End of hols

The penultimate day of the holidays is grey and windy. When I popped up to the local farm shop this morning it was ever so dark and the rain started pouring just as I made my way back to the car. Needless to say I'm staying put for the rest of the day. 

These past two weeks have been very relaxing. I've managed to read the 5 books for the Library Service Book Competition that I take part in with some of the children at my school.

They're all good books and I can't wait to share them with the children. Knowing that we get to meet 2 of the authors is also quite exciting. However, it's always nice to be able to get back to reading adult books and I've just started reading this book

 

 

 

 

Image from Amazon.

 I haven't got very far but it seems to be rather funny and enjoyable. Something to look forward to at bedtime!

 I've also had time to do a bit of knitting (my cardigan is almost finished, just have to finish the second sleeve), crocheting, sewing and Little Miss M. and I've made some buttons, fridge magnets and earrings using shrink plastic - great fun. My sister will receive some of the above mentioned things for her birthday next week so I'd better not show any pictures in case she's reading this.

The new year started off with Little Miss M's birthday and we celebrated the day being very tired after a brilliant party the night before. We watched films and ate homemade cake throughout the day.

 Sponge cake with two layers of custard and whipped cream mixed with cut up strawberries, all to the birthday girl's wishes. Yum!

Our Christmas tree has been fabulous this year and has hardly dropped any needles. I feel very reluctant to get rid of it so I've put off taking down any decorations at all in the house. However, tomorrow will be the day when the house will be stripped. I always find it a bit sad when the decorations are removed and it takes me a few days to get used to how bare the house looks without the tree, the gnomes and all the things red. 

Never mind, it's been a good Christmas holiday and after tomorrow's wedding anniversary (we really didn't think the date through) we'll all be glad to get back to a normal routine. I for one will have to think about what I eat as all my clothes are way too tight!

Mrs. M.

Kale chips

I normally only eat kale at Christmas. I grew up eating fried kale on Christmas Eve and that tradition has stuck with me. I parboil the kale and then put it in the freezer until needed. On the day, I fry it with a bit of cream and salt and pepper. Lovely.

This year we've grown kale ourselves and have more that was needed on the Christmas table. So what do you do? Well, I searched the Internet and found this website. Oh they were delicious! It says in the recipe that kale chips are an acquired taste. Well, I acquired the taste rather quickly. I'd call them very moorish. However, next time I think I'd better go easy on the salt. I was very thirsty for the rest of the day!

Mrs. M.

Sprouts

What can I say? 

Of everything we've successfully grown (not that much really) this really must be number one. They simply tasted delicious!

Today has been a lazy day.The weather has been glorious so Little Miss M. and I went for a walk in the sunshine. She was wearing her new hiking boots and I was wearing my old ones. 

After a refreshing walk we went home and had some hot chocolate. A rather perfect Boxing Day. 

Mrs. M.

Harvest

The day Mrs. G. and I have been longing for finally arrived. Dressed in warm coats and wellies, armed with bags and a small saw, we found a gap in the rain and headed towards the allotment. Harvest time. Oh yes, the time had come to harvest our brussels sprouts. Yippee!

Don't they look great?! After recommendation we've put them in a bucket of water, ready for peeling and left in water on the 24th, ready for cooking on the 25th. I can't wait!

We took a chance on the parsnips as well. Some of them were big and some weren't. Oh well, we'll try them out anyway. There are still plenty in the ground for later. 

After the harvest it was time to light the fourth candle and have a cup of tea and a biscuit. I ended up watching a rom-com with the older Master M. and his little sister before baking tomorrow's dessert and some of the food. We're having a 'getting into the Christmas spirit' do here tomorrow evening. It's time to start the party!

Mrs. M.

Hungry

Today has been a really long day. By the time I got home it was dark and I then had to get to the post office before it closed to send off Christmas presents. What a rush! 

Luckily I didn't have to cook dinner tonight as Mr. M. had been busy making Cornish pasties. He had never made these before and they were absolutely delicious. They had just come out of the oven when I got home and the smell and sight of them made me very hungry indeed.

I wasn't the only hungry one today. While Mr. M. was busy cooking these he heard the chickens making a real racket. Fortunately they were in the run, as a fox was circling around the coop and run. Mr. M. ran outside and threw stones at the clearly hungry animal but it didn't take any notice. It wasn't until Mr. M. had run up to the chickens and shouted at the fox while waving a big stick at it that it ran off. Oh dear. Looks like the days when the chickens can wander around in the garden on their own are well and truly over. 

Mrs. M.

Yum

December certainly is a month of indulgence. In my preparation of delicious food for the Christmas period, I've made some old fashioned toffees. 

I mixed 3 dl of cream, 3 dl of sugar and 1 1/2 dl of golden syrup and cooked it until it reached 125 degrees Celsius. I then poured the toffee onto greased baking paper and let it cool before cutting up into small pieces. They were then wrapped in festive paper, put in a jar and hidden away in the cold garage. 

Hidden away? Well yes, if left in the kitchen they would all be gone within a few days. I'm able to keep things until Christmas but the two younger family members find it impossibly difficult. They will just have to wait a little while longer :).

Mrs.  M

First of Advent

Finally the official countdown to Christmas has started! Little Miss M. put the Christmas CD on before having breakfast and I can foresee myself being really sick of the songs by next weekend...

Mr. M. cleaned the chicken coop yesterday and ended up with a bucket full of ... so today we went to the allotment to empty the bucket. I hadn't been for at least 3 weeks and was slightly worried that I'd be met by beds covered in weed. Luckily that wasn't the case. It did look a bit dull but I was very happy with how well the brussel sprouts are doing. 

They're looking so lovely and I can't wait until we serve them with our Christmas meal!

The Savoy cabbage is also looking okay though slightly small. 

There wasn't much else going on up there. The garlic and onions are coming on nicely, the leek is looking great and fingers crossed that the parsnips in the ground are big. It was rather cold today so we only stayed for a short while before we headed back to light the first Advent candle and drink some hot glögg. We also had some of yesterday's gingerbread and a mince pie each. Lovely!

All in all a lovely start to December!

Mrs. M.