Sunday 14 September 2008

Soup and Cycles

This is part of the enormous piles of vegetables my lovely Dad harvested from the allotment for us this morning. Pretty impressive, eh? even more so to me, considering I haven't stepped welly on the plot for weeks. It's not for lack of wanting to, more down to pure knackered-ness (and rain) on my part.
So tonight we shall be dining on corn on the cob, potato wedges and leftover quiche and coleslaw from the cafe! Tomorrow shall be spent cooking up pots of soup, some of which will come back home and some which will be hopefully be sold to the masses!
We have unusual courgettes and gourds, heaps of potatoes, beautiful leeks, kohl rabi, parsnips and sweetcorn. Yum.

I have been thinking recently that I really should consider changing my name from 'Garden girl' to 'Cafe girl' or similar. I seem to have spent less and less time doing any gardening and more and more time thinking up lists of recipes, what to order from suppliers, interesting sandwich fillers, new cakes to try etc.etc.
HOWEVER, now, obviously, I will darn well be sticking to Garden Girl, because LOOK!!!



Pretty amazing, I am sure you will agree. My very own, beautifully hand painted Garden Girl mug. The very lovely Moss Stitch (still can't do links, but do look on my side bar) sent this fabulous present to the cafe this week. The postman was quite scared when I snatched the box out of his hands as he approached the cake counter. Several customers were trying hard not to look as I carefully unwrapped (ie. ripped) the sellotape off the box, and unravelled the bubble wrap that was safely packaging the delights within. Can you see the bumble bee on the handle? Can you? And another inside. Sigh. It is so very beautiful, I have used it for every cuppa since.

This was the amazing handmade card that came with the mug. I am going to try and find a box frame for it and put it on the wall of the cafe. Ms Stitch, you are very very clever and thoughtful. Thankyou so much, I am delighted with it. xxx


We decided to drag our bikes out from the shed this afternoon, having been inspired my The List Writers latest interest! I love cycling along the roads where we are so used to driving or walking. It has been a year since we last used them, which is shameful!

Somehow being on a bike, you observe things you wouldn't normally. People smile at you as well, probably because of the massive grin I had plastered across my face (they probably thought I had escaped from somewhere-I had, the laundry).

I felt like a big kid as we whizzed through the back streets, wind in our hair, cheeks rosy. Fresh air and a bit of exercise were definitely the tonic I needed this afternoon. If you have a bike gathering dust and cobwebs somewhere I can recommend you dig it out, pump up the tires and go for a spin. Smiles guaranteed.

Back to the laundry. Have a fabulous week everyone.x

25 comments:

Petticoat Lane said...

Great veg, you really have inspired to me to grow some of my own next year. Lovely lovely bloke how lucky are you to have him? I'm sure if you hired him out for an hourly rate you'd make a bomb, however Mrs 'Bloke' may be a little annoyed!
What a beautiful mug by the very talented Ms Stitch. I now feel v.Inadequate that my NINE was just boring old white...
Sounds like you've had a much needed relaxing day.
May I suggest you cycle to work?? You'd only have to get up at say....3.30am!!!
Wish I could pop in tomorrow for a bowl of soup..
jane. xx

Anonymous said...
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The List Writer said...

Oh, I'm going to have to bloody cycle to work tomorrow now, aren't I??

Sheesh ;o)

No, am absolutely delighted you dug the bikes out. My current thinking is that it is the easiest and least painful way to get some exercise. And the rosy cheeks and blooming complexion are also a plus!

I made soup today as well - ready for the week ahead. It feels like autumn once I am making big batches of soup.

N. xxx

Mocha Sticks said...

What a lovely mug, I shall think of you as I'm drinking out of mine! I've made soup this weekend too. It definitely feels like autumn now because we had to put the heating on as well. We were going to go for a cycle today but C and I have another cold (only just got rid of the other one) so felt a little too wheezy to do anything. Have a great week!

pinkgreen said...

Can your Dad come and do some work at my allotment please?! I could do with a hand as the weeds are getting out of control again. Lovely looking veg, and the cup is perfect. I'm hoping to make it in to visit this week - unless I'm working (don't know until tomorrow morning). Hope some of that soup is on the menu though when I do make it in! You sound so happy. I'm glad the cafe and the bikes are a success!
Cathy XX

Gina said...

Very impressive vegetables and the hand painted cup is beautiful.

dragonfly said...

I'm very jealous of your vegetables! Very! I want to stamp my feet and say 'it's not fair'

My bike gets sadly neglected in the garage. I do love cycling, but my exercise these days seems to be dog-walking instead and I'm certainly not energetic enough to do both!

Cowboys and Custard Mercantile said...

It looks like a veritable harvest festival at the Cafe/Garden girl plot today.. Beautiful bountiful veg!!
There is a clever use of gourds in this month's Country Living magazine... when you get five minutes inbetween, soup production, cake baking, laundry pursuits and cyling.. to whittle away a few gourds..

What a thoughtful present and inspired!!

Oh.. and let me tell you that some of the biggest spiders I have encountered were in our cottage in Cornwall.. I mean BIG!!!!!
You can run but you can't hide!!

Much love.. don't forget to sleep Anna..
Michele xxx

dottycookie said...

Lovely veg, and I don;t thik you should feel bad about leaving your bike for a year. Mine lived in the underground carpark at work for 6 years (ahem) - I rode it in one day then it rained so I had a lift home, then I found I was pregnant and didn't want to ride anymore and ... anyway, it's a bit grubby but it still works and I was stunned it was still there!

Funkymonkey said...

I love the mug, especially the sweet little bee on the handle...hope you enjoyed your weekend.

Lesley (Notesfrommydays) said...

I am inspired to get out my bike now!! I have plans to do a veg plot next year - I cant wait to see how much I can produce (or not as i am not particularly green fingered)
lovely presents your very lucky!
Lesley x

Heart in the country said...

What brilliant veg, mine has been a complete failure this year - well apart from the marrows,same they should have been courgettes :) Love the mug, just right for drinking homemade veg soup out of.

Lisa said...

Hi Anna
What a beautiful and thoughtful gift your new mug is.
I rode a bike for the first time in nearly 30 years a couple of months ago and after that first faltering attempt it has been languishing in the shed. Now my little one is at nursery school maybe I should give it another go and get out in the fresh air. Great housework avoidance tactic and it could give me a much needed boost!
Take care
Lisa x

mollycupcakes said...

Yummy veg and gorgeous mug sweetie.
Well done you for bike riding, I'm so green with envy lol we have the biggest hills here so riding bikes around is a little painful to say the least. However Ben does get on his some mornings if it's not pouring and wizz past the sado's sitting the school rush hour lol
Hope to see you soon, next visit will be Nov.
Many hugs sugar-pie
Catherine x

Sal said...

Love the mug...and the veg! ;-)

Kitty said...

Let me tell you Anna, I was in Waitrose fondling the leeks this very morning, and none of them were a patch on yours! Those are impressive veggies.

As for that cup ... *sigh* .. just gorgeous.
x

Ragged Roses said...

What a wonderful pile of veg Anna, not a nut amongst them - they must all be at my house, nice and wrinkly under the stairs. I am in awe of your energy, now you're doing bike rides too!
Love the mug, it's just perfect isn't it.
Take care, remember to sit down now and again, I'm off to check my nuts...
Kimx

Anonymous said...

homemade veggie soup with dumplings - yummy. Your new cup is just lovely, how clever is mrs stitch - lucky you. I'd take you up on your cycling but I don't have a bike :-)
lisa x

Miss sew n sew said...

Can you beleive I've only just learn't how to ride a bike this year it's taken me 34 years! I now enjoy getting on my bike with the family it is great fun! I'm sure your soup will be delicious with those fresh veggies!
Sarahx

Jacqui Dodds said...

Wow the veg looks really gorgeous - leaves my tomatoes in the shade!
Re your comment on not being able to link - it is quite easy in blogger:
Where you type in your comments, highlight the word you want to link and then go to one of the symbols on the small toolbar along from where it tells you about which font you are using - the link symbol looks like an owl with two eyes!
This will open a box called hyperlink and then you can paste/type in your webpage/URL that you want to link to.
Hope that helps.
Jacqui
Any problems:
jacquidodds(at)tiscali(dot)co(dot)uk
http://jacquidodds.blogspot.com/

Tracy said...

Hi, Anna! We're just back from holiday...lovely to catch up with you here! :o) Your garden abundance is beautiful...Let us know what goodies you'll be cooking up with these! LOVE your Garden Girl mug--it is sooo you!! Cycling...something DH & I are thinking of getting is bicycles--step up the fitness thing at bit, you know! After being on holiday and eating anything and everything I feel wobbly and cottage-cheesey all over--gak! :o7 Hope you are having a great week, my friend. Talk to you soon ((HUGS))

Curlew Country said...

Hi Anna - wow what a haul. I'm very envious because my patio tomaotes - so lovingly tended - got blummin blight! Might save a few but don't have a single red one yet. Quick question, have the crinoline ladies turned up yet? I sent a parcel to Jess at The White Verandah on the same day and I'm wondering if yours has arrived? Hope so or has the postie taken revenge for me sending them so late and snaffled them?!
Hope all's well at the cafe.
love Stephx

Lynn said...

What a beautiful mug! And your harvest is impressive!! Enjoy the recipe tinkering. (I think you've inspired me to inflate my tires and get my own bike out onto the road...)

Mrs Moog said...

Your veggies are fantastic - there really is nothing like home grown.
Gorgeous mug and card from Moss Stitch. The painting on the mug is so beautiful!

Your bike ride sounds perfect and I now feel ashamed that mine is gathering dust in the shed. I'm sure your bike ride was the best antidote to a busy week :)

xxx

Country Cottage Chic said...

What a bumper harvest! I LOVE the mug - absolutely beautiful!