TARRAGON & THYME

The weather could not be more different here today we have bright sunshine that is peeking into every nook and cranny of my home invading and brightening up everything.  So different yesterday when it was mostly rain all day. It is still blustery but the light is putting a different complexion on things.  It will not be long before I wend my way to work for another hectic day. I hope you all have a lovely happy day and hopefully I will be able to pop back later on. Catch up soon Pattypan

I have had a brilliant weekend in fact it is coming to a close all too soon.  I went to a fabulous workshop with my friend and mentor Jacqueline Lesley yesterday where she introduced colour and auragraphs to our tool box.  It was a wonderful day where I was with like minded people; some old friends and some new friends.  It was all very enjoyable and I will do a  separate post on this later on in the week.  I went back to my friend's home after the workshop don't know where the time went but it was gone 11 pm before I got home. I think we managed to polish off a couple of bottles of red wine between us.  Lovely Jubbly.  So I didn't get to the veg shop yesterday at all. Today started with OH bringing me breakfast in bed -  [not sure what I had done to deserve this but it went down very well in any event] which was a nice surprise but the weather has been absolutely abysmal today.  Its been a North Easterly hooley and torrential rain....

I have had a fantastic day today, filled with love and lots of colour in the company of very good friends and also making new friends.  I had hoped to post this evening on what I have been up to, but being as I have been late home, it is wet cold and miserable I am going to toddle off and get under the duvet and hopefully have a dream or two; one never knows sometimes they are like buses few and far between and other times i get dream upon dream. It is seriously chucking it down here and the wind is getting up a little bit I have two contented moggies in the warm here both on a settee each both happy; Missy is with his master's voice in the computer room (he ison the computer playing KOC (Kingdoms of Cameolot) Catch up sometime tomorrow Take care Pattypan

Evening everyone hope you are all well and life is treating you well. Some good news this week that after three years out of work my OH has managed to obtain a job - which we are very grateful for he starts the second week in May.  So a little bit of good luck has come our way.  We know we are lucky. I am likely to be missing for most of tomorrow as I am attending a workshop which I am looking forward to.  So no trip to the veggie shop tomorrow for me. I have had a rough week with the dampness and rain, which has seized my system up to some extent and so I have been taking extra pain killers; but most nights this week I have had disturbed sleep either waking because I am uncomfortable or to come downstairs.  It will pass it always does. I have been doing my exercises despite the discomfort. I have had a take away for tea this evening a prawn balti with a rice a real treat very mild but very tasty. This evening suffering from thank god its Friday syndrome I I ...

In the office where I work at the moment we have windows that we cannot open and air conditioning.  We can look out though and see what is happening out and about.  Today we have had torrential rain and it has come down in shed loads and puddles huge ones have formed in seconds.  Today has  reminded us all at work of the kinda weather we used to have when we went on holiday as children.  Happy days for all of us but days when there was loads of rain and we ended up being in the caravan playing board games, listening to the crackly radio  noses pressed up against steamy windows, big sighs at being kept in; and then escaping at the merest lift of the cloud, or the sun coming out or the cessation of rain completely or into light drizzle going to the chippy, getting fish and chips or just chips and eating them out of the paper, with them going soggy if the drizzle persisted.  Perhaps looking  back we see things through rose coloured glasses; but then...

I was passed on an inspirational quote by  friend on Facebook and on looking round You Tube I found this version which I think you may well enjoy and it's raining here in Peterborough http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X89rZkKBnPU&feature=related I think its sentiment is rather beautiful and I love the poem We should give thanks for many things I am learning to dance Pattypan x

I found this on You Tube recently and it struck a chord with me - I hope it resonates well with you too http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&NR=1&v=Y9X9wD7dz4k We all need to learn to soar and to fly Pattypan x

Its been a variable day here in Peterborough and we have had rain againt this evening; the cold and the damp is really affecting my movements at the moment and my joints which tends to slow me up a bit.  Oh well these things are sent to try us but at the mminute I feel very much like the Tin man. Sorry its so late in the evening/morning that I have been able to post; it has been a particularly busy day; a very busy day at work then the servers packed up and we were unable to use our system so we ended up doing those jobs like filing and sorting out any rubbish; by the time we got back on the day had almost gone. Since getting home, we have had tea; I didn't fancy too much  my appetite isn't what it was and so I just had a pork and apple sandwich and OH finished off the remains of yesterdays lunch; the extra crumble got frozen the other one is in the fridge for tomorrow nights tea; which is going to be chicken kievs with a selection of veggies and then pudding to follo...

I forgot to tell you last night whilst calling for his lordship I saw a shooting star and I made a wish.  What was unusual was that it wasn't high in the sky and it looked as though it was a falling one heading for a garden further up the street; but I still made a wish all the same. Its been very cold and wet here this afternoon and into the evening. (I have had to put the heating back on) At the moment it is raining cats and dogs; even Demetri found his way in through the window he is now cuddled up on the settee fast asleep - Squeak is on the other one. I did a little baking earlier on a couple of batches of coconut cheesecakes and two rhubarb crumbles one of which is destined for the freezer and I made four batches of pastry in the food processor. (still have to use this up probably finish tomorrow night.   I am quite chuffed with the pastry it tastes really good if I do say so myself but for some reason I always make very short pastry.  My mum has told me th...

  We did not have breakfast early this morning as although being up early (a certain little cat escaped last night and wouldn't come in) and I was anxious to make sure he was okay.  We had brunched about 11.30 a.m. utilising some sausages that needed using up and some bacon but I also found in the freeze (which I am currently emptying) r some fruit pudding, cherry tomatoes, some hash browns and together with four fresh eggs (2 each) we ended up having a substantial breakfast/brunch washed down with mugs of tea.   which was very satisfying and very tasty.   I quite regularly when I can get hold of them cheaply enough freeze about 1lb of cherry tomatoes at a time.  All you need do is wash dry and bag them and then just pop into the freezer.  I then cook them from frozen and they are easil obtained from the freezer to add to different meals.  I use them in home made pizza cooked up with some fresh herbs too.  very tasty. We the...

Today for me has mainly centred around food; pennies are extremly tight again at the moment most of the money we have going on heating and electric but you still have to feed yourself so in the first instance I went trawling through the freezer (I am currently trying to use up the contents of the same) to see what I could locate meat wise not having enough pennies left over to get meat only veggies.  I  Came out of the freezer with a pack of mince, some pate, some crab pate, a pack of butter, some turkey kebabs, a joint of pork for tomorrows dinner, some blueberries, some blackberries. (blueberries for some blueberry muffins tomorrow and a blackberry and apple pudding probably a pie as I have some cooking apples to use up in the fridge.   I have also made a jelly for pudding during the week.  I have some strawberries in the freezer and intend to make a sponge flan case and combine everything which should make a change.  A sponge flan case is an ideal base ...

I am currently trying to be very good and getting into good habits with doing various things around the house; particularly with me working full time - I am trying where I can to make my life that bit easier so that I can get to do some of the enjoyable things rather than just be working working and working and whirling round like a dervish in full kelter.  As a result I often end up getting totally worn out and no energy to do even simple things.  I am making a concerted effort to do things as I go along rather than leave them and then blitz them.  Its not massive things just small things and getting into a new mindset which is always difficult to start with when you are implementing a new regime but anything worth doing is worth doing well. Like if I have a book out; before I get another one out put that one back; and If we have tea in the front room take the plates out straight away and get them into the dishwasher; and when I go shopping buy only those items tha...

Just a quick pop by to say good morning. Well it was lovely sunshine here first thing this morning; it was that which stirred me and the fact that I was warm (the sun was streaming through the windows and me being me was under the quilt and getting slightly overheated). So up I got and enjoyed a few hours peace and quiet on my own just pottering enjoying the peace and quiet  a cup of tea; and enjoying listening to the birds singing their songs and just generally being in the moment after another very busy week.  Just letting myself go arrh!  That has been a rare pleasure. Mission accomplished I was ready to get stuck into what I have today today and it starts raining; gentle rain from an overcast grey sky.  We very much need this rain (my joints don't) so upwards and onwards as they say I still have things to do and I want to get the best from this day of ours.  I have regular chores to do but may well do a bit of baking later on.  May make some breadbu...

We have sunshine Yay - no rain at the moment. I arose before dawn this morning and came downstairs and caught Demetri in the act of debating whether he should go through the window or not.  He had the window open - I think OH came downstairs and did not close the doors properly.  I really do think this cat should have been called Houdini. Thank you for your kind words - I feel a little brighter today (that may be due to the sun it always makes me feel better puts a smile on my face. Will be back later on Hope you all have a lovely day Pattypan x

It has rained and rained and been blooming cold even the cats have decided  not to go out preferring to stay in the comfort of the house where it was warm and food to hand.  I have had a couple of severe Reynauds attacks this week and I have had gloves on; trouble is it takes me at least half an hour after each attack to get the circulation back in my hands.  The damp has also affected my joints.  Never mind upwards and onwards.  creak creak creak now where is the WD40! I cooked liver casserole tonight for tea having prepared it last evening and potted it up ready just to switch the oven on, and then just doing some mashed potato.  OH was impressed and I enjoyed it too despite not being too convinced when I broached what I was going to do with it.  However you will not get me eating it his way. i.e. blue.  It has nicely warmed me up though as I was hungry. Its like a rest home for cats here at the moment both are sprawled out don't want ...

"It is better to look ahead and prepare than to look back and  regret" Jackie Joyner Kersee

As previously indicated on Saturday I picked up two mystery items from ASDA for 53 pence and 63 pence accordingly.  I apologise unreservedly to my Vegetarian friends or those of a sensitive nature on what I am about to write about now, but getting a cheap nutritious meal is on my agenda these days as a priority and at these prices I could buy ten packs pop the in the freezer and only spend about £6 to £7 per month and I wouldn't get through all that liver in one month.  You can of course also fry it and serve in a Mixed grill or utilise the pigs liver in making faggots or in pate.  Or add bacon and make it a liver and onion casserole.  The choice of recipe is yours but this time round I am talking about hearty warming casseroles. I am primarily  talking about pigs liver.  OH commented that it must cost about 20 pence a pack for the packaging at least which puts the liver at an even cheaper premium.  A cheap nutritious meal can be made from this an...

Well meant are the wounds a friend inflicts but profuse are the kisses of an enemy Unknown

Sounds like  am rounding horses up in a Rodeo!  Get along there ladies and gents.  (Cheeky mare that I am)!  I am feeling a lot better in myself than I have been, although I still have the remnants of a headache from the Migraine but a lot more workable and I am more comfortable than I have been. I have had a very busy day but good day today my Mum came to dinner.   This is the first time this year I have seen Mum since Christmas despite three attempts to get together; weather and illness calling the process off but we made it at last . Have had a brilliant time with her; I treasure the time I spend with my mum its important time and she is a lovely lady. Had a lovely dinner roast full leg of lamb cooked on a base of mixed veg  and a little water and cocooned in silver foil.  Slowly cooked with its tin hat on Gas Mark 3 for about an hour and a half and then the foil is taken off and the heat turned up to gas mark 5 and the meat browned off ...

Good morning everyone what a beautiful day it is; I have been up since the crack of dawn around 5 am it has been nice and crisp chilly not uncomfortable as early morn slides into day and the sun is out in all her glory.  Mornings like this make me feel invigorated and it is a pleasure for me to see the day in this early as normally I am tucked up fast asleep.  I have a bit of a problem in that I am more inclined to be an owl and start doing things at the wrong time of day. Can't just be sat doing nothing not my nature. Needless to say this has completely confused the cats.  Squeak refused to get up when I did and I left her covered up in the middle of the bed (she sleeps on top covered by her own blanket). Demetri has been in and out like a fiddlers elbow cannot make his mind up whether he is in or out.  At the moment he has just had his brekkie (still no sign of Squeak) no doubt she will come down shortly balling for her food.  Pampered mogs. I am gently pott...

Rowan, Rose, Kadeeae, Trudie and Shagrat thank you all for your good wishes; it is very much appreciated.  Its ages since I have had a migraine as bad as this one has been; I used to get them quite regularly at one time. I take after my father in this respect it seems to be a bit of a family affliction. Shagrat I have epilepsy (which is controlled without medication at the moment) and I am light sensitive(strobe lights in a disco hypnotise me not a good thing). Because I am on a computer screen at work all day and then I play on here in my spare time I have probably been on longer than I should have; so I am trying not to be on as much at the moment and hoping to do other things when I feel a bit more with it.  Although in all fairness I do need new glasses as I can now no longer see the needle on my sewing machine, so thank you for the timely reminder at the moment I only need glasses for close work.  Will have to get that sorted in the next couple of weeks or so I thi...

Sorry I have been absent for the past few days I have had a very bad migraine which apart from the killing headache predominantly behind my eyes I have also had flashing lights, sickness and upset stomach.  Its left me feeling very washed out and fragile and definitely not firing on all pistons.; think it is down to tension more than anything else and it is something I am going to have to tackle and I thought I was doing so well. Its ages since I have had a real bad one like this.  I have been in bed most of the time as I have found that all I have wanted to do is sleep and I am off my food, just drinking plenty of liquids.  Ah well hiccups happen every now and then; going to have to dust myself down and start all over again.  Hopefully things will get back to normal in the next few days or so.  Please therefore bear with me. Catch up soon Pattypan x

FAINT HEART NEVER WON FAIR LADY

It has been a busy day at work today; quite a few members of staff are still away from the office; and after the horrendous day I had last Thursday I had a lot of files to relocate, and I still have quite a lot of filing to complete as well.  Managed to get quite a bit done but still have a long way to go; with four lawyers it gets more than a bit hectic at times; bless their cotton socks.  Never mind. I got a good nights sleep last night, but I was very stiff again this morning; am going to have a couple of paracetamol before going to bed tonight; it will be later as I have quite a bit left to do in the bedroom.  Have found even more stuff I haven't finished so that has been decanted into a large bag and is going to come downstairs so that I can work away at it in the evenings.  I have four little crotchet scarves which will not take much doing so will probably tackle those first; then there is my knitted blanket all the squares are knitted just need the balanc...

Now I am perhaps showing my age or is it perhaps the way I was bought up.  I was born into a musical family; unfortunately I do not play an instrument but I do love  and have an appreciation for a wide paramaeter of different types of music.  My Dad played piano, church organ and cathederal organ as well as the violin and the mouth organ.  My grandfather played the Banjo, and the squeezebox. My Uncle played the drums and the Banjo. My nephews both play the flute. The other day whilst sorting through some bits and bobs I unearthed some of my grandfather's sheet music; now that brought back some memories as my grandfather used to keep both my brother and I entertained by playing the banjo and we would be bawling along all heart but sometimes out of tune.  In fact as a family we used to have a sing song and used to create our own entertainment.  We also used to listen to the radio a lot on a Sunday morning when it was family favourites, where loved ones w...

"People's affections can be as thin as paper; life is like a game of chess - changing with each move" Unknown

Sorry I did not get back to you last night  as things got a bit late and I did want to get to bed.  (although most of this post was written then so please excuse the tense as it may not be quite correct). Monday Night ...... I have still been pottering away in the bedroom.  Have managed to get some of my clothes put away (Squeak was helping and trying to put herself away in to the wardrobe in the process.  Its nice and dark in there and a nice hidey hole away from everyone.  She was removed quite quickly. Still loads of ironing to do but that can be done later at night.  I am mindful of the young family next door at night as they have young ones and I don't want to put the vacuum on later on, whereas I can get on with the ironing later as it is something you can do at unsociable times.  I still lots more clothes to get put away; and more work in that I have some skirts to put new zips in so some more work for the sewing pile.  However it ...

We have had chicken and chips for tea; rotisserie cooked chicken which was moist and delicious and then home made chunky chips sprinkled with pickled onion vinegar (I never waste the vinegar from a jar of pickled onions) this together with a pinch of salt gives the chips lots of flavour.  I had pickled onions as well today although quite frequently I serve with sweet chilli sauce and bread and butter.  Goes down a treat. Have been beavering away in the bedroom; have found a heap of UFO's including two cardigans,  a turquoise blue one and a purple onea needlepoint panel of roses (for a cushion insert), an art glass window panel, a wild strawberry panel a photo frame done in fabric and the list goes on.  I have also found a huge pile of fabric which is also going to be converted pretty quickly into some table covers (my guess will be that I will start these at the weekend probably Saturday night when I get a few hours to myself will whizz through them on the overl...

I have always been an advocate of the potato masher the metal perforated base type like my mum always used to use.  So much so it has always been one of my instruments of (torture) choice.  However a little while back I invested in a potato ricer, and I have found that the potato comes up much lighter and airier than with the potatoe masher and that there is not always a need to add a dash of milk and some butter with them (always good when you are trying to lose a few inches). I have also gone on to find out that it mashes carrots and swede equally as well too.  All you have to do literally is open up the ricer, add steamed or boiled vegetables too and then just push down the handle making sure that the contents empty into a bowl and ta da mashed potato. I just run a spoon around to combine and there you have it nice light fluffy healthy vegetables.  It is especially good for doing the swede and carrot crush that I regularly make for the freezer.   So...

It's wet, horrible and cold here in Peterborough and  my arthritis has flared again, so I am as the saying goes not firing on all cylinders.  The heating is on as a result, but funnily enough OH is the one feeling the cold today.  It has been very quiet here today; and I am busy doing things honest. Well in the name of getting tidied up  bit more and getting my sewing stuff a bit more organised I have managed to get myself into one mother of a tangle.  I decided that some wool that had got a little grubby needed a wash; it was tightly wrapped and I hand washed it and then put it into the tumble drier to gently dry it.  I knew that I should have listened to my inner voice but I thought well no it will be alright and I was hoping against hope that it would stay like that.  You have guessed it - its unravelled the lot and the wool is needed for a particular purpose so I will have to sit patiently one evening later in the week and re-roll the lot. Tal...

What goes around comes around!

Well tea was very tasty and very warming it went down a treat.  It has gone cold here and I have succumbed and put the heating on; although I haven't had it on during the rest of the day but at least we are snug in the house including our wanderer who is back on my old jumper snuggled up.  Too cold for the scamps. I have been finding bits and bobs I had forgotten about as I am tidying up including a pack of patchwork squares that I had already cut.  they are the ideal colourway for some pot holders or a couple of placemats, blues and yellows. And yes we have had an Easter egg each.  I received one from work and so I went and bought him one as well so that he did not feel left out.  I also have one for my Mum, my lovely nephews and also my step-grandson. I hope you have had a lovely day wherever you may be Catch up tomorrow Pattypan x

Hope you have all had a nice day; nothing special going on here at all;  we walked Missy this morning OH wasn't feeling too clever and didn't really want to walk her but that isn't fair on her so I made him go and I went with him  It was a nice walk; the sun was trying to shine through but in any event didn't and it has been grey damp kinda day interspersed with rain showers.  We do so need the rain and the boardwalks where we walk Missy were looking well replenished and back to normal which is a blessing as it is very much a haven for wildlife of all descriptions.    Nevertheless I have been busy in the bedroom -major cleaning going on and sorting out.  I have already had the stuff out from under the bed, hoovered, washed all the skirting boards and window sill and had my bedside chest of drawers emptied out, and taken out and re-sorted. I have also washed the carpet down the side of my bed as well just to freshen things up and that's my side of the b...

Wherever You Go Go with all your Heart

Happy Easter everyone We have gentle rain here at the moment; ll good stuff for mother earth and for ourselves.  I have been outside the back door with a cup of tea in hand, just standing and listening, with the bids singing, chickens clucking and crowing and doves cooing; it is not warm but it is not cold either; nature coming awake a most glorious welcome to each day.  The sky has been grey so far, but the sun is making a big effort to come through. My cherry tree is just starting to come into blossom, I am hoping that this year we will get the cherries instead of the birds.  It is quite gentle mornings like this when I wish I had that plot of land where I can plant my orchard just like my grandparents did all those years ago and which trees many of which were still going strong sixty years after being planted.  They still produced a good harvest; but the chap who bought the bungalow sold off the surrounding orchards as plots of land for sale and completely ...

Earlier today the cats went missing; and I thought Demetri had gone out again and I knew Squeak would be upstairs in her usual place on the bed.  I went up to start tidying my bedroom and what did I find, but Squeak had a new bed fellow - the missing Demetri.  This is the first time I have copped him on the bed but he was there for a good couple of hours and Squeak didn't bat an eyelid. I have been pottering in the bedroom this aftie trying to tidy away all those girlie bits and bobs.  I don't have a dressing table but have two mismatched chests of drawers at the bottom of my bed, on which on the top I store most of my girlie bits and bobs.  I currently have long hair which for work I wear tied back  either in a twist bun or pony tail as it gets on my nerves when I am working, but when I am at home I like my copious waves to run free. and I like it to be clean.  As a result I have loads of hair slides,  scrunchies, clips, hair bands, hair wraps, r...

Dreams take flight when you follow your heart

It was cold here last night; it was also very wet we had some more of the wet stuff that we so badly need around here as we are under drought conditions. Today has been rather lacklustre too it is grey and we have sporadic showers more wet stuff gratefully received;even the cat has come in from the cold.  We have given up on the window front as it was causing us more stress than him.  being woken in the morning by a prehestoric wail is enough to drive the banshees away too.  Bless him he is a creature of habit as are we all really. Easter weekend the first usually busy holiday weekend of the year important to those who earn their living this way or are connected via a subsidiary service. Hard work but there are benefits too.   I must admit that I wish I had of been going away for a break come Thursday night gone, but there we have it, one day the wheel will move back and bring a different momentum into play.  We are put on a track for a reason for a lesson ...

"Its only when you hitch your wagon to something larger than yourself that you realise your true potential" Barrack Obama

Sorry I have not been back sooner I have only just got in.  I have had my friend making the first block of her patchwork quilt  which consists of four smaller blocks; she just has to stitch two halves together to make the bock.  My friend is buying  this as a part work in this country.    You will find the link here - and a picture of the quilt which Laurie you asked for a picture of.  she has really got stuck into it tonight http://www.artofquilting.co.uk/the-collection/ I hope to get this partwork when the Art of Crotchet partwork finishes in a month or so.  It is quite a pretty quilt.  Just click on the tabs to navigate around the site. Needless to say because I have been getting her cutting, measuring and sewing and making sure she has been stitching it the right way I am a little tired and this post is short and sweet as a result. I hope to do a little crafting myself over the weekend, but tomorrow I have to tackle the bedr...

I haven't been able to settle to much today - especially after the frantic activity of yesterday; so I have just come too gracefully not done too much, done a little blog hopping on favourite blogs, and just enjoying the non-activity for a change. Demetri did not manage to get out yesterday evening, but he has started chewing his way through the tape that held the window though although so far unsuccessfully.  He got thoroughly frustrated this morning and he woke me up coming up into the bedroom and yowling very loudly at me and then I upset him by letting him out the back door!  He went off in a huff! He came in early afternoon wanted feeding and then wondered off - I was on my computer the next thing I knew I could hear gentle snoring I looked around and he had sunk himself into one of my large cushions fast asleep snoring his head off and stayed there for quite sometime. I haven't had the heating on at home today, but it has now gone quite chilly apparently we had a f...

In years gone by because of hardship and having to make the most of what you had on a daily basis, festivals and celebrations such as Christmas and Easter were something to look forward to not because most of all the food shared then was different to ordinary fare more exciting. Ingredients that we take for granted now were very special then  and expensive; things like currants and spice. These festivals were something to look forward to, a time for giving thanks and a social occasion with its roots very firmly placed in something very serious.  A time for remembering.  Something to look forward to and we all need that even now. A festival that encompasses both Christian and Pagan traditions really the festival of birth/re-birth. I have been rootling back on some of my past posts and re-share some of them now for you to look at bearing in mind I seem to be somewhat of a compulsive blogger! http://tarragonnthyme.blogspot.co.uk/2009/04/hot-cross-buns.html http://t...

What goes up must come down! (eventually)

I have had a particularly busy day at work today its been non stop all day as Lawyers are going on holiday and I was on my own as my colleague was also on holiday and not due back until the middle of next week.  However, I received a surprise  I have my first Easter egg from the firm all the staff received one.  That's enough about work as I am now on holiday and don't go back to work until Tuesday.   Since being home from work I sat and relaxed for a little while; I then went out to see a friend for a little while longer, and then when I came in around 9.00 p.m.OH sent for a prawn balti with rice and Naan for me.  I was just in the mood for one and it went down well.  I am now in holiday mode Yippee and we have the card back.  Phew! Going back to last evening though Houdini did it again; I yelled at approximately 5.30 am again no response so I left him to it and went back to sleep. It would appear that he has thrown his whole body weight a...

Quote for today Better to have a thousand friends and not one enemy! Unknown

Last night I went to bed early for me; it was cold and wet and off I trundled up the wooden stairs to Bedfordshire; all the animals were in safe and sound.  At 5.30 a.m. I had to get up to come downstairs and noticed that a certain cat had escaped the house. I have to keep the bathroom and toilet doors closed but I think OH had been down and not closed the door and so the ratbag escaped. He has developed this habit of rattling the window catch and working on it until he can escape.  Me thinks he should be called Houdini - and they say that cat's aren't clever. At 5.30 a.m. precisely there is me hanging out of the little bathroom window calling the cat.  No answer so I went to the back door and down the garden in my dressing gown (not a pretty sight) ; it was chucking it down.  I called him, I could hear him he was calling back but would the little ratbag come in - no not on your nelly.  He thought it was great japes to get mum out in the rain getting wet and r...

The trees may wish for quiet, but the wind will not subside Unknown

I am rather partial to home made Muffins and this particular recipe when I fancy chocolate, sweet and moorish fills that spot beautifully, try them and I think you will agree. I first made these when the children were at home (quite a few years ago and it was in regular use then although it is a little while since I last made these (made them at the weekend just gone). This is a Leslie Waters recipe.  Another one of my paper clippings unfortunately I am not sure which magazine it is from. Ingredients 5oz self raising flour 1oz cocoa powder pinch of salt 2oz plain chocolate drops 1 large ripe pear 2oz brown sugar 1 egg 8fl oz natural yogurt or milk 2oz melted butter Method Preheat your oven to gas mark 6/200 degrees C/400 degrees F Lightly grease 12 standard muffin or patty tins Core the pear and cut into small dice.  In a large bowl sift in the flour, cocoa powder and salt together.  stir in the chocolate drops brown sugar and the diced pear. In a j...

Its raining here this evening and it has gone cold and damp and it doesn't seem to be letting up at all looks as though it is in for the night.  I have had to put the heating on as it has gone cold again; my hands in particular.  We desperately need the rain, but after the mildness of the last few days it has got rather chilly very suddenly.  Fortunately we haven't had snow yet, thank goodness for small mercies. I am busy pottering tidying at the moment ready for another day another page to write.  Hopefully be back shortly Pattypan x

The quote for today was triggered by a post that Trudie left me and something half remembered from my distant past ; something quite simple in principle but something not easy to do   To thine ownself be true William shakespeare

As you all know last year I bought myself a cupcake baker from John Lewis - please see the link here.  http://tarragonnthyme.blogspot.co.uk/2011/10/cupcake-baker.html  In all reality I haven't had much time to play, but come the beginning of May it is my birthday and I thought I would start planning a little ahead with consumables, and things like that and recipes and I though you might all like to have a play as well hence the reason for this early post. The other day  I met my good friend Margaret who is generally into crafts of all sorts and who is very responsible for me  doing crafting of different types. Margaret is the good friend who told me I could craft and that each time I did something I would learn and that there was no such thing as "can't".  Margaret is a beautiful needlewoman in any event but one of her passions is making her own cards and papercrafting.  I was talking to her about cupcake collars and how expensive they were and was t...