100 posts and a midsummer mousse...

I can't believe that this is my 100th post. Like everyone who gets to this point I'm taken aback by what started as a way of letting a few old friends know what we were up to and what has become a part of my life - the blog! Over the past 100 blogs my attention has wandered , my interests have been diverse and at times I've wondered if i would ever get round to blogging again - you know how real life can get in the way of the things you really want to do! One thing has remained the same though - writing this online diary of the stuff we do has made me remember, think about and focus on...the stuff we do, obvious really, but our freerangelives are so busy every day that the plantgrowing, cakemaking, childrenblossoming stuff that happens all the time can get forgotten in the midst of all our rushing around and if bloggin has done one thing for me its to make me take notice of the lovely stuff, so heres to plenty more!

Enough already! Ive written 100 blogs and am just pretty pleased with it, so heres a recipe to celebrate...

Blackcurrant Mousse

I chose this especially as weve just had our best crop of blackcurrants ever, and we got to them before the blackbirds...its also the nicest mousse ive ever had, not too sweet, not too sharp and super light...

250g Blackcurrants
50g caster sugar
2tsp lemon juice
2tsp gelatine
125ml double cream
2 egg whites

Rub the blackcurrants through a sive, then make up the puree to 150ml with water

Combine the puree, sugar and lemon juice in a mixing bowl. Place 2tsp water in a small heatproof bowl and sprinke the gelatine on to the liquid. Set aside for 15 mins until the mixture feels spongy. Stand the bowl over a saucepan until it ahs dissolved completely. Cool slightly

Fold a little bit of the blackcurrant puree into the cooled gelatine, then whisk this mixture into the bowl of blackcurrant puree. Leave in a cool plce until the mixture starts to set.

In a deep bolw, whip the cream until it holds its shape, then fold in the blackcurrant mixture with a metal spoon. Whisk the eggwhites in a grease free bowl, just as you would for meringues, and then fold in. Mix it up thoroughly but dont overmix!

The whole thing can then be poured into a glass dish, a wetted mould or individual glasses. Refrigerate for 1 - 2 hours until set, turn out, decorate and your good to go...

Happy Summer Solstice everyone...

A roof at last...

Finally, the roof is in place, the last bits of pointing have been done and the scaffolding is coming down a tier! At this rate we might let BH down to ground level tomorrow for Fathers Day! To be truthful he did finish cementing last Sunday, but then had to watch as the rains came and washed away all his hard work, we will laugh about it one day, but not for a while!

We've been cracking on a pace here and as usual there doesn't seem to be enough hours in the day. Veg are bolting, weeds are rampaging and everything and everyone is demanding more attention than usual.

The borders however are blooming marvellous...

What these pictures don't show, thank goodness, are the showstopping nettles just waiting to pounce and reclaim the land - they're everywhere!

But its not all work and no play, we might feel fit to drop by the end of the day but we cracked open the Pimms today, it is summer after all, and whilst it didn't quite revive us, it certainly made having a sit down more relaxing...