Seed Tins for the Garden or Allotment

At the weekend, I looked under the recycled bed-cold frame and found myself a tinsy*, teensy  bit annoyed.  Some of the plastic wrapping is flapping and not totally secure.  Silly me had forgotten about the joys of sowing seeds.  I was reminded instantly of the birds and the other small beasties in the garden (and allotment plots) that eye your seeds for nibbles.  Some of you may remember the acrobatic mice at my allotment a few years back.   

The seed trays with covering were fine, those without had all been nabbed, (except for the tomatoes).  The scented sweet peas and green peas are gone, the sunflowers husks floating above the soil and so forth.   I have just finished sowing and replacing some those seeds.  However, in some cases I don't have any more seeds.  As I mentioned I was making the most of my old seed packets from two - three years ago such as Gold Rush courgettes, Broad Beans, Scarlet Runner Beans and Scented Sweet Peas.  So along with the curly kale and purple top Milan turnips, I will have to buy them, but before I part with some pounds, I will check with my parents and see if they have any seeds going spare.  I should also mention instead of putting the seed trays back underneath the cold frame, I have decided to grow those without secure covering in the window sills.  When they are strong seedlings, I will return them to the cold frame.   The tomato seeds and companion flowers and herb seed trays have been put in the empty bath that I hope to fill up with compost and grow carrots.  I have covered them quite securely with plastic sheeting, so hopefully no beasties trespassing there. 

Today, I thought I'd share with you one of my seed tins.  I picked it up in Plymouth from a charity shop a couple of years ago when we were getting the ferry to Brittany.  I think its rather charming.  Each side has a different garden-growing related theme. 

Some of my seeds are definitely over two years old, so lets see if they do germinate.    Nothing so far, thanks to the greedy beasties.

Hope your seedlings are doing better than mine.

Tinsy - a silly slang word I picked up from my nephews and nieces meaning small as in tiny. 

Cardiff Millennium Stadium Mosaic

At the weekend I unexpectedly found myself in Cardiff, I may share with you the reason why  perhaps some other time.  But whilst there on this glorious sunny day, I wandered the High Street briefly, and then on over to the Riverside.

This is the Cardiff Millennium Stadium.  As any tourist we have a tendency to look up at the architecture.  However, as there are lots of pictures on the Internet of the Millennium Stadium building, I thought I'd show what you see when you look down at your feet. 

On the river walkway, you will note tile mosaic floor panels of participating nations. 

 I begin of course with Cymru Wales.  I hope you enjoy the others.

We also wandered the Riverside Farmers Market known more locally as the Riverside Community Markets Association (RCMA).   The RCMA  is a local social enterprise that provides grassroots local producers an opportunity to trade directly with the public.  It was established in 1998 and is the biggest in Wales.  I was really, really impressed with the number of seasonal and fresh vegetable stalls there; as well as vegetarian and vegan stalls, but more about that in the near future.  For more of my blog posts on Cardiff see here.

Orange Root Express Soup

I'm still on the orange root express.

Today my offering is a bowl of Carrot and Thyme Soup. 

I was prompted to make this soup after reading a comment from fellow blogger James  Brewer of Back to the Chopping  Board.  James was one of my earliest followers. Although not a veghead like me, he often left me comments on how my blog posts on vegetables changed his approach to vegetable based cuisines aka vegetarian food.   In my early days of blogging, I found his comments amongst others most encouraging.  I wish I could find the original comment and share it with you. Please do go by and check out his blog and let him know you came via here, it would be appreciated.

Anyway he mentioned that on Masterchef U.K this week, one of the contestant made a carrot cake with thyme icing.  Sounds interesting.  Other than variations of this soup, I've only had savoury carrot scones with thyme.  I have to admit with the move from Scotland to Wales, I have not been following Masterchef much this year.  I also lost a bit of interest as the format has changed. 

The drizzly rain kept us indoors today, so we had this thick and sweet soup for lunch today.  If you don't like your soup particularly thick, then just add more stock to water it down.   The thyme is there in the background. I am sharing this soup recipe with Karen at Lavender and Lovage for her Herbs on Saturday Blog Hop - March Edition. 

Carrot and Thyme Soup

Serves 4

Ingredients
1-2 tablespoon olive oil
1 medium onion
2 garlic cloves, minced
500g carrots, peeled and roughly chopped
1½ pint vegetable stock
½ teaspoon dried thyme or a few sprigs of fresh thyme
Salt and pepper to taste
Method
In a wide pan, heat the oil then stir in the onions and garlic, sauté until soft. Add in the chopped carrots and herbs and saute for a few minutes.  Pour in stock and simmer on medium heat until the carrots are really tender. Turn off the heat, when cool, remove the sprigs of fresh thyme is using and purée in a food processor. Then return to the pot, (add more stock if necessary) and season to taste, simmer for a few minutes before ladling into bowls.