Gone Nuts!

I love cobnuts and how brilliant to find them growing just down the lane from our house. Today's the first time we've managed to pick them since moving here four years ago. Maybe the squirrels always get there first, but when I saw the potential harvest this week I was determined to beat those cute looking rats to it!

So I took my eldest along the lane today. He used his "height advantage" to forage amongst the lower branches, while I jumped like a madwoman trying to grab at the crop on the higher ones - this fantastic teamwork led to us filling the basket within about 20 minutes (and from only four small trees). It reminded me of my childhood days in Wales when my grandfather used to take us for a walk up the hills. We used to climb the huge old trees and throw the nuts down, while he used to bash them off with his walking stick.

It is really important to me to pass these traditions down to my children, not just for building up memories, but also to build an understanding that food doesn't miraculously appear at the market or supermarket. They are now used to us growing potatoes and tomatoes in our garden, albeit in tubs and pots and they are always interested in helping us harvest the small crop.

On this note our blackberry bramble is providing an excellent harvest of berries this year. We managed to pick another bowlful this morning, which contributed to the apple\blackberry pastries that I made this afternoon....steady on...am I turning into one of the dreaded Stepford Wives after all? Quick, quick someone rescue me....