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butterfly brothers.png

Growing | Ways to attract wildlife to your patch

Lottie Storey April 26, 2018

The Butterfly Brothers aka Jim and Joel Ashton have been designing, building and taking care of wildlife gardens, often in urban areas, since 2006. Find out more in our feature on page 116 of May's The Simple Things or read on to discover 12 ways to attract wildlife to your patch. 

1 A patch of nettles can support more than 40 kinds of insects, as well as birds, which come for the autumn seeds. They’re also a food source for peacock butterfly larvae.
2 A feeder close to shrub cover is a safe place for birds to feed.
3 Hoverflies love the flowers of the native guelder rose (Viburnum opulus), and birds, its red berries.
4 Rowan trees are valuable to a number of moths, their caterpillars feeding on the leaves; the spring flowers attract pollinating insects, while birds love its autumn berries.
5 A variety of sprawling trees, shrubs and climbers attract foraging and sheltering birds, as well as provide potential nest sites.
6 A small pond in a sunny spot is a haven for all kinds of wildlife, including frogs, toads and newts.
7 Hops are a rich source of nectar for all kinds of insects, while the dense growth provides birds with shelter and nesting opportunities.
8 Long-flowering valerian is a good steady source of nectar for bees, butterflies and moths.
9 Essential for the humans: a seating area from which to watch the creatures’ comings and goings.
10 An alder tree attracts birds such as goldfinches and siskins with its seeds; caterpillars love the leaves.
11 A lawn left to flower is a haven for bees and other pollinators.
12 Open fences let hedgehogs roam.

MAY ISSUE

Get hold of your copy of this month's The Simple Things - buy, download or subscribe

View the sampler here

 

More from the May issue:

Featured
Apr 26, 2018
Growing | Ways to attract wildlife to your patch
Apr 26, 2018
Apr 26, 2018
Apr 26, 2018
Recipe | Chocolate croissant tearer-sharer
Apr 26, 2018
Apr 26, 2018
Apr 26, 2018
Natural first aid | Bee and wasp stings
Apr 26, 2018
Apr 26, 2018

More outdoor inspiration:

Featured
Apr 26, 2018
Growing | Ways to attract wildlife to your patch
Apr 26, 2018
Apr 26, 2018
Apr 17, 2018
My Plot | Greenhouse advice
Apr 17, 2018
Apr 17, 2018
Apr 11, 2018
Beautiful bluebells
Apr 11, 2018
Apr 11, 2018
In Escape Tags gardening, wildlife, insects, may, issue 71
Comment
SIM71.FRESH_Unknown.jpeg

Recipe | Chocolate croissant tearer-sharer

Lottie Storey April 26, 2018

If you’re partial to a pain au chocolat, you’ll love this effortless version, ideal for feeding the troops on a long weekend. This recipe uses plant-based milk and cream, but you can, of course, use dairy. 

Chocolate croissant tearer-sharer

Serves 4–6
100g dark chocolate
21⁄2 tbsp icing sugar, plus extra to dust
2 sheets ready-rolled puff pastry
2 tbsp plant-based milk
Handful each of strawberries, blueberries and raspberries
Oat or soy cream, to serve

1 Preheat oven to 180C/Fan 160C/Gas 4. Break up 75g of the chocolate into a heatproof bowl and melt over a pan of barely simmering water (don’t let the bowl touch the water), stirring occasionally with a wooden spoon. Mix in the icing sugar, until lump-free, then remove the pan from the heat.
2 Lay one sheet of pastry on a lined baking sheet. Pour over most of the melted chocolate and spread it out, leaving a 2cm gap around the edges. Lay the second sheet of pastry flush on top (you may need help with this bit). Gently press the two sheets of pastry together all the way round the edges.
3 With a sharp knife, make four evenly spaced 5cm cuts into the long edges of the pastry. You should be left with a 3cm strip of pastry down the middle with five sections of pastry either side. 
4 Cut the remaining chocolate into 10 chunks and pop one chunk in the middle of each section of pastry. Roll to encase the chocolate, taking care not to cover the middle section, and press to seal. Brush with the milk and bake for 30–35 mins until golden and crisp.
5 Scatter the berries over the middle section, drizzle over the reserved melted chocolate, and dust with icing sugar. Serve hot, with cream for pouring.

Recipe from Bosh! by Henry Firth & Ian Theasby (HQ HarperCollins)

MAY ISSUE

Get hold of your copy of this month's The Simple Things - buy, download or subscribe

View the sampler here.

 

More from the May issue:

Featured
Apr 26, 2018
Growing | Ways to attract wildlife to your patch
Apr 26, 2018
Read More →
Apr 26, 2018
Apr 26, 2018
Recipe | Chocolate croissant tearer-sharer
Apr 26, 2018
Read More →
Apr 26, 2018
Apr 26, 2018
Natural first aid | Bee and wasp stings
Apr 26, 2018
Read More →
Apr 26, 2018

More breakfast recipes:

Featured
Jan 13, 2018
Recipe | Good morning pizza
Jan 13, 2018
Jan 13, 2018
Sep 17, 2017
Recipe | Bircher muesli with cinnamon & grated apple
Sep 17, 2017
Sep 17, 2017
Jan 11, 2017
Recipe: Coffee, walnut and maple porridge
Jan 11, 2017
Jan 11, 2017
In Eating Tags may, issue 71, pastry, chocolate, vegan
Comment
 Illustration: Kavel Rafferty

Illustration: Kavel Rafferty

Natural first aid | Bee and wasp stings

Lottie Storey April 26, 2018

Seek immediate medical attention if their tongue swells, they’re having trouble breathing, blurred vision or nausea, or you see skin rash or flushing. 

WHILE AWAITING MEDICAL ATTENTION:
Check to see if carrying an EpiPen.
Remove the stinger. Being careful not to squeeze the venom sac at the stinger’s base, gently drag a fingernail edge or a credit card across the stinger in the direction opposite from its entry.

AT-HOME FIRST AID
After extracting the stinger, wash with soap and water before finding relief.
Mud and freshly chewed plantain leaf help, or try baking soda (mix with vinegar into paste), onion (lay fresh slices over wound) or dip a clean cloth in milk, wring out, fold and apply.
Two drops of lavender essential oil are also effective applied topically.

Adapted from The Natural First Aid Handbook by Brigitte Mars (Storey Publishing).

MAY ISSUE

Get hold of your copy of this month's The Simple Things - buy, download or subscribe

View the sampler here.

 

More from the May issue:

Featured
Apr 26, 2018
Growing | Ways to attract wildlife to your patch
Apr 26, 2018
Apr 26, 2018
Apr 26, 2018
Recipe | Chocolate croissant tearer-sharer
Apr 26, 2018
Apr 26, 2018
Apr 26, 2018
Natural first aid | Bee and wasp stings
Apr 26, 2018
Apr 26, 2018

More natural remedies:

Featured
Apr 26, 2018
Natural first aid | Bee and wasp stings
Apr 26, 2018
Apr 26, 2018
Apr 22, 2018
Natural first aid | Asthma attacks
Apr 22, 2018
Apr 22, 2018
Mar 13, 2018
Cucumber, matcha and lime face mask
Mar 13, 2018
Mar 13, 2018
In Miscellany Tags miscellany, home remedies, issue 71, may, insects
Comment
71 cover.png

Bloom | May cover reveal

Lottie Storey April 25, 2018

You’ve got to love a long weekend. That extra (sunny) day is alive with possibility. Will you gather friends and family around a table, cycle on country lanes between spring hedgerows in bloom, or escape for a few days in a woodland retreat? Let your projects blossom and grow – making plans is part of the fun. But don’t forget to leave time for the little things, too; there’s pleasure to be had from watching washing flap in the breeze or noticing a caterpillar wiggle up a stem. Being outdoors isn’t always about being active.

Get hold of your copy of this month's The Simple Things - buy, download or subscribe.

View the sampler here, buy back issues or try our sister mag, Oh Comely 

More from the May issue:

Featured
Apr 26, 2018
Growing | Ways to attract wildlife to your patch
Apr 26, 2018
Apr 26, 2018
Apr 26, 2018
Recipe | Chocolate croissant tearer-sharer
Apr 26, 2018
Apr 26, 2018
Apr 26, 2018
Natural first aid | Bee and wasp stings
Apr 26, 2018
Apr 26, 2018
Apr 25, 2018
Bloom | May cover reveal
Apr 25, 2018
Apr 25, 2018
Apr 18, 2018
Competition | Win a feelgood wardrobe worth £350
Apr 18, 2018
Apr 18, 2018
Apr 17, 2018
Listen | Music for train journeys
Apr 17, 2018
Apr 17, 2018
MAY ISSUE

Get hold of your copy of this month's The Simple Things - buy, download or subscribe

In Magazine Tags cover reveal, may, issue 71
Comment
shutterstock_93713581 (1).png

Being boring

Lottie Storey April 24, 2018

There's much more to boredom than watching paint dry, says aficionado of the dull, James Ward

Boringness is easy to embrace. Slow down. Read Species of Spaces by George Perec. Go for a walk without a destination. Write things down. Don’t start with an end goal in mind, just see where things take you. Once you’ve landed on something, go and read the Wikipedia page about it. Then look at what else the people who edited that page also edited and read those, and so on. Before you know it, it’s three weeks later and you’re obsessed with something you didn’t even know existed at the start of the month.

When you’re on train or a bus, everyone is in a cocoon staring at their phone. I’m loath to be judgmental about people’s relationship with technology. Someone could be playing Sudoku, the person next to them could be reading the New York Times, or a new novel. Someone might be listening to a podcast about wooden palettes or emailing their best friend on the other side of the world. What we do need sometimes is time out from the constant updates and notifications. This is what stops you exploring. Having a day off from that is good.

I always say about Boring, that “nothing of any importance will be discussed”. The conference is a day away from people’s hot takes, where things are just a little bit smaller.

Turn to page 92 of April's The Simple Things for more from James Ward and his Boring Conference.

MAY ISSUE

Get hold of your copy of this month's The Simple Things - buy, download or subscribe

View the sampler here.

 

More from the April issue:

Featured
Apr 24, 2018
Being boring
Apr 24, 2018
Apr 24, 2018
Apr 23, 2018
Use old bins to grow veg
Apr 23, 2018
Apr 23, 2018
Apr 22, 2018
Natural first aid | Asthma attacks
Apr 22, 2018
Apr 22, 2018

More Think posts:

Featured
Apr 24, 2018
Being boring
Apr 24, 2018
Apr 24, 2018
Apr 17, 2018
Listen | Music for train journeys
Apr 17, 2018
Apr 17, 2018
Apr 16, 2018
What I treasure | My kayak
Apr 16, 2018
Apr 16, 2018
In Think Tags april, issue 70, boring
Comment
 Illustration: Kavel Rafferty

Illustration: Kavel Rafferty

Use old bins to grow veg

Lottie Storey April 23, 2018

Reusing old or damaged bins for container gardening is a wheelie good idea

ALL YOU NEED:
An old wheelie bin
This can be used to grow (or start off growing) almost anything, from root vegetables such as carrots, parsnips or potatoes to leafy leeks.

1 Drill four large holes in the bottom of the bin for drainage.
2 Build up a base with gravel and crocks, depending on what vegetables you are planting and the depth of soil required.
3 Fill with compost to just over halfway.
4 Make holes in soil for seeds with a dibber: leeks need about 15cm between them; spuds approximately 30cm.
5 Water and feed regularly. A high- nitrogen fertiliser will help, while some gardeners swear by running a perforated pipe down the middle of the bin to allow even watering.

MAY ISSUE

Get hold of your copy of this month's The Simple Things - buy, download or subscribe

View the sampler here.

 

More from the April issue:

Featured
Apr 24, 2018
Being boring
Apr 24, 2018
Apr 24, 2018
Apr 23, 2018
Use old bins to grow veg
Apr 23, 2018
Apr 23, 2018
Apr 22, 2018
Natural first aid | Asthma attacks
Apr 22, 2018
Apr 22, 2018

More growing ideas:

Featured
Feb 6, 2017
Give it a grow: Raspberries
Feb 6, 2017
Feb 6, 2017
Nov 18, 2016
Give it a grow: Bare-root climbing roses
Nov 18, 2016
Nov 18, 2016
Oct 3, 2016
Give it a Grow: Pilea Pepermioides
Oct 3, 2016
Oct 3, 2016
In Miscellany Tags miscellany, issue 70, april, vegetables, growing
Comment
 Illustration: Kavel Rafferty

Illustration: Kavel Rafferty

Natural first aid | Asthma attacks

Lottie Storey April 22, 2018

Seek immediate medical attention if the individual is wheezing, not getting enough oxygen or has signs of cyanosis: bluish lips and nail beds, pale colour. While you wait for medical attention:

FOLLOW THE DOCTOR’S INSTRUCTIONS.
Administer any medication that was prescribed by the individual’s doctor.

HAVE THEM SIT UP STRAIGHT IN A CHAIR.
Ask them to lean forward and rest their forearms on a table, elbows pointing away from the body.
OFFER A BEVERAGE.
Coffee, black tea or a hot liquid like clear tea can help dilate the airway. If available, lobelia tea (1⁄4 tsp of herbs or 5 to 10 drops of tincture to 1 cup warm water) may help.

APPLY A COLD-WATER COMPRESS TO THE CHEST.
In some cases, it may stop the attack.

Adapted from The Natural First Aid Handbook by Brigitte Mars (Storey Publishing).

MAY ISSUE

Get hold of your copy of this month's The Simple Things - buy, download or subscribe

View the sampler here.

 

More from the April issue:

Featured
Apr 24, 2018
Being boring
Apr 24, 2018
Apr 24, 2018
Apr 23, 2018
Use old bins to grow veg
Apr 23, 2018
Apr 23, 2018
Apr 22, 2018
Natural first aid | Asthma attacks
Apr 22, 2018
Apr 22, 2018

More natural remedies:

Featured
Apr 26, 2018
Natural first aid | Bee and wasp stings
Apr 26, 2018
Apr 26, 2018
Apr 22, 2018
Natural first aid | Asthma attacks
Apr 22, 2018
Apr 22, 2018
Mar 13, 2018
Cucumber, matcha and lime face mask
Mar 13, 2018
Mar 13, 2018
In Miscellany Tags miscellany, issue 70, april, home remedies
Comment
 Fashion photography: Ellie Smith

Fashion photography: Ellie Smith

Make | Appliquéd top

Lottie Storey April 21, 2018

When life gives you lemons, put them to use on a pretty top

YOU WILL NEED
An top in need of a spruce
Appliqué fabric (try a mediumweight woven cotton – this is a good project for using up scraps)
Double-sided iron-on transfer adhesive, such as Bondaweb or a washable fabric Gluestick to hold the motif in place before stitching
Iron
Sewing machine (you can do this by hand, it’ll just take longer)

1 Choose the areas of the appliqué fabric that you want to add to your top and cut a large rectangle around them. Give the fabric a press to smooth out any wrinkles.

2 Cut the transfer adhesive to the same shape and size as the appliqué fabric and place the shiny side against the wrong side of the fabric (you may need to peel off a backing sheet, check the packet instructions). Hold a hot, dry iron on top for a few seconds to fuse the adhesive to the fabric. Be careful not to get adhesive on your iron or ironing board – it can leave
a mess! You could place a pressing cloth – a piece of lightweight fabric or even a tea towel – between the motif and your iron to avoid the adhesive sticking to it.

3 Cut around the motifs, leaving a little space around the sides for the stitching allowance. It’ll be easier to stitch around the motifs if you cut them out without too many tight curves.

4 Once you’ve decided where you want the motifs to sit on your top, peel off the backing paper and carefully lay them, adhesive side down, onto the right side of the garment fabric, making sure they sit nice and flat with no bubbles. Hold a hot, dry iron on top for a few seconds to fuse them in place.

5 Now you can stitch the motifs in place. Practise on a scrap first. Try a short and wide zigzag stitch, 1mm long by 4–5mm wide. Position the project so most of the zigzag is falling on the appliqué piece, with one side of the zigzag overlapping the edge just a teeny bit. Take your time to carefully navigate the curves and pivot the fabric with the needle down where needed. When you need to wash your appliquéd top, it’s best to do so by hand.


Adapted from Tilly and the Buttons: Stretch! By Tilly Walnes (Quadrille). 

Turn to page 111 for more clothing customisation ideas. 

MAY ISSUE

Get hold of your copy of this month's The Simple Things - buy, download or subscribe

View the sampler here

 

More from the April issue:

Featured
Apr 24, 2018
Being boring
Apr 24, 2018
Apr 24, 2018
Apr 23, 2018
Use old bins to grow veg
Apr 23, 2018
Apr 23, 2018
Apr 22, 2018
Natural first aid | Asthma attacks
Apr 22, 2018
Apr 22, 2018

More weekend projects to make:

Featured
Apr 21, 2018
Make | Appliquéd top
Apr 21, 2018
Apr 21, 2018
Feb 16, 2018
Make | A three-hole pamphlet
Feb 16, 2018
Feb 16, 2018
Jan 12, 2018
Make | Dip dye stationery
Jan 12, 2018
Jan 12, 2018
In Making Tags make, weekend project, Make project, issue 70, april
Comment
SIM70.COMFORTOFTHINGS_MissPrint from The Window Film Company - Saplings.png

The Comfort of Things | A lovely window

Lottie Storey April 20, 2018

There are certain things in your home that are like old friends: they always cheer you up. This month we feel the love for a lovely window - turn to page 115 of April's The Simple Things.

This month's home quandary:

My kitchen is at the front of the house, which means that as I cook or stand by the sink, I am visible to anyone walking along the street. Can you suggest a neat and clean way of obscuring the view of passersby? I don’t want to hang net curtains, as they’ll get grubby and are old- fashioned. And I am not a fan of blinds as I would have to have them down the whole time, which would be gloomy indeed.

Answer in brief: disregard fabric options and go for a frosted pane.
Is your window double-glazed? If it isn’t and you are thinking of making it so, choose frosted glass. This will screen your activities without blocking the light. If replacing a pane of glass is unnecessary or too costly, window film is your friend. These days it comes in many different different patterns from plain frosted to elaborate designs (left, Saplings by MissPrint, windowfilm.co.uk). It’s easy to clean and has a smart industrial look about it. Anyone strolling past will still be able to see shadowy outlines within, but your anonymity will be protected.

MAY ISSUE

Get hold of your copy of this month's The Simple Things - buy, download or subscribe

View the sampler here

 

More home ideas:

Featured
Apr 20, 2018
The Comfort of Things | A lovely window
Apr 20, 2018
Apr 20, 2018
Apr 5, 2018
How to grow cut flowers
Apr 5, 2018
Apr 5, 2018
Apr 1, 2018
Nest | Pilea
Apr 1, 2018
Apr 1, 2018

More from the April issue:

Featured
Apr 24, 2018
Being boring
Apr 24, 2018
Apr 24, 2018
Apr 23, 2018
Use old bins to grow veg
Apr 23, 2018
Apr 23, 2018
Apr 22, 2018
Natural first aid | Asthma attacks
Apr 22, 2018
Apr 22, 2018
In Nest Tags the comfort of things, interiors, april, issue 70
Comment
eko competition win.png

Competition | Win a feelgood wardrobe worth £350

Lottie Storey April 18, 2018
womens organic tops.jpg

From their home in the heart of Cornwall, Earth Kind Originals (EKO) is busy making clothes that are feelgood through and through. Clean, simple designs and natural colours inspired by the Cornish coast make up EKO’s capsule collection. Luxury loungewear separates made from super-soft eco jersey are easy to mix and match; elegant wrap tops, swing dresses with slouch pockets, comfortable leggings and soft base layers make up the laid-back daywear range. There’s even a range of breathable organic yogawear.

organic simple tee.jpg

The clothes are created from eco fabrics that are kind to the environment and feel beautifully soft next to the skin. Each item feels like a big cuddle to put on, and each is made using certified organic cotton and Tencel (eucalyptus) fibres that are ethically sourced in India, as well as more locally in Cornwall.

Local businesses and artisan makers are at the heart of every top and pair of trousers, giving you another reason to feel good in them. Find out more at earthkindoriginals.co.uk

HOW TO ENTER

To be in with a chance of winning an EKO voucher worth £350 to update your wardrobe, enter below before the closing date - 13 June 2018.

ENTER NOW

Terms & conditions: Our competition prize is one voucher for EKO worth £350. The winner will be selected at random from all the correct received entries after the closing date of 11.59pm on 13 June 2018. 

Full competition terms and conditions are on page 129 of the May issue and at icebergpress.co.uk/comprules.

 

MAY ISSUE

Get hold of your copy of this month's The Simple Things - buy, download or subscribe

View the sampler here

 

More from the May issue:

Featured
Apr 26, 2018
Growing | Ways to attract wildlife to your patch
Apr 26, 2018
Apr 26, 2018
Apr 26, 2018
Recipe | Chocolate croissant tearer-sharer
Apr 26, 2018
Apr 26, 2018
Apr 26, 2018
Natural first aid | Bee and wasp stings
Apr 26, 2018
Apr 26, 2018

More competitions:

Featured
Apr 18, 2018
Competition | Win a feelgood wardrobe worth £350
Apr 18, 2018
Apr 18, 2018
Mar 26, 2018
Competition | Writing microfiction
Mar 26, 2018
Mar 26, 2018
Mar 21, 2018
Competition | Win tea for a year
Mar 21, 2018
Mar 21, 2018
In Competition Tags live comp, competition, issue 71, may
Comment
trains playlist.png

Listen | Music for train journeys

Lottie Storey April 17, 2018

Choo, choo! Get your ticket and climb on board

Listen to our train journey playlist now.

MAY ISSUE

Get hold of your copy of this month's The Simple Things - buy, download or subscribe

View the sampler here

 

Listen to more playlists:

Featured
Apr 17, 2018
Listen | Music for train journeys
Apr 17, 2018
Apr 17, 2018
Mar 21, 2018
Listen | Songs from the movies
Mar 21, 2018
Mar 21, 2018
Feb 21, 2018
Listen | Spring cleaning songs
Feb 21, 2018
Feb 21, 2018

More from the May issue:

Featured
Apr 26, 2018
Growing | Ways to attract wildlife to your patch
Apr 26, 2018
Apr 26, 2018
Apr 26, 2018
Recipe | Chocolate croissant tearer-sharer
Apr 26, 2018
Apr 26, 2018
Apr 26, 2018
Natural first aid | Bee and wasp stings
Apr 26, 2018
Apr 26, 2018
In Think Tags listen, playlist, spotify, issue 71, may
Comment
 Photography: Julie King

Photography: Julie King

My Plot | Greenhouse advice

Lottie Storey April 17, 2018

Every gardener craves a big, beautiful greenhouse. Julie King, who owns an enviable one in Suffolk, tells us how it gives her year-round blooms and much pleasure

  • Decide how you are going to use your greenhouse before you plan it. I like to grow flowers in a greenhouse bed, so only have staging (a shelf on legs) down one side. You might want more floor area for seating or more staging for seed sowing.
  • Choose your site carefully. My greenhouse faces south but is shaded by a tree on summer afternoons so it doesn’t overheat.
  • Try to include water and electricity in your plan. Being able to have lighting and a heatmator propagator will extend the winter use of your greenhouse greatly.
  • If your budget extends to blinds, fit them on the outside of the glass. Your greenhouse will be much cooler if you can stop the glass from heating up too much.
  • Most flowers find the heat of the greenhouse too much in summer, but tender vegetables, such as chillies, peppers, tomatoes and aubergines, thrive in the hot, humid environment. l Herbs that are grown in pots outside can be brought inside and will continue to grow all winter if you place them on a heat mat. Rhubarb and strawberries can also be brought inside in January for an early crop.
  • Include as many cold frames as possible in your greenhouse plan. Young seedlings that are kept in a greenhouse too long will be very tender and may not thrive when planted outside. Cold frames are basically mini unheated greenhouses sitting directly over the soil and are an ideal place to harden off your young plants.

Turn to page 106 for more greenhouse advice from this month's My Plot. 

MAY ISSUE

Get hold of your copy of this month's The Simple Things - buy, download or subscribe

View the sampler here

 

More from the April issue:

Featured
Apr 24, 2018
Being boring
Apr 24, 2018
Apr 24, 2018
Apr 23, 2018
Use old bins to grow veg
Apr 23, 2018
Apr 23, 2018
Apr 22, 2018
Natural first aid | Asthma attacks
Apr 22, 2018
Apr 22, 2018

More outdoor inspiration:

Featured
Apr 26, 2018
Growing | Ways to attract wildlife to your patch
Apr 26, 2018
Apr 26, 2018
Apr 17, 2018
My Plot | Greenhouse advice
Apr 17, 2018
Apr 17, 2018
Apr 11, 2018
Beautiful bluebells
Apr 11, 2018
Apr 11, 2018
In Escape Tags issue 70, april, greenhouse, gardening, my plot
Comment
 My kayak by Sara Pearse

My kayak by Sara Pearse

What I treasure | My kayak

Lottie Storey April 16, 2018

My kayak is a bright, cerulean blue, and sturdy, with smooth, solid curves. When I see photos of me in it, I look different, somehow – alone, strong, adventurous. This person, paddle slicing through glassy water, is free. She can take off on a whim, cope with whatever is thrown at her, and is always on the cusp of discovering something new – a hidden cove, a shoal of darting mackerel, a secret house only glimpsed from the sea. This person knows exactly where she is going, isn’t lost in the day to day.

My husband bought it for me after a hospital stay. Me, clock-watching as his 30-minute operation became four hours, words muttered about haemorrhaging, cauterising, complications. When he finally emerged, he still wasn’t well. I remember the nurse’s flushed face, the young doctor’s shaking hand as it dawned things weren’t quite going to plan. I’d never faced death like that, right in the eye. What scared me was how lonely it was – my husband was the one I turned to in a crisis, but this time the crisis was him. My stomach dipped as I thought about our two young daughters. What would I tell them?

But he made it through, and after, there was a freedom about him – something loose,
untethered. We did the things we’d only talked about before, dreams we’d squirrelled away inside our heads – took the risky job, adopted the kitten my daughter wanted (not just one but two), bought the kayak I’d been coveting.

There’s something primal about paddling. It feels ancient, the rhythm of it. I’m part of the water, literally feeling it, its movements, as it resists the paddle stroke by stroke. So low on the water, without the grumble or whine of a motor – the birds mistake me for one of them. They arc through the sky, or sit perched on a nearby rock, feathers slick with water. Cormorants dive headfirst into the waves right in front of me, reappear a minute later, black heads gleaming.

I chart the changing seasons from the water, and I’ve learnt that the sea has its own topography. I now know where the rocks are, crusty with barnacles, just jutting out of the water, and where the beds of sea grass hide, the swathes of seaweed – gelatinous green ropes and brown fern-like growths that loop around the paddle.

I can’t wait to show my daughters this world, but I’ll still kayak alone – remembering why we bought it, to become the person I am inside my head.

We’d like to know what you treasure - whether it’s a sentimental artefact, a person, a place or something else. Tell us in 500 words what means a lot to you - email thesimplethings@icebergpress.co.uk

 

More from the April issue:

Featured
Apr 24, 2018
Being boring
Apr 24, 2018
Apr 24, 2018
Apr 23, 2018
Use old bins to grow veg
Apr 23, 2018
Apr 23, 2018
Apr 22, 2018
Natural first aid | Asthma attacks
Apr 22, 2018
Apr 22, 2018

More Think posts:

Featured
Apr 24, 2018
Being boring
Apr 24, 2018
Apr 24, 2018
Apr 17, 2018
Listen | Music for train journeys
Apr 17, 2018
Apr 17, 2018
Apr 16, 2018
What I treasure | My kayak
Apr 16, 2018
Apr 16, 2018
MAY ISSUE

Get hold of your copy of this month's The Simple Things - buy, download or subscribe

View the sampler here

In Think Tags what i treasure, issue 70, april
Comment
 Photography: Kirstie Young

Photography: Kirstie Young

Turmeric pickled cauliflower & chilli

Lottie Storey April 15, 2018

Cauliflower makes a good crunchy pickle with a touch of heat – just the thing to go with cheese and crackers

Makes 2 jars
1 head cauliflower
4 chilli peppers
400ml distilled vinegar
400ml water
2 tbsp granulated sugar
11⁄2 tsp salt
2 tsp ground turmeric
1 tsp coriander seeds

1 Break the cauliflower into florets, halving or quartering the larger ones so that each is bite sized. Slice the chillies in half and scoop out and discard the seeds (unless you want a very fiery pickle, in which case leave them). Pack these into sterilised jars.
2 In a pan gently heat the vinegar, water, sugar, salt and spices until the sugar has dissolved, then bring to the boil and simmer for 5 mins.
3 Pour the hot liquid over the veg, making sure they’re completely covered. Seal and store in a cool, dark place.

Cook’s note: You can eat this after a week, but the flavours will have more chance to mellow and develop if you wait for a month or longer. Will store, sealed, for at least a year.

Turn to page 42 for more cauliflower recipes from Lia Leendertz.

 

MAY ISSUE

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More from the April issue:

Featured
Apr 24, 2018
Being boring
Apr 24, 2018
Read More →
Apr 24, 2018
Apr 23, 2018
Use old bins to grow veg
Apr 23, 2018
Read More →
Apr 23, 2018
Apr 22, 2018
Natural first aid | Asthma attacks
Apr 22, 2018
Read More →
Apr 22, 2018

More preserving recipes:

Featured
Apr 15, 2018
Turmeric pickled cauliflower & chilli
Apr 15, 2018
Apr 15, 2018
Oct 21, 2017
Recipe | Christmas kraut
Oct 21, 2017
Oct 21, 2017
Sep 20, 2016
Living: Jam making and preserving
Sep 20, 2016
Sep 20, 2016
In Eating Tags issue 70, april, preserving, cauliflower, today tomorrow to keep
Comment
 Illustration: Kavel Rafferty

Illustration: Kavel Rafferty

Stories behind superstitions | Umbrellas

Lottie Storey April 13, 2018

Why is it bad luck to open an umbrella indoors? Is it a snub to ancient gods or just health and safety?

One suggestion links it to the Egyptian goddess Nut, also known as “coverer of the sky”. Man-made umbrellas, to shield their users from the sun, were said to have been crafted as a tribute to her – and were therefore as symbolic as they were practical, their use associated with nobility. Being able, or asked, to stand under one was an honour – and not one that should be violated.

A more practically minded explanation comes from 18th-century London, where foldable umbrellas were still a relatively new invention. These large and unwieldy metal-spoked brollies had a habit of violently springing open, making them likely to cause damage to belongings or people if opened in too close a proximity.

Prepared to risk Ancient Egyptian wrath and trust in the safety of a modern brolly? Mark 13 March in your 2019 diary: it’s National Open an Umbrella Indoors Day.

MAY ISSUE

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View the sampler here.

 

More from the April issue:

Featured
Apr 24, 2018
Being boring
Apr 24, 2018
Apr 24, 2018
Apr 23, 2018
Use old bins to grow veg
Apr 23, 2018
Apr 23, 2018
Apr 22, 2018
Natural first aid | Asthma attacks
Apr 22, 2018
Apr 22, 2018

More Miscellany:

Featured
Apr 26, 2018
Natural first aid | Bee and wasp stings
Apr 26, 2018
Apr 26, 2018
Apr 23, 2018
Use old bins to grow veg
Apr 23, 2018
Apr 23, 2018
Apr 22, 2018
Natural first aid | Asthma attacks
Apr 22, 2018
Apr 22, 2018
In Miscellany Tags superstitions, miscellany, issue 70, april
Comment
 Photography: Cathy McKinnon

Photography: Cathy McKinnon

Beautiful bluebells

Lottie Storey April 11, 2018

You can have a mindful walk in any woodland, but a bluebell wood is one of the sights of spring that never fails to bring joy. About half the world’s population of bluebells (hyacinthoides) grow in the UK; they love our ancient woodland, where the ground has been undisturbed for many years. Never be tempted to pick wild bluebells down to the root – they take five years to grow from seed into bulb and native bluebells are a protected species in the UK.

If planting bluebells, make sure they are natives (var. non scripta), as they’re under threat from their interloper cousins. Bluebells flower from early April, before the trees come into full leaf and the sunlight from the woodland floor.

Find your nearest wood at woodlandtrust.org.uk. Join its Big Bluebell Watch by recording your sightings and help to monitor the status of UK bluebells.

Turn to page 76 for more on our walk in the woods feature.

MAY ISSUE

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More from the April issue:

Featured
Apr 24, 2018
Being boring
Apr 24, 2018
Apr 24, 2018
Apr 23, 2018
Use old bins to grow veg
Apr 23, 2018
Apr 23, 2018
Apr 22, 2018
Natural first aid | Asthma attacks
Apr 22, 2018
Apr 22, 2018

More outdoor inspiration:

Featured
Apr 26, 2018
Growing | Ways to attract wildlife to your patch
Apr 26, 2018
Apr 26, 2018
Apr 17, 2018
My Plot | Greenhouse advice
Apr 17, 2018
Apr 17, 2018
Apr 11, 2018
Beautiful bluebells
Apr 11, 2018
Apr 11, 2018
In Escape Tags issue 70, april, bluebells, woods, woodland
Comment
 Photography: SHANTANU STARICK

Photography: SHANTANU STARICK

Toast | Spring peas, broad beans & flowers

Lottie Storey April 10, 2018

Full of the things that shine in spring.*

Serves 4
100ml extra virgin olive oil
350g podded broad beans and peas
Handful of parsley, stalks and all, finely chopped
Handful of mint, leaves picked, finely chopped
2 garlic cloves, crushed
2 dried chillies
1⁄2 lemon
4–8 slices of sourdough

TO SERVE
Lemon
Ricotta
Edible flowers
Cook’s note: You can now buy edible flowers at the supermarket, usually stocked alongside the fresh herbs.

1 Heat 80ml of the olive oil in a heavy-based frying pan over a low heat. Add the broad beans, peas and a pinch of salt and pepper. Fry for about 10 mins.
2 Grind the parsley, mint, garlic and chilli with the remaining oil to a paste using a pestle and mortar. Add to the pan with the veg and fry for 2–3 mins. Remove from heat and add a squeeze of lemon juice.
3 Boil the eggs for 6 mins and toast the bread.
4 To serve, peel and halve the eggs, spoon the broad bean mix on the toast, then top with the eggs, a squeeze of lemon, some ricotta, a pinch of salt and freshly ground or cracked black pepper, and a scattering of flowers.

Turn to page 31 for more from our Grown & gathered feature to find out how Australians Matt and Lentil have learned to live alongside nature, adapting an ancient way of life for the modern world. Hear their story and try a few more of their recipes. 

* ...if you’re in Australia. In temperate Britain, you’ll have to wait until early summer!

MAY ISSUE

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View the sampler here.

 

More from the April issue:

Featured
Apr 24, 2018
Being boring
Apr 24, 2018
Read More →
Apr 24, 2018
Apr 23, 2018
Use old bins to grow veg
Apr 23, 2018
Read More →
Apr 23, 2018
Apr 22, 2018
Natural first aid | Asthma attacks
Apr 22, 2018
Read More →
Apr 22, 2018

More edible flower recipes:

Featured
Apr 10, 2018
Toast | Spring peas, broad beans & flowers
Apr 10, 2018
Apr 10, 2018
Aug 14, 2017
Nasturtiums
Aug 14, 2017
Aug 14, 2017
Feb 13, 2017
Recipe: Rose and honey cake
Feb 13, 2017
Feb 13, 2017
In Eating Tags issue 70, april, toast, bread, sandwich, spring, edible flowers
Comment
back cover 70.png

The secret to getting ahead is getting started

Lottie Storey April 8, 2018

More from the April issue:

Featured
Apr 24, 2018
Being boring
Apr 24, 2018
Apr 24, 2018
Apr 23, 2018
Use old bins to grow veg
Apr 23, 2018
Apr 23, 2018
Apr 22, 2018
Natural first aid | Asthma attacks
Apr 22, 2018
Apr 22, 2018

More back covers:

Featured
Apr 8, 2018
The secret to getting ahead is getting started
Apr 8, 2018
Apr 8, 2018
Mar 4, 2018
How do I like my eggs? In a cake
Mar 4, 2018
Mar 4, 2018
Feb 11, 2018
Stars can't shine without darkness
Feb 11, 2018
Feb 11, 2018
MAY ISSUE

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In Magazine Tags back cover, april, issue 70
Comment
 Photograph: Cathy Pyle

Photograph: Cathy Pyle

How to host a salon

Lottie Storey April 7, 2018

A salon supper, dotted with informal talks, brings the promise of knowledge to the table, and good food, too

We all know a bit about something – whether from work or study, travel or a hobby. These pearls of wisdom, however, are unlikely to come up in conversation. Yet, with the right setting, good food and willing friends, you can create a memorable evening, peppered with stories shared (see how on page 29). A modern salon calls for dishes that impress without stealing the show – a menu that needs only the lightest of last-minute prep. The result? Appetites sated and minds broadened.

How to host your own salon

Think about space
How much room have you got for people to sit comfortably? A nice full room creates a buzz, but too many people makes the space seem squashed. Where will you position food and drink? It needs to be accessible without disrupting speakers.

Check, one, two
If you’re not meeting in a house or flat, but in a pub or another borrowed venue, it’s worth checking your speakers can be heard without a microphone.

Be the curator
What do you want your salon to look like and who speaks? It could be that you’re
a group of friends and you all share, or that each of you brings an interesting person to speak.

Choose a theme
This will help an evening hang together. Keep it broad to allow for interpretation and creativity. You can either go abstract – new or lost, for example – or concrete – topics such as holidays or school.

Play the host
Beyond serving food and drink, you’ll need to introduce the event (or ask someone else to): thank people for coming, set out the theme of talks, and describe the shape of the evening – how many speakers there are, when breaks will be – so that guests know what to expect. Then just see where the night takes you.
 

Turn to page 22 of the April issue for more from our salon Gathering, including Beetroot & horseradish dip, Mixed olives with lemon zest, Asparagus spears with parma ham & toasted almonds, Spring lemon & cardamom chicken, Rainbow roasted carrots with cumin and Jewelled couscous with watercress, peppers & pomegranate.

MAY ISSUE

Get hold of your copy of this month's The Simple Things - buy, download or subscribe

View the sampler here.

 

More from the April issue:

Featured
Apr 24, 2018
Being boring
Apr 24, 2018
Read More →
Apr 24, 2018
Apr 23, 2018
Use old bins to grow veg
Apr 23, 2018
Read More →
Apr 23, 2018
Apr 22, 2018
Natural first aid | Asthma attacks
Apr 22, 2018
Read More →
Apr 22, 2018

More Gatherings:

Featured
Apr 7, 2018
How to host a salon
Apr 7, 2018
Apr 7, 2018
Feb 12, 2018
Recipe | Smoked parsnip soup
Feb 12, 2018
Feb 12, 2018
Aug 28, 2017
Recipe | Vegetable crisps
Aug 28, 2017
Aug 28, 2017
In Eating Tags issue 70, april, gathering, salon, how to
Comment
 Photography: Peter Cassidy

Photography: Peter Cassidy

Recipe | Brown butter and toffee cookies

Lottie Storey April 6, 2018

The addition of browned butter gives these cookies a rich, nutty edge, making them all the more moreish. The recipe also works well with white chocolate

BROWN BUTTER & TOFFEE COOKIES
Makes 16
150g unsalted butter
1⁄2 tsp bicarbonate of soda
1⁄2 tsp mixed spice
300g plain flour
1⁄2 tsp salt
150g light brown soft sugar
100g caster sugar
1 egg
1 egg yolk
1 tbsp maple syrup
2 tsp vanilla extract
3 tbsp whole milk
150g chocolate-covered toffees, such as Fazer’s Dumle*, or white chocolate, chopped
Sea salt flakes (optional)

1 Melt the butter in a saucepan over a medium heat until it starts to bubble noisily. Eventually the bubbles will become smaller and stop. Swirl the pan – you will see and smell the change from yellow butter to brown. Immediately remove from the heat. Transfer to a bowl and leave to cool a little.
2 In another bowl sift together the bicarbonate of soda, mixed spice, flour and salt.
3 Mix both sugars into the browned butter until well incorporated. Add the egg and egg yolk, syrup, vanilla extract and milk. Add the dry ingredients, then the toffees or white chocolate and stir to combine. Cover the bowl or wrap the dough in cling film and refrigerate for a few hours.
4 Preheat oven to 180C/Fan 160C/Gas 4. Line two baking sheets with baking parchment. Form egg-sized rounds of cookie dough using your hands and place on the lined baking sheets. These cookies spread a lot during baking, so leave a minimum of 8cm between each round.
5 Sprinkle with sea salt flakes, if using. Bake for around 8 mins until slightly brown at the sides but not entirely puffed up. Remove from the oven and let cool (if using Dumle, let cool for a bit longer before eating).

Recipe from ScandiKitchen Summer by Brontë Aurell (Ryland, Peters & Small).

Cake in the House is our monthly recipe feature - get a cake recipe every month in The Simple Things!

MAY ISSUE

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View the sampler here.

 

More from the April issue:

Featured
Apr 24, 2018
Being boring
Apr 24, 2018
Read More →
Apr 24, 2018
Apr 23, 2018
Use old bins to grow veg
Apr 23, 2018
Read More →
Apr 23, 2018
Apr 22, 2018
Natural first aid | Asthma attacks
Apr 22, 2018
Read More →
Apr 22, 2018

More Cake in the House recipes:

Featured
Apr 6, 2018
Recipe | Brown butter and toffee cookies
Apr 6, 2018
Apr 6, 2018
Feb 28, 2018
Recipe | Lemon and Earl Grey loaf cakes
Feb 28, 2018
Feb 28, 2018
Feb 24, 2018
Recipe | Chocolate, orange and almond cake
Feb 24, 2018
Feb 24, 2018
In Eating Tags cake in the house, cake, cake recipe, cookies, april, issue 70
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The Simple Things

Taking time to live well

We celebrate slowing down, enjoying what you have, making the most of where you live, enjoying the company of of friends and family, and feeding them well. We like to grow some of our own vegetables, visit local markets, rummage for vintage finds, and decorate our home with the plunder. We love being outdoors and enjoy the satisfaction that comes with a job well done.

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