tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-63240232916209870692024-03-05T22:42:57.611+00:00up the garden path:Asparagus Peahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12144544248029447571noreply@blogger.comBlogger106125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6324023291620987069.post-3047332181316255222015-01-24T18:22:00.001+00:002015-01-24T18:23:55.922+00:00the road to rhosllanerchrugog<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Okay - this isn't really a post about <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhosllannerchrugog">Rhosllanerchrugog</a>….</div>
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But we do drive past it on the way to visit Mr AP's mum in N Wales,</div>
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and this one of my favourite road signs.</div>
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It's huge to accomodate the length of the name.</div>
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The <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JNN3Cpnur1k">famous one with the long name</a> gets shortened on signs to Llanfair PG,</div>
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(yes - I can say it).</div>
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I've always said I wanted a picture of this sign so Mr AP took one</div>
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and made it into a christmas card for me.</div>
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I'm now hoping for one of the sister sign on the other side of the roundabout.</div>
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Gotta love a diptych.</div>
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So you know I said I wanted a new challenge….. well the new job is certainly doing the trick.</div>
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I am in the process of getting to grips with:</div>
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<li style="text-align: left;">the finance system</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">the room booking system</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">how to put stuff on the website</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">how to dress like an office girl at work</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">how to be me in an office with a desk (never had one before)</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">how to be focused on the moment and strategic at the same time</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">all of the above through the medium of Welsh - it's the language olympics every day</li>
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I am very fortunate to have a supportive team (and husband), </div>
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and a sweetly patient office buddy who is getting used to repeating herself!</div>
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This week's achievements included getting a bi-lingual <a href="http://www.museumwales.ac.uk/blog/2015-01-23/ladies-in-waiting">blog</a> on the museum website*</div>
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(note to self - include the museum name next time)</div>
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and the installation of lamb cam - my web streaming project for March.</div>
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More of that later - it's beyond exciting….</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">*our website is recently revamped, so me wanting to write blogs that look 'bloggy' is exposing a whole load of coding bugs. Big love to <a href="http://www.boglyn.com/">Sara</a> in digital content for her patience and virtual hand holding as I wrestle with it.</span></div>
Asparagus Peahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12144544248029447571noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6324023291620987069.post-92143301257312610882014-11-24T12:55:00.000+00:002014-11-25T11:30:13.973+00:00boom!!!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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For the past few months all my creativity has been going into job applications.</div>
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Several options - all involving a change of direction.</div>
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So the good news is…… I got the job.</div>
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(the Plan A job)</div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">BOOM!!!!</span></div>
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Still at the <a href="http://www.museumwales.ac.uk/stfagans/">museum</a>, but working for the Events and Marketing department.</div>
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I'll be going through our events programme and looking at developing the informal education side of things. That means I get to look at all the fun stuff like farming, food, green woodworking, textiles etc. It's a big new challenge and a chance to get away from the grind of manual labour.</div>
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It will be my third career…</div>
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Does that make me a flake?</div>
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Or a polymath?</div>
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Or a flaky polymath….</div>
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It means I'll be hanging up my secateurs.</div>
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The end of the garden path is in sight…</div>
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I feel a blogging break is in order while I re-invent myself.</div>
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There's no road map, but that's exciting right?</div>
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….and scary,</div>
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(good scary rather than bad scary).</div>
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Thank you for all your support and companionship,</div>
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in the real world and the blogosphere.</div>
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Much love and happy holidays</div>
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Bernice xxx</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">The Grayson Perry scarf was a birthday present from Mr Asparagus Pea. It's designed as a road map for aspiring artists, based on the silk maps that were given to WWII pilots in case they were shot down behind enemy lines. The 'W Anchor' is his potter's mark, it always makes me giggle. Mr AP was so delighted because he bought it for me after we saw it at Tate Britain, which was long before I publicly announced that I was turning into Mr Perry!</span></div>
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Asparagus Peahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12144544248029447571noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6324023291620987069.post-91446095940516403882014-11-03T16:00:00.000+00:002014-11-03T16:02:14.384+00:00counting beans<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As I sat for a peaceful hour shucking them from their pods I was reminded of the book I am currently reading <a href="http://www.penguin.com.au/products/9780670075928/down-earth">‘</a></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://www.penguin.com.au/products/9780670075928/down-earth">Down to Earth – a guide to simple living’</a>, </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">by Rhonda Hetzel. She writes an inspirational <a href="http://down---to---earth.blogspot.co.uk/">blog </a>of the same name, detailing her life with her husband and family in Queensland, Australia. She talks about mindfulness and finding pleasure in self-reliance and simple tasks – relearning the skills that our ancestors took for granted and practising them as a subversive act. Now I don’t know who my medieval ancestors were, but from my height and colouring I’d say they were Northern European (we grow our bones long in my family). At this time every year they would have been sitting around shucking beans, ready to store them safe and dry, away from mice and mould. With every satisfying rattly plunk of bean into bucket, there is a feeling of another morsel saved, another mouth fed.</span></div>
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My two little trays of beans yielded about 1.5 kilos of dry beans - that's 20 portions of food. I haven't tried cooking Martock beans before, so I decided it was time for a taste test. After a long soak - me, half an hour in a hot bath and the beans overnight in a bowl of cold water, I set about cooking them…</div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A little research* revealed that not only were these humble beans a staple in Tudor times, they were feeding Iron Age Brits, and are still highly prized in Middle Eastern cuisine. This what the Pharaohs were eating for breakfast. Field beans are still grown in Britain as part of an organic crop rotation - but the beans are mostly exported to Arab countries to be made into the Egyptian classic Ful Mesdames (the 'ful' is pronounced 'fool'). The recipe has many variations - but the essential ingredients seem to be cooked beans mashed with a little garlic, olive oil, lemon juice, salt and cumin. Somewhere between hummus and refried beans it has a delicious earthy comfort that can be dressed up with any number of garnishes like harissa, crumbled feta or parsley. </span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; line-height: 16px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Here it is in its naked state - tonight it will be served with the traditional accompaniments of hard boiled eggs and flatbreads.</span></div>
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*In the course of my research I came across the fantastic <a href="http://hodmedods.co.uk/">Hodmedods</a> which has everything you could wish to know about British grown pulses. There are also loads of recipes and an online shop that sells all kinds of exciting products like roasted peas with horseradish (wasabi peas), and salted roasted fava beans (habas fritas). You've got to love an iron age bar snack right?!?!</div>
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Asparagus Peahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12144544248029447571noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6324023291620987069.post-2151377879943204482014-10-27T15:53:00.000+00:002014-10-27T15:54:49.271+00:00october on instagram<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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So I finally joined facebook and instagram.</div>
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I know - late to the party huh?!?!</div>
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But as <a href="http://www.armisteadmaupin.com/BooksDOAM.html">Mrs Madrigal</a> would say*</div>
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'You don't have to keep up dear,</div>
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you just have to keep open…' </div>
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Here's what's been going on instagram this month...</div>
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October is the time for our rams to join their ladies at the museum.</div>
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Are they not the most beautiful furry ears you've ever seen?</div>
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Autumn sunshine on pine bark.</div>
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2 kinds of kale ready to go to the restaurant kitchens.</div>
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My lovely friends bought me a kindle for my birthday</div>
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- so I knitted up a cosy cover for it.</div>
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The birthday was a big one, so Mr AP and I headed off to Barcelona to celebrate.</div>
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A lady needs a fan in southern europe - this little wooden beauty cost one euro.</div>
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I whipped up a few prototype spelt corn dollies for <a href="http://sianlilemakes.blogspot.co.uk/">Siân</a></div>
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- she was having a craft emergency!</div>
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…and finally, my favourite autumn poem by the fabulous<a href="http://www.johnhegley.co.uk/"> John Hegley</a>.</div>
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The winds of change are blowing as we head into November.</div>
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Snuggle up! xxxxx</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">*from <i><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/books/2014/jan/22/days-anna-madrigal-armistead-maupin-review">The Days of Anna Madrigal </a></i> by Armistead Maupin (latest in the <i>Tales of the City</i> series)</span></div>
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Asparagus Peahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12144544248029447571noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6324023291620987069.post-79138979641571751762014-10-06T13:15:00.000+01:002014-10-06T13:15:41.306+01:00what's a girl to do?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I was, for various professional reasons,</div>
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trying to have a hiatus from putting daft pictures of myself on here.</div>
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But then one day you wake up and realise….</div>
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Oh shit - I'm turning into <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2014/oct/04/grayson-perry-dress-tranny-art-who-are-you-tv">Grayson Perry</a>!!!<br />
<br />
Do you have a 'bad hair day alter ego'?<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">(mine used to be <a href="http://www.sthelensstar.co.uk/leisure/leisure/11514085.Ken_Dodd_s_jolly_excited_about_north_west_Jubilee_tour/">Ken Dodd</a>, so Grayson is an improvement)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">image of grayson by tim walker from <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2014/oct/04/grayson-perry-dress-tranny-art-who-are-you-tv">here</a></span></div>
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Asparagus Peahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12144544248029447571noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6324023291620987069.post-12199280916402238262014-09-09T12:29:00.001+01:002014-09-09T12:29:53.304+01:00there's change in the air<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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We're having a little late summer glory here, but autumn is in the air. The porch is full of leaves, and the spiders make a new lace veil for me to walk through every day as I head out the door for work. This weekend was our <a href="https://www.museumwales.ac.uk/whatson/?event_id=4333">food festival</a> so we decorated the chapel for the harvest thanksgiving service.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtZm5POKdadMZ3V-9EwG81ni6LwIHptvgAyx6-DfxHskiq_1dPTWl4p6PEIH4bSxndndTrV2DaUUImh9DI-SJHXYEV21eZ2YjaayBp6_CJWvrsyYDz-HBlVdhemJOqztuKW3gGTGD-SMw/s1600/harvest143.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtZm5POKdadMZ3V-9EwG81ni6LwIHptvgAyx6-DfxHskiq_1dPTWl4p6PEIH4bSxndndTrV2DaUUImh9DI-SJHXYEV21eZ2YjaayBp6_CJWvrsyYDz-HBlVdhemJOqztuKW3gGTGD-SMw/s1600/harvest143.jpeg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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Obviously if I had seen these before yesterday then the whole thing may have looked a little different!</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8d/Arcimboldo,_Summer_(1573).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8d/Arcimboldo,_Summer_(1573).jpg" height="400" width="325" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">summer</td></tr>
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images from <a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8d/Arcimboldo,_Summer_(1573).jpg">here</a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/90/Giuseppe_Arcimboldo_-_Autumn_-_WGA00812.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/90/Giuseppe_Arcimboldo_-_Autumn_-_WGA00812.jpg" height="400" width="335" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">autumn</td></tr>
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<a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/90/Giuseppe_Arcimboldo_-_Autumn_-_WGA00812.jpg">here</a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f8/Arcimboldo_Winter_1563.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f8/Arcimboldo_Winter_1563.jpg" height="400" width="302" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">winter</td></tr>
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<a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f8/Arcimboldo_Winter_1563.jpg">here</a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2b/Giuseppe_Arcimboldo_-_Spring_-_WGA00817.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2b/Giuseppe_Arcimboldo_-_Spring_-_WGA00817.jpg" height="400" width="337" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">spring</td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
and <a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2b/Giuseppe_Arcimboldo_-_Spring_-_WGA00817.jpg">here</a>.</div>
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<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giuseppe_Arcimboldo">Guiseppe Arcimboldo</a> was an Italian Mannerist painter - these are his four seasons.</div>
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He was working in the C16th so they're great for those doing 'history gardening' like myself. </div>
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I particularly like the snozzcumber nose in the image of Summer. </div>
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Note to <a href="http://sianlilemakes.blogspot.co.uk/">Siân</a> - vegetable portrait sculptures next year?</div>
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At home I'm changing the bed and putting the winter duvet on.</div>
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Putting away t-shirts and digging out woollies.</div>
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Trying to find some socks.</div>
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Thinking about autumn trips and plans.</div>
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Exciting - I'll keep you posted...</div>
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Asparagus Peahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12144544248029447571noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6324023291620987069.post-71269731612332781842014-09-01T14:54:00.001+01:002014-09-01T14:55:41.561+01:00throwing the baby out with the bathwater<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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It's the 1st of September and this is my 100th post.</div>
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Is this significant?</div>
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(If you're me - not particularly).</div>
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Or does the theory of coincidence rely on selectively noticing stuff, </div>
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because you happened to notice something else the other day?</div>
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(If you're me - probably).</div>
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But sometimes the cosmic latticework does start to twitch,</div>
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and things that seem unrelated start to come together.</div>
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Okay - so I know you're thinking </div>
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'Enough already with the pickling!!!'</div>
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I promise this is it for a while….</div>
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(fridge now groaning with fermented delights)*</div>
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I genuinely started all this pickling malarkey from the basis of:<br />
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<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>grow cucumbers in <a href="http://asparaguspea.blogspot.co.uk/2014/02/diary-of-hotbed.html">hotbed</a> at work every year</li>
<li>end up with so many that you can't even give them away</li>
<li>love brine pickled cukes</li>
<li>am expected to research/experiment with traditional food growing/storage techniques</li>
<li>pickle some - it's a no-brainer, right?</li>
</ul>
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But as soon as I started reading up on what to do, I stumbled into the world of the new 'hottest thing in nutrition' - <a href="http://www.culturesforhealth.com/what-lacto-fermentation/">lacto-fermentation</a>. This has nothing to do with dairy by the way, the 'lacto' bit refers to the lactobacillus which proliferate during the fermentation of the veggies. The finished products are alive, unlike the store bought ones, which have been pasteurised for shelf life at room temperature. This is pro-biotics but without the expensive branded yoghurt drinky things.</div>
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So far, so what?</div>
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I know - the last hottest thing was cupcakes and minted pea puree!</div>
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But there is a whole pile of research being done into links between gut health and immune responses - including out of control immune responses like allergies. Better brains than mine are applying themselves to this and I'm not saying that it's a retro fix if you've already got severe allergies. But it does seem to make sense that biodiversity is a good thing when it comes to your guts as well as your garden. Inclusion of bacteria rather than exclusion, especially in early life, is <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/grace-suh-coscia-lac-diplom/fermented-foods_b_1220756.html">being preached</a>…</div>
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Now, I've always been in favour of what I would regard as a normal amount of sluttishness in the housekeeping department, and am a long time believer in 'Eat dirt, it's good for you!' (Having said that, I've just been scrubbing the crap off from round the back of the kitchen taps - but that's mostly displacement activity because I'm supposed to be filling in my tax return). Nobody wants to live in squalor, but maybe in our quest for a hyper-clean, pasteurised life we have thrown the baby out with the bathwater…</div>
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...glass of bathwater anyone?</div>
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* lacto-fermented radishes might just be my new favourite thing in the world ever. All the deep savouriness of a good runny cheese combined with a delicate vegetable pickle. Umami, huh? Who knew?</div>
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Asparagus Peahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12144544248029447571noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6324023291620987069.post-38258880443631227832014-08-27T16:23:00.000+01:002014-08-27T16:24:23.758+01:00the end of summer at the end of the world<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
We are having a couple of weeks off to catch up with family and do some house stuff. My mother in law came down on the train for a visit, then we drove her home to N Wales and headed across to Aberdaron for a couple of nights by the sea. It's where Mr Asparagus Pea proposed to me 3 years ago and this washing line featured in the image we used as a wedding invite.<br />
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The area is a Welsh speaking stronghold and the signposts drip with the extra vowels that give the language its distinctive look. W gives an 'oo' sound and Y gives an 'uh' - put them together and you get the English W sound. (I guess this sign had English on the other side?!?)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7kujR-JUDMmbWYinWCIP9Y2LwAJAD2eqPcIwmAUQ2ehZHC0jLo28EP9BoMY1tkgWiCawgU-zD8thHHU9A0x-wbChHuSuTu_oCBjhG-Bh4Ityg-uczGRhJ35hcFhBmjnrbfXOUNCJfK4o/s1600/aberdaron2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7kujR-JUDMmbWYinWCIP9Y2LwAJAD2eqPcIwmAUQ2ehZHC0jLo28EP9BoMY1tkgWiCawgU-zD8thHHU9A0x-wbChHuSuTu_oCBjhG-Bh4Ityg-uczGRhJ35hcFhBmjnrbfXOUNCJfK4o/s1600/aberdaron2.jpeg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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We walked the cliff paths and poked around in rockpools.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaOHCLBh6Tm41TTdrroALzOKeSj61iAXwWg7X0Xwq6qccSviHOz996sFAijdodBImB9SDq-bRYTq-u2bb_2SuGfbwoMVR2ABX4peWdSEp05npvP-T9x8G55Zsfu8o9VWptvd5yHLTA9zM/s1600/aberdaron6.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaOHCLBh6Tm41TTdrroALzOKeSj61iAXwWg7X0Xwq6qccSviHOz996sFAijdodBImB9SDq-bRYTq-u2bb_2SuGfbwoMVR2ABX4peWdSEp05npvP-T9x8G55Zsfu8o9VWptvd5yHLTA9zM/s1600/aberdaron6.jpeg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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The summer seems to be coming to an early end with berries ripening and fungi sprouting.</div>
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We're back home now and there is more pickling underway….</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-sg0mJCTIFtLHrXCUgnYuWHWmXBM1c_D5V1_2FvDHJWHwBLXx5JMQnCiN9iYdUkPJTuRT6dJKPVDNh4pLp-54atOVfjlnIJRFu14yc-kk_Wb8nXPimFg1DANvS1pd0g-V5TmIn96S2HA/s1600/IMG_5483.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-sg0mJCTIFtLHrXCUgnYuWHWmXBM1c_D5V1_2FvDHJWHwBLXx5JMQnCiN9iYdUkPJTuRT6dJKPVDNh4pLp-54atOVfjlnIJRFu14yc-kk_Wb8nXPimFg1DANvS1pd0g-V5TmIn96S2HA/s1600/IMG_5483.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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I have discovered two things:</div>
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<ol>
<li style="text-align: left;">Life is too short to cut carrots into flower shapes (unless that's your job),</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">I knew I needed one of those special food cover umbrella thingies, I just didn't know why…</li>
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Asparagus Peahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12144544248029447571noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6324023291620987069.post-12259590167897638002014-08-16T17:31:00.000+01:002014-08-16T17:32:22.735+01:00pickle-tastic<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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update on batch 2 of my lacto-fermented brine pickles….</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">pickle-tastic!!!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDsznwKq4SGIRU9YtNdkVKiWWtoCb3OswvdVc948Vd-K_nJtIWrK2tZ6vIuH1SuO42swzM40JbXGRM2fWmi3icYVCgwXUPlXy5evDOntmKkkqHRlo3EsvZp3OVFTQUOCjWa_w6hH7uwgA/s1600/pickletastic3.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDsznwKq4SGIRU9YtNdkVKiWWtoCb3OswvdVc948Vd-K_nJtIWrK2tZ6vIuH1SuO42swzM40JbXGRM2fWmi3icYVCgwXUPlXy5evDOntmKkkqHRlo3EsvZp3OVFTQUOCjWa_w6hH7uwgA/s1600/pickletastic3.jpeg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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4% brine</div>
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7 day ferment</div>
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zingy, tangy and suitably sour</div>
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They're in the fridge now</div>
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(making friends with Iestyn, the sourdough starter).</div>
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I'll spare you from updates on improvements in our gut health,</div>
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but I'm excited about their pro-biotic aliveness.</div>
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They'll be going in some salsa verde tonight;</div>
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we're having roast lamb.</div>
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Yummo!!!</div>
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Now then - what can i ferment next?</div>
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I'm thinking carrots and cauliflower...</div>
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Asparagus Peahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12144544248029447571noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6324023291620987069.post-75402005302953064602014-08-09T16:37:00.000+01:002014-08-09T16:38:00.436+01:00pickle update<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Update on the first batch of pickles:</div>
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Bleeeuurgh - wahaaay too salty!!!!</div>
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(But with good flavours developing underneath).</div>
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They had to go in the bin…</div>
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life's too short to de-salinate a pickle.</div>
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Undeterred, I had a quick trawl through the internet for advice about brine strength. </div>
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The first batch was 40g salt to 500ml water - that's 8% brine. </div>
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Batch two is about half that strength.</div>
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Watch this space….</div>
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Asparagus Peahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12144544248029447571noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6324023291620987069.post-28652187645121705832014-08-04T11:42:00.002+01:002014-08-04T11:43:16.711+01:00pickled snozzcumbers<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Last year I was going to pickle cucumbers…</div>
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and not just any old pickle,</div>
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proper old fashioned brine pickles.</div>
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Lacto-fermentation, hell yeah!</div>
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Last year I bought <a href="http://www.kylebooks.com/display.asp?ISB=%229780857830784%22">Alys Fowler's</a> lovely book,</div>
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and read all about how to do it.</div>
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Last year the builders arrived at the end of July,</div>
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and ripped the kitchen off the back of the house.</div>
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But this year…</div>
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I'm doing it - look!!!</div>
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Cucumbers from the <a href="http://asparaguspea.blogspot.co.uk/2014/02/diary-of-hotbed.html">hotbed</a>.</div>
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(<a href="http://sianlilemakes.blogspot.co.uk/">Siân</a> said they look like the <a href="https://quotabl.es/quotes/13129">BFG's snozzcumbers</a>).</div>
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I love that half the aromatics are from the garden,</div>
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including tannin rich vine leaves for pickly crispness.</div>
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The previous owners of the house were Italian </div>
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- Grazie Sr Sanna!</div>
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We get through loads of brine pickles in this house,</div>
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but the store bought ones are pasteurised,</div>
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which knocks out all their pro-biotic goodness.</div>
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It's Day 3 and there's definitely something happening…</div>
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Some bubble-age, a pickly tang in the air,</div>
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and a colour change from summer green to gentle olive.</div>
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There will be updates </div>
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(for all you pickle fans out there).</div>
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xxx</div>
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Asparagus Peahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12144544248029447571noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6324023291620987069.post-1962226043855801182014-07-15T15:29:00.000+01:002014-07-15T15:29:16.534+01:00beanfeast<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
It's the time of year for peas and broad beans. <a href="https://twitter.com/AlysFowler">Alys Fowler</a> tweeted the other day that she likes fava beans best out of all the broads - they are smaller than a modern bean, closer to their 'field bean' ancestors. They're what half the world grows and dries - knowing that our western obsession with eating everything green means there is nothing in the larder for winter. But of course you can eat them green - the ensuing twitterings made claims for their superior flavour and creaminess…<br />
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..and who am I to argue with the lovely Alys?</div>
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So Fowler may favour a fava,</div>
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but maybe I can out-nerd her on the history beans front?</div>
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would like to say that I individually taste tested them </div>
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- but I didn't, just mixed them up and ate them,</div>
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and they were good.</div>
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Asparagus Peahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12144544248029447571noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6324023291620987069.post-16660954117590722232014-07-07T12:14:00.001+01:002014-07-07T12:55:34.224+01:00how long is a piece of string?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I finally got the chance to have a nettle string making class with our resident Celtic wildman last week. We have a new experimental archaeology project underway at work - <a href="http://www.museumwales.ac.uk/4237/">Bryn Eryr</a>, a reconstruction of an iron age roundhouse farmstead from Anglesey in North Wales. As well as the main building operation, there is a lot of peripheral activity going on across other departments. The farmers are growing a field of spelt with the intention that the straw will be used to thatch the roof. The blacksmith has been making replica tools to create the wooden objects that will populate the buildings. <a href="https://twitter.com/theCelticguy">The Celtic guy</a> is charged with producing 4km of nettle string to make rope for lashing the roof structure - so he is busily teaching the technique to everyone who is willing (and a few who said yes without listening to the question properly).<br />
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The operation falls into two stages - harvesting and preparing the fibres, then allowing them to dry and shrink overnight before twisting them up to make string. I have pictures of the first stage - but not enough hands to take process pics of the making phase. Gloves are advised for cutting the nettles and stripping the leaves off, but a good rub with a gloved hand is enough to remove the stings and make them friendly to handle. The stems are then lightly crushed and peeled to get the outer fibres. It reminded me of peeling the stringy bits off celery.<br />
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Twisting the fibres together to make string requires a little technique and creative skill. But not in a 'go away I'm writing War and Peace' kind of way - more the 'sitting round the fire having a gossip while creating with your hands' thing. A bit of patience and some acquired muscle memory will have you doing it while hardly even looking, just like your Nana knitting and watching the wrestling at the same time.<br />
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There's an excellent tutorial <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQHvqWCN5Eo">here</a> from the lovely Ray Mears*</div>
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With my little pile of nettles I made about 10 metres of 2 ply string, which I then twisted up on itself twice more to make about a metre of 8 ply cord. (That's it in the picture at the top of this post). It's incredibly strong - I was going to try and take a picture to demonstrate its weight bearing capacity but couldn't think how. Suffice to say I could easily restrain someone against their will with it should I decide to kidnap them - don't have nightmares folks!<br />
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Not sure I'll be going into the string making business any time soon, (or the kidnapping business for the record). But it's a fantastically satisfying feeling to have the skill to whip up something so useful with your bare (okay gloved) hands.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">* (who could canoe me up the fjords any day - <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/fashion/2012/jan/27/what-see-mirror-bear-grylls">Grylls</a> might have the poster boy looks, but Ray would always cook you a much nicer tea).</span></div>
Asparagus Peahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12144544248029447571noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6324023291620987069.post-83981470825423123932014-06-10T15:56:00.000+01:002014-06-10T16:04:29.871+01:00fish and flowers<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Last week we headed off to Cornwall for a four night break in <a href="http://www.stmawes.info/">St Mawes</a>, at the tip of the Roseland peninsula. Unlike the dramatic surfy coast of North Cornwall, the south is a land of gentle creeks and estuaries. The easiest way to get around is to dump the car and hop on the little ferries that putter backwards and forwards across the rivers. At this time of year the footpaths and lanes are bursting with flowers and heady with scent. Pockets of sub-tropical microclimate have drawn gardeners to create their fantasy landscapes. The area is studded with historic big hitters like <a href="http://www.trebahgarden.co.uk/">Trebah</a>, <a href="http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/glendurgan-garden/visitor-information/">Glendurgan</a> and<a href="http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/trelissick-garden/"> Trelissick</a>. These succulent beauties were local to us at <a href="http://www.lamorrangarden.co.uk/">Lamorran</a>...</div>
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..and we travelled up the road to St Austell to visit the modern vision at the <a href="http://www.edenproject.com/">Eden Project</a>.</div>
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But I am drawn to the the wild volunteers that spring from every hedgebank and crack in the wall.</div>
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Babingtons Leek - a garlicky native of the area</div>
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Mexican Fleabane - <i>Erigeron karvinskianus</i></div>
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Couldn't resist collecting some seed to soften up the new hard landscaping back at the ranch.</div>
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Resisted these - a seaside themed bathroom was rejected by Mr AP</div>
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We dressed up for smart cocktails at <a href="http://www.tresanton.com/">Hotel Tresanton</a>,</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyJOq6BgybNNadOxR4-mF60sI8sR4eOvNUgF3hH5z4QqqHdXKRvvRwSH3DXtk_mP0Q5g4nmh_rGzBTozh93EbTnpundn-t1XAkDsFsalBP7X2haAgFcyd_cyx2JL9aUlKYZwnJXutMgqc/s1600/stmawes5.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyJOq6BgybNNadOxR4-mF60sI8sR4eOvNUgF3hH5z4QqqHdXKRvvRwSH3DXtk_mP0Q5g4nmh_rGzBTozh93EbTnpundn-t1XAkDsFsalBP7X2haAgFcyd_cyx2JL9aUlKYZwnJXutMgqc/s1600/stmawes5.jpeg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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and ate fish and chips by <a href="http://www.harbourlights.co.uk/">Falmouth Harbour</a>.</div>
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Home now and back to work tomorrow.</div>
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The forecast says it's going to be hot - and that means horseflies!</div>
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I must go dig out the insect repellent...</div>
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Asparagus Peahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12144544248029447571noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6324023291620987069.post-35309075706990486522014-06-07T12:19:00.000+01:002014-06-07T12:20:19.840+01:00tea time two<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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the first homemade herbal tea of the season</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUZwe7sWpsUXDh-9jSPZMmZk0qrvmhyphenhyphenhVQ4CeirsmHLw4PEHMPoWiN8qZI4npSWvwTC93dUJ3FH9MqVIsgwMgq9XynkI9dN_aA4MHE0tc71ohhovGlQBmxdDNXX3P9v5MzBIPFju3UtaA/s1600/herbteacollage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUZwe7sWpsUXDh-9jSPZMmZk0qrvmhyphenhyphenhVQ4CeirsmHLw4PEHMPoWiN8qZI4npSWvwTC93dUJ3FH9MqVIsgwMgq9XynkI9dN_aA4MHE0tc71ohhovGlQBmxdDNXX3P9v5MzBIPFju3UtaA/s1600/herbteacollage.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></div>
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with mint from my new herb garden</div>
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and lemon balm from the <a href="http://www.chapter.org/community-garden">community garden</a> that I helped out a bit</div>
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next year there will be home grown fennel seeds</div>
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it needs a few elderfowers for sweetness</div>
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I have some drying in the shed</div>
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it feels good to store the first harvest of the year</div>
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sunshine in a cup</div>
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xxx</div>
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Asparagus Peahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12144544248029447571noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6324023291620987069.post-54339122972704917282014-06-01T23:23:00.000+01:002014-06-01T23:24:19.250+01:00guarding the flame<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Having a compelling reason to move to a new place is one thing - settling in and making it your home is quite another. The decision can be made quickly, but there's no rushing the process of growing yourself some new roots. Having moved hemispheres/countries/towns a few times, I reckon two years is a good yardstick for giving it a proper go. In that time you have to guard your little flame - the winds of change will always make you falter and doubt. But slowly new connections will be made, habits formed, special places found. Yesterday we threw open the doors, lit the lanterns* and had a party to celebrate two years in our house - old friends, new friends and neighbours. Moving to this neighbourhood was coming home for me, but Mr AP has lived west of the river for 30+ years. I knew he was taking a leap of faith for me, so I said I wouldn't ask him if he was happy and settled until we'd been here at least two years. </div>
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So yesterday the words were uttered….</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq-icnautXYlDwV8KSPa-Eh5ycpsXulhJqeqzVYWLvx7BVGZwtLgpvfSqUXm_2wQp43p3HcDPgjXFncbjM3SwBw4w_cGROl1KddtGaG0qIitWjNLEgb_6RG5ebeHNmUVjd8u3u9n4RATA/s1600/tealights1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq-icnautXYlDwV8KSPa-Eh5ycpsXulhJqeqzVYWLvx7BVGZwtLgpvfSqUXm_2wQp43p3HcDPgjXFncbjM3SwBw4w_cGROl1KddtGaG0qIitWjNLEgb_6RG5ebeHNmUVjd8u3u9n4RATA/s1600/tealights1.jpeg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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..and I think we're staying….</div>
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xxx</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">*I was hunting around for something to put citronella tealights in - can't stand it when they blow out all the time in jam jars. So I bunged them in the steamer baskets for Mr AP's old pressure cooker - worked a treat!</span><br />
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Asparagus Peahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12144544248029447571noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6324023291620987069.post-28131702702668350912014-05-27T21:32:00.000+01:002014-05-27T21:33:48.522+01:00sticks and string<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
It's time to get supports in for all my tall heritage veggies, (shortness has been bred into modern varieties to make them easier to manage). These 'Champion of England' peas will easily get to 2 metres - so although these might look like the most optimistic pea sticks in the world, they'll be fully covered in a few weeks. They need to be strong enough to hold the weight of the crop without keeling over at the crucial moment. I kept lots of nice sturdy bits of hazel from the <a href="http://asparaguspea.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/iron-age-connections.html">hedge I laid</a> back in January - perfect for the job and I love how they look. Plenty of twiggy bits for the peas to wrap their little tendrils around as they sprint skywards.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEippcaQiXk-VY-5EPjul3orzVIgGk-54Xbugs_xXPi029gb4XJ90VyD14tgnO1HgX7AK0tADNWGDGphdi3tgLlwjQgpGPXqUdpfuYf9NaLuUcGQOnoV2QDwhXoAZsfSNbC2XLOuYmRcIME/s1600/sticks1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEippcaQiXk-VY-5EPjul3orzVIgGk-54Xbugs_xXPi029gb4XJ90VyD14tgnO1HgX7AK0tADNWGDGphdi3tgLlwjQgpGPXqUdpfuYf9NaLuUcGQOnoV2QDwhXoAZsfSNbC2XLOuYmRcIME/s1600/sticks1.jpeg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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On Monday I found myself short of a few sticks to finish the supports for my broad beans. Now I wouldn't normally disappear up the woods on a busy bank holiday (honest boss if you're reading this), but the siren call of an hour's peace among the trees was hard to resist. So I took some loppers and set off to cut some ash poles.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglD4HpYJ3W63aCDAHpSsXHMqoNlvt1c4XE8se2KWGVZLyzGuJcwkiC7EvBGXY2ncZEMceAQCZEdcUcOZ20OmU7q94avlkzhRs8sWJB2qq3NLAlvJwfQJ3majtrJYzxcU_WaY_DZLlG35U/s1600/sticks5.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglD4HpYJ3W63aCDAHpSsXHMqoNlvt1c4XE8se2KWGVZLyzGuJcwkiC7EvBGXY2ncZEMceAQCZEdcUcOZ20OmU7q94avlkzhRs8sWJB2qq3NLAlvJwfQJ3majtrJYzxcU_WaY_DZLlG35U/s1600/sticks5.jpeg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6r27zasn-JhW_LqiBbd5BS514XCdQAw1qnaAXCkl4dNIawFyv_87JO-UcmyugZJC6dMbX1vUc4YzW1DomP691Fe8HHXkF-7793d2npuc2sh4tagrbGl9HMFldb2PPyPMgSH_7mKV8FEc/s1600/sticks7.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6r27zasn-JhW_LqiBbd5BS514XCdQAw1qnaAXCkl4dNIawFyv_87JO-UcmyugZJC6dMbX1vUc4YzW1DomP691Fe8HHXkF-7793d2npuc2sh4tagrbGl9HMFldb2PPyPMgSH_7mKV8FEc/s1600/sticks7.jpeg" height="320" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglNRDnp0bwzAVl_iNjs4M3ZrqYRZ-JCYUYtX9n-KseGpZtAVwZ11PeuHUsWJQAh00KuoSZH_qjees4oqGSiLAaMmahP3kPvvXLkJiwh8Hf5mzh95LjjpvSyuTYv4cEuPydrLbE8UEtBwQ/s1600/sticks6.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglNRDnp0bwzAVl_iNjs4M3ZrqYRZ-JCYUYtX9n-KseGpZtAVwZ11PeuHUsWJQAh00KuoSZH_qjees4oqGSiLAaMmahP3kPvvXLkJiwh8Hf5mzh95LjjpvSyuTYv4cEuPydrLbE8UEtBwQ/s1600/sticks6.jpeg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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Here they are in situ with cats cradle string.</div>
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The beans on the right are a month ahead.</div>
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I'm going to learn to make string out of nettles to help build our new <a href="http://www.museumwales.ac.uk/4237/">Celtic village</a>.</div>
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That's exciting (if you're me).</div>
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My arms are covered in nettle rash from pulling them out of the hedges.</div>
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Might as well make use of the little buggers - too tough to eat now, so string it is...</div>
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Asparagus Peahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12144544248029447571noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6324023291620987069.post-28862454588876580572014-05-19T16:17:00.000+01:002014-05-19T16:18:16.128+01:00mostly me<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
When kids are little they play that game of moving their toys from one place to another. My friend calls it 'You Go There, You Go There'. As we slog on with decorating the house, areas are starting to be finished and the last few house moving boxes are being unpacked. It's mostly books and a few photos - so I get to play 'You go there…' with things I haven't seen for a couple of years. In amongst them was another of my mini collections….<br />
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Passport pictures through the ages.</div>
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See now you're thinking 'But she said she wasn't a collector…'</div>
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Well as someone who has moved hemisphere/country/house on multiple occasions, </div>
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I can tell you that my personal archive of <strike>crap</strike> treasure would fit into a small valise if it had to.</div>
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No inherited furniture, no large musical instruments - </div>
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pointing no fingers, but before we moved house we were a two harmonium/one piano family. </div>
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We're down to one harmonium and a piano now.</div>
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I'm not a minimalist, but I crave calm and space more than I need to keep stuff. </div>
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How about you - clutter or space…???</div>
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Asparagus Peahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12144544248029447571noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6324023291620987069.post-46011316963233969552014-05-13T11:45:00.001+01:002014-05-13T11:46:31.361+01:00plot to plate<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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High on the list of FAQs at the <a href="https://www.museumwales.ac.uk/stfagans/">museum</a> where I work must surely be ‘What
do you do with all the vegetables from the cottage gardens?’ Ever since I have been there we have sold the produce on an ad hoc
basis to visitors and staff, but the imbalance between quantity produced
(small) and visitor numbers (high), means that we fail to address
the public perception that we aren’t ‘doing anything with it’. On a busy day in high summer 30 people might go home delighted with their bag of peas/punnet of gooseberries while the other 5,870 go home thinking it's a shame we don't sell the produce. Also I can categorically state that nobody has come for a family day out at the museum wanting to carry a 2 kilo cabbage around in the pushchair!</div>
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Earlier in the year a chance remark from the director of the museum, that the chef would like some herbs to use in the restaurant, set me thinking that maybe the time was right to try a Plot to Plate project where the produce gets used in the on-site restaurant. I realise this is not a fantastically original idea - lots of places do it already. But their visitor numbers are mostly small compared to ours, and a lot of them shut in the winter. So after a bit of gentle pushing and shoving on my part, we're running it as a pilot scheme this year. </div>
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I had a very productive walk around with the chef, good for both sides to think about the practicalities. The great news is that he's very interested in the things that have always been <strike>impossible</strike> challenging to sell, like cabbages, turnips and prickly skinned cucumbers. Conversely, not so bothered about the peas and broad beans - too much prep so they buy frozen. He also made excited faces when I said things like 'quince', 'cooking pears' and 'kale', which was extremely gratifying.</div>
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It's been a gentle start, with a few kilos of rhubarb a week and some trays of mixed herbs</div>
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I've even got some new scales</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTDI7yOQwWAXg7wYoirEUv8PenlUhKehar2x-vsc7XQRX4iHHSVRxjQnkodHbt0HbCdZjyNB2iTjKU7zvF8CXOsUry4KM40P5Y6FIGS1PACVX560t1kKDCJQmP12JNVqF3JkYoL2AIQyU/s1600/werindatws4.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTDI7yOQwWAXg7wYoirEUv8PenlUhKehar2x-vsc7XQRX4iHHSVRxjQnkodHbt0HbCdZjyNB2iTjKU7zvF8CXOsUry4KM40P5Y6FIGS1PACVX560t1kKDCJQmP12JNVqF3JkYoL2AIQyU/s1600/werindatws4.jpeg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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and down on the farm our new chooky girls have started laying </div>
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so it's time to get organised and start sending the eggs to the shop</div>
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the financial return on these items isn't huge</div>
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but it's part of a bigger story</div>
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and it feels like the right thing to do</div>
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and that feels good…</div>
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Asparagus Peahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12144544248029447571noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6324023291620987069.post-63771125525861775602014-05-04T11:40:00.000+01:002014-05-04T11:48:49.780+01:00pea green<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I am not a collector (living with a reformed hoarder means I feel the need to set a good example), neither am I a great vintage clothes shopper. Being the tallest woman in Wales (unconfirmed), means there is precious little that would fit/suit me anyway. I don't sew but I can knit and crochet - but last time I made something to wear was more than 5 years ago. It was a cardi if you're interested, and when I put it on Mr AP said 'Aha - bingo wings!' So I immediately unpicked it and made a blanket with the yarn. Yet the blogs I am drawn to read are all you girls who craft and collect and make beautiful fashion statements from bits of vintage loveliness….<br />
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But I like a recurring theme and we all have our 'things' right? Mine include:</div>
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<li style="text-align: left;">a certain shade of pea green</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">textiles with maps</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">corrugated iron (especially when it's a bit knackered and rusty)</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">enamel kitchenware</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">vintage americana / kiwiana / australiana</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">souvenir memorabilia / postcards with pictures of really boring things (best ever was a postcard of the <a href="http://www.cooberpedy.net/services/public-amenities">water reticulation plant at Coober Pedy</a>. I bought the entire stock and sent them to everyone I knew).</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">brutalist architecture / bunker chic </li>
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It's particularly satisfying when things fulfil more than one of those criteria. </div>
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So I bring you my mini collection of american scarves…</div>
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Can you spot the obsessions?</div>
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In other news - <br />
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more cleaning concrete off tiled floors</div>
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before and after in the new office</div>
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thanks darling!</div>
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I hope it's lovely where you are,</div>
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whether you're flinging open the doors for spring,</div>
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or snuggling down for winter.</div>
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Asparagus Peahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12144544248029447571noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6324023291620987069.post-7392121697626436232014-04-25T12:12:00.000+01:002014-04-25T12:14:04.136+01:00a beautiful mess<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I worked for most of the Easter weekend so I am having this week off instead. Mr AP has taken a few days off as well so that we can hang out together at home and do a bit of house stuff. As usual we have long lists of tasks and great plans - some achieved, some can wait for another day. I think it's really important to make something - even if it's just a mess. So here's some stuff my clever husband made for me…<br />
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a key holder -</div>
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Mr Smurf looks after the keys to my old house that we still own and rent out,</div>
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Cartman looks after our spare house key.</div>
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A shelf for my cookbooks,</div>
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(middle class - moi?).</div>
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a woodshed - new and improved, 'you beaut' Version III,</div>
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with foreground herb garden - I've been busy too!</div>
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I cleaned out the fridge and made random veg soup,</div>
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(tasted okay but bore an unfortunate resemblance to sick after some ill advised blending).</div>
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So I made a loaf to cheer up proceedings...</div>
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..Best One I've Ever Made!</div>
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Also we've been talking for a while about going down to being a one car family.</div>
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Last week the transport gods intervened,</div>
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the big car turned itself into a bag of spanners on the way home from the Gower. </div>
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A quick trip to 'we buy any wreck' yielded £300. </div>
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The new transport strategy involves Mr AP having a more reliable motorbike,</div>
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(his old one looked cool but refused to start).</div>
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One very happy hubby,</div>
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(but the helmet squashes his face into a grumpy pout).</div>
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Tiny hint of my little blue Panda frame right</div>
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- or 'the car' as it's now known.</div>
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I'll let you know how it goes…</div>
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Asparagus Peahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12144544248029447571noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6324023291620987069.post-46099945228806514782014-04-15T10:38:00.000+01:002014-04-15T10:39:00.035+01:00duck egg blue<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I put myself down to do foraging walks at work on Saturday.</div>
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A wander through the woods gathering spring greens,</div>
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then collect some fresh eggs from the duck shed to make an omelette.</div>
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(£2 per head to cover materials)</div>
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Sounds good huh?</div>
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Bookings for the morning session - 0</div>
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a duck (if you're a cricketer)</div>
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Bookings for the afternoon - all cancelled.</div>
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0 & 0 - a golden duck.</div>
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So what do you do with a pile of duck eggs and a bad attitude?</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">frittata party</span></div>
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in other news</div>
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my bottle babies are growing fast…</div>
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The auto exposure on the camera has gone for the detail in the black lamb</div>
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and given me some kind of 'look 15 years younger' bleach out. </div>
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But hey - I'll take it!</div>
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..and Mr A-P and I decided to whisk ourselves away after work on Sunday,</div>
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for a night in the Gower to celebrate our second wedding anniversary.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfV3YrpV4rIOzvtNYUDQWZSqGeJ3mS_SODYcyygCDyHW1B31U-0ULvVxyDDyjM6BAqLYtWpcZWoaz07LzcUcJ-4_57y1pOcUm6pzGvZ4HPBF98WD14YuFux7ugBlbbrLQ39dpmZhq9Gew/s1600/duckegg3.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfV3YrpV4rIOzvtNYUDQWZSqGeJ3mS_SODYcyygCDyHW1B31U-0ULvVxyDDyjM6BAqLYtWpcZWoaz07LzcUcJ-4_57y1pOcUm6pzGvZ4HPBF98WD14YuFux7ugBlbbrLQ39dpmZhq9Gew/s1600/duckegg3.jpeg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj6Mqy7PV73oEekRkkzGwQyCYqQV0PTs8NEpvj_HluFf7jDTEvW6OMpDZPVjXz1MFf1uS0AMNubOgvv1ZyBFrOH9-rYCW6bDMgQmzwH1Yx0Xs6sgYrgsEQBy7O4jFbLklRxRbb65BRfQg/s1600/duckegg1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj6Mqy7PV73oEekRkkzGwQyCYqQV0PTs8NEpvj_HluFf7jDTEvW6OMpDZPVjXz1MFf1uS0AMNubOgvv1ZyBFrOH9-rYCW6bDMgQmzwH1Yx0Xs6sgYrgsEQBy7O4jFbLklRxRbb65BRfQg/s1600/duckegg1.jpeg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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The weather was glorious and the beaches remind me of childhood holidays.</div>
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Happy Anniversary Mr Asparagus Pea xxx</div>
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Asparagus Peahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12144544248029447571noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6324023291620987069.post-88178239840002990832014-04-02T17:38:00.000+01:002014-04-02T18:11:06.292+01:00#museumselfie<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I pride myself on taking a good photo - I used to be a focus puller in my pre-horticulture previous life. </div>
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I know my way around a camera, and take care to get the images on this blog looking good. </div>
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So how hard could it be to get some cute pictures of the two lambs I've been bottle feeding at work?</div>
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BLOODY IMPOSSIBLE!!!!!</div>
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dark shed/lambs won't keep still/not enough hands<br />
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Answer: Collage it up and stick an effect on it</div>
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12 new chooky girls too - yay!</div>
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Asparagus Peahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12144544248029447571noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6324023291620987069.post-30790070100115026772014-03-24T12:55:00.000+00:002014-03-24T12:55:43.268+00:00advice from the psychic tablecloth<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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This week we have been discussing holiday plans.</div>
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Short term - 4 nights in Cornwall.</div>
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But in the medium/long term I am keen for something a little more far flung.</div>
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As we cross the finish line in the parenting race (at least as far as the courts are concerned),</div>
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there is a window of opportunity before any of the oldies need more support from us. </div>
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(Hi Mum and Dad, I know you're reading this!).</div>
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There's the prospect of a Memphis/Nashville/New Orleans road trip next Easter, </div>
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but in the 5 year timeframe I want to drag Mr Asparagus Pea to the Southern hemisphere.</div>
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That probably involves some unpaid leave from work in the depths of winter. </div>
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As we chatted about it over breakfast, I spilled some tea on the tablecloth, and look….</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2qg-hUdVnPQdEoUMw0HcHQq13MjkI1WhG4a-HCm-nZjk1zejHcY5IACsYZ6inSoitJ-6iK7tmmMlYo43Wj7deDlHVRibqJI2xlDI4DiSGT-E1FeSDdRMkP8ZjZomikc9MSxSpfPWD_OU/s1600/tablecloth4.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2qg-hUdVnPQdEoUMw0HcHQq13MjkI1WhG4a-HCm-nZjk1zejHcY5IACsYZ6inSoitJ-6iK7tmmMlYo43Wj7deDlHVRibqJI2xlDI4DiSGT-E1FeSDdRMkP8ZjZomikc9MSxSpfPWD_OU/s1600/tablecloth4.jpeg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Australia!!!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Okay so Tasmania is a bit big and slightly in the wrong place, </span></div>
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but that's a sign right?!?!</div>
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In other news I have been making muffins to use up some of the elderly dried fruit in the cupboard.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOWHLAXxK4rGaogwJaXSRCVDA4WF_VVY3OOGPJggRw5ssZTY53cH3zc9ZkPnER1r1xFXaDRLwuRb5p95fWcTbATSmZiU-UE3x1GIlLp8jMExb6YDJPigM4zgeFh3aPj4Fws3_eW4EDUEE/s1600/tablecloth3.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOWHLAXxK4rGaogwJaXSRCVDA4WF_VVY3OOGPJggRw5ssZTY53cH3zc9ZkPnER1r1xFXaDRLwuRb5p95fWcTbATSmZiU-UE3x1GIlLp8jMExb6YDJPigM4zgeFh3aPj4Fws3_eW4EDUEE/s1600/tablecloth3.jpeg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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Some figs that have been lurking for a long time.</div>
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I like to use 1 cup of oats soaked in 1 cup of milk soured with a capful of white wine vinegar.</div>
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Trying to eat more oats and soy - good for your secret womens' business.</div>
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With a cup of wholewheat flour plus 1 tsp baking powder and 1/2 tsp bicarb</div>
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Sometimes I sub the oil for applesauce if I'm feeling worthy.</div>
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But then you can't use paper cases because they stick like bastards.</div>
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Adjust the sugar to taste depending on the sweetness of the fruit you're using.</div>
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I used about 1/2 a cup of brown with a little demerera and cinnamon on top.</div>
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Yummo!</div>
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Off to be rehabilitated for my speeding sins now - </div>
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Bah humbug!</div>
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Asparagus Peahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12144544248029447571noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6324023291620987069.post-18407756642392163772014-03-18T11:10:00.001+00:002014-03-18T11:11:37.337+00:00more nesting<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
When it comes to architecture, Mr AP and I share a taste for industrial/brutal/bunker chic, and are frequently heard to sigh "Look - it's our dream home", as we drive past the cement works. But Cardiff is a city full of sturdy Victorian/Edwardian houses - so that's what we bought when we moved across town back to my old 'hood nearly two years ago. Now don't get me wrong - I love this crazy old house, but when they were handing out twiddly bits, this place got the lot...<br />
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crests above the doors</div>
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cornices that were picked out in alternating red/green with a row of green 'christmas trees'</div>
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obligatory stained glass front door</div>
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these are behind the curtains in the living room!</div>
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Our latest effort to try and calm it all down has been painting the hall/stairs/landing a rather grown up <a href="http://www.farrow-ball.com/oval-room-blue/colours/farrow-ball/fcp-product/100085">shade of blue</a>, with an absolute crapload of pale grey and white. I'm bandying the words 'Gustavian colour palette' around, in the hope that no-one will press me on what it actually means. (Something inspired by an overdose of Swedish design blogs/Pinterest boards?!?).<br />
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extra fancy newel post at the bottom of the stairs</div>
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a couple of the original <a href="http://www.lincrusta.com/">lincrusta</a> panels, (which I love), below the dado</div>
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The blue on the walls seems to have calmed the floor down a bit.</div>
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I want to put this picture up - it's a Tom Burnett print I bought in NZ.</div>
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A flax basket of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P%C4%81ua">paua</a> (abalone) shells.</div>
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It reminds me of childhood beach holidays.</div>
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Mr AP is not so keen on it - but lord knows we've got enough of his stuff about the place!</div>
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(The slightly ill-advised peach matte seems to work with the warm tones in the floor too).</div>
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What do you reckon…?</div>
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Asparagus Peahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12144544248029447571noreply@blogger.com6