FLYING A RED KITE

Yes, it is true, there I was looking at the garden from the bedroom window when consternation erupted in the rookery next door and gliding over the garden went a red kite - presumably one of those released last year at Grisedale Forest. It makes a change from tits and finches though I did see a blue tit

chase off an aggressive greenfinch on the peanut feeder which surprised me, and the greenfinch.

So to a discovery - a Chinese Proverb - "Keep a green tree in your heart and perhaps a singing bird will come." I like that.

Just dug up all the leeks left and made some leek and potato soup for the freezer (or Vichyssoise if you like things cold.) The bed they were in will now become a cutting bed as it is outside Stalag Rabbit 1 shown here.

So sing -

things can only get better - some finches are FINCHES - but there are goldfinches on the feeder outside my study window!

And a treecreeper in the ash behind.

And Mr Pheas wandering by.

So here it is -

Recipe -

A load of leeks at least 6 large - get the bits of soil out of the top,

four medium potatoes,

one big onion,

3 pints chicken stock,

1 pint milk,

salt and pepper,

1/2 pound butter.

Chop leeks, onion and potato, melt butter in big pan, soften veg in butter, season, bring to boil (watch milk does not boil over) and put in simmering oven of Aga for 1 hour.

Allow to cool and liquidise.

Pop in freezer or reheat and serve with chopped chive and cream or creme fraiche.

In summer eat cold (if you want).

Actually it rarely gets hot enough here to want to do that!