The Homely Year

Lakeland rainbow

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 23:46:15 +0100

This was a special moment! Near the end of a very soggy walk by Derwent Water, a shaft of sunlight...and a beautiful rainbow, its colours reflected clearly. Made all the trudging through mud and puddles worthwhile.

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Ready for bottling

Sat, 14 Nov 2009 12:09:31 +0100

This damson gin is now a lovely colour and well ready for bottling. Hopefully, a nice warming tipple for cold winter nights. All you have to do is to strain through some muslin, into a jug. Put in a bottle and label.

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Hot meals for cold nights

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 21:55:20 +0100

Can't beat the aroma of a beef casserole on the timer and cooking slowly when you come in from work. A good slug of red wine, plenty of mushrooms and a bay leaf or two...give it two and half/three hours and Bob's you uncle (whatever that means).

Even better if it's left for a day for the flavours to develop. I like to put half in the freezer...and try to cook another dish at the same time to save on fuel.

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Too cute

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 10:23:17 +0100

We spotted these in Llandudno and they were friendly, obviously used to much passing attention. Aren't they cute, though...think they know it!

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A new addition

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 23:46:35 +0100

Didn't expect to come back with a Westie from our local antiques/flea market...but you never know what you'll find. Already looks quite at home on our mantelpiece.

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Or.....should I walk

Sat, 31 Oct 2009 15:39:21 +0100

This train does from Llanberis to the summit of Mount Snowdon. What a wonderful exhausting experience that walk/climb is. And no, I didn't do it this time...too late in the day to start out (well, that's the excuse)

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Finished at last

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 23:42:55 +0100

At last the two wardrobes are done...complete with door catches...always seems to be the one job that's left for ages. Shame the rest of the house isn't looking so good...sorting out the plumbing and central heating just now, so carpets and floor boards have had to be lifted.

And all this while Noreen's sunning herself in Llandudno...alright for some! Not that I'm envious, or anything.

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Alison and Emily

Sat, 24 Oct 2009 11:19:09 +0200

Spotted at a local ploughing match...Alison and Emily. Aren't they magnificent?

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Cosmos

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 22:17:07 +0200

Most flowers in our garden have faded by now. But a few cling on well into autumn...not least these cosmos. Sown from seed, they've definitely been worth it.

Next year I must remember to sow the white one (think it's called 'Purity')
as it's especially lovely.

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Chocolate Brownies

Sun, 18 Oct 2009 13:19:10 +0200

3oz, 75g self-raising flour
6oz, 175g good dark chocolate
6oz, 175g butter
6oz, 175g unrefined sugar
2 eggs
1 tablespoon cocoa powder
Melt most of the chocolate, by putting into a bowl over a saucepan of steaming water.
Chop remaining chocolate into little pieces.
Cream butter & sugar.
Gradually add in eggs, mixing well.
Fold in flour & cocoa powder.
Mix in chocolate bits.
Put into a buttered baking tin & bake in a moderate oven for about 30 minutes. When cool, cut into squares.

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A change for the better?

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 22:32:14 +0200

The way the colours of hydrangeas soften is very appealing...prettier than in summer - now green, but still tinged with pink around the edges.

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Another bit of the past

Tue, 13 Oct 2009 16:10:57 +0200

It seems to be our week for looking back. I'm always fascinated by written acounts from the past, wondering what their lives were like, so this makes for interesting reading

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Ready for off...

Sun, 11 Oct 2009 22:58:18 +0200

...on the Churnet Valley Railway.

The three little ones we took really enjoyed this train journey - but probably not quite as much as us slightly older ones, who could reminisce about steam trains (not that I ever had the chance to travel on any...Les did though).

This was the first time I'd been through Leekbrook tunnel, though I've seen steam trains on their way through many times. Even getting covered in bits of soot as we watched it go was fun.

Good cup of tea in the station tea rooms as well. I can recommend it as day out.

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A simple beauty

Fri, 09 Oct 2009 22:33:25 +0200

Sometimes, (and especially right now when everything seems all doom and gloom) we need to appreciate simple things, such as the flowers on this orchid...so gorgeous!

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Real austerity

Thu, 08 Oct 2009 17:12:45 +0200

As the politicians trip over each other talking about austerity measures, finding this reminded me of the people who really must have known what that meant.

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Old season, new season

Mon, 05 Oct 2009 22:42:10 +0200

Some bargain pansies ready to go in pots...only £1 a tray from a local greengrocers, reduced because they hadn't got many flowers. They'll be fine though, once they're planted up.

And a couple of bunches of bare rooted wallflowers. Got to empty out all the planters first, most of them are well past their best and sadly neglected. I run out of steam as they do!

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Vintage run

Sun, 04 Oct 2009 14:02:08 +0200

Frightening the wild life ,and bringing villagers to their doors to have a look, a bunch of local farmers and tractor fans went on a scenic run last week. Boys will be boys.....

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Alpacas

Sat, 03 Oct 2009 11:07:59 +0200

Saw these on a fairly nearby farm. I have to admit my ignorance on them is profound. Are they related to the sheep family, or the goat family? Are they kept for their wool!?

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September sunflower

Wed, 30 Sep 2009 22:48:59 +0200

I've been watching this plant grow in one of our troughs for a few months now. Eventually I realised it was a sunflower but don't know how it got there...wasn't planted by us! And on the last day of September it's open...what a little beauty!

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Sweet peas

Mon, 28 Sep 2009 22:22:52 +0200

A lovely gift, don't you think? A friend arrived with a bunch of sweet peas picked from the garden...it's great that they're still flowering! Wish you could enjoy their scent too...it fills the house.

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Damson jam

Sun, 27 Sep 2009 13:06:26 +0200

Get your jars ready, by thoroughly washing and settomg to dry in a very low oven. Use a very large saucepan, or preserving pan.
Wash damsons & remove any stalks. For each pound of fruit, allow a pound of sugar. Put damsons in pan, and put to side of hob, until a little of the juice has been extracted. Boil for half-an-hour. Gradually add the sugar & bring back to the boil. Stir frequently, removing as many stones as you can. To test for set, remove a spoonfull & place on a cool saucer, when you tilt to the side a skin should form on the jam. When jam ready, remove from heat and pour carefully into a jug, and then the jars. Cover with clean lids, or wax discs & cellophane covers. Label

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Damson Gin

Fri, 25 Sep 2009 11:37:36 +0200

1 bottle gin
2lbs, 900g damsons (washed & dried)
1lb, 450g sugar
Prick all the damsons with a needle. Put in the kilner jar. Add the sugar. Add the gin. Put lid on. Shake frequently for about 6 weeks. Strain & bottle. Improves with keeping.

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Making friends

Thu, 24 Sep 2009 22:25:01 +0200

Sam was very pleased to see next door's cat...and cat seemed to like all the attention. I can only agree with Sam's observation, 'Ah, cute!'

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Busy with fruit

Wed, 23 Sep 2009 16:23:07 +0200

Both Margaret & I seem to be up to our eyes in fruit at the moment. It all has to be "dealt with" though! It has been an exceptionally good year for damsons & plums, so for some recipes/ideas, watch this space over the next few days.

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Just one slice...

Tue, 22 Sep 2009 22:46:13 +0200

...is all that's left of the pie, and not a very big slice, either! I meant to take a photo before so much disappeared, but wasn't fast enough...guess I'll just have to make another.

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Autumn fruits

Mon, 21 Sep 2009 23:00:13 +0200

Fish and chips...eggs and bacon...apple and blackberry...some foods are just right for each other. A pie, I think, and maybe some blackberry icecream.

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Beautiful morning

Sun, 20 Sep 2009 11:41:28 +0200

The sunrise this morning was spectacular, and I hope worth sharing with you all.

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Back to normal

Fri, 18 Sep 2009 22:50:30 +0200

It's taken absolutely ages to paint the conservatory. We've done inside and out and, as it was stained before, it needed four coats of paint.

So glad it's finished...just the bedroom windows now to match. At least we can have a comfy break...it's lovely and warm if there's a bit of sun.

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Muesli and banana biscuits

Wed, 16 Sep 2009 23:08:19 +0200

This recipe makes substantial biscuits, a bit between a biscuit and a cake. The inspiration came from the bits (had been oaty clusters in their original form) of muesli left in the bottom of the packet...didn't look like anyone wanted it for breakfast. Les doesn't like muesli, but he does like these!

4oz/110g butter
2 tbsp golden syrup
3oz/75g light brown sugar
8oz/225g self-raising flour
30z/75g oat muesli
1 banana chopped into small pieces
half a teaspoon mixed spice

Melt the butter and golden syrup in a large saucepan. Stir in the sugar. Add the rest of the ingredients and mix well.

Place spoonfuls of the mixture on greased baking trays and bake at 150C, gas mark 2 for 12 - 15 minutes until golden.

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Worth wating for

Mon, 14 Sep 2009 22:42:08 +0200

I really admire plants that wait until September to flower...this lily has only just come out...looks too delicate to survive as it starts to get colder, but just keeps flowering away.

Such a bright shade of pink...can't help but notice it!

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