I was recently chatting to my good friends the Hamilton clan, who are publishing the catalogue of a forthcoming exhibition of drawings at the RIBA that I am putting on with a couple of friends in May (watch this space for more details)… and they mentioned a rather crazy craziness called steampunk. Do you know about steampunk? No, nor did I. What better to do on a rainy Sunday morning than a little web browsing. I must say I was delighted by what I have found so far…

I rather get the impression that the leading light of the steampunk movement is a certain Hieronymus Isambard ‘Jake’ von Slatt, proprietor of ‘The Steampunk Workshop‘. One to spend a bit more time looking at – but if you follow the links, have a look at Lord von Slatt’s deconstruction of a standard IBM keyboard in to something, well, a bit more… interesting.

I suspect (if Bridie reads this blog) that she may be interested in following the step by step video instructions, or indeed contacting von Slatt by way of collaboration in this autumn’s cabinet of curiosities. So we will see what happens, but in the meantime, have a look at these pictures! Don’t we all want one of these?

Am I alone in thinking Desperately seeking Susan is one of the great films of the 1980s?  Look at Madonna, while she was still, well, charming:

For those, however, who are desperately seeking something of the previous decade (and what precisely is it, I am wondering, about the 70s that were just so… right?) well, here is something a little calmer for you. Seagrass squares.

When I was looking for the perfect floor to put down over my scrubbed boards on the landing at the Old Parsonage, my eye soon settled on seagrass squares – that archetypal flooring of the 1970s, essential of the habitat catalogue, and found underfoot in every quietly decaying country house in the land (for evidence, please turn to ‘The Englishwoman’s House’, by Alvilde Lees-Milne, 1984).

Not so easy to find any more! I searched high and low, and, beginning to get desperate, eventually found a source down in Dorset…

Look how quietly the light falls on that floor through the new oval window – a beautiful play of reflection and shadow. The comforting smell of home and, I suppose, effectively, of my childhood. Goodbye minimalist flooring of the 90s and naughties. Hello seagrass.

Panels are 3′-0″ x 6′-0″ or 4′-0″ x 8-0″, and you stitch together as you will. I feel rather sure that seagrass squares are due a revival. Who knew that nostalgia could be so simple, or look so good.

Just as the snow and pouring rain continue to make Bridie and me wonder why we don’t shut the shop and go to the sunshine all winter long… a glimmer of hope.  

Signs of Spring at the Old Parsonage…

and even more exciting… I have started a vegetable garden.

It has fine deep dark earth, and will soon be surrounded by a strong hurdle fence to keep out the rabbits.

And I have just ordered 65 different varieties of veg and cutting flowers from fantastic Chiltern Seeds (www.chilternseeds.co.uk). Nothing gets me through these cold days better than dreaming of fresh courgettes and beans picked on a lazy long July evening. Watch this space….

I’m not a great one for sentiment or symbolic gestures but there is something about the shape of a heart that makes me come over all funny. I don’t know what it is, that it’s just a perfect shape and very pleasing to my eye or that it is a symbol of love? Am I more of a romantic than I think I am? I don’t know. But in the lead up to Valentines Day when we are all assaulted by everything that comes with it commercially, I have to admit I like seeing all the love hearts around, a lot.

Despite this I was surprised when Ben told me he had something for our shop for Valentines Day. But, how cute! Little wooden tea light candle holders made by his nine year old neighbour in Dorset called Edmund.

And I have to say, how nice to see a young person being skilled and entrepreneurial.

So I am happy we have these in stock and I am happy we have, as always, our Loving Cups. To let people toast love, unity & friendship in a traditional way.

Loving Cups have the same effect on me as Love Hearts, I don’t mind there being a lot around. Last year I bought a plain Leeds Creamware Loving Cup and painted onto it my own coat of arms then gave it to my boyfriend for his birthday which is not long before Valentines Day, the central motif being….. a love heart. This year I made him a heart shaped Key Lime Pie. But everything I bake in my house is heart shaped because it is baked with love, so this is nothing special.

However, the Key Lime Pie is very special.

Ingredients for Key Lime Pie

For the base 175g/6oz digestive biscuits
80g/3oz butter
50g/2oz caster sugar

For the filling 3 large free-range eggs, separated
2 limes, finely grated zest
125ml/4½fl oz lime juice
210ml/7½fl oz condensed milk 
80g/3oz caster sugar
½ tsp vanilla extract
pinch salt
½ tsp cream of tartar


Method

1. Preheat the oven to 180C/350F/Gas 4.

2. For the pastry base, finely crush the biscuits by placing into a plastic bag and bashing with a rolling pin (alternatively, pulse to crumbs using a food processor). Transfer to a mixing bowl.

3. Melt the butter in a saucepan, then pour over the biscuit crumbs. Add the sugar, then mix well to combine. Evenly spread the biscuit mixture in a 23cm/9in pie case, making sure to cover the sides of the tin as well. Level off any excess biscuit mixture. 
4. For the filling, whisk the egg yolks in a bowl until pale and fluffy. In a separate bowl, whisk together the lime zest, lime juice and condensed milk until smooth and creamy, then mix into the egg yolk mixture. Pour the mixture into the pie case.

5. In a clean bowl, whisk the egg whites until soft peaks form when the whisk is removed from the bowl. Gradually fold in the sugar, vanilla extract, salt and cream of tartar, then whisk again until stiff peaks form. Spoon the meringue mixture over the filling in the pie case, using a fork to form the meringue into peaks.

6. Bake the pie in the oven for 15-20 minutes, or until the meringue is golden-brown. Remove from the oven and allow to cool. Place into the fridge to chill completely before serving…. with love.

So I think I can sum up this blog in stating the following:

- If you want to give someone special something special, made by nine year old from Dorset, for Valentines Day , then pop into the shop.

- Same again if you want to traditionally toast friendship, unity & love, or you need something nice to put some spring flowers into.

- I’ve pretty much filled you all in on what I got my boyfriend for his birthday’s over the last couple of years (also some cologne, socks & an old map of Liverpool but it was the wrong area)

- It’s quite clear and can be confirmed that I am stupidly romantic ( I am very surprised by this)

- Everybody should make Key Lime Pie and share it with people they love any time of the year.

Happy St Valentines Day! xx