A recent reflection at Lush Places reveals a potent cocktail of minor frustrations and unexpected joys, a typical start to the year. It began with a rather stark disappointment – a substantial harvest of redcurrants yielded a meagre six tablespoons of juice, despite a recipe promising four jars of jelly. Fifty grams of fruit, it seems, simply isn’t enough to satisfy a craving for homemade preserves.
Glasshouse Troubles & Chicken Chaos
Gardening efforts were quickly derailed when something – identified as blackbirds – descended upon the glasshouse, systematically devouring the lettuce and parsley. A sympathetic suggestion from friend Janet involved deploying a feline deterrent, but the narrator’s cats, notoriously averse to enclosed spaces and, frankly, rather blasé about cleanliness, were deemed unsuitable. The birds, it seemed, were winning.
Reader Correspondence Brings Warmth
The writing team received a heartwarming collection of letters from readers. Amongst them was correspondence from 95-year-old Margaret from North Canterbury, who generously shared memories of her 40-year career on a sheep farm. She fondly recalled sheep named George and Kate, expressing her deep appreciation for the writing and the connection it provided.
Unexpected Mishaps & Creative Solutions
Just last week, a mishap involving Greg’s lawn mower resulted in the unfortunate destruction of a chicken-themed apron. Rather than despair, the narrator creatively responded – freezing the remaining redcurrant juice in ice cubes to be added to gin. It’s a rather delightful twist, transforming a gardening annoyance into a sophisticated cocktail moment. The unexpected combination offered a small joy and a refreshing humph to the day.
This collection of events, from thwarted preserves to unexpected flavour pairings, illustrates the essence of life at Lush Places: a blend of small joys, minor setbacks, and a willingness to find solutions – even if those solutions involve freezing redcurrant juice in ice cubes.
