Celebrating the small stuff

Up early this morning to see Himself off to work gave me the absolute pleasure of being able to slip back into a still warm bed and catch up with reading or replying to comments on my blog. It was rather fresh first thing when I took Willow out however the dawn chorus was spectacular. I listened with clenched teeth to stop them chattering before returning to the warmth of my bed, but not before I used my bird app to help ID all the birds I could hear. 

I was very happy with that list!

After breakfast, boots and leads were collected and a pathway followed. When I used to walk with Moss, I allowed her to 'choose' the route (within reason) and it would vary from day to day. 

The last couple of walks, I have gently allowed Willow the same freedom of choice (again within reason) and today she took us up and round the village along stony tracks and muddy lanes then through a rough field and a scruffy meadow twice - because she knows she can play fetch with her favourite ball there. 

To do that - she would have had to mentally plan the route to be able to return back through the fields without turning back or repeating a track, either that it was a very lucky guess!!

I recently mentioned my love of punchy home made ginger biscuits and I was sent a flood of recipes - so - today I am going to start experimenting with every recipe offered - it is a mission and some one has to do it!! (oooh oooh pick me, pick me!)

Todays photos a mix of our walk, what we found, in the garden and in the kitchen - I do have quite a long 'to do' list but - hey there is always tomorrow!

How has your Monday been?
Are you doing things YOU want to do or are you procrastinating?

Pigs, hearts and dogs - what more could you want?

 We sat, Himself and I, mug of tea each and ginger biscuits for three (Willow) and as we cronched them we both agreed that they were not particularly gingery - Willow on the other hand just cronched and wanted more declaring them the most delicious thing eaten EvEr!

So we (and still eating biscuits) reminisced about the collies that we have had and how they all seemed to love ginger biscuits then Himself remembered it was actually our second 'bordering on a collie' (pretty sure she was just barely a hint of collie) Cleggy came with a predilection for the gingery snack. Moss who was full on, top notch registered border collie but worth nothing to the farming community due to her inability to be a working dog, she too said that yes - ginger biscuits were yum.

Now Willow, who was sitting quietly minding her own business, leapt up and asked could she too have a biscuit as they were of the ginger type and scoffed them and inhaled the crumbs. Any hoo - where this is leading to is -

1. Are ginger biscuits generally less gingery and seem more sweet than before?

2. Do all collies have an affinity for a cronchy ginger biscuit?

SO!  I then remembered that a couple of years ago I made a load of Swedish Pepparkakor - Ginger biscuits and decided to do it again. When adding the spices I tasted the dough (which was yum BTW) I upped the ginger from one teaspoon for a heaped tablespoon and suddenly it tasted right!

A small and red dog decided that being in the kitchen Was.The.Place.To.Be whilst things smelt warm and gingery and now that the biscuits are out she keeps popping in to 'check if they are cool enough to eat' - well that is what she has told me.....

If you fancy making some here is the link and I didn't bother with the 'let it sit for 24 hours' I just bunged it in the fridge for the time it took to wash up, wrap three birthday pressies and make a brew -then I rolled the dough out and voila - Sweddish(esqe) Pepparkakor Pigs and Hearts.

I have just eaten one - hmmm - not bad, but not quite what I was looking for - the quest continues!

Do you have a suitable punchy ginger biscuit recipe? Or am I just chasing a ginger pimpernel 😆

Monday's meanderings

 I really should be getting on.

No really.... I SHOULD!

However my mug of tea, although almost finished is enough to keep me here.

But - the washing machine has fallen silent which strangely calls rather loudly to be emptied.

The carpet also rather tight lipped is pointedly saying that it needs vacuuming.

The dog, now asleep from her walk this morning snores gently with her face pressed deep into the fluff of her bed. I would like to take a quick photo but the moment I attempt to stand up her eyes fly open and she is ready for the next adventure - even if it only to the garden for a piddle....

I've a friend landing shortly - she invited herself having discovered I am now no longer working. A mixed blessing this new found freedom - I have things I want to do and I things I have to do but I am not getting round to them!

I have, to my delight, discovered another local name (to be filed under village folk law, myth and legend) for a small winding pathway on our dog walk. A narrow track, probably a pack horse originally, slips behind houses and around fields and terminates in a jumble of cottages. In summer it is a rash of flowers and weeds opening out to wider muddy tracks - perfect for dog walking away from traffic.

I am also rather pleased to be given a Victorian cow/horse tether which some twenty years ago, had been found up on the moors near a dilapidated barn. It still has the rope on it from that lucky find. I already have one that I discovered in a Victorian tip in Wales years and years ago. So I have offered it to Eldest and he is more than happy to give it a home in his garden.

And I shall leave you with a couple of photo's of my Youngest's boys who were peeping beneath the banister yesterday when we visited with Willow. They were rather horrified at the thought of a stinky dog in THEIR domain😆

Hope your weekend was good and your Monday is gentle xx

Marzipan loaf cake recipe

 A quick post to share the cake recipe from my last post. Every one who has had a piece has commented how lovely it is. It make a 'close' but very light cake with a delicious lingering flavour of almond and vanilla. 

I didn't add the cardamon as I personally dislike it. The crust is delicious and I will certainly try the 'toasted' version - hope you enjoy it as much as we have ... Nigella Lawson (BBC Good Food) Marzipan Loaf Cake

I only have the 'before' photos, before Himself spotted it and despite being restrained .... ate most of it....

snapshots and scents

The plan was - get up, shower, strip the bedding then stick on the washing machine, finally sitting down with a mug of peppermint tea and toast..... The first two happened fairly smoothly, that is until it came to pulling back the duvet only to find the cat firmly burrowed beneath Himself's warm padded shirt. I hesitated. Her eyes were so firmly shut it felt quite disrespectful to disturb her. Instead I worked my way through the wash basket hoping that by the time I was ready to pull the bed apart, Pan would have decided to get up and leave me to my chores..... not a chance.

So I carefully untucked the corners of the sheets, gently pulling them to the centre. This produced the 'ears of annoyance' and the 'frown of disapproval'. I stopped. This time, I slowly pulled the duvet to the now bared mattress - this was considered inappropriate behaviour and I was given the sharpest of glares. 

How is it I have been reduced to a timid char lady to an elderly cantankerous cat?! 

I tried again, this time she poured herself out of the nest she had created and slipped off the bed and away with a rather cross flick flick of her tail.

Later.....

Chores done, breakfast eaten, carpets briefly tickled with the vacuum cleaner I reached for my knitting to do whilst I finished my tea. For what felt like the longest time, I have not had the need or the urge to knit or crochet however that seems to have returned and in the last few days I have knitted a pseudo-Sophie scarf and a warm scrappy hat for work. 

The weather has vanished again, leaving a sepia-grey sky heavy with damp and cold air. It took quite a bit of an effort on my part to go out, so I rewarded myself with the snowdrops in the garden. 

The kitchen at the moment, smells rather warm and inviting - I have a marzipan and vanilla loaf cake cooking in the oven and the fragrance is filling downstairs with a mouth watering aroma.

I hope that it tastes as good as it smells😊

Postscript..... Himself declares the cake delicious and has scoffed two chunky slices, suspect it will be a 'make it again' 🍰