Category Archives: Amusing

Amusing, Farming, Food, Plants

All About The Marrow.

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I know, I know…this is ground-breaking Munchkin writing, pushing the boundaries of blog content and shattering the mundane illusion of life.  Marrows; it’s all about the marrows…and if you are British (in any shape or form, even Aussie will do) you should know all about marrows.

So, this silly story all started when I stumbled across marrow seeds in the Farm Store in Punta Gorda, Toledo (Belize) of all places.  I presumed that since I had purchased these seeds here that everyone grew marrows, like we all grow the ubiquitous tomato or cucumber.  When I chanced across any British people that I knew around town, after the usual greetings, talking about the weather or Trump, I would then turn the conversation to the fact that I was growing marrows.  The usual response was, “…oh yes, but of course.”  It was a given that I was growing marrows and no explanations were required.

Anyway, when I chanced across any non-British and I steered the conversation to matters of the marrow, I received very blank stares.  Some minor blinking but nonetheless there was no-one at home and registering.  I would get usually get:  “..oh, uhu.” and then a sudden change in conversation.  Some-times I would get a perplexed, “what is a marrow?”

Well, I never!  I never thought that I would have to explain what a marrow was.  Well, you know..doesn’t every-one know?

“…it’s a big green vegetable…a bit like a pumpkin and you try to grow it as big as you can so you can enter marrow competitions…”

I did give this explanation and felt my face flush with embarrassment after-wards because I felt that I didn’t actually know what a marrow was.

After feeling like a silly sausage, I decided it best to do some research.  Okay, so now I do know what a marrow is:

A Marrow is the mature fruit of the Cucurbita pepo of the genus Cucurbita.

(This bit is only helpful if you know your latin and into botany…so, let me explain it another way…)

The immature fruit of a marrow is a courgette (or zucchini) so a marrow is an old zucchini.  Well I never!  I didn’t know that.  They are grown to a large size so that they can be stuffed with meat and other things.  Also, in temperate countries, marrows can be stored for many weeks after harvest.

If you wish to enter your marrow in competitions (as far as I know, they only do this in the UK), you are restricted to growing only the striped thick-skinned cultivar.

Growing Marrow.

Okay, so now you can ask me all about the marrows!!  Anyone for a Marrow Growing Competition in Belize??

Amusing, Belize, Farming

A Sunny Day…

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Another bright sunny day and so we keep on going with our dream farm which is always “in progress” or “in process.”  Arrrgh…but when you look outside, everything is getting bushy because we can’t get the grass done (walk behind brush-mower is no longer working -RIP).  We are attracting a lot of toucans, light blue birdies and bright red coloured birdies because of  the semi-bushy state.  A bird spotter would cringe at my lack of birdie knowledge…ha-ha!!

Very Bushy:

Bushy Yard.

Anyway, I kind of mentioned that we had lost all our guinea pigs to a rogue possum.  Yes I know…Paradise Piggies are no more and have passed onto become Heavenly Piggies.

We love you piggies!!  Miss you!!

Happy Piggies.

So, every night, for the last 5 nights, we have been baiting the possum with an enticing bucket of scraps that we place in full veranda-view on the nearest vegetable bed.  Sure enough, every night something has been knocking it over and slurping out of the bucket.  They never finish it because it is too much and every night I set the bucket up straight for it.

A few days ago, we decided that it was time “to get the possum.”  During our much-loved sleeping time, we donned our long sleeves, long trousers and woolly hats and sat in the darkness of the veranda waiting quietly for the possum.  Gnome had his pellet gun ready (for full destruction) and I had lights ready to switch on to dazzle.  I also had a bucket of brine ready to dunk the cleaned carcass in preparation of a possum dutch oven/curry for the day after.

Anyway, we waited and waited and waited.  The stars were pretty!!  And when I got accustomed to the darkness, I could see different shades of blackness…kind of poetic and meditative if you ignore the biting mosquitoes!!

(Meanwhile the cat was in the house sleeping…usually by now he would have been kicked out for his usual night duty).

Okay, so nothing happened…and no possum came…not much of a story, right?

Oh but what happened when we finally got the cat out of the house in the wee hours of the night?  The bucket turned over…

We’ve been baiting the cat??!!  Oops…upside down picture…not upside down cat!!

Where is that darn possum??  I really want my possum curry.  Yes we have declared war on all possums in the vicinity…

Amusing, Philosophy

Jungle Lyrics.

As soon as I posted up this morning’s post with “our” Jungle Song at the end,

Gnome said:

“I can’t hear the lyrics…I just know that they are singing about a Jungle and singing “yeah” after each line…”

We decided to check out the lyrics.  So, here they are; they are actually really inspiring (if you don’t think too deeply about it!!).

X- Ambassadors:

“Jungle”
(with Jamie N Commons)

Yeah
Yeah Well it’s too long living in the same old lives (yeah)
I feel too cold to live, too young to die (yeah)
Will you walk the line, like it’s there to choose (yeah)
Just forget the wit, it’s the best to use Oh, Lord
I said, “Oh, Lord”
I said, “Oh, Lord” Won’t you follow me into the jungle (yeah)
Ain’t no boss on my streets in the heart of the jungle (oh, Lord child)
Won’t you follow me into the jungle (yeah)
Ain’t no boss on these streets in the heart of the jungle (oh, Lord child)
Won’t you follow me into the jungle I lost my mind, in the city of lights (yeah)
In the backstreets buildings and the neon lights (yeah)
When I heard the thunder, I could feel the rain (yeah)
It’s the same to me, just a different name Oh, Lord
I said, “Oh, Lord”
I said, “Oh, Lord”

Won’t you follow me into the jungle (yeah)
Ain’t no boss on my streets in the heart of the jungle (oh, Lord child)
Won’t you follow me into the jungle (yeah)
Ain’t no boss on these streets in the heart of the jungle (oh, Lord child)
Won’t you follow me into the jungle

Oh
Oh
Oh
Oh, Lord
I said, “Oh, Lord”
I said, “Oh, Lord”
I said, “Oh, Lord child”

Won’t you follow me into the jungle (yeah)
Ain’t no boss on my streets in the heart of the jungle (oh, Lord child)
Won’t you follow me into the jungle (yeah)
Ain’t no boss on these streets in the heart of the jungle (oh, Lord child)
Won’t you follow me into the jungle

We are ready to fix the wonky gate (yeah)

Need to listen to the tune one more time though…

Amusing, Belize

Happy New Year.

Hello and Happy New Year!  It is soooo cold right now that it is really difficult to jump out of bed and feel the excitement of new projects and finishing projects.  In fact, we are so cold that the first thing Gnome does is to light our home-made charcoal stove and stick it under the table next to our feet.  The cat, of course, joins us at the point when it is all warm and toasty.

Foot Heater (TM):

Charcoal Hob in Action.

The geese are also especially reluctant to their thing and are spending a substantial amount of time loitering outside the house making trouble and noise.  I have to get out and shoo them to the pond but even me with a broom doesn’t get them going!

“Nobody on the farm wants to do anything!!  And there is so much to do!!”

Yes indeed, we need to crank up a gear (or rather, switch the engine back on) and get on with it.

Munchkin:

“Can’t we go by the lunar calendar this year so that the year doesn’t have to start so early??”

(Chinese New Year starts on the 16th of February this year).

Gnome is feeling a bit more driven…we switch roles to keep each other going.  This is what happens when you don’t have a boss…you have to encourage each other along the way.

Gnome:

“We can do it…Munchkin…against all odds!!  We can beat the laziness out of us…”

Gnome Magic.

Oh, if only he could wave the magic wand and all the work was done!!

Anyway,  back to reality… first we need to fix the wonky gate.  Here is our jungle tune to get us going:

Amusing, Belize, Farming

Last Pictures…

It’s a bit like in a British pub when they say “last orders” for the last round before it closes.  These are my last lot of pictures from the farm before the new year.

Toasted bread from Gnome’s charcoal stove:

Grilled Bread.

Akee are in season right now:

Akee Fruit.
Cleaned Plate of Akee.

When you saute sliced akee, they look like scrambled eggs.  Try an alternative breakfast with akee and toast!!

Scrambled Akee and Toast.

Look at these bunch of naughty, thieving blighters!!  Eating us out of farm and home…

Thieving Aracari.
More Aracari.
Aracari.

They are rather cute though so we are not going to war with them…

Amusing, Belize, Food

Good Food!!

Hello Everyone!!  We made it through the Camp-fire chickens and Camp-fire turkey!!  The 8lb turkey turned out to be rather big (bigger than an 8lb chicken??) and I had to literally squeeze and squash it into the cast-iron pot.  The thighs were monster-humongous…. anyway, this one took two hours to cook under coals.  We dug up some sweet potatoes in the morning and cooked these in the coals also.  Cooked turkey  under coals was a success; the turkey was delicious and succulent.  I lined the turkey with bacon (modified Jamie Oliver recipe) which added to the juiciness of the meat.  I did not take any pictures because I thought that a squashed-up, lop-sided turkey would not be appreciated…Ha-Ha..what would the neighbours say??!

Cooking Over Coals.

Oh, but I do have other pictures to make you go Ooooh and Ahhhhh!!!

By the way, a Gnome is not just for Christmas…(sorry, couldn’t help sticking this one in…I think I am being really funny…you probably think I am just plain silly).

Christmas Gnome Fairy.

Home-made bamboo Christmas tree with decorations.  Munchkin and Gnome went all out this year:

Tropical Christmas Tree.
Christmas Tree Close-up.

Oh, and a Christmas duckie too.  How auspicious…

This one is very well-behaved and sits quietly.  No Star Trek with this one.  In fact, not much noise at all because we haven’t been watching anything.  This will be a New Zen-Christian Duckie…

New Duckie.

Christmas Duckie.

Christmas Chicken bites with citrus peel:

Christmas Chicken Bites.

Oooooh….prosciutto, salami and cheese courtesy of Gnome’s Mammy and Papa…thank-you so much:

Salami, Proscuitto and Parmesan Cheese.

Ahhhh…oh yes, I did get my salmon…at last.  I have been dying for smoked salmon.  This is a lovely Gnome display!  Salmon also a gift from Gnome’s parents!!  Oooooh and Ahhhhh!!!

Smoked Salmon.
Amusing, Belize

A Quiet Day…

We had a Pre-Christmas camp-fire dinner last-night with friends including Panda.  We had everything perfectly timed because we had rehearsed the cooking about five times already.  The bread was 15 minutes and the chicken was 90 minutes under coals.  It came out really well.  But, now I think that I have stuffed myself rather prematurely and I am not sure if I can make it until Christmas.  Gnome:

“…but we haven’t had the Christmas Day extravaganza yet!!”

I know, I know!!

I need to keep on going…for this…(Ha-Ha).

Today, I am strictly on water and fruit only!!

More Christmasy Pictures:

Oooh, spotted another one in the sorrel:

Angel in the Sorrel.

Oh, another one in the vegetable patch:

Okay, peppermint water is the order of the day today…

Amusing, Belize

Garden Varieties…

Oh, look what I found in the mustard…how did it get there?  Anyway, must be that time of the year when they come out.  The Garden (Variety) Angel…much like the Garden Variety Munchkins and Gnomes that come out all year round.  I guess you just have to pay attention and keep an eye out for these special ones…

Christmas Angel.
Amusing, Belize

Left Overs…

Hello!!  I mean left over pictures…there are no “left overs” at our place since we started cooking over coals…I had to post this picture again because it was very nice indeed.

Camp Fire Chicken.

We have decided to kinda wind down for the year so have been taking a few leisurely photos around the farm.  (The gate can wait until the new year!!)  Also, have Festive Season pictures to get us all in the mood.

Big Bossie Goosie Richard II.  The King of the Wheel-barrow.  He actually flew into the wheel-barrow during meal time the other day because he was so excited.

Goose in a Wheelbarrow.

We have a bed covered with these wild edible mushrooms: bamboo pith aka stinkhorn.  They start off as these round eggs (witches’ eggs) and then blossom into these interesting looking mushrooms.

Stinkhorn Eggs.
Stinkhorns for Christmas.

Christmas mugs are out courtesy of Papa Dudley (Merry Christmas Papa).  🙂

Christmas Mugs.

When you don’t have a Christmas tree…

Christmas Decorations.

And yes of course. His and Hers for Christmas!!  Can’t wait to put on my new wellies!!

Christmas Wellies.

Okay have a lovely day!!

Amusing, Belize

Oh Chicken!

Hello!  This is definitely my last entry on the chicken experience…I actually had a dream (bad) last night that I was in a hotel room and there were chickens running amok after me.  Gnome says I have chicken in the brain (?medical term) and that it is best that I stop eating chicken for a while. (Or should I play number 22 in lotto??!!).

Okay, so I have pictures this time!  Gnome dug two pits; one for bread and one for chicken.

Cooking Over Coals.
Double Pit.

I made the bread with 3 parts flour and 1 part oats and placed it in a greased cast-iron pot.  We aimed for 45 minutes but at 22 minutes, I sniffed the air and smelt some burning.  We quickly opened it up and the upper crust was burnt.  Nevertheless, the bread was cooked perfectly to a hot fluffiness.  We cut the top part off and juggled pieces around to get the freshly baked bread into our mouths.  Oooh scrumptious hot bread…

Campfire Bread.

Next time, we will bake the bread for 15 minutes and Gnome says we should put raisins in it for something different.

And, we did the potatoes in the usual way; put in paper bags soaked in water and then placed under shallow coals for about 45 to 60 minutes. The skin gets hard on the outside like a shell and the coals give it a charcoal flavour.

Camp Fire Potatoes.

The chicken; this time it was a smaller 5lb chicken and our estimate of 60 minutes was a bit too much so the skin got slightly burnt.  It was still very, very tasty and dripping with juice and flavour.  The test stuffing was composed of mashed potato, carrots, shiitake mushrooms and water chestnuts.  We also added raisins since Gnome’s mother suggested that some dried fruits would go very well; this was a very nice addition.  The stuffing was a success and absorbed the flavour of the chicken very well.

Camp Fire Chicken.

We think that it should be 10 minutes cooking time per 1lb of chicken so the 5lb chicken should only need about 45 to 50 minutes next time.  We also halved unpeeled onions and placed them around the chicken…these caramelized (??burnt really to be honest with you) too much but still tasted good.  The onion was so so soft that it could be scooped out of the onion shell.

Cam Fire Onions.

Verdict: we are getting quite confident at cooking with coals…it is practice, practice, practice as per usual.  Here are some (coffee table  magazine) pictures for you to look at so that you can live vicariously through the Munchkin and Gnome Blog (Ha-Ha!!).

Firewood.
Chicken Pot.

Okay, this ends the chicken experience and I will endeavour to write on a different topic and then get funny dreams about that too…