cake Base, cover it with Cling Film
and put in the refrigerator for at least 15 minutes.

*For the Topping:

- 180 ml of Cream

- 3,5 tablespoons Sugar

- 1,5 teaspoon Vanilla Extract

- 40 gram grated Coconut roasted

Whisk the 180ml Whipped Cream, 3,5 tablespoon Sugar and 1,5 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
at medium speed and spread over the Cake.
Sprinkle the grated Coconut over the Cake and after being in the refrigerator
for at least two hours it's ready to serve.

The Cake can, provided it's covered, be kept for several days.

Right now I'm busy packing for our break in the Provence.
I'm still very behind with my monthly Embroidery subscription
so I made sure to pack the 'essentials' 😜

Basket available here

Leaving my garden in the capable hands of my lovely neighbor,
I can't wait to see my Wisteria (which is full of buds) flowering for the second time.

And of course meeting you here again!

Anita
~xo~

Thursday, 8 March 2018

Winds of Spring ....

How did that happen, all of a sudden it feels like Spring.

I feel bad about neglecting this space for such a long time.

It was a very long and busy Winter, with at the end exceptionally cold temperatures, several storms

and even some snow.

It has been hard times for the birds in my garden.

So the last days I've been very busy topping up feeders,

putting out fresh water and providing shelter.

Luckily they still kept visiting my garden under these hard conditions.

While the blue tit is a regular visitor, this thrush certainly isn't.

The cold weather must have made him expand his territory.

And of course my little friend who never seems to fail my expectations of its presence.

I'm so very happy my Hellebore's survived the frost.
Still have to wait and see if my Wisteria and the buds of my Camellia also did,
though I covered them against the cold.

With the freezing temperatures we had, I'm so happy to have the possibility to light a fire.

One of the features in this house that made me fall in love with it instantly.

Nothing so cosy as doing some stitching by the fire.
I've subscribed to The Stitchery, an initiative of the lovely Nicki.
Although I just started my January Kit, it's already so much fun.
Each month you will receive an exclusive embroidery pattern with full instructions,
the base linen on which to stitch and all of the threads required to complete the work.
There will be suggestions for beginner stitches, depending on your ability and personal taste.

No lack of plans on this side because I also just registered for the free on line course
''how to grow my own flower cutting patch" given by the inspiring Emma of A bunch of Wild
I can't wait to get started in my little greenhouse again.
A rare photo of yours truly in front of my little sanctuary, which was taken as a product photo of the
Linen Crossover Apron you can find on our website.

Also busy times updating the website with the following new (spring) items ....

Embroidered Tea Towel

Jane Hogben Mug Leaping Hare

Paper Rabbit

Doll Hare

Wooden Window Box

Porcelain Plate Ivy

Bird Silhouette Robin

Botanic Print Fern

With the sun out again and higher temperatures,
I felt like making something Spring to hang on my front door.
I used the Wooden Star, made from branches from the tree in my garden, as base.
With all other props, you can see in the next photo, I just had a go.