TARRAGON & THYME

 After an early start to the day this morning, the best part of the day has been spent in pottering.  Namely decanting some Brussel Sprouts and Leeks I had prepped up, blanched and open froze in the freezer and decanting them into bags.  They can now free-flow from the bag and little bits can be added to stews, casseroles that sort of thing, or if liked a larger amount to be used as a side for a meal.  It is early days yet and I will probably add a lot more veggies yet to the freezer, but at least it is a start.  Will do little bits at a time into one larger bag to start with, building up as I go along.   I have added more veg to the fridge today to use from fresh and also process some of it for future meals but more on that tomorrow as there is a kitchen post scheduled for tomorrow in any event.  I want to make up a couple of stew packs and a couple of roasting veggie packs as well.  Oh I have missed doing stuff like this for the freezer. Fo...

 On our travels on a bright but cold frosty morning, with the mist swirling across the Fenland Landscape to reveal the ghosts of the "Windmills" all silent and looming all of a sudden into my field of vision.  The road because of the Fen is bumpy in places you would not expect to be, but it is what it is.  Its been like it for yonks and unlikely to be any different in the future, apart from perhaps a resurface here and there. Saturday morning finds us on our way to Ramsey outside of Peterborough, to go to the small fresh fish stall that is there of a Saturday morning, and a veg stall.  In the summer there tend to be a couple of other stalls as well, but we like the trip out, even though it is a cold and early start to the day. Today Moules have been obtained for Moules Mariniere for tea later on today to be served with crusty buns to mop up the juice.  A Crab each, and G has stocked up on his Cockles and Whelks.  Simple treats enough.  No full fish for...

 Today has been non-stop so far, I say non-stop as this is the first opportunity I have had to have a sit and a mug of creamy coffee which is going down an absolute treat. We were up early in order to get to the Surgery to have both our Flu jabs and next Covid injection. Went quite smoothly and the lady who did the injections was both charming and gentle.  An injection in each arm, so I have a matching set now until the next time.  Little bit of discomfort, but that is how my system rolls.  I tend to react to any injection, but it normally soon settles things down.  I produce too many antibodies and my system naturally rejects "invaders" as it sees them, even if it is bits of my own body. But another good job out the way with. I am grateful for the opportunity.  A common cold creases me at the best of times. We then whilst we were out (and had escaped without Missy waking up) then headed to the Butcher, where I spent a few pennies.  Ended up buying a l...

I was absolutely shattered last night after all the waiting around and then starting to sort the Freezer out.  I actually went to bed for a lay down and then fell asleep. Unusual for me. I had gone cold and fortunately this has now warmed me up as I got under the quilt and cover. I have had the most horrendous cramp in my poorly leg.  I went yesterday to get the prescription for the cream the Doctor has prescribed.  Unfortunately they did not have it in stock but it should be in tomorrow.  I have therefore just been resting my leg and doing a few leg and feet exercises as well.  It  will take me a few days to get back to some kind of normal. Medication cream has now arrived and will be put into use. However, I have a lot to do. Today's mission is to sort out the side Dresser that contains most of my jars that will not fit in the Pantry.  It needs a good general tidy up and the Dresser needs a good wipe down and a bit of a polish.  It really needs ...

 but it nearly didn't!.  Life is a strange thing. It has been a cold and very wet day here in Peterborough.  Rain is good but when you have had it constantly for the past few days it sort of overstays its welcome.  I was a little fed up with the constant rain and therefore lit one of my candles.  When we start losing the light is when I start craving it.  The candle did the trick though cheered me up a little bit whilst I was working away and cleaning the windowsill and sorting it out a little bit more. I also to keep them out of the way for the time being, arranged the Lemons bought the other day into a square glass vase I had and popped it on the windowsill mainly to keep them out of the way until I am ready to turn them into something useful for the Pantry shelf. Bearing in mind the non-delivery debacle last Saturday and the fuss around that.  I was keen to ensure that the re-arranged delivery would go according to plan.  I was therefore not am...

I have been working in the kitchen today, as well as doing a load of washing and getting it dry in the tumbler.  It has been a damp cold and wet day here overall so no outside drying. I have been pottering with bits and bobs in the kitchen as usual.  Lots of little bits that are gradually being restored to where they should be. In the interim I managed to get through to the Surgery even though was waiting ages.  Because of the problem with the vein, the Doctor decided to see me reasonably quickly and I managed to get an appointment for 4:00pm; I had about half an hour to get there.  I have another addition to the long list of issues, varicose veins! Indeed the vein was swollen and hard. Apparently they take many years to develop!  I only remember my poor Mum's legs wrapped  up when I was a little girl, as she ended up with a varicose ulcer on her ankle.  Its a family thing (I have just taken longer than most  - thank goodness). Doctor believes tha...

 I managed to get a good couple of hours work done on stuff in the dining room.  I have found loads of items, some of which needed a good scrub up, which has now been done.  However, I have found a lot of equipment for making ice cubes, different shapes and sizes, traditional ice cube trays which I tend to use a lot of when I have a freezer, I freeze little blocks of herbs and bits and bobs to drag out and use individually as well of course make ice cubes.  I have had some of these for ages, but some of the ice lolly moulds were bought just before the fire and have never been used.  They are all now together for me to spring into action when my freezer arrives. I am thinking of making some strictly adult lollies when the freezer comes, i.e. Cider/Perry ones. There are also my Freezer trays for open freezing fruit and vegetables and other items.  Now I have had these a lot of years and they originally came from Lakeland. Lakeland Kitchen Products The open fr...