16-05-25

Good morning again, everyone.    It felt a bit chilly yesterday and it's feeling the same again this morning so we're back to cold fingers again.  Brrr.  It might be a bit sunnier though - yesterday we had no sun until early evening.  If we'd had rain it would have been good but no such luck.

This is so much better now.  I can see where those gaps are.

Everything is definitely migrating towards the left hand side, the side facing the morning sunshine.  Now I know where I need to provide more somethings.  I will take a look when I go to Grenville's and maybe take a trip to Longacres too.

The lavender is looking much healthier than it did a month ago and the dianthus is sending out buds - nice.  And I have three dahlias, two down the overpopulated end.  Plus those foxgloves.

Thank you, Wendy, for the advice re the irises.

Poor cyclamen.  There are bulbs in the pot too which didn't do terribly well this year so I decided to have them out (no idea why I didn't apply this to the irises too!).  When I started the soil was bone dry (ooops) and the bulbs so impacted it was hard to pull them out.  I now have a whole load of them drying out for replanting elsewhere come the autumn.  I mag fill a few pots with them so they can be moved about into corners that need some colour.

I am carefully watering the soil and I think it it properly hydrated now  The next thing is to feed the poor thing and hope for the best.

That is not a healthy looking flower, is it?

Mind you, some things seem to thrive on a bit of healthy neglect, don't they?  This sage was a poor, wizened old thing over winter and just look at it now, sending out healthy growth all over.  I'm going to dehydrate some using Nellie's dehydrate function, I think.

As for the rosemary - no photos - which was promising to take over the bed, that's now been severely chopped back.  I don't care if it is the wrong time, I have never managed to kill a rosemary yet.

I've decided I can't manage without runner beans so that's what I am sowing in the blankety bed this year.

There will be tomatoes at the end and then there's room for a short row of beans.  I can stand on the wall to harvest so that won't be a problem at all.

Today, Alex is coming over for a cookery lesson.  He want's to learn how to cook more than bunging a pizza in the oven or opening a can of beans.  Also, he wants to cook more healthy stuff so who better than his old Nan to show him.  We're doing cheesy pasta bake (hopefully) today.

I've fed Bubbles (my rye starter) and want to have a go at a more wholemeal loaf using activated starter and a pinch of commercial yeast (a sort of poolish thing).  My recipe is one fifth white and the rest is a mix of spelt, rye and wholemeal and it's really very nice indeed with a great flavour.  However, I think this mix would be too heavy for a sourdough starter on its own so let's give it a go.  It will end up as something, it won't be wasted and it might work really well.

As I discarded before feeding, I found I had loads of discard so some of that has become four crumpets.  Alex can take them home with him.

It's going to be a good day, I think.  Stay safe and be happy, everyone.  xx

15-05-25

Morning, everyone, and welcome to Thursday.

Where's the sun gone?  It looks almost like rain although I don't think any is forecast.  It's not going to feel particularly warm either, under 20C, but that's OK because I want to do some serious sorting out of my garden and that's much more pleasant when it is a bit cooler.

Yesterday and today have been times of disappointments.  Not great bit major ones, just a few little ones.

Dave and Anna have had to cancel Friday evening for very good reasons - isn't it lucky I didn't get any fresh special posh veg, just the frozen chargrilled veg?  That will keep.

Chris can't make our coffee and chat this morning - she messaged me this morning to say she needed to be with her mum who isn't feeling great.  Quite right too!

The last is my own decision.  I was going to the Civic this evening to see a local operatic society's performance of Carousel but I also got a message to say that the car park next door is closed.  Obviously, there are other car parks but none that I would feel completely safe walking back to later in the evening when it is dark, bearing in mind I would be on my own.  Nor would I want to take a late bus, assuming there is one, and taxis are too expensive nowadays.  So I made the decision to not go - a shame, but I have to go with my feelings here.

So I have a free day until early afternoon when I go to Lindsey's for Groove in the Garden (hopefully).  That will be nice; I love Groove.

And this is what I want to work on.  The middle bed, the flower bed.  All the bulbs have died back, as has the cyclamen, so that all needs clearing now.  Then I can see where/if I need to get anything to feel gaps.  

My irises didn't flower at all this year - they are very old so maybe they need replacing.  The foxgloves are doing well, I planted two bedding dahlias last year that are coming up nicely, the Japanese anemones look good and there are various other things showing.  The dianthus doesn't look great though - it's old so maybe I need to replace it.  I need something bedding-like for that pot with the single weed!

On Saturday I am going to Grenville's to get my tomatoes so I can get the pots organised and ready too.  Plenty to do, anyway.

Round the front, it's looking nice with the lily of the valley in full flower and the summer flowers growing nicely, despite the dryness.  Shame about the weeds between the slabs, isn't it.  Oh, well - back to ten minutes of scraping a day!!

Better go, have my bath, get dressed and get started.  

Wishing us all a happy and productive day.  xx

14-05-25

 Good morning, everyone.  It's another promising start to the day, the sun is emerging and it's nice and fresh.

Yesterday was a day of two halves - busy and then nice and chilled.

Chris and I walked down to Groove, chatting nineteen to the dozen.  As this block is a long one, eight weeks instead of the usual six, Lindsey had worked out what she called an 'interim playlist' with new sequences so it felt 'harder' (not the right word here) than usual.  Really good though.

I had breakfast early and then went a-shopping for Beth.  Without going into reasons, she is changing to a more Mediterranean was of eating, like me, and on Monday we worked out a shopping list which I worked through yesterday.  My table is looking remarkably healthy at the moment - nuts, seeds, avocado oil (she already has evoo), wholewheat stuff - fusilli, spaghetti, etc, quinoa, couscous . . .
You could almost see my halo as I pushed my trolley around!

I looked for my posh veg but it was a bit early - the fresh stuff has such a short life and the only remotely posh stuff was some frozen chargrilled Med veg which I got.  It gave me ideas though and I can easily knock up some mint buttered peas on Friday which will be fine.  So that's the veg sorted out.

I'm also going to help out by making freezer meals for her - for a start, she loved the lentil bake and I've started a batch of falafel (the chick peas are soaking).

It should keep me out of trouble!

Today is busy.  I have circuits (changed from Monday this week) first thing, personal training in the afternoon and an early evening Governors' meeting.  I'd like to start another loaf too as I know what I have given them won't last Beth and Alex all that long.  I want to try going proper wholemeal and add a pinch of commercial yeast to the starter, for a bit more rise.  I don't know whether it will work and it wont be authentic sourdough, of course, but worth a try.  So I had better get Bubbles activated, hadn't I?

So I will love you and leave you with hopes that we all have a very happy day today.  xx

13-05-25

Morning, all.  I'm having a very early start this morning - the sun isn't up yet and it will be nice to see everywhere get lighter and lighter.  I'm sure it must activate some hormone or other - it is so cheering!

I had a lovely time with Beth yesterday.  We enjoyed a lovely lunch (singing my own praises here!) and had a nice talk about this, that and the other!  She went home with a load of home made bread stuff - one and a half loaves, some crumpets and some bagels.  That's lightened the load in my freezer, for sure.  

The rest of the day was the usual stuff - housework, washing and ironing (all done now, yay!) and then some chilling in the sun with a book and my crochet.  Very pleasant.

Today, Chris and I will walk down to the hall for Groove.  That should be lovely in the sunshine.
Then I need to do a deep dive into all the governors' paperwork for tomorrow evening's meeting - not terribly exciting but it has to be done.  It will be nice not to have it hanging over me tomorrow, that's for sure.

I may pop over to M&S and Aldi at the Clock Tower precinct as I have some things to get for Beth and also I want to get some 'posh veg' for Friday evening - ready made sort of stuff which is naughty of me but nice and will save time and trouble too.  It's worth looking anyway.

Have a  great Tuesday, one and all.  May the sun shine for you.  xx

12-05-25

Good morning, everyone.   Here we are, back to Monday and coming close to half way through May already!

My May diary has pepped up a bit since I last checked.  Now I have:
Beth round for lunch (today)

all the usual fitness classes - circuits, Groove x 2, personal training and anything else I decide to fit in.

the usual chats over great coffee with Chris

Governors' meeting

Carousel (local society production) at the Civic

Dave and Anna round for dinner

TPP training for governors

Knit and Natter

lunch with Chris

Val here for lunch

There's an awful lot of food related socialising, isn't there.  Very Mediterranean!!  

I took a few photos in the garden just now.

One of the foxgloves Val gave me from her garden.   I know they are a week and invasive but I love them and as I have no pets and no children I thought 'why not'.  

I love this - it has come up year after year after year.  So pretty.  

Phlox Candy Stripe.

One of the new raspberry canes.  It is supposed to be autumn fruiting but, given that they spent the whole winter still in the box they came in (bad me), I'm happy to get anything at all.  They will go autumn when I prune them properly and at the right time.

Oh, dear!!

I'm sure I can use the canes for something.  Poor bamboo.

Finishing with a positive - my most successfully risen half and half sourdough to date.  I'm so pleased.

It's for Beth but I tasted a bit when slicing and before freezing and it's nice.

Today, Beth is (hopefully) over for lunch so I had betted get started with a few preparations, I suppose.  I hope you had the best weekend and have a lovely day today.

Stay good!!!  xx

09-05-25

Morning, all.   I think I am in a grump this morning - the BBC says we have bright sunshine all day so I look out and what do we have here - gloom and cloud.  Mutter, mutter!

Good start, isn't it?

Yesterday was pleasant.  After SET online and the chat with Chris (great fun), did my shop for the week, put everything away and then I baked the not-sausage rolls (you can bake them from frozen which is very handy) and buttered the spiced fruit loaf.

It was lovely round Beth's.  Very quiet - none of us do big, noisy birthdays and Alex positively dislikes candles and songs so there was none of that, just some nice food, great company and some present opening.  

Once home again, I just chilled and did some crochet.  Nice day!

Today is the usual Friday - Slimming World and then back home, as I did the weekly shop yesterday.

I will be starting a sourdough loaf for Beth and I think I will also make her a yeasted mixed grains and seeds loaf too as it's delicious.  Thank goodness bread keeps well in the freezer!

I think I will be taking a couple of days off blogging this weekend as there is precious little happening.  I'll keep up my food blog as it keeps me accountable and makes me plan but I'll be back on Monday in here.

Have a lovely day and weekend, everyone, and may the sun shine on us.  xx

08-05-25

Morning, everyone.  

The sun is starting to shine and it does feel a bit cosier this morning, thank goodness.  My fingers are not cold - always the best indicator!  :-)

I've just popped out the back to take a few photos.

The herbs are doing well.

There will be blueberries this year - as long as the birds don't take them all first!

Better than last year.

The fig's best angle.  I really need to stand this behind another pot as the lowest three quarters is bare stem.   I guess figs are trees, not bushes, so I could prune the branch growing sideways and just leave the vertical one to grow into a nicer tree shape.   Must check with RHS when the best time is.  

It's Alex's birthday today - how on earth can I have a twenty seven year old grandson?  

We're having a celebration afternoon tea - well, late lunch really.  I am contributing some hot cross bun loaf and those Delia sausage rolls plus some Schloer.  It will be good fun, I am sure.

There's quite a bit to do so, again, a shorter post (no need to cheer at the back!!).  To be fair, apart from today, there's not much happening at all this week.  May seems quite empty apart from the usual things - fitness classes, etc.  I'm good with that!

Have a great Thursday, everyone.  Enjoy the sunshine.  xx

07-05-25

Good morning, everyone.   After another chilly day yesterday (winter jumpers and heating) I'm really hoping things will start warming up today.  I ended up in one of my close knit polo neck tops with a jumper over which was lovely and cosy.

It doesn't exactly feel warm this morning so it is still fluffy dressing gown and slippers time but fingers crossed.   The forecast is optimistic and, after today, it looks like wall to wall sunshine.  Bring it on!!

I didn.t get all that much done yesterday.  Well, I did, but not what I ought to have done so today's the day.  In between morning circuits (to replace the class that is usually on Monday) and personal training, I need to get things done, I really do.

So I'm keeping this short and, after doing my Facebook stuff, I will be starting on stuff, probably a good old tidy up.  It's hard to clean when there's a mess.

Have a great day, everyone.  Take care and stay warm.  xx

06-05-25

Morning, lovely people.  The long weekend is over and life gets back to normal again.  As we all said in yesterday's comments, it was flippin' cold and my heating clicked on through the day.  I think I said in another post, I decided not to get my tomatoes yet as there's a bit of a danger of frost at the moment.  Maybe next weekend.

The highlight of yesterday was catching the RAF fly past as it went overhead.  The various sections were sometime apart - they all have different speeds, of course, and need to be in convoy by the time they reach London - but it was fun standing in the street with neighbours waiting and chatting and it was pretty impressive.  We are lucky to be on the flight path and also that the clouds were high with plenty of blue sky showing.

I didn't feel like I was doing all that much yesterday but most of the things have now been crossed off my list so I'm happy with that.  Because of the gusty winds, the washing dried quite well on the line, which I was great, and I got all the ironing done too in dribs and drabs.  That feels really good.

Today is back to normal so starts with Groove and the walk there and back, wearing a warm coat!  We're not predicted any sun today but it should feel a bit warmer as the day goes on.  As the week goes on too, I hope.

Then I have the Monday housework to catch up on as well as the few things on my list that I didn't do.  It's enough to keep me out of trouble anyway.

I hope you had a lovely long weekend, whatever you did and whether it  was a holiday or not.  Take care, everyone, and be safe.  xx

05-05-25 - Bank Holiday Monday.

Good morning, everyone.  Just a quick one today as it's Bank Holiday and there really isn't much to write about (is there ever? 😊 ).

I'm slowly and comfortably working through my list of things to do, crossing them out as I go.  I had tomatoes on the list but, given that it's turned so cold (the heating came on yesterday evening!!), I think I will wait a week or so.

Have a lovely Bank Holiday Monday, everyone.  xx

04-05-25

Good morning, everyone.  We have sunshine again but it is very noticeable cooler today and I have resorted to wearing a dressing gown again.  No rain overnight though, as far as I can tell, and none forecast.  That's not good.

I finished the blanket and I'm really pleased with how it looks.  It's the perfect size for a lap blanket and thank you all very much for your suggestions.  I now have several 'outlets' for these and, as I have a bagful of granny squares, I think I will make several because - well, why not!

I think I am going to donate this one to the Knit and Natter group - there's a raffle in aid of charity.  I've won something a couple of times and would like to give back.  We're all ladies in this group, many of whom are older than I, so a lap blanket should be a useful prize.

I love turning my stash/bits and bobs into something useful and attractive.

I've been slowly working through my list of Things To Do.  I popped over to Beth's yesterday bearing loaf, crumpets and focaccia (she was very pleased) and stayed for an hour to have a chat.  I missed Fred so much - he would have been purring on my lap within minutes.

Today looks much the same apart from seeing Beth.  I shall work slowly through my list and see how far I get.  There's only one definite - Alex's birthday is on Thursday, Beth is doing an afternoon tea and I am making some Not-sausage rolls.  It's a family tradition to have them for out family celebrations.  I have pretty much everything I need, even some home made rough puff pastry in the freezer and loads and loads of bread for the breadcrumbs, so it will be very straightforward.

This is the recipe:  they are so delicious.

Have a lovely Sunday, everyone.  Stay warm and be happy.  xx

03-05-25

Hi, all.  welcome to Bank Holiday weekend here in the UK and, nice surprise, the sun is shining brightly.  How long will that last?  No ice, but I'm enjoying it while it lasts.

Photo updates on that not-an-olive-bread-after-all.

The basic back-story is that I over-proved the dough during the bulk fermentation so I made focaccia instead - thanks, Elaine Boddy, for telling her readers what you can do with what seems to be a disaster!  Throwing it out would have been awful.

My, goodness, it was active - Just look at those bubbles after the second, shorter rise.  You could see the thing moving like the slow motion contents of a cauldron.

At least now I know what an over proved dough looks like and feels like.

After baking.  It smelled lovely.  I did dimple it, honest but it was so lively the dimples just sprang back up again!

I had fun getting it out of the oven tray!  

Here you go!  Doesn't it look great!  It tasted just wow.  Lovely, crunchy crust and soft and fluffy inside.

I had to exert great self control - thank goodness it cooled quickly.

I shall take some over to Beth's this afternoon, with her loaf and some crumpets (I have plenty of Squibbles discard again).

Three things I have learned:

1.  if in doubt, shove it in the fridge (unless you actually want focaccia, that is)

2.  chop the olives finer - it was hard to get them incorporated into the dough

3.  line the tray with parchment - I truly thought I was never going to get it out at one point

Next time I will also add some seeds and sun dried tomatoes and, fingers crossed, make a proper loaf.  I need an excuse a reason now!

I mentioned last week that I was using some granny squares I made ages ago to have a go at a shrug type thing.  Well, I did and, sadly, not my sort of shape.  It worked, it just didn't look great.  So I unpicked the seams and am now just doing a ribbed border to turn it into a rather attractive lap blanket.

I don't need another lap blanket.  Would it be worth offering it on here as a sort of give away?  Would anyone like it.  I'll finish it off today and take a few photos and then, if you're interested, just say in the comments and I can do a raffle type thing.

I have a Little List - actually quite a big list - of things I want to get done this weekend ranging from finance stuff through sharpening my knives to 'bedroom'.  That last is a necessity!!

Time to get started.  Have the best day, everyone.  xx

02-05-25

Morning, everyone.  
Wasn't it hot yesterday.  A bit sticky and stuffy too although it did cool off later in the evening and we didn't get any storms.  It feels fresh right now but should be very pleasant without yesterday's heat. 

To be fair, it probably wasn't all that bad yesterday, we've just got to get used to it.

Val gave me these flowers a week and a day ago and they are still looking beautiful.  

I'm copying some of my reply to Jackie here and adding to it - relating to my attempts at an olive and rosemary sourdough.

I came down this morning and the olive bread had risen so much it had tried to escape from the bowl!  

I did dither yesterday evening about putting it in the fridge overnight but decided not to.  That was a mistake, wasn't it?  It's so soft it's only good for focaccia (it should make lovely focaccia!) but I am out to SW this morning so it is in the baking tray, covered, and in the fridge where I hope it will be OK until I can bake it.  Fingers crossed.  

I'll try again another day.  I hope Beth and Alex like focaccia!

Today - this whole weekend, in fact, is looking totally blank apart from Slimming World and a (hopefully) very small food shop.  It's a chance to get things sorted and organised, go for a few walks, maybe, and I need to audit my freezer and cupboards again because after Spendy April comes Not Spendy May and to enjoy the garden, weather permitting.

I've had a flick through my diary for May and there's not loads on really.
It's Alex's birthday next week, Dave and Anna are round, I can go to Knit and Natter this month, Val is here right at the end of the month and that, said John, is that!! (recognise the quote?).

Then June starts in with a bang - sourdough course, trip to London and a weekend at Potters, all in one week!!

So May gives me plenty of opportunity to make the most of what I have and shove some good stuff into my holiday savings!

Have a lovely Friday, everyone.  xx

01-05-25

Good morning, everyone, and happy May Day to you.

Yesterday was just lovely.  It was so good to see Diane again and we so enjoyed looking around the Freeport shops.
I bought some shoes (a planned purchase) and then, in the M&S outlet, a couple of vest T shirts (to wear under my crochet things so I don't feel uncomfortable about the holes (!!) and they had summer pjs at around 40% off - I rather regretted getting another pair last week at full price but that's life, isn't it?

We had lunch in Pret and I polished off the leftovers for dinner.

I finished the plain flour bread experiment and the answer is, yes, it does make a half decent sourdough loaf.  It took absolutely ages which, I suppose, is not surprising, and I baked it in a loaf tin as there was no way it would keep its shape as a freeform loaf.

I had to slice into it, of course, and yes, definitely sourdough.  Quite soft but delicious and the crust is great!

It's all bagged and in the freezer now!  

What next?  Well, as I have just opened a big jar of black olives, I think some sort of olive and rosemary bread would be a good one to try!  A smaller one to start with, I think.  I know Beth would like to share it.

As always, I really enjoyed personal training.  It's always nice to have a good old chat as I work.

And that was my day.
Today is going to be pleasant.  Coffee and chat with Chris in the morning and then she's coming to Groove in the afternoon as she missed the Tuesday one last week.

And housework - there's always housework.  And crochet!!

Have a lovely day, everyone.  xx