Stourhead House, UK, late March 2010

This is the "Pope's Cabinet", once owned by a 17th century pope and then bought by Stourhead's owner on his travels, and recently restored at great cost - read about it here if you're interested further

Stourhead House, UK, late March 2010

The great thing is Britain's new National Trust policy: allowing one to take photos on or in any NT property, including this house, the most-visited such property in the country. No flash or tripod allowed, but other than that, help yourself. I certainly did just that - more to follow

Stourhead House, UK, late March 2010

Lai & me at a pub lunch before seeing Stourhead House with our aunt

The House's library - massive and glorious, a small section visible here

Demonstration of the gentle art of book-cleaning

Milborne Port, UK, Palm Sunday 2010

Crocus glory near the village's Anglican church, St John's

2 admittedly very similar shots at the top of East Hill, culmination of a walk from St John's made every Palm Sunday, the week before Easter. I last did this maybe 19 years ago, & have missed it timing-wise ever since. Milborne Port is below and to the right of this angle

Sherborne, Dorset, UK, March 2010

Time I posted something new after all these days of quiet!

A couple of views of a lone daffodil which I saw recently, then ran home to get the camera and take them before anything changed. The next day and since, there have been many more poking their heads through the fence, altering the image completely

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Cerne Abbas, Dorset, UK, February 2010

Archway again, vertical this time

Stocks in the churchyard, punishment for those cheating in their breadmaking in past centuries

Reflection again

Cerne Abbas, Dorset, UK, February 2010

The Giant himself, an accurate representation in all his glory!

More reflections, a subject I never miss if I can help it

Cerne Abbas, Dorset, UK, February 2010

Reflection

Keys

Archway

Cerne Abbas, Dorset, UK, February 2010

Cerne Abbas is perhaps best known for the massive naked man figure cut into a field outside the village. (About which more pictures later.) Earliest references for it come from the late 17th century, so claims that it's 1500 or 2000 years old can't be proven yet. But the village itself is beautiful and fascinating, so my next few posts will all be from it

Sherborne, Dorset, UK, February 2010

Crocuses just emerging near our house, despite frost - I had to lie right down on the ground to get these angles

Cabbage Rolls, Georgian Style (Recipe)

By popular request. More recipes, perhaps, to follow.

Get a large pot of water boiling for the cabbage blanching.

Filling:

1 kg ground beef, pork or other meat

300 g uncooked rice (long/short grain, brown/white, as you like)

200 g raw onion, grated or machine chopped fine

4-5 med. cloves garlic, minced

c. 250 g chopped tomato, fresh or tinned, or taste equivalent in paste

salt & pepper, dry basil, & dill, & ground coriander, all to taste

300 mL boiling or hot water

Mix these all in a large bowl & set aside.

2 large cabbages

Cut out the cores from the cabbages, & put 1 of them into the blanching pot of boiling water to cover, letting it continue to boil. As the outermost leaves soften, carefully remove them & put onto a plate, continuing thus until all leaves are done. Repeat with the 2nd cabbage. De-vein the leaves of their large, thick central vein with a sharp knife, leaving some behind so as not to cut a hole through the thickness of the leaf. Save this pot of water hot to use for boiling the rolls, if you like, but you'll need to put them into the pot & THEN add the water.

Stuff each leaf with a tablespoon or so of the filling, placing it near the leaf base. Fold the base over the filling; fold in the sides; then roll it up towards the "upper" edge of the leaf.

Place the rolls into a large pot. When they're all in place, just cover with the hot cooking water, to which you may add some stock cubes, seasoning, etc. Simmer for at least 1/2 hour, then check. Serve several rolls per person in a bowl with some of the liquid too, garnished with a sprinkle of the seasonings on top if you like.

You can similarly fill bell peppers, eggplant (aubergine), tomatoes, and even blanched grape leaves! The latter version traditionally has a sauce of cold plain yoghurt with plenty of fresh minced garlic in it on top. Gemrielia (= YUM)!

Oborne, Dorset, February 2010

More car reflections, with snowdrops interspersed

Oborne, Dorset, February 2010

More scurrying ducks, slow shutter speed & panning the camera to follow them

Church wall

Reflection in car's front end

120th visitor country is...

Bolivia! Congratulations and welcome to you! Been waiting for this number for a long time!

Sherborne, Dorset, UK, February 2010

Lali cutting up fresh khachapuri (Georgian cheese bread) made with a mix of extra mature cheddar & a bit of stilton cheeses - yum!

Ducks moving along, Oborne, Dorset

Sherborne, Dorset, UK, January 2010

Espresso, meet capuccino. Tony, meet Ruth

Tony trying in vain to blow out the blasted self-relighting candles on his birthday cake, to the endless amusement of Anne Charlotte, June, Karen and Mark, with Lali behind the camera lens

Yummy mince-stuffed cabbage rolls, part of my birthday supper, which was mostly delicious and sorely missed Georgian food

Sherborne, Dorset, UK, January 2010

New job: part-time chef (among other things) at a nursing home in Sherborne). First time I've had the proper uniform!

A couple of shots from the UK's Big Freeze of earlier in January. Not much snow if you're used to it, but if you're not, a whole new world in both good and bad ways

Sherborne, Dorset, UK, January 2010

Weeeellll, it's about time I posted some more photos before I forget HOW. Got a new part-time job which is keeping me busy - about which more later.

Eggs, shop window

Lali & our hostess, Anne Charlotte McDermid, outside the house (our window is top left)

Dogs patiently waiting for owner outside a supermarket