TARRAGON & THYME

Its been a very busy day at work and I am absolutely shattered and to boot also have a migraine so by the time you read this post I will probably have been in bed for a good couple of hours.  I was meant to be out this evening but because of the migraine I have cancelled that preferring to chill and sleep.  Which is a pity as I had planned on doing a little more needlepoint but that will have to give way until probably tomorrow now. I have been working the needlepoint an hour or so before I go to sleep.  It is slow going but I am slowly getting there.  The canvas is a very fine one and so every so often I am having to rest my eyes so that I do not strain them but at least it is coming up reasonably well.  I love needlepoint it is soothing and you can pick it up and put it down and just literally pick up where you left off.  On the little bit I have already shown  you I have spent approximately five hours, stabbed my finger a couple of times and en...

I am beavering away with the needlepoint the top left hand corner is what I have managed to work on the cream so far.  I still have more colour to work but sometimes you need to work some of the background to show up where you actually need to work  - well that is my experience.  It is slow work but I am trying to work it neatly and accurately and in fairness it is not every night I get to play.  Take last night for instance could not get anywhere near as by the time I had finished what I was doing it was too late and despite OH not having to get up at 6:00am he always is and walks the dog and I am usually awake anyway although don't get out of bed before 7:00am.  I think this Briar Rose Design is one that was originally sold by John Lewis - the Coleshill collection.  I have already worked two panels of this already and there is a brand new kit in my stash yet to work but this one makes the numbers even on the cushion panel front. I bought in 20 s...

After a lot of rain during the weekend and overnight needless to say that there has been a lot of water laying around. I went with OH to walk Missy this evening straight from work and as usual we ended up walking down by the river.  The river is very high nearly to the top of the banks and nearly to the top of the walkover bridge where the water is usually quite a lot lower.  I suspect that they have opened the locks further up country in an effort to get rid of all the water (probably Northampton Way to stop any potential flooding) as the river finally flows out into tidal waters and then to the sea in the wash.  I just feel sorry for all the wild creatures that have been flooded out of their homes.  In the last photo above you can see what is known as the Electric Cut which was the outflow to the local power station.  Many large carp were caught there over the years and it was a frequent spot for OH as a youngster to go fishing. Th...

I was taught to use fresh yeast from an early age.  In fact there was only fresh yeast or the bobbly ball grain dried yeast available to use then. None of your Fast Action Yeast although though I believe very much today that has its place and I do use it for the Bread machine bread and also the Christmas plum bread as well as other things.  However there are a lot of recipes out there that only use fresh yeast and sometimes a conversion with the ingredients just does not work.  So needs must and all that I sent for some fresh yeast. Mum always used to be able to buy yeast fresh from our bakers until they retired and then it became hit and miss.  When she did find it she often used to buy what she could and use what she wanted and then freeze the rest. As I have not been able to locate fresh yeast readily for some time I decided to do a little bit of research on Ebay and I came up with a provider providing 1kg (not in one block mine arrived in two separate blocks) ...

Has been had by us both today very low key a little chocolate very lazy with a lovely roast leg of lamb studded with fresh rosemary and garlic with roast onion, potato, mashed potato, crushed swede and carrot, cauliflower shredded cabbage and peas with lashings of gravy. There is enough for a meal tomorrow night. No pudding couldn't manage it but we have enjoyed what we have had. We are very blessed. Back to the grind tomorrow much of it will be spent getting everything ready for work on Tuesday but hopefully I will get some time to play. I have also managed to get Demetri in relatively easily.  These days all I have to do is shake his biscuit packet at him and he comes in.  Bet it will not be that easy as the nights get lighter and longer. I hope everyone has had an equally lovely Easter as we have.  Its just been nice to be at home and chill a bit and not do much for a change.  Tomorrow is another day however. Have a good one. Catch you soon. P...

Hot Cross Buns, Hot Cross Buns, One a penny, two a penny Hot Cross Buns Give them to your daughters Give them to your sons One a penny, two a penny Hot Cross Buns I have some Hot Cross buns on the go as we speak, from scratch made by my own fair hand - we shall see how they come out. I am otherwise all prepared for Easter.. No meat at all today.  We have fish for our main meal.  I have a bit of smoked haddock OH has a piece of Cod and mine will be cooked in milk with and then served with a poached egg and OH will have his gently doused in flour and fried served with a bit of bread and butter that should do  very nicely. For Easter Sunday we have a leg of lamb which will be served with veggies although it will be cooked with garlic and fresh Rosemary. Are you all prepared to celebrate Easter in your own particular way. Catch you soon. Pattypan x

I have always had a penchant for pretty expensive things probably spurred on by the fact that my Nan had a tiny pretty china cabinet where she kept all her best bits of glass and china things that she did not want children to touch.  My Aunty was the same and so going frequently between the two households and the fact that my mum had a few nice bits and bobs as well it was something I was brought up to.  Something I have carried on over the years.  In particular I love Roses I always have done so particularly the old fashioned roses that my grandparents used to grow in their garden.  Roses with lots of scent and I suppose indirectly my love of Roses has "coloured" my choice of soft furnishings and things like that.  So every so often I treat myself to a bit of something to either go with something I already have or to start a new collection entirely and my latest collection is a high tea table set.  It is how I spend my pocket money apart from on my cr...