tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2448752251053894818.post7650604531730206591..comments2024-02-09T06:24:16.626+00:00Comments on upside down in cloud: heaven is a placeDru Marlandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03697874363783821382noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2448752251053894818.post-42079729132753142592008-10-05T20:28:00.000+01:002008-10-05T20:28:00.000+01:00You can buy them in tins in France and puréed. Li...You can buy them in tins in France and puréed. Like you say - cloying.Anjihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02562210585479814093noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2448752251053894818.post-56308302163639545992008-10-05T20:12:00.000+01:002008-10-05T20:12:00.000+01:00I don't think my picture does them justice, Anji; ...I don't think my picture does them justice, Anji; the leaves are many shades of greens, russets and browns. There should be more poetry about conkers. <BR/><BR/>Thank you, Neil. They seem to play chicken with the cars round here, too. One once jumped out in front of me as I pootled along on my moped, then panicked and ran ahead of me. It was actually faster than my moped. <BR/><BR/>I used to think that the squirrels went around taking nibbles out of the conkers, Jo, to render them unusable for conker playing. Had it been true, it would have been a very smart move on their part. But I discovered the other day when they were falling in great numbers from the tree, that they were falling out of the tree already nibbled. I wonder if this is evidence of weevillyness?<BR/><BR/>I've stopped bringing them home, Caroline, unless as subjects for painting.<BR/><BR/>Hello, Caroline M!-it sounds like sweet chestnuts, what you're describing? -they're big in Italy too, apparently; they make (or used to make) flour out of them, and they were an important staple in some areas. The flavour is a bit cloying after a while, isn't it?Dru Marlandhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03697874363783821382noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2448752251053894818.post-85543241687270374632008-10-05T07:52:00.000+01:002008-10-05T07:52:00.000+01:00We have a few "conker trees" where I work and you ...We have a few "conker trees" where I work and you are right, they are beautiful.<BR/><BR/>My most unusual experience with them though was in Galacia Spain where the locals DO appreciate them and you can find whole families out on the camino and other paths gathering them up, while they still in their bristly shells. They use either use a special device for picking them up or the old women use very thick gloves.<BR/><BR/>They then shell them and roast them in a big barbecue style thingie and sell them in the plazas.<BR/><BR/>I'm not all that fond of roasted chestnuts myself but they certainly are popular over there.<BR/><BR/>Caroline x.CarolineMathiesonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13433365257865445083noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2448752251053894818.post-27244488876172769532008-10-04T21:09:00.000+01:002008-10-04T21:09:00.000+01:00Conkers are beautiful... until they've shrivelled ...Conkers are beautiful... until they've shrivelled up... I got a whole bowl full a couple of weeks ago but had to throw them out today when I realised that they really are not looking good...Carolinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05635758748108011584noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2448752251053894818.post-50227381872197543912008-10-04T16:49:00.000+01:002008-10-04T16:49:00.000+01:00I used to love collecting conkers with my girls. T...I used to love collecting conkers with my girls. They certainly are a thing of beauty. I would often keep a few for myself, on my desk, and admire them. <BR/><BR/>Apparently, this year is going to be a lousy year for them (I heard on the radio). The weather has meant they're all falling off too soon, and others have fallen prey to some nasty weevil-y thing. Or something.Johttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17356965133404249244noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2448752251053894818.post-91872438945086286152008-10-04T16:41:00.000+01:002008-10-04T16:41:00.000+01:00What a lovely piece of writing, it has certainly b...What a lovely piece of writing, it has certainly brightened up a gloomy afternoon. When I'm cycling I worry in case squirrels will get caught in the spokes; they tend to suddenly appear from the hedges. And, as for conkers; I've done the baking and vinegar bit - long time ago - happy days.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2448752251053894818.post-28912554620296234742008-10-04T16:36:00.000+01:002008-10-04T16:36:00.000+01:00I did enjoy that. I tried to introduce conker figh...I did enjoy that. I tried to introduce conker fights to the children in the village a few years ago but it didn't take off. <BR/><BR/>I was observing the leaves on the trees here and trying to remember how they change colour back home, but I can see from your painting they just go brown at the edges like they were diseased – very disappointing.<BR/><BR/>I read my poem about conkers to a captured audience of parents one evening at school. It was romantic poetry I wanted to be remembered for.Anjihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02562210585479814093noreply@blogger.com