No T Words mentioned at all - a fresh start

[Deleted User]

Hi SM - I was definately more worried about Sandy than she was, apparently she slept right through it!! She managed to do the same thing when we had an earthquake in the Rhine valley when we lived in Germany!! So funny though, I got a postcard of New York yesterday, with an english second class stamp on it and a little message saying 'Sorry I didn't post this in America as a little hurricane got in the way!' Bless her, she's a poppet, Cheers Lyn xxx.

scottishminnie

Evening all. Well, another weekend draws to a close and my achievements are questionable. Mum and I went browsing round a very large furniture and home decor store yesterday which did nothing other than confuse me further about what curtain fabric I wish for my lounge. We did have a good afternoon though, with tea and scones so it wasn't a compete waste:) then hubby didn't wish to go out last night so we had a chinese takeaway followed, in my case, by a glass of burgundy whilst curled up in my favourite chair with the latest edition of good housekeeping. What a rock and roll lifestyle I lead these days:D
Actually I don't mind, we are out next weekend at the theatre and having a dinner party the following weekend so I kind of like having an evening in just the 2 of us in the den, feeling warm and cosy.

Next weekend I must clear out the remnant of my summer bedding plants. I have some old stone troughs which dad gave me from the farm. Once I cleaned them up they looked great and they had a nice display of geraniums this year however they are certainly finished now so I think some winter pansies will be the best bet. I like the white cabbages however I have a little hare who is in the garden daily and they may be too much of a temptation for him so will stick to pansies.

My Christmas preparations are underway, the cake is being fed weekly and the menu is planned. I just need to begin my gift shopping soon and it will be well under control. Maybe I should begin browsing this evening - no time like the present:o

flowertotmum

Hi all am back...
I hope your all ok..we have had a serious case of poorlies at flowertot mansion..first hubby comes down with the actual flu..this sent me into a panic as he was really poorly..had to have 2 wks off work and he still wasn't fully recovered when he went back. Then my worst nightmare came true..my 2 littlies came down with it...had to get doctor out to look at Iris..she had such a high temp and i couldn't get it down..i got told to keep her cool (duh) and if she got worse he would admit her to hospital...was worried sick..i slept on the floor next to her bed for about a week...her fever broke at about 3 in the morning and by 10 she was up and playing..one relieved mum here i can tell you..Fern was just as bad but her temp was high but not as bad her sisters..then my son got it..he wasn't too bad but didn't go to college he spent about a week just laid in bed..good job my freezer was full of HM soups and stews..its what they lived on bless em all...fingers crossed i haven't got it...tbh i don't think it dare come near me...cost me a fortune in neuorofen,ibuprofen and paracetomols for them all..
I saved so much money in stoptober..not just because everyone was ill but because i actually sat and thought do i really need this or do i just want it...powerful stuff me thinking..
So i have re-decorated my dining room and got a lot of christmas presents with the money i saved...brilliant..not so good for my back though ooh it aches..
This week i have to re-fill my freezer with soups and stews..so i have been to my greengrocer and got a huge bag of carrots,spuds and onions plus leeks and he threw in a big bag of sprouts too..lovely man..my dad had to fetch me with it all...so veggie soups,minestrone and carrot are all on my plan this week...i made 6 lasagnes and froze 5 ate one lol...6 spaghetti bolognese's..4 cheese and onion quiches, and 2 steak pies..
Did a bulk shop and stocked up on flour ,rice and pasta..o and porridge oats..
Found a great recipe for breakfast doughnuts that you cook in the oven..yummy they disappear quite quickly at breakfast time..and a 3 ingredient 3 minute fudge..this is unbelieveable and so easy even i can do it..and it tastes so nice..very moreish...
Right i have to go and cook lunch and sort out dining room..busy day again..
love to you all
ftm

[Deleted User]

Poor little things FTM, even the big ones!!! I hope everyone has made a full recovery now and life is back to normal for you all. It is an absolute lesson to us all to be prepared for anything isn't it. Good job you had all your pre-done food in the freezer, you wouldn't have had time to cook let alone shop while the littlies were so poorly. Well done for not catching it yourself, thank goodness. Thanks for your lovely pm, I'll pm you tomorrow when I've caught up with myself, spent the weekend with Nell and ended up having to go to the hospital out of hours GP as I was poorly. Felt awful but they gave me an antibiotic which worked within a day. Wonderful service there, lovely people and instant solution. BREAKFAST DOUGHNUTS EH? - Tell me more he he he he he!!!!!

Stay safe, stay warm Love Lyn xxx.

scottishminnie

Oh dear, sounds like both FTM and MrsLW are having a time of it. Hope you are well on the road to recovery MrsLW and that all your poorly people are getting better too FTM. My hubby scoffs at how much cooked food I have in the freezer but it's times like you've just had that it saves the day.

I'm intrigued by the breakfast doughnuts. They sound tempting. I'm planning to make these breakfast muffin melts for Christmas day breakfast, although maybe a trial run wouldn't go amiss:)

I'm a bit in awe of the fact that you have also started Christmas shopping FTM. I have a few things but I've really just been playing myself so I must buckle down and get on with it.

I had an afternoon completely to myself on Saturday so I went to a local antique and crafts centre where they have lots of stalls and booths to browse. I could spend days there just looking at things from days gone by. I bought a very nice large blue and white platter - not quite willow pattern but similar which I think will be beautiful with a fabulous tureen and platter which my mum bought me from the same place a few years back. It's not a perfect match but will compliment it well.
I really like the idea of buying things which are preloved and judging by how busy the place was obviously so do many other people.
I did see some wonderful stoneware jars. They were quite big and I think they had been used to store butter in years ago. They were stone and cream with the dairy name on the front. Would have been great for storing utensils however they were very pricey so I kept walking by.

There were also very old bottles which fascinated me. Lemonade, medicine and all sorts. I have an old green medicine bottle which still has the glass marble in the neck. I found it years ago when harvesting potatoes with my dad. Amazingly there is not a chip nor a crack on it. Dad never understood why I wanted to keep it but it's been with me almost 30 years now and I wouldn't part with it. Funny how we are drawn to some things.

I'm off to take tomorrow evening's dinner from the freezer before I forget. Have a good week all.

craigywv

hope your all getting better those of you who have been poorly xxx LYNN is that DOCKY on your avatar hes ab gorgeous he reminds me of alfred out of HEARTBEAT . xx

flowertotmum

Hi all thanks so much for the well wishes..the littlies are well on the mend and hubby is too..my son is still snotty and can't seem to sleep..got bags under his eyes..
MLW..o i do hope your ok hun..its so not nice being poorly at all..and i will post the recipe for fudge and doughnuts..
SM..i too have bottle i found years ago..it takes pride of place on mantel piece in my living room..its a very unusual shape and probably very old..but i found it in my grans garden when i wa sabout 10..haven't parted with it and never will...
I am so glad i was prepared ...hubby does take the mick out of me at times ina nice way..and son reckons i could probably survive zombie attack,ice age and armageddon..but they soon stopped when soup and stew was served up fresh and piping hot...
I have decided to make fudge for presents and am going to £land to get some little cupcake boxes to put it in..the ones you can get 6 cakes in lol..bit mean just giving a tiny one..
Right i'm off to have a cuppa and early bed..
love to you all
ftm

[Deleted User]

CRAIGY - yes that is my hairy little goofy lurcher, who is the light of our lives and at times when he is soaking wet and covered in mud also the blight of our lives, but, we wouldn't part with him for all the tea in china cos he's FUNNNNN!!! We luvs him!!! Cheers Lyn xxx.

flowertotmum

Hello all..what a grey,wet day it is..nevermind we could have it worse..

Recipe for Breakfast Doughnuts..bit fiddly but once you have done it a time or 2 its easy...

1 and 1/3 cup sr flour
1 cup of rice crispies(crushed)
2 tablespoons sugar+1/2 cup put half cup os sugar to one side for now.
3 teaspoons of baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup of butter(i used baking marg and they came out just as good)
1/2 cup of milk
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 cup of butter melted

Mix the flour,crispies,baking powder,salt and 2 tbsps of sugar in a large bowl
rub in the butter
Add the milk and stir until just moistened.
Roll the dough into 2 and a half dozen balls about 1" or like me what ever you feel.
Mix the cinnamon with the 1/2 cup of sugar in a small bowl.
Drop the dough balls into the melted butter and the roll in the sugar cinnamon mix..or like me get the tots to do it ..its very sticky and gets down your nails lol.
Place balls in a round lightly greased pan..8 or 9 " should do it.
I placed mine in a circle and went inwards with them looked very good.
Bake at gas mark 7 or 425 degrees for 15-18 minutes or until a thin skewer comes out clean..
Leave to cool slightly and enjoy them warm...or like us eat as many as you can at breakfast and then smother them in custard for pudding later..



3 minute..3 ingredient fudge..
2 lots of choclate plain and milk..12 0z of each..choc chips are getting stupidly expensive so i just bought a huge scotbloc and smashed it up...
1 can of sweetened condensed milk
3 table spoons of butter.

Combine all of them in a microwaveable bowl.
Micro wave on high for 3 minutes.
Stir it up til it has that glossy smooth look.
Pour into 9X9" pan..with greaseproof paper in it..
let it cool and enjoy

You can vary it too..i put mixed nuts in mine and fruit..going to do just a dark choc one and add peppermint flavouring..basically you can add what you like once its been microwaved..

love ftm

[Deleted User]

Ooooohhhhhh Thanks FTM - those will definately be getting made in the Lurcherwalker household, probably today too as we need something to cheer us up in this abysmal weather don't we? If we get much more rain I think we might float away!!!

Have a good day, Cheers Lyn xxx.