UPDATE: 27 January 2009: I’m entering this picture into the contest with the lovely people at I heart Faces. This weeks theme is Joy and this is the picture on my blog that best shows a joyous moment. Our first harvest from the minature potager.
Looking at the fabulous pictures people post on this site I know that this probably won’t make the cut but I’ve had some wonderful visitors to my blog and seen some truly wonderful photography on other people’s entries that I think it’s worth linking up just to share photos and blogs. I think I may be slightly missing the point since this site is all about top notch photography but until I’m mastered my camera I’ll happy to lurk!
It was a momentus occasion this evening. The first harvest from the mini potager. It’s a shame I didn’t think to dress up for the occasion or at least brush my hair for the photographic record.
What the heck, I’m all for keeping things real here at Domestic Executive HQ.
Yes, the first broccoli was ready for eating. I swear it multiplied in size in only a day. One moment it was a small plant and next it was a fully fledged vegetable ready to eat.
Although we’ve been eating herbs from the garden for weeks now this was the first vegetable. In fact, with the exception of some tomatoes, this was the first vegetable that I’ve actually grown successfully enough to harvest.
Here’s the record of how the broccoli have been growing since they were planted a couple of months ago. My how that double digging has been worth all the effort.
After the ceremonial broccoli harvest it was straight into the kitchen to cook up the broccoli to accompany our New Year’s Eve fish dish – braised fish and mussels in tomatoes. Yum!
It’s fair to say that it was the most delicious broccoli I’ve ever tasted. Firm, juicy and full of flavour. Quite a change from the broccoli that’s been sitting in the fridge drawer for so long it starts to go rubbery!
I wonder whether the sense of fun and excitement will accompany every trip to harvest something from the garden? Hope so, it was a good feeling all round. So hang the mad hair, here’s me enjoying this special occasion.
Cool eh!
That’s what it’s all about. Your own fresh vegetables which always taste so much better than anything else. You certainly look very pleased with your broccoli.What’s next on the menu?
Happy New Year.
FABULOUS! I can feel your excitement as I read; absolutely magic and so wonderful to savour the delicious taste of your own caring work. We’ve enjoyed our first lettuces and peas, but are waiting for our green tomatoes to turn a ripe red… only got a few little plantings, but is so much fun and I really appreciate your joy.
Oh Sarah, if only I could grow lettuces. I was inspired to give it another go and planted some cos lettuce out this week. It makes me laugh to see things grow. I don’t know why as I know growing vegetables should be a serious business if you’re planning to sustain your larder from it in the future! JTx
Congratulations on the brocolli! It looks fabulous. Do you have problems with Mssrs Fortnum and Mason having a snuffle around? My friend Hilary has a Sheltie who has to be tied up when she tends her allotment. One year he ate an entire row of asparagus with a few carrots for dessert!
A random BBC link. My lovely friend Fiona, who lives in Paris, used to work for Fortnum and Mason. She has been a foodie and food writer for about 20 years and has a fabulous site called http://www.recipes2share.com. There’s bound to be some exotic recipe there for your beautiful broccs.
Hi Jane, the key to is to keep the bassets out. I have had to build little fences around all the flower beds and potager patch. It’s a nightmare otherwise. Fortunately they are short dogs so the fences don’t need to be high! Thanks for your recommendation. I’ll definitely check it out. JT
Well done!!!! Awww Julie you must be so proud. I have the ‘bug’ which I must have inherited from my Grandfather for the joy of growing my own food. I go out to check on my mini veggie patch 6 times a day at least. Tomorrow I am doing some shifting. The Brocolli have outgrown their space and need replanting, we have found a good spot away from the Denver, so it should be fine. Well done again, the photos are amazing and show pure joy!!! xx
Maybe we should have a blog A&P show to showcase our efforts when the time comes. Of course I don’t blog about the cauliflowers that keep blowing away or the seeds that don’t germinate or the things I keep standing on! It’s all part of the learning though. Jxx
Wow, what a sight for my eyes, which now only gaze at snow in Minnesota and get frostbitten by bitter temps, Julie! I did get just a little warmer yesterday (mentally, at least) when I ordered seeds for my spring planting.
Congrats on the broccoli!
Hi Jeff, it’s hard to think of the cold in the northern hemisphere. Temperatures in the UK are -10 at the moment. It’s warm here and the real summer hasn’t arrived yet! JT x
I’m so glad you entered your photo onto our website even though you don’t consider yourself to be a professional. It’s wonderful to see beautiful faces of joy from all over the world! All the photos have been so inspiring. 🙂
~Angie
co-founder of I ♥ Faces
I’m glad you are participating in i heart faces. The main thing is: have fun, inspire others and glean inspiration from them in return.
I’m so glad you entered your photo in iheartfaces because I’ve been randomly clicking links and discovering new blogs (which to me is almost better than winning a contest) and now I have another blog to share with my gardening coworker!
Your smile is pure joy – thanks for sharing!