In the kitchen.

I am not planning on sharing recipes and meal photos on this blog, we eat very simply, but this bread "asked" to have it's photo taken!

Spring is here, we are all spending most of the day out in the garden. Cooking is quick and minimal, but one day I came in and "threw" this soda bread in the oven. Traditional food can be so quick, easy and good!

 I usually make a slow yeast bread, using some of the dough for pizza, pitta breads and / or currant buns.

Cauliflowers are in, cauliflower  curry with peas from the freezer is my favourite cauliflower meal.

We are at at the end of the leek season. I love leeks as the base for frittata with asparagus, leek and potatoe soup or slow roasted in cream in the wood-fired oven, yum.

Lee, our first ewe lamb.

Thistle and her one day old ewe lamb with Alfie.
 Alfie LOVES the lamb, Zoe has named her Lee.

 Thistle birthed twins but one was weak and didn't make it.

Angus and Alfie, with Lee.

Lee just finding her feet.

The little Kerry herd 2014.

 Treacle and sooty, the boys.

 Treacle. The cattle have been out all winter.

 Angus giving Heather a scratch while Treacle says hello.
 Heather is mum to Amber and Treacle, and grandma to Sooty.

Treacle and Amber. Amber is due in July and is being dried off now.

 Treacle and Amber seeing off a white Sussex hen.

Alfie.

March sky

Wonderful lenticular clouds on March 15th.

 

March garden and Polytunnels.

The nectarine in the big tunnel has had spectacular and long-lasting blossom this year.

Asparagus is cropping well in the tunnels.

Potatoe onion on March 9th. It is a small onion but grows like a shallot. Each bulb grows into several so it is easy to keep a few of the best for planting next year.

Potatoe onions in the big tunnel on March 26th.

Sweet peppers being potted on, they will go in the big tunnel next month.
 

Outside the small tunnel some perennials are growing on in pots to fill in gaps later and to share.

Purple sprouting broccoli is cropping, March 27th.

Giant garlic on a frosty morning, amongst ground cover of phacelia and dead nettle.

March 12th.

Kale on a frosty morning

Cauliflower on a frosty morning.

First early potatoes in the small tunnel on March 11th.

Early potatoes are now well up. Leeks are growing in modules for planting out later.

Alfie playing while I potter, (and take photos!).

Little helper raking and digging.

A big pile of soil is a lot of fun, for Alfie and me....

....and for the hens!

 

I had help to dig a drainage trench outside the barn....

....and Angus had help to empty the trailer.

2 weeks later still digging, (we had a break!).

The woods in March.

 Primrose.

Hellebore.

 Lichen on willow.

 Lichen.

 More Turkey tails.

  Horse tail.

Every year I lop hazel rods from several hazel trees to make a frame for the runner beans to grow up.

 Lopping encourages more to grow.

Nearer the house the White Sussex hen takes a break from scratching up the garden.

White Sussex cockerel, this stone beside the Camellia is a popular perch.