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Post by ambersparkle on Jan 17, 2021 11:03:55 GMT
Morning all, miserable here, hoping it fares up. Got to try and catch up a bit with everything that has been left. Another Letter disappeared into the wild Blue yonder, that I wrote last Night, so going to post this and see what happens, before I write any more.
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Post by ambersparkle on Jan 17, 2021 11:16:52 GMT
Got some of my get up and go back, but so much to do, this will be a short Missive. Want to find some nice big Tatties to bake, halve, and fill, then freeze. They really are the most useful food Item in my Freezer. When you want something sustaining, but just a snack, they fit the Bill, and as I have loads of Potatoes, seems the obvious thing to do. Going to make a bit of Pastry, as taken out Chicken filling, will make a small Pie. So will love and leave you, have a good Day, be back later. love Tina x
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Post by brightspark on Jan 17, 2021 12:34:26 GMT
Morning ladies,
I am taking the opportunity to drop in, as there is something going on with my laptop and this forum - frequently finding that there is no update for about a week, meaning that I am unable to comment on anything recent. I just don't get technology, and feel I just don't know enough to sort out any problems that arise!
So if I am missing at any time, that could be the reason.
A quick message to Jan - where are you? Let us know you're okay...
It was OH's birthday yesterday, and bless 'em, we had a zoom with the family, and both son and daughter had made cakes and put candles on them to sing happy birthday to him. Shame we couldn't taste them!
Aly, I have to admit, that I totally agree with you about SiL's treatment. She is 75 years old and I believe we could all understand if thinking that she may have been overlooked because of her age. Whether you agree or not, that is how she feels - that she's not worth it. Totally wrong, of course, but I think she can be forgiven for feeling that way. What I fail to understand is that the esteemed orthopaedic surgeon told them at the beginning that, to pin and plate her arm would cause problems should she fall on that arm again as the bones would be shattered. Okay, understood. So why not ensure the bone is in the right place and plaster cast it? His argument is that there would be muscle wastage if he did that !! But what has happened now - she hasn't been able to use it for 5 months - there must be muscle wastage already, which could've been prevented if she'd had a cast put on soon after it had happened?! Worse still, he has put forward now that he will do the operation to put in pins and a plate - only for her to fall again - on her already broken arm. I am frustrated and angry that she has had to suffer for so long and it still hasn't been rectified. Rant not quite over!
I am going to put a chicken in the oven now, and cook it slowly, and make it into a roast for later today.
Tina and Iris, stay safe and stay well - if you can ! x
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Post by irist on Jan 17, 2021 14:23:37 GMT
Afternoon all. Another dry day!! OH had a bad night so didn't get up until almost midday. He had breakfast in bed then lay back down to rest. This meant I had to creep about to avoid disturbing him. So I painted the hearth and then went outside to weed the raised bed which runs along the pavement at the front of the house while he was snoozing. So good to get outside without being drowned, blown off my feet or frozen for a change. I also rubbed down and filled the places where the plumber removed the old radiator in the bathroom when he installed a new towel rail. My intention was to put the first coat of emulsion on to hide the marks but we don't have any of the colour left in the shed For the time being the towels will hide the marks. Haven't decided what colour we will have on the walls when the new shower cubicle is put in so will wait until that happens to redecorate. I was up early so put the beef in the slow cooker for lunch. It was delicious and fell apart. We had the remainder of yesterday's forest fruit and apple crumble for pud with Greek yoghurt. Now too full. I'm now going to dive behind the TV unit. When I was hoovering yesterday I managed to disturb all the cables at the back and I had to sort out the problem before we could watch anything last night. Daughter has given me a tower extension lead with power surge protection which she no longer needs so that's my next task - untangling all the cables and arranging the plugs better in the tower unit to prevent the problem reoccurring. Glad you are feeling better, Tina. Don't overdo it trying to catch up! Whatever you are doing for the rest of the day - enjoy.
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Post by ambersparkle on Jan 17, 2021 20:48:10 GMT
Hi Girls! never got round to doing much, as Daughter came up, and redded up for me, Son, brought over more Dinners, so not going to starve any time soon. Must try and write a bit more of the Story, but have not been up to it lately. Don't know whether Daughter said she had made a Coconut and Orange Cake, or a Coconut and Cherry, but either would be very acceptable, not been able to bake for such a while. When the Children were young, I made all sorts of things to stretch the Budget,Chocolate Spread, Cheese Spread, if it made my Money go further, I had a go, remember how I made Cheese Spread, but not Chocolate, did not in volve Chocolate, only Cocoa, possibly Cocoa, Marge, and Icing Sugar. I entered every Competition going, and in the Years before they petered out, I won, from a tin of Polo Mint Holes, to a 28 Day Cruise in the Carribeann, can't spell it sorry, but could not take it, as was fostering at the time. All put Jam on the Bread and Butter. Away to my Bed, night, night. love Tina x
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Post by ambersparkle on Jan 18, 2021 9:27:30 GMT
Morning Lasses, very, very cold, but a lot of blue Sky, so who knows? Really want to make Soup, but don't think it would be a good Idea, my Stomach is still not right, and will give me more time for Crafts, have so many Birthdays coming up, the worst time of the year for me. Don't have much to say, so will come back later. Have a good Day, love Tina x Forgot to say, my Daughter, and her Friend took the Cruise, Holiday of a Lifetime, but my favourite win ever, was a Weekend at Weston Park, in Shropshire, now in the Care of the National Trust, reading a lot of Historical Novels, had always wanted to sit in the Window Seat of a Nursery, and that was the Room we were assigned. But that's another Story. lol. Spooky .
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Post by irist on Jan 18, 2021 13:55:23 GMT
Afternoon ladies. A miserable, damp day here again after a lovely day yesterday. Never two days the same. I've just pottered around catching up on odd jobs this morning. Made carrot and leek soup for lunch today. Found the recipe in an old book my Mum gave me just after we got married ie almost 50 years ago. It was tasty and so easy to make. It included some oats and milk so made a filling lunch. OH had a second helping so it must have been OK You're teasing us, Tina, with the story of your stay at Weston Park. We need to know what was spooky! I think you also mentioned the nursery where you worked as a girl was haunted. Are you saving the stories for Halloween! Although this house was built some time in the 1600s and creaks and groans at times, the noises are benign. We've never had anything fly off shelves or move around of their own free will. When we had a specialist cob* builder come to look at the house he immediately stood in the inglenook to see if there were any witches' marks carved into the back of the oak lintel. There were none. *Cob is a building material made from mud, straw/horse hair and bits of stone used commonly in Cornwall at the time our house was built. I remember talking to a Kenyan guide when we were on safari years ago. We told him we lived in a mud house and he wouldn't believe us Like many such houses, we have granite built up from ground level for about a metre then there is cob on top to roof level. Both the chimney breasts are granite to full height. Must go now. OH and I are now going to try to find a way to reattach the clothes rail into the wardrobe.
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Post by Aly on Jan 18, 2021 14:32:51 GMT
Afternoon Day running away as usual. Did the shopping today dropping off recycling and rubbish on the way. My much loved yellow mini went yesterday so am now carless . Planning our trip to Germany early next month. Found some linseed oil at the supermarket so P is now coating the chicken house. Very much hoping to get it done before Friday so I can go to the market Friday morning and hopefully get my chickens. Longing to have them again. Treated myself to some bright red French terry and cuffing. Planning on making a sweatshirt. Used my usual source in Ireland and had the dispatch notice within hours of putting in the order. She does a vlog on Sunday evenings where she shows her makes for that week and all the new fabrics that have arrived. There are usually 250 who listen in around the world and you have to be quick ordering fabric you like as it goes out of stock very quickly. So far there have been no extra taxes to pay or laborious paperwork to do. Have given up ordering from England because of this. I can pay in euros too. Am working on having my private pension paid into my euro account with the plan to finally close my English bank account. The German bank I now use allows me to use the card in England too. My vegan subscription box will take in euros too. It is a big decision to make and needs thinking about. It has been dry today and not so cold. Still lots to do.
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Post by brightspark on Jan 18, 2021 16:57:08 GMT
Hello ladies,
Started this an hour ago, and somehow distracted! Aly, I can imagine you'll miss your Mini, but it is one less thing to worry about, and no longer eats money (that's how I see cars!). The idea of having chickens sounds great - we had chickens when I was a child, but our life since has been one of moving around, and now we don't have the right property to entertain having them, which is a shame. Iris, we've seen this type of cob building on the Grand Designs programme - this was a common building material all those years ago. Tina, chicken soup seems to be the thing that cures all, so legend has it! Perhaps try a small bowl of it. Some of the supermarkets sell small pots of soup - perhaps someone can buy you a small pot just to give you a rest from making it? At the moment I have boiled up the chicken bones and strained it to have a tasty stock, and chopped up loads of vegetables, so that is hubbling currently. I made some lemon with blueberries fairy cakes this morning, one of our five-a-day! They were very light and just yum. Just now is time for a cuppa, as OH has just come in from taking the dog for a walk. Have a good evening, x
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Post by ambersparkle on Jan 18, 2021 19:56:57 GMT
Been a tiring Day, although have not done much. Am going to have an early Night, cosier in the Bedroom, and can do Crosswords, or read, or look on the Net. What I meant Iris, was it was spooky, that I had always wanted to see a Nursery of Days gone by, with a Window Seat, as am an avid Reader of Historical Romances, and never thought I would. Not that Weston Park was spooky, but it may well have been. It was certainly an experience to treasure. Night all. Tina x
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Post by ambersparkle on Jan 19, 2021 9:38:15 GMT
Morning Girls, a very Grey Day, light sprinkling of Snow on the Ground, and cold. Am going to make a Pot of Soup, can't do without it, hope Tum, feels the Same. Made Pastry yesterday, but could not lift the old Weighing Machine, to see what was what, Daughter, has lifted it down from it's usual position, when she was cleaning, so, took a Pack of frozen Butter, which I know is roughly 8 Ounces, cut it in half, then into quarters, and grated a quarter, into four ounces of plain Flour, a wee drop of Milk, to bring it together, and use some for a Pastry Lid for a Chicken and Mushroom Pie, but the Pie filling smelt a bit suss to me. and can't take any chances, so not quite sure what I am going to do with it yet. Might make some little Tarts, but not sure what sort, could be Ecclefeccen, can't spell it, or might just freeze it, cooked Plums yesterday, so might bake a piece to go with them as my Dessert, will let you know later, going to start the Soup off, hate doing that before the Carer comes, my Feet are so cold on that Kitchen Floor. Be back later. have a good Day, love Tina x
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Post by Aly on Jan 19, 2021 9:51:06 GMT
Morning After much thought we have decided to fence an area of garden for the dogs and give them a kennel. When the weather permits they can go out and be kept safe. This will make it less work and cheaper than fencing the whole garden. They will have a big fir tree in their area and be able to see across the fields. Two cats came out with us this morning and it was lovely to see them playing. Lola Is a tree climber and she loves all the big trees we have. Humbug is not so good at jumping so tends to stay on the ground. Will relocate the bee hives to behind the red currant bushes there is another bush that will be behind them which will be good. Plenty of shelter. Will start sorting them out next month, so they are in place when everything comes into flower. I know of a bee keeping shop about 1 1/2 hours away we can order a nucleus from. P is in the workshop building the chicken coop. Went up to the hobby room planning to finish the pinafore but the dogs were barking so back down getting on with grandsons what is now going to be a cardigan. He loves dinosaurs and I found some good buttons I want to use. Just a thought for those having problems posting try clearing history and cookies on your device. They always cause problems. A cold wind blowing but at least it is dry. Another hospital appointment with P in the morning so an early start.
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Post by irist on Jan 19, 2021 11:03:37 GMT
Morning ladies. Damp and dreary here but worse is to come - heavy rain and high winds for the next couple of days. Oh joy not!
I've been in dialogue with the woodburning stove chap. I sent him a photo of the fireplace and gave him the dimensions and he has suggested two models that would meet our needs. We have chosen one of them and the fitter will come out to assess the existing liner and work out a price for installation. He may need to get on the roof to have a look so it won't be safe for a few days. I think we may need a new liner which will increase the price but it has to be done to conform to new regulations.
All your animals are going to be spoilt, Aly! You look after them so well. Hope all goes well at the hospital tomorrow for P. I've just had a call from our surgery. We will have our Covid jabs on Friday lunchtime. The centre they are using is about a 20 minute drive away but it's easy to get to so not a problem.
Could you buy a small electronic scale to weigh out your ingredients, Tina? They are very light but I'm not sure if you would be able to see the digital display?
OH is calling me to help with reinstalling the clothes rail in the wardrobe. He half finished the job yesterday but his backache returned so he had to give up.
Have a good day.
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Post by ambersparkle on Jan 19, 2021 13:07:00 GMT
Good Afternoon Ladies, what have you inherited in your Garden, Aly, are there Fruit Trees ? and you mentioned Redcurrent Bushes. Been in the Kitchen most of the Morning, made the Soup, years ago, when I was told to lose two and a half Stone, I stopped sauteying, can't spell it, my Vegetables for Soup, and just added them to the Water, and the Soup has always been tasty enough, but today, added a bit of Butter to the Pot, and sauteed, can't spell it, my Veg, had forgotten what a difference it makes, and as am losing Weight, and my Clothes are hanging on me, or off me, feel I can now afford to have a bitta Butta. Instead of throwing every bit of stale Bread out to the Birds, and as it was a thicker Loaf than I usually have, am making Garlic Croutons, will be handy for future Soup. I prefer thin Bread, like the Retro Milk Bread. Been in the Kitchen all Morning, and am away back there now, using up Tomatoes, to make a nice Sauce for a Pasta Dish, no wasting here, lol bbl.
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Post by Aly on Jan 19, 2021 17:21:41 GMT
There is a very old apple tree too. Waiting to see what else comes up. Found some very interesting plumbing with the kitchen sink which has been gurgling rather a lot. Will pick up a few bits tomorrow so P can sort it out. Hen coop is built and in the garden and most of the wire has been attached to the run. Should be finished in time for Friday market. Will call in at a garden centre tomorrow that has an animal section to hopefully get sawdust for the nest boxes. Want it all sorted before the chickens arrive. They will liven up the garden. Managed to take Bruno out without his lead which is progress. The two cats who are mousers for the empty house opposite are always in our garden. I put some cat biscuits out for them today and have never seen cats eat so fast. They are clearly very hungry. I picked them both up and they are so light. The white one has one blue eye and one green so have renamed her Ziggy. I can see I will be feeding them from now on.
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