It's Blooming Marvellous!

What do you think of this cheerful chappy that greeted me as I stepped out of the front door on a perfect sunny Sunday morning this weekend? In case you're worried, his petal isn't broken, just folded back on itself.  I did try to straighten it up for the photograph but he wasn't co-operating and I didn't want to break him.. ha ha!!



Pretty purple pansy

 And these beauties surprised me by bursting open recently. I only get into the top garden on the weekend and when I caught a glimpse of yellow while pulling into the drive on Saturday, I had to investigate further.



Lovely lilies

The veg garden is filling out nicely and we have lettuces galore at the moment!

 Our reliable knarled old apple tree is nurturing plenty of 'cookers' that will be ready later in the year along with the 'eaters' on the newer trees (there's a branch of one in the foreground above).

Old faithful's knarled and scabby trunk!

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 I used to  make these almond slices quite often at one time because they are a lot easier than they look and everyone likes them.  I  thought I needed ground almonds but kept forgetting to buy some.  I remembered this week but then discovered the recipe didn't call for them anyway!  What I didn't have though was sugar.  They don't look too bad and tasted ok, according to DS, but I don't recommend using preserving sugar and two and a half years out-of-date almond essence!

 This may not look a very interesting photo but it's quite significant to me since it shows my first ever successful poached egg!!  I've always shied away from making them because my few efforts have resulted in a stringy, watery mess.  My secret this time is that I managed to catch DS in the kitchen cooking scrambled eggs and I remembered to ask him what to do.  He showed me that day and this is my effort a few days later of which I am quite proud!

News next time of a crafty project/present that I'm working on. 

Bye for now
Teresa x