Gentle Sunday

 A relaxing day for a change; I still was not feeling 100%.  We had to make a visit to the Butcher to stock up on some meat for the week.  On our way there we stopped off to walk the dog and give her a different venue for a good sniff around.  There was an ulterior motive on my part as well as I am after a last harvest of Blackberries.  They have all gone where I have been picking.  We therefore ventured out of the City for a couple of miles and it was wonderful to escape.

I am a country kid, the best part of my life has been lived in small market towns or little, tiny villages.  I prefer the peace and quiet and the different rhythm of life more in touch with nature and the seasons of the countryside.  It is also a lot quieter than living in the City.  I do not live here by choice, but you have to make the best of that which comes your way.

Here is where we escaped to.  Open farmland off a main road which literally is about three to four miles up the road from where we live.  Beautiful unspoilt countryside.

There is a walk around here and also horses regularly are exercised down here, evidenced by hoof prints in the mud!

I found some Sloes, but there are not that many, might just leave these for the birds.

Plenty of Blackberries about though.  Might try and get some during the week.  I really wanted to make some Blackberry syrup for putting in some fizz on Christmas day.

It made a lovely walk though.  It was nice to get out of the house.

We then travelled on to the Butcher.  We came away with a couple of Barnsley chops, 1lb of mince, 1kilo of Sausages, 1lb of bacon, a Pork Pie, two packs of Beef Skirt.  The Beef Skirt has worked well for the stew and also for the pasties.  Might do a Beef and Onion pie later on in the week and possibly another stew. They did not have Chicken so will have to source that elsewhere unless we go back and look later in the week.  Would also quite like some Pork steaks or chops. Trying to cook sensibly, so that we get at least one good hot meal per day whether that be meat based or indeed veggie based (thinking Quiche or Cheese and Onion Flan here) possibly served with Baked potatoes.  Trying to be sensible about equipment choices as well.  The Ninja Foodi is going to be in use quite a bit more to what it has been. Also, it is the season of soups, casseroles and stews so plenty of veg needs to be sourced as well.  Even though we are meat eaters, we do eat an awful lot of vegetables as well.  I think there will be a few more puddings being added as the evenings get colder and darker as well.  Veggie based soups or indeed leftover soups can be had mid-day perhaps with a sarnie so that we are both warmed up.  OH needs to regulate food intake because of his Diabetes.  Sometimes that takes the form of Brunch, as he is not best pleased with a breakfast. I prefer to have a breakfast first thing.

Tea tonight was more mashed potato and the remnants of the stew from yesterday.  There was as much as we had yesterday available for today as well and it has gone down very nicely.  Very warming

Now the nights are drawing in, time to get the curtains closed early and to keep the house warm (we do not at the moment have the heating on) apart from the hot water.

Hope you all have a lovely evening.

Catch you soon.

Pattypan

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