tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7954391756779205572024-02-07T06:23:39.700+00:00Slowing Down with the Jones'A journal of our changes towards a simple life......Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16175747752387425591noreply@blogger.comBlogger46125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-795439175677920557.post-66969075791853686222009-09-08T10:11:00.003+01:002009-09-08T10:14:18.474+01:00How to: Mrs J's Guide to blackberry picking!!!<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVd1Wh65UiGu3WWNTBH2gkZs5i-RL6Bbj3iAK7rigxPDNnoTpINbjx9TZhN2Ve1RTCrb0aPawaB6FrSXboaVhaOY3DK8jsgi79fI79gjrt-sKOPOe31R-olgB2FyHc56dX2wruezDPB7Sz/s1600-h/blackberries.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVd1Wh65UiGu3WWNTBH2gkZs5i-RL6Bbj3iAK7rigxPDNnoTpINbjx9TZhN2Ve1RTCrb0aPawaB6FrSXboaVhaOY3DK8jsgi79fI79gjrt-sKOPOe31R-olgB2FyHc56dX2wruezDPB7Sz/s320/blackberries.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379021896065228802" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Depending on where you live in the UK there should be blackberries of varying ripeness all around you now and here is my own little guide to harvesting them....<br /><br /><br /><b>Preparation</b><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Find Locations</span> - Blackberries are regularly found in hedgerows, try paths, car parks, waste / scrub land, overgrown allotments and gardens.....If you are too late to pick this year, note where you have seen the bushes and regularly check them throughout next summer for progress. <br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Supplies </span>- You'll need some pots to collect your berries in. I generally recommend a rag or piece of kitchen towel in the bottom to collect juice / bugs.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Clothing</span> - wear old clothes, ideally long sleeved and trousers too. Don't forget to wear shoes not sandals and you'll be able to get in better areas. This is do as I say not as I do... last trip I wore sandals cotton skirt and white linen top!!!!! Luckily I'm well practiced so couldn't resist and impromptu pick!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Freezer </span>- If you are not using your berries straight away you can freeze them till you have enough for a recipe. Make sure you have enough room to flash freeze them on trays on your return.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Helpers</span> - In my opinion you're best off doing this by yourself, children eat all they collect and husbands even though they can reach higher are quickly bored - yes Mr J I mean you!!!<br /><br /><b>Technique</b><br /><br />Blackberries are best harvested on a sunny dry day. Before you start picking, walk up and down the whole of the hedgerow. Blackberries often vary vastly in their ripeness even over a hedge of 50ft. In early September my favourite hedgerow has ripe succulent berries at one end and bushes still flowering at the other!! Pick the ripest berries first, come back regularly (I do every 3 days). A great ti is to look from various angles and heights into the bushes, I discovered my 5 yr old son was getting a great haul because the best blackberries grow under the leaves of the bush, and that's the angle he could see and I couldn't!!!!!!<br /><br /><br /><b>Beware of:-</b><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Prickles</span> - wild brambles have thorns, watch where you put your hands or wear gloves!!<br />Foragers Thumb - the juice will stain your finger a lovely shade of purple!!<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Nettles </span>- Blackberries often grow above stinging nettles and the nettles intertwine with the ripest fruit. Or to quote Little Miss Jones <span style="font-style: italic;"><br /><br />" Come to Blackberry World get a free ticket to Stingerland!!!!"</span><br /><br />Cover yourself in long sleeves and trousers, and watch where you put your hands.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Wildlife</span> - be careful not to disturb nature to much (nests and other plants) and watch out for wildlife on the blackberries wasps and fruit flies feast on the overripe berries and little grubs can live inside them. If this concerns you make sure you give everything a quick wash when you get home, I can't stop my kids eating shiny ripe ones off the bush!!!!!<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">What are your best tips for picking blackberries????</span><br /><br /><br /></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16175747752387425591noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-795439175677920557.post-3255253358327003892009-09-04T10:19:00.002+01:002009-09-04T10:27:49.101+01:00A difficult decision.<p align="center"><a href="http://www.classicrefrigerator.com/assets/images/girlfridge2.gif"><img style="WIDTH: 298px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 239px" alt="" src="http://www.classicrefrigerator.com/assets/images/girlfridge2.gif" border="0" /></a></p><br /><br />Nine months ago we took on the challenge of living without a refridgerator. For most of this time we have survived quite well. We progressed from iceblocks in a cool box to an insulated cupboard on an outside wall, regular swapping of iceblocks ensured that for the most our food was chilled and all was well. But, over the summer, things haven't kept so well. Food has spoiled quickly and I've had to throw it away.<br />At the start of September I decided to reintroduce a fridge to our household. It is smaller than our original fridge, and secondhand from freecycle. When we need to replace it we will buy an A rated one.<br />Living without the fridge, we kept very little in it and food spoiled. Now I can keep leftovers to eat the next day without freezing them , chill fresh produce when needed and make homemade yoghurt that won't go off before we've finished it!!!!!<br /><br />It was a difficult decision but I think, for us, at this point in time, the right one.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16175747752387425591noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-795439175677920557.post-25179372281557520412009-08-28T10:02:00.002+01:002009-08-28T10:05:28.850+01:00Community FarmIn the village, we've (Peasedown Area Transition Group) have been trying to form a Community Farm. Before the summer holiday we found a site, but it seems things have progressed from there whilst we've been off!!!<br /><br />I found this whilst checking the RiverCottage site today....<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RAF8gh-odmU">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RAF8gh-odmU</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16175747752387425591noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-795439175677920557.post-55157361628828356642009-08-26T10:41:00.003+01:002009-08-26T10:55:40.484+01:00Ditching Disposables - Handmade Money Pouches<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEistmw_Zo3BJh1KfZyl3jskqYvp1DEIapdC-JalxGumSIDSllTbaKs9RsqQsZQGy6cMX1Y3VZYD2Xb8MNOzOOzCCkxtUnDzYpM6INRW2A_Eo-oQZ0YCcSNhweOOtqCY3hK5uZQmYA-R6mrs/s1600-h/august+09+466.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374207123060610962" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEistmw_Zo3BJh1KfZyl3jskqYvp1DEIapdC-JalxGumSIDSllTbaKs9RsqQsZQGy6cMX1Y3VZYD2Xb8MNOzOOzCCkxtUnDzYpM6INRW2A_Eo-oQZ0YCcSNhweOOtqCY3hK5uZQmYA-R6mrs/s320/august+09+466.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">I've done a budget for my monthly spending for as long as I can remember, but last year i made the decision to draw out my 'food' and 'petrol' allowances in cash for the coming month. </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">I kept these amounts in brown envelopes in my wallet to draw from throughout the money.<br /></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT2GI-yHE9o0-9Pxixt7zRubujTTffcUtqA4wmF_hFnsIs4tGe11Y63ricZETfwWjtZPwTYFXUSv3kN2wkSH3P7l_o8ft7zki1qvbpjC7nMVRZj5r-wg3ruGPgp45Yy4039d7R8zHBBEdg/s1600-h/august+09+465.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374206180882982114" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT2GI-yHE9o0-9Pxixt7zRubujTTffcUtqA4wmF_hFnsIs4tGe11Y63ricZETfwWjtZPwTYFXUSv3kN2wkSH3P7l_o8ft7zki1qvbpjC7nMVRZj5r-wg3ruGPgp45Yy4039d7R8zHBBEdg/s320/august+09+465.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></div><div align="center">Unfortunately over time these rip and need replacing so I was looking for replacements. I found several on the internet but they were all quite large and more money then I had to spend!!!</div><div align="center">This summer I had decided to make my goal to get out my machine and practice sewing. Well,with only one week left and the sewing machine untouched on the dining table I decided to make this my first project.</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">Its not perfect and I'd like to make a few improvements to the design but for now I love my new money pouch!!! Just need to make some more now!!!!! </div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16175747752387425591noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-795439175677920557.post-32556812642670998952009-08-18T10:05:00.013+01:002009-08-18T10:18:59.456+01:00<p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwXa89HQZqcnJdLs0mEcNJT-BpBSkcNa0ZHcTA8-5C602XD4saIdAti3LOOIXpL8aYEPYkSsrnXvOSIFmVIJecJ7jXm_15UbsggN0OMkfEB76PpIfAhsnMJFJ_L8gSNXbtY-KAVQb-hpDa/s1600-h/july+aug+006.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371229873084969458" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwXa89HQZqcnJdLs0mEcNJT-BpBSkcNa0ZHcTA8-5C602XD4saIdAti3LOOIXpL8aYEPYkSsrnXvOSIFmVIJecJ7jXm_15UbsggN0OMkfEB76PpIfAhsnMJFJ_L8gSNXbtY-KAVQb-hpDa/s320/july+aug+006.jpg" border="0" /></a> </p><div>Well, we're halfway through the summer holidays now and have been busy bees, hardly having time to blog at all. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs3N0hxQKZaxDr8sm8xSPGmrCGwYe3x_8-mwATrAYMg3matb8sHr-3imW_l9w2xvzCbeGDXSCeP5A76Ula8db3lMJwX6w4vELun6I0t43V336yHzaep4bTUrcUn2twG6yA81uVHhyphenhypheny5dqH/s1600-h/july+aug+009.jpg"></a>We've finally got around to doing 2 things that have been on my list since Mr J moved down to Bath.... First we visited the Roman Baths ( local residents can actually get in for free with a discovery card). We spent the morning wandering around like tourists, but surprisingly took few photos, as we knew we could come back again whenever we felt like it!! </div><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-lsRmRihzdb2CekE43VzDe75tdIxQT0Pv27g5SWOrgelBlQgoeL3HHnMAY9J6wxh1Eq1q4IKvMMQsUBh6zuGuGk5UsvcfzscsfdusGlXcn4GGr_L2SV0w-a17vnFNHB_bWC5ygkL3TxhM/s1600-h/july+aug+004.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371230059218440978" style="WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-lsRmRihzdb2CekE43VzDe75tdIxQT0Pv27g5SWOrgelBlQgoeL3HHnMAY9J6wxh1Eq1q4IKvMMQsUBh6zuGuGk5UsvcfzscsfdusGlXcn4GGr_L2SV0w-a17vnFNHB_bWC5ygkL3TxhM/s320/july+aug+004.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><div><br /><br /><br /></div><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhJCPJCVPsFbbsI7-NZpsI2bBUNRLzqDYsV92dj_ehh29L8EY3Pt-68st7DhfUMWx5RZ6oaDMfO7RWuU-trwnZWLHpjDQLyqPs2FpwUI4rqlrjtDs1FiwZRGwYndEcSwZmmZNr7BId7qSX/s1600-h/july+aug+003.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371229599046641698" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhJCPJCVPsFbbsI7-NZpsI2bBUNRLzqDYsV92dj_ehh29L8EY3Pt-68st7DhfUMWx5RZ6oaDMfO7RWuU-trwnZWLHpjDQLyqPs2FpwUI4rqlrjtDs1FiwZRGwYndEcSwZmmZNr7BId7qSX/s320/july+aug+003.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGvIeEs31LW7kshk6n_Ll2SVF15uO8WfYwH13Vq5Sp0w4w6w8xPC2xJL8re1B6n1VxDqjzqv-GsJrHgNPqiAzUpLzPXsSGEPJ2tfxa5Dutqd9JLBqB8mnzeRIOIv8o-0v5slblTJVNPP-R/s1600-h/july+aug+007.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371229738889745906" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGvIeEs31LW7kshk6n_Ll2SVF15uO8WfYwH13Vq5Sp0w4w6w8xPC2xJL8re1B6n1VxDqjzqv-GsJrHgNPqiAzUpLzPXsSGEPJ2tfxa5Dutqd9JLBqB8mnzeRIOIv8o-0v5slblTJVNPP-R/s320/july+aug+007.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><div><p align="center">The other was to visit a local wood and find the Waterfall. I'd never visited Greyfield Wood before, we are lucky enough to have so many wonderful woods to walk around here, but friend had told me of the waterfall so we were intrigued.</p><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj39F6ARtkVm0VxhFAUIEjSvbcsB1TITRdg8pmCUOyALNS9Wu7oJE8OMUvS5FSiKcBw5bwTJqogKl_KYNBch3v879z0Wt2n_4zPQbN7fbHW5USeZfZD9H6Emxj9hDtv_t1ZNhik9aktoil4/s1600-h/july+aug+018.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371228796047640914" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj39F6ARtkVm0VxhFAUIEjSvbcsB1TITRdg8pmCUOyALNS9Wu7oJE8OMUvS5FSiKcBw5bwTJqogKl_KYNBch3v879z0Wt2n_4zPQbN7fbHW5USeZfZD9H6Emxj9hDtv_t1ZNhik9aktoil4/s320/july+aug+018.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><div>The map gave no indication of a waterfall at all so we set off to explore..... </div><div> </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQONzXAo1AaXzXoe6VEPutpWnkMFp8jxQK4a9RynX7r_VtzJVbKCieXDrZOPtbO6Uio_JxIv2LJlhe-fxt7AGj8Snqm5b7WhXSSnjjzyI3sUbtcVrvkH2tqQxmLm44iGQtPiBbPbRIO8dF/s1600-h/july+aug+025.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371228280490961378" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQONzXAo1AaXzXoe6VEPutpWnkMFp8jxQK4a9RynX7r_VtzJVbKCieXDrZOPtbO6Uio_JxIv2LJlhe-fxt7AGj8Snqm5b7WhXSSnjjzyI3sUbtcVrvkH2tqQxmLm44iGQtPiBbPbRIO8dF/s200/july+aug+025.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYWT16MTAXcogRvvCu4fNklF5f-bjacI9u-Z5PekP40PYC_Y_1wmFVAyBerPBjP0062S8dCkPWhd3pHqxrjSlebzew1X-zQ0MBVy8A0GcFVjjCs0lDaVtlixSMynlzuUNrJjlGVaLz7XkE/s1600-h/july+aug+027.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371228030560862130" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYWT16MTAXcogRvvCu4fNklF5f-bjacI9u-Z5PekP40PYC_Y_1wmFVAyBerPBjP0062S8dCkPWhd3pHqxrjSlebzew1X-zQ0MBVy8A0GcFVjjCs0lDaVtlixSMynlzuUNrJjlGVaLz7XkE/s200/july+aug+027.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4CFJr61-auppYyW7NQvSF-k1xwn253Sp1S0CRc4vLJ2ucEorO1aZaXvoWBhGGBC7NKiFA4yoJ-dxDS9ay3afqxWxuVOGFzJkWjhaWa70R-PWSDkn2Omsy8Xe5aGiy6UXpJke4Sd_ooJA2/s1600-h/july+aug+029.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371227880433347874" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4CFJr61-auppYyW7NQvSF-k1xwn253Sp1S0CRc4vLJ2ucEorO1aZaXvoWBhGGBC7NKiFA4yoJ-dxDS9ay3afqxWxuVOGFzJkWjhaWa70R-PWSDkn2Omsy8Xe5aGiy6UXpJke4Sd_ooJA2/s200/july+aug+029.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />It was definitely worth the wait!!! We climbed the rocks to the top of the waterfall and ate our picnic.<br /><p align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371227678395327298" style="WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8EFVsYqyLHFoovREJC0K_3Wk9ISJSl4J8ZWJa2hF6nhivlTHv-7h6yg2f_c6P8PflVOrPE_qXog48lj-2dCQgZI4h56r2nYZEU7-0y3Va2aGoP2lHcmUuldtOP2tr9tT7QOMOs5lVX4Ly/s320/july+aug+032.jpg" border="0" /></p></div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16175747752387425591noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-795439175677920557.post-60105783971507589632009-08-14T07:47:00.008+01:002009-08-14T08:12:03.288+01:00That better taste good......<div align="center"></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZTjE5Xg_NNinLBQvjkuJnGx2e9f7FXvcqOBXSAW1ZvY_jNm3JFr1HcqAbfBx05df4C3Rv9xyM6HTcQVdyQS6u0P-EhR9VatEPdcAKPFlBNXUgLuRhS4bF-9lt3J7INw2laxiTTuIt796n/s1600-h/august+09+432.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369708074395598706" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZTjE5Xg_NNinLBQvjkuJnGx2e9f7FXvcqOBXSAW1ZvY_jNm3JFr1HcqAbfBx05df4C3Rv9xyM6HTcQVdyQS6u0P-EhR9VatEPdcAKPFlBNXUgLuRhS4bF-9lt3J7INw2laxiTTuIt796n/s320/august+09+432.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><div align="center">because it looks like a train wreck!!!</div><br /><br /><br />I was lucky enough to meet a fellow forum member today, who gave me a pasta maker she had lurking in a cupboard! I rushed home and made pasta for supper. The pasta maker was great and took away hours of rolling out the dough, but i didn't seem to have the knack for the spaghetti attatchment!!!<br /><br /><div align="center">I faired better with the tagliatelli.....</div><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixdyOr50lXpqfdgA0V4T0ALzgLE8apnznlKldapCUl1ad6ccG8TU-awgkznqyWoZ8OMxaaYspKvkV2gZQ5giA4htrAszJtU9vDU_DNW4XmfkIa2oDmrTc1fHP-epca45VkNfH0ATTGc5m1/s1600-h/august+09+431.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369710047385654818" style="WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixdyOr50lXpqfdgA0V4T0ALzgLE8apnznlKldapCUl1ad6ccG8TU-awgkznqyWoZ8OMxaaYspKvkV2gZQ5giA4htrAszJtU9vDU_DNW4XmfkIa2oDmrTc1fHP-epca45VkNfH0ATTGc5m1/s320/august+09+431.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /><br />Add homegrown tomatoes, which have really started producing in good quantities this week!!!! And enjoy in the garden.....<br /><div align="center">Yes it did taste good!!</div><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi35Zu_BnlQRajOF8ZWruBcGEpb39qlqWr-3wTHMIWq9vg3WNrzMa6GiliEgEgt2yBNPwLmB0743m7lxNuM4nlZ-OnaEbIW41Wp0uYT9t_TVe0ui16mPxO0i8OPnDtzaJLxduelghyphenhyphenksYdI/s1600-h/august+09+442.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369710744938697666" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi35Zu_BnlQRajOF8ZWruBcGEpb39qlqWr-3wTHMIWq9vg3WNrzMa6GiliEgEgt2yBNPwLmB0743m7lxNuM4nlZ-OnaEbIW41Wp0uYT9t_TVe0ui16mPxO0i8OPnDtzaJLxduelghyphenhyphenksYdI/s320/august+09+442.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJnd2VUikVuNSEjI_iCQinZ3dAI76_dMLqpkZHNO1CpRpDRoQPdLElRvXRXnuFj1kSfQvqGtM6Sb-I1eGsbKIMMql-6ikNyfH4TRxSblKxyjWvNy9s2PzQMPyRLwvdEX0MfsT6uvetB_jm/s1600-h/august+09+439.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369711315240700226" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJnd2VUikVuNSEjI_iCQinZ3dAI76_dMLqpkZHNO1CpRpDRoQPdLElRvXRXnuFj1kSfQvqGtM6Sb-I1eGsbKIMMql-6ikNyfH4TRxSblKxyjWvNy9s2PzQMPyRLwvdEX0MfsT6uvetB_jm/s320/august+09+439.jpg" border="0" /></a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16175747752387425591noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-795439175677920557.post-19449173162687660912009-08-03T10:28:00.009+01:002009-08-03T11:32:46.157+01:00They're Quackers!!!<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY5dzPNyrKcCUVRwEHGupWFVEwnITQmvs19iNkoZt_LVJ_SLDDJ3GsVPBc1KV4KCl4rvU51-rGzEcg3wJeZ0biQqpPl2n4BMAMXySlEGgSZS1QKW169vjf3msoIhyphenhyphenmRwpil8NdQGlj2slD/s1600-h/july+09+015.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365667699710254562" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY5dzPNyrKcCUVRwEHGupWFVEwnITQmvs19iNkoZt_LVJ_SLDDJ3GsVPBc1KV4KCl4rvU51-rGzEcg3wJeZ0biQqpPl2n4BMAMXySlEGgSZS1QKW169vjf3msoIhyphenhyphenmRwpil8NdQGlj2slD/s320/july+09+015.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div></div><div align="center">Well I've finally found the camera lead so here are our little ones....</div><div></div><div align="center">Treacle, Pip and Pebbles<br /><br /></div><div align="center">Don't they look all grown up already (only 5 wks old!!!)<br /></div><div align="center"><br />aaaah!!!</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">Little Jonsey and Mr J built a fab new enclosure for them<br /></div><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRYBf21rtwsDF0dCJDTM6nu_Ukd1wmHSMa_GUEulySFRRGVXUgqp2VEQE7CcJmMjPO9kazSa11tMGtXhJUPAuxO9eO_4OIoW2O8BMJHiIz2ipuK9FwXt6YHeX94Ty37JkeF8e5Y54hwQrt/s1600-h/july+09+027.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365668320962697266" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRYBf21rtwsDF0dCJDTM6nu_Ukd1wmHSMa_GUEulySFRRGVXUgqp2VEQE7CcJmMjPO9kazSa11tMGtXhJUPAuxO9eO_4OIoW2O8BMJHiIz2ipuK9FwXt6YHeX94Ty37JkeF8e5Y54hwQrt/s320/july+09+027.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><div align="center">which they loved! Along with my <strong>Nasturtiums!!</strong><br /></div><div><br /></div><p align="center"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxscgJl2XP20RMlaxYTzQ9IYta-TbPgxQzfbYE5hUXvsuuOJV3WHNcE9tT9VM_9_crQNgkpEbaS1aPloma6Wg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_R9a2pe1wDzfHCsJHPY3-KXCT8kW41D8bL3j1Yzh-hCFgIiW7lKMVP9rg-Ke4xbuMf5kYL7iUaw7x4_PyXOHrZz5Fbeu_0-zrofEMil4SIpbFqd6yHgWJ0tckyX0ADmYTRNWzYwSqP-pQ/s1600-h/july+09+039.jpg"></a></p><div>I dug out our belfast sink for them too, to add to the other ponds!</div><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibVnRQhPeuSR63qkCQ7OBHRnMDvnJ6KATuRb_pD0FRupOEwjTg8FrlOCE4901gPIZGjlZeURtaPGpkWRJjG6Zs7U9109QUa0n6aa-OCdWvW2bUfSeLXjfESS1wVcCusNM9CBz_zOWr2Ypa/s1600-h/july+09+039.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365669346977962626" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibVnRQhPeuSR63qkCQ7OBHRnMDvnJ6KATuRb_pD0FRupOEwjTg8FrlOCE4901gPIZGjlZeURtaPGpkWRJjG6Zs7U9109QUa0n6aa-OCdWvW2bUfSeLXjfESS1wVcCusNM9CBz_zOWr2Ypa/s320/july+09+039.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><div>We really love having the ducks, we've spent so much time watching them this week. Although a word to the wise, they do smell a bit and they are noisy!!!<br /></div><p align="center"></p>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16175747752387425591noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-795439175677920557.post-64723215834477411332009-08-01T07:54:00.004+01:002009-08-01T08:11:31.381+01:00How to take a Basil Cutting<p align="center"><a href="http://www.dkimages.com/discover/previews/976/50404421.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 312px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 206px" alt="" src="http://www.dkimages.com/discover/previews/976/50404421.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><p align="center">Today's how to is thanks to my mum showing me how to do this earlier in the week - thanks mum!</p><p align="center">To make cuttings from a basil plant select a non flowering shoot.</p><p align="center">1.Select shoot and remove the top 4 inches with a clean, sharp knife, cutting under a leaf joint. </p><p align="center">2. remove bottom 2 leaves and plant.</p><p align="center">Prepare a small flowerpot with seed compost and put cutting in 1 - 2 inches deep </p><p align="center">Tip - planting cuttings around the edge of a pot will help to form stronger roots, as roots split and branch when they hit a surface. </p><p>3. Alternately, fill a clean jam jar with water and pop it on a nice light (but not hot) windowsill . Put the cutting into the water. </p><p>Change water daily and you should be able to watch the roots growing (2 - 4 weeks) Transfer to seed compost when good roots have formed.<br /><br />When established cuttings should be planted up to a larger pot, watered in a placed on a bright windowsill.<br /><br />Now you have lots of basil plants why not give some away to friends and neighbours? You might even get something different in return!!! </p>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16175747752387425591noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-795439175677920557.post-6886271829802793452009-07-28T10:43:00.002+01:002009-07-28T10:57:48.069+01:00Simple changes - Reuseable toilet paper / wipes<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCm-xm2BicfaY44OZYQ_s00TjlHGqpacBV_kirAyXlpegXy-lfA9cwyyLCcNq8sxEU0mVqGfqgELHHE_4aAlR9TNtnjVqDeP6WaLZUnYggaKigTAdlgw6TlsogfdGw2RzaTvdzH3BjtSVU/s1600-h/toilet+wipes.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363444646435926002" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 280px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCm-xm2BicfaY44OZYQ_s00TjlHGqpacBV_kirAyXlpegXy-lfA9cwyyLCcNq8sxEU0mVqGfqgELHHE_4aAlR9TNtnjVqDeP6WaLZUnYggaKigTAdlgw6TlsogfdGw2RzaTvdzH3BjtSVU/s320/toilet+wipes.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:78%;">Photo from</span> <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5893873"><span style="font-size:78%;">One Pink LadyBug</span></a></div><p><span style="font-size:78%;"></span> </p><p><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Last week we finally made the move over to reusable toilet paper for no 1's. I'm not sure why I made the change then and not before? All lot of it is the percieved ickyness of using something and not throwing it straight away maybe. But its really not a problem at all! We keep them in a drawstring bag hung on the toilet roll holder until they are needed then have a small stainless steel bin by the loo with a removeable bucket inside. After use they get tossed in there until they are ready to put in the wash.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-size:100%;">I havent got anything nearly as fancy as those in the picture, our's are rectangles cut from fleece, a scarf and dressing gown that had come to the end of their useful life. Fleece needs no hemming, is lovely and soft and dries super quick so its a really quick and easy simple change!!!! Towelling, terry sheets and recycled TShirts are also favourites it seems. If thats still to much hassle then one pink lady bug has some nice sets in her shop (click link above) or search the net for other people making them (also called family wipes).</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-size:100%;">So go on what's stopping you? Try it for a day and I swear you won't look back!!</span></p><p><br /></p></span><div align="center"></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16175747752387425591noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-795439175677920557.post-55034544374438862602009-07-27T09:38:00.008+01:002009-07-27T11:29:17.868+01:00The ducklings have arrived!!! *warning cute pics*Yesterday we took another step on our journey to self-sufficiency and became the owners of 3 gorgeous indian runner ducklings. We've been watching them online since they were 10 days old<br /><br /><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT-Fi6ylsoGXZO1pFZj3r96hMql9ttob4U5tbg-Upi1jzMQMX66R6SHFo_zICxw55XlZY2le1jwhWilnLcAID0VWlgrcvqaFqPIWy5fR4BICKHCu7ibYtUkDR26HL7wJceNb68amjiAPuK/s1600-h/Ducklings.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363058992054834610" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 123px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT-Fi6ylsoGXZO1pFZj3r96hMql9ttob4U5tbg-Upi1jzMQMX66R6SHFo_zICxw55XlZY2le1jwhWilnLcAID0VWlgrcvqaFqPIWy5fR4BICKHCu7ibYtUkDR26HL7wJceNb68amjiAPuK/s320/Ducklings.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><p align="center">with the latest picture we saw of them at 2 weeks old *still cute*!!!<br /></p><p align="center"></p><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3ZlkPQoEB1GsDwRhHaJEWe7jQeFaJZTdS3YbcAClM756kAUF65IBRmsXSdahL23wTkwq_b0x2PRjjlidAGQkA94A3Q9IjdP6uWBdp5O3s4C9SUAfK2E2DfD8lqvd9P7Y6bBHLC4IYvHXy/s1600-h/DUCKS2WEEKS.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363059531575238914" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 309px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3ZlkPQoEB1GsDwRhHaJEWe7jQeFaJZTdS3YbcAClM756kAUF65IBRmsXSdahL23wTkwq_b0x2PRjjlidAGQkA94A3Q9IjdP6uWBdp5O3s4C9SUAfK2E2DfD8lqvd9P7Y6bBHLC4IYvHXy/s320/DUCKS2WEEKS.jpg" border="0" /></a></p>Hopefully we've got one male (dark one) and two females (lighter two) but only time will tell!<br /><br />We went to collect them yesterday from a village an hour away. I felt awful, have flu, but we still went. It was sooo worth it!!<br />At only 5 weeks they've now started getting their adult feathers so not quite as cute but the parents we saw yesterday were so beautiful in full feather I can't wait to see these! They seem to have setlled in quite nicely into their new home although our cats don't know quite what to make of them!!!<br /><br />They'll be more pics when I'm well enough to stand up again!!!!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16175747752387425591noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-795439175677920557.post-81392346661181837012009-07-17T14:27:00.005+01:002009-07-20T16:30:06.890+01:00Simple Changes: One for the pot.......<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6iOIbc-FCuVXa5yMmSBo0PAFwUKmbikm_iYYt3Ov7mPpcOCQ34FgJHTsbMePP1DA50LQgvMZvdNAUWMN6TrL5s8j1DhAtirM9YIWjiXyo8QG2mczGam6KTq8U08-KMZRE8DJWYbCoE-yZ/s1600-h/teapot.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359421068696235874" style="WIDTH: 242px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6iOIbc-FCuVXa5yMmSBo0PAFwUKmbikm_iYYt3Ov7mPpcOCQ34FgJHTsbMePP1DA50LQgvMZvdNAUWMN6TrL5s8j1DhAtirM9YIWjiXyo8QG2mczGam6KTq8U08-KMZRE8DJWYbCoE-yZ/s320/teapot.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:78%;">Image by </span><a href="http://patchworkpottery.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-size:78%;">PatchworkPottery</span></a></div><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><div align="center">Mr J and I enjoyed a lovely cream tea on our mini-moon, and of course it was served in a teapot for two!!! We returned home and have continued to make our tea in a pot. Not only does it save money.... close you're ears Nanny P, you don't need to add 'one for the pot'!! Infact one bag for two people is just fine! It also bring a sense of occasion to the drink, you sit togeher to have tea, not spread across the room. We've even added a tablecloth to our coffee table for afternoon tea Building afternoon tea into your routine gives you a chance to stop and talk, to reflect on your day. </div><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><div align="center">Take10 minutes out of your day today to share afternoon tea with someone or spoil yourself :) Then head over to patchwork pottery and check out all her lovely tea themed goodies!!! </div><br /><div align="center"><br /></div><br /><div align="center"></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16175747752387425591noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-795439175677920557.post-4131810517825304602009-07-13T10:26:00.002+01:002009-07-13T10:47:21.064+01:00We're Married!!!<p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4HgsUILx1MASRD-7h6SxJ8nk-Dc7byAPVhVKJh5yC8CbzP_MOf5AAe-blCG63mT2F7rMCWDLForbPy6z1sVhWTGLnKebeo5tHGyKzrQUoqlg8B3I6hWhxEDrx5JKIOQZAQmYDgjpuONmZ/s1600-h/DSC_0131.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357878880762056162" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 213px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4HgsUILx1MASRD-7h6SxJ8nk-Dc7byAPVhVKJh5yC8CbzP_MOf5AAe-blCG63mT2F7rMCWDLForbPy6z1sVhWTGLnKebeo5tHGyKzrQUoqlg8B3I6hWhxEDrx5JKIOQZAQmYDgjpuONmZ/s320/DSC_0131.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><div align="center"> A wonderful day<br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm9fCZa0DNlPgUXgLizDNRTbC64OtcDRfi4kScP2qt1dPdyGMIBsOJJ9bGqIQp6adc7ZqFcBlZJOf0glO6ciu6RuCiHtaPWLDLhJAoZ6hTy4gz_gY7fJKdNztDtM2wl9_TFdMUO2tYd8In/s1600-h/DSC_0087.JPG"></a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16175747752387425591noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-795439175677920557.post-77131919017401959922009-06-24T13:57:00.002+01:002009-06-24T14:06:33.405+01:00Handmade wedding goodies<p align="center"><a href="http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y168/maxinechurch/DSC_0078-1.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 302px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 220px" alt="" src="http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y168/maxinechurch/DSC_0078-1.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><p align="center">Bouquet</p><p align="center"><a href="http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y168/maxinechurch/DSC_0080-1.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 313px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 236px" alt="" src="http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y168/maxinechurch/DSC_0080-1.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><div align="center">Buttonholes<br /></div><p align="center"><a href="http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y168/maxinechurch/DSC_0082.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 327px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 212px" alt="" src="http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y168/maxinechurch/DSC_0082.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><div align="center"><span style="font-size:78%;">(some of the 3 sets of)</span> </div><div align="center">Bunting</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">I've had so much fun making these over the past month! And yes, I did design it to match the blind! By choosing a wedding colour that went with my bedroom, I get to decorate the room after with all the goodies, a great bit of precycling if ever I saw one, even if I do say so myself!!<br /></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y168/maxinechurch/DSC_0080-1.jpg"></a> </p>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16175747752387425591noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-795439175677920557.post-12198496376380813392009-06-22T09:30:00.005+01:002009-06-22T09:50:18.865+01:00Drowning under a sea of rose petals...<p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgusCk7u1SiXawaY6qHLZ_9c7vsWs4UpJxAn8csvQfFuY-UmCEJ1uXiVJCrYyJQObuwhbNXiLip1scHlsVZRbSrP0hkBKv1ohOAp7iLte18ldqQ-tMCJ7573k-MSpdmqK7QXX_YxjSe8luR/s1600-h/Dried-Rose-Petals---red.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350066838885991298" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgusCk7u1SiXawaY6qHLZ_9c7vsWs4UpJxAn8csvQfFuY-UmCEJ1uXiVJCrYyJQObuwhbNXiLip1scHlsVZRbSrP0hkBKv1ohOAp7iLte18ldqQ-tMCJ7573k-MSpdmqK7QXX_YxjSe8luR/s320/Dried-Rose-Petals---red.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><br /><br /><div align="center">Oh dear, 3 weeks without posting! To be fair thing are a bit crazy around here with Wedding preparations!!!<br /></div><p align="center">My dehydrator has come into it's own quickly drying rose petals from the garden into homemade confetti. The bunting is coming along nicely and I'm steadily working my way through a list of cakes to bake for the big day (thank goodness for freezers!)<br /></p><p align="center">Kind friends have sent their contributions</p><p align="center">Bags from Nita and Handfasting ribbon from Jacky</p><br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlkLTQGdgIc54AmMBZAPQzywIXvU4K2Rc1bS-0EBTtRdNjWyW-YFoiiDVWO8f5sQcfsF4qHP7kKdqu8KEUnLEYaUUdxrQBWxjLd6crii3QSaalnkm8nsV4vBgOSy8v31MhRKCgazGu_hY9/s1600-h/june+09+078.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350069543490969778" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlkLTQGdgIc54AmMBZAPQzywIXvU4K2Rc1bS-0EBTtRdNjWyW-YFoiiDVWO8f5sQcfsF4qHP7kKdqu8KEUnLEYaUUdxrQBWxjLd6crii3QSaalnkm8nsV4vBgOSy8v31MhRKCgazGu_hY9/s320/june+09+078.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPPU71O3-lkxJg8iMJLvxGvuFshe5dVO-m6V0cicaNlN65QxCbWIXUbKoeehEQp83R5sPBwO2nIZDVZtRj91Le9i6Cg1jP9gW4ZbT49zxunAg0wNeTudABCMLpGTnYXzLuU5rm3r0bH7De/s1600-h/june+09+067.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350070260184854594" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPPU71O3-lkxJg8iMJLvxGvuFshe5dVO-m6V0cicaNlN65QxCbWIXUbKoeehEQp83R5sPBwO2nIZDVZtRj91Le9i6Cg1jP9gW4ZbT49zxunAg0wNeTudABCMLpGTnYXzLuU5rm3r0bH7De/s320/june+09+067.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><div align="center">Oh well, better get back to the bunting!!!! </div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16175747752387425591noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-795439175677920557.post-25862750822500891892009-06-03T13:53:00.002+01:002009-06-03T14:12:33.437+01:00How to make easy peasy Ginger Beer!!<img style="VISIBILITY: hidden; WIDTH: 0px; HEIGHT: 0px" height="0" src="http://counters.gigya.com/wildfire/IMP/CXNID=2000002.0NXC/bHQ9MTI*NDAzMzU*ODMyOCZwdD*xMjQ*MDMzNjEyMjE4JnA9Mzg2MzYxJmQ9Jm49YmxvZ2dlciZnPTEmdD*mbz1kN2Q2YjNiMjE2ODU*MTg5YjU*YjNiODM*NjYxMDU1YSZvZj*w.gif" width="0" border="0" /><br /><p align="center"><a href="http://s5.photobucket.com/albums/y168/maxinechurch/?action=view&current=famous_five_old_narrowweb__300x4810.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="WIDTH: 192px; HEIGHT: 293px" height="320" alt="famous 5" src="http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y168/maxinechurch/famous_five_old_narrowweb__300x4810.jpg" width="192" border="0" /></a></p><p align="center">The sun is shing in the sky and its perfect for 'lashings of ginger beer' a la Famous Five but you don't have time to go through the long way, you want it now!! Well you can have it tomorrow with this super quick super easy recipe.</p><p align="center"> </p><p align="center"><strong>You'll need</strong></p><p align="center">1 cup sugar</p><p align="center">1/4 tsp dried yeast (the sachets you use in a bread maker)</p><p align="center">Juice from 1 lemon or 2tbs lemon juice from a bottle</p><p align="center">2 good tsp ground ginger</p><p align="center">lemonade type plastic bottle (2 litres)</p><p align="center">Water</p><p align="center">Funnel</p><p align="center"><strong>How to Do It</strong></p><p align="center">Pop the funnel into the top of the bottle and pour in the sugar and yeast.</p><p align="center">Mix the lemon juice with the ground ginger, then add this to the bottle too. Fill the bottle 2/3rds full with water then pop on the lid and shake until all the sugar has disappeared. Now top up with water until there is about 1" space at the top . This is to allow the gases to develop without exploding the bottle!!</p><p align="center">Screw on the top as tight as you can then leave somewhere warm ( a warm windowsill or an airing cupboard will do)</p><p align="center">24hrs later check the ginger beer. Has the bottle gone rigid?* If so, it is ready, place the bottle in the fridge overnight to stop the fermentation. Strain the beer and its ready to drink!!!! </p><p align="center"> </p><p align="center">Enjoy!!</p><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">*If the bottle was not rigid leavee it a further 48hrs, then continue as above.</span></p>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16175747752387425591noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-795439175677920557.post-53208426450223377232009-06-03T09:13:00.002+01:002009-06-03T09:24:14.213+01:00A nicer way to get there!<img style="VISIBILITY: hidden; WIDTH: 0px; HEIGHT: 0px" height="0" src="http://counters.gigya.com/wildfire/IMP/CXNID=2000002.0NXC/bHQ9MTI*NDAxNjczNzY4NyZwdD*xMjQ*MDE2Nzg2NTMxJnA9Mzg2MzYxJmQ9Jm49YmxvZ2dlciZnPTEmdD*mbz1kN2Q2YjNiMjE2ODU*MTg5YjU*YjNiODM*NjYxMDU1YSZvZj*w.gif" width="0" border="0" /><br /><p align="center"><a href="http://media.photobucket.com/image/bicycle" target="_blank" o="'2"><img src="http://i449.photobucket.com/albums/qq211/bekio88_2008/-bicycle-basket.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><p align="center">I'd love a bike like this one!! I can imagine riding down the road giving flowers to passersby as I cycled :) Ok I may not have the vintage bike - its a yellow mountain bike - but I have ditched the car a few journey's this week in favour of cycling. Easy for me than walking, its great and easy on the pocket too!! I'm bumping into (not literally!) more friends on the journey and stopping briefly to chat. I can get there as quick as a car journey and enjoy the smell of elderflowers on the way!!</p><p align="center">I worked out yesterday its a year since I last did this regularily, I don't know what was stopping me!! I even managed to do a small shop on my way home last night and well balaced the bags off my handlebars on the way home!! Unfortunately the bike doesn't have a rack so I need to save for one of those before I can make panniers.</p><p align="center">There are some great pannier tutorials <a href="http://www.instructables.com/tag/?q=panniers&limit%3Atype%3Aid=on&type%3Aid=on&type%3Auser=on&type%3Acomment=on&type%3Agroup=on&type%3AforumTopic=on&type%3AforumTopic=on&sort=none">here</a></p><p align="center">Take advantage of the weather and get on your bikes today!!!!!</p>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16175747752387425591noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-795439175677920557.post-33876770171696846872009-06-02T13:32:00.003+01:002009-06-02T13:39:10.029+01:00A small break<p align="center"><a href="http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y168/maxinechurch/DSCF1536-1.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 359px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 229px" alt="" src="http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y168/maxinechurch/DSCF1536-1.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><br /><br />Apologies for the small break in posting. School holidays and a temperamental PC which won't click links or upload photos has stopped me from updating the blog.<br /><br /><br />The past weeks weather though has been glorious and I have spent most of it in the garden. Lots of time has also been spent think what I really want in life, cue picture above of not my home now but a local cottage I would LOVE to own (small dwelling on a decent plot of land) and a little bit preparing for these....<br /><p align="center"><a href="http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y168/maxinechurch/duckling.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 243px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 170px" alt="" src="http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y168/maxinechurch/duckling.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><p align="center">As soon as the PC behaves, normal service will resume!!!</p>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16175747752387425591noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-795439175677920557.post-57944954075628707122009-05-22T11:28:00.003+01:002009-05-22T11:40:12.265+01:00Nursery Flapjack recipe<p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAcMFS2iUPe_pabMPFygK7WkkKnhN5T5Z5gjspqk3fpYSFEv19nqfI8QnLHHIj83a8Q0jwbigGHpD2ZfDz92dtxinBbrG6NpQU5ipJIz9LBBMZAasmj0grYIOQ18CdEdubVod9v1pV9vjr/s1600-h/Flapjacks.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338593642374194466" style="WIDTH: 125px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 134px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAcMFS2iUPe_pabMPFygK7WkkKnhN5T5Z5gjspqk3fpYSFEv19nqfI8QnLHHIj83a8Q0jwbigGHpD2ZfDz92dtxinBbrG6NpQU5ipJIz9LBBMZAasmj0grYIOQ18CdEdubVod9v1pV9vjr/s320/Flapjacks.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><p align="center"> </p><p align="center">At nursery this week we made the most delicious flapjack, so gooey and moreish - I just had to share the recipe with you!</p><p align="center">Nursery Flapjack</p><p align="center">6oz margerine</p><p align="center">6oz brown sugar</p><p align="center">8oz oats</p><p align="center">1tbs golden syrup</p><p align="center">pinch salt</p><p align="center">12 x 9" baking tray</p><p align="center">DO NOT SUBSTITUE ANYTHING!!! </p><p align="center"> </p><p align="center">Cream the marg and sugar together. Stir in syrup, oats and salt.</p><p align="center">Line the tray with baking paper and spread the mix evenly in the tray.</p><p align="center">Bake for 30mins at 170<span style="font-size:78%;">o</span>C until golden. Cool on a wire tray</p><p align="center">Cut into square whilst still warm and serve straightaway for gooey goodness. When it is cold its rock hard!!!</p><p align="center"> </p><p align="center">Enjoy!!!!</p><p align="center"> </p>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16175747752387425591noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-795439175677920557.post-92179612975017270262009-05-21T09:19:00.003+01:002009-05-21T09:25:25.757+01:00Tomatoes and the generosity of strangers<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPUQBE-vvho9XUTFqUdQeaosXMCNiWXgN_jLcdrtfky04juFLOdYsAySsKK3MyJy97ZaOOD7U-2nXEL26gtKgXOAibOTaB2Vyk7DOGZtRMh-MINpKEfZIcB5Lh2g5-xvCA93AfjZn2mNcP/s1600-h/product_1262_large.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338188966859193986" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPUQBE-vvho9XUTFqUdQeaosXMCNiWXgN_jLcdrtfky04juFLOdYsAySsKK3MyJy97ZaOOD7U-2nXEL26gtKgXOAibOTaB2Vyk7DOGZtRMh-MINpKEfZIcB5Lh2g5-xvCA93AfjZn2mNcP/s200/product_1262_large.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">Most of you reading will have heard of freecycle, a scheme where you offer unwanted 'stuff ' for others to pick up if they need some. Over the past few weeks we've freecycled lots of unwanted clutter from the house. </div><div align="center">Yesterday, we collected some unwanted plants from a local grower and I was able to double the varieties of tomatoes we are growing this year!! </div><div align="center">So now as well as the 'Gardeners Delight' we bought as young plants and the 'Alicante' Little Jonesey grew from seeds we will have 'Garden Pearl' in our hanging baskets, 'Beefsteak' in the greenhouse and 'Moneymaker' in tubs in the sunny spots in the garden!! </div><div align="center">Hopefully the harvest will be vast and I'll be able to pop a jar of homemade chutney back in to the lady that kindly gave me the plants.<br /></div><div align="center"></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16175747752387425591noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-795439175677920557.post-79746305315526638882009-05-19T17:51:00.009+01:002009-05-19T19:14:41.975+01:00My Freedom Garden Update<p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7hiYeQTPh4rb-7fkzbPvYawfKBCeMfKn54WqlM-gcVX-H0zuUW087IrdwXhGjktB9b3JIxcH0GgI_rfGlmsujNJpwplZV7DTUAHmMbLVVJoCY7tbykIzakmsEn_olRj8weYdqkGvJ0v98/s1600-h/DSCF1362.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337579212625006482" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7hiYeQTPh4rb-7fkzbPvYawfKBCeMfKn54WqlM-gcVX-H0zuUW087IrdwXhGjktB9b3JIxcH0GgI_rfGlmsujNJpwplZV7DTUAHmMbLVVJoCY7tbykIzakmsEn_olRj8weYdqkGvJ0v98/s200/DSCF1362.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><p align="center"><span style="font-size:78%;">Our very first Nastutium Flower!!!</span> </p><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">We've not grown these before but they are dead easy, the leaves, flowers and seeds are all edible!</span></p><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong>The rain over the past week has really done the garden good, let me take you on a tour of some of the highlights....</strong></span></p><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3I1tW54XwwaJC4gJUKV5nq2ILE0cAUsC1yUqEaz5LkifkpZ7ygZtwMHYlhAqUUpVcsw_6V-KKMzlcGiI1WDmGcSckk5sVyOp2YjONvud8xVTE9HVfkUiaTssAVsguIwchiamFhZDbi2av/s1600-h/DSCF1374.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337595386199404514" style="WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3I1tW54XwwaJC4gJUKV5nq2ILE0cAUsC1yUqEaz5LkifkpZ7ygZtwMHYlhAqUUpVcsw_6V-KKMzlcGiI1WDmGcSckk5sVyOp2YjONvud8xVTE9HVfkUiaTssAVsguIwchiamFhZDbi2av/s200/DSCF1374.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><p align="center">Our first year growing tomatoes, they are up to 2ft high now but I'm surprised how early they are flowering. I've even learnt how to nip out the side shoots!!!</p><br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji8mIi60FfymLt5bg2XZO9zKLdrfFR1kqoRk2_6wpgglmOVIICnOXm34Qs5fwZ23wRkEvkaxR1MPNdRZR4YTk9X8XxcJkDvj1n2-_PQyIAwW5Plx8Hma9JTKhNmoHsy0DVQy8U1sKCmGnz/s1600-h/DSCF1371.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337595377568519442" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji8mIi60FfymLt5bg2XZO9zKLdrfFR1kqoRk2_6wpgglmOVIICnOXm34Qs5fwZ23wRkEvkaxR1MPNdRZR4YTk9X8XxcJkDvj1n2-_PQyIAwW5Plx8Hma9JTKhNmoHsy0DVQy8U1sKCmGnz/s200/DSCF1371.jpg" border="0" /></a></p>I threw down a handful of rocket seed in the soil at the bottom of the squarefoot planter and its growing great guns!!!<br /><br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgObSVV-8drAa2jN-56rLghxo1aO-HNI9Vrqmzd6KygVaV5sJkgDtVL4MH2LTzdZV_t7AZHkNUmZREEM-kvKUly-or-0cCZOnM4m-5bWqrxEDpI7kBfqoM1e59CFkKAULFFHpTBUPKCm64z/s1600-h/DSCF1369.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337595370191247314" style="WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgObSVV-8drAa2jN-56rLghxo1aO-HNI9Vrqmzd6KygVaV5sJkgDtVL4MH2LTzdZV_t7AZHkNUmZREEM-kvKUly-or-0cCZOnM4m-5bWqrxEDpI7kBfqoM1e59CFkKAULFFHpTBUPKCm64z/s200/DSCF1369.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><p align="center">Redcurrants are bountiful this year! Compared to last years harvest of 5 yes count them 5 berries!!!!</p><br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi16p-tgKlS0SiyYJiFh9AwdEmU3TD-v-iYrQGB1Svx8sbnv7yolhU6lq484aYGCSfYNoRlmWakC68isNU1-_ity9JVy6ynwTY5ruoF9fX3fxEJyUiYtZHBm19fbAS8PTFvwoyuRHbjRszl/s1600-h/DSCF1372.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337595371523243394" style="WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi16p-tgKlS0SiyYJiFh9AwdEmU3TD-v-iYrQGB1Svx8sbnv7yolhU6lq484aYGCSfYNoRlmWakC68isNU1-_ity9JVy6ynwTY5ruoF9fX3fxEJyUiYtZHBm19fbAS8PTFvwoyuRHbjRszl/s200/DSCF1372.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><p align="center">No the photo isn't upside down this baby pear is reaching for the sky. Once again only a handful have set. Maybe I will hand pollenate them next year. Does anyone else have any tips for growing pears?</p><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA2__cacY6kBSS43T2dmlZ4Ks8n0o3Fp8M4p4S2wiBS9nAHUwgcPyw-F-vmlutKNbmPyYGPmJ3J2iVSXoiGEHTnzoPv_gr1woSCe_kDGZ-vfsGtA6srEL7WOcYVtZFV5pdnTQPwJxtQJOc/s1600-h/DSCF1368.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337593618287587058" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA2__cacY6kBSS43T2dmlZ4Ks8n0o3Fp8M4p4S2wiBS9nAHUwgcPyw-F-vmlutKNbmPyYGPmJ3J2iVSXoiGEHTnzoPv_gr1woSCe_kDGZ-vfsGtA6srEL7WOcYVtZFV5pdnTQPwJxtQJOc/s200/DSCF1368.jpg" border="0" /></a></p>The beetroot leaves are coming on - I've already pinched some for a salad! Apparently taking the odd outone shouldn't affect the beetroot underneath as lon as its limited to 4/5 in total. I need to start some new seedling off soon so we have a second lot to harvest later.<br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyrmPyaHs419bLXPAb5KY7LoUJuAu85MpT3CT0FjTEaxYu5RufV3ARwKIhZNVFW0n-UqjJhsqOH2A4Ka2KD0j8py-KavJ2bXAeLXbTJ8PrMAV6c9AuGCkCkhtjSuQKRe3EQSkUZBCWPVkr/s1600-h/DSCF1367.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337593613220153682" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyrmPyaHs419bLXPAb5KY7LoUJuAu85MpT3CT0FjTEaxYu5RufV3ARwKIhZNVFW0n-UqjJhsqOH2A4Ka2KD0j8py-KavJ2bXAeLXbTJ8PrMAV6c9AuGCkCkhtjSuQKRe3EQSkUZBCWPVkr/s200/DSCF1367.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><p align="center">Little Miss Jones' spinach has doubled in size in the past week.</p><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivhZdUkOSwGOISEH-Laxu85LIBKJzH6rZjeI3l-85XBGfOCFZPyfaoOV1p8YJ0N72cku_lvjcpL87jS5xTRKFst4pWL6OqqXZkuHiWIILc71thwaRqaEnTRpQ2VsCkMjGiUc0-KVa771KT/s1600-h/DSCF1363.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337579812868757282" style="WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivhZdUkOSwGOISEH-Laxu85LIBKJzH6rZjeI3l-85XBGfOCFZPyfaoOV1p8YJ0N72cku_lvjcpL87jS5xTRKFst4pWL6OqqXZkuHiWIILc71thwaRqaEnTRpQ2VsCkMjGiUc0-KVa771KT/s200/DSCF1363.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><p align="center">The new strawberryies are growing nicely! These should make a nice compliment to the alpine strawberries I planted last year.</p><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPYaOm8rUdcqmb0kGabDcFrAlsU6Kl5ZYJ_KnW0_XWForCg89RvxesFbTDL20_-2Id0hhXt2s2KMN4ayyTpre4HAVlFzuI5f_a-234eMSVByxJJRJLBP-AJgrzSIBUP2nzH3eFfRrDfukv/s1600-h/DSCF1357.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337593608559562146" style="WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPYaOm8rUdcqmb0kGabDcFrAlsU6Kl5ZYJ_KnW0_XWForCg89RvxesFbTDL20_-2Id0hhXt2s2KMN4ayyTpre4HAVlFzuI5f_a-234eMSVByxJJRJLBP-AJgrzSIBUP2nzH3eFfRrDfukv/s200/DSCF1357.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><div align="center">Little Jonesy has been planting up sunflower seeds.<br /><br /><br /></div><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnLWojituH1g-trDCCAiP3qJBUmoBuGZx-t4QVCKIFiSBNhkRAKU7GTOpuAxpVYOK5t5vYHgfapYTHlMgUfgQe35vdsETPH2kCEkj977faTwHsK9cOGo3UzAJ1KMUvR3PKKzarEjgEjRNF/s1600-h/Copy+of+DSCF1358.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337593605602585426" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnLWojituH1g-trDCCAiP3qJBUmoBuGZx-t4QVCKIFiSBNhkRAKU7GTOpuAxpVYOK5t5vYHgfapYTHlMgUfgQe35vdsETPH2kCEkj977faTwHsK9cOGo3UzAJ1KMUvR3PKKzarEjgEjRNF/s200/Copy+of+DSCF1358.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><br />Of course I've had a bit of help from my gardener in training, Little Miss Jones!! <div align="center"></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16175747752387425591noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-795439175677920557.post-52779471913156494022009-05-18T09:27:00.003+01:002009-05-18T09:36:27.352+01:00How to recycle your way bigger better plants - Home made suntrap / greenhouse<p align="center"><a href="http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y168/maxinechurch/DSCF1542.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 488px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 334px" alt="" src="http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y168/maxinechurch/DSCF1542.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><p align="center"><span style="font-size:78%;">Sweetcorn, Sunflowers, Strawberries and Beans growing in the Suntrap</span></p>We don't have a traditional greenhouse and our conservatory is a cold northfacing one so after our seeds have germinated we transfer them to our homemade (recycled) suntrap to give them a little bit of extra warmth to help them on their way!!<br /><br />As you can see they are <strong>recycled UHT milk cartons</strong>, the shiny insides make a great reflective surface to focus the heat onto the plants. Simply wash out your cartons thoroughly the cut open and tape together to <strong>make mini suntraps</strong>.<br /><br />I grew two lots of sweetcorn side by side but put a suntrap behind one. Of course <em>there could have been several variables</em> but the one in the suntrap <strong>grew about a third bigger</strong> so far!!!<br /><br /><div align="center">Give it a go, you've nothing to lose!!</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"><span style="color:#009900;"><strong>What clever growing tips do you have?</strong></span><br /></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16175747752387425591noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-795439175677920557.post-13279150531967881552009-05-15T09:24:00.003+01:002009-05-15T09:37:11.987+01:00Quick & Easy Recipes - Sponge Pudding<p align="center"><a href="http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y168/maxinechurch/D8.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 263px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 242px" alt="" src="http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y168/maxinechurch/D8.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><p align="center">Ever fancy a quick and easy pudding? </p><p align="center">Every evening I get 'mummy what's for pudding?'. If I haven't already prepared one then I have a couple of great standby recipes...</p><p align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">Microwave Sponge Pudding</span></strong></p><p align="center">75ml vegetable oil</p><p align="center">2oz sugar</p><p align="center">1 large egg</p><p align="center">2oz Self Raising Flour</p><p align="center">2 tbs milk</p><p align="center">2 tbs jam / golden syrup</p><p align="center">Grease a microwave bowl, pour in jam/syrup and set aside. In another bowl mix remaining ingredients than pour on top of syrup/jam in greased bowl - do not mix!!</p><p align="center">Cover and put into microwave. Cook for 3 minutes on full (my microwave is 1200w) or until cooked through. Loosen around edge and turn out onto a plate. Delicious served with custard</p><p align="center">Enjoy!!!</p>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16175747752387425591noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-795439175677920557.post-43002742209995447172009-05-13T13:57:00.006+01:002009-05-13T14:38:24.376+01:00How to stay on the simple path - Preparation<p align="center"><a href="http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y168/maxinechurch/DSC_0093-1.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 276px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 191px" alt="" src="http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y168/maxinechurch/DSC_0093-1.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><div align="center">Yesterday's post on temptation showed that we are all prone to little slips on the journey to a simpler life so how can we help ourselves to stay on course?</div><p align="right">Whether your simple goals are to simplify, have more free time, save money, spend time with family, most temptation problems can be overcome by a few simple changes in your lifestyle. I will look at each of these in turn.....<br /></p><ul><li><div align="center">Preparation</div></li><li><div align="center">Organisation</div></li><li><div align="center">Routine</div></li><li><div align="center">Simplifying </div></li><li><div align="center">Support</div></li><li><div align="center">Community</div></li><li><div align="center">Knowledge</div></li></ul><br /><br /><p align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">Preparation</span></strong></p><br /><br /><p align="center">I am a planner and a list person, I write list after list after list... In lots of areas I think about something for ages before I do it. But sometimes in life I can't see the problem at all, I haven't prepared!!As my mum will remind me constantly, </p><br /><br /><p align="center">'Eliminating the temptation before it arises is a hundred times better than dealing with it once its there'. </p><br /><br /><p align="center">My kids always played up after school because they were hungry (no preparation on my front). Using preparation we can sort this one easily, we need to be prepared before we turn up at school with a snack.</p><br /><br /><p align="center"><br /><em>As with anything on this journey, you can look at your goals and choose how deeply you want to do this you may decide it is important the 'food' is a piece of fruit or that there will be wholemeal muffins baked at the weekend as a family time activity!</em></p><br /><br /><p align="center">Quick fix:- call in at shop next door and buy sweets/ crisps/ cakes<br />Intermediate Solution :- turn up at school with some food brought from home.<br />Simple Living Solution :- bring a homemade snack to school. </p><br /><br /><p align="center">I hope you can see how this theory would work across the board. </p><br /><br /><p align="center"><span style="color:#009900;">What preparation tips do you have that you could share?</span> </p>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16175747752387425591noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-795439175677920557.post-14152835624823399382009-05-12T11:06:00.003+01:002009-05-12T11:28:56.302+01:00How much do you really, really want it?<p align="center"><a href="http://www.northamptonsausages.co.uk/images/shop_sausages.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 345px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 345px" alt="" src="http://www.northamptonsausages.co.uk/images/shop_sausages.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"></span></p><p align="center"><span style="font-size:78%;"><a href="http://www.northamptonsausages.co.uk/farmshop.php">Temptation</a></span></p><br /><br />Just before work today I started getting some lunch together. I got out the bread and went to the fridge to get cheese. Picking up the cheese I noticed the pork sausages behind that were getting near their end date. Thinking 'ooh I'll do those for the childrens supper' I started cooking them in the frying pan.<br /><br /><br />As they browned I looked at the sausages, I looked at the bread, I looked at the sausages, I looked at the bread....<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Maybe one sausage sarnie won't hurt. <span style="font-size:85%;">* For those of you who don't know, OMJ is meat intolerant so I'm veggie too to give him support.</span><br /><br /><br />The thought had entered my head but suprising, thats where it stayed! I cut the cheese, walked out to the garden to pick rocket, ate the rocket on the way back in and had a lovely cheese and homemade chutney sarnie instead for lunch.<br /><br /><br />I thought about it after, living the simple life we are confronted daily by temptation and choices, the quick fixes or pressure to fit in with friends. Each time we are faced by these we need to think, do I really want to make that choice more than I want the life I have chose. After not very long the decision will be made in your head before you think it and the pleasures and satisfaction you gain from chosing the way you want rather than what others want will be tenfold ( healthier diet, a simpler home, the taste of a homegrown tomato...)<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />This post isn't meant as a lecture to anyone, we all make our own choices, but to serve as a reminder to me that I can choose to stay on course when faced with temptation and that it is so worth it!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16175747752387425591noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-795439175677920557.post-32958408094731175442009-05-12T09:18:00.004+01:002009-05-12T09:34:00.473+01:00<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrf5NXwYnW4ETKydFV9eVlfmrXtyI29q-4p3l4BaD91HPdedqEJK53YEQMHrUwLHmvFe4cxK624iWIgFsJzfOP8H-BBlnL08jW6R75bbyZi1h732yU7lrVy33wsoPptrXjHdihNtIGQYi7/s1600-h/elderflower.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334851890432402418" style="WIDTH: 256px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrf5NXwYnW4ETKydFV9eVlfmrXtyI29q-4p3l4BaD91HPdedqEJK53YEQMHrUwLHmvFe4cxK624iWIgFsJzfOP8H-BBlnL08jW6R75bbyZi1h732yU7lrVy33wsoPptrXjHdihNtIGQYi7/s320/elderflower.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center">Its very nearly that time of year again when the hedgerows are abundant with Elderflowers. They are still only little green buds around here but I'm hearing rumours that elsewhere they are in flower!!! </div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center">Here's a quick recipe to get you started..</div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center">Elderflower Champagne</div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center">10 Elderflower heads</div><div align="center">2 Lemons (sliced)</div><div align="center">8 pints (3.5 litres) of water</div><div align="center">1.5 lb (700g) sugar</div><div align="center">2 tbsp white wine vinegar</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">Put elderflower heads and lemons in a clean bucket and pour on the water. </div><div align="center">Leave to soak for 24 - 36 hours. </div><div align="center">Strain through a sterile cloth (or muslin) and add sugar and vinegar. </div><div align="center">Stir until sugar is completely dissolved and pour into screw-top bottles. L</div><div align="center">eave tops slightly loose for 10 to 14 days or undo daily (one of mine popped its own!!) </div><div align="center">Drinkable after a fortnight but better after 2 to 3 months. </div><div align="center">Serve chilled.</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">Hmm, that reminds me........ I think I may still have a bottle from last year in the garage!!!</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16175747752387425591noreply@blogger.com2