Deddington Farmers' Market - Saturday, 22nd August 2015 - GP Day for Belgium, Gardening and Cooking...

A   beautiful summer’s day for August’s farmers’ market at Deddington.  It is very hot, bright and sunny and, because I’m late, I must park down from the doctors’ surgery beneath a tree swagged with bunches of almost ripe elderberries.  The road is dotted with elder, each one bright with berries and I’m sure other berry watchers have spotted this great bounty slowly ripening before our very eyes!  It’s almost that season again when fruit and vegetable swell and ripen to magnificence and cooks everywhere prepare to chutney, jam and pickle!

I slip into centre of the village, noting stone and brick of ancient cottage, the fine vicarage and garden and the church of St. Peter and St. Paul where the regular Craft Market is held.  I had not appreciated this came under the auspices of the church fathers, as a separate entity to the farmers’ market.  It’s a happy coincidence that at both events happen in tandem!

The market area is bustling with keen shoppers when I arrive, going straight to Paddocks Product stall to compliment them on the excellence of a game pie we bought from their stall at Banbury’s Foods Festival  two weeks ago; and buy two boxes of their eggs  We shall be looking for their pies at September's Market on Saturday, 26th September And, did you know, Deddington holds its Parish Show on Saturday, 5^th September, open to the public at 2pm.

here's a view of Deddington from the Church tower

Marketeers and market goers continued to make their purchases all through the morning but numbers were slightly down probably because of holiday-going families, maybe even because of the heat of the sun; it really was extremely warm and very pleasant.

I visit Ellie’s Kitchen for veggie rissoles and a huge piece of courgette and feta cheese pie…

The stall of Styan Family Products - for Kohl Rabi, a marrow, two aubergine and carrots...

  Then to New Creation Farm stall for their English apricots and new season’s apples Grenadier – “a Cooker which fluffs up like Bramley” – and - “eater Discovery”.  

New season's apples from New Creation Farm

 To Mr. Anson’s vegetable, fruit and flower stall for broccoli, to make up a batch of broccoli hummus, as well as white onions, French beans and parsnips

 On to Cornfield Bakery for half-a-loaf of their Sourdough bread which is to be made into Parmesan cheesy toasts to go with a kale and bean soup I’m going to make this weekend.  

I also need oil for salad dressings etc. so visit Granary Oils for their Walnut oil and Rapeseed Oil infused with Chilli and Garlic... contact via - info@granaryoils.co.uk

 I buy a box of dark juicy blackberries from Katie of QGardens Farm Shop, Abingdon, knowing full-well they won’t get into that apple and blackberry pie I romantically think to make tomorrow!!! 

However, I did buy an apple and blueberry pie from Nightingales Farm at Bentley, Atherstone, Warwickshire, putting it straightway into my freezer after I’d taken photos of all items bagged today at Deddington. 

contact via - info.19gales@gmail.com

To complete my shopping, I buy a jar of Pure Oxfordshire Honey from Mrs. Fenemore of Home Farm Clifton  ......

and visit Craig Church to view his natural history photography and loved his rather attractive framed poppy photo and you can chat to him too via www.craigchurchill.co.uk - to Virginia Yip at her charity stall for the Thai Children's Trust and the stall of Friends of Deddington Library, who are endeavouring to encourage members of the public to become a member of their Friends group for keeping the library open and fully functioning.  They were also promoting a September 12^th event at Deddington’s Windmill Centre to meet Freddie Knoller, Resistance Fighter and Survivor of the Holocaust...

Also present today was author Linda Newbery, signing her
books and meeting fans.  “She will be doing an event at the library at 12.30pm for children 8 years+, their families and anyone who might be interested in her new wartime novel BLITZ BOYS .Tickets available from Deddington, Children £3 each, adults - numbers are limited. http://www.lindanewbery.co.uk

I popped into the church to visit Sue Jeffries at her antiques stall – contact via - farmhen@googlemail.com -  to the Phoenix Card stall and to chat to Mary Canny, Glass Artist/Designer, contact via - marycanny@hotmail.com  Then I caught up with AR Gill Pottery to talk about their brilliant frost proof terracotta flower pots on their second visit to Deddington.  I really hope they’ll be at September’s market.

Well, it was time to go, with the market packing up for the day and laden shoppers taking their fresh buys and goods home, on this very hot summer’s day. 

I must water my veg and flower gardens and call in to JS Auctions of Bodicote to see how their auction sale is progressing and then I really must water the dear SO’s cucumbers, tomatoes and runner beans before I can go home…Phew what a day!!!

Daisy xxx

Ball Colegrave Open Garden Day - Wednesday, 22nd July 2015 - Reflections on a flower-fuelled Event Not To Be Missed

Reflections on a flower-fuelled Event! -  It’s that time of the year again when Ball Colegrave of Adderbury throw open their doors to admit their very enthusiastic public who arrive in droves to ooh and aah at the wonderful display of blooms set out on a background of smooth green velvet, to wander up and down manicured pathways, pristine greenhouses and all nooks and crannies simply bursting with colourful petal on petal, all determined to be “best in show”!

For sheer exuberance of colour, style and aesthetic pleasure Ball Colegrave’s Open Garden Day is an Event of prime importance for garden novice to ancient gardener of 50 year’s standing, for the knowledge to be gained from simply walking about looking at plants, acquiring plant names and varieties, colour mixing and matching and seeing what a dedicated and scientific study of plants and their habits can produce.

There are plant catalogues to amass, answers to be gained from helpful staff and impetus for striving over and over again in your endeavour to grow beautiful blooms and plants of your own. 

 Also on show, of course, their tomato and vegetable plants to contemplate and delight in.....and herbs to appreciate...

Then, of course, you have the opportunity of buying one or two, or even more, of their potted plants for your own garden to enjoy and watch over until once more you have the opportunity of visiting Ball Colgrave again!

Along with the gardens to view, refreshment to bought and enjoyed is a small craft fair to be viewed and noted for the fine display of goods and wares provided by this year’s team of ardent local crafts people such as…

.Pure Organic Beauty by NYR Organic presented by Independent Consultant Kirsten Kinsella-Miles – with contact via – ‘phone 07968 769 947 or e:kirstenkinsella 1@hotmail.com

Garden in Time with contact via – www.gardenintime.co.uk or at ,Julie.charleswort.1@btinternet.com

Then Nicci Wright for Handmade Knitted Accessories and Textiles with contact via – handmadebyheartcotswolds@gmail.com

Annie Lawrence Independent Phoenix Trader for beautiful cards etc. with contact via ‘phone 07779091555 or e:annie@lawriescards.co.uk

Flooseymoo Jewellery for Original, handcrafted semi-precious gemstone and Sterling silver jewellery with contact via – ‘phone 07738 634472 or e: flooseymoojewellery@gmail.com

 And....GlassBits by Gill Cohen for Stained glass gifts wilth contact via - 'phone 07764 276951 or - www.glassbits.org

I certainly bought two and may even have taken four brilliant  Dahlia's home with me for my tiny flower garden just beyond my veggie garden where herbs and flowers intermingle...geums, lavender, parsley, mint, small sunflowers, viola and chives and penstemon and an oregano - and Dahlias !!!

From garden to garden - a sheer heaven of bliss and enjoyment to capture, treasure and dwell in - what more could one need or desire!

Happy garden plants to all my friends...

Daisy xxx

Adderbury Community Food Market - Thursday, 13th August 2015 - to bag me a picnic feast xxx

It was a very quick visit to Adderbury for their August Community Food Market’s meeting on 13^th August at The Institute for I was also due at The Pig Place to watch Mikron Theatre’s production of “Raising Agents” and I had come to buy myself a picnic supper to take with me.

The Market was very lively with a good throng of interested customers, business was brisk and I met up and chatted with other friends about the show and village activities.

I bought vegetable fritters and a piece of spinach pie from Mark of Ellie’s Kitchen at – mail: ellistago@gmail.com or ‘phone: 07500 614283.......

A cherry yoghurt from Sarah West of Appletree Products - contact via - appletreeproducts@hotmail.co.uk  - 

Then from Jo Thompson of Once Bitten I bought her Organic Granol and you may contact  Jovia – enquiries@oncebittenltd.co.uk - ....

here's Jo at her wonderful food stall

....a bag of which I’d meant to buy in July but somehow missed by stopping to talk to friends then buying a jar of Adderbury Honey from Helen Raine ......

who is contactable via – rainehelen@hotmail.com or by ‘phone at 07967 195132

Hot food was supplied by Kim who served up her delicious Green Thai Curry and I’ve heard she will be at September’s Market event on Thursday, 10^th September which means I’ll get the chance to sample her lovely food then, with the next market event now just ten days away!

How quickly is the summer flying by with the last day of August today, on this wet Bank Holiday Monday - here’s a few more mid-August photos to feast on…

Well, that was a very busy day - gardening all morning, then home to upload photos and deal with paperwork, then to visit Adderbury Community Food Market for my picnic and take more phot, finally off to The Pig Place to watch the Mikron Theatre's production of "Raising Agents".





Happy eating friends!

Daisy xxx

Banbury Food Fair – Sunday, 9th August 2015 – for all the fun of Fair Food and Great Entertainment…

Sarah McMillan's decidedly scrumptious Gluten-free Blueberry Gateau

.

 Banbury’s town centre from Cornhill to outside Marks and Spencer was bustling and busy with stalls, striped awnings and the hungry and curious.  Couples with small babes in arms, families with children, the young and the young at heart, all determined on looking, sampling, buying and eating.  By the time we arrived, proceedings were well underway with intoxicating food aromas wafting everywhere.

The dear SO was looking for large cauldrons of food to savour while I was aiming my lens into the milling crowd.  Two photos later my battery gave up on me and, reaching gladly for my iPhone, inwardly groaned when I noticed that this was also running out, having counted steps from early morning to now, walking with the family dog.  Well, that was that, so He had to take my photos for me!

Folk were queueing up for all types of hot food and very patiently too and, despite the seemingly high prices being charged, were obviously happy waiting to be fed with the weather so kind to everyone.

A cookery demonstration was entertaining an attentive audience, people were meeting and greeting friends and neighbours and Banbury’s Food Fair was giving everyone a great summer’s day outing.

We visited Linda Colclough’s Tiny Seeds stall and sampled her Blueberry Pickle – for contact: info@tinyseeds.co.uk - then met up with Jo Roberts at her Not Just Jams stall of chutney, jelly, onion marmalade and relish all of which looked really good. Jo introduced us to her very special item, her Military Pickle, made to an ancient family recipe; it was a stunning preserve…well done Jo. For email contact – notjustjams@talktalk.net  Next to Anila’s handmade Indian sauce and pickle stall and their delicious Mango Lassi drink which went down extremely well on this bright sunny day – contact via – www.anilassauces.com – Anila’s Authentic Sauces Ltd.

Then we met up with Deddington Farmers’ Market friends, Paddocks Product Farm Shop, and bought a game pie for supper which went down a treat with salad and homemade chutney – contact via -  www.paddocksproductsfarmshop.co.uk  

Next to Gourmet Vinegars to sample their aged Balsamic Vinegar - contact via – gourmetvinegars@yahoo.co.uk - to Maison Rustique to admire their range of very colourful bowls and dishes – contact at – www.maisonrustique.net -  and then we met up with a friend from last year, Cookie Crumbles – “Wholesome Baking Mixes” – beautifully boxed up in new wrappings now that they are doing so well in a variety of retail outlets.  I would have liked to buy their “Awesome Gluten-free Brownie Mix” but I was too late so instead chose their “Blueberry & Vanilla Muffin Mix”.  Email contact to: info@cookiecrumbles.co.uk 

Cookie Crumbles - Wholesome Baking Mixes at home with our Food Fair basket






We also simply had to buy a large slice of a scrumptious-looking gluten-free blueberry gateau from Sarah McMillan who makes and bakes for all those intolerant of gluten, soya, nut, dairy and lactose.  Her gateau was extremely good and the slice so large we both enjoyed a good feast.  Contact Sarah McMillan on 07951 546405 or via – info@whenitssconeitsgone.com   I also stopped to look at boxes of new season’s plums on the Styan Family Produce stall who kindly invited me to sample their wares, which I did and, they were very good indeed.   I often buy Styan Family Produce veggies from them at Deddington Farmers’ Market.  We also stopped to view the products – balsamic vinegar, cold pressed oil and sea salt – on Taste Gourmet Spice Company stall – for contact – www.tastespice.co.uk

 We visited the produce tent filled by local food and flower-growing gardeners and cake-baking enthusiasts and oohed and aahed our way around the tent, with everyone else, all determined to get as close to the exhibits as we possibly could.   The monster cabbage caught everyone’s attention for it was, truly, enormous and in very rude health.   There was also a great variety of vegetable items to inspect like potatoes, kohlrabi, carrots, courgettes and beans plus cakes and pies, preserves and flowers.

We had coffee and then departed for home.  Banbury’s Food Fair was still in full-swing, people were still happily milling about and buying and the weather continued to be kind to all in Banbury’s town centre.

Happy summer eventing folks..

Daisy xxx

PS blueberries feature largely in my 2015 summer and I’m hoping to grow them for myself next year – I just love them for my bowl of breakfast muesli!!!