Gem squash a success in the vinery greenhouse

 The vinery is blooming.  The gems are ready for picking. Yeah!

There is nothing better than half a gem squash with creamed sweet corn in the middle topped with melted cheese for dinner.  Vegetarian or a hearty meat eater, this dish is loved by all and we are growing them in Guernsey.  They bring back happy memories of South Africa.

So difficult to find in the supermarkets and now we have them to carry us through summer and store for the winter.

Everything has suddenly taken off. Tomatoes, stevia, potatoes, leeks , onions, gingko, loganberries, beetroot all growing by inches every day.  There is nothing better than choosing our veg for the day straight out of the ground.  When you can't afford a farm or smallholding, growing your own on a tiny plot is the next best thing and if you apply permaculture techniques, it is surprising how much you can grow at once.  .

Can't wait for the white  poppy seeds to decorate our home made bread. Not long to go now.

Aren't they beautiful.

Guernsey cows, old cottages and Stinky Onions

When the wind is howling there is always something to see along the lanes of Guernsey. Sheltered from the wind, take the time to explore. You never know what you may find around each corner.

Guernsey cows which produce that gorgeous yellow butter. 

Old cottages now used as a cold room or storage shed sharing the space with chestnut trees.

and then at this time of the year there are the beautiful stinky onions everywhere. Pick a bunch

and fry the flowers in batter for lunch.

Yummy. Our Guernsey specialty.

Megalithic Guernsey

Whenever we have visitors from other parts of the world, I always love to show them Guernsey's array of "stonehenge".  Dolmans standing majestically in the fields pointing to the sky. Who put them there and how let alone why?  Hours of speculation and discussion amongst ourselves.  The coup de grace is definitely Le Dehus. 

A burial chamber sounds rather ordinary but this one is spectacular and part of a pretty walk through the windy lanes.

Pity about about the light switches but without them it is rather spooky in the dark!

Race Day

May Bank Holiday when the golfers give way to the punters.  The excitement has been building for weeks.  The post and rails went up, followed by the advertising board. The weather forecast watched with bated breath.  Last year it was a wash out.
Omega Omega led the way out followed by Ballyheigue beautifully groomed with the shamrock emblem glistening on his hind quarters from the clever brushing of his coat.

And they're off......! 

See the shamrock on his rump. Beautiful. A drink of water for second place having lost narrowly to Omega Omega.

What a sight.  Not many racetracks in the world will have the beach and fishing boats 100 meters away. The beer was flowing. Crown and anchor tables set up for those who enjoy a bit of a flutter -
and tomorrow the golfers get their green back again. Until next year.......

When Neptune Shows Who's Boss!

Like the south west coast of the UK, Guernsey has had her fair share of battering from the elements t. Fishermen battened down the hatches and hid their boats in "safe" harbors.  This didn't always protect them though as this poor chap found out.

Neptune picked this boat up and deposited her high and dry on the rocks. It could have been worse. She wasn't smashed to pieces.

The west coast has suffered the most with the wall breached at Vazon and L'Eree as starters. But out of the chaos, the sea gods always hand back marvels for fleeting moments for us to wonder over.
With the massive spring tide the long forgotten peat beds were exposed for the first tie in 70 years and along with them the signs of an ancient woodland which would have stretched the whole way to France.

Better look quickly though. The changing sands are all ready starting to cover this hidden treasure.

The black "rocks" are peat. It's like walking on a trampoline when you step on it. Peace was far more interested in having a splash.  So we sent her for morning run along the beach the lazy way.  - tennis racket and ball.

Others were far more energetic. Making the most of the early waves as the tide starts to turn.

Admittedly hardly Hawaii size breakers but then it was low tide.

Lihou Island

Now the tourists have left along with the migrating birds, we decided to talk a walk across to Lihou island.
Scanning the tide table and having watched the approach of spring tides all day, picnic safely in our back pack we set off across the causeway.

 

 

 

 

We found you can hire the self catering cottage which can be hired - sleeps up to 30 people and there was a family and friend all geared for what looks to be a great party tonight.  The kids certainly enjoyed the tractor drive across.

 

 

 

 

Once the scrum of 12 or so had all reached the island we all set off in different directions and the strange beauty of the place haunts you as you walk around. For the archaeologists amongst you there are the old ruins of the Prior to explore.

 

 

It only takes an hour to walk all the way around and we could see that in spring and summer it must be really beautiful with all the little alpine like flowers in full bloom . 

 

 

I can not make up my mind whether I like the rocks exposed by the low tide or not but I'll be back in summer to study the birds once they have returned to their breeding spots.

 

 



Where have all the flowers gone?

We arrived to an island bursting with bloom.  Hundreds of wild flowers everywhere we walked.

I couldn't help notice in this morning's soft fog that winter is on its way. Flowers are but a memory turned into seed heads, preparing for next spring.

I wonder what the island will be like in winter ?