So it has been a few days since I hit the keyboard. “Why so?” I hear you ask. Reader, I was blindsided, as I am every year, by the realisation that Christmas is only a week away and I am sitting on a gazillion half finished projects all designed to be completed by Christmas and,Continue reading “The Christmas warp speed effect”
Category Archives: baking and cooking
Better than Gravybones
I have established that there are some things Lyra likes more than gravy bones (her dog treat of choice). Usually any wandering off or other errant activity can be interrupted, and order restored, by bellowing loudly “Baby puppy, gravy bones” (and producing said treat). Over the last few walks, however, we established the limits ofContinue reading “Better than Gravybones”
Gourmet Sunday #2
Yesterday was my second turn in the “Gourmet Sunday” slot. The boys were heading off to do a friend’s garden so Lyra and I would be left to let the day develop. I was up with the lark (or by 10 past 8 at any rate) and had two loads of washing on, Saturday night’sContinue reading “Gourmet Sunday #2”
The corn snack universe sends a gift
Yesterday was Keith’s gourmet Sunday. A fine rack of lamb was consumed and dinner conversation meandered from the sublime to the ridiculous as per usual. Ignorance being no barrier to heated debate at Ruthven, Lachlan and I piled into a spirited argument on the meaning of infinity. We are nothing if not ambitious. (This provedContinue reading “The corn snack universe sends a gift”
Reasons to be cheerful part 4
I am smiling to myself as I type, with the lyrics to Part 3 running round my head. You have to love a bit of Ian Dury and the Blockheads (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CIMNXogXnvE). And this week I have many reasons to be cheerful. Gourmet Sunday, over all, went off well, and I have therefore been relieved ofContinue reading “Reasons to be cheerful part 4”
The egg timer has tilted
We are in a time of short days and long evenings. Mornings are beginning to be frosty and the sun is dipping shortly after three – a long and chilly sunset has commenced by 4.30. There is markedly less dawdling on my morning walks with Lyra – I am picking up pace to keep warm.Continue reading “The egg timer has tilted”
Self Preservation
The skies are intense at the moment. This morning there was a darkly luminous grey. A few days ago there was a dawn of the most startling fuchsia which had me prancing around the garden in my dressing gown. When I wake in the wee small hours I find stars so startlingly bright that IContinue reading “Self Preservation”
Four go to the seaside
Last Sunday we had our first meal out for eons! We pootled along the back lanes past Holy Island to Bamburgh. Other than a late night drive through when we came to the Mizzen Head for dinner a couple of years ago, I don’t think I have ever been to Bamburgh. It is a lovelyContinue reading “Four go to the seaside”
Blue sky thinking
We have had a glorious few days recently. Aside from dog walking duties, I have largely been spending the days in the garden, resplendent in my wellies and my Dickie’s navy blue and red zip up boiler suit (which gives me the air of someone who might, at any moment, pivot from gardening and fixContinue reading “Blue sky thinking”
The crabapple challenge continues
Day two of my crabapple challenge saw a further load of the orange lads, and also a first pick of the little yellow ones, despatched. As a starting point I separated out the particularly attractive crabapples from my first picking. It was brutal. One small brown spot or an asymmetrical bulge and they were choppedContinue reading “The crabapple challenge continues”