Winter Veg.

Mahonia now in full bloom.

It seems only a short time ago that we were enjoying the summer veg, well in the case of the tomatoes we were enjoying them right up to last Thursday, but now it's time to start enjoying the winter veg. Lovely heart warming as well as body warming stews,

Veg for veggie crumble.

veggie crumbles, veggie soups plus roast veg.

Heritage carrots, I think they look pretty.

Most of what we have planted has grown well although the leeks are rather slim compared to other years, maybe we planted them later, but they are still good enough to eat. The big problem is planning for the hungry gap, March until May, things that we had planted to cover us for this period came on so quickly because of the very warm Autumn. The Purple Sprouting came on months earlier than it should, that has all been eaten now, but we still have curly kale and perpetual spinach to fall back on, there is plenty of carrots,

Don't think Morrisons would allow this one.

parsnips and swede,  the turnips are now coming on and of course there are plenty of potatoes and onions in store, even the Brussels sprouts are looking good, we have had the first helping of them. There is also broad beans, French beans, peas,    cauliflower and calabrese in the freezer,  I don't think we will go short of veggies this winter despite the weather's best attempt to bring crops on early  due to the warm temperatures.
With the mild weather comes the rain, or rather 'storm Desmond', why have the 'powers that be' decided that storms now need to be given a name? It doesn't make them any friendlier  or less damaging.

No, not a lake, a field which had cattle in it just three days ago.

The rivers and streams have all burst their banks, roads are closed,

A flooded Lough Flynn.

the local lough is 40 m higher than normal.  Cattle have had to be brought in, this makes for more work for the farmers, plus more expense in feeding the animals.

In spite of the appalling weather yesterday the craft fair was well attended, there were only a dozen tables but I think everyone sold well.

Some lovely wood craft.

My table.

I did well and have covered the cost of our Christmas turkey, it's interesting to see what does sell and what doesn't, marmalade with whisky has proved popular and I have another batch on the go, and we also have to make more vegetarian mince meat, I have two more fairs to do and it does seem that people who attend these fairs are more aware of what is in commercially produce foods, in particular people seem keen to avoid palm oil which is not easy in this day and age. One out of every two products sold in supermarkets contains palm oil, what will the manufacturers do when all the rain forests have been destroyed and no more palm oil plantations can be planted?

Zara likes buckets.

Our cats are far from impressed with this weather and are doing their best to hibernate,

She also likes baskets.

the baskets in the window is one of their favourite spots as it catches the late sun, yes, we still see the sun sometimes,

and we are getting some beautiful sunsets.