Longing for Greens ....

the days are recognizably getting longer, there is no doubt. It's a great relief, as in December I m usually under pressure, if I don't start feeding the animals at around  4.00 pm. The night just comes over you and within minutes all is swallowed up by great darkness. Now, at the very end of January it seems to happen in slow motion. The daylight seems to fight for every minute and especially on a bright day, you can feel this 'cocks step', the old neighbors used to talk about, when the days started to stretch themselves.

As the winter was relatively mild, there is still a good bit of growth going on. 

Watching the goats on their tour over the bog, they feed mostly on Bramble leaves and rough heather, but they also pick on the stingy gorse, with its budding yellow blossoms or peel of, selective as they are, some bark from cut down willow or haw-thorn. But they also wander along the river and pick the new fresh grass, which is now appearing, as the water levels gone down a little bit. 

Going for my daily walk between the hedges, I am already able to pick some dandelions leafs or the narrow leafed plantain, which some of it I cut into small pieces hiding it in salads or soups. Well I usually divide it in two fair shares, as Moses our tortoise is just out of hibernation. He loves both herbs, but especially dandelions. 

Moses and Snoopy sharing the basking lamp .... but not the dandelion leafs

Yesterday I went around the garden, picking up the last 'leftovers' from the 2014 garden year, like a huge parsnip, some stumps of carrots, a medium sized celeriac bulb, cabbage leaves from a winter broccoli, and curly kale, a leek and new shoots of parsley. Together with some potatoes and sweet potatoes it made a wonderful soup.

some ingredients of a January garden soup

As the beds are still way to wet and so is the tunnel, I only have sorted my seeds so far. But to get something growing, I put down some trays around the house with sprouting cress, mustard and wheat-grass. All of this can be cut and used as well in salads and soups. My parents used to do a lot of gardening. My Dad would have had a kind of hotbed in the garden and the first thing he would have put out was cress, radishes, lettuce and spinach. It's a kind of tradition so.

sprouting mustard 

cress seeds laid out on a moist tissue

cress after about 5 days

wheat-grass can be cut for salads and soups

Spring is just around the corner, as is St, Bridget's Day ( 1.st of February ), the official start of the Celtic Springtime. I m eagerly waiting .... and so are Kitty and Ollie....

Roll on spring

Birthdays, star signs and Flowers

Its January and somehow this month is full of birthdays, especially the second half of January, where nearly every day I can congratulate someone. Apart of being crap regarding Maths, I can remember birthdays pretty well. Some dates seemed to be engraved into my brain for as long as school days in the early seventies.
Over the next 10 days there are two 18th. and three 40th. Birthday ... all of very special people. Aquarius seems to be the star sign for me anyway. My husband is an Aquarius and so are some of my closest friends. When he describes a typical Aquarius, he puts it this way, that born under this star sign you are walking all the time on a narrow path, between pure genius and madness. Well I figured that out anyway over the last 28 years :).

Usually with my friends we don't do big presents, something small and practical and often also home made. It can be jam, eggs or cheese, but also a cake and flowers is something which are my favorites. In summertime I love to pick flowers from the garden or the wild and arrange them 'my way' to bring them along to someones party. Winter time is a bit more challenging on the flower side, but being a florist, I love to think up new ideas and experiment with bits and pieces I collect in the wild, mostly along the road side.

Sometimes I try to introduce some new ideas in the shop, where I do work part time  since more then 20 years ( actually my first 'boss' is an Aquarius too :) ). The shop is called 'Guns and Roses' and is in the meantime a landmark shop within Tubbercurry. I got 'passed on' from one owner to the other and work now for my third 'boss'. Well that all sounds a bit distant, as all the 'bosses' have been a treat and are wonderful anyway.

 The big 'bay window', which I also think would look great with a large table and a comfy corner bench, in case it will ever get converted into a coffee shop :).

 A few flowers 'wrapped' in a construction out of dogwood ( or willow ) and a bit of ribbon

 My own little bit of creation, made out of dogwood ... in the back ground one of my big bog oaks.

A different type of dog wood weaving ... looks really nice with plain tulips or other spring flowers

We also do gifts for all occasions .... 

 A selection of flowers on a Monday morning ... all waiting for a new home :)

 A basket with a little fence made form willow or dogwood .... it looks like a little garden patch

we do also silk flowers ... not everybody's taste, but we try our best ... and another bit of weaving ...

Maybe this looks like an add for some flowershop in Tubbercurry Co.Sligo, ... a bit of a commercial has never done any wrong :). So if you ever are in the area or want to send flowers to someone between Collooney and Charlestown, Ballymote and Aclare, just ring 0719185030 any day of the week between 10am and 6pm except Wednesdays and Sundays. We do weddings and funerals and everything in between.

Ups, nearly midnight .... I have to go and text two girls a VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY Linda and Judith .... enjoy your day :)...

Finally so far, one winters day ….

We do not get a lot of snow in this part of the country. Actually all over the country snow isn't guaranteed in any winter, but this winter we seem to get a little bit….., at least for a day or two.
Snow is always dividing the nation, there are loads of people who just hate the sight of it, others who simply don’t like it, children who love it ( because there might be no school!! ) and me who adores it.
Right now I can see some of you shaking their heads and thinking: ‘why in the name of holy Moses would she like this white, frozen stuff, which endangers the species of the modern human kind. We all could slip or fall or crash or get spluttering coughs, colds or the consumption ( yes, we did watch Frank Mc Courts 'Angela's ashes' over the Christmas ). This ‘bog blog hippie’ is probably sitting all day in her warm house and doesn't have to face the elements, while others have to risk their lives on icy roads. ’
Better snow, frost and sleet in 'official winter time' then later in the year and while thinking ahead, about gardening in a few weeks time, I prefer to have some good frost and snow to reduce pests and disease on plants.
Snow days on the farm don't really make things easy, as at least twice a day stock has to be fed and watered ... whatever the weather. Apart from cleaning out the horse shed, filling buckets with water from the drums or the river, feeding more hay and grains as normal, it is fun to watch all the different reactions of our animals, when they face the immaculate snow in the morning. It reminds me of the same feeling, when you are about to jump into a still pool, where the surface is just so calm and clear.

The dogs seem to love it and Lucy dives into the snow making funny noises, while good old Murphy, tries at least to hop around me to show his excitement.

Letting out the cats for a wee in the morning, they seem to look at me questioning, what happened last night? When the first paw touches the snow, they would think twice about sneaking back in … but, business has to be done outside and there are no other choices … .

The horses got loose on me this morning, for a little gallop up the road. I didn't close the gate properly, while pushing the wheelbarrow to the Compost heap. But without trouble they followed the noise of shaking oats in a bucket and came back after their short spin.

It’s definitely no weather for goats. Not only is all the ground covered in snow, but the bushes and trees too. So they need plenty of hay and water to keep them happy.

The plain white complexion of the geese got literally swallowed up by the same colored snow. Only the bright orange peak and legs stood out.

The ducks nodded permanently quacking to each other, discussing obviously the weather, while the hens were divided in two parties. Some stayed only indoors and others rushed over to the bird feeders construction, waiting for some crumbs to fall down.

The wild birds got an extra big feast today with peanuts, sunflower seeds, mixed seeds, fat balls and a mixture of raisins and oat flakes. Moses, the tortoise left his hibernation box the other day and sunbathes under a 40 watt basking lamp, enjoying the rays in his own little universe.

     

While finishing off this 'bog blog', number 4, nearly all the snow is gone, the river became really high and there is a red alert weather warning for trough out the night, high winds and precipitation in all possible ways from all possible directions.



Corsallagh Snowmen/women over the years:

just a rainy day

Today it is a rainy day, well its soft rain,which gets driven by gales of wind. The mountains are even invisible, just swallowed up by greedy dark grey clouds.  Its rather mild for January and if I m honest, I do like a bit of seasonal weather and being even more honest, I wouldn't mind a bit of frost ( like we had between Christmas and New Year ) and even snow - it is good for the garden and just the time of year for it. But we all know, that we have to take the weather the way it gets thrown at us. Overall I have a firm opinion, that the Irish weather is better then most foreign people assume.

a great read for a rainy day

Heinrich Boell, a German Literature Nobel Prize winner ( 1972 ), wrote a famous book called 'the Irish Diary', which describes his memories about going to Ireland in the mid 1950/60. There in chapter 9, he calls it 'observation about the Irish Rain'. The Introduction would be like: "Rain here is just utterly, great and scary. To call this rain just 'bad weather' would be as wrong as calling 'scorching sunshine' good weather."
It must be about 35 years ago, when I first read the 'Irish Diary' and after finishing it, I was certain, that I had to go to this Island, 'where god made the time - and he made plenty of it'. Boell used to recover and hide in Dugort, Achill Island, Co.Mayo and his book is full of admiration and love to his adopted country, which he made to his second home. Even 25 years later, in the early eighties, when I first touched Irish ground, I still was able to find this type of Ireland he was writing about in his journal.
Boell passed away in the Eighties, but because I knew a Lady, who sometimes fed the cats at Boell's cottage, Burkhardt and myself could stay there for 2 weeks in this very basic cottage, the place where he had written the 'Irish Diary'.

It is still wild out there .... but that doesn't mean, that daily duties can be neglected. Overall I don't mind the fact, that all the animals have to be fed and looked after... mornings and evenings, day after day, since the last 20 years. A pair of Wellies, a kind of Russian Army cap and an old jacket usually are enough to face any element ranting and raving out there. The ducks and geese couldn't care less about any weather. They just rush to the river and paddle there up and down, looking for grass and grubs. The poor hens get blown and blustered all over the yard and prefer to look for shelter or simply just stay indoors. The horses are in the shed since last night and chew away on the hay. Even the goats only put their head out for a second to discover, that this is a 'hay-day'.

practicing a bit of 'goat yoga' on a rainy day

The cats and dogs are either slumbering in dry straw in the barn or find a place in and around the house.

little spoiled prince 'Snoopy' on his way up to bed

17 year old 'Maunzi' knows his 'physics, that warm air is lighter than cold one

13 year old 'Kitty' .... pretending to have a yellow tail

Even on a rainy day, or maybe especially on a rainy day, food has to be prepared and I m just wondering what would be warm, wholesome and simple. I love wintry stews, like Guinness stew or Irish stew, but also vegetarian thick soups are just so nourishing, easily prepared and warming. Being a fan of lentils, I think I share 2 simple recipes with you: Even though it sounds to healthy and organic, you get all ingredients in an ordinary Supermarket:

LENTIL STEW ( with FRANKFURTERS ... if you want a bit of meat ):
for 4 - 6 persons:
* 30 g of Butter, Rape seed oil or Coconut oil ( Sunflower oil ok too )
* 500 g of green, brown or speckled lentils
* 2 carrots, 1 onion and/or 1 leek, 1 celeriac and/or parsnips, 2 - 4 potatoes
*  3 tablespoons cider vinegar (or white wine)
* (vegetable) stock
* salt, pepper, tomato puree
* 1l-1.5 l water
Soak the Lentils over night.
Melt the fat and shortly fry all the veg and lentils, stirring continuously.
Pour the vinegar and 3/4 of  the water into it and let it boil and then simmer for about 45 min. Season with salt and pepper, tomato puree and more stock/vinegar if necessary.
Cut Frankfurters into medium sized pieces just 10 min before the end of simmering.
Serve with more boiled potatoes or any bread.
As most stews, it even tastes better the next day.

OUR FAVORITE SPICY LENTIL SOUP:  
for 4 - 6 persons:
* 500 g of red lentils
* some coconut fat
* 2 garlic cloves, 1 onion, one fresh red chili, some freshly chopped ginger
* 1 tin of coconut milk
* stock
* salt, pepper, cayenne chili pepper
* turmeric fresh or ground
* 500 ml - 750 ml of water
melt the coconut fat and put in garlic, onion, chili, ginger, turmeric and lentils, stirring for a short time. Then pour in water and stock keep stirring and add coconut milk. Bring to boil and simmer for 20 to 30 min, stirring occasionally.
Mix it all with your electric stir-stick.
Season carefully, as some people don't like it to spicy.
Bread or Naan Bread is best option to make it a full meal.

after another rainy day: view from the kitchen window 

this thing called Christmas ....

                                                        yeepee, Christmas is over and we are still alive

Christmas is over - New Years Day has already slipped into yesterday and I try to think about, what to write in my first official blog. Its one of the so called resolutions, to do more writing, be more mentally creative.
As it is 'the season', I might as well chat a little bit about our way of celebrating that time at the end of the year.
Christmas was quiet, but relaxing and I have to admit really utterly stress free. All our family is from Germany and Portugal and we usually spent it in our own/adopted countries. So it is just the four of us.... the 2 boys, both home from college, hubby and myself.
When the children were little, we had to take on the rules of the country, regarding how to prepare for the big day and also let 'Santi' do all the giving on Christmas morning. But once both went to Secondary school we all decided to celebrate on the 24th, Christmas eve. I never liked this 'Coca-Cola Santi' anyway .... . Growing up with 'the Christkind', I just couldn't leave it behind and pretend that Santi is the man now, distributing the presents. Despite trying to rare the children in my 'catholic believe', I have to admit, that this didn't turn out to be to successful. But my wish for Christmas is since, that they go to mass on Christmas eve.... and they do - except the man himself, who hasnt fallen for any religion. Even though they wouldn't mind bringing their headset and listening to music during the ceremony :).
As a Florist I work up until Christmas eve and so I escape indirectly all the shopping stress in the last few days. Like rushing into town several times, buying this and that, consume up until the last minute. Usually beginning of December I get my few bits and there is one grocery shopping done on the 23rd. Traditionally we have goose on Christmas day - our own goose. As I grow also vegetables I would still have winter veggie and salads in the garden or the freezer. I do love cooking and baking and last not least also eating :). My 'other half' eats absolutely everything, even lentils, polenta or millet..., and the boys near to everything, that means I don't have to cook for specific tastes, which helps a lot. Stop, Seamus, the older boy never liked to eat his own animals, so he is usually a vegetarian on Christmas day. But there is plenty of other food, so he doesn't mind.
Overall I m glad Christmas is over and that life can go back to normal, if there is such a thing like 'normal life'.
Lets dive brave and bold into that new year 2015. Swim, drift, paddle, surf, but don't drown in that main stream, Be bold enough to swim against that stream to follow your dreams. Surf if the waves of life swell up to high.....
More news from the bog in a little while - in the meantime, leave a comment, an idea or simple an inspiration - Thank you

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