From garden to pantry

Finally got started on the preserving this summer. The sight of so many marrows that should have been courgettes and an everlasting supply of tomatoes means more chutney in the pantry. At last I've got the technique that leads to spreadable chutney that everyone likes -involves the judicious use of a a potato masher at a crucial point in the process! I might retrieve all those untouched jars of unsuccessful stuff for a bit of a mash next time I have nothing to do ... alternatively I could take it all down to the hens.

August 2011, this summer's story so far ...

Its a long time since the last blog post ... and lots of progress has been made upstairs and in the garden. The first floor has some great walls, finished with tlc by Tracey, and the plumbing has been adjusted to accommodate the back to back wet rooms.
Some considerable energy, discussion and at times, family heat, went into the choice of tiles but almost all of the new ones are now here, ready to be put on the floors and walls with others that we are recycling. Paul's research on the ventilation system was intensive and that is now on order.
The garden is as wonderful as it was when I was here in April and May ... plenty of rain this summer so we have a clover meadow instead of couch grass scrub and plenty of local bees, hover flies and other buzzy things feeding from the creamy flowers. Our first roses are in bloom thanks to Paul's green fingers -its wonderful to have a breakfast view of the fields and hills past the roses and very special to watch a visiting Hoopoe feeding from what we call the evening sunny spot. I was so amazed to it that I didn't dare move to get my camera!!
I've turned the kitchen in waiting into a temporary studio, its been a great place to do my felting. So far I've made a bag, slippers and a scarf and Bev and I enjoyed making a picture together when she and Andy visited in July.  As usual we are overwhelmed by vegetables! I'm taking a break from some writing for a few days and chutney making in the cool of the early morning is part of the plan.

January 2011

A new year and some changes in the front of the house. There are radiators in the kitchen and family room, and we are testing out the cupboard and furniture arrangement ... and no more yellow doors or dusty walls. Upstairs there are new windows, a radiator and some walls have their last coat of plaster. 
The burner is keeping us warm, heating the water and is great to cook on -and on a sunny day like today the solar panels kick in.

Unpacking the downstairs radiators

Its been busy here with Bev, Andy, Duncan and Georgia visiting last week  -so nice to have family here and especially to celebrate my birthday. James, as always, has recorded some key moments, see
http://picasaweb.google.com/j.e.hammick/FranceAugust2010#


The downstairs radiators have just arrived -the silvered pattern on the cast iron dazzling in the sunshine. They are now safely stored until work starts again on the plumbing. Paul and Tracey did a grand job moving them inside while Crumble did what every young thing does - played with the packaging. Allegra watched the show from the comfort of an armchair!
Today has been cooler, the rain failed to materialise and tomorrow they say that the heatwave will return. Earlier Paul made plum jam with fruit picked yesterday at Vincent's new house. We are blessed with kilos of tomatoes, aubergines  and courgettes so its chutney making tomorrow -the last batch was very popular, such a shame I can't remember what spices I used.

New additions to the household…

Two new young additions to the household - Crumble and Allegra. Currently Crumble is a the stage that she doesn’t quite know how long her legs have grown and so frequently stumbles over. Allegra is just friendly, climbing all over people, unaware quite how sharp her claws are…

July 2010 -well plastered walls

Its great to be back home again ... its hot, sunny, the ground floor has some beautifully plastered walls and upstairs is a electrical and plumbing work-in-much-progress. Both are testament to how hard Paul and Tracey have worked since I  was last here in January. Its now time for some rest and summer visitors so we've sorted out a living room -the stone walls keep it so cool in there, cleared the deck for late suppers and I've even cleaned windows!The solar panels continue to suppply us with all our hot water and the garden with lots of salad and veg. A glut of aubergines is about to demand attention -ideas very welcome for recipes please.

Spring arrives, even if a little late!

From enMatte

After a long cold winter, spring has come at last to enMatte. New for this spring is more on demand hot water than you could possibly want, thanks to the newly installed solar panels and the warmer weather! Work for this Easter included re-cycling the beams from the replacement of the upstairs floor to refresh the raised beds which have supplied a variety of fruit and vegetables over the years – but now need new wood work to hold in the earth. Also started was installing the wood work and vapour barrier that will support the final flooring upstairs and hide the wiring and pipe work from sight. This time there where no animal printed on the rolls of barrier – just instructions in about every European language you could think of! After much discussion and searching the web, we also think we’ve worked out the lighting for the kitchen and front room. We’ve also got some candidates for a radiator to be the focal point – and source of heat – for the upstairs living space…