Toad in the Hole part 2!

Photo of the Day
16.10.07
View from landing window this morning

Red sky at night,
Sailor's delight;
Red sky at morning,
Sailor's warning.

Practical origins for this English nursery rhyme are based on weather predictions and how a red sky at night would indicate fair weather on the following day. In England the words refer to a shepherd who would say that a red sky in the morning was suggesting inclement weather to follow. In America the words relate to a sailor. It should be remembered that there were no weather forecasts, as such, in days gone by and one had to make one's own weather predictions. Those with the most knowledge and experience, such as Sailors and Shepherds, whose lives were dependant on the weather and were fully conversant with changing weather patterns indicated by a "Red Sky at night".

The original origins of this Nursery Rhyme can be traced to the Bible:
Matthew 16:2-3

2 - He answered and said unto them, When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather: for the sky is red.
3 - And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowering. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times?

Catching up!

Had a very busy weekend but was well pleased with what we did.

I planted up 100 bulbs in the garden. The soil was lovely and rich, so all we can do now is leave it to nature to push up some bursts of colour in the Spring!

I still have more bulbs to plant and want to get them in the soil very soon.

The fun thing about it all is I do not know what a great many of the bulbs are, and i don't want to either, so when they greet us in the Spring it will be a total surprise.

I received 2 big carrier bags from Freecycle and they were all mixed up. I have sorted them by size but that is as far as it goes. I know the ones I planted on Saturday were tulips, mostly various shades of pink as these were some I lifted from last year.

I planted them in the front border, this is what we see from the house and I thought this would be great to look out onto.

I have also planted some allium bulbs in our bird interest area.

This is the area we look out onto from our snug.

I have some lovely curtains hanging in there, with alliums as the theme so I tried to plant the bulbs which would really compliment the colours....we will have to wait now!

On Sunday we managed to get out on the motorbike, with our friends Paul and Sharon.

We travelled over the moors and went via the small villages to a place called Sherburn in Elmet, a few miles from Tadcaster. Although the weather was not cold I knew it will be the last time we wear our leathers as winter gear is now what we will have to wear to keep warm. Jon said he was cold. I was OK because I had my fleece and thermal stuff on, but definitely winter gear next time.

Yesterday I spent the day doing housework in order to keep the week free as possible so I can finish the bulb planting, and make a start on the apple and plum picking ready for a huge session in the kitchen making various jams, chutneys and pies.

I also wanted to work on the Toad in the Hole!

When I read your comments last week I had to smile.

Toad in the Hole is a Yorkshire pudding containing sausages, no toads were ever used in the making of this dish! LOL!

This is what I did.......

First I cooked the sausages and made up the batter mix.

4 heaped tablespoons of plain flour

1 egg

1/2 pint of milk & water (50/50 mix)

Pinch of Salt

I put the flour in a bowl, mixed in the salt, then added the milk, water & egg and beat it until all the lumps had gone.
The most important thing when making Yorkshire puddings is to get the fat as hot as possible before pouring in the batter.
I turned the oven up to 250 for 10 minutes before adding the batter.
It should really hiss when added to the fat.





After 10 minutes I added the sausages.




Another 15 minutes and it was cooked.
I divided it into 4 portions, kept 1 out for Jon's dinner and froze the rest.

I made my latest creation, onion gravy.
Simply cook some onions and a couple of potatoes, (I steamed mine) then add 1/2 pint of stock and blitz in the processor. The taste is sensational! The potatoes thicken the gravy and give it a good bite for these autumnal nights. I also cooked some potatoes, carrots and swede. Mashed with some cheese left over from the quiche I made.

I am experimenting with the Toad in the Hole as I want to cook some in advance for Christmas Day but will use chipolatas instead of the big sausages. Again I will freeze and just re-heat on the day.

When I froze the remaining 3 portions I realised this has altered my menu planning considerabley, with a bit of juggling about I can buy myself another couple of weeks of not having to cook. The potato, carrot & cheese mixture left over will mix up with some mackerel I have in and will make some lovely fishcakes. We are going out to a retirement "do" on Friday so the fish pie allocated for then will be carried forward, as will the meal planned for next Friday. It is the village harvest festival, with supper afterwards in the village hall!

We have let the Aga go out as the temperature isn't as cold...look what I found!
LOL! Yes, jacket potatoes I forgot where in the top oven!

No, I wont be freezing these! LOL!

Another time,another lane, but all in the rich tapestry of our village life!

Photo of the Day
14.10.07
Up another lane
(Moorsholm Lane)
This morning!

Good Morning!

I feel blessed to be surrounded by nature!

Right now. the farming community is very busy.
I feel blessed to be part of this community!








Our house in the distance,
The upstairs window on your left is my study.

I look out onto this farm, everyday from my study window...
yet from a distance the pattern and colours are so wonderful!

Love of the Land

By Terri Lemmon

It’s a hard feeling to describe,
this emotion that swells inside.
Each time I fondly gaze,
on the land where I was raised.

I see memories of happy times,
and hear the laughter so clear.
I smile as I remember –
and can almost touch the images so near.

I also get a little sad,
when thinking about those that are gone.
I feel so close to them here
on the land we all lived on.

The thing is you can’t describe it
to those that put money before all.
It’s not the monetary rewards that make you
feel the pride, the love, the call.

But for those who do understand,
these lines are meant for you
We have been blessed with a good life
and a satisfied feeling known to so few.

So when you say your prayers,
and thank the Good Lord above,
Remember to add how thankful you are
to be safe and free on the land that you love.

Something for the Weekend!

Photo of the Day
13.10.07
Our Garden

Advice for the day:
If you have an ear ache, do what it says on the aspirin bottle:
Take two, and KEEP AWAY FROM CHILDREN.

I have had a very early start today.
The phone rang at 5am. It was my early morning alarm call from my MIL.

It was a good job she phoned otherwise I would have slept in and my SIL would have missed her train to Manchester Airport where she is flying to Canada today.

I am not a morning person and was quite tired when I went downstairs to make a cup of tea.

It was dark on the Moor road but I picked up MIL, then SIL and nephew 1.
We drove to the mainline train station and SIL & nephew went to wait for the train.

MIL & I drove back.
I dropped MIL off at her house and made my way home.

I cooked Jon his breakfast and he is now at the workshop.

I had an hour in bed and am just waiting for the delivery van from the Builder's Merchants with some more supplies for the shed.

Guttering is the next stage.

A quiet day me thinks, hopefully in the garden, but keeping warm.
I have apples and plums to pick, and do things with! (Mind Boggles!)

Meal tonight - Tuna Steaks.

Bike Adventure? We are watching the Skies!

A Weekend Parable

A Japanese company and an American company decided to have a canoe race on the Missouri River. Both teams practiced long and hard to reach their peak performance before the race.

On the big day, the Japanese won by a mile. The Americans, very discouraged and depressed, decided to investigate the reason for the crushing defeat. A management team made up of senior management was formed to investigate and recommend appropriate action.
Their conclusion was the Japanese had 8 people rowing and 1 person steering, while the American team had 8 people steering and 1 person rowing.
Feeling a deeper study was in order, American management hired a consulting company and paid them a large amount of money for a second opinion. They advised, of course, that too many people were steering the boat, while not enough people were rowing.
Not sure of how to utilize that information, but wanting to prevent another loss to the Japanese, the rowing team’s management structure was totally reorganized to 4 steering supervisors, 3 area steering superintendents and 1 assistant superintendent steering manager.

They also implemented a new performance system that would give the 1 person rowing the boat greater incentive to work harder. It was called the “Rowing Team Quality First Program”, with meetings, dinners and free pens for the rower. There was discussion of getting new paddles, canoes and other equipment, extra vacation days for practices and bonuses.

The next year the Japanese won by two miles.

Humiliated, the American management laid off the rower for poor performance, halted development of a new canoe, sold the paddles, and canceled all capital investments for new equipment. The money saved was distributed to the Senior Executives as bonuses and the next year’s racing team was outsourced to India.

The End.

Friday's Fun Caption Competition!

What do you think is going through Wilma's head?
leave your ideas in the comments.

Congratulations to last week's winner

Flassie's Fil'a

Help I've Fallen and I can't Giddy UP!

Thanks for such a great response! It is nice to start the weekend with a smile!
I will be back later, I have a nasty ear ache.
In the meantime, I hope these Doctor Doctor lines bring a smile to your face!

Doctor, Doctor When I press with my finger here... it hurts, and here... it hurts, and here... and here...
What do you think is wrong with me?
You have a broken finger!

Doctor Doctor I feel like biscuits!
What, you mean those square ones?
Yes!
The ones you put butter on?
Yes!
Oh, You're Crackers!

Doctor, Doctor My little boy has just swallowed a roll of film!
Hmmmm. Let's hope nothing develops.

Doctor, Doctor I feel like a pair of curtains
Well pull yourself together then



Doctor, Doctor I'm becoming invisible.
Yes I can see you're not all there!

Doctor, Doctor I keep thinking I'm a frog
What's wrong with that
I think I'm going to croak

Doctor, Doctor I keep thinking I'm a vampire.
Necks please!

Doctor, Doctor my sister thinks she is a lift!
Well tell her to come in
I can't she doesn't stop at this floor!
Doctor, Doctor, everyone keeps ignoring me.
Next please!

Doctor, Doctor, some days I feel like a tee-pee and other days I feel like a wig-wam.
You're too tents.

Doctor, Doctor I keep thinking I'm a dog.
Sit on the couch and we will talk about it.
But I'm not allowed up on the couch!

Thursday's thought!

A Photo of the Day
Jon, last night, in the shed he designed, built, put the roof on,
fit the window and doors!

Cheers!


Here's to the perfect girl,
I couldn't ask for more.
She's deaf 'n dumb, oversexed,
and owns a liquor store

Here's to the breezes that blow through the trees,
That blow the skirts off of young girls' knees,
Which lead to the sights that sometimes pleases,
But more often leads to social diseases.

On the chest of a barmaid in Sale
Were tattooed the prices of ale.
And on her behind,
For the sake of the blind,
Was the same information in braille.

In all this world, why I do think
There are five reasons why we drink:
Good friends,
good wine,
lest we be dry
and any other reason why.

Of all my favorite things to do,
the utmost is to have a brew.
My love grows for my foamy friend,
with each thirst-quenching elbow bend.
Beer's so frothy, smooth and cold--
It's paradise--pure liquid gold.
Yes, beer means many things to me...
That's all for now, I gotta pee!

Here's to cheating, stealing, fighting, and drinking.
If you cheat, may you cheat death
If you steal, may you steal a woman's heart.
If you fight, may you fight for a brother
And if you drink, may you drink with me.

ABC Wednesday!

L is for......

London from the air!



Last June we flew to London for a weekend break to celebrate our Wedding Anniversary.

As the plane took off I switched off the Auto-Focus so the flash would not work, otherwise the reflection of the flashing bulb would have ruined the picture.

As it happened I think the slight movement of the lights below add atmosphere to the picture.

So how can you tell me you're lonely,
And say for you that the sun don't shine?
Let me take you by the hand and lead you through the streets of London
I'll show you something to make you change your mind.

Ralph McTell

To read about our holiday see here
To see more of my clouds see here

I am teaching all day today, Wednesday so I will visit your blogs later and see what you have found for ABC Wednesday.

A toad in the hole...........almost!

Picture of the Day
08.10.07
"The Scream"

I was walking along a path with two friends—
the sun was setting—suddenly the sky turned blood red—I paused, feeling exhausted, and leaned on the fence—there was blood and tongues of fire above the blue-black fjord and the city—my friends walked on, and I stood there trembling with anxiety—and I sensed an infinite scream passing through nature.

—Edvard Munch

I know the feeling!

Last night for dinner Jon had the left over lamb from Saturday.
I made some Yorkshire puddings.
Being the frugal gal I made up the mixture and cooked several small Yorkshires.
I served Jon with one, the remaining 5 I froze.

I then mentioned that I would indeed be making my own Yorkshire puddings for Christmas Day. It seems to be popular to buy the frozen gross packets...I am making a stand!

Jon then starts to talk about the larger type Yorkshire puddings.

"What do you mean?" I enquired.

"Well can't you make a really big Yorkshire pudding?"

(The type I tend to cook are 4 at a time.....if you know what I mean, about 10cm diameter, 4 to a tin!)

"Well yes, of course I could!" was my reply!

"I really like those" Jon spouted.

"Do you want me to do Toad in the Hole tomorrow night, with mince gravy and vegetables?" I asked, fool that I am!

"Great!" reply from smiling Jon!

Now if you cast your mind back to my frugal cooking concept, you will know i had indeed planned this 'meal' but for Tuesday not today, Monday.
But not to worry, I could swap the days over.

On my visit to the tip, via allotment shop for eggs and potatoes, I called at the shop and butchers.

Purchase gorgeous pork sausages for Toad in the Hole.

At roughly 4.45pm Jon comes home from workshop.

On the table was a bag of teacakes.

"Toasted Teacake?" he enquires!

"OK"

Of up the lane he goes with Elsie for a few minutes walkies.

I deal with teacake.

Jon returns eats teacake.

I then realise I have no flour.

Decide to take Wilma and walk the 2.5 miles to shop.

Agree with Jon that he would pick me up at end of walk.

I would call him from my mobile.

Agreed.

Wilma and I set off.................walk up the same lane as Friday!

At last minute Wilma loses ball!

(How is the pet shop owner's holiday fund I ask? well it will be better by the morning!)

We reach the shop.

I call Jon.

My battery is low....infact........kaput! Battery is dead.

We cross road to public phone box.

I somehow manage to get Wilma, with mental health issues into the phone box.

"Credit cards only!"

So, as I was not expecting to make a credit card transaction for a bag of flour I find myself unprepared....so we have to walk another mile for next phone box.

Minimum 40p!

I call, he arrives, we drive home.

"That teacake was quite filling!"

"Oh!" I mutter through my clenched teeth!

"I'll just have mince and veg for dinner dear!"

So I didn't have to cook the toad in the hole.....like I didn't have to go to the shop for the flour!

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrrggggggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

If you bump into Jon, please don't stare at the scar at the back of his head!
It was caused by a flying bag of plain flour....you know the type, yes, that's right, the one that is used to make Toad in the Hole!

Blessings and the Great Escape!

This is something new for a Sunday.
As you know Sunday is the day we try to keep free for our Motorbike Adventures.
Today, we were all set to go out with our friends Paul and Sharon.....then the rain came!
I often do a great deal of thinking on the back of the motorbike and I often make a point of looking at the surroundings and appreciating the beauty of it all. I also see what David's Weekend Wanderings is about...this is always good to ponder! This week he asks if we ever thought about running away from home...well read on!

I also contemplate my life in general, as a lot of us do.
When I was walking with Wilma the other day what struck me about the wood, the lane, the waterfall, the stream is that they are all FREE!
I felt blessed!

The Sunday Blog your Blessings is all about finding something we feel blessed by.

I guess my blog is a document of the many things in my life I have been blessed with, in particular my family and friends.

The creative ability I have been blessed with is a result of a childhood spent drawing and making things at home. I got more pleasure from making my own toys than buying from the shop. Mine would be different.

I love cooking, another blessing which was passed on to me by mum.
Not because I want to produce master pieces but because I want to create a family meal and show the people around me I love them.

It is a great accolade to be hailed Queen of the Dinnertable by my nephews who LOVE to come for a roast dinner.

Last night we had Jon's sister over for dinner and I cooked roast lamb, onion gravy and mixed vegetables. Very simple but a very enjoyable evening.

Yes, I have been blessed.

When I read the word "blessing" it takes me back to a song we sang at Sunday School when I was a young child.
We had a few Sunday Schools in the town I was brought up in, and one of my favourite ones at the time was the Salvation Army because I was given a tambourine, or a timbrel as it was called.
I joined the timbrel group and indeed to this day I still play a mean tambourine!
To see what I am talking about, click here!
Yes, I can do that!
One of the songs we would sing was called Count your Blessings!

here it is sung by the International Songsters.
The songsters is the name for a Salvation Army Choir.



When upon life’s billows you are tempest tossed,
When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,
Count your many blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.

Chorus

Count your blessings, name them one by one,
Count your blessings, see what God hath done!
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.

Are you ever burdened with a load of care?
Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?
Count your many blessings, every doubt will fly,
And you will keep singing as the days go by.

Chorus


So, amid the conflict whether great or small,
Do not be disheartened, God is over all;
Count your many blessings, angels will attend,
Help and comfort give you to your journey’s end.

I have many many memories of the Salvation Army Sunday School and later Youth Club,
but two events stick in my memory.

The Sunday School Trip is one.
Now the Salvation Army makes a stand against any form of gambling, including Bingo.
Auntie Dot and Auntie Joan went to the bingo once a week.
On one of the Sunday School trips we went to Whitby and it rained all day.
Escaping from the dreadful weather, mum and I went to play Bingo!
As luck would have it I won!
Now in those days we didn't have a choice, we were given the prize.
As a 9 year old I was given what every young girl dreams of, a bright blue, 3 tier plastic vegetable rack!
It was hardly the type of thing I could hide under my coat, away from the Major's prying eyes!
The Major was standing on the steps of the coach as mum and I approached.
I could see her looking at me in an enquiring way but I gave her a smile which indicated that THE thing to buy in Whitby was not a toffee apple or a stick of rock I could see other children had brought onto the coach! No! THE thing to have was a bright blue, 3 tier plastic vegetable rack!
I can tell you the journey home was rather uncomfortable and I had a lattice imprint on my thigh for the rest of the day! LOL! Still, it found a good use in the kitchen!

Another memory is when I was in the Youth Club.
Each year we went to Youth Councils, which was an evangelical event, the climax being the Sunday Evening Service.
The Service was very very emotional, building up to a plea for the young people present to dedicate their lives to become a full time officer with the Salvation Army. The service would take on the role of promoting us to examine our lives and see if we had been "called!"

As the officer preached other officers would "hover" the rows of young people scanning the innocent praying faces to see if there was any evidence of a soul being called.

Now, I was not a naughty girl, mischievous would be a better word.
My friends were the same.
We were huddled together and one of the group, John wanted to go to the toilet.
Of course it was at the climatic part of the service and he didn't dare stand up as he would be pounced upon by one of the preying officers.

As we sang the Song, "Kneeling in penitence I make my plea" John sang the words "Kneeling in penitence I need a wee!"
Well we all cracked up, but in a secret way, fearing the reaction of the officers who were approaching!

I was beyond hope really and as tears of laughter started streaming down my face I knew if I took my clenched fist out of my mouth I would let such a guffaw explode I would be immediately whisked down to the front.

The entire row of us were at pains not to draw any attention to ourselves.

Tears were continuing to stream down my face, my eyes were tightly closed,my nose was running and the teeth marks on my fist were beginning to hurt.
Suddenly a hand found its way round my shoulder....it was a Salvation Army Officer!

She hugged me and told me it was all right to cry, it was God calling me.


I could feel my friends shaking with laughter.

I feared what might happen if I took my hand out of my mouth.
As luck would have it, the officer handed me a handkerchief and , managed to disguise the guffaw of laughter in the ear piercing blow of my nose.

What a sight I must have looked.
I had to compose myself very quickly I can tell you!
This was serious thinking time!

The officer at this point was kneeling and praying for me! I can tell you I needed those prayers.

The arm around my shoulder was becoming quite firm and I could feel the officer trying to pry me from my seat.

A split second panic brought me to my senses and from somewhere I plucked up the strength to say I needed time to think.

The officer said that she would stay next to me and continue praying!

PANIC!

I said I would prefer to be alone!

Fortunately for me, at that moment somebody, somewhere was called and the officer rushed off to pluck the poor soul down to the repentance seat!

Yes, memories eh!
I am blessed with them!

Neigh, it can't be Friday all ready!

This week's Caption Competition Photograph

Photo of the Day
Up the lane, last Tuesday

Last week's winner

Congratulations Usaincognito
I thought the look in Elsie's eyes said it all!


The horse in the field is one of the race horses owned by my neighbour.

I often go up Handale, but as I know you like to see the area I decided to go for a different walk this morning, in my daily effort to tire Wilma out! Incidentally she is fast asleep as I sit here in my study....
this is why!

For Handale we turn left as we leave our house, but today we turned right and walked down the village.
Looking back you can just make out the side of our house, the cream building.







We then turned down one of the many lanes which make up the surrounding farmland.




I will be back for some of these later this week!




I bumped into this man out walking with his dogs.
I told him where I was going and he shared with me his favourite route.......so off we went in search!




We passed the cows waiting to be milked......




At the econd bench we found the sign, just as he had told us.




Through the field, into the wood.




and look what we found!




I never knew this house existed until last week!




We walked through the woods and round back onto the lane home.

These belong to a friend of mine who gave Wilma a biscuit as we chatted at her gate!




This made me laugh! LOL!




The lane home!




We saw one of our farming neighbours ploughing the field.
Only on Wednesday it was broken and Jon made a part for it.





Wilma ran and ran for her ball.
The lane does have a slope to it and just as we reached the top I threw the ball all the way back down the lane.
I did this several times! LOL!



We were out for 2 hours in all and we are both quite tired now.

I only discovered the waterfall last week when I walked to the bank with Wilma.
There are temporary traffic lights along from the village and it takes an age to make the short journey to the nearby shops, so I decided to walk with Wilma.
I came to a little lane I didn't even know existed which took us past the Waterfall.
I didn't have my camera with me so I decided I would return and take some pictures of this lovely secluded area. When I told the man out with his dogs he told me about the path through the wood, and indeed he was correct about it being a lovely walk. I think it will be one of my favourite routes for some time.

I was reminded so much of one of the poems shared yesterday...
By the way, Julie (CG) was picked out of the hat!

"LEISURE"

What is this life if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.

No time to stand beneath the boughs
And stare as long as sheep or cows.

No time to see, when woods we pass,
Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass.

No time to see, in broad daylight,
Streams full of stars, like skies at night.

No time to turn at Beauty's glance,
And watch her feet, how they can dance.

No time to wait till her mouth can
Enrich that smile her eyes began.

A poor life this if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.

By Wm. Henry Davies.
(Wm. Henry Davies (1871-1940) was born in Newport, Wales, and then went to America and lived the life of a vagabond.
One day, as the result of jumping a train, he lost one of his legs.
Davies returned to England where he continued to live the life of a tramp and a pedlar.
He wrote poetry and, eventually, he determined to print his own book and did so with the little money he earned.
A copy of this first work, A Soul's Destroyer, came into the hands of George Bernard Shaw; which, in turn, led to the popularisation of the poet.

National Poetry Day

Poetry is the journal of the sea animal living on land,
wanting to fly in the air.
Poetry is a search for syllables to shoot at the barriers of the unknown
and the unknowable.
Poetry is a phantom script telling how rainbows are made and why they go away.
Carl Sandburg,

Today is National Poetry Day.
I lobe poetry and enjoy reading new poetry on blogs as well as sharing some of my own favourites.
Do you have any favourite poetry?
To mark National Poetry Day I am having a give away.
Leave your favourite poem(s) in the comments and I will pick a name out of a hat.
As you know, poetry inspires the inspiration cards I design, so I will give away one of my garden inspiration cards.

A poem I remember from primary school was Silver by Walter Dela Mare.I can picture the rows of old wooden desks, My teachers, Miss Clark, Mrs Kirkup then Mr. Pallister! I will tell you sometime about Mr. Pallister, but not right now as I am thinking of nice things about my school. Poetry was always one of my favourites.I guess Walter de la Mare would have been quite fashionable at the time. Judging by the fact he died in 1956, his poetry must have been quite contemporary.

Silver

by

Walter de la Mare

SilverSlowly, silently, now the moon

Walks the night in her silver shoon;

This way, and that, she peers, and sees

Silver fruit upon silver trees;

One by one the casements catch

Her beams beneath the silvery thatch;

Couched in his kennel, like a log,

With paws of silver sleeps the dog;

From their shadowy cote the white breasts peep

Of doves in silver feathered sleep

A harvest mouse goes scampering by,

With silver claws, and silver eye;

And moveless fish in the water gleam,

By silver reeds in a silver stream.

~~~

Years later I bought a book of poetry by Walter de la mare and came across Old Nod, which is now one of my favourites too. It is so thought provoking and atmospheric, true to the plight of shepherds, their faithful dogs and their devotion to the flock.

The very first dog Jon and I had was a border collie, Tess, named after Tess of the Durbervilles by Thomas Hardy.I felt this Van Gogh painting was ideal .

Nod

by

Walter de la Mare

1873-1956

Softly along the road of evening,

In a twilight dim with rose,

Wrinkled with age, and drenched with dew,

Old Nod the shepherd goes.

His drowsy flock streams on before him,

Their fleeces charged with gold,

To where the sun's last beam leans low

On Nod the the shepherds fold.

The hedge is quick and green with brier,

From their sand the conies creep;

And all the birds that fly in heaven

Flock singing home to sleep

His lambs outnumber a noon's roses,

Yet, when night shadows fall,

His blind old sheep-dog,

Slumber-soon,Misses not one of all.

His are the quiet steps of dreamland,

The waters of no more pain

His ram's bell rings 'neath an arch of stars,

"Rest, Rest, and rest again."

ABC Wednesday!

K is for..........

Kippers!

There once was a man named Kipper,
Once of his legs was a flipper,
He walked home one day,
In the month of May,
And his finger got caught in a zipper.

Tony and Lewis

Kippers are smoked herrings and are usually eaten for breakfast with bread and butter .
A Fortune's kipper from Whitby is recognised as one of the best kippers Britain produces. The small shop, with smokehouse attached, has been operating for 130 years and brothers Derek and Barry are the fifth generation of their family to run the business. Fortune's still follow tried-and-tested smoking methods which date back to when the business began. First the herrings are cleaned, split and brined for 40 minutes before entering the smokehouse where they hang over a fire of oak chipping until gold in colour.

This was my lunch on Saturday!

Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm!


I love Wednesdays task!
We have a new participant, do check out Secluded Habitat!
A neighbour of David! LOL!


Tomorrow is National Poetry Day.
I will be holding my own little contribution here.
I will be posting some of my favourite poems and I would love it if any of you who have favourite poems would post them here also.

1,2, 3, Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww!

Photo of the Day
02.10.07
Up the lane, yesterday!

Oh stewball was a racehorse, and I wish he were mine.
He never drank water, he always drank wine.

His bridle was silver, his mane it was gold.
And the worth of his saddle has never been told.

Oh the fairgrounds were crowded, and stewball was there
But the betting was heavy on the bay and the mare.

And a-way up yonder, ahead of them all,
Came a-prancin and a-dancin my noble stewball.

I bet on the grey mare, I bet on the bay
If Id have bet on ol stewball, Id be a free man today.

Oh the hoot owl, she hollers, and the turtle dove moans.
Im a poor boy in trouble, Im a long way from home.

Oh stewball was a racehorse, and I wish he were mine.
He never drank water,he always drank wine.

Things have been very hectic these past couple of days but I wanted to share these lovely horse pictures with you.

An announcement........

would just like to say

to
Walks for Women

for this wonderful award!





I want all my blogging friends to share this so do check your e-mails!

Good Morning October, come in and take a seat!

Photo of the Day
1st October 2007
Autumn fruits from our garden and up the lane

O suns and skies and clouds of June,

And flowers of June together,

Ye cannot rival for one hour
October's bright blue weather.

David's weekend project....What do you like best about blogging?
Well, in my case it is being able to share my life and what I do.
We are isolated in our village, being in a rural setting.
This never worries me as I am quite content.
Infact, not quite contenet, very content.
Being able to document my daily comings and goings helps me articulate my happiness and appreciate the people I share my life with, including the new friends I have made in the blogging world.
No matter where we are or who we are, values remain the same.
My priorities are my family, my home, my friends.
This is what my blog is all about.

For many many years I was a primary school teacher working her way up the promotion ladder.
I was successful achieving Deputy Headteacher status.
I loved my job but realised I was other things too.
We have many roles in life...daughter, wife, daughter in law, auntie ....I wanted to focus on being a good wife, daughter in law and auntie.

I love the challenge of maintaining a good life on a reduced income.
I did bring home £2,000 a month ($1,000) and we regularly had a large overdraft.
Now we live on Jon's earnings as a self employed engineer and we do not have an overdraft, I manage the money, hence my efforts in the kitchen.

It is priorities and I embrace the challenge.
Being able to share and learn with my blogging friends keeps me appreciative and focussed.

Sharing the past couple of days and what a couple of days they have been
I have kept in touch via the comments but here is what we have been up to!

Phew!

Do I ache this morning!
What a weekend!

On Saturday I went for the daily walk with Wilma, but took along a bowl to collect some brambles.

When I returned home I picked some of our elderberries, plums and apples.
I decided to have an experiment.....

I cooked the apples, not too much as I like them crunchy!
Then added the stoned plums, brambles and elderberries.

I always keep some short crust pastry in the freezer,
so whilst I was working in the garden I defrosted the pastry then made a pie.





The red syrup you see is a sugarless jelly crystals, no sugar was used in the pie!




Delicious!

I said to Jon, this would be called Autumn Pie! LOL!

Jon was fitting the doors in the shed which he has worked on whenever he wasn't working..
just look at it now!




Getting back to Saturday, I worked in the garden all day, whilst Jon worked on the shed.
I will show pictures of the garden later in the week.
To be honest our garden does leave feeling overawed at times and I have to tackle it in small projects as it covers one third of an acre.

When the phone rang at 4pm I knew it would be Nick, from hospital radio.
It was an Environmental Focus this week.
My focus was "Foods for free"

I shared my recipes and had a good chat with Nick.

Saturday evening we were both exhausted.
The lamb which had been in the slow oven all day tasted wonderful.
I added some raspberry jeely crystals to the lamb stock, together with some bovril beef extract...try it!

Awesome!

Sunday...up early as I cooked Jon a good breakfast.
Really easy in the Aga...popped the bacon and mushrooms in the top oven, boiled the water and put in pan, cracked open & dropped an egg in...1 minute later, perfect poached egg!

After breakfast Jon fit the doors which turned out to be a tricky job, hence us not going out on the motorbike.

I set to planting my bulbs...
WELL IN EXCESS OF 300!

We had the radio playing, my favourite garden accessory!
A solar radio!

BBC Radio 2 was celebrating its 40th birthday!
I urge you to click here
and listen to the music...Ed Stewpot was amazing! Bringing back so many memories!
I was singing as I pegged the washing out between planting bulbs!

I had a trip to the rubbish tip in the pick up and finished the weekend with a take away pizza.
We were both exhausted!
I ache this morning but can't stop today as it is DIY today and my sister in law is coming over to help me!

We are hoping to have a day out on the motorbike this week which will be a nice little break!

I will be back with my garden pictures and ofcourse there will be my K photograph which I captured over the weekend! It was delicious! LOL!

When I say captured, I mean on my camera!

Watch this space!

Dx