Garden

Today was the first day that Dr Anne headed for the garden with grace. The pots of bulbs were taken from the greenhouse and from under the fleece. They were placed on the patio. It is hoped that there are no immediate frosts. The narcissi are in bud. The tulips are in bud. The second task was to prune the dead twigs on the fairy roses. The weeds were removed and the area raked. It all looks pretty good. The camellias are now beginning to flower. The fleece remains on but will be removed on April 1.

Puff Scones (Mrs McArthur's Wartime Cookbook)

Ingredients:

3 breakfast cups flour
4 oz margarine
pinch salt
6 teaspoons sugar
1.5 teaspoons baking soda
3 teaspoons cream of tartar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 egg

Method:

Mix dry ingredients, rub into margarine, break in egg and stir in milk until a medium dough.

Quick oven

Queen Cakes (Mrs McArthur's Wartime Cookbook)

Ingredients:

1 lb butter
1 lb sugar
1 egg
2.5 lbs flour
0.5 pint milk

Method:

Cream butter and sugar adding in eggs. dd flour and work into nice workable cake batter with milk. Fill into a well greased tin. Sprinkle a few currants on top and dust with sugar.
A hot oven

Shortbread (Mrs McArthur's Wartime Cookbook)

Elsie McLean's recipe

Ingredients:

0.25 lb butter
0.25 lb sugar
0.25 lb rice flour
0.25 flour
1 yoke of egg
2 tablespoons cream

Method:

Mix dry ingrediendts, stir in egg and cream. Kneed well until it doesn't crack.

German Biscuits (Mrs McArhur's Wartime Cookbook)

Ingredients:

2oz butter
2oz sugar
3.5 oz flour
1/2 egg
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teasponn ground cinnamon
milk if necessary
jam
cherries

Method:

Mix the dry ingredients together, rub in the butter and mix to a firm paste with the egg. Roll out thinly, cut into rounds and bake until firm for bout 15 minutes. When cook put two together with jam and put a little icing on top with a cherry.

Rock Cakes (Mrs McArthur's Wartime Cookery Book)

Dr Anne's friend Grey Granite is giving a talk at Portsoy Salmon Bothy on Sunday 28 March, 2010. Dr Anne is determined that there shall be be a good turn out and is bribing with homebakes. To this end she has delved back into Mrs McArthur's wartime cookery book for something tasty.

Rock Cakes

Ingredients:

1.5 lb flour

0.5 lb sugar

0.5 lb butter

6 oz currants

4 eggs

milk

Method:

Rub in flour, sugar and butter, adding eggs and milk as required for a stiff consistency then currants. Put on baking tray and bake in a hot oven.

Comment: It was a long time since Dr Anne had baked these cakes but it was like riding a bike. One never forgets. It is important to get a stiff consistency so don't just pour in milk, try it little by little.

The Grass

Dr Anne has been anxiously watching the grass grow and considering its first cut. She didn't want to do it too early or when the grass was wet. The last two weeks have brought sunshine and this week the temperature has finally made it to double figures. Today the weather was sunny, 14c and extremely windy. It seemed like the right day as the grass would be drying with the wind. With the mower height set at five Dr Anne achieved her target and now the wayward grass looks a little more tamed.

Meanwhile, the crocuses are beautiful. They have quickly pushed up their shoots and come into flower this year. Where there was nothing a couple of weeks ago there are now clumps in full bloom. In the last two days the miniature narcissus have flowered.

Mother's Day Daffodils

Dr Anne looked out of the window to see something yellow in the her pyramid greenhouse. She went out to find a beautiful pot of daffodils, the first of the year. Spring has truly come especially if you live in a glass house.

The bank at the front of Dr Anne's house is now a sea of crocuses.

The snowdrops are still in full bloom. Although it has been sunny this week it certainly is still very cold.

Has Spring come?

Dr Anne went outdoors today. Although it was dull, it was 8c and there was no wind.

The snowdrops under the birch tree are finally in flower. There are clumps of yellow, purple and white crocuses in full bloom. A sole tulip was in bloom under the fleece in the greenhouse. Dr Anne brought it into the house to enjoy.

Buds are on the roses, the shrubs and even the trees.

The lawn mower arrived back having been serviced. The grass requires a high cut.

Dr Anne is relieved that Spring is nigh.

Michael Foot (1913 - 2010)

Dr Anne was a devotee of Michael Foot during her formative years. She will remember his skills as an orator, parliamentarian and writer and will try to embrace his qualities -passion, principles, kindliness and wit. He was a totally unique man and politics may not see his like again. Dr Anne will miss his long white hair, his big specs sometimes half way down his nose, his ungainly walk and his obvious lack of dress sense.

A Time for Everything

There is a time for everything and a season for every activity under heaven:

a time to be born and a time to die;
a time to plant and a time to uproot;
a time to kill and a time to heal;
a time to tear down and a time to build;
a time to weep and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn and a time to dance;
a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them;
a time to embrace and a time to refrain;
a time to search and a time to give up;
a time to keep and a time to throw away;
a time to tear and and a time to mend;
a time to be silent and a time to speak;
a time to love and a time to hate;
a time for war and time for peace.

There is nothing better for man than to be happy and do good while they live.
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8, 12.

Snowdrops and Crocuses in the Dell

March is now here.

The temperature was -4c in the early morning. However, there is life in the garden.

The snowdrops under the birch are still in bud although the ones in the shrubbery are in bloom. Clumps of crocus in the dell were in full bloom today.

Such wonder.

Pavord, A. (2009). Bulb. London: Octopus Publishing Group Ltd.