Weekend

Another quiet weekend with the added bonus of catching up with the family.  We had two Grandchildren that started school recently, but how different there introduction to school has been.  Hector was given quite a soft start doing a couple of hours a day for the first week and is quite unsettled.  Whilst Honey, met her teacher in the garden with a home visit and started full days straight away.  She seems to have settled reasonably well.  Both of them are disappointed that they don't see their elder sibling.  Both looked so cute in their school uniforms, they melted my heart.  Hector had to have a few days off , in fact the whole family were self isolating as Hector had a temperature and a cough. The normal starting/back to school virus that sweeps throughout the school when they all get together after the summer.  Sadly, he had to be tested and get a negative result before he was allowed back to school.  The negative result was never really in doubt but getting booked in for a test was quite the ordeal, enough said.  The numbers of Covid 19 are once again rising so it will be interesting to see what all the new announcements will bring.  There have been no new cases reported here on the Island but we still have to abide by the rules that Scotland announce.

Saturday was spent in the kitchen preparing meals for the freezer and Sunday lunch, I like to have it all prepared so that I can listen to the Church service with no distractions.  It was in fact a live stream this week which was quite exciting.  We are allowed to go back to Church next week using a booking in system as only 50 are allowed in the building because of the 2 metre constraints.

  Meatloaf with a thick tomato sauce was added and pork tenderloin prepared for Sunday lunch using the Hairy Bikers recipe, a firm favourite that I have made many times.

The stuffing was an apricot and ginger one and was very tasty.  It should be wrapped in streaky bacon but I didn't have any but it didn't detract from the taste.  

Pickling vinegar was made using some pickling spice and boiling.  I must admit it did take awhile to get rid of the smell which was quite acrid and really did get the back of your throat but it was worth the effort.

I then went on to prepare some apples for the freezer and then made some tomato and apple chutney.  I had forgotten about some beetroot that I had planted up in one of the tyres.  I must admit, it wasn't a huge success but I boiled the 5 vibrant beets and then chopped them to make a pickle.  Nothing gets wasted.

There was a great walk which I will share in another post and there is always a little crafting.  A quiet but very fulfilling weekend.  

As always I do thank you for your visit here.  A very warm welcome to new followers, I do hope you enjoy my little adventures through life.  Wherever you are in the World I do hope that you are safe and well, we are living in such strange times.  Take care.

See you soon.