Mushroom Magic

I'm just getting over a swift dose of flu and feeling a bit out of shape, but not even that can stop me from enjoying this time of the year, there are so many wonderful things to find outdoors. Lots of crafty folk love the shape and colour of mushrooms and we are no exception, even my youngest can't go for a walk without pointing out almost every one that he sees. So, our little walks can take quite some time. Mushrooms are everywhere in our local woods, in the most extraordinary colours.

We are happy to just look and enjoy, but my beloved is a good Frenchman and forager of fine things, so armed with a pile of mushroom books, he has taught me how to identify some edible varieties. This year we have hit gold - a big crop of Chanterelles.

We have been enjoying them with earthy Puy lentils, generously seasoned with garlic, parsley and lemon, or as a deluxe filling to an omelette. Aren't they the most beautiful colour?

Anything interesting to eat in your neighbourhood? Any suggestions for cooking our treasures? I'm sure there will be another mushroom hunt this weekend...

Now we are Six

School holidays start, and naturally, after weeks of sunshine, it instantly starts raining. Non-stop. For a week. Oh joy! However, nothing can dampen a birthday celebration and even the weather cheered up a bit too. Now at the grand old age of six, my boy really knows how birthdays work. First request was breakfast in bed (our bed, so everyone could fit in). Only a bit of chocolate spread on the pillowcase... And some very specific present requests...

"Mum, can you make me a SamSam costume?"

"Mum, can you make me a knight costume?" And a cosy velvet cape with a furry collar - wouldn't mind one of those for myself actually. Goes with the quiver that was also requested recently...

Naturally a superhero/knight needs a quest. And some friends to help. So after a bit of shield decorating, face-painting and dressing-up we headed out in search of dragon eggs - left carelessly all around the woods...

We got attacked by a not very friendly dragon hiding in the heather - it got enthusiastically bashed! Just as well, it had lots of goodies in his belly...

Peace restored, it was back a bit of cake. Despite my love of all things homemade, I have to say I find birthday cakes a bit daunting, well, the fiddly ones anyway. This one was no exception. Especially as the electricity was due to be cut for several hours the morning of the party, and I found myself manically trying to beat the icing whilst throwing cocoa powder everywhere, as I realised I only had 3 minutes in which to take a shower! Still it worked out fine, I got my shower, the cake was very chocolately and the kitchen is almost clean....

The party finished with a peaceful campout in the garden, a nice bottle of wine for the grownups and a cosy campfire. And the sun even came back out for the weekend.

A Woodland Rainbow

After a week of sun and showers and rainbows in the skies, colour is everywhere. A Sunday afternoon stroll in the woods had me on hands and knees, wanting to get up close, so not to miss a drop of it.

Violet...tiny and fragrant

Blue... "A true blue dream of a day"

Green...everywhere, and in every hue and texture

Yellow...coconut scented, way too exotic for the Highlands...Mmm

Orange...the peat tinted waters of the burn

Red...is this cheating? The real thing was obviously having his afternoon nap....

Celebrating May

This is (probably) my favourite month in the Highlands, and our trees are slowly greening up. Beech trees are my no. 1 favourite tree, probably because I spent an awful lot of childhood in and around them. But since moving here, Larch have also taken a place in my heart. They aren't terribly majestic, but their cones are lovely and flower-like, and the soft green needles are a beautiful colour. And they are such graceful trees.

Indoors and out, everything is popping up, full of promise and fragrance. Our seedlings are doing well...

And joy! The first radish of the season. Not ours, but from the L'Arche polytunnel, brought home as a contribution to our Friday Lunch with Syd, Lil and Gina. They were crunchy, with just a hint of peppery bite. And how best to eat them? We had them dipped into a thick mustardy vinaigrette, but the French smear them with butter and a sprinkle of salt. How to make a perfectly healthy food totally decadent!

This weekend, we had another film night in the living room. This involves dragging mattresses downstairs, the telly out the cupboard and making a big bowl of popcorn. Then settling down with a flick all four of us can enjoy, and then snoozing off together. Naturally, the setting up of such an arrangement causes a certain May madness....

Not much sleep but a lot of fun....

Another celebration was a birthday BBQ at the wonderful Abriachan Forest. Just the sort of party we most enjoy. The woods are full of trails and treehouses and all sorts of lovely little surprises hidden away. A beautiful community project and really inspiring.

On our way home, we almost witnessed a terrible tragedy, but Featherglen readers will be relieved to know that Mama Duck and her 13 ducklings didn't end up in the local funeral home, but were last seen heading off into a lovely big garden with a stream...phew!

And on the creative front so far this month? Well, tired out by all of last month's activities, all I managed to do was sew my finished (the knitting) cardi onto the one I was already wearing! Argh! At least a nice glass of wine was quickly proffered to help me unpick it all...

Toot de toot! A birthday weekend! My wee chap scrubbed up rather well for his big day, or rather a whole weekend of big days, spent with some very bestest friends sleeping over for two nights. So, yes, some chaos, some tired parents, but everyone very happy...

Plenty of handmade and thoughtful gifts...






And a party full of rainbow colours....



But very best of all, glorious hot sunshine (it was snowing here this time last year!). We dragged tables and chairs out into the garden for a long lazy lunch and then sent all the superheros off for a quest for treasure...a mission enthusiastically accepted...



with tracks to follow...



Everyone helping out...



And sweet success!

But there were treats for the grownups, like the first BBQ of the year, loads of sweet herby grilled vegetables, lovely red wine, bread and cheese, all made more pleasurable by the unexpectedness of eating outside on a Highland April evening.

And treats for me - a wonderful felted bag, made especially by a very special friend, filled with all sorts of crafty goodness - including some easy threading needles, which apparently are very popular with older German ladies...well, scary to admit, but I think they might come in very handy...

Tomorrow I'm off for the best part of the week to help out at a L'Arche retreat. I have been busy making all sorts of things to help facilitate our days together. We are going to stay at a wonderful place near Perth called The Bield. I'm sure it will be a full time but I'm really looking forward to being part of it. Catch up with you soon!

Cold But Happy

Well, as my sister would say, it's still butt freezing here, and will be for several months (this is the Highlands after all, hey ho). However, there are days that are so beautiful that it's hard to stay in, and a wee wander in the wood is calling out. What rewards and tranquility, if one is muffled up. Some things are just as beautiful in their winter state....

And then there is the reward of hot tea and maybe some buttered toast. Does it get any better than that?
Recipe for my modestly entitled 'Perfect Bread' coming along soon...

PS Those of you having troubles leaving comments should find it easier now - I hope I have sorted it out!