06.04.10 - my sort of normal

There are things that occur (on a regular basis) that appear quite normal in our household but I feel that in any one else's eyes look just plain rediculous.

• Youngest crawling around in his PJs claiming he is a hedgehog whilst squeaking to the tune of 'Stars and Stripes'
• Me, armed with a torch and wellies heading off to the chook pen to put Tatty-bird to bed. She stays out long after the others have snuggled down and tries to perch on the fence, I call to her and she croons back, shuffles over and allows me to pick her up and tuck her up with the rest of the hens
• Himself coming to collect me at the end of the day on his bike and bringing mine at the same time whilst a precious cargo of our hen's eggs are tucked safely into his panniers (oh dear - that sounds a bit odd in itself! I mean his bike's panniers!)
• Knowing which door the cat will use - despite there being 3 doors out of the house, she only uses the one - why?
• Opening the doors to hear the rain when all our neighbours shut them tightly. Where I come from - rain is a gift.
• Eldest proclaiming himself a vegetarian despite his obvious dislike for anything remotely vegetable-like.......
• Naming inanimate objects and giving them characters and traits - Evelyn, now there's a good example, but the list goes on - Garden tools called Keith Moon and Timmy Mallet or Eldest's GPS is affectionately known as Rupert, even the car has a name.....
• Regular hunting for the remote controls for the digibox or TV (usually last seen in the hands of Eldest)
• Finding the missing socks whilst looking for said lost remote control..........

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Latest update of: 52 things I have never cooked before .......

18. Chickpea cakes

19. Old Nicks Ginger and Apple cake and yes it really does have coriander and cumin in!

20. Sweet Potato and Lentil curry - delish!! I had made a fair bit, so next day, I whizzzzzed it up and added to more vegetables and made an extremely tasty soup

21. Orange Muesli muffins - these improved with keeping and are definitely going to be made again

Another sign that spring is here.

05.04.10 - weeds and seeds

In the days, when I gardened professionally, I booted and suited.
Company logo on chest and van.
Hair tied back and baseball cap on head.
And I worked hard.

Now, when the only person I garden for, is myself,
I garden in long skirts and camo wellies,
I constantly brush my hair out of my eyes, leaving soil dags on my fringe.
I have to tuck my scarves over my back when I am weeding.
Earings dangle, bracelets jangle.
And I just don't care!

It has been a successful day in the garden, I've planted out, weeded, divided, pruned and with the boys help - more seeds have been sown.

The greenhouse is filling up with pintsized micro crops - just wish they would get bigger and we can start eating them!

Back to work tomorrow - boo hiss.............

04.04.10 - chocolate eggs and saddle sores

Hooray!
The easter bunny visited over night, and being the clever bunny that he is, he put out the chocolate treats just before he went off to bed (because he very nearly forgot) and even more clever, he hid them inside the house (coz due to the lateness of the hour - it was very very dark - besides the weatherman had promised yet more rain.....) Clever easter bun!

So, yes you guessed, it was chocolate for breakfast - yumm.....

Inspired by our ride out yesterday, and not completely put off by what the weatherman did say, we decided to go out again. Only this time not on the coast as heavy showers had been forecast but inland, in the Dales for a change.

The day has the same format as yesterday. We set off when it was fine, and when we arrived at our start point - the rain lashed down with vengeance.

Only this time we did sit in the car and eat our lunch....and our mid afternoon snacks....and drank tea.....and the orange meusli muffins....and the chocolates that survived the breakfast nibbling.....but we chose to leave the apples for later......!

We had parked outside a little rural church, quiet and sleepy, thinking that there would be no service in the afternoon and we would be not interferring with any congregational parking - alas we were wrong.

Shortly after we had consumed the last crumbs of our lunch (except the apples which were just too darned healthy) various warmly wrapped up good souls appeared from nowhere to this apparently isolated church - for an afternoon's service.

A very polite vicar confirmed that we had indeed taken church parking and equally politely suggested we parked.....Over there, by the telegraph pole

Which we did, and promptly sunk into boggy mud and almost lost our boots. Hmmmm.

We wrapped up warmly with Himself grinding his back teeth at the weather and set off. 

After a while, the icy wind eased off, the rain became less stinging and then stopped and the views began to delight.

I must admit, I am used to riding a mountain bike and being able to power up hills and whizzzzzz down them again, landing in pot holes, splashing through puddles and surviving, however, Evelyn doesn't do things like that, so we genteely navigated along the lanes at an elegant pace, occasionally having to be pushed up the hills, as despite me changing gears down to the lowest, and despite me puffing and panting, Evelyn DOES NOT DO HILLS..... She also doesn't race downhills either, no we have to gracefully glide down, avoiding potholes and gravel that her road-thin-wheels tremble at. Despite all her fuss - we had a lovely ride - just a little slower and a lot more girly than I am used to!

Ingleborough in the background

Evelyn in the foreground

Just in case you didn't notice...........

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A stone stack - For S, who's sister Di died this morning at 7.30am

S - we are very sorry xx

03.04.10 - In which Evelyn and I go exploring...and take the boys and the dog too....

We were all off on Friday, but with one thing and another, we didn't get out as planned. So on Saturday - despite the promised foul weather - we jumped into the bicycle laden car and headed off to Glasson Dock for a bike ride on the cycleways (converted from disused railway tracks)

Himself Just open the road atlas, I'm not too sure which junction off the motor way we need..
Me err, where is it?
Himself - ho ho! I've left it in the landrover, not to worry, use the OS map...
Me err, where is that?
Himself, Ho ho (bugger) um, left that on the table, never mind, I sort of know where were are going....


45 minutes later, several turns, changes of direction and scenic routes through nameless villages we found the road we needed and turned on to it, when the heavens opened. Great big lashing down wet rain.

Grumbles began to eminate from the back.

Youngest Move up - you are on my side
Eldest Nowhere near you
Youngest Mu-u-uuu-u-um he's leaning on me
Eldest Not..... Are we there yet?
Youngest You are...Mu-uu-uum he is, are we there yet?
Me Stop it both of you, we're nearly there.
Silence.....rain....more turns, more lanes, rain, rain......subversive grumbles from the back.

Me (to Himself) Are we nearly there yet?

Himself (more to himself than to me) Nearly there - Ah here it is!

We damply drove through a soggy grey miserable litte village, peering through a drenched windscreen for parking.

Himself ( brightly)  I think we find parking first, then have our lunch in the car and see if it picks up

More subversive grumbles in the back with the occasional clear word... hungry, starving...

Me Ok ok! we get the message, Just park there!

Himself  Oh, missed it, will try this one...

Me ok

Himself Oh, can't, won't fit under the barrier with the bikes on the carrier, will stop at the next one

Me - sigh

EVENTUALLY!

We parked.

AND THE SUN CAME OUT!

What a difference it makes when THE SUN COMES OUT. The sad little grey seaside village suddenly had colours and charm, it suddenly had appeal and charisma.


We rode down to the cycleway and stopped to breathe the sea air.

We trundled down the cycleway......

We stopped for picnics and basked in the sun, whilst just absorbing the view and leaving behind all the stress and all the grumbles and we suddenly remembered that life is good (but it's even better when the sun shines!)

Evelyn

Mud

More mud

Then it was time to leave and get back in time for a family meal with my Mom and Dad, only, we still didn't have a map, we still had very muddy children and had to get them clean and presentable and we had less than an hour to do it!!

Sorry Mum! Dinner still tasted delicious - despite it having to be kept :)

31.03.10 - Starry Chocolate Muffins

These are the muffins from the you want it for when??! post.

Muffins;

9oz  flour

2 oz sugar

2 tsp baking powder

2 eggs - lightly beaten

2 generous tablespoons cocoa powder

Milk - enough to make a thick lumpy batter - about one cup, more if you feel the mix is just too dry

5 1/2 oz butter melted

Oven needs to be 210 deg C.

Melt the butter gently, stir in milk and add egg

Weigh out flour, sugar, cocoa powder and baking powder and mix well.

Pour egg mix into dry mix and stir gently until just mixed - batter should look quite lumpy

Spoon mix into pre-greased muffin tins and bake 20 - 25 mins (check with a wooden skewer)

Removed from tin and cool.

Meanwhile,

Due to lack of anything remotely suitable for icing the buns, I found at the back of my baking cupboard a box of ready-roll white fondant icing (probably left over from Yule)

Roll out a chunk to about 2mm thick and use a favourite cooking cutter to make shapes - I used a star.

When the buns are cooled, make a small amount of glace icing - plain, and use that to 'glue' the stars onto the top of the buns.

Then add cocoa powder to the remaining glace icing (at this point I had to add a bit more water as it had thickened too much to 'drizzle')

Using a teaspoon, drizzle the chocolate coloured glace icing across the star, allow to dry slightly.

I then added a sprinkle of edible glitter for added sparkle.

As simple as that.

I think I might be making more for tonights knit and knatter!

Bon apetit!

30.03.10 - You want it for when??!

4.45pm - Thursday evening, I'm about to get ready to go out, Eldest is about to go off to music lesson when he absently mindedly says...............


Mum

Yes

We've got a bun sale coming up soon

When is it?

Tomorrow

Tomorrow??!!

And we have been told to make at least 12 buns

Tomorrow??!!

Yes, I told you about it

When???

Oh....... um.... about three weeks ago


Aaaaargh!!

(Last seen galloping into the kitchen, much clattering and cussing later)

Mum

What!

Do you want any help?

Thanks love, but no, it's quicker if I get them done, you better finish your homework and get ready for your music lesson, your Dad will be home from work soon

(Himself stumps into the kitchen noisely urging eldest to hurry up, followed by a whirlwind of bodies and music books and slamming of doors, leaving me to finish the buns and still get ready.)

(Some time later, late for my evening out and son and Himself back from music)

Triumphantly dishevelled I presented a tray of buns to Eldest who graciously says

Thanks Mum - good thing I reminded you.........

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(Overheard the next day in the car on the way to school)

Got my buns for the sale (shows friend)

Friend - wow - did you make those?

No - my mum wouldn't let me!

Friend - but you are s'posed to have done them

I know, but you know mums - they think they know best....................


sigh.

I do love him, honest...!

29.03.10 - recovering

Recovering from the change of hours from Greenwich Mean Time to British Summer Time - Yawn.

Recovering from over a 23 km (14 mile) long bicycle ride - creak

Recovering from a late night (homework and difficulty in lifting said creaking body off the settee)

Recovering from Youngest waking me at 2.30am to say his bed had escaped - again

But!


This creaking body actually enjoyed the outing with Evelyn! It's been so long since I actually leapt athletically onto a bicycle and sallied forth merrily. (Joke)

BCE (Before Children Era), Himself and I did a fair bit of mountain biking - not your hardcore stuff, more your getting out and riding 8 - 10 hours over hill and dale, camping in a 2 man tent then doing it all again, before returning home completely knackered ready for work (erm - not so much of the 'ready for work' more your going-to-work-for-a-rest......)

I have had a brilliant sturdy much loved mountain bike with more than enough 'grunt' for both of us, which Himself has quickly taken over kindly adopted.

So, it was with trepidation, excitement and a dose of good old fashioned fear that I stepped over this lady-like-girly-bike sans helmet and mountain bike gear and in an instant was transformed to someone off the 'Cycle Chic' website ..... And it felt good.

We started in a village just outside Lancaster and followed the old railway track, now converted to a traffic free bicycle lane. There were many people with their bikes, trundling along, I wish I'd taken photos, but I was still in the semi hazy state of ecstatic-bike ownership and the nervous still getting used to being back on a bike.

Eldest 'off-roading' to check out the daffodils

We trundled through parks and by universities; we peddled over bridges and alongside creeks until we reached Morecambe on the coast. Here we had one very quick and terrifying moment where we had to deal with traffic and despite us having right of way I had to shriek at Youngest to stop before a car added him to the fly collection on the radiator grill.

Urgh, horrible - this is why I have taken so long getting back on a bike - car drivers..................

But, once on the promenade, we returned to the genteel act of cycling amongst other cyclists, walkers, holiday makers and dogs. All in their own worlds, all enjoying the sea air and all out of their cars.

There is a certain light, a specific colour that can only be found at the coast and I find that both invigorating and relaxing.

All along the front are sea bird sculptures,

the best, in my mind,

were the ones in the centre of the roundabouts,

however, I was not about to stop for photographs

whilst Youngest was playing 'squash' with the traffic

At the end of the promenade, we turned inland and followed the track along a canal which wound its serene way through villages and fields. Swans and geese silently floated on the water whilst narrow boats puffed and chugged their occupants through the waterway.

Bikes cast aside in favour a mug of tea

We crossed over the Lune Aqueduct , not one for those without a head for heights.

But, oh so beautiful.

Evelyn and giddy dog on the Lune Aqueduct

All my boys on the Aqueduct

We carried on, time was not waiting for us and we still had to get back to the car. Hunger, homework and showers were on the cards.

The last of the afternoon honeyed sunlight on the Aqueduct.

And, final view - of Evelyn and the River Lune.

This Sunday was lovely and the behind tender - but it was worth it :)