Granny Smith apples make their first appearance in the greengrocers. 'The Font' hates them. Angus loves their acidity. In the UK apples are sold all year round. Here they are homegrown and seasonal.
On the storm drain we are joined by a visitor. The farm dog from down in the valley is out and about . He sniffs Sophies muzzle then comes and sits by me as if we're long lost friends. Sophie emits a shriek to remind him that this is her village, that she's a diva and that he's an oaf. She then ignores him. As in completely ignores him. Farm dog has a tickle, discusses the intricacies of Japanese South Korean relations and then heads off home through the donkey field. Sophie watches him go in superior silence.
Angus has been ordering more wine. This is not so much because our consumption has increased but simply because trips to the wine merchant are on hold.
You'd think that in a pandemic people would be watching sport but they're not , Seems that without bars and social gatherings sports lose their magic as a conversational glue : https://danfrank.ca/the-decline-in-pandemic-sport-viewership/
You'd think that in a pandemic people would be watching sport but they're not , Seems that without bars and social gatherings sports lose their magic as a conversational glue : https://danfrank.ca/the-decline-in-pandemic-sport-viewership/
This article by a Spanish think tank is the first time I've ever got close to understanding North Korea.
15 comments:
Our family also has a Granny Smith divide. It's nice that the farm dog now knows where to go if he's in the mood for politics. Talking politics is one of the things many Americans in Japan really miss. Japanese people almost never discuss politics, domestic or international - they don't seem to appreciate its sporting qualities. The article on North Korea was very well done. There are many "zainichi" North Koreans living in Japan, the families of forced laborers who stayed on after the war, and it seems that quite a bit of money flows from Japan back to North Korea. At the same time, people here are aware that Japan is very much in the line of fire, as Pyongyang is only 1300 km away from Tokyo. Pretty creepy neighbors (although the Canadians may also be feeling that way right about now).
As a Granny Smith fan, I have notice an apparent decline in their popularity here, judging by the ranges of apples on display in UK supermarkets.
I tend to agree with the theory that watching sport becomes less appealing without the attending 'conversational glue' aspect. One of the few times I've slightly missed going to the office since retirement was during the 'Tour de France', as I could always rely on my two close colleagues, who were also cycling enthusiasts, for an enjoyable post-mortem of the action on previous day's stage.
Cheers, Gail (who might feel up to worrying about North Korea later...)
Your farm dog must be a direct relation if our Romanian rescue.
PS. I HATE Granny Smiths
The granny smith being an australian apple, we know that it is mostly used for cooking, not eating raw, so I understand the divide between fans and non-fans. We've been stocking up at the local Foire aux Vins - lots of choices and close to home. Bonne chance with your deliveries this time.
Our newer favorite apple is the Honeycrisp - do you have those?
Did Bob send the farm dog as a friendly "Hello, I'm fine"?
Judy
My farm dog companion certainly had that carefree air.
Thank you for the tip.I shall look out for them in the greengrocer but if they're not grown here then there's little chance.
You learn something new every day. I'd never thought of the Granny Smith as a cooking apple but of course it's perfect for that purpose.
Th farm dog has the healthy demeanour of an 'indeterminate' breed. Bathtime at the farm must be him being hosed down once in a while.
In Scotland as a student Granny Smiths were one of the few varieties available. How times change !
The farm dog had no qualms about sitting down and entering into the spirit of things.
Granny Smiths are the every day eating apple in our household. Like the adverts say 'other brands are available', but they never seem to be as popular and sit in the fruit bowl until they go soft and have to be used in cooking. Having been brought up on 'stewing' apples that go to delicate foamy mush when cooked, cooked Granny Smiths are definitely completely unappealing. Sophie was looked very 'brushed' today - maybe the farm dog was impressed.
I wouldn't eat a whole granny smith, but I enjoy cut up slithers on top of a taco or salad. A bit of sweet, tart crunch element.
I've eaten Granny Smith apples since my childhood and have a tree in my Auckland, NZ, backyard. Bitter by current sweet apple comparisons, so an aquired taste. They are best cooked (e.g. stewed, in cakes, cooked apple based desserts all with a bit of added sugar and/or sometimes cinnamon or a few cloves). Slivers of GS on a good cheese board can be nice. Two of the biggest supermarkets in Australisa (Woolworths in Australia and Countdown in New Zealand) use the symbol of Granny Smith like green apple peel for thier logo.
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