Rural life in North Nottinghamshire has provided us with many opportunities. I think we have embraced them all. Not least our latest and most productive hobby: sausage-making!
We have been given quantities of game birds from local shoots and so it has become necessary to be inventive. Roast pheasant, roast partridge, game casserole, pheasant bolognese…
Recipes coming soon
I can share the recipes and methods with you in the New Year, perhaps you would like to see them?
A very merry Christmas
In the meantime here is a picture of our Christmas wreath. Created from feathers and a biodegradable OASIS https://www.oasisfloral.co.uk/ base. It hangs on my front door. A seasonal image to wish you a very merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
St Peter’s Church, Clayworth, Nottinghamshire – first ever Christmas tree festival!
Christmas tree festivals are community events that bring people and local organisations together. Individuals and groups supply and decorate a Christmas tree. This particular Christmas tree festival is St Peter’s first ever! There are currently fifteen trees in this inaugural display, all lit, decorated and on show collectively. But for a limited time only – from now until Saturday 21st December. It is not here for long and St Peter’s in Clayworth, North Nottinghamshire will be open every day until then from 10.00am until 4.00pm.
All kinds of trees, decorated and lit in St Peter’s Church, Clayworth North Nottinghamshire
Local organisations get involved
A couple of local organisations have provided a themed tree to reflect their business, such as the popular local bar and restaurant ‘the Blacksmith’s Arms’ https://www.blacksmithsclayworth.com/. Then there’s the ‘go to’ website for all events, things to do and what’s on information for the North Nottinghamshire area https://www.innorthnotts.co.uk/
Find out what’s happening in North Nottinghamshire from this pretty tree
An opportunity to visit the Traquair Murals
So, if you missed the ‘big one’ in town, now is your chance to savour flavour of this individual display. Enjoy this smaller but cosier exhibition in a local, historic, village church. Take advantage of this opportunity to see the ‘Traquair Murals’ as St Peter’s is home to the largest works of art in the East of England. They are are well worth a visit in themselves. You can read all about them here: https://savourthemoment.co/country-life/the-traquair-murals-the-what-murals/
Edible tree decorations to take away ‘Treats and Treasures’
A couple of the trees are decorated with edible treats. Help yourself to one or two – take some home or pass them around. This is a free event but there are opportunities to leave donations. There is a safe in the wall near the door for donations and also one or two collection boxes near the trees. Refreshments are available too.
Treats and treasure tree – help yourself to chocolate coins or peppermint canes
Heartwarming and unforgettable
Every Christmas tree festival is unique and has its own charm. St Peter’s would welcome your visit. It is a heart-warming and unforgettable sight especially when the trees are lit and it’s dark outside.
A uniquely hand-crafted Christmas tree
Share the joy
In recent years Christmas tree festivals have become increasingly popular as a way of bringing communities together. They provide the opportunity to raise money for the church or local charities. Most importantly they share the joy of the Christmas message and add a little extra sparkle to the Christmas festivities.
A blue and white theme
Don’t miss this chance to visit, time is running out – it will all be over on the evening of Saturday 21st December.
Plough Monday can be traced right back to medieval times.It traditionally saw the return to work after the break for Christmas, especially in northern and eastern England.The traditions for Plough Monday varied from village to village.Plough Monday was originally the first Monday after the twelfth day of Christmas, 6 January. Epiphany.
The Clown
A unique tradition
The tradition very nearly disappeared during World War 1 and then again in the Second World War.Credit is due to the players and the landlords of both village pubs for upholding this unique tradition.
Enter the Sergeant
Plough Sunday
Naturally, the day before Plough Monday is not surprisingly known as Plough Sunday.This tradition more often than not, now takes place in Clayworth, North Nottinghamshire, on the third Sunday of January.
The Clown, the Sergeant and Old Eezum-Squeezum
The death of the earth
In medieval times and in the dead of winter it was thought that the earth ‘died’ and there was a possibility that nothing would ever grow again. It was difficult to believe that the earth would ever wake up and again provide food..
A battle between Light and Dark, Good and Evil, Life and Death
I am lucky enough to live in the village of Clayworth in north Nottinghamshire, England where the most well-known of these plays still takes place.The ‘script’ is usually a bit of nonsense but has a hidden, topical message somewhere within. A pretend battle is fought between Light and Darkness.Darkness is killed and then brought back to life by some miracle. The death of the Old Year and the arrival of the New Year is symbolised in this tableau.
The village pubs
This year the play was performed as usual in the surrounding villages on the Friday before Plough Sunday.
The Blacksmith’s Arms, one of Clayworth’s pubs which hosts the Plough Play
The Brewer’s Arms at Clayworth who also play Bost to the Plough Play
It gets very busy
The bar at the Brewers’ begins to fill from 12.15pm and by 12.45pm when the players arrive, it is absolutely heaving. Get there early, get a drink and a seat… and if you think ahead book for Sunday lunch, you won’t be disappointed.
Old Eezum-Squeezum
A fiddler and an accordionist enter the pub, followed at different times by the players: the Clown, the Plough ‘boy’, the ‘Horse’, the Soldier, Old Eezum-Squeezum (sometimes known as Beelzebub), and the Doctor.Sounds bizarre and yes it is, but highly entertaining and amusing with rhymes and short songs which have been passed down through the years. There is even a sword dance!
It was once common for those who took part in these plays to blacken their faces as a disguise.They might also include something to associate with nature in their costumes such as a flower or feathers.
The climax of the play is the fight between Light and Dark,Good and Evil, Life and Death. It culminates in the slaying of Darkness (Old Eezum-Squeezum) – who is usually brought back to life by ‘the Doctor’ – and everyone lives happily ever after – with a pint in hand!
Bessie… or Bill Oddie!
Good luck, fertility and wealth
The play brings together farmers and villagers. The purpose of the play is to bring luck, fertility and wealth. You need to be there in order to get your share, so put the date in your diary for 2020!
Get your boots on and get ready for a long walk in the lowlands of Scotland! Loch Leven is the perfect place for a long walk in the lowlands.There is an excellent, all-abilities path around the perimeter – the Loch Leven Heritage Trail.The trail can be accessed from several points around the loch where there are good car-parks. It is a freshwater loch near Kinross in Perth and Kinross, central Scotland. The loch is about 6km at its longest. Kinross lies at its western end and Loch Leven Castle lies on an island just offshore.Mary Queen of Scots was imprisoned there in 1567.There are ferry trips across to it during the summer.And it is here that we chose to take a long walk – and a bike ride!
Part-way round Loch Leven there is a small beach area
Walk it or bike it
My friend and I started the walk from Loch Leven cycles http://www.lochlevencycles.co.uk/ where our husbands were kitted up with helmets and bikes.The lady there was extremely helpful. I would definitely recommend a visit, especially if you are a ‘pedal-head’!Anyway, my friend and I got a head-start on a glorious, bright, chilly morning. The path was easy to navigate and easy to walk.Nice and flat. Just how we like it.
Another stunning view of Loch Leven with a glimpse of Saint Serf’s Inch island
A view of St Serf’s Island
As we left Kinross behind us Loch Leven opened out before us.If you are lucky, and the water level is right, several islands can be seen in the loch. St Serf’s Inch is the largest of the islands and it was the home of a Culdee (a Christian monastic community) and then an Augustinian monastic community, St Serf’s Inch Priory.
Finally, it’s worth having a wander around ‘Todd and Duncan’, to have a look at the cashmere – some gorgeous stuff in there.https://www.todd-duncan.co.uk/Oh and cake too!This is where our 13 mile walk around the loch ended and we met up with our cyclist partners. It seems they had a great day too.
The endless sky over the the Loch Leven nature reserve
National Nature Reserve
Loch Leven is the main part of the Loch Leven National Nature Réserve. It is the largest lowland loch in Scotland and an important site for waterfowl. Over 35,000 birds can be around during the winter months.The birds arrive at Loch Leven from some far flung places, such as Greenland, Iceland, Siberia and northern and central Europe. A bird-watcher’s – and fungi spotter’s paradise!
It was free to park the car which was a bonus. The day was dry, slightly overcast and not too cold although the sun did peek through at points. Perfect weather for a good, long, circular walk. After a flight of steps down to the river bank it was almost all flat. A well-worn path with a few steps here and there and a few tree roots along the way.
Pitlochry
Pitlochry https://www.pitlochry.org/index.html is world-famous for its ‘Salmon Leap’ which is a spectacle in the springtime when the salmon ‘leap’ to return to their spawning ground. This was our stop of choice at about the half way point of the walk. It is a pretty, touristy, small town which has its own railway station, quite a few shops selling Tartan and shortbread.
Loch Faskally
This one is definitely worth a visit...
A particular shop that caught our eye was the whiskey shop http://robertsonsofpitlochry.co.uk/ This little place is a real gem. It has a phenomenal range of whiskeys... and gins, some with a phenomenal price tag too! Attached to the shop is what looks like a small restaurant but is actually a whiskey-tasting experience room. Each place is set with a wooden, glass-holder which takes about 5 small glasses. There wasn’t a ‘tasting’ when we were there but we did buy a couple of glasses. A lovely reminder of our visit to Pitlochry.
A souvenir of Pitlochry
‘Keep right on to the end of the road’
A quick coffee in the cafe across the road and we were off again to complete the circuit. We did this walk fairly recently and so the trees were decked out in their autumn colours. Just amazing, although my pictures don’t really do them justice.
circular walk" width="525" height="644" /> Linn of Tummel circular walk
If you ever take the ‘High Road’ to Scotland do yourself a favour, pack your walking boots and head for Garry Bridge.
Today’s soup recipe is not to everyone’s taste but most people I know like it.It’s smooth delicious and nutritious! A quick and easy recipe. Almost impossible to go wrong and it freezes well. This soup has a lightness and it’s great for filling a flask to accompany a Winter walk.
Heat the oil. Sauté the onion and garlic for 3 minutes until translucent.Add the diced potato.Cover and cook on a low heat until potato is tender about 5 minutes. Add the chopped celery, cover and cook for 5 minutes.Add the hot stock, stir well, cover and cook for 10 further minutes. Add the seasoning. Stir well. Cover and cook until all veg are tender.
Step 3
Remove from the heat. Blitz with a hand-blender add the milk. Serve hot,or portion and freeze when cold.
A bowl of flavoursome celery soup
Variation
Sprinkle on grated mature cheddar cheese and serve with crusty bread. Or crumble some Blue Stilton cheese on top.
Heat the oil. Sauté the onion and garlic for 3 minutes until translucent.Add the diced potato.Cover and cook on a low heat until potato is tender about 5 minutes. Add the tomato purée and white wine vinegar. Crumble in the stock cubes, stir well, cover and cook for 2 further minutes. Add the seasoning. Stir well.Add the tinned tomatoes. Cover and cook for 3 minutes.Add the 2 x 1 litre cartons of tomato juice. Stir. Cover and cook for a further 15/20 minutes or until all veg are tender.
Step 3
Remove from the heat.Add all the basil (I don’t think it is possible to have too much basil, although it is possible to have too little!) Blitz with a hand-blender. Serve hot,or portion and freeze when cold.
Freshly made Tomato and Basil Soup
To make it even more heart-warming, sprinkle on grated mature cheddar cheese and serve with crusty bread.
I love to make soup. I find it very therapeutic and relaxing. It’s a good feeling to make it in batches and then freeze for cold, winter days. The only drawback is I probably make too much, the hubster tells me off for filling up the freezer.
First soup of the season
I got the urge to make soup yesterday. Carrot and lentil. I thought I would share the process with you.
Carrot and Lentil Soup enough to serve 12. (Good for a bonfire party or to freeze). Scale down for smaller quantities.
Peel the veg and immerse the lentils in cold water
Step 2
Chop the veg
Step 3
Heat the oil. Sauté the onion and garlic for 3 minutes until translucent. Add the carrots, stir well, cover and cook for 3 further minutes. Add seasoning and spices. Stir well. Cover and cook for 3 minutes. Add soaked lentils. Stir. Add stock. Stir. Cover and cook for a further 20 minutes or until lentils are tender.
Step 4
Blitz with a handblender. Serve hot, or portion and freeze when cold.
A comforting bowl of carrot and lentil soup
Variation
Add chilli flakes and extra cumin to spice up to taste. Serve with crusty bread and perhaps sprinkle some mature, grated cheddar on top – watch it melt! Delicious.
Now is the time to harvest the lavender that is probably growing in your garden. If not your garden then someone else’s close by! Let’s make a traditional, English lavender bag together.
Snipping lavender spikes in the garden
Granddaughter Evie came to stay and so she was put to work with the scissors in the garden. A good bunch of lavender spikes later makes a lovely display as they dry out for a couple of days – without water.
Fresh lavender without water
Ready to create an English lavender bag
OK so now we have our lavender spikes. Here’s what else we needed:
What you need
A meter of netting (cost £1.50 from the local market)
A meter of ribbon (cost .75p from the local market)
Scissors
And of course… lavender spikes
And here’s what we did with the lavender
After leaving the lavender spikes for a couple of days to dry out pull off the flowers into a pile onto some paper
Lavender bag
Cut x2 9”/23cm squares of net, lay one on top of the other for double thickness
With the net partially placed under the paper, push a quantity of lavender onto the net as shown
Transferring the lavender onto the net
Draw up the corners and sides of the net without letting the lavender escape
My able assistant then tied a length of ribbon around the enclosed lavender – very tightly. Learning to tie a knot in the process.
Tying securely
A souvenir of a lovely summer
We made enough lavender bags to give to Mummy to make her drawers smell nice and even one for Daddy for the car. The smell in the kitchen was just divine. When we learned that the smell is ‘soporific’ and relaxing grandson Jack said that he would like one for his bedroom ‘Because sometimes it’s just too hard to get to sleep!’
On the way home from a night out – the farmers are still harvesting.
The hubster and I went out for out for a wander yesterday afternoon. We could hear the distant hum of the combine harvester.
You may have seen a couple of images on Twitter @SavourtheMomen1 and Instagram @Sharon28.sr. Here they are again:
Clouds of dust heading our way
Townies!
We are relatively new to this area. It is still an absolute delight and a wonder to see the continual change in the fields around us.This incredible summer has provided the most amazing fields of gold. Our neighbours might well take this for granted as they have always lived in this environment – but they are far more in tune with the change in the seasons than we are.
Combine harvester up close and loud
Harvest dust gets everywhere
Our bird’s eye view was from the nearby canal towpath.Several vehicles: combines, grain collectors and even bigger grain collectors, followed by bailers, all work together like partners in a dance. The huge expanse of barley (yes I can recognise it now) was ‘done’ in little under an hour.Great clouds of light-brown dust billowed up and made its way across the canal. It left its tell-tale film on the water, to be absorbed overnight to sink to the bottom.We took shelter behind a hawthorn hedge. Even so everything, yes everything, inside and outside the house… and the car, has a light covering of beige dust. I suppose it goes with the territory!
Harvesting barley
A different way of life
The machine operators certainly know what they’re doing and understand the crops, the land and the weather.At this time of year and in this area, there is no such thing as an eight-hour working day. The headlights of the vehicles in the fields can be seen as they work into the night.At a guess I would say it is probably three solid weeks of working 18/20 hour days. I could be wrong, it might be more.
Then comes the tractor. They pull huge trailers of hay stacked so high they barely make it under the bridges. They shower the roads and paths with yellow confetti.
The harvest is almost finished now and the moon will soon shine on the freshly harvested fields to turn the gold into silver.
Almost done
It will always continue to fascinate.It really is a spectacle to see. I recommend that you take the time to go and look for yourself, before it is too late.
