New Classes

There is something wonderful about drawing.  I've always admired it, and tried to copy little things,  mainly around my calligraphy, but have wanted to do something original.  What better than having lessons?  I'm having weekly lessons with Helen Clues  at the Gecko Studio and Gallery in Old Town, Kenilworth.

For my first Art Lesson, we were given a wonderful array of mushrooms, and with some trepidation at making the first mark using graphite pencils, and some good guidance, two hours later I have a couple of trials.  My first one which I had only noticed that I dated 2014 after I took this photograph, but since changed.

and my second much larger one when I started to feel less inhibited

I'm already looking forward to the next art classes, each time something new....Helen is an inspirational teacher

Easiest Buns in the World

Mix all the ingredients, put in the fridge overnight or even two days, I made mine with half spelt and half stone ground wholemeal, threw in some sunflower seeds, pumpkin and linseeds, and it works!

Just put spoonfuls straight onto a baking sheet

and put in the oven.  That about all you need to do, no kneading at all, and no work surfaces to clean.

This was one of this month's choices from the Book of Buns, by Jane Mason, bake along on facebook.  I baked half one day, and left the dough one more day just to check that it was OK to do so.  Yes it is, and the texture of the crust and inside is different and interesting compared to kneaded bread.  They also freeze and reheat beautifully.

The recipe is available on line in Self Raising Flower's blog

A cure for the January Blues?

I've been toddling along quite nicely, no January Blues whatsoever.  Then I thought a little retail therapy might insure the high spirits.  So I planned a little road trip, to keep my driving experience updated, to a plant grower.  I went through recent RHS magazines, the internet etc to choose some plants, did my research etc.

After sending the boy to work on the bus, I set out this Friday on my trip across country to Cotswold Garden Flowers.  The weather was bright and sunny, but the first obstacle was a closed bridge which entailed a long detour.

I loved walking perfectly alone through the numerous poly tunnels looking at the pots of growing plants.  Even the outside beds in their winter garb were interesting.  There was a friendly cat who kept jumping up and wanting attention, and several lovely plump chickens finding a corner to use as a dust bath.

Finally I found Mandy and we had a great chat about some of the plants.  She had placed some gorgeous snowdrops that she had found, quite new and unique in her garden.  I tried to buy them, but they were definitely not for sale at this time, so good luck to her and I hope they bulk up soon.

I had chosen to go to Cotswold Garden Flowers because the RHS plant finder had listed them as my closest supplier of Lachenalia.  I had thought of growing these in the conservatory as they are winter flowering, with a full dormancy during the summer.  I realise you can buy the bulbs but that the season for that is the Summer and I just could not wait.

I chose a couple of different ones:  Lachenali Aloides Quadricolour and Lachenalia Romaud.  If I 'fall in love' with these, then I shall see what bulbs I can acquire during the summer.

Then it was the case of a girl in a candy store, well me in a Plant Nursery.  I bought a couple of hardy geraniums: Blue Sunrise which has golden foliage, and Rozanne which has been voted plant of the centenary.  They are both dormant but I have Mandy's assurances that they are good sturdy plants.

Outside in their display of potted up plants, my eyes caught Mahonia Soft Caress.  I love the form and the fact that there are no prickles, with the red stems and soft foliage a great combination, I am really looking forward to the sweet smelling yellow blooms.

I already have and love my clumps of dark purple Ophiopogum, so was delighted to find a green and white variegated form called Little Tabby.

Continuing the theme of winter greens, and also my love of sedges, when I saw a lovely large specimen of 'Carex Oshimensis Everest' growing in a stone urn swaying in the wind, catching the low winter sunshine, a nice specimen just had to come home with me.  It is already potted up in a larger pot, and lightning up these dull winter days.

A large oriental poppy Patty's Plum will be in the summer border, and lastly a little beauty to join my aeoniums in the conservatory: meet Cristata Sunburst.  What a great name, it also looks fabulous against my deep maroon and plain green aeoniums.

If there were any vestiges of January Blues, they were blown away, and I had a nice Sunday afternoon pottering around the garden, planting and repotting, and dreaming of what beauties will soon start sprouting in the garden.

Coventry Cathedral

We were considering what to do on a spare day, when D mentioned that he was yet to visit Coventry Cathedral.  Ah!  I did want to look for Anise seeds, so a trip to combine the two was just the thing.  The sun was low and bright and brought out the wonderful details of the coloured glass.

To the side of the High Altar, in the Chapel of Christ in Gethsemane, there is an interesting and beautiful wall mosaic deigned by Steven Sykes.  I was looking at a part of it

and then saw that the design has been worked on a kneeling cushion

I am so pleased we visited together, we walked around pointing out different choice views.  However, we got  tickets which allowed to visit any number of times this year, so decided to leave more for another visit.

Bollo de Hornasso and seeking Anise seeds

Another of the recipes in Jane Mason's Book of Buns, which on 'Baking our Way through the Book of Buns' on facebook, is the one for December.  Its fun baking the same recipe together,  as I feel that have fellow bakers to discuss the finer points of the recipe with, and also commiserate if there are any problems.  This foggy and freezing Sunday just seemed the right sort of day for baking these buns and filling the house with delicious smells.

One of the ingredients is Anise.  Ever since this recipe was chosen, I have been in search of this spice.  Through Google and a large book on spices I've learnt quite a bit about this one.  Its the spice used to flavour aniseed balls, though I read that the centre is a rapeseed, which reminds of my mother who really loved these little sweets, and she often asked for these to be taken over to Mauritius when I or anyone else from the UK was visiting.

I went seeking seeds and I find jems.  Two I knew already: two friends who put themselves out to seek this one for me, thank you Penny and Vicki.  I also went into all types of shops seeking the little anise, and met and chatted with people.

Finally on a trip to Coventry, I found a wonderful Market Stall full of Eastern Promise.  The stallholder had lived in North Africa and also Barcelona, and now has set up shop here.   There were lovely marzipan fruits, even better than the ones we saw in Sicily!

It was as good as any spice stall I have seen, forget the short journey and the cold outside, you could be somewhere in the Mediterranean. I felt that I had been on a voyage.

Anise was not the only item I bought!  But I have quite a large packet, and if friends locally would like a sample, they just need to ask.

As with many recipes when you are given options I am faced with a dilemma: to use a lot of crushed whole spices, or a smaller amount of ground spices, especially if I have not used the spice before.  As usual I made a compromise using some which I blitzed in grinder, and a few whole ones to check the effect.

Just as I check my photographs

I find a touching connection:  The lid was on a small jar of honey which I bought from a group of young people raising funds for their trip to Sierra Leone.  I had quickly put my hand in my lid drawer and was about to ditch it and get a fresh new one, but on second thoughts chose to keep this one.