Wednesday 24 June 2009

Veggies

Fabulous vegetables, Al has in the shop at the moment. I can't resist. Tonight, peas, runner beans, beetroot, carrots, cabbage and asparagus (kept in the fridge for the last few days because it was the last of this year's crop). While I was cooking, I ate Webbs Wonderful lettuce. For lunch, I had corn on the cob - this wasn't actually local, as everything else was - indeed, it was from Portugal - but it was young and tender nonetheless, and a Honeymoon Salad sandwich.

The Sage showed the phantam chick to the children, so I took a few pictures. Sorry the close-up is blurred.
. It looks very like a bantam chick, although possibly the beak is a trifle longer and it's barred like a pheasant - but not in an unbantamlike way. We assume it'll look more of a mixture as it grows.

I enjoyed the interviews this morning, although we wished there had been another job on offer - sometimes it's hard to choose. I cycled vigorously - a slight mistake as my knee still hurts, but better to wear out, hey? I have my car back from its service, which it went to a couple of months late - no time to deal with it before. I'm going to Kent this weekend and didn't want a squeaky brake.

Local raspberries, the first of the season, now. I'm afraid I'm greedy. I don't care. I've already eaten my daily chocolate. Hah.

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

The phantam looks very sweet - she is the same colouring as my latest hamster! I hadn't realised you could get cross bred birds.

martina said...

There is a little berry stand two blocks from here. This afternoon they had raspberries. Quite tasty but the was $23.00 a flat! It will be cheaper this year to buy jam rather than make it. What is the price in your town?

Z said...

I didn't know whether to believe my husband when he told me - but here's the proof. However, I'm sure that it will be infertile as cross species (such as horse x donkey) always are.

I'll have to check, Martina - I've forgotten. I think Al has been selling quarter-pound punnets of imported raspberries for £1 and the half-pound of local ones was £2.95, but I may be making that up!

Dave said...

I ate too much yesterday.

Rog said...

Nice Chick.

We had our first 2 runner beans last night. Not quite self sufficient yet.

Blue Witch said...

I had no idea that pheasants could interbreed with hens. I am now concerned as I don't want fertile eggs and Mr Pheasant has been known to be in with the girls.

I suppose I should be more concerned by the two beautiful Buff Orpington 9 week old boys we hatched that are in with them currently as we've not yet found a loving home for them...

Oh that T£$co's hadn't killed off all the greengrocers within a 20 mile (at least) radius of here.

Z said...

I used to aim to get my first runner beans in the middle of June, but for the past few years I haven't bothered with the outdoor protection they might need. Once the wall is completed, the kitchen garden will be warmer though.

He's been with them for months and this is the first chick, although it's not unusual to find nests of sitting hens in the hedgerows where the rascals have been laying away - so it's evidently an unusual occurrence. Equally, it's evidently possible as we don't have a cockerel

Z said...
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Zig said...

he is lovely! We have a pheasant, or rather a pheasant has been visiting us recently, now I know why!

Sarah said...

I had some rather nasty over cooked peas yesterday

Z said...

I trust they weren't freshly podded ones. That would be a crime.

luckyzmom said...

Missing the raspberry canes that produced at least a quart a day of lovely lush berries every day, in season, at our previous home. We buy frozen to make freezer jam (our addiction) because, at their lowest price here, a scant cup (6oz)of fresh raspberries will cost $2 at their cheapest but can be twice that.

The produce was all so sad looking when I was shopping yesterday. When I returned to my car it was 102 degrees. So, I was delighted to hear about all the lovely produce you experienced.

Z said...

I checked - Alex's raspberries are £2.90 for a half pound punnet. His strawberries are £2 for a pound punnet. Both are grown between here and Norwich - that is, within 15 miles of the shop.