I HAD SOMETHING REALLY GOOD TO WRITE BUT..........

Last night as I was drifting off to sleep a thought popped into my head .... a very interesting and witty , slightly off the wall topic to write about on my blog. Not too long just succinct and to the point and very witty and amusing (??!!) and even a title to put at the top of the page. "I will surely remember that., its so clever and interesting" I thought to myself. I woke early again...5.30 isn, (Sunday morning arghhhhhh) and in trying to get off to sleep wrestled with my brain and sleepy memories of the previous night ...... absolutley nothing, no idea at all of what this brilliant piece was to be about and inspite of my hardest efforts there is still a BLANK. Maybe it was just a dream and there was really nothing there at all......

So its just a few photos I'm afraid... but quite good ones I hope.

Just spent the last couple of days visiting my mum down in Stroud. It was the most beautiful day, warmish and such lovely blue skies.

In case anyone is interested this is what I took to knit on the train

Its a rather long and slightly plain and boring wrap. I had a lovely one that was left on a plane and I have never quite found the perfect replacement, until I recently found a GIGANTIC ball of wool that was the perfect shade. Its growing nicely and I'm thinking that I am about half way.

In the evening we went for a beautiful walk over the hills, it was a lovely evening and the fields and trees and grass looked so vibrant.

As you can see its beautiful countryside.

I had a drink from a spring

The water was delicious, so cool and refreshing.

Home again now with a houseful of children/ young adults returning home from uni. It takes some getting used to again, no hot water for my shower after the gym, the towels all being wet, the fridge emptying before my eyes....

I made some sourdough this morning... it was a good one

However it is almost gone now, it is sooooo good we cant stop eating it

So a sunday roast for 7 needs preparing, roast lamb and its smelling GOOOOOOOD.

enjoy the rest of the weekend 

IF THIS IS THE CASE.........

....... then how comes this happens...???

SOURDOUGH      

this is my latest attempt and it seems to be getting better, it tastes soooo good but I can't get a great shape, I need one of those rising baskets.

have a good weekend, summer has gone here and back to grey and wind. Ian up to Scotland ofr the weekend, probably 900mile round trip..... madness..... for a cycle ride, the caledonian tape, a mere 81mls, !! the wives aren't happy but we have organised a spray tan , food and a DVD on Saturday night!!!!


Have a good weekend

A QUICKIE....

There has been new life  created in our house.......

My sourdough loaf has been born.... No yeast, just my very own starter.... I feel very proud

Its even got holes in it and it tastes good too.

Just between you and me ..... I am winning the competition as Joseph had a go with his starter the other day and it did nothing and had to be chucked, somehow that was my fault, but his starter is still looking lively and frothy so we will try a new technique at the weekend!!

LAZY SATURDAY AFTERNOON

What a lovely day we are having!
Have just made a batch of ginger biscuits and ate a fair few......

Spent an hour or so sleeping in the sun before a huge hail storm and now listening to Ian and Joseph fiddling about with bike stuff in the kitchen.. all rather blissful really.

Weekend started quite badly last night with dinner out with friends at a newly refurbished pub up the road. Looks lovely but had one of the worse meals ever there. Appalling service, cold food , undercooked chips, we sent it back but really should have not paid at all. On top of that i was driving and so was stone cold sober.... Came home to find that one of Josephs friends who was sleeping over was poorly and vomitting and spent a good while cleaning up sick and trying to sort him out!!

Then woken early in the morning by the lodgers alarm and unanswered phone ringing!! Hence the sleep in the sun...

The sourdough competition continues.... Joseph is making a loaf as we speak, but its not rising well, I am not confident, though both our starters look lively enough, in fact Josephs was escaping earlier in the week .

YESTERDAY.......

Sorry to keep going on and on and on about the weather but yesterday was unbelievably dreadful......
Really really really cold and snowy sleet all day. Not a day for being outside at all.
Walked the dogs as quickly as I could, I am looking after an extra who has been completely ruined by his owners and is a pain in the a***, came home and settled into a day of domesticity.....
The main event of the day was this.......

 My sockbasket had got out of control and it was time to sort it out which I did....

Although rather boring I do find sorting socks rather therapeutic . I realise I am very much a optimist as I find that I cant throw the odd ones away for a long time as I am forever hopeful of the other one turning up......

The red car would not start just as Becca was rushing off for an interview, rather stressful so she had to drive mine without insurance while I waited for the AA. Thankfully it was just the battery.....


Managed a trip to the gym and then lots of cooking and eating. we are on a carrot feast at present as I accidentally ordered online 5 BAGS of organic carrots instead of 5 carrots so we are making .....

 these were unbelivably yummy, carrot and halloumi fritters, really really tasty

we also made some carrot hummus to go with the falafel.


I also finished these.....

Today......
A baking fest all round, we have all been cooking as follows

 Sam made these cinnamon buns

 I made this pretend sourdough

 Becca made these fairy cakes for her boyfriends sisters birthday

 And joseph made this bloomer loaf.


Not bad going really and plenty to have for breakfast in bed tomorrow!!

WHY???

Is there anyone who can tell me why I woke at 6am this morning??? Joseph is off school with a fever , Ian is away, my bed is warm and cosy and its relatively quiet. I remembered to turn off the alarm and yet I was wide awake and nowhere near going back to sleep. Every single morning this week my alarm has woken me from a deep , deep sleep at 6.45. I'm not feeling tired so I guess its that I didnt need any more sleep..... most annoying though!!


One of the reasons I was lying awake could have been that i was thinking about my Red Nose breakfast. that has just finished. Last night I made lovely granola, sourdough bread, raspberry jam and then this morning a whole group of ladies came over for breakfast and coffee and leave a donation for a charity called Red Nose Day, which is a nationwide event, happening always around this time of year, highly supported by celebs who do all sorts of challenges for which the general public sponsor them. No celebs for breakfast but just my mates and quite a success I think. We raised £120 and everyone was having a great time, sadly I was stuck by the coffee machine, everytime I got my bottom anywhere near the  chair to join in, the door bell rang again!!


Sorry but I am just going to have to mention the weather AGAIN...... What the hell is going on??? its bloody freezing again, grey and with an icy bitter wind. The weekend is getting even colder with no real sign of any improvement. Am busily taking my Vit D tablets to try and kid my body into thinking its not midwinter still, I feel as though I am living in Narnia, with everlasting winter!!


Busy weekend ahead, a day trip to a friend in the country for lunch and then 13 for lunch here on Sunday. Becca home this afternoon so the whole brood together for a few days before Charlie leaves for Oz!!!!

Meant to take some photos of the breakfast but was chained to the coffee machine and forgot.....