Hours

Why is it that Saturday and Sunday has so many fewer hours than work days?  It does seem a little unfair!  OK I know oversleeping on one of those days doesn't help - but I was up early this morning 8.00am - on the new time and I still haven't been able to fit everything in!

The day started with a lovely Sunday breakfast sitting at the table with the pretty Cath Kidston bits and pieces - it has now become a bit of a habit and does eat into the day,  but it is worth it and a little thing to look forward to.   Then a quick trip to the local aviary for chicken food and bedding,  some parrot food and a treat for the dog.   Came home and made my flask of tea for the Lottie, gathered some bits and pieces and off to the lottie for a little while.

This weekend Freecycle has been kind,  an outdoor Terracotta clock was offered and also a spare baking tin and beater for our breadmachine.  I was really happy with both of these - the clock for the Lottie and a spare tin is always very  handy and they do need to be replaced occasionaly.  These were both collected today.


The collected clock now housed on the Lottie Shed

Then off to the Lottie for a couple of hours,  there is still so much to be done,  the front third of the plot is still to be cleared and continues to grow - I am finding this very frustrating and a little disheartening.  The plan today was to make a start cutting down and clearing along the side.  And like most best laid plans - it didn't happen!  I planted the gooseberry bushes,  planted the winter lettaces and covered them with a tunnel cloche for protection - it looks a bit like a giant white slug in the middle of the lottie, but if it does the job I'm not complaining!  After a quick cup of tea I decided to dig over the courgette bed - now this bed has been dug twice already and still it is full of bramble roots,  looks like that is going to be an ongoing battle FOREVER!

Lettuce cloche

New neat and tidy cabbage bed

After battling my way though the digging and another welcome cup of tea, Barney from across the way came for a visit and as always he came bearing gifts - spring cabbages and pumpkins!   He has an abundance of cabbage plants and said I could help myself.    The Courgette bed is now the new cabbage bed, all nicely planted, slug pellets are down and covered in netting for bird protection.   That was it for today - doesn't sound much but it was 3 hours work.    I came home bearing gifts of 2 big pumpkins for Mr Milly - both of them are at least double the size of the one we grew!

Now what to do with the pumpkins,  I have to confess that we have always bought them for the children to carve into Jack-O-Lanterns, but we haven't eaten them.  With the new waste not want not going on in our house they are for eating. 

2 firsts for us tonight - I made pastry!  That is a biggie for me as anytime I have tried to make pastry it has not been good  - hot hands I think!  Have you watched the Great British Bake Off - I did  I loved it!   They all make pastry in a food processor, so I thought I would give it a go and it worked!  Woo Hoo!- looks like I've cracked it and I really am delighted!

One of the pumpkins has been cut up,  Mr Milly has saved all the seeds and tomorrow they will be roasted to keep for a healthy FREE snack,  about half of it was cooked and mixed with some other ingrediants and pumpkin pie was made.   Neither of us have ever had pumpkin pie and we were a little nervous of it,  but  to our surprise it was yummy!  Lots more pumpkin still to be used - thank goodness for Google I am sure we can find some good recipes to try.

Our first ever Pumpkin Pie

Sleep

I over slept this morning - 10.30 before I woke up!  That is really really unusual for me and it really really annoys me because I then felt like I has wasted 1/4 of the weekend.  So no leisurely Saturday morning breakfast for us today.

Following my sneak peek of my 2 on the go projects, I felt inspired today and therefore a visit to the local Haberdashery seemed in order.   It is not Mr Milly's favorite shop,  probably cause I will spend so long in there - the selections do have to be perfect don't they!   These little goodies came home with me today....

Lovely Christmassy colours

A quick visit to the Lottie to have a tidy up,  then home to look at the goodies and then I made a start on thefirst project and a couple of hours sat at the sewing machine.   This one is going to be a gift,  but the recipient doesn't visit Blogland so I can share without worry.   The only problem I can now see - I really like the end result and am going to find it hard to part with it!

Sneak Peek

Today has been busy,  busy at work all day and like Picadilly Circus in the house!  The Portuguese Housekeeper has been here today then went out,  My Milly went out,  Mr Brother in Law arrived - he stayed a while and left,  My sister in law arrived with my two nephews,  Mr Milly came home,  sister-in-law left and the Portuguese Housekeeper came home!  Blimey - I'm worn out with all the tooing and frowing.

So nothing much to report today - I thought I would give you a little sneak peek of my 2 current projects.   I can't say very much about them not until 26th December!  But a little peek won't hurt!

Zingy and Bright

Pastel and Calm

Biscuits

We are on a bit of an economy drive at the moment - trying to save a little bit here and there, we have a long term aim in mind and this is the start of it.
Some of this thinking has definitely  been driven by my Lottie,  the recylcing/upcycling/freecyling is addictive and quite fun to see what can be found, reused or passed on with pennies and pounds being saved along the way.   Also with the Lottie we have become little squirrels and are storing things away for the winter.   As the Lottie was new this year I don't think I have quite managed to think about planting for harvesting the whole year - it was very much a case of dig a bit, plant a bit and see what happens!  We did end up though with much more than we ever imagined this year, which has been great.

As a consequence we now have the second little freezer in the shed and both freezers are pretty full.   Lots of frozen veggies and apples from the Lottie and some bargains from the supermarkets where they could be found.

With the chutneys and jams, mustard and sauces made this year the cupboards are pretty full too,  so much so we have definitely run out of space for storage and the little shed is being used more and more for storage where possible.

The storage cupboard

Although there is an ultimate aim - we actually are having fun!  It is a challenge to think differently about meals, what we are buying, what we are eating, if the oven is on for one thing can we cook anything else at the same time,  can we use one ring to cook dinner instead of 2 or 3 - that type of thing and generally how we can do things in a different way.

Cooking has become a bit of an obsession - for us both I think and a little bit of healthy competition has crept in between me and Mr Milly.   I'll give you an example - our bread machine is now in almost daily use, we haven't shop bought bread for 3 months now.   This domain always belonged to Mr Milly,  now we both make bread and always compare how each of us have prepared the mix, which loaf is the best colour, size and taste - whatever comparison we can think of really!  Today it was garlic bread,  I made the last batch and I have to say it was great!  Today it was Mr Milly's turn,  every step of the way we compared how the other would do it,  which pan was best to use, which way to add the garlic and butter was best,  what was the best oven temperature and on it went.  Of course I thought my way was best and Mr Milly was sure his way was better!!!  The result was good (mine was great!),  half of the result was had for tea and the other has now found a spare space in the freezer for another day.

Biscuits are my domain - again no bought biscuits have entered the house for the last 3 months.  I make batches at a time,  freeze some and have some in the biscuit tin, to be topped up from the freezer as we go along.   Today I made Anzac biscuits and shortbread.

In fact 2 batches of the Anzac biscuits were made - I completely mis read the recipe which was 1 teaspoon of bicarb into 2 tablespoons of boiling water.  I read it as 2 tablespoons of bicarb to 2 tablespoons of water and the result was absolutely VILE!  Straight into the bin for that lot with a second batch into the oven!  Mr Milly did gloat and has done so all afternoon.........  when I was looking for inspiration tonight for the blog....  His suggestion 'write about your disaster with the biscuits'.  So for my very competitive hubby -  Blog written as directed!



Anzac and Shortbread biscuits - I'll add the recipes for these to My Recipe page shortly.



Biscuit Barrel - The chocolate chip cookies are out of the freezer.

Lottie Update

As promised an update on the Lottie,  my little plot hasn't been forgotten or neglected, but work over there is just slooooowww at the moment. 

There are some reasons for this,  a 2 week holiday,  the nights are drawing in so I'm not really able to visit after work and My Girl is not around to help is just a few of them.

We have started now to prepare the existing beds for the winter.  The Sweetcorn bed, bean bed and cabbage have all now been cleared, dug over and more weeds and brambles removed (they are just so never ending!) and topped with a layer of compost and manure.  Two of the beds have been covered with weed suppressant and will now stay that way until the spring. 

Sweetcorn and bean bed ready for winter

Empty cabbage bed

I am working from the back of the plot towards the front, one bed at a time to prepare them for their next job.   The soon to be Gooseberry bed has been started (I love Gooseberries and they are so expensive to buy, so I am hoping the 2 bushes I have bought will produce a good harvest!!)  their bed has been dug over and is now topped with compost and manure and in 2 weeks I'll plant the gooseberries.

The new gooseberry bed 'maturing' for a couple of weeks

A little harvest on Sunday - it was a swede, a couple of turnips and purple carrots.  I had a freebie packet of purple carrot seeds from somewhere (I can't rmember where from!) and planted them to see what would happen.  Enough carrots for one meal were picked and they certainly were interesting!  We had them for tead mashed with the swede.  Now I didn't realise that it was the orange in carrots which give carrot and swede mash its lovely orange colour - maybe I should have know that,  but I think I have just not paid attention!  So with purple carrots- what do you get?   A greyish, purpleish sludgey colour,  not the most attractive of veg on a plate!  Their saving grace,  they tasted lovely!

So I've tried the purple carrots and interesting - Yes,  would I grow them again - No,  I definately prefer the vibrant orange colour!

Interesting aren't they!?  - Puple on the outside and normal carrot colour at the centre. 
These have been peeled and are ready for the pot.

NB;-  Thank you Anonymous for your lovely comment on this post Pumpkin .  It is lovely to receive comments and to know you are enjoying my little blog!

Oh the excitement...

......  of harvesting the pumpkin!    This pumpkin has been loved and tended for months, planted in a bed of compost and organic matter,  regularly fed tomato food and the occasional beer feed too.  Yesterday the day finally arrived!  I understand it is best to cut the pumpkin a little before carving to let it dry out and it is our oldest Nephew's birthday on Halloween, Mr Milly was also very excited about our first ever home grown pumpkin so this weekend we were harvesting.  Unfortunately as Mr Milly's hand is still in rest mode he wasn't able to come to the Lottie with us.

The time was arranged for us to meet and off we all set to the Lottie,  there was me,  the Oldest Nephew, the Littlest Nephew, My sister-in-law and the the Portuguese Housekeeper,  we arrived at the Lottie and the boys scanned the horizon for the Pumpkin and it was found.  Scissors to the ready and the pumpkin was cut and carried away to be carved for a Jack-o-Lantern.

But before our prized pumpkin left the Lottie there was just time for a few photos...........

Are you ready for the Pumpkin??????

The grand unveiling is on its way..................................................






We are going to try a different Pumpkin seed next year............  Hmmmm  I wonder why!!!!



Swede and Turnip picked the same day.    Oh well - there is always next year!



Normal Service

Life is now returning to normal and a hot relaxing holiday now seems ages and ages ago.   Mr Milly had a minor operation on Wednesday and actually turned out a bit bigger than we thought,  he now has to rest his hand for a couple of weeks,  doesn't sound too  difficult, but when you are in a Wheelchair with a hand out of action this is a bit of a problem,  therefore his week has been BUSY   - so a little bit of updating. 

We went to Kent for a visit with My Girl - it is such a long time since we had seen her and we were really looking forward to seeing her and the centre where she is living and working.   My Girl is looking tanned, slimmer and healthy - she is really really loving her job.   She is working very long hours and learning lots of new and exciting things .  We took her and the Portuguese Housekeeper out for dinner - My Girl's choice it was Frankie and Bennys,  not really our favourite place, but hey it was about spending time with our little girl, so who cares!

My Girl and the Portuguese Housekeeper

We were sad to leave her and she didn't want us to come home,  but it looks like she will be home in the middle of  November which is not too far off now.

And with that thought Christmas is looming,  I have very mixed feelings about Christmas this year but will try my best to make it special for my loved ones.

Our preparations are well underway - I made the Christmas cake this week.   This is a first for me as I have always had one made for me - this year it was for me to make.   Mr Milly and I worked together and baked our first ever Christmas cake.   It is now wrapped in foil resting in a cake tin to be fed with brandy over the next couple of months - I hope it is going to be OK!!!!

Does it look ok??????

We have also been inspired by my dear Father-in-Law this week and have made our Christmas Mincemeat - this is also a first for us -  but this particular recipe comes so highly recommended by My father-in-law we thought we would give it a go.

Maturing for 12 hours before being put in the oven.

Now sitting in Kilner jars in the cupboard waiting for mince pies.  I'm not so worried about the mincemeat as we were able to have  a little try - unlike the cake!  The verdict - the mincemeat is YUMMY1!

Mincemeat done!

The Lottie hasn't been forgotten during this cooking frenzy  - news of the Lottie to follow during the week.

This photo is just because I like it.......  Leisurely Sunday morning breakfast for 2.

Fishes everywhere - photo heavy post

Today some photos arrived.  I went snorkeling with Elena and Gennady,  Gennady has a vast knowledge of all sorts of things and whilst snorkeling he was telling us the names of all the fish - he also had an underwater camera and took lots of pictures - he has sent me a  photo disk  for me to share.  In the little packet sent to me was a present too for Mr Milly - or maybe really it was for me!  Anti-snoring strips  LOL!  Elena was talking about Gennady's snoring whilst we were on hols and the little cure she has for him and with me sympathising with her as Mr Milly snores too - she very kindly sent us a little packet of the 'miracle' cure - I'll let you know if they work LOL!

These are the last holiday pictures a memento of snorkeling in the Red Sea

Beautiful but deadly Lion Fish

Lion Fish

Masked Puffer

Picasso Fish - these are very curious fish and will come up close
 and their funny swivelly eyes have a look at you

Very friendly and curious Box Fish

Baby Whale!!!  LOL

Scary looking Squirrel Fish

Not sure whether this is a Box or Puffer fish. 
But it was massive - nearly a metre long

Sargent Major Fish

Butterfly fish with Squirrels in the background

Box Fish again,  he really did want to be photographed and
swam around with us for sometime.  There are 2 box fish living under the
jetty - obviously very used to people and would follow you around.
These and the Picasso were my favourites!

Clown Fish family - Hello Nemo!

Holiday Update - Part 2

This is the final holiday update and then normal service will resume!

We met the most interesting people during our holiday.  Lynne and Ian - Lynne is an artist,  she has always been arty and is now self employed and painting full time.  Ian is a Geordie and highly entertaining! They were both interesting and fun to spend time with.   We then met Elena and Gennedy both of them were born in Siberia and met when they were at school, travelled around Russia as children and young adults and went to University in Moscow together where they married and had their daughter.  Next year will be their 30th wedding anniversary - that is a lovely story in itself,  meeting when they were 12 years old and now being married 30 years!   They live in the UK now and have for the last 15 years.

Elena and I are very similar,  we like many of the same things -  including lots of different crafts with both of us having tried many different things.  Elena is now learning Millinery, Gennedy told us they have 100 hats in their house!  She has sent me a couple of pictures and her hats are beautiful - Ascot ladies day hats definately!  We spent hours and hours talking to Elena and Gennedy as they have had the most fascinating lives.   It is sad that we don't live closer together as I think Elena and I would have been good friends.  We are trying to keep in touch though and several emails have gone backwards and forwards since we have been home.

My great adventure on holiday - Scuba diving!  Both me and Mr Milly had a try dive in the swimming pool - Mr Milly did not like it at all!  I decided it was OKish!  So a discover dive followed,  a 1/2 hour session in the pool with an instructor having a look at the equipment and very basic safety and some hand signals,  then a long trudge along the hotel jetty (the equipment is very heavy, so it was definately a trudge!).  Into the sea and off we went.  Now I was lucky on this dive as it was just me and the instructor,  Henry who is a Nubian - from the very south of Egypt with their own language and customs.  Anyway as it was just me and I was nervous Henry held my hand all through the dive - it was interesting seeing the sea life from a different angle,  I really enjoyed the discover dive and to my relief it was all in fairly shallow water.   I now know that I have a fear of very deep water and did attempt to take a scuba diver course,  however I was frightened and panicked as we practiced skills in deeper and deeper water.   So Scuba diving is not for me!  I am glad I tried it and may do another simple little SHALLOW dive in the future but nothing more for me!

Mr Milly getting ready for his try dive.  My boy ensuring Dad is OK!

Ready to go.....

Add caption

I having been trying to find a couple of pics which sum up our holiday and I think these say it all....

My Boy

Mr Milly floating about

Sun, love and laughter!

Holiday Update - Part 1!

It's been a busy few days since we arrived back in the UK,  we have been trying to fit in as much as possible before I returned to work.

Our Room

But let me tell you about our holiday......  It was hot - I think I might have mentioned that!!....... the sea was hot,  I think my bath water is not as hot as the sea,  it is also very very shallow for quite a distance which makes it great for paddling, but not too good for swimming.  And just a few feet from the shore with the water just covering my feet the sea is teeming with life.  Little black and white fish zooming around, star fish under rocks, little hermit crabs crawling along and tentacle like coral clinging to rocks.  It really is fascinating.

The hotel jetty,  the quickest way to the deeper water

Snorkelling

As we only had a couple of days with My Boy on hols we made the most of it!  We went snorkelling around the little coral reefs which are just at the end of the jetty - we saw box fish they are a muddy brown colour with bright blue spots,  majestic and very poisonous Lion Fish - they really are amazing to look at, puffer fish, wrasse, picassa, parrot fish,  needle fish - the list is endless.  I have some photos on the way and will share once they have arrived.




Relaxing in the warm evening air



The four of us visited a local shisha bar, a few drinks and a shisha in the evening watching the world go by - very civilised!   There are bedouins everywhere with their camels - they are very strange and interesting creatures.  Have you seen how a camel sits down - My Boy was fascinated!

Mum, Dad and Baby camel.  The baby looks like he is wearing  furry rug!

One evening the hotel held a beach party - me and Mr Milly have never been to a beach party, so really did have to go,  it was fun!  And the best bit - spending relaxed and happy time with my lovely son, Loopy Lou and my gorgeous hubby



My men at the beach party

And finally with My Boy and Loopy Lou we spent lots and lots of time lazing around the pool and visiting the pool bar - we were on holiday after all!

My two gorgeous men!  Some father-son bonding maybe?



We love being on holiday x



We're Home

It was hot hot hot - some days its was 40 degrees with absolutely no breeze what-so-ever!  We have spent a really lovely and relaxing 11 days in Sharm-El-Sheikh.  My Boy and Loopy-Lou also spent 11 days in Sharm but arriving the week before we did - we spent 5 days together before they travelled home.  It was lovely to spend time with them.

Just a quick couple of pics for now and more holiday details to follow!

A little view of the hotel and pool

The hotel

The beach with Tiran Island in the background