Weekend

The weekend came and went very quickly, the days seem to be merging into each other.  My heart goes out to all those who are home schooling and trying to juggle working from home.  My own three daughters are managing and I am sure are doing a great job but they feel as if they are lacking.  They are doing the best that they can along with everyone else and that is all anyone can ask of them.  The cases of the coronavirus is still rising and I do wonder how long it will take to reach its peak prior to the numbers coming down.  In the meantime the vaccine programme continues and for that I am truly thankful.

I did have my usual baking session over the weekend, baking cheese and mustard scones to go with soup.  I have a couple of batches that need to be used from the freezer.  I also made some sausage rolls that will make a lovely lunch along with some homemade coleslaw.  Finally, a batch of mince pies with a crumble top just because...

The mince pie was also topped with a pecan, heaven in a pastry case.  Each recipe broken down to smaller portions to there is no waste.

Saturday evening we had our treat meal of the week which consisted of steak, grilled tomato, chips and peas.  We really enjoyed it as we don't eat a lot of red meat or indeed chips so it is a real treat to have both in a meal.

All the laundry has been done, washed, dried and ironed.  The Christmas linen is waiting to be packed away a job for today.  The cottage has been cleaned from top to bottom.  A programme of deep cleaning has started, a few extra jobs a day.  Today was to declutter and clean the kitchen drawers, a task that has been needed doing for sometime.  Its amazing how much longer a job can take to do than first anticipated.  The windows need cleaning both inside and out, but the weather is not conducive to this task.  Tomorrow is another day.

A short post, hopefully I will have more to share tomorrow.  Take care and stay safe.  A warm welcome to new followers, I do hope you enjoy my little adventures through life.

See you soon.

Christmas Baking

 I spent the best part of the day in the kitchen yesterday, one of my favourite places to be.  I had Christmas carols and songs playing in the background which made for a great seasonal experience.  The pandemic has made us rethink what is important at this time of year and to this end Christmas has been toned down considerably.  Food will still play an important role so I made a start and enjoyed the process.

Mince pies, sausage rolls and cranberry and walnut scones.

All ready for the freezer to be pulled out when needed.  I also mixed up some cookie dough ready to pull out when we want it.

I went on to make some mini meat loaves, two of which were used for our dinner last night.  They were so tasty and it is a comfort to know that there are more in the freezer.

We had the meatloaf with root vegetable mash, (carrot/swede/parsnip/potato) and kale, it was so tasty.

It is the time of year for hot chocolate so I made some hot chocolate spoons, another one of our traditions.  It is so nice to be a little decadent at this time of year.

Some topped with mini marchmallows, some with crushed candy cane.  I enjoy both...

Whilst the chocolate was out I made some little chocolate gingerbread men and candy canes to use as toppers either for some cupcakes or to use to add to the gingerbread house.  Another tradition, usually made on Christmas eve.

My apologies for the quality of the photos but I think you get the idea of it.  I also had the bread maker going to use a packet bread mix I had in that was nearing its best before date.  We don't usually eat much white bread but it was all I could get when we were in lockdown earlier in the year.

Have you made a start on your baking or do you prefer to buy it all?  There are some great bakeries about I do wonder if it is worth all the effort, but I do enjoy the process.

Thank you all for your visit to the blog and your uplifting comments.  Take care and stay safe.

See you soon.

Weekend

 My goodness, how time is flying by and despite new restrictions with regard to Covid 19 I am still filling my days well.  I always have a project on the go if not more than one.  I have made a start on some cards which include Christmas cards.  I intend to send a few extras this year as I won't be able to call in on some of our old friends but I want them to know we are thinking of them.  I have also been working on some jar toppers for jams/chutneys/pickles which will be included in the hampers that I give.

I am adding to the hampers regularly using as much as I can harvest from the garden and garden room.  The most recent addition is some spring onion oil.  I do like to have a variety of oils in my kitchen as well as for gifts.

I have made a couple of storage bags to be gifted, along with a matching pencil roll and stationery.

Saturday as usual was spent in the kitchen preparing  the dinner for Sunday so that I can really enjoy a day of rest.  This week pork was on the menu as the pig came back from the slaughterhouse.  It was hard not to think about it but I must admit the meat was good.  I made butternut squash and sweet potato soup I had to thin it down a little it was so thick but it was very tasty.

Cauliflower cheese was made as side to go with the pork, along with some stewed apple.

Sausage rolls were made with some of the sausage meat, they were so tasty.   A cheese and onion quiche, apple crumbles and potato salad were also added.

It is always nice to have a few things prepared in advance so if we are busy I can make a quick meal.  Autumn is closing in, the temperatures are dropping, throws are appearing and the heating has been turned back on.  I have changed some of the candles around giving a more seasonal scent.  I have a full store cupboard in the event of cancelled freight ferries due to bad weather.  The sky is overcast and heavy and the changing hues are a delight as I look out of my cottage window.  The beauty that I am surrounded by is a gift and I am thankful for it.

Gerard has a hospital appointment tomorrow so we are going across to Stornoway, they phoned today to check on his health ensuring it was safe for him to attend.  The new drug regime seems to be working well so hopefully this will not change.  We have also had our appointments for the flu jab so that is another thing ticked off.  How are you all doing?  Are you managing to tick off those lists of jobs? 

As always I thank you for your visit and your uplifting comments.  Take care and stay safe.

See you soon.

Weekend

How are you all doing?  Are you managing to keep yourself occupied?  I must admit that life is much the same for us here, we have been very lucky thus far and for that I am thankful.  I do worry about my daughters and their little families but so far they are doing well and again I am thankful.  There are a few shortages here and there as there is only one freight ferry coming over with essential lifeline goods but we are managing.  Our medication is delivered by volunteers so we are well looked after.  Another week of listening to our Church service online and setting the Sunday School children craft tasks to do.  Once again we have a lot to be thankful for, technology keeping us all together.  We have a lot to be thankful for and sometimes it is worth writing it down so that we can fully appreciate what we do have.  The past few days I have been feeling a little negative and this one paragraph has made me feel a whole lot better.

For those who didn't know what a rag wreath was I have taken a few photos of some of the ones I have around the cottage.

This is the one I am working on at the moment in readiness for the front porch.  I just need to add a vibrant red heart ribbon.

 Yesterday I had a baking session using up some oddments languishing in the fridge.  There was some cheese that was on its last legs, a couple of sausages left over from the day before and half an onion.  This was the ample eggs from our girls quickly became, sausage rolls, cheese straws and a 2 quiches for lunch today.

I also cooked the roast beef for dinner along with yorkshire puds. eight of which are now in the freezer for another time.

Cauliflower and broccoli cheese.

Cherry crumble topped with almonds.

Finally a strawberry trifle which will be a great sweet treat for a few days.  It was made using tinned strawberries but it still tasted good.

Its amazing how food lifts our spirits.

Did I tell you how grateful I am to all of you who visit this humble blog?  I am, I am also thankful for the new followers and for all your uplifting comments.  It is a strange time we are living in but technology is bringing us all closer together.  It is wonderful how our different backgrounds and countries don't matter we are all fighting this pandemic the best way that we can.  A united world, long may that last.

Take care and stay safe.

See you soon.