It's been wet.
Wet with a capital W but the forecast winds have been nowhere near as damaging as we'd worried. The chickens have been kept relatively dry by their new roof and putting a second coat of gloss on the roof of their coop. Freinds are starting to enquire when Bob, no mean joiner I can tell you, will start work on an Ark. Unfortunately there's a shortage of gopher wood in Nottingham. We are unsure whether seasoned pine has the same properties.
The bees have continued to search out pollen on any day when it's been warm enough to stray out of the hive though it's clear there are more dead bees outside the hive than before. The rain has taken it's toll on bees that were out flying at any point during the torrential storms we've had of late but very, very few larval bees have been brought out of the hive.The hive is definitely better protected closer to the wall though the cats seem to think it could be used as a spring board to get over the garden wall.
The cats are getting on a little better. Merlin (senior black cat aged 9) has mellowed. He allows Goose (very junior grey kitten aged 10 weeks) to jump all over him till he looses interest. Then he flattens her till she slopes off to do something else. Curiously Sid (aged 4 or 5) who'se full name is Cedric Obsidian Nighthawk Deathcat-(this is what happens when you entrust the naming of cats to 13 year old boys) appears to be suffering from depression. There have been lots of changes, not least to the weather and it seems to have done him no good. He is quiet, withdrawn, overeating and looking generally down at the whiskers.
Gooses abscess has healed over and her little bald patch is starting to grow a little downy fur. Her limp is imperceptible except on waking from a long sleep. The hens are also much healthier looking. Their feathers have grown back and they are discovering bossy, gregarious personalities. They take their exclusion from the house as a personal insult. Ideally they would really like free run of the house. I fully expect to find the four of them sitting on the sofa watching the telly ordering up meal worm snacks from room service. Perhaps a little sorrel snack?
Please note this is not my sofa. We do not have pink floral loose covers. I'm fairly sure the chickens would eat them....
Ah yes. Sorrel. Chickens like sorrel. They will do pretty much anything to get their filthy beaks on my sorrel. It had started growing back over the weekend. I turned my back for five minutes while I de pooped the coop (and Bob rescued the kitten from next door's garden) and three of them had worked their way through more than 50% of the nascent leaves. I can tell you it's going to be a while till I get my sorrel soup!
Sorrel Soup Recipe
Found on the Telegraph Newspaper website: Serves 6
4 tbsp butter
Olive oil
10 spring onions, chopped
½ bunch parsley, stalks and leaves finely chopped
500g/1lb floury potatoes, peeled and chopped into 2cm cubes
1 litre/35fl oz chicken stock
250g/8oz sorrel leaves, washed
2 egg yolks, beaten
200ml/7fl oz sour cream, plus extra to serve
Chives and fennel tops, to garnish
Melt the butter in a large, heavy-bottomed pan and add a splash of oil. Fry the onions and parsley with a pinch of salt until they are soft, about 3 minutes. Add the potatoes.
Pour in the stock and bring to the boil. Cover with a lid and simmer for 15 minutes, or until the potatoes are completely tender. Roughly chop the sorrel leaves and add to the pan, then take off the heat.
Transfer to a food processor (or use a hand blender) and blend until smooth. Season to taste.
Beat the egg yolks and sour cream together in a bowl, then stir in two tablespoons of hot soup – you are doing this to prevent the eggs from scrambling. Very slowly whisk the egg and cream mix into the soup. Serve warm or chilled with a few snipped chives and fennel herbs.
Personally I'm tempted to warn the chickens that if they insist on flavouring themselves with sorrel they may well be more attractive as stock birds!
Happy foodie dreams
Katherine
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