Wednesday, 5 January 2011
Tuesday, 4 January 2011
So very proud....
To the farm this evening, late and guilty, feeding the animals in the dark (again), to be greeted by the farmer calling out 'congratulations!'. Fatty (sow no. 1) has given birth to eleven piglets. We (the children and I) tip-toed over to her shelter, to see eleven wriggling little bodies suckling at her enormous belly. And there was me thinking she was just overweight. On the contrary, she did all that work on her own, piglet after piglet with no help at all. She really is the MOST marvellous pig. Pictures first thing tomorrow but safe to say they are too cute (...tiny, frail) to mention.
Monday, 3 January 2011
First Monday Wine Club Wines of 2011 and a new arrival...
The first Monday Wine Club of the year; a small group, we opened...
Cahors 'Solis' Matthieu Cosse 2004 13% abv >£10 rsp
100% Malbec; organic (Cosse has also apparently practised biodynamic viticulture as well). 'Solis' ie the sun. The domaine is in the elevated village of Prayssac, overlooking the river Lot.
Chateauneuf-du-Pape Domaine Font Michelle 2006 Jean & Michel Gonnet >£22 rsp
70% Grenache, with 10% each of Syrah, Mourvedre & Cinsault, matured in large oak casks for 6-12 months. A 30ha family owned estate (aforementioned brothers Jean and Michel), I've sold this CNDP for years through various merchants I've worked for, and have a feeling I have always underrated and been slightly dismissive of it.
No detailed tasting notes this evening, just recording the wines for Wine Club posterity. I will discipline myself back into full MW system tasting notes (using the dreaded 'grid' et al) from next week.
...oh, and about the visitor....
Very exciting. I have a 250kg saddleback boar coming to stay on my smallholding. The same chap who took care of Fatty (sow no.1) and more recently Pamela (sow no.2). Pamela has weaned her last litter, and I think big girl no.1 might be feigning pregnancy in order to be pampered. Today she had a bag of carrots, apples and a Savoy cabbage, as well her sow cubes. But no sign of 'bagging up'. So, our regal visitor will be spending a week or two with the girls. Quite trepidatious, I haven't had to handle a full grown boar before, and I quite expect to be found half eaten (or worse!) if I inadvertently trip while filling the water trough. Will post pictures but hear he is an unfeasibly magnificent beast.
Cahors 'Solis' Matthieu Cosse 2004 13% abv >£10 rsp
100% Malbec; organic (Cosse has also apparently practised biodynamic viticulture as well). 'Solis' ie the sun. The domaine is in the elevated village of Prayssac, overlooking the river Lot.
Chateauneuf-du-Pape Domaine Font Michelle 2006 Jean & Michel Gonnet >£22 rsp
70% Grenache, with 10% each of Syrah, Mourvedre & Cinsault, matured in large oak casks for 6-12 months. A 30ha family owned estate (aforementioned brothers Jean and Michel), I've sold this CNDP for years through various merchants I've worked for, and have a feeling I have always underrated and been slightly dismissive of it.
No detailed tasting notes this evening, just recording the wines for Wine Club posterity. I will discipline myself back into full MW system tasting notes (using the dreaded 'grid' et al) from next week.
...oh, and about the visitor....
Very exciting. I have a 250kg saddleback boar coming to stay on my smallholding. The same chap who took care of Fatty (sow no.1) and more recently Pamela (sow no.2). Pamela has weaned her last litter, and I think big girl no.1 might be feigning pregnancy in order to be pampered. Today she had a bag of carrots, apples and a Savoy cabbage, as well her sow cubes. But no sign of 'bagging up'. So, our regal visitor will be spending a week or two with the girls. Quite trepidatious, I haven't had to handle a full grown boar before, and I quite expect to be found half eaten (or worse!) if I inadvertently trip while filling the water trough. Will post pictures but hear he is an unfeasibly magnificent beast.
Sunday, 2 January 2011
Diaries, blogging and New Year's Resolutions, Bakewell tarts
In bed with both the dogs curled up at my feet, and the sounds of chef downstairs in the kitchen preparing Sunday lunch (I usually get up and start this at half seven on a Sunday morning, in case I sound too lazy, but have been in bed writing new January menus). Joan Bakewell is giving her thought for the day on Radio 4, on the subject of keeping a diary. I am annoyed with myself for not resolving to keep a daily diary from yesterday. Instead I resolve to ignore my OCD tendencies and begin from the second, i.e. today.
On the subject of Joan Bakewell, we made some wonderful Bakewell tarts last night, for the pudding menu.
As opening entries go this is modest, but my laptop battery is about to fail, so this will have to stand.
On the subject of Joan Bakewell, we made some wonderful Bakewell tarts last night, for the pudding menu.
As opening entries go this is modest, but my laptop battery is about to fail, so this will have to stand.
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