TARRAGON & THYME

There is movement from the OH this time.  He has managed to locate all his tools and the laminate flooring and lets just say things are looking promising - it looks as though we are about to get a floor in the study/cum craft room at long last.  To quote OH he hasn't been able to get on because of a certain little lady who keeps getting in the way and wants to assist (Missy and to a lesser degree Squeak)!  He is now esconced up there with everything to hand , door hinges are also going back on the door (he has located them too) and it looks as if that will be back up by the end of the afternoon.  Things are looking promising.  It will be nice to have a dedicated craft area and space in which to work.  Trouble is now I suppose we will be fighting over it me thinks a rota will have to come into play! So there is movement - so the timing must be right! Catch you all soon Pattypan xx

For the past couple of days we have had a touch of spring in the air - I can feel it and sense it but today really has been lovely day and it perks you up and makes you feel more more joyful and grateful for the little things in life. An appreciation for the simple things  and just simply for being me.  The Wheel of life is turning impercetably again - change is in the air.  However as one door closes another one always opens.  Change happens to take you from one situation that does not necessarily suit and causes all sorts of angst  to another that if not exactly right just might be a stepping stone to a much brighter future.  A new learning curve, another piece of the jigsaw or tool for your own personal experience.  There is no better teacher than the school of life. I am a beleiver in that whatever I need is out there its just the locating of that may take the time.   This lovely spring weather is also  reminder that I need to get ...

I am likely to be missing for the next couple of evenings, although will pop in if I can. We are having a family night tomorrow.  My step-son has recently moved into his own flat and doesn't have a washing machine and has asked if he can come and use the washer here - and the tumble drie until he gets himself sorted out.  His sister and nephew are also coming for the evening, she needs to use the computer to do some research as her son has jiggered her computer.  So I suggested that they come and have a bite to eat as well.  Just something quick and simple, probably home made chips, egg, beans with some fruit and ice cream to follow or fruit pie. I have Circle on Wednesday so will probably not be around at all then as it is usually gone 10.00 pm before we finish. Keep well and safe until I catch up with you again Pattypan xx

Ingredients: Rind of one sweet orange juice of 3 Seville Oranges 75g of butter 225g granulated sugar 3 eggs lightly beaten Method Finely grate the zest of the sweet orange and squeeze the juice from the Seville Oranges.  Put the zest, juice, butter, sugar and eggs into a saucepan and heat gently stirring until it is thick. Put through a funnel to decant into sterilised jars and allow to cool.

Rhubarb that much maligned food which for some has some horror stories to tell.  I like rhubarb though and was introduced to it at a very early age being allowed to pick a stalk of rhubarb from my Nan's garden  and then being allowed to dip it into the sugar bowl.  Oh what a treat as normally the sugar bowl was out of bounds. I was lucky to have been bought up by a family who enjoyed good food and with many good cooks.  Rhubarb was nearly always on the pudding list as were apples, plums and gooseberries.  In fact I remember my Mum and My Nan every year having a bottling frenzy and putting up good things for the winter months so that the family would eat well.  In fact these delicacies often swapped households, as one member of the family had done this and another member hadn' and it enabled change of flavours, and perhaps a mental note to make that particular preserve another year. For many years I did not use rhubarb simply because whosoever I was...

Thank you for your kind words.  Much appreciated. After five days we at long last have central heating again.  Yippee - boy has it been cold.  Trouble is when its cold it always jiggers me up joint wise and gives me an awful lot of pain.  Trouble is I am riddled with it, which means most days I have pain of one sort or another.  It disturbs my sleep as I cannot lay for long on my side or my back and am forever jiffling around.  But we have hot water and the house is nice and warm again. I am so grateful. Should only have taken three days - the first for doing the radiators and necessary prep work for putting in the new boiler and working out how best to route it through the house, the second getting it installed and the third firing it up.  It was at this point that Houston had a problem.  There is a piece of the boiler that is not a spare part but an integral part of it which is in effect a piece of pressurised metal tubing which is chromed....

Not a happy bunny heating still not done.  The poor plumber had fitted everything, dealt with the radiators went to connect everything up and the new gas boiler leaks.  The plumber was not a happy bunny and read the riot act to them when they told him to phone the manufacturer to where he told them in no uncertain terms that was their job. So unfortunately still no heating and now no gas for cooking either.  The manufacturers representative is coming to have a look at it on site.  Its bitter here again and I am so hoping that this is brought swiftly to a conclusion as it is blooming cold. Deep sigh and oh deep joy.  We will have to see what tomorrow brings. Take care wherever you are Pattypan xx