Just being able to train the shoots along the wires my dad so kindly put on the fence for me would be great!
I think I will get one of those slate plant markers and write on it 'I am not a weed - please do not kill me!'
 |
| Something like this, maybe. |
Thursday, 31 March 2016
An addition.
I just have to post this, I'm so pleased. Despite being 'bumped off' several times by over enthusiastic young gardeners over the last year or so, my poor, long suffering tayberry is sending out several new shoots. Titchy little shoots, but shoots nevertheless. Three cheers. No fruit this year, of course, but I now hope to get some next year, please, pretty please.
Just being able to train the shoots along the wires my dad so kindly put on the fence for me would be great!
I think I will get one of those slate plant markers and write on it 'I am not a weed - please do not kill me!'
Just being able to train the shoots along the wires my dad so kindly put on the fence for me would be great!
I think I will get one of those slate plant markers and write on it 'I am not a weed - please do not kill me!'
Thursday
It's another lovely morning here, looking bright and mild from this side of the glass. I've not long woken up: I'm being very decadent at sleeping in at the moment although I did sit up late knitting last night so I've had just the usual amount of sleep.
Most of yesterday was spent with Beth here. She did owly sewing and I did doggy coat knitting and we both got on famously.
The doggy top is going well after several mistakes. I now know why conventional aran stitches, such as cable, are surrounded by reverse stocking stitch - it is to signal the start of the new element. I've got the cable and the trellis backed by moss stitch and it's much harder to see when one starts and the other stops when you're knitting, especially on the back. On the other hand, moss stitch lies nice and flat and that's exactly what I wanted.
Here's the pattern. The colour isn't that pink, it is more a lovely cherry red shade
I have a request to make a cushion cover so when I've done the doggy coat I will start that. At least this time I won't need to work out the pattern, number of stitches, etc!
I've always enjoyed aran knitting. It's so structured and you can see it grow so easily. What I would love to make is one of those blankets made with a number of large squared, each made from a different aran stitch. I think they look lovely!
There's no photos of the owls yet as there's one unfinished one plus some mini ones to make. When I can photo them I post one
The photo at the top at the moment is a bit 'noisy', but I was lucky to get it. I was drawing the curtains around eight last night when I saw the glow over the fence so grabbed my camera and popped out the back to see if it was any good. Two minutes later and it had all subsided.
Today I have nothing happening so, apart from some important 'paperwork' I shall knit and sew. Beth has some cloth bags, plain dull brown bags, and I have an idea for jazzing them up a bit for Kitty Stitches. I shall have a go and if it doesn't work they will never see the light of day in her.
I might also have a go at another sourdough loaf, just a little one. I might follow my nose this time rather than a recipe and we shall see. I'm not having much luck so far.
Well, the kettle must have boiled and the coffee is calling so I will leave you and get on with morning things.
Most of yesterday was spent with Beth here. She did owly sewing and I did doggy coat knitting and we both got on famously.
The doggy top is going well after several mistakes. I now know why conventional aran stitches, such as cable, are surrounded by reverse stocking stitch - it is to signal the start of the new element. I've got the cable and the trellis backed by moss stitch and it's much harder to see when one starts and the other stops when you're knitting, especially on the back. On the other hand, moss stitch lies nice and flat and that's exactly what I wanted.
Here's the pattern. The colour isn't that pink, it is more a lovely cherry red shade
I have a request to make a cushion cover so when I've done the doggy coat I will start that. At least this time I won't need to work out the pattern, number of stitches, etc!
I've always enjoyed aran knitting. It's so structured and you can see it grow so easily. What I would love to make is one of those blankets made with a number of large squared, each made from a different aran stitch. I think they look lovely!
There's no photos of the owls yet as there's one unfinished one plus some mini ones to make. When I can photo them I post one
The photo at the top at the moment is a bit 'noisy', but I was lucky to get it. I was drawing the curtains around eight last night when I saw the glow over the fence so grabbed my camera and popped out the back to see if it was any good. Two minutes later and it had all subsided.
Today I have nothing happening so, apart from some important 'paperwork' I shall knit and sew. Beth has some cloth bags, plain dull brown bags, and I have an idea for jazzing them up a bit for Kitty Stitches. I shall have a go and if it doesn't work they will never see the light of day in her.
I might also have a go at another sourdough loaf, just a little one. I might follow my nose this time rather than a recipe and we shall see. I'm not having much luck so far.
Well, the kettle must have boiled and the coffee is calling so I will leave you and get on with morning things.
Wednesday, 30 March 2016
Wednesday
Oh, dear, it feels just like Tuesday here.
That's because Sunday was a nothing day, Beth and Alex came round for Sunday dinner on Monday, so that was Sunday. As a result, yesterday was Monday so today is Tuesday! Perfectly logical.
I didn't venture out yesterday after having a bit of a coldy crash. In fact, I didn't even get dressed which is shocking! All that coughing and spluttering can't be good for those around me and now I'm retired I don't HAVE to generously share my bugs with others any more.
What was sad was that not only did I not get to a funeral to which a dear friend had invited me, partly because of sharing bugs with vulnerable folk but also, because of the aches and temperature, another friend also decided not to come over to stay. Actually, I say sad, but really it was a very sensible decision of hers as she has some important interviews coming up and there's no way she needs a cold right now! Sad for me though.
In between whinging, knitting, watching rubbish telly and snoozing, I did some kitchen stuff, mostly connected with Thermione and her varoma and mostly extremely frugal, using leftovers and old veg. I'm starting to use the varoma a lot more now and it's opened a few doors in terms of convenience.
I made my broccoli soup from the stem of the broccoli we had on Sunday - I mean Monday! While that was bubbling away, I popped the leftover bones from the lamb plus a couple of spuds cut into four in the varoma and put it on top. When the lamb was hot, I removed it and it was easy to pick off all the last bits of meat.
I mixed that meat with the leftover gravy and the few leftover roasted and chopped veg (parsnip, carrot, a roasted potato and some onion) and added a chopped mushroom which needed using up. That all went into an ovenproof dish.
When the potatoes were done, I peeled and mashed them, mixed the mash with some seasoning, some grated cheese and some butter and topped the lamb and veg mix with some of it (the rest I will use for something else. At dinner time, I heated and browned the pie in Handy Andy.
So that was lunch and dinner (I also had some broccoli left so I microwaved that while the pie was browning) sorted. It all took not much time and very little effort as equipment either went into the dishwasher or just needed rinsing and draining.
I had some hot cross bun loaf drying on me and wondered if I could use the varoma to steam a bread and butter pudding. I looked it up and it appears that you can so I will have a go, probably today.
As I was resting quite a lot, I got on with the aran cushion cover I was knitting and got it more or less finished. I just need buttons now. I posted a photo on Facebook and it caused quite a stir. What do you think?
Last night there was a new kind of Bake Off called Creme de la Creme. Basically it was teams of master bakers making what Jack Monroe would call arty farty poncy sweet stuff. I'm sure it was all very clever and expert and fiendishly difficult but I was disappointed. It was so far removed from anything I would make, there was so much specialist equipment and nowhere near enough detail about what and how that I felt disengaged from it in a way I have never felt with the proper Bake Off.
I really couldn't care less which team got through and sorely missed the banter and joking of Mel and Sue and the usually gentle but critical comments from Paul and Mary. There was no sympathy, no empathy, no 'I'd like to make that' reaction in my soul. A shame . . .
(I've come back in to say that the online reviews seem to agree with me. I LOVE the Telegraph's headline:
Bake Off Creme de la Creme review: 'a soggy-bottomed disaster.
Couldn't have put it better myself!)
Today is a craft day. Beth is coming over and we are focusing on owls. Maybe photos will appear tomorrow. I have also undertaken to knit a little doggy coat. I've never made anything like that but have all the measurements and I think I have got the structure clear in my head.
Food:
B: Fruit loaf toast (it has to be used up, it's far too delicious to waste - next time I will make half quantities!)
L: Probably soup
D: Something with chicken, I think.
And now I need my coffee.
That's because Sunday was a nothing day, Beth and Alex came round for Sunday dinner on Monday, so that was Sunday. As a result, yesterday was Monday so today is Tuesday! Perfectly logical.
I didn't venture out yesterday after having a bit of a coldy crash. In fact, I didn't even get dressed which is shocking! All that coughing and spluttering can't be good for those around me and now I'm retired I don't HAVE to generously share my bugs with others any more.
What was sad was that not only did I not get to a funeral to which a dear friend had invited me, partly because of sharing bugs with vulnerable folk but also, because of the aches and temperature, another friend also decided not to come over to stay. Actually, I say sad, but really it was a very sensible decision of hers as she has some important interviews coming up and there's no way she needs a cold right now! Sad for me though.
In between whinging, knitting, watching rubbish telly and snoozing, I did some kitchen stuff, mostly connected with Thermione and her varoma and mostly extremely frugal, using leftovers and old veg. I'm starting to use the varoma a lot more now and it's opened a few doors in terms of convenience.
 |
| The varoma is the thing on top. It is basically a steamer with two layers and it sits snugly on the thermomix lid. It holds more than you would think. |
I mixed that meat with the leftover gravy and the few leftover roasted and chopped veg (parsnip, carrot, a roasted potato and some onion) and added a chopped mushroom which needed using up. That all went into an ovenproof dish.
When the potatoes were done, I peeled and mashed them, mixed the mash with some seasoning, some grated cheese and some butter and topped the lamb and veg mix with some of it (the rest I will use for something else. At dinner time, I heated and browned the pie in Handy Andy.
So that was lunch and dinner (I also had some broccoli left so I microwaved that while the pie was browning) sorted. It all took not much time and very little effort as equipment either went into the dishwasher or just needed rinsing and draining.
I had some hot cross bun loaf drying on me and wondered if I could use the varoma to steam a bread and butter pudding. I looked it up and it appears that you can so I will have a go, probably today.
As I was resting quite a lot, I got on with the aran cushion cover I was knitting and got it more or less finished. I just need buttons now. I posted a photo on Facebook and it caused quite a stir. What do you think?
 |
| How I started it. The ribbing is too wide but it is underneath and doesn't show. The next one will be OK now I know. |
 |
| Finished. Different light so the colour looks different but it is a very nice subdued teal that goes perfectly with my furnishings. It fastens with buttons across the back but as I don't have any appropriate buttons, that bit isn't finished! It was fun to work out the pattern myself. Very simple, I know, but one has to start somewhere. |
I really couldn't care less which team got through and sorely missed the banter and joking of Mel and Sue and the usually gentle but critical comments from Paul and Mary. There was no sympathy, no empathy, no 'I'd like to make that' reaction in my soul. A shame . . .
(I've come back in to say that the online reviews seem to agree with me. I LOVE the Telegraph's headline:
Bake Off Creme de la Creme review: 'a soggy-bottomed disaster.
Couldn't have put it better myself!)
Today is a craft day. Beth is coming over and we are focusing on owls. Maybe photos will appear tomorrow. I have also undertaken to knit a little doggy coat. I've never made anything like that but have all the measurements and I think I have got the structure clear in my head.
Food:
B: Fruit loaf toast (it has to be used up, it's far too delicious to waste - next time I will make half quantities!)
L: Probably soup
D: Something with chicken, I think.
And now I need my coffee.
Tuesday, 29 March 2016
Tuesday
I find myself not too well again today and have cancelled going somewhere this afternoon where I know there will be a lot of more elderly people. A cold may not be that serious for me (just unpleasant and inconvenient) but it can be very serious for some people and it would be irresponsible of me to share it knowingly in that context.
Gutted though.
Going back to bed for a while now. See you tomorrow.
Gutted though.
Going back to bed for a while now. See you tomorrow.
Monday, 28 March 2016
Monday
Good morning, gentle readers, and welcome to a very wet, very windy Bank Holiday Monday. I doubt many round here are looking forward to a picnic in the park or a jolly down to Southend or wherever today. It's really not nice out there. Lashing rain and enough wind to blow it around very convincingly although not quite strong enough to cause any worry in terms of fences, roofs, etc.
Well, after yesterday's little non-event, I woke just before eight this morning. Unheard of, although I suppose changing the clocks had something to do with it and two days ago it would have been just before seven which feels a lot less idle and indolent, somehow.
Thanks for all the messages of concern. I think I'm feeling a lot better and, as the 'just woken up' feeling clears, will feel more better (or do I mean betterer?). I hate the first coughs and splutters of the day when you have a cold but there's no doubt, they clear the old tubes!
Enough of that! Here's a few photos I was going to show yesterday but didn't.
Here's the hot crossless bun loaves, made on Saturday. I'm munching some, toasted and buttered, as I type and it's very good indeed. The main problem is that I made a bit of a 'spatial' error and all the fruit is around the outside with none in the middle which makes for a very pretty pattern on each slice but . . .
The other is some little egg baskets that were dead easy to make. Yes, Beth, I nicked a few buttons from Kitty Stitches! I reckon little eggs are a lot smaller than they used to be because these little baskets are fractionally too large for the eggs so I had to lay them on their sides.
Today I have an Easter Sunday dinner to make. Roast lamb, etc. Apart from that, it will be knitting, crocheting and maybe some sewing too. Nice and relaxing anyhow.
Food:
B: toasted fruit loaf
D: roast lamb, etc
T: not sure - I will see what's left over or boiled egg and toasty soldiers, I think, with fresh fruit to follow.
Well, after yesterday's little non-event, I woke just before eight this morning. Unheard of, although I suppose changing the clocks had something to do with it and two days ago it would have been just before seven which feels a lot less idle and indolent, somehow.
Thanks for all the messages of concern. I think I'm feeling a lot better and, as the 'just woken up' feeling clears, will feel more better (or do I mean betterer?). I hate the first coughs and splutters of the day when you have a cold but there's no doubt, they clear the old tubes!
Enough of that! Here's a few photos I was going to show yesterday but didn't.
Here's the hot crossless bun loaves, made on Saturday. I'm munching some, toasted and buttered, as I type and it's very good indeed. The main problem is that I made a bit of a 'spatial' error and all the fruit is around the outside with none in the middle which makes for a very pretty pattern on each slice but . . .
The other is some little egg baskets that were dead easy to make. Yes, Beth, I nicked a few buttons from Kitty Stitches! I reckon little eggs are a lot smaller than they used to be because these little baskets are fractionally too large for the eggs so I had to lay them on their sides.
Today I have an Easter Sunday dinner to make. Roast lamb, etc. Apart from that, it will be knitting, crocheting and maybe some sewing too. Nice and relaxing anyhow.
Food:
B: toasted fruit loaf
D: roast lamb, etc
T: not sure - I will see what's left over or boiled egg and toasty soldiers, I think, with fresh fruit to follow.
Sunday, 27 March 2016
Saturday, 26 March 2016
Saturday
Hello!
How was yesterday for you? Here the sun came out and shone so brightly that I was motivated to change my sheets early and make use of the lovely drying conditions - something that doesn't happen very often. I now have a basket load of ironing but I don't care - it's a good excuse to sit in front of the Saturday morning telly while I iron merrily away!
I was able to get lots of crochet done. I now have five little dolls cot blankets for our stall at the summer fair and I think that's probably enough. All the ends have been sewn in (yawn) and they have been steam pressed. I just have to make and stitch on little flower and leaf shapes as a decoration and then take some photos of them on the little IKEA doll's bed I bought last year.
On Facebook, someone posted a photo of a little crochet basket so I tracked the pattern down (on You Tube - such a useful place) and had a go. This is it . . .
The 'proper' one is made with two strands of DK and a big hook but I made mine with single strand and a smaller hook, just to see how it worked. Isn't it lovely - perfect for a little lady. I think I shall make a few more for the June Fair stall. I think it just needs a cardboard insert at the bottom.
Here's the link to the instructions.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BO5kYGJ7tDg
Later on in the day the cleaners turned up so I went out to do a bit of weekend shopping, including the muscovado sugar I wanted for the hot cross bun loaf I am making today. When I got back the van was still there so I thought 'stuff the cost' and took a little jaunt around the area. I set off for Writtle, turned down the 414, took a country road turning and followed my nose. It was lovely. The roads were deserted, the sun was bright and I had no idea where I was! After a while I used the sat nav to take me back home again although it wasn't long before I was in familiar territory once more. I love country lanes and we have plenty of them around here. I must do this more often!
When I finally arrived home it was to a lovely, bright, clean house. Bliss.
Unfortunately, later on in the evening a cough developed and I did have a bit of a disturbed night, but it's OK this morning, just uncomfortable and chesty. Some hot honey and lemon will sort that out.
Today is a lazy day again. I'm baking, crafting, ironing and watching telly. First of all, though, I need to go into town to pick up those loaf tin liners from Lakeland so I'd better get going because I think parking will be rather 'iffy' today.
Today's food:
B: fruit
L: probably egg on toast
D: something with chicken
How was yesterday for you? Here the sun came out and shone so brightly that I was motivated to change my sheets early and make use of the lovely drying conditions - something that doesn't happen very often. I now have a basket load of ironing but I don't care - it's a good excuse to sit in front of the Saturday morning telly while I iron merrily away!
I was able to get lots of crochet done. I now have five little dolls cot blankets for our stall at the summer fair and I think that's probably enough. All the ends have been sewn in (yawn) and they have been steam pressed. I just have to make and stitch on little flower and leaf shapes as a decoration and then take some photos of them on the little IKEA doll's bed I bought last year.
On Facebook, someone posted a photo of a little crochet basket so I tracked the pattern down (on You Tube - such a useful place) and had a go. This is it . . .
The 'proper' one is made with two strands of DK and a big hook but I made mine with single strand and a smaller hook, just to see how it worked. Isn't it lovely - perfect for a little lady. I think I shall make a few more for the June Fair stall. I think it just needs a cardboard insert at the bottom.
Here's the link to the instructions.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BO5kYGJ7tDg
Later on in the day the cleaners turned up so I went out to do a bit of weekend shopping, including the muscovado sugar I wanted for the hot cross bun loaf I am making today. When I got back the van was still there so I thought 'stuff the cost' and took a little jaunt around the area. I set off for Writtle, turned down the 414, took a country road turning and followed my nose. It was lovely. The roads were deserted, the sun was bright and I had no idea where I was! After a while I used the sat nav to take me back home again although it wasn't long before I was in familiar territory once more. I love country lanes and we have plenty of them around here. I must do this more often!
When I finally arrived home it was to a lovely, bright, clean house. Bliss.
Unfortunately, later on in the evening a cough developed and I did have a bit of a disturbed night, but it's OK this morning, just uncomfortable and chesty. Some hot honey and lemon will sort that out.
Today is a lazy day again. I'm baking, crafting, ironing and watching telly. First of all, though, I need to go into town to pick up those loaf tin liners from Lakeland so I'd better get going because I think parking will be rather 'iffy' today.
Today's food:
B: fruit
L: probably egg on toast
D: something with chicken
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)