Weekly Roundup

This is a bit of a roundup post for this week, rather than individual posts as I am trying to make the best of the time that we have especially with the renovation work and decorating work that is going on in the Little Cupboard under the stairs.

It has been a very busy week.  Initially though I struggled to get started on the under-stair cupboard.  Even though we had decided to put the flooring down later, we have reversed that decision to free up some space as the flooring is taking up room in the dining room.  It will be good to get it out of the way with and I will put a covering over the floor  G is going to be dealing with that sometime later this week.  I will then tackle the walls.

G is not going fishing this week and I am not sure if he is going next week either. Will have to wait and see what happens.

Sunday 

I was so cold yesterday; cold on the inside so much so I was glad to get into bed last night under a quilt and a blanket and the cat cuddled up as well.  I was also feeling my arms from the Flu and Covid jab yesterday.  I have reacted slightly as usual and it will be a few days before they settle down it always is.

Today has therefore necessarily been a quiet one although I have cooked a full Sunday lunch.  The last of the Stuffed Pork Belly pork that I rolled and stuffed a while back.  It should give us a few meals and also a few meals for the freezer.  I have also cooked Mash potatoes, roast potatoes, roast parsnips, roast Courgettes, some Chipolata sausages, and a bought Birds Eye mixed veggies (2 different sorts which I have mixed together i.e. carrot, peas, broccoli, cauliflower, and beans with lots of gravy.

Now the colder weather has started to creep in, we need at least one hot meal a day and buying a joint is a cheaper way of feeding us for several meals especially with Pork.  

It is only now that I have managed to sit down for a while.  I need to play catch up on the Internet as have not had much time to be online for the past week or so.  I really need to catch up.

The Internet went off for no reason whatsoever late last night.  We therefore left it to deal with tomorrow when there is more light.

Monday

Not a warm day.  I have been back in jumpers.

We attempted to address the Internet problem and G will look at it tomorrow.  

We had a lovely duplicate meal to that of yesterday.  Also sliced up the rest of the joint that was left and have frozen the cooked pork slices in the gravy to keep it nice and moist.  Managed to get three good double portions of meat frozen so that is three meals for both of us going forward.

The start of the full Moon tonight 18:20 Looked absolutely glorious very high in the sky though.  The Harvest Moon and a Super Moon as well.

Tuesday

Another colder day although the Sun did come out to play.

Internet was still off and to make matters worse one of the sockets would not work either.  G went down and flicked the mains switch and for whatever reason everything came back on. (despite yesterday doing the same thing and nothing happening). We think that there was a bit of a glitch in the system.  In any event everything is now working as it should.  We were very relieved about this.  I have a lot more work waiting in the wings though long-term.

A little later on, the washing machine went wrong again.  G has therefore indicated that he will drain the machine in the morning and have it all out from its slot.  

Sadly because of cloud we did not spot the Harvest Moon tonight.

Wednesday

I was  up early and got G his fried breakfast ready and out of the way with before phoning my cousin.

G then set about the washing machine. He managed to get it drained getting water all over the floor in the process but that is par for the course.  The machine was not emptying on the specific programme for that and the pump was refusing to drain. The machine was then dragged out and he had all the pipes off.  Nothing showed as being of particular concern, but he did realise that the machine was not balanced evenly on the floor and so took the machine right out.  He then levelled the floor out The spin and drain programme was then put back on and it eventually worked properly. Eureka.

Since then I have been working through the back-log of washing and the machine seems more stable and is currently doing what it should do.  I really need to get the replacement flooring sorted but might have to wait until November before that can be done.  I am really at the end of my tether where this floor is concerned.  It is going to happen even if it is done one floor at at a time.  I had hoped to do both the bathroom and the kitchen floor together bearing in mind the rooms flow into each other.  It may still happen will have to wait and see.

I have started sorting some of the items turfed out of the under-stair cupboard as well.  There is still a lot to go.  I am hoping to get the under-stair cupboard sorted or at least decorated out by a week on Friday fingers crossed and toes plaited.  I have so much else to do as well.

Thursday

G started work in the Cupboard under the stairs, laying the new laminate flooring in there.  Has made a really good job of it.  We took the decision to lay the flooring first as the laminate was in the way in the dining room and we have nowhere to store it outside.  Therefore it became a need to get this out of the way with.

I will start tomorrow with working on the plaster work and filling and preparing the plaster for painting after being smoothed down.  

I had been working in the kitchen but had to down tools as I needed to do washing up and unusually for me I was out of tea towels.  Something to do with the washing machine and a bit of a backlog.  They have therefore been sorted and are currently on the line hopefully to dry so that I can set too later on.  Sadly they were not dry and so will have to wait until tomorrow before I get stuck in.

I have however started off some homemade Broccoli and Blue Cheese soup for part of tea or for having mid-day tomorrow. I had some fried onions left over and rather than throw them away decided to set too using what I already had to hand.  I used a head of Broccoli, the remains of the fried onions, a carrot, stock, seasoning, bay leaves and let it simmer until cooked.  Then added the cheese and then whizzed everything up in the food processor.  Even if G does not fancy it, I will eat this up.  

The carrots, broccoli cooking down together.  Even the stem was used.  Simmered until the veggies were nice and tender.  I then added in the fried onions, the stock, seasonings, mixed herbs and lots of white pepper.

The contents were then transferred to my food processor and blitzed.  I then added in half a pint of  milk and mixed that in until the veggies were fine.  The contents were then returnedto the pan and the Blue cheese was added in to melt into the soup.  Final seasoning was done.

The cheese all melted into the soup.

All ready to eat with some plain bread or bread and butter.  Must say this went down very nicely and I have plenty left for tomorrow.

I want to get more veggies into our everyday diet now that winter is hitting and hope to make more soups as the weeks go on.  Soups very much play their part during the winter months. If you serve a soup as a starter, that means you are partly full before you hit the main meal.  Often in years gone past meals were served this way in order that not too much meat was used.  Meat like today was an expensive commodity then.  If you served a bit of pudding afterwards that would make sure that you had a full rounded warm meal during the winter months.  A little bit of everything that was filling and good for you.  Everything in moderation.  Years ago workers engaged in more physical activity usually to do their jobs and the calories required were more because of the physical activity.  These days most of us have more sedentary jobs, but this template for meals still has its place.

Sometimes I am hamstrung as G is not a fan of pies, and some soups he just does not do.  Some meals have been core staples in my family for many years.  Every so often though I put my foot down and make something that I actually really want. Sometimes meals can be quite a battle. Equally though I am not into fried breakfasts, or fried food.  However I do love simpler food like baked potatoes, baked sweet potatoes, soups, pies, Toad in the Hole, Chicken etc.  Good clean living a lot of the time.

The soup went down very well indeed.  I used some Danish Blue cheese that needed using up in the fridge and it has gone down nicely.  The soup is a little darker than it should be down to the fact that I used a Beef stock-cube rather than a vegetable or chicken one.  It still tasted lovely though.  I have the rest stored in a preserving jar in the fridge to have when I want something to eat.  Soup is comfort food for the soul which is always needed at this time of the year as the weather starts to get cooler and the skies more often than not are greyer.

Friday

First thing, cooked G his breakfast and got myself something. (Accomplished)

I had planned to go out and put the washing done last night on the line to get it dry. Slight detour as left washing out last night and there was a heavy dew this morning. Therefore have to wait until the washing is dry before I can tackle the washing and drying up. 

More washing on the agenda for today - a big pile of it.  Think this is going to be ongoing for a few days yet. (Managed a few more loads)

Also have washing up to do in the kitchen - due to lack of tea towels yesterday this did not get dealt with.  The towels I put out yesterday are now finally dry and I have something to dry the dishes with. 

As a result of the washing not drying, I decided to go into the Little Cupboard under the stairs to start the preparation work.  I will go back into the kitchen later in the day and get the washing up sorted out, but at least this way am making the most of the time I do have.  Did not get back into the kitchen. Hoping to start tackling that tomorrow.

Started doing the prep in the cupboard under the stairs.  G completed the flooring, changed the light bulb and has basically handed the cupboard over to me.  There is now dust everywhere and I am wearing a face mask to help me with breathing whilst dealing with the dust. There are now a few holes in the wall where I have scraped the loose plaster work.  Oh well it will keep me out of mischief.  At least have managed to start the work seriously and have had a reasonably productive day.  Hopefully will get back in to do some more tomorrow.

The new flooring down

This is the main outside wall that goes into the passageway.  The paint has peeled badly on this wall and although the wall is not wet or damp I am going to be putting on a Damp proof paint to help get a better protective finish on the plaster.  This was after the initial scraping.

The Plasterwork just inside the door way is very pitted and has cracks and holes in it and so some heavy duty filling is going to have to go on here.

As the wall is so shot I have decided to use pre-mixed plaster repair to help fix the dimples, holes and indents and in some instances screen a good coating over a whole area.  Think the cake icing skills are going to be brought into use.  Not that I am an expert.

Saturday

Plans for today were deferred.  We had a late night/early morning with Missy and ended up oversleeping.  When we did get up decided that it would not be a decorating day today but that I would have to start tackling the kitchen.  In any event that did not happen.  Therefore re-scheduled for tomorrow.

In any event I had to go out to get the electric and gas topped up, now that I have started cooking a lot more than I have been doing and with the weather changing we need the heat on when it is particularly chilly.  Therefore got that sorted. 

When we came back I went and did a bit of shopping the items that we need such as veggies, bread, milk that sort of thing.

I then nipped into the Charity shop and fell lucky on a load of picture frames for £1 each all different sizes.  I also picked up four small framed pictures and when I had a look they were a set of four Cash's Woven Pictures from their French Series.  The mounts on them are a Raspberry pink colour which is the colour I have in my front room and I think that they will look very nice in there £1 each. I already have some of the Cash's woven and framed pieces so these will go very well with them.  Interestingly when I looked online just one of these pictures is going for £14.95!  Another lucky find.  

I also picked up a frame with what at first glance just looked like a print.  It is a print from a published and numbered set of prints entitled " The Winter Solstice" 2002 number 9/25 by Catherine Hyde and features a wild and magical Hare.  I love Hares and think that there is for me something mystical and magical about them always reminds me of my childhood living in the middle of nowhere surrounded by fields and living in a tiny cottage. 

I just absolutely love this piece.  It resonates with me.

I have a profound love of nature and the land and we should be preserving both against the onslaught of attempts to ruin and decimate areas.  They do far more good being left alone as they give protected environments for the wildlife which is important in this unpredictable world of ours.

There are several other frames as well.  Some will go to reframe some important family photographs. I have photos of my Great Granddad, my Granddad and my Dad that need re-framing.  I shall still continue looking for suitable frames as I have a lot of items that need them.

I also collect Walther Glass -  mostly presentation ware for when you have a big party and today I found a very large platter for £3 so that came home too.

The Charity shop where I go also has a lot of nice vintage/antique furniture for very good prices.  It grieves me that I cannot bring any pieces home but there just is not the room for them.  The Manager of the shop does a lot of restoration of the pieces that come in as well and he does a really good job. Today there was a lovely large wooden rocking chair for £40 - darker wood and there were also a couple of chest of drawers and some bookshelves I would not have minded having.  One day as the saying goes.

I also have plans to do some new to me items as soon as I can.  I want to have a go at making homemade soap but thought that to start with I would have a go with some melt and pour soap to have a go at providing soap for my own household. For a little while now I have been "gathering" soap making moulds together as well as other bits and bobs.  I do have to get a couple of more items. I have some moulds already but I do need essential oils and colourings. I hope to get some of the melt and pour tubs shortly.  

Eventually though I would like to have a go at making soap from scratch.  I am a particular fan of Castille Soap which is made from Olive oil.  I also want to go and see what is available at Hobbycraft on the Christmas decorations/crafting front as well as the soap making supplies and possibly wax as well.  I also need some crafting paints.

I also want to have a go at making my own candles. I have a couple of Beeswax candle rolling kits to have a go at.  They are relatively small but the scent of natural Beeswax is gorgeous.  I am hoping to get some larger sheets of wax to roll some larger tapered candles. Yet again something that I have not had a go at.  I have been collecting a few supplies together since last year and have supplies and moulds waiting for me to have a go with. I do need some colourings though and some essential oils.  As the wax will need melting, I thought that a designated slow cooker would be ideal for doing this. I spotted one in the Charity shop the other day for £3.50 and it has been tested by an electrician.   When I went back today it was still there and so I have bought this one home.  I really need another one for the soap as well.  At this price it pays to have a designated slow cooker for both wax and for soap.  I am hoping I find another one and then hopefully will be able to start playing shortly.

As both candles and soaps feature in a lot of households I thought that exploring these skills would enable me to make and prepare my own for use in my everyday living and add a more personal aesthetic touch to everyday things.  However I still need to do a little research in some respects.  Hopefully that will be sorted out soon.

I shall continue to keep my eyes open for another slow cooker for the soap making.  It will be good to play.

Hope everyone has had a good day and lovely evening.

Catch you soon.

Pattypan

x

p.s. Photos to follow later  taking an inordinate amount of time to download x  

Some of these have now been done, still waiting for a few more to load.