We are on our final day into our daily slice of the cake I made the other day. We were in the mood for a bit more than that. A can of pineapple slices in juice was opened. Each slice of cake was topped with just one chopped ring each, some juice and a good slurp of evaporated milk:
Being a gardener and doing everything I can to reduce my use of peat, I was quite shocked at the suggestion of using it to circumvent Brexit bureaucracy!
This article appeared yesterday here.
This latest mess comes on top of firms being advised to move to the EU to circumvent other problems here
On top of these are the imports and exports customs mess. Fish, food, general post and parcels, lorry drivers getting stuck, empty trucks entering and leaving - absolute madness. All the current problems are taking place in the two month leeway, heaven helps us after that.
Now we have arguements over whether to block us getting vaccines from Belgium - such pettiness!
Whether you signed up to stay or leave, thses problems affect everyone living here. They need sorting out, pronto!
As with most dog walkers I believe, we know the names of dogs rather than their owners. The exception being the people who we actually know.
We bump into Birmingham Bieba, a dog who is called Bieba (after the fashion clothing rather than Justin) and whose owner is a Brummie.
Then there is Mrs Fluffy (used to be Turkey Head) - thats the kind of hat she wears. D., with the ears who always wears a hat with earflaps. Mr. yellow chairs - a chap who has yellow seats in his garden. Mr. Blacksmith who lives in an old blacksmiths cottage. The pom poms, who are big balls of fluff who bark a lot, ferrets on a string and Mrs. hurry up who has a very small dog practically dragged around as it can't always keep up.
We bump into others whose dog names we know but not their owners, owners we know but not their dogs names or owners we know and their dog names. All go here!
I have received a letter from the NHS, asking me to take part in the nationwide Covid-19 testing operated by ISOS and Imperial College London. After double checking online via the NHS site, I registered to take part.
Once the test kit is received, I need to book one of their a couriers to pick it up, do the test the day they are coming and hand it over. About a week later, results come back. It only tests if I currently have it rather than if I have had it:(
I am expecting it to be negative but you never know!
I decided to make a small cake for us using just two eggs. It makes it very thin but still great to eat.
This one was two large eggs, their weight in S. R. Flour and margarine, 80g of sugar, a teaspoon of vanilla extract, a teaspoon ground ginger, 1 grated eating apple and a ball of stem ginger grated. Once all mixed in, I added one tablespoon of the syrup from the stem ginger jar. It was baked at 180C for 20 minutes, turned out and left to go cold.
Once cold it was sandwiched together with home made hedgerow jam:
Yesterday, before DB started to drill the drainage holes in the cattle troughs, he went up to the attic to get a cold weather coat. It came down so stiff, it could stand by itself:
Having been quite frugal for decades, I find it incredibly difficult to actually spend money. Neither of us are ones for new clothes or shoes or holidays etc. We simple use what we have until it falls apart then replace it. The exception has usually been the car, which we save up for and replace when needed.
The raised beds in the garden are still doing well but are finally beginning to grow fungi along the bottom planks. The one on the patio was made with thinner planks and last summer, one fell out completely and the others weren't far behind:
The only thing that prevented the soil falling through was the fact they were lined with both polythene and weed fabric.
On the only sunny and remotely warmish day we had last week, the plants were dug out and placed into another empty raised bed. It took forever to remove the soil and add that to a different raised bed for safe keeping.
We bought two zinc cattle troughs. At the moment I have no plans to paint them. They are garish in the shiny newness but will age down well. Each one measures 90cm x 40cm x 46cm and has one small side drainage hole:
DB still needs to drill extra holes in the bottom which will be coated with protective zinc paint. Then a deep layer of gravel, a weed membrane to keep the gravel from moving upwards and finally, soil from the raised beds put back in.
One will go on the left hand side of the patio and house herbs. It will have first dibs at the soil from the old bed as it is by now, poor soil. The other one will go on the right hand side of the patio and house the flowering plants we took out the old wooden one. It will be filled with any remaining soil and topped up with new stuff.
Can't do anymore at the moment as it is just too cold and the protective drainage hole paint can't be applied until the tubs are a bit warmer. We think we may do all this work inside the conservatory where it will be around 14 - 20 C on a nice day.
DB has managed to do the holes!
I saw a custard type pudding on the internet the other day and thought I would have a try. After cooking the 'custard', it was left to go cold:
I used the recommended sized dish for this. It was then tipped out and should have been able to be cut into 12 slices x 1" deep - err - no...
Although it came out the dish fine, it was barely 1/2" deep and I could only get 6 slices out of it. I say out but in reality it fell apart as I tried. These slices should then have been brushed with a vanilla egg mix and baked. Couldn't do that.
Anyway, we ate it and it was fine but we were just disappointed.
To the success!
Remember the small dish of soup I saved from the other day. We cooked the last half punnet of mushrooms, added the soup and some chilli flakes. This was put on top of pasta shells and topped with cheese:
Ruby on her walk today, was 'smoking' an even larger cigar:
Once cooked, I added two stock cubes, 1 teaspoon dried tarragon, lots of black pepper, 1/2 a shallow tub of garlic cream cheese and two sliced bockwurst. It was thickened with cornflour:
We would normally eat 4 ladles of it each for lunch. This time, I decanted 7 ladles into each of the bigger pots. The other two ladles plus the remainder went into the little pot. We shall have both larger pots over the next two days.
The smaller pot will be frozen to have meat added to it and serve with noodles or rice for a cheap meal.
DB falls into the second category of recipients to receive the vaccination. He was phoned up of Monday by our surgery and invited today. Our surgery is giving them but at another practice. He has had the Pfizer version and we wait to see if any common side effects occur.
He was quite surprised to be invited so early but we have both decided to have it, so off he went. He said it was very well organised but very cold. Although indoors all the windows were open but he had been warned to wear a winter coat.
Having planned on making lasagne for a meal to share at Christmas, obviously, that didn't happen. I had bought fresh lasagne sheets and they went into the freezer. Today I minced 400g beef, two small carrots, 4 medium mushrooms and a whole onion.
Once fried off, a can of tomatoes was added with 1/3 can water and was cooked for 25 minutes. Basil, thyme, a beef stock cubes, garlic puree, tomato puree, black pepper and a good dash of Worcestershire sauce went in. The sauce was finally thickened with 3 tablespoons of oat flour.
The meals were made in one medium tray and two small freezer dishes. Meat sauce, pasta, cream sauce, parmesan, repeat. They are sitting on the kitchen windowsill, next to a slightly opened window to go cold:
We shall have the blue dish tonight with a side salad and freeze the other two for later use.
Welcome to some new followers. Sorry I can no longer tell who you are but welcome anyway.
Despite it being very cold outside yesterday, DB decided to get the high pressure hose out. The garage wall that faces into the garden was quite green. Now it looks far cleaner. I used a hook on a broom handle to hold the blackberry branches out the way. The length of it also kept me dry!
Ruby kept out the way as well.
Before he started, I took the opportunity to use a garden fork, and lift the soil up in a vain attempt to help drainage. With the expected deluge, it might not help much.
Ruby and I have now come in but I can hear him merrily cleaning. Once he starts, he goes mad!
New packets of vegetable seeds ordered for this growing year:
Climbing French Beans - Neckar Queen and Cobra
Carrots - Chantenay
Tomato - Ailsa Craig
Radish - French Breakfast 3 and Saxa 2 - one sowing only after that Flea Beetle kills them
Leek - Malabar
Lettuce - Little Gem and Lobjoits Green Cos
and flowers:
Nasturtium Paso Doble - edible
French Marigold - Honeycomb - non edible
We don't have room for anything else.
Herbs we have and still to get are:
Rosemary - Have
Bay - Have
Sage - to get
Thymes - to get
Mint x 2 - Have
I won't be doing any sowing for quite a while yet but am really looking forward to getting going again.
When chilled to the bone, home made soup!
This one used an onion, three carrots, three smallish potatoes, a tin of tomatoes, a cup of split red lentils, tomato puree, garlic puree, a heaped teaspoon of smoked paprika and two stock cubes.
Once cooked two thin bockwurst were sliced into it along with two handfuls of spinach and a bit of oat flour to thicken it:
We awoke this morning to a smidge of snow, about 1", first amount for this year. Probably the only amount, who knows, with our warmer wetter winters now.
This was from our lounge window early on:
One of Ruby out on her walk, she hasn't seen snow for a long while:
Having worked out the savings, we decided we could now do the garage. Over the years, it has had its side and front door changed to upvc. Now was the turn of all the weather boarding, guttering, downpipes, windows, bird guard strips etc.
Out of all the work we have had done in the last couple of years, this was the most expensive for a 'one off' job, costing more than 5 window replacements. Hey ho!
The work was started yesterday, in heavy rain. By about 1pm they had to give up. Both of them were both soaked to the skin, very cold and could no longer feel their hands.
They returned this morning to finish off. One part of the job quoted for, was unable to be done. They thought they could do the space between the right hand side of our garage and the neighbours, but it was less than one foot and the fitters refused after explaining. Originally neighbour had said they could go on his roof but he has recently changed it and feared it wouldn't hold their weight even with boards to spread the weight out. We understood.
However, they did say it could be done a different (and probably more expensive way), in summer, when they could attempt it from the inside of the garage. We shall see.
Here are the pictures of it newly finished. This is the side into the garden. The window is also new but we have to rejig the left hand pole of the fruit cage to get it back together properly:
They had not done this water butt configuration before and were quite amazed:)
DB took this lovely picture this week, out on his early morning walk with Ruby:
I don't know why, but when I run out of homemade washing machine liquid, I always have to make myself make some. It was done yesterday and took less than 5 minutes. Really woman, pull yourself together!
So simple to make. Into an empty 4 pint plastic milk bottle container, add:
1/4 cup washing soda crystals followed by about a cup of near boiling water - swirl to blend.
Add 1/4 cup washing up liquid (I use Ecover) or washing machine liquid detergent (I would use baby stuff) - swirl to blend
Gently top up with cold water to avoid creating too many bubbles. I make two containers up at a time.
BEFORE USE: Shake gently then use about 1 cup per wash.
Costs a small amount of money and cleans most clothes except perhaps heavily soiled items. If I know of a stain, I use a stain remover bar before washing.
You can if you wish add a few drops of essential oils if using a scentless liquid. Tea tree and lavender work well.
After timing our grocery shopping to arrive at the pet food store in time for opening, they were still closed. Instead of their usual 9.00am they have changed it to 10.00am, when, I don’t know. We weren’t the only ones caught out, several others joined us in another nearby pet food store who do still open at 9.00am.
We managed to find what we needed bar one item, which we substituted. We then went to another nearby store and they did have the thing we were after. Although not essential shopping, we also bought wrapping paper and a bag of compost. We got caught out last year when no compost could be found. Seeds were ordered online and will be delivered shortly.
Back home, shopping away, hands washed, tea and biscuits, all in under 1 1/2 hours. We don’t need to go out again until next week.
The weather forecast is for 8C today. It is currently 4C and very, very cold. Colder than the last few days. Don't know why as there isn't a great deal of wind to factor in wind chill. Mind, the sun has finally popped out so that might improve things.
DB, mad thing that he is, has been power washing the outside of the conservatory as it has some large algae patches on it. It looks far better but he has now come in, looking very cold.
Yesterday, I cooked the lamb hock to provide stock and meat for soup. We have lamb, vegetable and barley soup for two days now.
Tea tonight will be a bit ad hoc. Avocado on toast topped with poached eggs. We will then finish off the blackberry, raspberry and mango sponge baked yesterday. A random mix of fruit as we are finished off odds and ends from the freezer.
DS is 'back at work' today, after the two week Christmas break and a weeks holiday. He doesn't have far to go. A few steps from their hallway into the converted garage which has been turned into a nice big office/work space for them both.
Had a nice chat with them all yesterday. DGD was quite vocal, crawling around, coming back to look at us. She spends quite a bit of time on her knees now as well. Their stair gates are up, as is the fire guard and kitchen gate. She is busy exploring everywhere!
First of all, welcome to new followers.
When looking for dies for people, I try to find ones if possible that match their interests. DS and his wife both like to do rock climbing, weather and Covid restrictions notwithstanding. Might be a while before they take it up again now they are parents.
This one was made before Christmas for him:
What do you do to prepare for your weekly, fortnightly or monthly shop? I have a freezer list and spare pantry list. A screen shot of our freezer list for example is this:
I peruse all these lists and work out what to use towards a menu plan. From the menu plan I create a shopping list of any items that do not appear on my lists. These are generally fresh fruit and vegetables, dairy and a few extra items.
I did have two legs of lamb in the freezer but one was thawed. It had its hock removed and used for soup. The rest was roasted for 4 dinners to eat over 2 different days. Leftover cooked lamb was minced and will be turned into yet more meals to be put back into the freezer. I have already shopped my lists to make sure I have what is needed for these addition freezer meals.
Generally, anything not on my shopping list does not get put in the trolley. Exceptions can be shopping for gifts to put away or buying something from the rapidly disappearing shelves of Christmas items, again to put away for later use.
We got onto this very good habit during our war diary ration years, see diary on tab above. We have never strayed from it and believe these lists, plans and shopping requirements have saved us a fortune over the years.
How do you shop?
We have invested in a really good pair of electric dog clippers for Ruby. She will be done twice a year to help keep her more comfortable. Our woods around here have a lot of Burdock and their seeds heads hang around for months on end. Her fur just gets full of them and they are incredibly difficult to remove from longer hair areas.
DDiL gave her a trim in July, the last time we got to see them. She looked very nice and looked a lot better for it. Burrs were far easier to remove for a start and she was a lot easier to clean and dry.
I had intended to only trim her feet today but as she wasn't protesting very much, just got on with it. She had the clippers near and on her, both switched off then on to show her there was nothing to worry about. Lots of praise and a couple of healthy treats and off we went.
My back and shoulder blades were killing me by the end, despite her being done at waist height:
Once we get the majority of a jigsaw finished, every piece is put onto the table and sorted into groups, in their individual shapes. This makes it so much easier to identify what shaped piece you need.
Anyhow, we finished our latest jigsaw on day 4:
A quick picture of the jigsaw at the end of day 3:
In May, we have a holiday carried over from last year, I hope we can take it but don't see how unless Covid goes away or we are all protected.
Government maths has decided that 30m vulnerable people need to be vaccinated, at 2 million per week. That will take 15 weeks. If it were just one dose, that would be that and they would be able to roll out vaccinations into the next group of people. DB falls into the first of the four target groups, but not me.
However, before 12 weeks, hopefully sooner, the first lot who were vaccinated will need to have completed their second doses. You can't just start that process at 12 weeks as it would mean, they wouldn't get their second vaccination for up to another 15 weeks. By then, their first dose will be useless.
This is the planned rollout of vaccinations (page 8 of 25 pages) from the government website, see here:
1. Residents in a care home for older adults and their carers
2. All those 80 years of age and over Frontline health and social care workers
3. All those 75 years of age and over
4. All those 70 years of age and over, clinically extremely vulnerable individuals*
5. All those 65 years of age and over
6. All individuals aged 16 years to 64 years with underlying health conditions which put them at higher risk of serious disease and mortality
7. All those 60 years of age and over
8. All those 55 years of age and over
9. All those 50 years of age and over* Clinically extremely vulnerable individuals are described here. This advice on vaccination does not include pregnant women and those under the age of 16years (see above)
I can't tell from reading the paper, whether these 9 categories above are all of the so called 30m vulnerable in total or not.
So really, the first few months of the year will be taken up with these vaccinations. Then the rest have to follow. Figures on who will take up this offer vary but seem to be between 48% and 56%.
Some won't be vaccinated as they don't agree with them, some are worried that it contains a microchip and some still think the whole thing is a hoax!
If only half the population take up vaccination, how are we ever going to get back to leading normal lives?
Nope, nada, no way! I am planning on 2021, certainly the first half of it, being just as bad as 2020. I am not sad or mad about it, it is what it is. I have decided to accept it and get on with things as best as I can and be upbeat as much as possible.
I hope that restrictions lower so we can see our granddaughter. We have accepted that she will be walking before we see her but hey ho!
Saturday 2nd January 2021, saw us starting our third jigsaw. This one was from DS and family, for my birthday last year. It is of Steep Hill in Lincoln. A place we have vistied a few times and struggled to walk up! This was at the end of the first day:
By the end of day on Sunday, we had this much done:
I wasn't quite sure what kind of card to make for DGD but settled on a number one theme:
DB had requested a 'grime guard' to fit his Q-Snap needlepoint frame. I finished it on Friday:
It is mainly to stop the Aida from discolouring where he holds it. YouTube is a mine of information as well as discovering Q-Snaps, he found the tutorial for this and has learnt how to start and end his sewing in a neater fashion.
It is a picture of Ruby sitting in front of a terracotta tub of French Marigolds. Her colouring is a bit light but we can tell its her.
We received a video from DS the other day of DGD crawling! We had received one the previous day where she was pushing one leg out to the side, commando crawling style, then pushing and hauling herself forward. Today was a slow and wobbly but full on crawl. Way to go little girl. She looked as pleased as punch!
I like to buy 100% thick fluffy tea towels as they work better for other projects after their initial use.
Tea towels in our house, which we change every day, last between one and two years. After this, they can be cut into half to make floor or cleaning cloths (oversewing the cut edges).
Each half could be folded into half and stitched to create vegetable and fruit storage bags for the fridge. Cut into quarters, they make good quality dish washing cloths. Dishclothes are changed every day but I crochet about 10 of them every or every other year.
Bathroom towels are bought every, or every other year depending on how threadbare they get. We never pay much for them which is probably why they don't last for too long. The current (now old) towels go off for drying (us or the dog) after muddy walks. The ones previously used go off to an animal rescue centre.
The old hand towels are cut in half, oversewn and become new kitchen towels for drying our hands on.
Ruby was in bed last night by 22:30 hrs but we stayed up just in case loud fireworks upset her. Didn’t need too. Not a single firework nor a ring of church bells. No one shouting outside nor car doors slamming and merry voices. Very odd but very welcome.
We watched a socially distanced Jools Holland and his Hootenanny until the New Year came in, then off to bed we went. Again odd.
Very quiet morning so far. Ruby is full of beans today but passing Mr. Whippy weird coloured poo. Hopefully that will be back to normal soon.
Hope you all had a good evening and Happy New Year to everyone.
