I enjoyed a pleasant hour or two mooching around a Makers’ Market yesterday. The one I went to is pretty good as far as this type of artisan malarkey goes although probably half the stalls are foodie ones - bread, pies, pastries, cakes etc - and I don’t buy from them because a) I bake and cook these things perfectly well myself and b) I bake and cook them for probably less than half the price. I watched someone pay £20 for a bog standard sponge-type cake yesterday and thought, ‘Sheesh - £20? Really??’ Ah well - takes all sorts, as the saying goes. Fools and their money etc etc. I did make one foodie purchase though and that was because the stall holder was putting all his energies into a marvellous sale pitch and I thought it needed rewarding with a sale. The product was a ‘soft granola’ - the only one available in the WHOLE country, apparently. The chap was holding out little sample test pots and shouting, ‘It’s no good just looking at it! You’ve got to try it to taste how good it is
Such a beautiful morning here! Although barely above freezing at 6.30 a.m, less than two hours later the garden thermometer is nudging 10 degrees C and the Sun is a gem of warmth in a clear blue sky. I reckon Spring is here. It’s the Spring Equinox next Thursday - I shall be celebrating in my own witchy way - and there are plenty of buds appearing on the trees and shrubs around the garden. The rosemary, in particular, is looking a very fine and handsome lady indeed: Here is the view from the top of our garden, across the field at the back: I take Nell for walks around here sometimes, but not of late because although it looks very smooth and dry, it is, in fact, boggy and lumpy. Like rice pudding. 🤢 Give it a few dry weeks, though, and it’ll be good walking ground again. Nell continues to show excellent recall when off-lead away from home. We’ve been going for walks along the canals that are situated just beyond the back fields. A two minute drive to park in our village hall car park