Yawn Yawn Wakey Wakey 2024

Kale, nope not cabbage in disguise, the opposite. I would lean it back toward spinach, but not quite either, depends on the age, some sell baby Kale, non- baby kale is firmer, a good green leafy veggie to mix raw into salads. Goes well with apples, raisins, other greens. The nutrition value is way up there.
I also do a veggie pie bake using kale, shredded carrots, eggs, mustard, rice flour, shredded potato, put in caste iron skillet, bake one hour. Can use chopped kale in any soup for added nutrition it does not wilt out like spinach. Can put it in tomato sauce for pasta. Its flavor is not really a stand out flavor, plays along nice with others. Cabbage flavor stands out more than Kale. All about incorporating good stuff in your diet.

 

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Good morning everyone. I wonder what today has in store for us all. Glimmer of sunlight here so I hope it develops into a full day of it.

 

It is now official. @RowlandsCastle has become a Topper Spotter! Another fabulous creation there and I love the seaside theme! Such a clever way of depicting the waves washing up on the shore and I love the mouse in her teeny purple bikini. Thank you for sharing that and bringing a smile to my face this morning.
@Blue arbour - that is phenomenal. I am always impressed by the unsung heroes and heroines who are so generous.

 

We’ve got snowflakes flying past the window. Needless to say, it’s cold! I couldn’t get a good photo, but will see what Hubby got with his better camera. (When he finishes making biscuits. )

 

Morning all.

I had a bad night, too hot. It will be a sunny 31C today.

We are back in Dordogne. There was a big accident on the motorway somewhere between Tours and Poitiers, traffic at a standstill so we took a country route home which took much longer. I read last night that no one was badly hurt. Someone drove too fast in the tipping rain and aquaplaned and crashed into other cars.

It hasn't rained here, was hot when we arrived home.

We must go to the SM, too tired last night. It will shut at 12.30. Shops aren't allowed to be open on Sunday afternoons and only food shops can open.

My handyman, CB, he's French, has gone mad with the strimmer again. He's razed all the edges of the flower beds, almost bare earth about 6ins around them. My young spotted laurel is now about 2ins tall. Last year he killed my young betula Jaquemontii. OH has put a netting fence around my new one. The roses badly need dead heading, there must have been quite a show while we were away. There were 2 cucumbers, 5 courgettes, 3 tomatoes, a load of curly kale and chard, ripe red onions, 2 helpings of runner beans and 5 ready to eat cabbages in the vegetable garden. I did some watering last night.

 

Thanks for your thoughts. Most of the old buildings in the Rocky townships, including my son's, are built of wood so when there is a wild fire everything goes up in flames. The mountains are covered in Jack Pines which seem to be a weed version of the conifer world. There always seems to be thousands of them lying around where they have fallen as they do no seem long lived, they are also always piled up around the edges of lakes, an absolute tinder box.

Have you tried crispy kale? Remove the thick mid rib from each leaf, shred into thin strips and spread on a baking sheet, sprinkle with a little oil and salt, put in a moderate oven for 5/8 mins. It is rather like crispy seaweed.
I find it much more acceptable than boiled kale, it also depends on the type of kale. Some are more like tasteless spinach, Nero de Cavalero is more suitable for the oven method as it is much tougher, it takes ages to boil in water until tender.A bit like chewing green leather if undercooked.

 

Photo is too big, so will try later.

 

Good morning,

A beautiful, bright, warm sunny one it is, too. I think we might be in for a hot day today.

You are right about the fund raising @Ladybird4, we are always so heartened by the generosity of others. Every time we hold these events (roughly monthly now), the same people come and give generously, either by buying, donating items or both. To say our congregation has dwindled to about 12, word seems to get round, and people who don’t necessarily come to the event itself will still buy a raffle ticket or give a gift.

Some more interesting and tasty sounding recipes to try with kale. I must give them a go.

Well, I’d better get on. Enjoy your Sunday.

 

It’s just me and the bees for morning coffee today. So many varieties of bees about, which is good to see. A few more butterflies wouldn’t go a miss, and where are my dragonflies?

Have a lovely day everyone.

 

Good morning all!

I thought the presentation and th opening ceremony of the Olympic Games was fabulous. I have been watching a bit.

Lovely day here and very hot. I have aircon @Busy-Lizzie Doesn't need to be cold just around 26°C/27°C.

I like kale in salads mixed with lettuce. It's good cooked with lentils etc. Wonder food!

I hope everyone has a pleasant Sunday.

 

It's really lovely here too.
It's the annual tractor run and show, so I'm pleased it's not wet.
Your local charities will be most grateful for your donations @Ladybird4.
You can keep chard and kale!
Another excellent find from @RowlandsCastle
Home later to water and hopefully, pick veg

 

Good afternoon - just, in France anyway. We are set to get to 33c with soil temps of 45C so I may give up early on my plans to weed the rose beds, feed the soil and plant goodies.

Yesterday, OH helped me set up an old table base and top it with an old shed door so I could do potting in the shade behind our shower room extension. I was roundly shouted at by baby sparrows whose parents have managed to get thru the bird barriers fitted under the terracotta tiles and make nests. We have now moved the table round the side. We also get frantic tweetings when we go in the stone built garden shed and "cave" as there are swallows and sand martins nesting in there.

Picked young, cavolo nero is luscious and full of healthy viamins and minerals so a superfood. Unfortunately the slugs and snails got all my seedlings this spring and I can never find it in shops. Just lately I've been frying/roasting Savoy and pointy cabbages in wedges in a bit of butter mixed with oilve oil. Possum now tolerates (secretly enjoys) cabbage. Red cabbage is another superfood which I eat every week for some of my lunches in my big red salad.

I hope you have a restful day @Busy-Lizzie after a tiring journey yesterday. Irritating and frustrating when undergardeners - whether OHs or employees - massacre the wrong things.

Love that topper @RowlandsCastle. Great fun.

@AuntyRach OH and I thought it was self-indulgent too and badly choreographed.

Have a lovely afternoon everyone.

 

I have read that the French thought the opening ceremony was rather
like themselves " a chaotic mess"!

 

A good summary @floralies

 

Sunday morning, almost 8Am here.
@Goldenlily26 , boiled Kale? oh never, when I cook it straight out, its in a skillet, little olive oil, chopped, main stem out, garlic and salt until it just withers. Same as with Swiss Chard and Spinach, retains all vitamins and minerals that way.

And, yes, its Zucchini time, yeah, get them free, neighbors who grow it, have all the extra at the ends of their driveway. Picked up two nice ones yesterday, will be making Zucchini fritters out of them later.

We both continue working on our number one goal at the house, selling stuff we don't need. Yesterday met up with a nice girl exchanged money for an object she wanted that I posted on Facebook Market place. I also take stuff to Thrift stores and consider it a donation for tax deduction purposes. Too much stuff.

Nice and chilly morning of 66 degrees. Have a sweet Robins nest just outside my window, 3 babies hatched. In a week guess they will be ready to fly.

Take care all.