TARRAGON & THYME

Good evening and I hope you have all had a lovely Good Friday and have had your hot cross buns - I am just about to have some. Today I went into town ostensibly to stock up on some new undies and I paid a trip to M & S thinking I would be able to get a fitting whilst I was in town today, and as I had to make an appointment and the first available one was tomorrow I have another trip into town tomorrow as a result so no shopping but at least I will be able to get on with the same after the fitting.  It has been a little while since the last one and I have lost a little weight since then so it will be a job well done and then I can have fun choosing some new undies. I also paid a visit to the pound shop and have managed to get some replacement insoles for a couple of pairs of shoes for £1 a pack, some shoe laces (the laces bust on my ankle boots the other day), and a couple of hair clips- I have long hair but I tend to have it done up in a twist especially for work as ...

I don't know about you but Rhubarb and Custard I really like.  Especially in the form of the retro sweets which seem to have made a massive comeback or did they ever really go away.  Rhubarb and Custard something which as a Kid I absolutely hated but in older life my tastes have changed.  Rhubarb and Custard a blast from the past tart/sweet sweeties that used to be much in demand and which are still available today.  Indeed Marks and Spencers have a Rhubarb and Custard fizzy drink available to buy. But here is an idiots guide to home made ice cream the cheats way 1 very large carton of cream 1 large carton of custard Stewed rhubarb Mix altogether and either pop into a plastic box and freeze for 2 hours and then take out and break up with a fork  (you will need to do a couple of times and the ice cream should be in the deep freeze for about 6 hours or pop into an ice cream machine and let it do its stuff Serve with stewed rhubarb or in bowls on its ow...

Its quiet here this morning the normal perambulations through everyday life are taking place, you kind of go on automatic pilot to get through all the things i.e.getting up, feeding  Missy the cats,  letting Demetri  and Squeak out ((Mollie is stilll confined to barracks) out,  Getting OHs pack up together, getting OH off to work, then I can start concentrating on myself having my breakfast  and a cup of tea and just being able to sit for a few moments and regain my composure and pull my thoughts together before finally getting ready for work and walking in.  That walk in gives me serious me time a time to contemplate and plan and get the furniture sorted in my head.  Trouble is these days there is an awful lot jangling around.  Well Nil Desperandum and all that jazz I have to go and face today the present and whatever is awaiting me at work. Catch up soon Pattypan xx

Evening everyone, just sat down.  Did not get in until 6:00 pm had to walk this evening but then that will not do me any harm; just feel a bit shattered as it has been an extremely busy day at work. Having some quality time with Molly at the moment she is sat on the settee with me as close as she can get.  Just me and her - she tends to behave herself better when she is just with me although we have moments but less growling.  We have had home made fish and chips with mushy peas for tea this evening, with a couple of pieces of bread and butter and a home made strawberry milk shake/smoothie which has gone down very nicely.  We needed a nice hot meal as it is so bitter outside.  Most of the snow has gone - just a sniffle compared to the rest of the country.  We are very lucky. Right am off to potter Catch you later Pattypan x

Good morning ust a quick pop in before I disappear and I hope everyone of you had a reasonable weekend  and to those who haven't had quite as good a time [hugs]. It will not be long before I will start wending my way to work - a short week this week which means hopefully I will be able to do a lot of sorting round here over the weekend as we get Friday and Monday off although I will be on my own for much of Easter as OH has to work.  Never mind some you win some you lose. I also notice that I have a new follower today fabriquefantastique  a big welcome to you make yourself comfortable (there's quite a bit of burbling by me going way back and I hope you find something of use and ladies and gents please make her welcome. Right must dash will try and pop by later on Take care until later Pattypan x

Well we have had lots and lots of snow and it has been bitter all day long.  However although messy and difficult to get about in and pretty to look at we have come off quite well considering further up Noorth.  Even up the road towards Baston the snow had drifted quite badly although was not deep.  Made me remember the ritual of the snow fences that used to be put up on the main road through to Lincoln all the way along because of the openness of the fields and the fact we were going uphill from the fens.  It was an essential ritual that kept the main roadway and thoroughfare as clear as possible so that you did not get cut off and snowed in.  Pity they still do not do this as it does help.  Sometimes the old and trusted ways are the best. Its been a lovely day today we tootled off and collected my mum and then met up with my brother and his family at the pub/hotel for a Sunday lunch.  It seemed quite appropriate actually as the meal was "the fam...

Well I popped to the Charity shop this morning and the items I had spotted last week had as I suspected already gone.  (I am working on the principle that if there is not much spare cash to hand if I leave something I would quite like and then go back and it is still there then I was meant to have it).  Some you win and some you lose.  However for the princely sum of £7.50 today I have managed to bag a brand new water carafe decorated by hand  with painted flowers which cost me £3.  I quite frequently wake up at night needing a sip of water so this will do very nicely.  On closer inspection it would appear to be a Laura Ashley water carafe and glass and it still has its price tag on the base for £18.00.  So I think I did very well. I also managed to pick up four green ramekins for 80 pence for the four.  They are that lovely Spring green which I really love and they are from Cargo.  Yet again they appear to be hardly used. The f...

It really is and needs some serious attention.  What with having workmen in etc I do have a major overhaul but it has not been warm enough yet. My real passion though is growing stuff from scratch and  I really am also desperate to get some seeds going I do not have room in the house but yesterday I did succumb and bought a big pot of Parsley and two Rosemary Bushes (from Waitrose) the bushes will get planted into the garden and possibly the Parsley will be split and transplanted on.  In the past I have bought Chive Plants and planted them straight into the herb garden.  They are also supposed to be a good companion plant to for carrots deterring the carrot root fly.  I love chives especially with eggs. I also have some Lemon Grass which I am also hoping to grow on as per this article here  http://purplefoodie.com/grow-your-own-lemongrass/#.UUrBe1dWU50 I am also hopeful of picking up some seeds tomorrow and I am looking for some Tayberry bushes and I...

What a difference a day makes 24 little hours as in the words of the song.  Yesterday was sunshine this morning it is very cold we have rain and snow mixed together and its bitter.  Think I will have a few more layers on for walking to work this morning.  Molly is playing jump and chase with her shadow and is muttering to herself - quite funny to hear her voice really especially after she was so quiet when she first came.  Funny little thing  she wants the company of the others and then does something to upset them like hissing at them for no reason whatsoever. However she has developed this habit of hiding when it comes for me to go to work  - like children they learn fast and I then end up wasting precious time because she wants to play hide and seek. Missy is on her favoured spot on the back of the settee hugging the radiator - she does not have as much fur as the rest of them and always feels the cold.  I know I am very blessed with the animals I h...

It is a bright sunny morning so far here in Peterborough although there is a thick ryhmed up frost which chills the air but the sun has come out to play and cheers the heart and the cockles of our sole.  I will be walking into work soon and will enjoy the time to simply be and mull over thoughts that have been buzzing through my mind like will o the wisps, with me frantically trying to hang on to certain elements before they completely slip my conscious. A time to ground oneself down and put things into perspective for the day a time to give thanks that for another day at least I am alive to smell the roses. I hope you have a day where you can simply be and take pleasure in whatever comes your way. Catch up soon Pattypan xx With

Sorry I am late in filing this post I have been somewhat distracted this weekend and not getting as much as I would like to have achieved done, but I am home most of this week I have a couple of outings but not out nearly every night as I have been.. So I do apologise for the tense as most of it was drafted yesterday. Its been a busy day today and it has been lovely to be at home after all my outings this week and in past weeks.  I have been primarily shopping - food shopping although I did go to the Charity shop and rescued two white porcelain angels and a sweet pea arrangement in a glass vase, a cream linen and lace tablecloth and some pink, blue and pale blue velvet ribbon that I picked up a card of each for 20pence a card (and there is a lot of ribbon on each card) and a pretty floral scarf.  There were lots of other lovely bits and bobs there too but that will do for this week; although I could have bagged a couple of bargains - if they are still there come pay day I...

And I have my eye on these too.  I love muffins and regularly make a batch although they usually tend to be apple and ginger or apple and cinnamon or blueberry, but there are many other flavours that you can utilise.  I am also ever keen to try and use seasonal fruits and vegetables and in-betweenies in every day eating and just not for popping stuff up in the pantry.  So I have a plan where I can to buy the seasonal fruit or vegetable in bulk at hopefully a cheaper price and then bulk process; even if  I end up doing a couple of bulk batches that way round we are going to have items available on the menu which will help vary the palate. Ingredients: Makes 12 large muffins 310ml brown sugar 125ml oil 1 egg 250ml buttermilk or 250ml milk with 1 tablespoon lemon due or half yogurt and milk Vanilla pod 625ml plain flour 1tsp baking powder 1 tsp baking soda 1/2 tsp salt 375ml rhubarb diced 1 tsp cinnamon 80ml sugar 15ml butter or margarine softened M...

I have managed to get a couple of bundles of rhubarb at a very reduced price so come Saturday I am going to make a batch of these little morsels  Its worth making a couple of batches of these and storing them in the freezer to drag out and cook when you have an unexpected guest arrives.  Alternatively if you keep frozen puff pastry in the freezer you can make these from scratch to serve on the day. Ingredients: 7oz/200g of Bramley apples (or 1 medium Bramley apple) peeled cored and cut into chunks 12oz/350g rhubarb cut into 1 inch pieces 2oz caster sugar plus 1 teaspoon for sprinkling zest and juice of 1/2 a small Orange or clementine or mandarin 1 package/375g  of ready made rolled puff pastry Little plain flour for rolling out 1 egg beaten Method: Preheat your oven to 180 degrees C/350degrees F/ Gas Mark 4. Put the apple and the rhubarb into a baking dish with the sugar and the orange juice and zest.  Give it a good stir and bake for about 30 minut...

It started snowing at my mother's in Deeping last night whilst we were with her to take her mother's day present and card.  We left at 7.35 by which time the snow had settled it was perishing and when we got in the car was minus 2.  We arrived home in Peterborough some 15 minutes later and no snow.  Just as we got out of the car it started.  Not heavy just a sprinkling and the wind was blowing a hooley as it is now.  It has been a very cold night. This morning the rooftops are covered in a medium sprinkling of snow but the sun is out - the wind is still blowing and it is still mega freezing. I have to walk to work so I am going to make sure that I am nice and toasty before I leave the house. This week is going to be another busy one; I am out for a Reiki share tomorrow evening, Wednesday I am sitting in circle and Thursday I have a reiki treatment.  So I have a lot to do tonight as the next time I will be in the house and able to get on will be Friday....

It was a busy week this week I have had a couple of nights out this week.  Wednesday evening it was the Fellowship where the Trainees gave a demonstration of medium ship.  Which I took part in and also gave Reiki as well.  Last night I had a private Reiki appointment  which went well and it has been a really busy week at work.  I am growing my nails so that I can tidy my nails up and occasionally wear some nail varnish.  The nails are growing and I am gradually getting used to having longer nails again going tap tap tap on the keyboard feels very strange.   Today I have been stiff but then again it has been damp mizzly and foggy day here in Peterborough and despite me being wrapped up in a thick jumper I have not really been very warm all day.  Hot water bottle tonight again I think.  I get a little down when it is like this.  I did have a very nice lunch with my friend today though Tomorrow I am on a workshop which I am quite looki...

In this day and age it makes sense to keep a lid on the fuel costs wherever possible and one of the ways I do that is by using a steamer.  I have a three tier steamer small size x 2, (stainless steel)  a massive one bought from a Department type store in Bude a few years ago brought out for high days and holidays and when I am feeding a lot of people (also stainless steel). I also have two electric steamers, one oval and ideal for cooking fish the other round and nice and deep so ideal for cooking puddings. If I was feeding a family of four on a daily basis I would have the electric steamers on the go during the week as well.  When I cook a lot of veg at the weekend I use the electric steamer but just use one of the smaller ones during the week.  Why steam my veggies; because for me it retains more of the vitamins and nutrients that we need in our diet and because you can get the veg just done like you prefer it to be done. al dente in the middle or well cooked. ...

We had a very nice tea last night a Roast leg of lamb,  studded with garlic and a couple of sprigs of fresh Rosemary, roast potatoes, roast sweet potato, roast parsnip, steamed cauliflower, steamed broccoli, carrots, peas, and new potatoes and it went down very well indeed.  We had a scuttle full each and I had done plenty of veggies so we have also had  a repeat performance this evening.  I did add some Colcannon though to add a bit of bulk and substance as well as flavour to the meal and very nice it was too.  The best bit is we have had a very quick tea it only took 30 minutes for the potatoes to do.  I still have some Colcannon left and still plenty of lamb so it looks as though it will be cold cuts to finish up a very tasty piece of lamb u either that or served with chips. Its not often that we have lamb these days and it was a real treat and so I am not wasting a bit.  You can always pad some left over meat out with the addition of some Colcanno...

Don't you just love Mondays  the alarm going off after not having the alarm set all weekend is a bit of a shock to the system although on the plus side we seem to have brighter skies this morning which really after the cold and wet is a real tonic for the soul. Hopefully catch you all later on Patty[an xx

Remember your cup is half full not half empty and there is always something good to find

Well my energy seems to have returned a little bit and today we have sunshine  - yay and it always warms the cockles of your heart.  I have been out and about today rising early for me and initially making a foray to the charity shop where I have bought a lovely decorated tea pot stand £1 (It has a picture of the Ironbridge Shropshire on it)  and 4 green cut glass trifle bowls which will go with a set of four I already have for £2.00.  Just little bits, which will go very nicely with what I already have.  I love Pale green cut glass it looks so pretty on the table and I have been collecting pieces here and there for a little while, as the dinner service I have is also green and I have been buying to add to it as I like the table to look nice when I am entertaining. From there I went to the veggie shop and topped up on fruit and vegetables we have cabbage, parsnip, swede leeks cauliflower, broccoli, beetroot, carrots, spring onions, new potatoes, melo...

Pattypan x