TARRAGON & THYME

I was going to get on in the kitchen but decided to go shopping instead.  I can get stuck in in the kitchen over the weekend or during the week and I needed a change of scenery.  Not lots of shopping to do, more fresh stuff than anything else, but it does normally last me about 10 days apart from the odd item here and there.  I store the majority of veggies in the fridge for the best part. It has been a while since I did a proper stock up in any event. I will go back again during the week as I did not get everything. I am after some frozen cherries for a supply of Cherry Pie filling.  I also need to stock up on some of the dried staples I want to get some more plants and some different herbs to get some cuttings underway in any event.  A lot will not produce a lot this year but if I can keep them over next winter then they should put on a better display.  Anything is better than nothing as far as I am concerned when it comes to items for the Pantry shelf. I...

I have been busy in the kitchen again, but I have also been topping up on food items as well.  Therefore a little trip around the corner from where I live to my local Asian shop.   I managed to find Glucose powder which I need for some of my preserving, but it is also a good alternative to sugar.  We used to have it sprinkled on our cereal as children and I have been looking for it for ages.  It was usually dished out as a boost after we had been unwell. Two boxes have therefore come home with me. We used to get it from Boots, but I have checked online and they were not showing that they supplied it.  They used to have a corner of the shop where they sold things like this including proper soap flakes etc.  Times have moved on eh, and I am not sure they are for the good.  I am grateful though to be able to find those difficult to find items at my local shop. Also bought some baking yeast sachets for the bread maker, two packages of Gelatine, some m...

 I went today with the intent of starting to get this kitchen sorted out once and for all.  It is going to be continued effort  over several days on this front now until it is completed. I am not showing photos but everything really got out of hand and I am now going to rectify this.  I have as it has been a bright and warmer day also been able to get a couple of loads of washing out on the line to dry.  At the time of writing this post, the weather forecast is good for the next couple of days so an ideal period in which to get stuck in. I have bought a lot of extra bits of different foods in the past six weeks that need popping into the Pantry.  I still have more shopping to do, especially on supplies for the preserving front as I am determined to have a better supply of foods in overall.  I have filled a large poly box this  morning with the bits and bobs that have been purchased and not been got into the Pantry.  Once everything is in ther...

It has been wet overnight, and is a damp and grey overcast day.  One that feels chilly but I am determined to make the most of the day as best I can. I used the new Blepharus treatment last night for the first time and again this morning with the new eye drops as well.  I am feeling oh so much more comfortable, no problem opening my eyes this morning at all.  So fingers crossed that things will get much better from now on in. I hadn't realised how much of a problem they had been.  Early days yet but things can only get better.  At least the issue has been addressed.  I actually complained on the last eye test that I had, but the Optician did not make much of the problems I was experiencing.  Thank goodness the young lady Optician who conducted the tests was absolutely on the ball. I have been stiff today and have had trouble moving.  Have had my Paracetamol and that has eased things a little. A side effect of cooler weather and rain. I have theref...

Sunday Unfortunately I was off colour yesterday (Sunday) - no energy and feeling completely drained.  No reason for it as I have been taking things steadily despite being busy I have not been over doing it.  I therefore took a day off yesterday and literally just flopped and rested up.  Seemed to do some good as I did regain some energy later on in the day.  We had a Lamb traybake for Sunday tea followed by some big wedges of fresh Melon to finish off with.  Went down very nicely.   Monday Had a rough night with Missy and I ended up sitting up with her for three hours first thing on Monday morning as she just would not settle.  Got her cuddled in and calmed down for about an hour where she did sleep for about an hour and then off she went again.  She eventually settled back in her bed and was out for the count.  As a result I overslept this morning.   We both had Optician appointments this afternoon.  Of late my vision has...

On the house and the garden. Friday Evening Last night, I continued working for a couple of hours finishing at 9pm in the kitchen and making headway into tidying up a bit. Those couple of hours lightness for later into the evening are very much needed here and am grateful for them.  A long way to go yet but a determined start made yesterday and on the herb border as well.  I intend to spend another hour on the garden border again tomorrow working in tranches until I manage to get it cleared. Saturday Had another good night's sleep and was awake for 8am when started to get ready to go on our travels into the Fens to the fish man.  We started early as we had decided to go and get some fish from the fish man in Ramsey yesterday plus you get a better selection of fish if you are there earlier.  We took Missy with us and she was not at all happy about being taken out of her routine. Very much the grumpy old lady routine. We had anguished howls before she settled down....

I have not been able to do anything courtesy of our ageing Jack Russell and the cat who today performed a tag team at how to disrupt mum's plans.   Thursday If it was not one it was the other.  It started early at 7:30am  with an accident on behalf of Missy.  I got her all sorted out and cleaned up.  Then she would not settle and eventually got her off to sleep however took absolutely ages as she just would not settle.  She has been like that on and off most of the day.  Then Mischief the cat started circuit training!  On the plus side I did get some washing done and out on the line to dry but that is all in retrospect. G had cheese on toast for tea and I had some carrot and coriander soup. I was going to do some work in the study this evening but in the end did not get there.  Tomorrow I intend to be kitchen bound for at least part of the day. I did not manage to get back into the herb garden yesterday but that will happen over the week...