Hello and how has your week been?
We had a good Easter, albeit largely wet, and made headway in the garden. We got almost all the planting done in the big border, other than those plants yet to be sufficiently established and a whole load of foxgloves that I sewed last year and need to transplant. The phacelia ‘green manure’ that we sewed in the veg patch last autumn has been strimmed back, the beds mulched and sweet peas planted out. I hope they’ll be alright in this endless cold and wet, but I needed room in the plastic palace to prick out the many, many tomato seedlings that germinated!
Hedgerow Delights
As I’ve walked with Gertie this week I found myself making a mental note of the spots in hedgerows where the delicate white blossoms of the Blackthorn act as sentinels for the sloes to come in the autumn. I love making sloe gin, the gathering of the deep purple berries in whatever receptacle comes to hand in the moment (frequently a clean dog poo bag 🙈) followed by a period of time when the freezer drawers are good for nothing, so stuffed with hedgerow loot are they, until I add them to the gin and sugar in jars to steep. Although I still enjoy a snifter of sloe gin in the moment I now regret it the following morning, so it’s something I prefer giving as gifts these days
Actually I once appeared on TV making sloe gin. In 2017, before we lived in Oak Tree Barn full time, I let it as a film/photo location and was approached by a local production company looking for a kitchen in which to film some ‘cooks at home’ for little snippets of a Hairy Bikers Christmas production. I was highly surprised to be asked if I’d like to be a contributor but ended up being one of five cooks, each of us making four homemade gifts or offerings for Christmas. It was a fascinating experience, I had no idea previously just how long even a one minute film could possibly take to shoot and the extraordinary level of detail required. I found it highly entertaining that rather than light the fire for the required cosy backdrop to interview sections, coloured cellophane and battery tea lights providing the glow instead.
I made sloe gin, iced biscuits, a meringue wreath and lemon curd. I must admit to feeling completely out of my depth as the other participants were all cooks of one description or another, and I was more than alarmed to discover that at least one participant had sought wardrobe and makeup advice which absolutely hadn’t occurred to me! Each December since then someone will at some point ask me incredulously if it was indeed me that they had seen/heard on the TV.
Snap Happy
Some of you will perhaps think of me as a photographer, indeed I often describe myself as such, but in truth I rather lost my way photographically over the last couple of years. Endeavouring to establish a ‘proper business’ somehow resulted in my getting caught up in agonising self doubt and kind of losing my photo mojo. But I still love my camera and it’s never far from my side ‘though I do use my phone much of the time for it is just so convenient.
I do however have a project in mind that I’d like to decide whether or not to commit to; I have been pondering it for many months now, making occasional lists and sketches but have yet to begin. My fingers hover above the keyboard as I try to decide whether to write about it here; I waver between believing some accountability would help and uncertainty as to whether it’s something I really want to do. Hmm, maybe next week?
Mud, Fire & Smoke
This weekend I’m off to West Dean in Sussex for a three day throwing course which I’m looking forward to enormously. I’m hoping to level up a little, to begin throwing more consistent shapes, larger pieces and hopefully something with a lid - we’ll see. I have actually thrown a couple of moon jars that I’m quite pleased with, they were inspired by our younger daughter’s final drama school student performance in which she performed a monologue she had written about the moon. It was truly an amazing experience to watch her, I was properly proud and am hoping to use some of her words to decorate the jars.
I wonder how many of you are reading this in the Substack app and if so how you’re finding the platform? I like being able to read other writers’ work here, but have found it quite an overwhelming place over the last couple of weeks; the notes function became crazy busy, reminding me of Twitter/X, and I seemed to get caught in a loop of ‘how to grow your Substack’ accounts. Perhaps I’m just lazy, but while I enjoy both writing and reading I don’t want to spend hours and hours in the app trying to find interesting and entertaining things to say and share - it feels stressful, akin to corporate cocktail parties where I don’t know anyone well and feel absurdly mute.
Anyhow, I am off to resume my search for a parcel which arrived earlier this week, (and I know it arrived because one daughter saw it and I also have the photo from the courier company) but I am absolutely jiggered if I can find it. I recall precisely where I put it but it is not there and all other household members deny having moved it. It’s a mystery along with my missing beanie…!
With love until next week,
Vx
PS. Missing parcel mystery solved - turns out it was more a case of mistaken identity than disappearance! I’m just grateful that daughter was equally foxed so we can’t simply blame my poor memory.
🍀🌷bonjour ! Dear Vanessa always a great pleasure ri read you ! Would love to come & see you ! Planning à journey and à FLE by the end of September
I am with you completely on the Notes dilemma, it all seems so switched on and keyed in, which I’m not! I type something, read it back and immediately delete - I honestly feel old and out of touch every time I try, so I think I’ll stop!
I love hearing your voice relaying your week Vanessa, I’m imaging you collecting sloes in dog poo bags… 😆
I’m going to have to try myself but honestly, the whole thought leaves me cold with embarrassment… my voice - yuk!
Have a great weekend - we have a heatwave coming apparently, which is very early in the year and makes me wonder just how hot summer will be! 🥵xx