TARRAGON & THYME

Well it has been a frantic day starting with me getting up and starting on the garden clearing round the shed so that we could get in to put some boxes from the Unit away.  I still have a lot to do but at least have made a start. If the weather is kinder tomorrow I may go into the garden for a while and start on sorting out the mess that it currently is.  The herb garden should not take too long to do, but it is the titivating projects that may take more  time in the long run.  I picked up four Rosemary plants which had been reduced last week together with two large Chive plants which I am going to split into four plants.  I also have some herbs such as mint which have survived last year  I shall look out for more reductions during the week.   I am after sage plants as well.  Will need to go to the nursery to see if I can find what I am after.  I also have tubs and hanging baskets to sort out.  I have some Nepeta and also traili...

I have been busy again today shifting boxes from the Unit and have brought the boxes home.  We have another day of shifting tomorrow and then hopefully everything will be back here ready for me to go through and sort out.  I thought I would share the contents of one of the boxes I have bought home today with things I have found at car boot sales, charity shops etc.  As I mentioned before I have themes  for a lot of my rooms for the dream house.  I quite like different pieces and I am particularly fond of this cat.  I assume it is a toast rack but it could be something else.  In any event it is very decorative.  It does need a little touch up of paint though.  It is how I bought it. I also found this mini egg hutch painted with chickens on a blue background.   There is also a small cupboard with wire mesh in the front and this has chicken reliefs on it.  I only paid £1 for this and I don't think I paid more t...

Sometimes   the best kind of cooking is when you throw a load of ingredients together and think ooh what am I doing here but in fact the mixture ends up turning out very tasty and spot on.  That is what happened to me last night.  I had not decided what to have for tea. Indeed, for me was completely indecisive.  Usually it is on the go before he gets in.  However last night I just waited for inspiration to hit me and it did. I spotted a bag of Macaroni lurking on my recently sorted out dresser.  Well that was a starter for one.  I then looked in the fridge and saw that I had a plethora of veggies.  I sorted out cauliflower, broccoli, kale and some old cheese that was best used up in a sauce,  and three rashers of bacon.Btza of this and that. Boiled the pasta and instead of cooking the veggies in a separate pan I popped segregated tiny florets of broccoli and cauliflower and kale into the boiling water and cooked the veggies at th...

I have been concentrating on tidying my bedroom a bit.  Quite a lit of rubbish has gone out.  Still lots to do though.  Managed to find my pine blanket chest which like a lot of my things has a history and a memory.  As far as I know the chest belonged to family friends and was being chucked out.  My dad rescued it and used it for keeping his photography equipment in. When mum passed I became the proud owner.  It is something that was on the wish list.  It also gives me happy memories of my mum and dad. The chest was empty and so I have stashed some quilts and blankets in it which has freed up some more space elsewhere.  It really needs a good stripping down and sanding and then I think either waxing or oiling   I am thinking that the oil will do more good at the moment.  However we will see.  I might change my mind before then. I have also found another bsg of cotton shirts.  I will try and strip those down in ghe next few ...

After a few days out and about and hardly being at home at all tomorrow and Thursday I am at home, to hopefully get on with a little more work.  There is still lots to do but in reality it has been lovely to be going out and about and I have really enjoyed myself.  It has made a nice change. I have had a lovely day with my friend L today and as usual we have been talking nineteen to the dozen and putting the world to rights, as well as a little eating and shopping in between.   We ended up getting some bits and bobs in M & S and they have the new season's strawberries in - British ones and they are divine.  We had ours served simply with double cream and a sprinkling of sugar.  They went down very nicely after a scratch tea of egg, bacon, fried tomatoes and mushrooms served with bread and butter.  It has all gone down very nicely. OH on his way home called in for Missy and I and we again went to Ferry Meadows for Missy's evening walk. ...

It has been with such lovely weather and I am feeling very blessed that I have had such a lovely and good weekend. Yesterday we were invited to lunch by friends.  We had a lovely lunch of pork and roasties and it was delicious. OH when I first met him (via these friends L and E - it was a blind date) was a very good shot at competition level and indeed was listed.  However over time he did not go so much and only got rid of his guns after we had been burgled whilst G was asleep upstairs and indeed G let him out of the house. E is still involved in competition shooting and so yesterday G went out with him to help him on a particular speciality.  In the meantime I spent a lovely time in the garden with Linda in the sunshine.   We had a lovely lunch and all of us were talking the hind legs off a donkey!  Lovely day. After we came back we walked Missy.   For the past few evenings we have changed our venue to Ferry Meadows.  It has made a nice chang...