How does your Garden Grow? With a Passion!

My parents have been away for a few days so it was my job to water the garden for them.  The garden looked lovely with lots of different blooms.  I love the Sweet Peas, the Petunias, Geraniums, Busy Lizzies, Mombretia, Marigolds, Cyclamen and others that I haven't got a clue about.   I should have taken more photographs really, but I was busy trying to keep my eye on Euan and counting the tomatoes he was picking and eating, he gets well in to double figures straight from the vine.  At home I don't think a single tomato has made it into the house yet.  Euan is generous though he throws the misfits to the grateful chickens.  My Dad's vegetables look much better than mine, he feeds his plants regularly, so now I have started to do that, his Sprouting Broccoli, Runner beans, Cabbages, Carrots, Lettuce, Basil, and Aubergines all look promising.  My favourite was this 'Passion Flower'.   This was the only flower on the plant in bloom so far , but the plant has many buds.  I think this flower is striking.

The Following was taken from Wikipedia;

The pointed tips of the leaves were taken to represent the Holy Lance.

"Passion" in "passion flower" refers to the passion of Jesus in Christian theology. In the 15th and 16th centuries, Spanish Christian missionaries adopted the unique physical structures of this plant, particularly the numbers of its various flower parts, as symbols of the last days of Jesus and especially his crucifixion:

The tendrils represent the whips used in the flagellation of Christ.

The ten petals and sepals represent the ten faithful apostles (excluding St. Peter the denier and Judas Iscariot the betrayer).

The flower's radial filaments, which can number more than a hundred and vary from flower to flower, represent the crown of thorns.

The chalice-shaped ovary with its receptacle represents a hammer or the Holy Grail

The 3 stigmas represent the 3 nails and the 5 anthers below them the 5 wounds (four by the nails and one by the lance).

The blue and white colors of many species' flowers represent Heaven and Purity

'Lucy Bag' - 'Ta Dah'

Lining Stitched in place, very 'Flower Power'.  I found this quite a challenge, but I received some good advice and help via blog comments and on Ravelry. 

Straps sewn on.  I think these would make great guitar straps.

Blue Shell edging and six bloomin flowers sewn into place.  I couldn't just settle for four flowers, it seemed to be crying out for six.  Flowers are really fun to crochet aren't they?  Possibly a bit addictive, especially if you are trying to avoid sewing in lining or housework.

This bag is perfect for my hols as it could hold the kitchen sink!  I did use a plastic 'canvas' insert that was sourced and sent to me by Gingerbread Girl to alieviate my saggy bottom. Thank you Carole you were very patient with me and a great facilitator helping me with written explanations, photographs and then diagrams for my stitchery challenged brain.  Carole is a busy Mom to four children, she writes an inspirational blog and still found time to help me.  Blogland never ceases to amaze me along with the kindness of other crafters who are willing to pitch in, help, motivate and encourage each other.

I finished sewing the lining into place just after midnight.  There was an old Ewan Mcgregor movie on TV 'The Island'.  I wasn't impressed.  Thankfully I finished sewing and didn't suffer the entire film.

This morning I boinged out of bed to photograph my bag in all it's lovliness to share with the world!  Not a 'saggy bottom' in sight!  Is there?

The Battle of the Crochet 'Lucy' Bag WIP

I last showed this in May.  It is my 'Lucy' bag from 'Attic 24'.  Yes it is still a 'Work In Progress'.  There are hundreds of these bags on the net that people have made, completed and lined beautifully.  I have been battling with mine for what seems like an age.

This is how I left it at something past midnight last night.  I didn't pack it away as the lining is all pinned out.  It still needs unpinning and pinning out again.  I am going to try a running stitch tack to get the rectangular side to fit the circular base.  Does that sound like a plan?  Oh I wish I had paid more attention in sewing classes at school, but to be honest I was frightened of the machines, once I had broken a needle or two.  I still don't know how I managed to do that.  I made an unfinished skirt, where I had cut the pattern out wrong, so all the will in the world wouldn't make it fit together.  In woodwork I used to break the saw blades often too!  I only made a letter rack.   I will be hand sewing this.  The completion feels so near yet so far!

I have used the waste paper bin and an upturned washing up bowl as a spare pair of hands.  I obviously don't think with a sewing brain, because there must be an easier way to line this bag.  I have read tutorials and looked at lots of other examples, yet I am still having a mental block.  I hope when it finally gets it's 'Ta Dah' moment you will join me and raise a glass in celebration.  I think it is going to look like an eight year old has lined it and there are probably eight year olds that could do a better job of it.

These pretties are waiting for their new home!  Everyday for the last three days I have thought 'today is the day I will finish the bag!'   'Maybe today will be the day I finish the bag!'

Glastonbury Love

My friend Sarah took this wonderful picture when she walked up Glastonbury Tor with Henry.  I absolutely love the photograph.  Can you see the Giant love heart?

Sarah also took this one of Henry, half way up the Tor sat on the Dragon's Egg with the wise old crones (the Elder and Hawthorn Trees).  If Henry sat any longer I think he may have hatched himself a Dragon!  Jake Wiggle the dog is having great fun.   I got stuck the last time I went to the 'Dragons Egg'.  It is quite a steep climb and I get vertigo.  I literally couldn't go up and I couldn't go down.  Quite a predicament to be in when you are half way up a 'Mystical' hill!  In the end my only route out was straight through a nettle patch sideways, crawling and scrambling.  Hence why this time I stayed at the park with my crochet!

Chalky's Chipples - 'Inthesky' Style

Over at 'Chalky's World' she wrote a post about 'Chipples' an old Regional Salad Onion Dish her Grandmother used to make.  I thought it looked like a delicious recipe and in true 'Inthesky' style adapted it, as I did not have a full bunch of Spring Onions.  My Great Great Grandfather was a Market Gardener and my Grandmother told me she used to tie little bunches of onions for her Grandfather, to go to market in the 'Vale of Evesham'.
My Version of 'Chipples' included finely sliced Celery, Radish, peeled and diced Cucumber and sliced Spring Onion.  The dressing is a tablespoon of Cream, 2 tablespoons of Vinegar and a teaspoon of Sugar.  I seasoned mine with Salt, Black Pepper and Paprika pepper.
Link to Chalky's World and her chat about 'Chipples'.
My version of 'Chipples' became part of the baked potato eating ceremony with my parents.

Medha here is; A Potato baked in it's skin ( Jacket) in a hot oven until it is soft.  It takes about an hour.  You must prick it all over with a fork before you bake it, or it will burst in the oven and make a mess.  These can be eaten simply or with all sorts of fillings.

Sour Cream and Freshly Chopped Chives.

The first of the Courgettes, gently fried in butter.

Some freshly boiled Beetroot.

"Living off the fat of the land"

One Potato, two potato, three potato, four!

They have arrived!  The spuds are here.  I dug two baskets of these beauties out with my bare hands last week.  I invited my parents to lunch, for a Baked Potato ceremony.  This variety of spud is rather aptly called 'Red Rooster'.   I took some camping, wrapped them in foil and cooked them on the campfire.  I even packed butter and salt.  With sausages they were delicious, mind you everything tastes delicious when your camping, it sure does make you hungry.  My friend is coming to lunch today, for a 'Jacket Potato'.  She is a gardener too and we often exchange produce or plants, so I look forward to her visits.  Her husband's marmalade is usually exchanged for a jar of my Raspberry Jam.
I am going to make a Potato Curry again 'Medha style'.  I loved each one of 'Mimi's Mommy's'  potato recipes.

Mimi's Mommy - Authentic Indian recipes with the Versatile Potato

My attempts at Medha's recipes

I love the humble spud!  Do you have any favourite potato recipes?