TARRAGON & THYME

************************************* I release all things that no longer serve me **************************************

It has been a lovely day today.  We started off in Peterborough and had a short wander around the Chinese supermarket in town Janson Hong and then went to TK Max for a wander round there, going round a couple of Charity shops before leaving Peterborough and heading for Stamford.  In the British Heart Foundation I found six green glass glasses which match six I already have.  They were £2.99 and because I plan for 12 for the Christmas table they came home to join the six I already have.  I love green glass.  The glassware of yesterday is also more elegant and pleasing than some of the chunky stuff around today. We had lunch on arriving and then headed for St Martin's Antiques Centre, having a lovely wander around and seeing lots of lovely items and furniture for sale.  I saw some very nice oil lamps both glass and brass but lots of other ephemera too.  A lot of the items that we saw last week were still in situ but it is a very good place in which ...

Just to let you know that I am out to play today with my friend.  I am not sure where we are off to, but in the greater scheme of things it does not really matter as it is the company that is important here. Yesterday I did not get much done as I had a couple of cave ins with boxes in the back bedroom.  They are partially sorted but when I come back from my day out I will be sorting them again.  I have found a load of felt which I had been looking for and also some other Christmas bits and bobs on the decorations front that I had forgotten about.  I think that I am going to be in the back bedroom most of the evening as it needs re-organising. Hopefully will catch up later. Catch you soon. Pattypan x

****************************** My breaths will be deep and my heart will be open ******************************

Christmas does not have to be an expensive or extravagant affair Christmas can in your household reflect what you want it to or adhere to your beliefs and your style of celebration. whether that be quiet and reflective or all out party animal. What is right for one person is not necessarily right for another.   In this day and age not everyone has the funds to be really extravagant but that does not mean that we cannot celebrate Christmas or have a good time. Sometimes people jump to conclusions because you don't join in with something (perhaps because you do not have the funds to spend on the proposed jaunt and don't want them to know that you are on your uppers)  People have their pride.  What we do not have the right to do though is to judge, assume or to criticise because they choose not to do something.  They probably have not mixed in because the money required to do that thing would be taken from the food budget which...

The modern take on Pantry condiments seems to be using salt in ways that we perhaps would not have thought of before.  Years ago when I first learned to cook salt was used to cure something or to season a dish.  Today in common practice flavoured salts seem to be a final "garnish" and a little sprinkle only is required. Recently whilst loitering on the BBC Good Food website I came across a post on flavoured salts.  That post is here: Flavoured Salts The flavours included here are: Chicken salt, Dukkah salt, Seaweed salt, Lemon salt and Smokey chilli salt. Compared to the price that you will pay in the supermarkets these make unique little additions to your Pantry or cupboard shelf and you make as little or as much as you want.  Why not try out the individual flavours in small quantities and then make some up to add to a Christmas hamper.   [In the UK we have a range of shops called Tiger (Flying Tiger) and they actually sell little glass her...

************************** I am grateful for what I have Even if it is  not perfect **************************