Sunny Day out in the Cotswolds

Sunny Day out...anyone reading this will wonder where we were.  This bank  holiday weekend is not really sunny, nearly a washout, but I am remembering last weekend.

Mr S had planned on going to a Model Railway Show in Stow.  He had planned this a few weeks before hand, and had 'bribed' or is it rather 'rewarded' my offer to go with him, with an offer of lunch out.  However, as the day bode hot, I suggested a picnic lunch.  I would rather have found a nice spot than spend a couple of hours in a restaurant, which also included the time to find one.  So looked out our National Trust Book and found an open property nearby.

We set off for Stow on the Wold, and made for the Town Hall.  I loved the room on the first floor, and was intrigued by all the old oil paintings on the wall, and other artifacts dating from the Civil war.  I spent time looking at these, whilst my dearly beloved looked at a very n gauge layout.

 After tea and cake, we had a tour of the town, and came across this lovely cookshop

and what did they have that caught my fancy but a casserole on very special offer!

Chastleton House was amazing, I can't believe that we have not been there before.  We had our picnic in the shade by the croquet lawns with a lovely bank of wild flowers behind us.

I spied some sempervivums growing wild on a wall..

Inside, the plasterwork and carvings are amazing

If you are thinking of visiting do check opening times as they will be closed during a few weeks in the summer for filming.

Waitrose Kenilworth stop standard Tate & Lyle Sugar

Yesterday I went to my local store to pick up some sugar ready for Jam Making.  The fruit are ripening and the first of the English Strawberries mean its time for me to start.

However to my disconsternation the brand they now carry is Silver Spoon.  I went to the desk and 'filed' my complaint.  The assistant said that they had changed the brand as a request from customers who wanted to support British Beet Producers.  Well maybe sugar beet is fine to put in your tea or coffee, or on your cereal, but for bakers: please give us a choice.  My query when I insisted, was written on a little piece of till roll.  I wonder whether this will go any further?

When I had first moved to Kenilworth, I had bought this brand from Sainsburys and I really did not feel it was equal in my preserves or baking.  The set was not quite there, and my meringues not quite so good.  At first I thought it was me, but when  Waitrose opened and they had Tate & Lyle, I could feel the difference straight away.  Am I the only one to think this?  Tate & Lyle are fairtrade and how about supporting foreign sugar growers.  If we are to support just British Farmers, will Waitrose start to stock only English Butter, English Charcuterie, English caught prawns.  I would be pleased for similar ranges to be supplied just from English Farmers too!

I really hope that I can find Tate & Lyle somewhere else.

Sempervivums

I get to buy pretty named varieties, but then loose the labels, and plant up shallow pans the current favourite being discarded bonsai pots.  They are tough plants, can stay outdoors all year round, need very little attention, except rejuvenating which really means repotting young ones, and throwing out the ones which have run to seed and then die.

If anyone has empty ones lying around, they can bring them round and choose some little ones to plant up for themselves.

Here are a few different types waiting for their final containers

They also look great with just one variety planted in one pot

Burnt Pan

I've seen this before, and I've also burnt the very same pan.  I was 'reducing' the liquid in which I had poached some figs, and had just popped into the garden......The figs are now sitting in Marsala Wine! By the way they were not in the pan when it got burnt, I was just reducing some of the soaking liquid.  The figs I had bought when we went to Croatia last year.  I bought them straight from the woman who had grown them and dried them herself.  She was so delighted when I went back and bought a second lot from me, I nearly thought I was going to be invited back to her farm!  I settled for a small bunch of grapes and a handful of rocket picked that morning and still with the roots on as a gift.

A few minutes later, or maybe more, I came back in, and my nose said that's it...I was resolute, I would not be upset.  After all I have had this pan over twenty years, and maybe another one would be best.  There is a slight dink in the side when someone, not me must have dropped it!

I left it overnight soaking, but next morning there was no change.  Then I got out my very seldom used oven cleaner.  Don't get me wrong I do clean the oven, but I prefer no harsh chemicals, and  use Kitchen spray and elbow grease.  I donned rubber gloves, long sleeves and apron, and applied the Oven Pride to lid and pan, and put the whole lot into a large bag for another overnight soak.

The next morning lid was completely clean, but the pan was still solid.  I trailed the internet, and decided to use the vinegar and baking soda routine, together with plenty of elbow grease.  Actually I used an old spoon to scrape the surface.  I did this in batches, as my elbow grease was running out and finally the pan/casserole is useable again.

I've just looked up the price in case I still want to buy another of these stellar casseroles, but no I won't be, and I now think the time I spent scrubbing really worth while.

Prologue:  I found a shop just by accident on a day out to Stow...and they had a Stellar caserole, of a large size, on offer, at a price I could not refuse!  I still have my smaller caserole, and I have since had the tip off a friend that rhubarb boiled up in the pan works too.

Grevillea Canberra Gem

Yesterday I speeded out to view the shearing of the Alpacas at Toft Alpaca.  It was my own fault that I was late.  At Pilates my teacher Jayne, had mentioned that she was going out there, and it seemed just the thing for me to join her, as I was 'free' and had the car.  For over a week I have been housebound, whilst we have the bathroom gutted and plastered, and tiled, and refitted.  D had decided to work from home, and hence the unexpected day of 'freedom'.

The group had already set off, and went down various paths to try to find them.  I found mothers with babies, but no group.  I went back to the shop, enjoyed looking at the yarns, but decided to head back after waiting for half an hour or so.  I had the car, and I was on my own, so decided to drop in on Ryton Organic Gardens.  Officially they were closed, but with my RHS membership, they suggested I slip round the main buildings.  It was lovely, hardly anyone else in the garden, I strolled around, but then had to dart back to the car, as heavy rain drove its needles into me.

On my way back I decided to call over to Avondale Nurseries in Baginton, and have a look round.  Brian Ellis had just given our last talk at the Kenilworth Horticultural Club.  His show garden is really worth looking around but the plant which I spied had no small ones for sale.  Next door, all within the Russell Nursery complex is  John Gillies who has just opened a small outlet for his shrubs, so I popped in there.

John has some unusual shrubs, with the entrance to his area decorated with fine specimens.  Just looking around, I felt that what I needed was a bigger garden!  His little dog is sure to greet you, but he is definitely on guard.  John was in his tunnel working, and I felt quite free to browse without pressure.

Well I felt I needed a treat, after all I had missed the walk around at the Alpaca Farm!  I was drawn by Grevillea Canberra Gem.  It was an Australian Plant, and I could grown it in a pot for a while.  I loved the leaf form and the shape of the flower.  It reminded me of those bunches of flowers we get early in the year in florists which often include some of the large Protea flowers, and a few others.  John gave me some advice.  I loved the form of the flower, and have looked up various sources to learn more.  Its a member of the Proteaceae family!  I've gathered care instructions which include NOT feeding it with a phosphate festiliser!