Pancake Day

I have been baking from this little Bero booklet since childhood. To describe it as 'dog-eared' is no over statement! I'm going to have to copy the pages on my scanner before they disintegrate completely.  A friend took pity and bought me a new edition but it isn't the same. (Sorry Judith!)

Today is the day before Lent, Pancake Day, when people traditionally use up their fat, sugar and eggs before the start of the fasting season.

We always squeeze plenty of lemon onto the cooked pancakes.

It has been a long winter for my citrus trees under glass. They have suffered some die back and fruit drop and are now covered in black mould. Nevertheless they are preparing to come into flower and I anticipate the wonderful perfume with pleasure.

 
The fruit from my 'Meyer' lemon is small but very tasty.

Himself exhibiting such casual style, such natural skill.....

Oops, one for the dog!

Oh, the excitement, the concentration, the terrible facial expression! At least all mine ended up back in the frying pan

and then onto the plate.

Flippin' scrumptious!

And things are looking good inside the rhubarb forcer!

Cold, dry weather. We had  a good bonfire with all the debris from the fruit tree prunings.

far too frosty for any planting out but one or two brave daffodils are in flower.

There are plenty of things that need attention in the garden, today Himself replaced some rotten sections of wood on a garden seat.

Lots of pots in the greenhouse just waiting for the frosts to end before they can be put outside.

The hellebores are flowering despite the cold

but it is far more pleasant to be indoors.

In the evening my neighbours Kim and Andy took me to a talk on the conservation of British owls. The speaker, Ian McGuire of Wild Owl, was accompanied throughout by this beautiful barn owl, chirruping softly to him. Lack of suitable habitat to support field voles and similar prey is the reason why these wonderful creatures are so much at risk in the wild.