Blooming December

The scent from some of these winter bloomers is really delicious.

Jasminum Nudiflorum

Crab apples still intact!

Viburnum - still very very  fragrant 

Osmanthus I think

Winter flowering cherry

Cyclamen on the window sill - after 2 1/2 months!


But now, a winter weather warning today!!! Yikes.

The Royal Canal Near Ballymahon December 2013

Lovely walk, especially for early December

Autumn to Winter

We had it so good, weather-wise, this summer. So much warmth, light and growth.
Autumn came relatively gently - certainly relative to the wreckage it wrought in other parts such as Indonesia, the Philippines and now parts of the US. We had a few strong winds but the leaves were so full of nutrition that few of them fell until recently - and now they have " turned ":

Lovely indeed for November 17th. But just two days later, winter showed up in the back garden:

ant that had strawberries in it so recently!
Out with the woolies - including working on a wooly wreath for the December celebrations.

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February

February: cold, getting brighter, plenty of excuse for baking and other comfort foods
Some bulbs getting ready for spring - some not waiting but flowering already.

Rhubarb making a start.

Some sweeter bread, dough made in the great little bread-maker, for Devonshire Splits aka Cream Buns a great source of temptation in my youth.

With Raspberry Jam and Whipped bream and icing sugar on top..

On its way to my maw.. youm

Young Daffodil taken a week ago - opened out now.

Bigger Daffs near the gate - now, a week later, in bud.

A light powdering of snow at the beginning of February

Apple meringue Pie

Secrets: Very short-crust pastry e.g. 5 shortening to 7 plain flour plus a tbs of sugar, bake blind to avoid a soggy bottom. Stew apples with some sugar and a little cinnamon (not a big load of overpowering cinnamon, which would be sickening)then a good layer of meringue in a hot oven.

Saw  Spelt flour in the Supermarket so made some dough with it in the bread maker. I love the taste and consistence of this flour - this version is whole grain but very smooth.

Spelt is an older crop apparently than modern-day wheat. For some reason, when I tasted it I felt like "where have you been?".

Red Cabbage

A red cabbage, apples, brown sugar, balsamic vinegar all stewed up together - yum.

Fuggie nut pie!

No need to be glum or hungry of even that cold - just eat Fuggie Nut Pie!

Janus Pie

Janus pie - a two-faced pie!
Made from the foods of the old year (thanks in large part to the freezer) , added to new veg in a new form.
This one has Country Pate (whose first appearance was on December 24th), with grilled lamb (which had a starring role on New Years day) plus fresh onions, carrots and mushrooms and another  noble child of the freezer , the garden pea.
The double crust is made from pizza dough (very easy to make with some dried yeast, strong white flour, olive oil and water.

January

January in midlands Ireland.
A New Year, the days already lengthening,
Yes it can be a bit bare like this:

Or a bit stern like this:

But then again, the sky is brightening:

The evergreens are, of course, evergreen:

And some produce flowers:

In fact, many produce flowers and color :

And then there can be surprises :

Gather up the first month display and make a graceful bouquet