Six Word Story: Turn

This little cow was a little bit to nosey and investigated this old wooden box a little too much. It has given me a great subject for Miriam's Short Story.

I hasten to add that it was removed rapidly from the poor cow.

Edible Garden

I was interested to see when watching BBC 2 's Gardeners World that Monty Don was discussing fennel. I usually cut back the herb fennel in the Autumn but I think I will follow his suggestion of leaving the seed heads until the New Year as they do look quite attractive.

I often use the fennel leaf on baked salmon and in salads but have never tasted the seeds. Monty demonstrated trying these . They have a strong aniseed flavour and are supposed to aid digestion. I have now sampled them. They are quite tasty and I shall now probably pick the old one as I pass by.

I equally only learned the other day from a comment on my blog post by my sister that nasturtiums seeds are known as the poor man's caper.

I haven't been tempted to try these although I have occasionally used the leaf and flower in salad.

I can see that we are not the only ones to find these tasty!

Snap: Beside the Water

It is time again to join Helena with her Wednesday treat, the great meme that she has created called Snap. This week I have chosen a few waterside views taken as I wandered around Bristol watching the Bristol Half Marathon more details of which can be found on yesterday's post.

1. A competitor warms up against a nautical background.

2. One of the restored bonded warehouses along the docks.

3. An elevated view of one of the locks which helps to maintain the water level of the harbour from the tidal river Avon.

4. A spectator and his dog relax along the marathon route.

The Bristol Half

On Sunday older daughter and her cousin participated in the Bristol Half Marathon and I went along as a spectator. It started to rain as we arrived on a packed park and ride bus but this did not seem to dampen the buzz in the collection area in Millennium Square.

After a pre run photo I left them both to go to the starting point.

Despite the showers spectators were collecting along the route with some very keen young supporters.

Soon they were off and then came the tricky task of picking out the girls amongst the mass of runners.

Luckily they spotted me!

Fortunately the rain passed off and by the time most of the runners were passing under Bristol Suspension Bridge the sun was shining.

Once the girls were off down the Portway I made my way back to the centre of Bristol to catch them towards the end of the race. This gave me time to wander along the docks from giving me a view of where we had started out in particular the baggage hold in buses on the other side of the water.

Once I had grabbed a coffee I was back on spectator duty on the corner of the penultimate loop into Queen Square.

Then caught them both as they came back out and into the centre. 

It was not long then before it was time for a post run photo.

Then a wander back to the bus.

It was at this stage while the girls were beginning to plan a restful afternoon and some food that we had the phone call that the cows were out. The rest of the story has already been told!

Memorandum Monday: The Unexpected

Well Monday is here again. It's time to wave at Sian and the other Monday bloggers. What's new around here? Older daughter is hobbling a little after taking part in the Bristol Half Marathon but more about that later in the week. Sunday in fact was one of those days that didn't pan out quite as expected but then that's how it goes with livestock.This innocent looking heifer was at the centre of the trouble.

Yes she looks innocent enough doesn't she? It was a report from a neighbouring farmer that she had been seen wandering down the road that had us rushing down to put her back. It didn't take too long to find her but the same couldn't be said for the other five. Driving around the surrounding roads showed no sign of them in addition she wasn't keen to stay in the field on her own and kept heading back through the hedge. 

Three hours later we had her loaded and back at the farm but still no sign of the others. This is always worrying as to where they could be and in addition plans for a birthday tea had to been put on hold. That's life on a farm! Anyway the good news is they have all been found lurking in another farmer's yard and are safely back in a field. 

The birthday candles have been blown out and the cake consumed.

 So how did I get onto that subject? That is not what I had planned to tell you about today. I had planned to tell you what I had learnt about fennel and nasturtiums seeds but that too will have to wait till later in the week. Have a good week yourself!

Be My Valentine

Way back in June when the Summertime Photography Scavenger Hunt list was released I had in mind just what I wanted to find for The Natural Heart. Unfortunately it is something we don't see much in the summer but did still ask husband farmer to look out for one. Alas no luck.

Today he brought me in two to find me declare "it's too late!". What were these you ask? Heart shaped potatoes. 

They occur quite frequently but of course through most of the summer it is too early to harvest potatoes. My enterprising older daughter has suggested storing all the heart shaped ones in a bag to get out to sell for Valentines Day. After all who wants roses when you could have a heart potato?

Self Seeded

It is some years since I have grown any nasturtiums but that does not seem to effect how many keep appearing in the garden each year.

This year they are looking particularly good.

They have climbed all up the fence and look fabulous in the sun.

Normally they are destroyed by caterpillars. Not this year!

Six Word Story: Never

When I was getting some potatoes for lunch I found a "mega spud". Just the right subject to join in with Miriam's Short Story.

Have you Seen One Yet?

Last week saw the launch of the new five pound note. A customer paid with one at the weekend and that was the first one we had seen.

It is made of polymer and cannot be torn or folded. It is also quite a bit smaller. There is a see through window with Big Ben embossed on it.

The aim is to move over to similar £10 and £20 notes.

Snap: Fresh from the Garden

I have chosen for Helena's Snap this week to visit the vegetable garden. Well to be precise several gardens.

1. This curious plant was in the kitchen garden of Kew Palace. It is very aptly named. Have you ever tried this variety?

2. Squashes and marrows are prevalent in every vegetable garden at this time of year.

3. Another first for me. I have seen orange tomatoes before but never orange beef tomatoes. These were growing outside in the main kitchen garden at Kew.

4. Lastly wandering around our own vegetable garden this cabbage bejewelled with raindrops caught my eye.

2016 Summertime Photography Scavenger Hunt Final Link Up

Summer is rapidly drawing to an end and at the same time it is the end of the Summer fun of finding all the items for Rinda's photo hunt. Today I am showing my final choices.

1. A Wild Heart - a naturally occurring heart. I just love strawberries.

2. A footprint or pawprint. Footprints on the newly washed sand.

3. A skeleton, bone or X Ray. This chap lives in the Abbeychurch Yard in Bath.

4. A book or magazine read during 2016.

I don't find a lot of time for reading and listen to a lot of audiobooks but here are two books on my book club list. Then I have spent a lot of time wandering through New Zealand guide books in preparation for our trip to New Zealand. Lastly this article in the local National Trust newsletter caught my eye. Trevose Head is close to a regular haunt of ours and I was delighted to see it has been secured by the National Trust. It is also the nearest I have got to a lighthouse this year for Alternative 1. 

5. A Porch or Deck. My friend's new addition to her house.

6. A camper (caravan). A step back in time.

7. A family gathering. My mother-in-law's 90th birthday.

8. A drawing, art project, scrapbook page, greeting card or art journal created by you. Now this was a tricky one because I am no artist or scrap booker. I do however enjoy creating in the kitchen and my chocolate swirl slice is a favourite with all the family.

9. Someone playing with, in or around water. You cannot see the water in this picture but the view of the sea is in everyone's eyes as they relax on Sidmouth promenade.

10. A bicycle. The flying bicycles in Bath to celebrate the Tour of Britain has got to be the subject for this one.

11. Fresh Produce. This display of The Very Hungry Caterpillar made from fruit and vegetables won the day for this item.

12. A window. This is a very special window in Lacock Abbey especially to photographers. It was the subject for the first negative in 1835 by Henry Fox Talbot.

13. The Moon. A view of the Strawberry full moon which appears almost amber in colour. It coincided with the Summer Solstice. An occurrence that only happens about every 70 years.

14. A buffet of food for the 90th birthday lunch.

15. A team logo. I spotted this in the window of a sports shop.

16. A map showing a trip taken during the time period. My daughter went off to Europe inter railing during the summer. Those of us left at home followed her progress with pins in a map and as virtual tourists with all the photos she shared with us.

17. Twins. Some of our swallow chicks. Not technically twins but these two stuck together for many days on the top of a bike hung in the shed.

18. A Supermarket cart, basket or trolley full of groceries. This is the required photo.

Isn't this second one a far more interesting use of a trolley?

19. A seasonal cocktail or beverage. Celebrating our daughter's 18th birthday.

20. Someone Laughing. Speaks for itself!

21. A photograph with of you with a newspaper or calendar page from the time period covered in the hunt.  A very significant political event reported around the world.

Alternative 1. A lighthouse. I haven't visited any lighthouses this year or even glimpsed one from afar but this is a little souvenir from Brittany that lives in our kitchen.

Alternative 2. A baby. My cousin's beautiful baby.

So that brings the hunt to an end for me for this year. Thank you Rinda for all the fun you have created.