Well, that'll teach me! No sooner the intention to get stuck into the house and garden than first I disappear off on holiday and then I go down sick messing up the whole of traditional Christmas with the grandchildren and all the New Year getting stuck into house and garden. And then its setting up a new fundraising plan for Sonairte and all the fun and games associated with an upcoming election and its associated increased editing load.
Almost three weeks into the New Year and at least traditional cures have proved more effective than modern medicine in dealing with the racking cough that has left my ribs and diaphragm bruised and aching. When all else fails mullein and honey - along with steaming over a basin of thyme scented water - that are finally restoring me to myself. Disprin helps too :-)
I spent the morning with local Green Party TD Trevor Sargent who took time off from his re-election campaign to so some brainstorming on fundraising. We both agree that the first thing we need is new playgrounds for children visiting Sonairte. A small safe formal one close to the coffee shop so parents can relax, and a wild one that all the family can enjoy out on the nature trail. The miscanthus maze failed last year for lack of a dedicated planting team. But it is still a great idea, as is restoring the willow tunnel so I'll put out an appeal for a group to deal with just those two jobs. Anyone for helping kids to have fun with nature and get grubby?
Meanwhile back at the ranch Margaret tells me she has some short day cool temperature squash sourced for me - developed for Oregon so they should do well in Ireland and they have really high dry matter. And John tells me that Brown Envelope seeds have a mountain corn that reliably gives good harvestable grain out of doors - or at least it does in West Cork. So with any luck that will be two good winter food crops to add to the menu.
Good winter food at home tonight. Teamed up a nice little hen pheasant I was given (frozen) for Christmas with garlic roasted potatoes and braised red cabbage with apple and onions. Softened the onions and apple in a little butter then added the cabbage along with a smidgen of sea salt, a teaspoon of cumin seeds, a splash of wine vinegar and a spoonful of lovely honey from Ben Colchester's farm. Lid on the pan and into the oven beside the pheasant and potatoes then forgot the whole lot for 40 minutes. Food for the gods! Braised and roasted vegetables are one of the reasons winter exists to my mind - in fact tomorrow I'll do roasted winter vegetables with cous cous just to enjoy winter food some more. OK cous cous isn't traditional fare in this part of the world but it takes up the caramelised vegetable juices beautifully.
