I've been having some awful computer problems. For some reason, all of a sudden I can't get Lightroom to import or save my photos and I don't know what to do about it.
I spent ages this afternoon trying to work it out despite the fact that I am not in the slightest computer literate. And then out of desperation I called for back-up but my farmer boy didn't have any better luck with it.
Yesterday my system worked and today it doesn't.
In the past things like this have been known to make me crazy. They've made me get cross and shouty and behave in a way that later I wish I hadn't. Today when I felt my breathing get shallow, when I realised that I wanted to get impatient with the one person who was trying his best to help me and when I started to feel panicky about the future of this blog and my photos and life as I knew it...I grabbed a basket and went outside.
I wandered around for a while checking on the state of the tomatoes and the peas and then I hit the poly tunnel and started to pick today's cucumbers. And after a while I slowed and calmed down.
And then a little bit after that my farmer boy joined me and as we were chatting I had a realisation that I may be crap at computers but I can grow cucumbers and that maybe I should be happy with that.
And maybe I should find a real life Lightroom teacher to come over and set me up with some systems.
And maybe I should stack the dishwasher with some jars and get pickling!!
These two photos are of yesterday's crop, there'll be more tomorrow. And the next day. And the day after that.
If you've got a pickle recipe I'd love to try it.
Actually if you've got any sort of cucumber recipe - I'm interested.
See ya tomorrow!
Love Kate xoxo
I need those cucumber recipes as well. I have a glut and there's only so many green amoothies and tzatsiki one can make and eat.
ReplyDeleteTzatsiki!!!! Now why didn't I think of that. Thanks lovely xx
DeleteI just wanted to say how much I love the fact, that you want to blog more regularly. I love reading about your family and about your farm. I grew up in a rural environment, my grandparents were farmers too and I remember helping them in their wineyard when I was just a little girl (as had all my cousins and aunts and uncles - cheap workers, you know!) and I always loved it. I live in a small town in the east of Austria and our town is also called "the vegetable garden of Austria". There's nothing better than fresh fruits and vegetables, grown just around the corner where you live. Next year, we'll probably move from our small appartment to our own little house with our own little garden. And I can't wait to grow my own tomatoes and strawberries. I find it very inspiring and encouraging that you decided to live on a farm, to raise your girls in this environment. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and your everyday life with us! It was your blog, as well as a few others, that made me start my own little blog.
ReplyDeleteYours, Michaela
That's wonderful Emm and thanks so much. I hope our girls and their friends and our family have such happy memories of working with us on our farm in years to come. xx
DeleteI had that problem once (with lightroom). Some how there was a lock file added to the program - I can't remember exactly how, but if you went into the file manager and deleted the file, lr worked properly again. It was actually super simple.
ReplyDeleteAhhhhh ok, I'll put Bren onto it. I'm sure it is something simple but in the meantime it is so annoying. x
DeleteOh give me good cuke stuff. I'd never grown them before. Geez they're prolific!
ReplyDeleteLove your work.
GROW THEM!!!! They give so much for not very much work at all. I grew them for the first time last summer and I fell in love. So great that you can pick everyday and they are delicious too. x
DeleteWell, you obviously don't live in the states (U.S.) as it's winter here! LOL! There isn't a cucumber growing for miles! LOL! I have a degree in computer science and even I have a hard time with some of the applications. Don't blame yourself...something has probably changed somewhere and it wasn't tested properly before they "automatically" updated your software. It happens all the time. I worked on mainframe computers and I'm retired and now I too am a "user" trying to shuffle through! LOL! (P.S. I have never even heard of lightroom..lol!)
ReplyDeleteWow! Those cukes look good!
Thanks Sam. I live in Australia and it's summer here. It's so hot that I've come in to shelter over the middle of the day and will go back out later when it cools down a little. And thanks for the computer advice, it definitely helps. x
DeleteComputers make me mad too when they don't behave. I don't know what to do with them, and generally shut everything down and go and do something else. Usually I will have yelled first though, either at a person or the computer itself :-)
ReplyDeleteYour cucumbers are amazing! I've never yet achieved a bounty of cucumbers like this, I just don't seem to have the knack with them. I have made pickles though, from cucumbers I bought at a farmers market. I made laco-fermented ones last year when our Missy-Moo was in milk. I used the recipe from Nourishing Traditions and they turned out great :-)
I usually have a bit of a yell at computer stuff too when it doesn't go to plan, I feel so happy with myself that I didn't this time. xx
DeleteI love how time in the garden can quieten a busy mind and feed the soul. Cucumbers! Bread and butter pickles, raita, Greek salad, Vietnamese salad, in rice paper rolls, old fashioned cucumber sandwiches, with dips as a cracker substitute, Indian salad, smitten kitchen's cucumber & avocado salad is a winner, Asian style quick pickles ... I'm still waiting on my cucumbers with crossed fingers!
ReplyDeleteTHANK YOU!!!! That list is awesome. I hope you get loads to play with and soon. x
DeleteWhat varieties do you grow, I've never seen these short cucumbers. Do you think they would grow outside in the UK.
ReplyDeleteI'm embarrassed to say that I messed up all the labelling for my cucumbers this year and have no idea what's what. At some stage I'll have to sit down with the seed catalogues and pictures and try to figure it out.
DeleteI do exactly the same with computer things and Lightroom yes, I'm self taught and there are so many gaps in how I do things!!
ReplyDeleteIt's crazy!! And so frustrating. I wish instagram had a computer version. xx
DeleteI sympathise with the computer thing. I'm the same! And deeply envious of your cucumber bounty. Mine have yet to fruit. But of course it's the polytunnel. I think we need one! My family's favourite for cucumber pickles is just to pack them, uncooked & whole or cut - your preference, in vacola or ball jars, along with a clove or two of garlic and some spice like whole peppercorns, mustard seed, fennel or dill seed, then pour a hot vinegar mix over them (ratio is 1 cup vinegar, 1 water, 1 tblspn salt) put lids on and heat process for 10 min. Same recipe for green beans, which my kids can't get enough of! The basic recipe came out of the Ball Complete Home Preserving book. I like it cos it's so easy & good. Hope that's helpful!
ReplyDeleteYep, that's the way I've been doing mine to date too. LOVE them!! And a poly tunnel or two is a great idea. I highly recommend them for stretching out the season. x
DeleteHi Kate,
ReplyDeleteI made this recipe last week and it meant cooking the cucumbers-still getting my head around how good it tastes because they are cooked !!!!! My husband has put another order in for his salad sandwiches during the week (5 star rating from him). The recipe is Gran's Sweet Cucumber Pickes on Justine Schofield's tv cooking show everydaygourmet.tv website. I didn't find them sweet and I usually cut back the sugar in recipes, I prepared the cuc's around 8am let them sit all day on the kitchen bench out of direct sunlight then finished off the recipe when I was cooking dinner - easy done : )
Enjoy creating your day, Jude
sunflowers_and_tulips
ps. totally get the computer thing......totally.....
Thanks so much for that Jude, a five star rating is definitely worth checking out. x
DeleteIsn't it ace how the garden can transform us and our mood and our thoughts!
ReplyDeleteI eat this salad a LOT : finely diced cucumber, celery and apple in roughly the same quantity, some extra finely diced red onion, then I add a handful of cooked rice and a tin of chili tuna... think you may be vegetarian though? Am sure it would be just as yum without the tuna as a side salad of sorts. It's just a salad but it's fresh and crunchy and delish.
yes this is lovely!
DeleteAll the best with the photos!
ReplyDeleteHave a look at Jack Monroe's blog - Cooking on a Bootstrap (previously A Girl Called Jack). She recently pickled anything in sight, great ideas.
It must be a great season for cucumbers Kate...this morning I took two boxes to town, one box for a cafe and one box for a friend. Greek salad anyone? Good luck with technology x
ReplyDeleteHi Kate! You're so lucky to have all that home-grown goodness!! I've pickled cucumbers quite a few times, and I always use the recipe from this lovely talented lady: http://www.littlebitofthyme.com/?s=pickles try it...its YUM! xx
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ReplyDeleteIt looks like you have several varities of cukes. Did I see Lemon Cucumbers in that pile? I like the pickling cukes to eat (smaller ones) and also the lemon ones. I'd sure like to have some fresh ones as we are on a weather watch for more snow.
ReplyDeleteIt looks like you have several varities of cukes. Did I see Lemon Cucumbers in that pile? I like the pickling cukes to eat (smaller ones) and also the lemon ones. I'd sure like to have some fresh ones as we are on a weather watch for more snow.
ReplyDeleteI have a lovely and refreshing summer salad which is a combination of cucumber, radishes, celery, tomatoes, black olives and mint.
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