Monday 21 October 2013

A Mixed Week

Well this last week has been very mixed. We have had lovely Autumnal sunshine making the leaves on the trees sparkle with hues of rich beautiful colours. Then some days there has been a thick mist which has stayed with us until mid-day showing up many spiders that have tight walked webs of fine intricate artwork. Heavy and almost torrential downpours of rain with dark skies that look almost like its night-time only to suddenly have the sun appear with fantastic colourful rainbows and massive puddles that tempt you to put your wellies on and splish splosh in the shiny mirrors.(Is splish a word)?

Sadly I lost two of my sweet little baby bantams that had hatched earlier in the year, one was found dead in the hen house and the other nowhere to be found. We suspect a hungry buzzard had been and taken it as they have been flying and screeching overhead this week. The rest of the chickens have been very much on their guard with distress calls, when the fruit and acorns drop with heavy thuds from the gusts of wind. They also hate the heavy rain.

More chutney and stewed apples and pears to be put in the freezer have been made with the windfalls. Friends that have come to the door have gone home with carrier bags full. We have been having apples sometimes for breakfast, dinner and tea in different forms one way or another. The house smells pleasantly of apples and pears (and smells better than any scented candle), that are being stored and will hopefully last until next April.




The Weekend

Saturday, a spur of the moment decision  to go to London was made, looking around Covent Garden which was buzzing with street acts, lots of tourist and plenty to see in the city despite the rain.




Then having a tasty Chinese meal in China town with brightly coloured lanterns, good luck symbols, fortune and charms. But its always good to return here to the orchard to be greeted by Shadow, Mittens, Sooty and Daisy and just relax in our little part of the world.
Sunday morning the rain held off just enough time to dig up my exhausted tomato plants and clean up the greenhouse - a job that always marks the end of summer. All that is left in there now are my little sweet pea seedlings and a few lavender plants and a few plants that have already gone to sleep.
A tasty pork roast dinner marinated in cider and apples was cooked by our son, it was very yummy with all the trimmings and a good bottle of wine to go with it. Then to relax watching a film and then later the wonderful  Downton Abbey.

Well I hope you have a good week.

Sarah  xx

18 comments:

  1. You're right about the smell of apples Sarah, I've loads now stock piled awaiting to be turned into cider. Sounds like you enjoy this time of year as much as I do.
    JW

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  2. Thanks for your comments John. I would like to have a go at making cider in the future. It's been a bumper year for the fruit. Happy cider making. Sarah

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  3. Hi Sarah, Unsure if this is of any interest but here's a link to some posts I wrote under the guise of Murphyfish :-

    http://murphyfish-musing.blogspot.co.uk/p/making-stuff.html

    Its from a time before depression bit my arse and I lost my way, I hope that'll appeal to you and show you how easy cider making is.
    JW

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  4. Sorry to read about the loss of two of your chickens..... that's always hard.

    I can just imagine how wonderful your home smells; with pears and apples perfuming the air. Delish.

    Sounds like a wonderful time, and I too love Downton Abbey.

    Smiles :)
    Kerin

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    1. Good to hear from you Kerin,
      It's a lovely time of year isn't it!
      Sarah x

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  5. There's nothing like the smell of apples in the house. I love Covent Garden and visit quite often. We were in the East End last Saturday and enjoyed this immensely.
    Patricia x

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    1. Hi Patricia, Good to hear from you. It was a good day it must have been 4 years since we had been to the city and gosh it's changed. Have you been to any shows recently in the West End?
      Sarah x

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  6. What a lovely post. Sorry to read about your bantams though.

    I can just smell the pears and apples and you are so right about them being better than any candle.

    Glad you had a good visit to London, and that you had a delicious dinner prepared for you by your son when you got home.

    Love and hugs to you ~ FlowerLady

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    1. Hi lovely flowerlady
      Thank you for visiting me and your comments. Still thinking about that beautiful song.
      Hugs Sarah x

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  7. Hello Sarah. I've loved reading about autumn where you are - although I am sorry to read about the bantams. We had Buzzards 'visiting' our smallholding for the first time this year and our chickens and geese are very uneasy at this new danger.
    I'm glad you have such a good apple crop - apples with every meal here, too!

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    1. Hi Wendy The buzzards are very clever, we always know when we are going to have chicks hatch as they circle overhead and make a screeching noise. Thanks for visiting and enjoy all those apples.
      Sarah x

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  8. Hi Sarah ~ I didn't see an email address so I'll just write a quick note here.

    Thank you for visiting my blog and your kind comment . I am so sorry for the loss of your Mum.

    Love, hugs and prayers ~ FlowerLady

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  9. What a balm to visit here!
    Your apple trees are glorious.

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    1. Hi Julie
      Thank you for visiting and your comments. Look forward to speaking to you soon. Sarah x

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  10. Hello, Sarah

    I got quite caught up in reading about your life and can almost smell the pork roast cooking. The photo of the fully laden apple tree is beautiful.

    Thank you for your visit to my blog. It was kind of you to pop over the pond to Canada to take a little look.

    -Karen

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    1. Hi Karen, Yes the tree is beautiful and the apples are tasty and store really well, last year we managed to keep them for many of the winter months. It is good to hear your news from Canada. Sarah x

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  11. Thanks for your lovely post.Great to see these things.

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It would lovely to receive your comments, hear about what you do and where you live. Thank you for visiting me here in the Orchard, I will reply as soon as I can. Do visit again. Many happy times.
Sarah xx