TARRAGON & THYME

 With some sadness and some hesitancy, but life needs to move forward and that means change, whatever that change might be to any one specific family.  Sometimes the "what we know" days are the safest as they present no challenge and do not put us out of our comfort zone and make us learn and walk new paths.  Without change there is no movement going forward and we all need to go forward and our lives not be stagnant. Here is hoping that those changes will benefit us all in someway or another. It has been a hard and busy year, but we got by, we got through. Not a bad year, a year with hiccups, but not a bad year. No doubt 2025 will continue in that vein.  I will continue on with working on the house, reclaiming areas of the house and sorting things out.  This coming New Year is the year in which I officially retire in May and claim my "Dress Allowance".  This was the phrase given by our neighbour Joyce when it came time to claim her pension.  She was a...

 As I mentioned in a recent post, I have treated myself  to a new Christmas decoration a German Christmas Pyramid which has the Nativity on it.  I received that decoration today.  I liked it so much that I went looking for a sister to it, and found the same model pre-loved for £9.99 which has been ordered, however it will be the end of the week before it gets delivered.  The only difference is in size, between the one I already had.  The one that arrived today is slightly smaller as is the one that I have ordered today.  I am pleased with that as they will come into play next Christmas as table centres on the dining room table.  I am very chuffed to say am very pleased with the first one and fingers crossed I will be with the second one.  I like to match things up in pairs, especially if they are to go on a table. Once upon a time you used to get the candles in with the Pyramid but not now and I have subsequently ordered some natural beeswax ...

I should write a monologue on how not to do Christmas.  I think though it would bore the pants off of you. I am certainly learning all the variations at the moment.  That is par for the course though here and it is just the depth that varies.  What matters most though, is that we had Christmas, a lovely meal which I was very content with (if I do say so myself) and I achieved my aim in releasing the flavours of the food I had cooked which always make for a memorable meal. Cooking is all about the lovely flavours. The one thing I forgot to do - unusual for me was not to take any piccies!  In many respects it has been a very unconventional Christmas. I have also not been able to do any crafting thus far. Not been able to settle to it - sod's law.  I attempted to get stuck in and to do some this evening though.  Failed miserably.  D- on the report card!  Although I nearly made it.   Ah well no one cannot say I cannot pivot!  These thin...

From our home to your home, here is hoping you all a lovely few days during this Christmas period. Being able to give time and being with loved ones, or thinking about them or just doing Christmas your way.  The sentiment is the same it all comes down to love.  It would be good if we could stop all the killing, maiming and wounding that is going on in the process. There is no need nothing good comes from it.   I am going to have a few days pottering and crafting. Being me, even at Christmas I have one or two projects on the go.  More on that later though. Here is to peace, wealth (whatever that encompasses) and happiness and I hope I do the Christmas dinner justice. Love to all Pattypan xx

Still a few fresh bits to get.  Will tackle that tomorrow. Today, have nipped to Iceland and done a small shop there on consumables such as bread that sort of thing - nothing frozen apart from peas. I am a bit shopped out at the moment and very tired, so some baking it is tomorrow.  Thankfully the fridge all got sorted and cleaned out the other day. First port of call is that I need to get some tinned fruit into the Pantry.  Just bought a few tins to give a bit of choice over Christmas, but the Pantry stock up needs to be finished before the end of the week before we get to the New Year.  It is mostly just the tinned stuff as I really have stocked up on baking consumables and other items. Then everything should have been accomplished. Time for a Check List: Monday Turkey in the Freezer  - needs to come out on Monday to defrost; Ham needs to come out of the Freezer to defrost.  It will then need soaking for a few hours before cooking; Need the Chicken Livers...

Like many households, things are a bit manic around here at the moment.  It is what it is and I will get what I can get done, done, but then I plan on spending some quality time in crafting and just chilling a bit. I will officially start on Christmas Day,  (after Christmas dinner i.e. 25th December and run until Twelfth night which is January 5 2025).  I have therefore decided to celebrate, relax and start making things for next Christmas.  I hope to do a little bit of embroidery or cross stitch for this first tranche of the Twelve Days of Christmas each day.  I have purchased a set of embroidered Christmas tree decorations (I think a set of eight) these are heart shaped.  I do however have  another kit with more projects in it, which I will swap over to  once the heart shaped ones have been worked.  I am hoping to get at least one embroidery/cross stitch accomplished each day even if the kits are not all made up by Twelfth Night.  If t...

Thursday Has been another get stuck in day, this time focused on cleaning the fridge out and then the kitchen.  Fridge has had a major clean out and overhaul and then been refilled with a lot of stuff which will be cleared in the next couple of days.  Well pleased I got that done. I had used an old sweetie box (poly tub) for the Stinking Bishop cheese and it has worked remarkably well.  What is the bottom where the sweets were held is now the top, and the actual lid the cheese is sat on.  So a reverse use of the box but it has kept the fridge free from the pungent cheese aroma contained inside. The new cheese i.e. the Baron Bigod and then the Half moon of Colston Bassett arrived yesterday. I tried to decant them into a large cheese carrier I have.  The cheese goes in there extremely well, it is just that I cannot close the fridge door with the carrier in.  So that's a no then. Friday Is mainly to be a shopping day so that I can get as much of the outstandin...

Things are not going well on the house front, but on the food front I think that I may have that more or less sorted. Friday is going to be a shopping day, to try and get all the shopping which needs to be dealt with done and dusted and out of the way with and then I can concentrate on the house and the baking. Thursday I am waiting for a cheese delivery for the bulk of my cheese for Christmas which includes half a kilo of Baron Bigod and a half moon of Colston Bassett.  The Stinking Bishop is already in the fridge.  We normally buy in quite a bit of cheese for cold cut platters for Christmas - none is ever wasted as I always use bits and bobs of cheese leftover in any event in cooking like in quiches and soups, and now there is an option of freezing some of it. The cheese delivery is always a considered purchase which is incorporated into our Christmas planning.  We do not these days buy each other gifts more out of practicality than anything else which is sad, but it co...

For the past few days I have been battling the house and it seems to be winning at the moment.  Never one to give in, I am still attempting to get things all sorted out.  This has included pulling some late nights to do so.  Even though things are a mess, they are gradually pulling together to start to turn into what I had envisaged.  As I have mentioned before, the Pantry is for the best part done, just some re-organisation and re-packing of stuff in the tubs in the bottom of the Pantry and the dry Pantry/Larder is done for the time being. Tuesday After I posted last night, I attempted to get under the stairs to sort out the cupboard.  In the end it just did not happen so it is going to be an early start tomorrow so that I can get stuck in, in a big way.  I need to tidy up under there and get things put away properly that way on will be able to move a bit more. I have been back in today and sorted out the dining room a little bit, and all the Christmas foo...

Sunday   .........when I was that little bit younger things got very uncomfortable.  I was in a lot of discomfort from the fall the other day.  I believe the bruising was starting to come out.  Pain killers did not touch.  I did eventually get to sleep though in the early hours  of this morning; things are a little bit better. I have had some pain killers and they seem to be kicking in today which I am pleased about.  Feel as though have been kicked by a horse! I have just had my pills and my breakfast and have been contemplating what to do today.  Tea was already sorted we were supposed to have Rib Eye steak tonight. Not sure whether it will be chips or something else with it at the moment though.  I will have onions as I always do, but might change things up a bit. In any event, we ended up having a Cromer Crab each for tea with some salad Today is to be a day in the kitchen/Pantry.  I have a lot of sorting to do and shall be kicking G...

 ....i.e.joints not working and extremely stiff.  Must take more Gin in it next time! I have had a very different day today than that which was planned.  G decided he was taking me out for brunch and we ended up at Moor Farm at Newborough link is here for those of you who are interested: Moor Farm Website First of all we went into the Tea Room, which was busy but well fitted out, comfortable and has a big wood burner in it.  This was our first visit,  and we were situated at table 11 (according to the wooden spoon).  We will be going back to not only enjoy the hospitality but also the shop as well. Must mention that the young man who served us was cheerful and attentive and soon had us sorted out.  Service was excellent. I must say, I was very taken with this little gem.  We started off having a Panini each.  I had ordered a Cranberry, Brie and Bacon Panini.  The bread was soft, tasty and complemented the filling. Delightful and flavourf...

  at all.  I know it is Friday the 13th, but, I have certainly had three misadventures today - they say everything comes in threes! No worries I am okay, however I took a nasty tumble this morning, slipped and my feet went out under me, I went down on my knee which gave way and have sprained my knee joint, subsequently landing on my bum and hitting my hip and back in the process.  A bit stiff at the moment and on the pain killers.  I never do fall lightly always make a good job of it.  I have kept moving about, knowing full well I will be very uncomfortable later on, and will stiffen up but must keep things moving. Later on we went to top up at the nearest to us Pay Point which is a Post Office and also in a row of shops not far from where we lived when I was a child over 58 years ago.  It has changed quite a lot since then, but when I wanted to buy the electric and the gas they had run out of cash to actually put the money in the till.  We then went t...

Monday I have a few projects to finish up on the preserving front before Christmas for which I needed supplies. I am a sad person! I really enjoy food shopping when I can go on my own and not be hurried which incidentally stresses me out (being hurried).  If I am left to my own devices and I can get on with things then things get done and happen a lot more quickly than if I am being prodded!  Such is life. I have the Shallots and Pickling Onions to do. Despite my best attempts I did not get to it the other night.  Heading for Friday night at the moment.  Does not matter that will not be mature for Christmas as long as we have some.  I also like to pickle Red Cabbage, but I tend to make this last minute when I can get hold of the red cabbage.  Not seen any where I have been shopping until today.  Three red cabbages have therefore come home with me to make a small supply of this for eating over Christmas.   Since then I have been pedalling away...