Why Me??

Do you guys know what this combination of items is?

I reckon most mums don't have to come across this in their house. It just has to be me.

If you're lost, I'll give you a clue: there is a blue wall tack with some white paint on the top. It's stuck into a .... a.... thing. 

If you don't know what it is, then put your feet up, have a coffee, and be glad that you are a townie.

Wednesday's Questions....on Thursday!

Here are Patrice's questions for this week:

1. What's your favorite food at a BBQ?

You know, BBQ is not a common occurence in this neck of the woods. Just think weather. But we did have a lovely barbeque one evening last year and the sun came out.

As for my favourite food? May I choose the desserts?

No? Actual barbeque food? I think it would be the chicken if it's been marinaded in something really nice. My brother-in-law cooks food that is magnifique.

2. Do you have any good tips for making recipes healthier? Nope, I really don't. I'm sorry, but if I'm ever changing a recipe from what's recommended, it's to put in more butter; more sugar; more cream. I never buy low-fat foods, or low-sugar (oh, I tell a lie - the diluting juice is sugar-free, right enough), but apart from that.... none.
3. As you know, I'm a chef. If I knocked at your door and told you that I would prepare any dinner you wanted, what would that be? Oh what a dream that would be! I think I'd choose a fish dish for the main course. Some sea bass, and I'd leave the rest of the dish up to you (but remember - we love potatoes).  For a starter..... let me think: if I was having fish for my main course, I'd choose a chicken wrap or roll. Feel free to add as many ingredients in the roll as you wish! And pudding..... It would have to be something chocolatey. I'm thinking something warm and some dreamy Italian ice-cream. And then another pudding - something fruity, just to finish on a healthy note.  Er, just checking the diary.... When can you come round?? 
4. Running or walking? May I choose Option C?
5. What are you reading lately?  I have a few books on the go:  I've just finished the second book, Daughter of Zion, in the Zion Chronicles series by Brodie and Brock Thoene. Mission of Motherhood, Sally Clarkson. Spurgeon's Daily Reading 
In Freedom's Cause, GA Henty
(Our read-aloud just now is the Little House series - we're on By the Banks of Plum Creek. I'm lovin' it!)

Things I've Learnt This Year...

Connie, at Smockity Frocks, asks about lessons we've learnt in our vegetable gardens this year. Here are a few of our lessons learnt.

 Onions and Cold Frames

 

Last winter, we planted some onion bulbs in tubs, and left them in the cold frame. We did nothing to them until the days began to get longer and then we fed and watered them. Normally, we'd have taken the 'lid' off the cold frame long ago and left it off, but we've had so many gales in the month of May that the top has been on more than off.

Here's one of the tubs behind the glass. They still have a bit of growing to do, but I have stolen a couple to put in soups over the past weeks. The flavour is too good to resist.

We'll definitely do this again, because it does give us onions much, much earlier in the year that we would normally have.

Potatoes in Tubs

 

Our main crop of potatoes only began appearing in the past couple of weeks, and we are delighted this is the case. Our gales could easily have decimated our crop. 

But the Builder and the Wee Guy planted a few potatoes in a variety of tubs. Here's one of the tubs and you can see how they've grown. You can also see how well protected they are .... hence the growth!

Coriander

I've learnt - bit by bit - about coriander (cilantro).

This herb grows fine and dandy in the cold frame...

 ...or outside, sheltered from the wind.

 My next 'lot' of coriander.... one or two just popping through.

I've learnt that it definitely does not like being inside the greenhouse because, even in our climate, it's too hot for it.

I've also learnt two more things:

- no matter how unsuitable the weather is for plants growing....

....the weeds seem to thrive!

- and finally, that a vegetable garden is a lot of work. There simply is no getting away from it. It's satisfying. I love it. It's worth it. But there is loads and loads of work to it.

Can you spot Jackson here? At times, he likes to sit up straight and kid on he really is a hunting dog.

He sits tall. Elegant. Regal, even.

 And he looks at me as if to say, 

'Do you know who my people are?'

But behind all that regality and elegence and kid-on professionalism, there lies a garden full of...

 ... and this

Yep, plenty more where they came from.

Yes, you.... I'm talking about you.

 You gorgeous,

 adorable,

 cute,

 playful

 little honey.

 Even if we do have a garden full of those.

(You do understand that I use the word 'garden' in the loosest possible sense of the word. Ahem)

And it's all worthwhile.

And the Winner Is....

....Sarah, from Our Family View From the Two of Us!


Sarah, I'm delighted for you. Please leave your e-mail address in a comment here, and I'll be in touch with you very soon. Congratulations!!

Sun. We Had Sun

Today, we had sun. Are you hearing me?

We had sun.

 Here is the plot right now. The forefront of the photo is all empty just now. 

In front of the cage on the right, there are other windbreaks, and we have the leeks planted in there.

 On the outside of each cage, there are posts a-plenty....

 and on the inside, the Builder had to put more props because of last week's gales.

 Because we have the cages it does mean that these plants have survived. There are three weeks since these were planted in the cage. There has been no real growth, because the temperatures have been so low, but at this stage I'm just thankful they have survived.

I was speaking to a fellow from the village yesterday, and his Duke of York 'earlies' were coming on a treat until last week's gale, when he lost them all. I'm thankful our potatoes were later in being planted and so have just begun to show their heads above ground.

 Big Brother's sheep were loving the weather this evening.

See the black lamb? This is Jenny Miracle, according to the kids..... because she's a genetic miracle.

She is pure black and is lovely.

Not what Big Brother wants to see too often, but Jenny is loved by all - even by him.

 I stood in the Family Room window at 9 o'clock this evening and took this photo looking North.

You can see the Butt of Lewis lighthouse near the centre of the photo.

Then looking north-west....

...and south-west.

It was good to see the sun. It makes me smile.

You know, when the sun doesn't set until late at night, it's very difficult to go to bed early. I love sitting watching the sun set. 

Peace.

Don't forget to enter the Giveaway if you haven't done so already!

Weightless Wednesday

I'm linking with Everyday Ruralty today for 

 (Before the questions, I'd like to point out that, for me, sadly this really has nothing to do with diets, weight loss, or even weight watching. It's just a bit of fun answering Patrice's questions.)
1. Has your diet changed a lot since the warmer weather came? Er, and what warmer weather would that be? Seriously, we have had no warmer weather. Our temperature is desperately trying to creep out of the 40s. And with the almost constant winds, that feel c-o-l-d.
Last Saturday, I had a pan of Scotch Broth (thick vegetable soup) for lunch - exactly what I'd have in the middle of winter! And our evening meals have all been 'cold weather' foods. I'm longing to begin on salads, but so far.... not a rabbit leaf in sight.
2. Did you do anything interesting over Memorial weekend? Well, we don't have Memorial Day here in the UK, so that would be a 'no' (unless you count planting veg and transplanting seedlings 'interesting'??)
3. If you could plan a get together with your blog friends, what would that look like? Mmmm... let me think. I think - just to be fair to most of my blogging friends - it would have to be in America. After all, that's where most of them are, and so, to be totally unselfish, I'd do the travelling.
I'm good like that.
Once there, we'd be somewhere warm. Anywhere warm. But not hot, thank you. And we'd eat outside. Oh, I guess we've just had assumption #1 ... we'd eat! Yes, eating would definitely be part of our get together. Eating and talking with y'all? Yep, that would be right up my street. (I'm beginning to like the sound of this....)
4. Do you like yogurt? What's your favorite kind or favorite way of eating it? Oh dear.... not natural. I'm such a Philistine. I do like the (probably very unhealthy and full of colour etc) fruit ones, whisked with cream, put into individual dishes with demerara sugar sprinkled on top, left for an hour or so (or overnight - even better), and then served with fresh strawberries.
Yum.... and healthy. Okay, so it's not healthy, but it is yummy.
5. What's the most important quality or character trait in a friend? Loyalty, I think.  I guess there are other traits that are really important too, but loyalty is one trait I believe myself to have, so I'll go for that one.