Tuesday 28 June 2022

Tuesday

 Tuesday's happy has nothing to do with my garden.  Thousands upon thousands of gorgeously ripe strawberries, just waiting to be picked.  The new banner photo is another happy.


Here's another one - two for the price of one today.


Morning, everyone.

I really did have a lovely time at Lathcoats.  I do take joy (no pun intended) in the smaller things of life and just walking along the rows, in the fresh sunshine, warm but not hot, with the aroma of strawberries filling the air and the birds singing their little heads off was just wonderful.  It didn't take me long to fill my container and, on my way back to pay, I saw a gentleman with a punnet filled with luscious looking raspberries so I think I will go again on Wednesday morning (assuming it is open) and pick raspberries.

What are they all for?  Well, I must make my strawberry gin/vodka again for starters.  Also, there's 250gs-worth macerating in jam sugar as I type.  I don't use much jam nowadays and, of course, no longer do I have Mum and Dad to offload jars of jam onto, so  I'm making just a little bit and see what that looks like - how much it makes, I mean.  I have more jam sugar and I have lemon juice so I'll be making that first batch later on this morning. 
Then some are for the freezer and quite a lot are for just eating and enjoying now.  Lovely.

Then I went to the shop and picked up some apricots, some chestnut mushrooms, some tomatoes and a dozen locally laid eggs.  That means that, apart from the gin or vodka, I really don't need much else in the way of shopping for now.  Yes, I need a cucumber but I have one coming along.  (yay)

Circuits was good and swimming was good.  At circuits, I love it when I achieved something that I have found impossible before and yesterday that was the dreaded plank.  I did it for the 45 seconds not just once, but four times!  How's that, eh!  A bit of a killer but I did it!  Now to practise at home and make sure I can do it again next time it comes up!
I did 500m at swimming - which doesn't sound a lot but it's 25 lengths.  That's now ticked off on my swimming record for the sponsored swim.
I'll do another plug for it again soon and many thanks to all of you who have already donated - I'm very grateful.

I slept very well.

Today starts with Groove - a dance aerobic type thing.  Then it's home for breakfast before going into town for another visit to the audiologist.  I think I might take the opportunity to wander around the shops a bit while I'm at it.  Why not?

I have that strawberry jam to make and some strawberry gin to start off (must remember to get the gin in M&S when in town) and I have a dining table to sort out - it is piled high with things to put away.  I've been treating it as a sort of half way house and it looks dire.
That should all keep me going.

Do you like strawberries?  What do you make with them?  xx


26 comments:

  1. I love your new banner it just looks like a taste of summer. I've taken to stirring a small spoonful of jam into yoghurt. It tastes divine and no nasty preservatives needed.

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    1. Oh, that sounds wonderful, thanks. I will definitely do that. xx

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  2. How lovely to have a PYO place so close and the strawbs look luscious

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    1. Third time lucky. I've already replied twice and they have vanished into thin air!
      Yes, it really is lovely. It's not a bad little farm shop either. The strawberries were so delicious.
      xx

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  3. Those strawberries look delicious. The fresher the better. X

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  4. Yes to loving strawberries, strawberry jam, scones and thick cream - heaven!! We always have berries/grapes for dessert, just as they are, but I do like a Strawberry Pavlova, a proper Summer dessert!
    I really like the way they are growing the strawbs, no hunkering down to the ground and the berries won't get muddy either! The runners can just be cut off too!

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    1. Oh, yes, a strawberry pavlova is divine.
      I like the growing style too - easy on the back apart from keeping them all clean. xx

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    2. I just realised that my comments have been coming through as from ‘Anonymus’, no idea how that happened, hopefully I’ve now rectified. Sorry, Annabeth x

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    3. It IS you - I thought it must be, thanks for confirming. Blogger is doing some weird stuff at the moment. xx

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  5. I bet I'm not the only one today that clicks on your blog and goes 'Oooh ...' at your header photo. The scent along those rows of strawberry plants must have been AMAZING!!

    I LOVE strawberries but only when they are British and in season, and I usually just eat them as they are, one or two at a time from a dish on the worktop ... every time I pass by or make myself a coffee. Alan buys them all year round but while sometimes I am tempted to have one as they look luscious, they just have no flavour.

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    1. They do make a good photo, don't they. I love them just as they come too - there's nothing quite as good as a sun ripened strawberry or two - or more. So delicious. xx

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  6. I could smell this strawberries as soon as the header popped up. I eat mine with greek yoghurt and DH with balsamic vinegar/black freshly ground pepper. Catriona

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  7. They look delicious! I love strawberries but don't have them too often as the ones in the supermarket often lack flavour. xx

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    1. They can be sadly disappointing, can't they? Thank goodness there's a few weeks each year when they are just right. xx

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  8. I love strawberries in salads, as jam, to eat on cereal and, of course, as strawberry shortcake! I love them when they are ripe and naturally sweet. I like your new banner picture, too!

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    1. In salad - that's interesting. I wonder what salad veg you team them with. xx

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    2. I love a spinach salad with strawberry slices, almonds, feta cheese, red onion and a really good poppyseed dressing. Delicious!

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    3. It sounds delicious. xx

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  9. Hi, Joy!

    Completely off topic! I'm not on blogger (correct name?), so am unable to respond directly to Cherie's post about her new banner.

    Will you please ask her to post a photo and approximate dimensions of her new banner? "Banner" is used to describe so many hanging decorations these days!

    I'm in the U.S. (Arizona) and may--or may not--be able to help. :-)

    Hope you do not mind being the intermediary! Thanks!

    BTW, I love strawberries! Difficult to grow in the low desert. We have to plant them in mid to late February, and even then they require a lot of TLC. But at least the sun doesn't bake them! 🙃

    ...Taja 🏜️

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    1. Hi, Taja. I'll let Eileen know although she might have seen your message here.
      I can imagine desert conditions make strawberry growing tricky but all the nicer when you do have them. xx

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    2. Thanks Taja. It's kind of you to offer to help. I've found just the thing I need now.

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    3. 👍 Looking forward to the unveiling and placement. :-)

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  10. What a lovely way for a u-pick strawberry farm. Here they plant them on the ground and my back just can not take that anymore.

    God bless.

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    1. It really is a killer, isn't it, all that bending over to pick. Also the slugs and snails can get to the berries and they can get muddy.
      I really appreciate the way they do it there. xx

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