TARRAGON & THYME

Well the early night certainly helped my head was not as bad this morning and by early afternoon the remnants were just hanging.  I think a lot of it was caused by tension as it was  different type of headache to what I normally get.  Still a migraine but not where I normally get it. I have not done much this evening - tomorrow night will be different but I have rested up and I intend to have another early night tonight.  I have managed to do a little crochet on one of the rugs (Auntys rug.  Nearly at the end of that.  Once that is out the way will start on the baby blanket and then when that is done finish off Uncle's rug). I have also been to Waitrose today to pick up a few bits tomorrow night I will get busy again but when I am not 100% it tends to come out in my cooking and I end up ruining things in any event. Today I found some red cabbage so I snaffled some to do some pickled cabbage as well. On my way to the tills I bumped into one of the P...

Not our Mums, Mums meaning Chrysanthemums and the like I spotted them last week on the flower stall so I am hoping they will still have them left when I pop by later in the week.  Could do with a shot of colour in the tubs in the back garden. They had them in gold, lemon and white  They are very easy on the eye and look good in tubs.   Mum always used to buy Chrysanthemums and take them to my Dad's grave but she always managed to get them to shoot and her plants in the garden are all self sown.  As it is autumn and I want to start to get some plants together so that I have a display come next autumn I would quite like some of these for the tubs in the garden.  I would quite like to get some Michaelmas Daisies too.   I particularly would like to find some Chinese Lanterns  (although I suspect I will have to source some seed) and Honesty as both give a good display and can be used in dried flower arrangements.  My Nan always had both ...

This seems to have crept up on me since I got home I therefore anticipate being in bed shortly to see if an early night will help shift the problem.  I suspect its because have been extremely busy at work and we have had a bit of a headache with obtaining a new mobile phone which has not assisted. OH placed an order the other evening for two new phones told us that a contract would be sent through to sign it and get it back.  We subsequently did this.  One phone arrived the other did not.  Long phone calls later and research by me on my emails and it would appear that the company involved had only sent the one contract for signature.  Have subsequently had email resent and hopefully the phone will be with me in a couple of days.  I will be on the phone again if anything else goes wrong. We had a nice supper that went down well (a bit naughty as it was takeaway) really good fish and chips.  Because of the splitting headache I have sat tonight a...

So far I have tried twice with the Sourdough.  The first starter I did something wrong with and the second starter I had just got going nicely when mum was taken back into hospital and it denied of neglect.  So I having another go.  This time I  have made two starters and this time round hopefully I will get to make my loaf(loaves). I have given them names Bessie (of Bessie Bunter Fame) and Busty Bertha.  I hope both live up to their rather exotic names.  I am planning on getting the starters well under way before I use them but at the moment am planning a week on Saturday to make my first batch of bread. As the saying goes third time lucky but at least I am learning what not to do with the Sourdough by doing exactly what I shouldn't through no fault of my own. I have a  round Banneton basket in readiness together with a couple of dough scrapers.  I will probably get some more in due course if everything goes well.  The Dehydrator ap...

I paid another visit to TK Maxx again today ostensibly to get the Kilner jars I spoke about last week.  However I came across a cheaper option Quattro Stagionni jars for £1.49 each.  I bought 11 (thats all they had) - I need them for the Pasta sauce and also some bottled cherry tomatoes. Why did I buy them instead of the Kilner jars.  I have a  load of these jars  that I purchased a few years ago.  I did think that I would not buy anymore as I did not find it easy to buy the proper lids but I have since found out that the standard sized jar  (50 cl/17oz)the replacement rings and seals from the new Kilner seals and rings fit them perfectly so you can interchange them.  They do larger sized jars as well but the rings and the seals would have to larger if not using the proper lids. I also bought some 2lb jars from Lakeland.  These are designated to be used for pickling onions and pickled shallots. I bought eight today and no doubt will have...

Welcome to RitanRobinson via Bloglovin.  Make yourself comfortable there are lots of posts going back years so I think a cup of tea might help as well. Well I have10 Jars of bottled strawberries not bad and everyone has sealed.  Yippee..  There is a lot of juice with them but don't waste it use it with some champagne or thickened up with some cornflour.  Make a home made flan sponge and drain the strawberries, place the strawberries in the flan base and then use some of the juice to make a sauce.  Using arrowroot (its gentler on the stomach as well) as a thickener is better with something like this if possible as it remains nice and clear whereas the cornflour makes the ingredient cloudy like blancmange The cucumber is prepped ready for the vinegar to be added.  Will give the tally tomorrow evening. Tomorrow night is Picalilli night  - I was going to do it yesterday but I had not got two of my ingredients - I always add some pepper and some...

It has been a glorious beautiful bright day here in Peterborough  despite starting off foggy  - but then September is the season of mists and mellow fruitfulness.  I have been busy most of the day predominantly in the kitchen.   I also upgraded my computer programme to Windows 10 yesterday and I seem to have a bit of the speed back with my computer as a result  I had been putting it off but basically ended up having to do it as Windows 7 just was not cooperating.Phew.  One less problem to think about. OH was supposed to go fishing this weekend and decided against it at the last moment.  So unfortunately I did not get my play time with the sewing machine.  The computer room where he tends to hang out is also my sewing room when I decide to sew.  Hopefully he will go next week so that I can schedule some me time into the Agenda for the week. My phone has also given up the ghost so I am waiting for a new phone to be delivered a...

I am a little busy in the kitchen today mostly preparation but I am desperate to get some goodies in the stockpile for Christmas and it is cheaper to do it myself in the long run.  Once you have the basic consumables usually jam jars and Kilner and Mason jars its just about new seals or lids on an annual basis,  that is apart from your core ingredients.  I tend to keep a good stock of sugar, vinegar, etc. and I buy a few jars every so often usually when there is an offer on.  I reuse them all though but always use new seals and lids. The Coop had an offer on with some late. English strawberries today £2 per tray double the size of a normal punnet so I have bought a few trays to bottle some strawberries for puddings, trifles etc during the winter months.  Next year I intend to go to the Pick Your Own Farm but this year I have had other things on my mind and to deal with.  I already have Strawberry Jam put to one side which will come in useful for toast ...

Gives so much pleasure.  I found a couple of new Disney children's books at the weekend and I immediately thought of my friend's little girl who is a delightful child and so enthusiastic about anything and everything so I took them into work with me on Monday. (Mum is one of my bosses) and a good friend.  Mum was over the moon with the books and she knew her daughter would be too.  That evening she sent me a lovely photo of her reading the book in bed and told me that she was so excited with the surprise.  Yesterday out of the blue I received a photo with a drawing on the back from her.  I was so chuffed.  She is under three years old but really lovely. But the greatest prize for me was seeing a little girl being a little girl enjoying her childhood and using her imagination and taking pleasure in books which in today's day and age is exceptional. Bedtime apparently is a favourite time of day as she gets read to by either her mum or dad or her brother....

I have a weakness and that is nice things for my home and I am still making and acquiring items for the home I do not yet have but they will all come in useful as I am convinced that one day I will have the home of my dreams.I just know it I can feel it I can sense it.  Timing just is not right yet! When I was married I had my own home and we had that done out nicely not sparing on quality and refitting the whole house.  My home is my nest and I think that is why it is doing my head in at the moment with it being in such disarray.  But I will get there.  I spend a lot of time looking for things and resourcing them having a real good look around at everything before buying.  But yeterday I have been on a foray window shopping to all intents and purposes at dinner and decided to have a foray in TK Max.  I particularly like their homeware department as you never know quite what you are going to find and at very good prices.  Today for instance there ...

I have had to stop the bedroom for the time being as I had a rapidly growing ironing pile so I have had to decamp to iron us some fresh clothes especially with the weather having gone chillier in recent days although today has been bright in places but there is that nip in the air that defines autumn.  It was always at this time of the year that we used to go to my Nan's for the weekend to start harvesting the apples particularly the keepers for storing and overwintering and use during the winter months. I have just sat for 5 minutes to rest my back but no doubt will be back at the slog again shortly. I have had a very nice tea tonight - OH cooked Shepherd's pie and it was delicious and very warming. Good simple pleasant tasty food that does you good.  I think he is taking the remnants to warm up for his dinner tomorrow to work they have a microwave for the staff's use. I need to get some veggies frozen down in the freezer as I am fast getting to the bottom of my litt...

Having a good sort out is finding things you sort of knew you had but end up re-acquainting yourself with exactly what you have.  Yesterday was like that for me as I have found several part works I have collected and a couple of them are going to be very useful in the weeks to come.  That is satisfying in itself as I have not had to buy anything and I think that for the best part I also have the materials available so double satisfaction. I speak of a cross stitch part-work and also an embroidery part-work collected a lot of years ago. Both of which are going to be useful with some small projects I have in mind.  I want to get back to creating and playing again and I am hoping to do that in the not too distant future and I am also looking forward to getting my sewing equipment and materials neatly sorted out so that I can find them when I want them.  OH is intending going fishing next weekend so he says so I am hoping to have a little play then.  I want som...

Its been a very busy day where things have not happened quickly but I have done a lot of sorting out in the back bedroom and re-stabilised the boxes.  Please see previous post for an update. Things are never straightforward in this house.  You move some drawers out of a chest that has some linen in it.  Ha think the cats that's nice and cosy I will bed down!  Or I'll run through the door as soon as mum opens it and ends up tripping you up.  They have been helping of course in their usual fashion.  Do not think they are too keen on the chest of drawers having been removed as it was part of their play frame!  Don't tell them but there are a few more things to go yet. I wasn't really up to cooking a full Sunday lunch not with everything else I have been doing so I grabbed a piece of belly pork out of the freezer yesterday and we have had that roasted  - half each (it was only a small piece cooked flat) and then roasted initially for the firs...

I am not putting a time limit on the following as I only get despondent if things take me longer to do than anticipated.  If I get through them quickly however I shall give myself a small pat on the back. I need to sort out the far corner of the back bedroom in order to move the small linen press (which is used as a craft cupboard).  Once that is done I can move the linen press over.  However there is a bit of a problem.  I have some boxes up against the wall full of books but the boxe s are collapsing so I am going to have to sort them out before I do anything else.   Once this is achieved I can then move the linen press from its current position and move it in front of the boxes.  I then need to sort and organise the contents of the linen press.  I can then sort the drawers out and put in some of my craft equipment so I can find things.  That would be very good.    I can then sort out the new position for the boxes which ...

S Three pieces of Adderley China £10 for the three. A hand embroidered harvest flowers tray cloth with lace edging 5 little blue and white dessert dishes A wooden carved photograph frame to pop this picture of my mum and dad 6 x 2 pint Original Kilner Jars £22 A small pansy crochet mat 60pence Another small crochet mat 60pence small tray cloth £1.25 Going to be turned into a cushion cover Some more Johnsons Berry Ware which I collect A small alabaster lamp and shade A Wicker Basket £5 Another pansy mat £1.25

For Emma Kate Some of the Needlepoint panels I have worked for cushions/cushion inserts and pictures This last one is still being worked. Pattypan x

My Nan made me some of these pleated cushions when she was alive but over time they wore out.  I have been looking for a tutorial ever since.~Did not find any for ages and then found two in the same day.    I plan to have a go  at these during the winter months, particularly the long evenings.  These cushions are extravagant to look at but the shops charge an arm and a leg for them. I plan to make mine out of some recycled velvet curtains bought for the fabric not  for hanging.  I have several needlepoint panels that I have worked coordinating specifically for putting into cushions as I wanted all the cushions I make to at least blend/coordinate with each other. One of the disadvantages of making them up separately is that they can end up with a different fabric to the next one done and so I have carried on completing the little panels and then will make them up in one fair swoop with either matching or coordinating fabrics.   So I...

Because I have hardly been home for the past 8 weeks the house is in a mess and I just feel overwhelmed by it.  It doesn't matter what I seem to do and I end up chasing my tail.  Now girl you have to get this in hand and perspective and do little by little  Tomorrow is  new day and I have to keep chipping away at things. We did go to the tip today and got rid of some more rubbish which is a bonus but there is still loads more to go.  Keep chipping away keep positive you will get there in the end. I haven't been in the mood to cook properly which is unlike me.  I set off with good intentions.  Like last night I got some pork loin out of the freezer for tonight's dinner and then could not face cooking a full lunch.  So I improvised and we have had roast pork and apple sarnies instead.  Not what I intended but hey ho still something to eat. (very nice they were too and there is plenty left for pack up tomorrow). Now then where do we...

Good morning well it seems bright so far this morning a proper mellow start to the day. Well the furniture seems to have come through unscathed overnight and the cats seem to think the way we have stacked everything is perfect and is their new climbing frame! Lets just say they all found a spot and seemed to be pretty comfortable when I went through first thing hardly stirring which is unusual for them. Its going to take me a few days to incorporate mum's bits room by room but hey ho Rome wasn't built in a day. On closer inspection the blanket box has a tray with a box in the top what I believe is referred to as a candle box and  has beautiful dove tail joint features.  It does need a complete rub down and some attention but that can happen in due course.  I am now going to have somewhere to store some of my blankets, throws and quilts which is a win win as far as I am concerned. Especially as I nearly always have a crochet blanket or two on the go and still have...

Today has been a busy day - it started early as today was to be delivery day for some of the pieces of furniture from mums - nothing major  - I do not have much room but have chosen some very ecclectic pieces  needless to say ones with memories.   The TV table from mum's dining room was always the TV table at my Nan's.   I had always been under the misapprehension that my Uncle made it (he was a Master Cabinet Maker) but on closer inspection it turned out to be an early flat pack kit still going strong.   I love little tables and stools.  I do however have one of my Uncle's stools which also arrived today.  My mum used to rest her feet on it. Two round stools that my brother and I used to sit on as youngsters.  They need recovering but that will give me another project for the winter months. The Piano stool from my childhood that always held the family photographs and sheet music as it has a lift up lid.  We have too m...