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Post by ambersparkle on Jan 19, 2021 20:32:16 GMT
Aw, that is lovely that you have inherited two new Cats, and fed them, you are such a kind Person, Aly. It is going to be so exciting when different things appear in the Spring, hope there will be much to discover. Used the Pastry on my Plums, and it was absolutely awful, so am not such a clever Dickie as I thought I was. Well, bit more for the Birds, but not the Quality they are used to! I must have made a boob with my Ratio, of Fat to Flour. Usually use half Butter, and half Lard, they are even telling you that is healthy now! The Mistakes the Scientists have made in the past, are Mind boggling. I always thought White Cats were Blind, Aly, maybe yours is. I was offered my covid jab, but have to go to the Surgery on Saturday, which means will have to enquire about a Wheelchair Taxi, and get One of the Family to take me. Am away to my Bed, don't think there will be any reading tonight, too tired Night, Night. love Tina x
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Post by terrier on Jan 19, 2021 23:43:20 GMT
Evening everyone, just popping by to show I’m still alive, got several projects on the go at the moment, am back working more and longer hours at work. So much for my plan after Christmas to cut back to just the three days. I’m not sure if I’ve already mentioned this but am test crocheting a beanie hat pattern that Maura has been knitting and it’s quite engrossing, plus I have a jigsaw on the go and the family quiz to finish setting up for tomorrow night, so not had time to sit down and catch up on what you are all up to. have a shared Sainsbury’s delivery due tomorrow with a friend down the road who I walk with ( socially distanced of course) - it’s going to hers, but then I’ll collect our bit of it later in the day. Made a 50/50 loaf today in the bread machine, first time I’ve tried it, just had a bit of out of date whole meal flour to use up, it’s come out quite a success. I can image your looking forward to getting the hens Aly, they are interesting and always enjoyable to watch, our have near enough stopped laying for the last couple of months, just got the old girl still popping them out, but they’ll start again soon.
Found a supplier of quail eggs relatively locally the other day, so will be getting some from him when I next pass his way. £5 for 40 or 50 eggs, can’t quite remember which, but love quails eggs, perfect for hard boiling and popping in the mouth whole.
off to bed now to catch up on my latest Wilbur Smith Heroes exploits, not had time to read it for last few days
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Post by terrier on Jan 19, 2021 23:44:21 GMT
Ooh glad to see the convent story has started, will have a read of it when I get a mo
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Post by terrier on Jan 19, 2021 23:44:52 GMT
Anyone know how to turn my avatar round?
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Post by ambersparkle on Jan 20, 2021 10:06:43 GMT
Morning all, very dreich Outside, cold, and a thin Layer of Snow. So happy you are back Jan, and will be writing a bit more of 'The Story', soon, have been ill with one thing and another, and you have to be in the Mood to write. Made Soup yesterday, so not that to do, and Dinner is sorted, apart from making a few Scones, pretty well have a free Day, well, say free, but there are always things to do, and have to make my Daughter a special Card, as her Birthday is Sunday. Will not say am looking forward to going to the Surgery on Saturday, but needs must. Better move my Butt, and get dressed before my lovely Carer comes, I have two, turn about, M and W, so apart from seeing to my Legs, they will empty Rubbish, reach me down Stuff, and open Tins, etc. Be back later. love Tina x
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Post by brightspark on Jan 20, 2021 11:59:59 GMT
Morning, Strange - my post from yesterday isn't here. Ho hum. Like Tina, good to see you back Jan, I was worried that you had taken a tumble and hurt your knee again. Glad you didn't !! Shame about your pastry Tina, and I have to admit that I haven't ever found pastry that turned out well, that is, until I came across this recipe: weekendatthecottage.com/all-butter-pie-crust/ and after making this one - my best ever - I think it'll have to be in my go-to recipes. Following your progress, Aly, is hard work, yes, but I imagine you're so pleased to be where you are, and it is great reading your comings and goings to get where you want to be. Iris, will you be using your new little log fire, or is it going to be a fireplace filler ! Good luck with your vaccinations. Our son sent a text this morning, and he said that the lockdown end date currently is 31st March...Jeez. We will all be zombies by the end of this.. This morning I made a 2-egg mixture sponge cake mixture but with some cocoa, and added some sultanas, and then cooked it in a square tin, just like brownies. We had run out of cakes - our little lemon fairy cakes with blueberries have gone, as I gave half of them to a friend. Just had an Asda delivery - their website leaves a lot to be desired. Delivery today means that my order has to be in by Sunday evening. I put in my regular basic order, and twelve items came up as 'out of stock', which is daft - out of stock on Sunday doesn't mean that Wednesday still out of stock. However, last night to add last minute things, the same result. Yet, today they all arrived! Oh well, time for a coffee and chocolate cake! Have a good day, x
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Post by brightspark on Jan 20, 2021 12:08:08 GMT
Jan, I have sent you a message re: your avatar. V
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Post by Aly on Jan 20, 2021 12:36:14 GMT
Morning ...ish Hospital went fine. The anesthetist over P hypnotherapy or a general anesthetic you can guess what he chose. He spoke a bit of English which helped. As we were in the big town of Flers we called in at a few shops. Now have the stone blocks to stand the hen house on and a bag of straw and one of sawdust. The straw is for the floor and the sawdust for the nest boxes. Plan to get the chicken home set up this afternoon. Nearly done. The white cat is not blind and was there this morning waiting for her breakfast. Her brother seems happy with what she leaves. Yesterday evening my cats went out as usual but Humbug did not come back. Went around the garden several times calling her. Just before I went to bed I decided to have another look and she was sitting on the doorstep. We have all we need to put in a cat flap so hope that will be done soon and the cats can sort themselves out. Ordered a selection of 20 gutterman cotton threads yesterday from German Amazon and they will be here on Saturday. Had the dispatch note for the Meadow blanket kit 10 days after ordering and am still waiting for it. The crochet along will be finished before I even start it. This is the first one I have not joined with. Now on the sleeves of grandsons cardigan so nearly done. Planning to go to the market in Domfront Friday morning which is where the sewing shop is I like. Will call in to get the dinosaur buttons. I have an online vegan shop in France that I have used for some time. I ordered some bits yesterday and they came today delivered by the man who delivered it to our last house. It confused him a bit but he was happy to see us. Now he knows we are here he will happily leave parcels if we are out. Strong gusts of wind here as we have the edge of storm Christophe. Good to see you on here Jan . Think we all have an issue with pastry. Hope things are getting sorted Iris and Tina is feeling better. Any news on your French house Val ?
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Post by irist on Jan 20, 2021 14:31:06 GMT
Afternoon ladies. It is certainly not good weatherwise here - the usual high winds and driving rain - thank you Christophe My MiL had a white fluffy cat which we inherited when she died. It, too, had one green eye and one blue but was most definitely not deaf. She recognised OH's car and would run to the door to greet him on his return home. She loved to climb onto OH's shoulders and he would walk around with a white furry scarf around his neck. We brought her to Cornwall when we moved here and kept her indoors until she was settled. Sadly, a few days after we let her outside she decided to ignore the garden and all the fields around us and crossed the road where she met her fate. OH found her just before we went to bed and we buried her in the garden. Not sure if the neighbours saw us digging in the garden by torchlight - if they did they must have wondered who the strange people were who had not long moved into the village! Hope you get the chickens on Friday, Aly now their new home is finished. Shame the yarn for your next project has not arrived in time for you to crochet along with the video. Good to have you back, Jan, and to know you are still in one piece, just very busy. When you are feeling up to it, I'm looking forward to the continuation of your story, Tina. I've just looked at the pastry recipe to which you posted a link, Val. Never heard of adding vinegar to a pastry mix. I very, very seldom make pastry because of our low fat/cholesterol diet requirements but if it works, why not? While the oven is on tonight I'm going to put in a batch of scones to use up some Greek yoghurt languishing in the fridge near its use by date. OH finished off the fruit loaf after lunch so they will tide us over. Currently I have a large loaf cooking in the breadmaker. I've decided it's about time I sorted out my recipe folder. I tend to print out recipes I find on the net or tear them out of the Sunday supplement. I've been just leaving them in an A4 folder but they have become a nuisance because they slip out and are not arranged in any particular order. So this afternoon I'm sifting through the collection, discarding ones I know I won't use, and dividing the remainder into two folders - one sweet and one savoury. It will be so much easier than rooting through the slippery pile of papers when I'm in a hurry. I've got plenty of little plastic punched pouches to insert the chosen recipes in so my greasy/floury hands won't damage them. I must be really bored and/or suffering from OCD This morning I touched up the emulsion in the bathroom where the plumber had damaged it and also put the first coat of paint on the new pipework under the new radiator. Happy now that these are not the first thing you notice when going through the door.
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Post by ambersparkle on Jan 20, 2021 15:21:42 GMT
Think we are all suffering from something which does not have a Name but will have, in the Future. It was not deaf White Cats, but Blind! Iris , obviously some are, some are not, but strange that two should have different coloured Eyes.
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Post by irist on Jan 20, 2021 18:25:15 GMT
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Post by ambersparkle on Jan 21, 2021 9:49:52 GMT
Morning Girls, deep Snow everywhere, and the Sky is full of it. The Bird's Food is covered with Snow. Going to make Mushroom Soup, as have them to use up, getting fresh Ones with my Order tonight, think I will make Mushroom and Garlic for a change, used to have a lovely Mushroom filling for Sausage Rolls, that included Walnut, wish I could remember it. Am seriously thinking of going back to being Vegetarian. Will go to the Freezer and take lucky Dip, got to start using those Dinners up, before Son arrives with the next Lot. Making Rice Pudding today, in the Slow Cooker, a lot easier for me to handle than trying to get One in the Oven. Just had a thinking thought, the Sausage /Mushroom Roll Recipe might be in my very old in falling to pieces old Recipe Book if I could find it, wish I was tidy, but not going to change now, am afraid. Am going to have a look for my old Book, get dressed, and put a pot of Soup, and a Rice Pudding on, so will be back later. Have a good Day. love Tina x
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Post by Aly on Jan 21, 2021 12:46:22 GMT
Afternoon A morning in the garden finishing the chicken home. Not quite there just a small amount of wire to attach but now have the coop in place and the run over it. Enjoyed putting the sawdust in the nest boxes and the straw on the floor. Feeders in place and almost ready for my new girls. Rain stopped play and this afternoon P has an appointment to have two new tyres put on the car. Once the new shock absorbers arrive and the mobile mechanic has done the work all will be good again car wise. After a big fight with heart and head I have decided not to replace my car. For now we will share the BMW and P still has his sports car. It will save a great deal of money and allow us to get someone to put in a back door for us. The door will have a cat flap fitted. Means waiting longer for the cat flap but I am managing ok. The cats have shown no interest in going out the last two days. Once it warms up it will be no problem leaving the dining room window open for them. We always said we needed to live here for a while before deciding what changes we would make. Think the rest of the day will be spent sorting out indoors. We have a plumber coming later to see if he can unblock the kitchen sink. On the second sleeve of grandsons cardigan so on track to finish in time to post on Monday when we go shopping. Sounds like you are improving Tina which is good. Hope everyone else is ok.
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Post by ambersparkle on Jan 21, 2021 14:15:22 GMT
Back again, made some lovely Soup, but cooked the Mushrooms, in Butter and Garlic, then used the juice or whatever you call it, to add flavour to the Soup, which I made from the Stalks, and a couple of Mushrooms, only enough for today and tomorrow, but no waste, and all lovely Vitamins absorbed. Mushrooms are a must have for me, am never without them. Found my Recipe for Vegetarian Sausage Rolls, and am going to put it into the Recipe Section, as it could be useful, as you all have Vegetarians to cater for at time A Lady just knocked on my Door, with a Box of things, mainly Jewellery, for me to give to my other Friend, who is collecting things to sell, to raise Funds for Doggy, and Pussy Carts, for Dogs. mainly who have lost the use of their back Legs, must make up a pack of things too, have loads of small Pieces that need to go. Have not forgotten, your Bits and pieces, Val, it's just remembering.
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Post by irist on Jan 21, 2021 16:50:28 GMT
Hello there. Well it's my turn to lose my post today (: I wrote a longish message at lunchtime and now it's in the ether.
I overslept this morning after having a bad night. I had to wake OH up at 10.30 am - not sure what his excuse was! I made some pumpkin and tomato soup for lunch served with a thickish slice each of the loaf I made yesterday. I've made a fish pie for dinner tonight. This afternoon we've been out tidying our greenhouses. I also cut down the green manure OH had grown in his raised beds ready for it to rot down and feed the soil before planting up in the Spring.
I'm enjoying your snippets about the convent, Tina. How do you make your soup? Do you have an electric soup maker? I use my pressure cooker all the time but several friends and my daughter and son have soup makers and swear by them as they do all the work. I would like your veggie sausage roll recipe when you have a minute.
Hope everyone else is OK. Bye for now.
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