Friday 31 May 2013

Holiday Week


Well this is where I spent most of Bank Holiday Monday : a small Norfolk village which I had never heard of let alone visited. It was the day of the Village Fete, and it was a glorious day. I'd been asked by a new musical friend Lesley whether I'd like to join them as the  comedy act  musical entertainment in the Tea Rooms.  It was a really lovely couple of hours, just sitting there, playing folk tunes and being fed tea and cake and being appreciated.


       OK, not the best of photographs, but thank you to the member of the public who took it for us.

After all the sunshine - when have we ever had TWO bank Holidays full of sunshine? - the week was chilly and dull here, rain at times. Sigh. But today the sun is back and it is gorgeous. Quick nip into the garden to get some herbs for dinner.


                   Look, my beautiful sage flowers are just about to burst forth, aren't they lovely?


And the sage, lovage and mint story continues. Soon be enough mint for a mahoosive bowl of tabbouleh - that's when I KNOW summer is on its way. Lovage and chives into the bacon and leek casserole for tonight. And some for a large quiche I'm making for a special event tomorrow.

Quick update on the lino carving - I've been trying to sketch hares - well, cheating by copying them.


OK, so the haunches on this hare would launch a heavy horse over a five barred gate, but I think the general gist is there, isn't it? I quite like the carving to be honest.

And now, for the REALLY exciting event of the week: Yes! My new melodeon has arrived! Everyone has had a good drool over it, and it has been responsible for at least TWO very expensive purchases by Other People who Should Know Better!


Isn't that beautiful?? A Beltuna 'Alex' 3 voice, two and a half row, 12 bass  D/G melodeon, in cherrywood, hand crafted in Italy. Custom lay-out. (We designed it by juggling the Andy Cutting/ Julian Sutton/ Nick Wiseman-Ellis layouts and coming up with exactly what I wanted/needed. )


I have played it, it's quite different to my Saltarelle, also bigger and heavier. But so many extras I shall need a lesson just to have them explained to me! I took it to the session last night to be ooohed and ahhhed over, but I played my Saltarelle, no way am I going to be up to session speed on the Beltuna for quite some time to come!

So all in all it has been a brilliant week, and more to come tomorrow. But I'll tell you about that next time. Now I must take some time to read all your blogs, I just haven't got round to it for days. Have good weekends, everyone.

15 comments:

  1. herbs are looking good, i've never used lovage might try it.
    Gillx

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    1. It grows very easily, Gill, in fact you have to restrain it, it gets so high. And use sparingly until you get a feel for the flavour. It makes a great celery substitute in sauces and soups, that celery flavour in the leaves.I use it a lot - mainly because I have a lot!! Lx

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  2. Here's what I know about melodeons - they're musical instruments - yup, that's it! Until NOW! What a beautiful thing it is - I'd spend all my time just looking at it never mind picking it up and playing it (which is probably just as well given the aforementioned admission!) What a lovely gift. Looks like great fun in the tea rooms too - always a treat to hear live music but even better with tea and cake x Jane

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    1. Well there you go, Jane, another convert!! They can play anything from jolly Morris tunes to eyewateringly beautiful melodies with sweeping chords and mighty basses, and everything in-between! I wish I knew how to upload a video to the blog so I could give you all an idea of what they can do. (Not me playing, obviously!!) Lx

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  3. Sounds like a good week, It looks like we'll be enjoying the sunshine this weekend too. I've heard of Bradenham but never been, although it's not very far away. Thanks for your comment, I wonder if it was the same Cherry Pye....

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    1. Surely there isn't another one of them! Yes, fingers crossed for tomorrow, or it could be a very damp BBQ!

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  4. Your herbs are looking smashing! Yummy tabbouleh...love it, and also your hare..he's great...I like hares. I like hand-carved stamps. You're a real Jane of all trades. :)

    And in awe of that musical instrument...it's beautiful. Happy hours ahead learning its quirks, huh!

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    1. Hi Wendz - aint that the truth! Jill of all trades, mistress of none, as I said to a friend in the previous post! I'm off in half an hour to my lesson, my little car weighed down with two melodeons. I'm sure we will spend most of the time drooling over the new one, and hopefully getting to grips with all the 'extras'.

      Have a good weekend, looks like rain-free for most of us, but still dull here as yet. Lx

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  5. It's beautiful, a work of art. And your herbs look decidedly happier than mine!

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    1. Hi Maggie, yes, it is rather super, being very British and low-key!! I can't get over the herbs - the rain has shot them up! Lxx

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  6. I've never known my herbs to be so full and healthy - must be the two sunny bank holidays that did it! Where is that sun today though - and they promised it too! I am drooling over your new toy - you lucky girl! You will have endless joy from that, I can tell! xCathy

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    1. Hi Cathy, well I think it's the rain (see above) it has brought them on a treat. Yes, we are going to a folky event any minute now, and I have just gone and changed into a woolly tunic with a flippin' HOOD on, I think it is a swizz- they did say it was going to be nice today. Ah well, BBQ, cider and lots of good music (NO not taking new box! fiddle and 'old' box will be going with me!) should keep us warm. Lx

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  7. What a marvellous looking instrument, I'm very impressed! I can't wait until my herb bed looks like yours! :) x

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    1. Hi Ada, just got home from a really fab folky evening out doors - hence the early-ish return, we were quite cold by 10 pm! I'm so thrilled with the new box - can you tell? Is your herb bed new, or just slow to take off this year? Lx

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  8. Hi Lynn, we are very excited about sailing her. Thanks for visiting and leaving a comment. Nice blog you have here.

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