TARRAGON & THYME

Sorry have been missing for a few days this week.  We have had further problems with the car; an oil seal went and also the motor on the passenger side of the car got stuck and the window could not be made secure.  I had to walk to work and also home again for three days this week. I did though managed to get into town yesterday dinner; on a Friday dinner I tend to go to the market and to Wilkinsons. I managed to get two metres of tiny green gingham check from the market for £1 a metre and also 10 metres of white tape to make some home made bunting for 20pence a metre = £2.  Something else for the playing box.  The green check is destined for a lap quilt in due course. Things have been a tad busy at work; it has been year end and I have been  billing forever and ever.  A load of us ended up in the pub for a little while; and I ended up drinking cider Aspalls a sweet one for a change and it was really good.  In fact I stayed  a little longer t...

I have tentatively started with some bits for this year's garden.  I have bought two dahlia's for two of my garden tubs called Arabian Night a lovely Crimson red dahlia although the instructions say not to be planted out whilst there is still a risk of frost. So even though I have the Dahlias it will probably be the end of April beginning of May before they are planted out. I have also bought twenty sets of "Rooster" potatoes for the garden which are currently set to chit in the bathroom window.  I intend this weekend to set some mustard and cress and mixed salad leaf lettuce, and start off some tomatoes and some chives all for the bathroom windowsill to start with.  I might also plant some herbs as well, but before I really get going I need to get the covers for the mini greenhouses before I set too much. OH has indicated that we are going to set about the garden again this weekend weather permitting; with what little we managed to do last weekend at least w...

Why is it you just get into a weekend and its time to go back to work again.  Deep sigh! Well it's been a lovely day here in Peterborough and it has been nice to have a lot lighter evening all round.  I am weary after attacking the garden, (still have a long way to go) cooking tea and doing all the washing and getting it dry.  Tea was just the ticket the roast pork and crackling came up lovely and we had cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, roast potatoes, peas with lashings of gravy and home made apple sauce.  I then had pancakes with cinnamon sugar, apple sauce and cream for pudding and they were very tasty.  So that was tea over with for this weekend.  Still so much to do I really do have to get a wriggle on this week. I still have the cold, and I seem to have got rid of the icky symptoms I had towards the latter end of the week.  Being out in the fresh air has helped with the cold, at least it is not as bad as it was. I didn't get ...

Its been a lovely day here in Peterborough, the sun has been out although the wind is a little chilly; we went walkies with Missy down to the river and let her run.  Lots of nettles coming on with new growth, some cowslips and primroses and a big patch of wild violets.  It is so lovely to see Spring in full swing;  the resident swan was guarding her nest she always parks herself in the same spot every year.  Peterborough Volunteers have been out around the boardwalks clearing all the dead brushwood, and giving trees a haircut and letting them breathe once more.  Its just lovely to see all the new growth and there is lots of wild plum blossom again so we are hopeful of being able to get to the plums before someone else does later on.   Well since my quiet minutes earlier on today where I enjoyed some ME time for a change, I have been in the garden fighting brambles overgrown Buddlehia's rose bushes - and quite frankly it looks a mess. More of a mes...

It's quiet and misty here; the sun so far has not put in an appearance but I think that is down to it burning off the residual moisture in the air which it is sure to do later on.   Later on already and yet  I am up early and still its an hour on, but so many benefits of more daylight. Traffic is starting to stir; and there is the gentle background cacophony of birds calling and singing their songs and their hearts out.   I am on my own at the moment; no sign of Missy the cats have been and gone and it is just me coming too gracefully in my own time and my own space. The kettle is on signing its song and boiling water for a nice hot mug of sweet tea to bring me to my senses and reinforce me for the work to do this day; this is the unhurried time for me the time when I am best left alone to come too gradually without any interference or being pushed along on the conveyor belt of life.  This is the valuable ME time which is so very rare these days, b...

Its been a busy day here today; tidying my bedroom I thought it was boing to be a breeze like the lovely fresh air that came into the house; not so.  One of my hanging rails completely collapsed and I ended up recovering a load of clothes and putting it all back together again; ah well these things are sent to try us; but we are getting on slowly. Its gone chilly here tonight; then Demetri has managed to escape out of the bathroom window why am I not surprised OH left the bathroom door open so it looks as though he will be late in tonight I was a bit peeved earlier on tonight.  I have a patio set in the garden to seat eight; the other week two fence panels got blown down so there is access to next doors between the garden.  Its a mixed household of Polish and they helped themselves to my table and chairs without asking they just removed them and they ended up in their garden.  I only found out by chance and I am afraid I read the riot act at them and made th...

Tonight we change the clocks and loose an hour in bed; but with this kind of weather and lighter evenings I don't think anyone really minds too much as we reap the benefits of having more time to do things in daylight hours.  All the seasons are pretty special but the winter months speak of hibernation whereas in Spring and Summer most people want to be out and about and packing what they can into any one day and travelling if they can.  I am rather restless this weekend I must say getting itchy feet, but we can only do what we can do. I am sat down whilst writing this post and Squeak has just spotted me.  As soon as I sit down I am fair game for a certain persistent moggie to push her way onto my knee and perch - she tries to keep me there as long as she can. She loves her mum. So don't forget to change the clocks - especially if you have to be somewhere. Take care Pattypan x

I have been busy bimbling and pottering away in the bedroom; starting the spring clean at the top so to say; after all it makes sense that to get the pile of irnong away I must be able to get things put away in wardrobes so it will all be nice and tidy and order restored.  I have been inspired by the weather as much as anything here today it has been a bright sunny day; the air is sweet and I have flung open all the windows to let the fresh air into the house. Squeak is quite bemused by the whole affair and keeps popping in and outside the downstairs windows - she tried the bathroom one and got stuck as I have a venetian blind in there for some privacy and I had to rescue her. [personally I think she just makes any excuse for a cuddle]  I will however be gardening tomorrow, but the bed linen is on the line (a sort of rickety rigged up one at the moment) so that I can get freshness back into the house after the winter months.  That will be nice. I love the smell of fresh ...

Life is Not A Rehearsal

It has been a long old week this week and I am very thankful that it is the weekend.  I still am not firing on all cylinders and feel a bit icky, but I have a lot to do and so little time to do it in. Today has been a gorgeous day; the sun has been out - I went into town as I usually do for fresh air, stretch my legs and get away from my desk but today without a coat it was well warm.  Today we have had events at work in aid of Sport Relief, a dress down day, Wii Sports Event, cakes etc.  So I have been to work in my casual wear today i.e. my jeans.  Its been busy but that is par for the course. I managed to score a bargain at the fabric store today 3 metres of over 60 inch wide furnishing fabric for £5 - so I have bought three metres of a dark green and a more appley green textured fabric 6 metres in all for £10.  I shall have another mosey again next week to see if anything else takes my fancy.  I have a load of canvas needlepoint panels that I h...

Attitude Changes Everything

Today has been a busy one and I am still suffering with the cold I had last weekend - it just will not shift; I met my friend for lunch and we had a good natter , but as always time always goes very quickly.   OH has been busy applying for a job/jobs this week although had come to a standstill as he could not locate his exam certificates.  I told him where they were roughly, but he would not have it.  I told him that I would fish them out tonight, but there is no need.  I got a phone call earlier in the day to say that he had found them where I had said, so I am pleased about that and he can now get his applications completed.   However there was also an extra bonus he has also found my overlocker and my sewing machine so I am hoping to have a bit of a play around come this weekend; I really could do with some time to play with my crafts and get some of the bits and bobs I have on the go completed.  I am particularly keen to have a play w...

This Life Must be a Test If it was the Real Thing We'd be given better instructions!

I have a lovely  Russian Friend who is a locally known contemporary artist called Veronika Leontyeva.  Veronika regularly has art shows  in the Peterborough area and this evening she has given me an oil painting as a gift, and I feel very humbled to be given so special a gift.  I find her work is very atmospheric and I love her use of colour; Veronika is not afraid to use colour and I like the way she uses several colours to define depth and definition.  It also makes her pictures vibrant and alive. The picture she has given to me this evening is on the fourth row down second in from the left next to the Irises and is called "The Lonely Fisherman". I am chuffed to bits.  Thank you so much Veronika.  It will be treasured. http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.245294722156837.70487.245277325491910&type=1 Pattypan x

I have to go out this evening to attend to some further business, but before I disappeared I thought I would update you on last evening's incident. I have literally just bumped into the young lady whose car was most affected last night and she confirmed to me that the Police have made an arrest  on the grounds of drinking and driving and failure to stop at an accident and the really good news is that he is insured so that should make it easier for the young lady involved as her insurance was third party fire and theft. The assessors are coming to look at her car tomorrow and are going to give her alternative wheels in the interim. So alls well that ends well, but the sorry part about this is that it really need not have happened at all and that's what annoys me the most. I am off for a little while will try and get back a little later on. Take care Pattypan x

Since getting back this evening, we hadn't been in the house that long when we heard a terrible bang and a clump, squealing breaks acceleration and then a car running off apace.  By the time we had got out the car had gone into the ether just leaving wreckage behind it; our neighbours son's girlfriend's car has been written off and it was pushed up the street into the back of our car perched onto the tow bar and shifting our car out from where it had been parked it had obviously hit with a terrible thump to have moved our car out.  There were witnesses to the crunch and run;  the matter was subsequently reported to the Police who didn't come out to inspect the crunch but who have managed to arrest someone but we do not know whether he is insured or not.  On the face of it, our car looks okay apart from the tow bar which has been re-arranged, but the neighbours girlfriend's car we think is a complete write off.  We have only had the car back three days! We will...

My Day started early at 5.15 p.m. when dawn was just starting to slip into the night sky and everything was so peaceful transiting night to day.  I could hear the birds singing with such joy in their souls.  A different call of nature had roused me but for me to see the dawn is a privilege especially as I tend to be somewhat of an Owl. On rising properly seeing the light and the sun in the sky makes me feel so alive - so much to do and so little time to do it in.  Spring Equinox when we should have an equal amount of day and night our first proper day of Spring, the precursor to the clocks going forward at the weekend in line with the old adage Spring  - Forward  - Fall - Back for those of you who can never remember which way to put the clocks. I have missed most of the lovely weather today being stuck in the office, but I managed to escape for a while at dinner and go for a wander and get out in the fresh air; I enjoy and find beauty in so many things ...

Well tea went down very well was very tasty,  simply served on its own with the bread and butter followed by a nice pear cider to wash it down with.  I am a little partial to cider one of my favourites in the past has been dry Blackthorn.  I am now completely stuffed from eating too much for me, but then I don't normally manage to eat a full plate full on the best of days. The cats are crashed out and it won't be long before I go up to bed.  I have work tomorrow and no doubt it will be another long day   And on the freezer front; well I have four hefty two portion pots of the Carrot and Swede Crush, 4 x 1 pint bags of chicken stock plus another pint for the onion soup, 4 trays of Parsnip  x 6 pieces and once the soup has cooled down there will be a couple of pots of onion soup too.  I still have the potato and also the sweet potato, some more carrot and some swede to process, but they will probably get done tomorrow night or at least some of i...

Everyone has their own delicious recipes for Cottage Pie, here's my take on it: Ingredients Potatoes 1lb good quality minced beef (we get ours from the butchers and freeze it ourselves) Peas Carrots Onions 2 oxo cubes Worcester Sauce Water or stock Method Fry two onions that have been sliced in a pan with a little oil - not much until starting to go brown;  then add the mince until it is browned all the way through; strain off any excess fat, add the oxos and a little stock or water to make a gravy - you don't want too much gravy as it will seep into the topping just enough to keep everything nice and moist.  Add peas and slice carrots (these can be tinned in which case use the liquid out of the tins to make the gravy or they can be frozen and a raw carrot used in which case I grate it into the mixture and then add water or stock to make the gracy). Add the Worcester Sauce (only a dash) and  cook through.  Add a little more water or stock if required....

I have been taking my time, but I have been doing a little bit in the kitchen this afternoon.  I just cannot sit still anymore it's driving me crazy!  I know Rose,  I am dutifully told off but I can't just do nothing; its just not my style.  Needless to say it has been quite a cost saving afternoon really, but then I hate wasting anything.  The chicken stock is just about finished bubbling and smells gorgeous and I will use some as the base for Onion Soup for my cold and the rest will go into the freezer for use another day either for a soup or gravy base, but it can also be used in a rissotto or as stock with potato boulangere.  So for the sake of a few veg and a chicken carcass or two its best to make your own stock no matter what; for what you pay in the shops you get loads more to use and once you get used to using your own stock on a regular basis you will never go back.  There is no excuse not to have had a stock pot on the boil once a week ...

I haven't long been up; although I got up at 6 .m. and 9.30 a.m and then about 11.00 a.m OH bought me breakfast up (a rare treat) and so I have had a very long lie in for me.  I am still full of  cold, but feel a tad brighter than I did.  Thank you for all your kind comments and support - the TLC has been very welcome. The rain has been gently falling all morning again; we do need it, but we need a lot more than we are having at present; saying that the nights are getting lighter and we are hearing the birds greet the early morning night with such gusto its at times like these that I want to be deep in the countryside rather than esconced in town, I am missing so much of the natural life cycle of the seasons which are all pretty magical OH went to the veg shop for me yesterday; The eggs for. a full tray of 30 has gone up to £3.30 a tray from £3 last week; but in the Asian shop they are charging nearly £4 a tray.  The eggs from the veg shop come from a small ...

I woke up to gentle rain that lasted for a good couple of hours this morning I woke about 6 am and then nodded back off;  its good to have rain but we need a lot more as we have hardly had any rainfall at all.   I am afraid I hugged my bed a little; I felt better earlier on for the long sleep I have had but the cold has progressively got worse during the day.  I have been sat quietly hardly doing anything;  that has been a bit of a novelty doing nothing I am not renowned for doing nowt!  Unfortunately because I have this darned cold I will be unable to see my darling mother;[ she has auto immune disease and we cannot go anywhere near her if any of us have an infection of any kind due to her reduced immune system]; to make matters worse the chap who has mended the car (he returned it last night) has had chicken pox so there is no way we can go near her for a few days.  We were hoping to go over tomorrow; I am bitterly disappointed  something a...

Anne, Rowan and  Rose Thank you all for your good wishes - I slept well overnight only having to get up once.  The cold is now coming out and I keep sneezing a lot, but at least the cold is starting to come out now; I have kept myself in the warm and do not anticipate doing too much throughout the day being confined to barracks just pottering doing a little bit of this and that but nothing too strenuous. It might be a time for doing those bits and bobs that I normally do not get time for.  I just wish my  nose would stop running I am beginning to look like Rudolph! Thank you Rowan I did not know that about Elderlfower, I have some home made so will try that this evening before I go to bed.  Will see how the day goes. Take care and thank you once again Pattypan x

I am not feeling too good tonight the cold seems to have come out in force and I am constantly sneezing and blowing my nose.  I am going off to bed shortly as I keep going very cold which is symtomatic of a chill so I am going to get into my pj's and  buried under the bed clothes and armed with the hottie bottie hopefully to sweat it ou together with a couple of paracetamol  What a way to start the weekend when I have so much to do as well.  Tomorrow is another day. Hopefully will catch up tomorrow Take care Pattypan x

A Fried forwarded me these this evening; just caused a gentle chuckle here *Did I read that sign right?*  In an office:  TOILET OUT OF ORDER...... PLEASE USE FLOOR BELOW  In a Laundromat:  AUTOMATIC WASHING MACHINES: PLEASE REMOVE ALL YOUR CLOTHES WHEN THE  LIGHT GOES OUT  In a London department store:  BARGAIN BASEMENT UPSTAIRS  In an office:  WOULD THE PERSON WHO TOOK THE STEP LADDER YESTERDAY PLEASE BRING IT  BACK OR FURTHER STEPS WILL BE TAKEN  In an office:  AFTER TEA BREAK STAFF SHOULD EMPTY THE TEAPOT AND STAND UPSIDE DOWN ON  THE DRAINING BOARD  Outside a secondhand shop:  WE EXCHANGE ANYTHING - BICYCLES, WASHING MACHINES, ETC. WHY NOT BRING  YOUR WIFE ALONG AND GET A WONDERFUL BARGAIN?  Notice in health food shop window:  CLOSED DUE TO ILLNESS  Spotted in a safari park:  ELEPHANTS PLEASE STAY IN YOUR CAR  Seen during a conference:  FOR ANYONE WHO HAS CHILDREN AN...

Despite the Pea Souper this morning, today has been a busy day at work. I normally meet my friend on a Thursday for lunch but this week she wasn't available, but I will see her again next week.  It was bitterly cold this morning on the way to work, although I ended up having a warm stretch in the office and ended up taking off my purple jumper; popping it on just before I left the office this evening (I was late 5.45 p.m again). I am glad I did as it was freezing again when I did get out. We have had chicken curry and rice together with home made chapattis for tea and it went down very well; the curry was a little hot for me - I don't like it over hot but it was very tasty.  I have another busy day tomorrow.  Hopefully we will have the car back tomorrow night; I am hoping to have another bash at the back garden again this weekend so Iheres hping the weather cooperates is good enough for me to get stuck in and do a bit more.  Need to get the heavyweight gloves out...

We have awoken to a cotton wool world this morning a right pea souper; Fog always muffles the outside noises so; will be wending my way to work in a few  minutes.  Even Demetri was not keen on venturing forth this morning. Its a Cotton Wool world here in Peterborough Catch you all later Pattypan x

Its been a cold day here in Peterborough, and as per usual I have plenty of layers on to help combat the cold; although unusually in work this morning I had a hot session and had to strip off the thick cuddly jumper I was sporting; in retrospect I am not sure that was the right thing to do as I now seem to have the beginnings of a sore throat. Just what I did not want.  I think another early night cuddled up under the quilt with my hot water bottle is in order I ache also so a couple of paracetamol should help together with the warmth from the hottie bottie. The cats are already out for the count snuggled up in their blankets. We are still without the car  - although we are hoping that it will be done and dusted by the weekend.  The gear box has arrived and we have been without it about 3 1/2 weeks.  I hope it is ready soon as it is Mother's Day this weekend and I would like to get to see my mum as we have not seen her for a few weeks.  As our parents get o...

My Friend Sarah at Unbought Delicacies has brought this to my attention.  Please read and sign the petition.  I have and it is up to us to do something about it to make sure the Earth is here for generations to come. http://www.eradicatingecocide.com/a-letter-from-women-to-world-leaders/ Thank you Pattypan x

I feel decidely off colour this evening; i hurt again haven't been able to settle to do anything and in the end I popped over the road to see my friend.  She has now got a new computer and I have shown her how to download her photos (its a much better one than she had before) and introduced her to some of my eclectic taste in music.  I have a job for Friday evening (not cooking this time just sorting her out a bit more with the computer). So please forgive my brief post but I am off to bed to get some much needed shut eye; and then perhaps I will feel brighter tomorrow. We are still without the car that is nearly three weeks. However I did get a lovely surprise from one of the lawyers I work for; she had bought me a little pressie with a lovely message inside for all my hard work the past three months or so.  The words meant more to me than the pressie although little surprises are always appreciated. I hope everyone is keeping well andis okay. Sorry must go hopeful...

The First is Coca Cola, but instead of popping in plain water ice cubes; try Lemon Barley ice cubes - they really taste great and adds an extra dimension to the Coca Cola. The second, you will remember a few weeks ago I obtained some passion fruit and froze the pulp initially in ice cube trays.  I was having a glass of lemonade the other day and fancied some ice cubes; unfortunately I was out of them.  I then saw the passion fruit cubes, and thought why not give it a whirl and I quite like it.  A couple of passion fruit cubes in a large tumbler topped up with lemonade.  Very refreshing.  Not everything has to be alcoholic, although alcohol has its place.   I am determined to make some passion fruit gin later on I think that will give the lemonade extra kick! Pattypan x

Well what a busy day it has been a lovely one all the same and it has been brilliant to be out in the fresh air, enjoying the first real touch of spring.  I still haven't finished all the herb border, but it is well in hand.  I want to get some seeds on but my little mini greenhouses (their covers at least) have perished during the winter months (together with what I think is one of the cats landing on it) so it is not weather proof at the moment.  In fact each of them have no roof!  I love growing plants from seed and I think that is where my real love is and I am itching to get going; but patience I have a lot to do before that.  My Cold Frames need new glass as well. I am hoping we get the car returned this week (we are still without it) so that hopefully I could do a bit more of an evening when I get in.  I can only hope. We have had a lovely tea tonight; Rotisserie Spit Roasted Chicken, purple sprouting broccoli, cauflower, roast potato, mashe...

Hello Pattypan popping in for a tea break (or should that be Hong Kong Phooey)! I have had a lovely time pottering out in the garden - still on the same stretch, but I am nothing if not thorough when I am doing a job.  The weather has been lovely and it soon warmed up.  I went out with a sweatshirt and a very thick old gardening jumper that I refuse to throw away even though it is holy, a pair of old jeans and my wellie Gog's.   Armed and dangerous. I have really been giving this stretch of the garden a good going over and as part of my cleaning process I decided to bleach the drain out and remove all the leaves that had accumulated.  Big mistake this job took longer than usual and when I flushed the sink the drain spilt out on to my nicely clean pavement.  Yuk! I tell you it is just the depth that changes with me.  Well in I got stuck removing all sorts of debris from the drain but in the end I had to get OH to give it a final shove and get the pipe cl...

Here in Peterborough the sun is shining, the quiet cacophony of nature going about its business is gentle by comparison to the noise made by man and by traffic and is quite soothing to the ear.  For once I am up early, I can hear the neighbours cockerel strutting his stuff and calling to the world to wake up.  Wake up Wake up on this beautiful morning. All this happening and I am in the middle of town, whereas I want to be in the countryside off the beaten track.  As it is still early there is still a coolness to the day, but I don''t care - I am alive and going to be working in the garden again so I am outside in the fresh air and free.  I intend to glory in this beautiful morning of ours and enjoy its peacefulness and serenity working with my hands touching the earth that coaxes so much bounty for us to enjoy.  Right am off to get my hands dirty. I hope you have a lovely morning too Catch up soon Pattypan -

Well the wanderer has returned.  I have had a very pleasant evening at the Spiritualist Church Service supporting my friend and also meeting up with another friend as well.  It has been a very pleasant evening where the majority of people were strangers to me but where I have felt very comfortable and welcomed.  My friend did brilliantly with her messages and presentation.  It has been a lovely evening. I am now home just sitting quietly with no TV on; Demetri and Squeak are both in the land of nod and I don't even have the heating on at the moment.  They are such loyal trusting creatures, just content to be nearby safe and comfortable. It will not be long before I will wend my way up to bed complete with hottie bottie.   I have had a busy day with the gardening; my back and hips ache a little so I need to keep myself warm (hence the hottie bottie).  If the weather is fine I intend to carry on with the gardening again tomorrow.  I have a...

It has been a busy day here in Peterborough.  The weather has been lovely it started off nice and sunny and then clouded over for a little while.  A proper spring morning and with the re-appearance of the sun it makes everything much more cheerful somehow.  A day where I decided that I was going to start on the back garden and give it a bit of a spring clean.  But before tackling the garden I had things to do. I went shopping first thing to the Charity shop and espied quite a few goodies as usual, but being ever practical I opted for items that I could use and be useful to me.  Hence a white Pyrex mixing bowl, 4 little ramekin pots and a sponge flan tin (one of those sponges you buy for putting jelly fruit and jello in) came home too.  I just love going to the charity shop preferably armed with some money but often just for a good look round. I then descended on the veg shop primarily to get a tray of eggs but she didn't have one apart from 18 eggs...

Just stopped for a small tea break after getting stuck in with the immediate back garden outside the back door for most of the day.  This little stretch of garden is my herb garden and I also normally have some planters with bits and bobs in as well.  Thought I would tell you about some treasures I have found recently at my Charity Shop. All inspired by Frugal Queen's post this morning about making a quilt out of recycled charity shop shirts, (and also a post a little while back by Cotton Reel)  I went tootling round to my local charity shop, but unfortunately they had no 50pence bargains; although they did have some nice shirts where the tones blended and would have been ideal for me starting to collect the fabric for a home made quilt cover.  However they wanted £3 apiece  (their prices seem to have gone up during the past few weeks) and after all the idea for me of making the quilt would be to make it frugally so that I came out with something handmade and...

GONE GARDENING BE BACK LATER

I am well chuffed my lovely friend Alison treated me to an early birthday present today and it is lovely.(My birthday is not until May)  Called the Birthday Cake Book written by Fiona Cairns the creator of the Royal wedding cake for 2011.  And it is lush; There are some smashing recipes in here and I am once I get into full gear going to have a go at some of these lovely creations with some new twists on some old favourites.  The more I look the more I like.  The more I look the more I see. It gets very dangerous when us two go shopping together especially in Lakeland. Thank you sweetheart very much appreciated you brightened up a gloomy day. Pattypan x

 It is still cold and miserable here in Peterborough and the wind is howly and gusty this evening. I eventually got Demetri the Scallywag in wet, tired and hungry, he has stuffed his food down him and is now flat out not very far away from me or Squeak.  I haven't got the television on and its nice just to sit and be. We had a late tea this evening, but it was delicious none the less.  I also made a tray of individual Yorkshire Puddings and they came up light an airy - made a dozen  - I note that OH has snaffled seven of them!   I have only had the two. They are quick to make and I don't mind as long as he enjoys his grub. Not long back I made some vanilla buttercream to sandwich one of the Victoria Sponge cakes I made earlier on (and which came up very well) .  And sprinkled it just with icing sugar.  Gave some to OH for his pudding and I also had a slice - very tasty - and I am well pleased with the sponge.  I have some playing about to...

It is horrible outside not stopped raining yet  and the wind is up- a proper grey winter afternoon.  (Apparently they have had snow just up the road from us in Wisbech).  An afternoon for being totally cuddled up at home.  Having a log fire would be pure perfection. Sigh one day!  I have been in the kitchen baking; I have two deep plain victoria sponges cooking as we speak and a tray of butterfly/cup cake buns waiting to go in.  I have dragged my Kenwood out of retirement and been fiddling around, radio on in my own little world.  I used to do a lot of baking at one time, but it has dripped off to virtually nothing although I am known for  my spurts of enthusiasm but this is something I am going to remedy and probably do on a Saturday afternoon if I can get myself organised properly and get the bread made as well.  In fact my original passion was cake making and decorating but then I went on to preserving.  Trouble is when I am doin...

 I have always loved poetry and this one is one of my favourites.  However I knew relatively little about the poet - for further information please look here.   http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/southeast/halloffame/arts/w_h_davies.shtml However, what resonated  with me on reading this article is that W H Davies was known as the "Tramp Poet".  As a little girl I lived in one of the lodge cottages to Gunthorpe Hall Estate nr Oakham.  The road the cottage was situated on was the main road to Uppingham, and I was frequently found playing in the garden and if anyone went by I used to stop and talk to them.  If it was a gentleman of the road and I liked and felt sorry for them I used to invite them in for a cuppa tea.  That is until my Dad was home one day and put stop to my "invitiations".  I was only about two years old at the time.  The innocence of childhood.   I hope you like the poem too. LEISURE What is this life...

Its chilly and heavy rain is falling here in Peterbough. I have been up for a little while pottering around just in my pj's and my fluffy dressing gown; having the occasional cup of tea and listening to the pitter patter of the rain as it hits the window pane and sploshes on the pavements outside and the hissing of the puddles as cars go through them about their daily business.  There seems to be a lot of traffic this morning, especially for a Sunday.  However we very much need the rain as it has been so long since we really had a good drenching so cannot really complain.  Water the most important thing we rely on. My constant companion Squeak is with me demanding her fuss and attention - Demetri is out again on his travels he will be holed up somewhere knowing him.  I have called but there is no response.  He is not very keen on the rain and if its raining when he is due to go out he bawls looks up at you as though you have the power to switch it off....

Change of plan - rained so garden has been put off hopefully until tomorrow; never mind the set back I have been in the kitchen playing.  I always keep in cooking apples either already prepared in a puree in the freezer, potted (bottled) or fresh.  In fact there was a time in my llife where I never had to buy apples, we just used to get them from my Nans. But since Nan passed over have had to buy them.  I think that is why I dream of having a home in the countryside, with a bit of land my own veg plot, orchards and Nuttery. In any event  I had some apples to puree and put in the freezer which I have since done. Nothing fancy has been added to the apple just a little sugar and I mean a little sugar and a knob of butter and the apples cooked until a thick puree although with chunky bits in if you know what I mean. A ready supply of prepared apples for a busy household.  Then when a pot of the frozen puree is taken out of the freezer at a later date it c...