shades of a castle

This might just be the most favourite of the castles we have visited. We visit quite a lot, mostly because of the boy-sword thing, but also because they have that wonderful feeling of being mysterious and ancient and so solid (yet obviously that's a big contradiction given that they are all ruins). This was Goodrich Castle. Fairly small as far as castles go, I don't think it was especially noteworthy for anything in particular (perhaps it's portcullis remaining intact) it just had a good feel to it. The colour of the stones (red sandstone) was worn to a blush pink, the moss and greenness of the dead winter gave everything this air of calmness. It was amazingly beautiful. The trees and leaves and wood and stone all blended together. We were the only ones there I think (which was good because even the vastness of stone and air and trees could not dwarf the noise of two boys). I love standing so quietly and breathing in, looking, seeing the kitchen, the hearth, the stores, the scents, the shouts, and then opening my eyes and seeing a single dry leaf skittering across an ancient worn floor, room open to the roofless sky, all abandoned, gone. Not even echos. I get sad feeling in castles, but also peaceful. The trees there feel so old, there are so many histories so many lives I'll never know about; stairs that go no where but upon which feet once stepped with happiness and doom and fear and gladness.

Er, yeah, you could also say that castles leave me feeling romantic and sentimental. But I need a little dose of that every now and again anyway :)

7 things

1. If I were to give birth this week or perhaps the week after, to twins, a boy and a girl, I'd name them Florence and Robin.

2. I have been eating crisps this week. This is very bad. I don't know what has come over me. It's the worst thing I have eaten in nearly a year. They are so addictive. Must be the salt. I must stop, they leave me feeling yucky and they are certainly not raw or even remotely nutritious, blimey.

3. I just received a book in the post I had forgotten I had pre ordered ages ago, Polly's Puffin by Sarah Garland. It's pretty sweet, all of her books are. Esmé is so in love with the early ones, Going Swimming, Doing the washing etc I am surprised the books have not yet disintegrated. We have the two Eddie books and I have just gotten excited seeing there's another Eddie book out soon, Eddies Toolbox! Lovely.

4. It's Felix's 7th birthday soon. Amazing. I can hardly believe my youngest boy will be seven years old; the middle of childhood. We did a special one for Isaac that year so another in order for Fe I think.

5. I am coaching on the Spring and booing the snow when it falls. Crazy to argue with life. I'm not really, just wanting a tiny bit of sun. And standing in frozen bliss when it does pop out and glow on my face for a few seconds.

6. I am liking these coloured Disana wool nappy pants. I want some. The creamy ones we have had forever and are looking yellow. Blue or red ones just wouldn't do that would they? Lovely. Must save up for some soon.

7. About to go and order seeds from the Real Seed Company. They are great (apparently) and give you detailed instructions for saving seeds from your produce so theoretically you shouldn't need to buy from them again. Hmmm. I'll see if it works. Hooray for seeds and lambs and blue sky and things. Just ordering seed makes me feel gloriously happy.

visiting nanny

Long car journeying; whole lengths of country. We saw everything from this:





to this:





Stinking gifted chickens on the ride home was, er, surreal and made one grateful to be home (rather than endlessly in the car with ponging chooks).



It was worth it though to see Nanny. One of those lovely things about visiting your mum is the tiny everyday trips down memory lane. The patterned spoons and ceramic bowls I ate cereal from when I was about five, still circulating and being used by my own children. The wooden clothes airer, the *same* one that's been around just about forever with the same familiar creaking noise as clothes weigh it down or it's opened and closed.... the tiny things that make you feel at home even though really you're not any more. Or maybe you always are when you are with your mum.... It's lovely. I hope my three feel the same about me and my home when they are grown and gone.















Home again and I was straight into my kitchen. Raw eating is hard away from home and without being able to dehydrate or food process. I made Fluffy Macadamia Feta, Pine Nut Parmesan, flax and onion crackers, candied pumpkin seeds and lots of buckwheaties straight off. The 'feta' was so good Esmé sat on the floor next to the open bottom aga door and cried (literally) for it to be ready. Home cheesy home :)

two

...years Old





rocking Horse made by her own sweet, kind, clever Daddy





raw chocolate torte with sparkly crystal manna







crown made by boys and fun had by everyone....

raw food real world

Raw Food Real World; 100 recipes to get the Glow. Sarma Melngailis and Matthew Kenney

What a fantastic book. The recipes are wonderful. And ought to be; Sarma is a classically trained chef who switched to raw foods and has a New York raw restaurant Pure Food and Wine and two raw takeaways; One Lucky Duck. A raw takeaway? Oh I am in envy heaven... Can we move to New York? I asked my dh. Why? Er... well, you know, there's this great takeaway..... Yeah. You have to live in the middle of British Wilderness to get serious ideas about moving to New York for food. But this book is s delicious. I have only tried a couple of recipes and they are anything but hit and miss like my other raw food cookbooks can be. The reason, I think; those are written not by chef's. They are food enthusiasts for sure but not chefs. It makes a difference. Raw Food Real World is filled with top notch restaurant fare. But not tricky either to make yourself. I am raving about this book. I think it's my number one cookbook right now. There's another too by Sarma (yay) which I am envisioning coming my way (in a law of attraction, wishful thinking way).



This book has sections on: nut milks and shakes, salads, soups and starters, main dishes, desserts and sweets, breakfast and brunch, cheese, nuts, crackers and condiments, juices and cocktails. Phew, and yum.







I made the raw macaroons, candied pumpkin seeds and spicy brazil's.

All so good. And easy!

Tomorrow it's the chocolate ganache cake for a special girl.

I made the Filler Salad last night with a dressing that was only honey and lemon juice, oil and seasoning but lovely. Can't wait for more tester sessions: raw flat bread pizzas next I think...