The OS Doorstep - a helpful and supportive thread in these tough times

RosiePuddingPaws

I'm another one who had a disturbed night last night. Was fast asleep and woken by loud noise. Went to investigate and found the monsters had brought a bird in. Managed to catch the bird, and knock the chair over so it hit the cat feeding area and the biscuits and water went everywhere!

Took bird out and popped it in the greenhouse for the night with a bowl of water. Then cleaned up the mess in the kitchen, then struggled to go back to sleep!

Bird was alive this morning, but is a young one as it had only little stubbly tail feathers. The parents (I think) were in the garden this morning making a racket. All I could do was pop it up on the fence, between two tall shrubs so the cats hopefully won't get it. There is a nest in the hedge around about there so I hope it came from there and can get back. I enjoy seeing the birds but not at 1.00 in the kitchen.

Of course, today would be when I am supposed to be bright and presentable for an interview. I would have preferred not to have bags under the eyes ...

RPP

Knit_Witch

Good luck with the interview RPP

alfsmum

Welcome on board VALLI

GQ hope you manage to struggle through today, I am full of admiration for how you cope with these trials and tribulations. The odd hour or two of loud music blasting from next door on a sunny and supposedly peaceful afternoon is enough to send me running for cover - or the allotment - so I wouldn't know what to do with myself if they started nocturnal firework parties. I think Valium would be the order of the day.

FUDDLE kelp may be worth considering as I believe it's full of iodine which is good for nerves and cognitive function. OH has just bought some Holy Basil capsules and teabags which are also reputed to help with stress amongst many other things. I will be rattling soon....

Warm and quite sunny here so far today but rain forecast to move in later. Picked two more punnets of strawberries from the lottie this morning and hacked down lots of sow thistles. Yesterday's strawbs have been converted to jam for the store cupboard. I couldn't resist taking the lid off the leftover half-filled jar now and then for a sniff, it smells so luscious and summery :rotfl:

MrsLW, hope the Docky didn't wake you up too early today

tattycath

alfsmum wrote: »

Welcome on board VALLI

GQ hope you manage to struggle through today, I am full of admiration for how you cope with these trials and tribulations. The odd hour or two of loud music blasting from next door on a sunny and supposedly peaceful afternoon is enough to send me running for cover - or the allotment - so I wouldn't know what to do with myself if they started nocturnal firework parties. I think Valium would be the order of the day.

FUDDLE kelp may be worth considering as I believe it's full of iodine which is good for nerves and cognitive function. OH has just bought some Holy Basil capsules and teabags which are also reputed to help with stress amongst many other things. I will be rattling soon....

Warm and quite sunny here so far today but rain forecast to move in later. Picked two more punnets of strawberries from the lottie this morning and hacked down lots of sow thistles. Yesterday's strawbs have been converted to jam for the store cupboard. I couldn't resist taking the lid off the leftover half-filled jar now and then for a sniff, it smells so luscious and summery :rotfl:

MrsLW, hope the Docky didn't wake you up too early today

Apparently you can eat sow thistles http://www.eattheweeds.com/sonchus-sow-thistle-in-a-pigs-eye-2/
No idea what they would taste like though.

[Deleted User]

Thanks ALFSMUM, I went in the spare room and shut the door!!!! and this time he didn't come and keep knocking the door with his foot until I let him in, so I'm much rested thank you very much!!!! I must say it's nice to feel awake again, Cheers Lyn xxx.

CATH it just so happens that I've got a recipe in a very very old book for Sow Thistle to serve as a vegetable!!! There are two different types of sow thistle, smooth and prickly and this is for the one tht has smooth leaves not prickles round the edges of the leaves.

1 heaped bowl of sow thistle leaves washed and with the rib down the middle of each leaf removed (they're chewy!)
Butter
Salt and Fresh Ground Black Pepper

Cook the leaves in salted water just to cover the leaves in the pan until they are tender, 7 - 10 minutes. Drain them well and squeeze out as much liquid as you can (like with spinach). chop them on a board and return to the pan with a nut of butter and as much black pepper as you like, stir for a couple of minutes to re-heat and serve as a vegetable.
You can make soup with them too by adding a chopped onion softened in butter to the cooked sow thistle and stirring in some plain flour and cooking for a minute then adding in some vegetable/chicken stock (about 1 and a half pints) and seasoning. Cook it for about 10 minutes and add in some cream if you like a richer soup.

I've not tried it but if you do let us know if it's nice, Cheers Lyn xxx.

monnagran

Mrs LW: Do you take memory pills? You are truly amazing. Fancy you remembering my baguette mountain. D'you know, I think it was after Christmas when we used the last baguette. There may still be some lurking in the odd freezer on the IOW that everyone has forgotten about.

Sow Thistles????? I have to say there are limits to my willingness to experiment and I would have to be pretty desperate to have to start cooking Sow Thistles. I wait with breath well and truly bated to hear what they taste like.

[Deleted User]

I'ze a heffalump MONNAGRAN!!!!! and I hope you've still got the Kontoasti moored up somewhere safe for your trips to the mainland, I believe the Red Funnel Ferry prices have become very expensive of late!!!

tattycath

MrsLurcherwalker wrote: »

Thanks ALFSMUM, I went in the spare room and shut the door!!!! and this time he didn't come and keep knocking the door with his foot until I let him in, so I'm much rested thank you very much!!!! I must say it's nice to feel awake again, Cheers Lyn xxx.

CATH it just so happens that I've got a recipe in a very very old book for Sow Thistle to serve as a vegetable!!! There are two different types of sow thistle, smooth and prickly and this is for the one tht has smooth leaves not prickles round the edges of the leaves.

1 heaped bowl of sow thistle leaves washed and with the rib down the middle of each leaf removed (they're chewy!)
Butter
Salt and Fresh Ground Black Pepper

Cook the leaves in salted water just to cover the leaves in the pan until they are tender, 7 - 10 minutes. Drain them well and squeeze out as much liquid as you can (like with spinach). chop them on a board and return to the pan with a nut of butter and as much black pepper as you like, stir for a couple of minutes to re-heat and serve as a vegetable.
You can make soup with them too by adding a chopped onion softened in butter to the cooked sow thistle and stirring in some plain flour and cooking for a minute then adding in some vegetable/chicken stock (about 1 and a half pints) and seasoning. Cook it for about 10 minutes and add in some cream if you like a richer soup.

I've not tried it but if you do let us know if it's nice, Cheers Lyn xxx.

Thanks for this Lyn. I'm waiting for my book to arrive so I can properly identify things before I try anything other than elderflowers and nettles. I'm still thinking of getting the book you recommended too. Next time I go to town I'll have a look and compare prices with eb@y.

[Deleted User]

CATH I never pass by a charity shop without checking out the bookshelves therein, that's where I've found most of my more useful (well to me anyway!) books, I'm constantly staggered at what people donate, still I suppose one mans meat is another mans poison, yes? Cheers Lyn xxx.

SDG31000

MrsLurcherwalker wrote: »

I'ze a heffalump MONNAGRAN!!!!!

I might still have a recipe somewhere for Rumpledoodles, which as you know are Heffalump's favourite food. I'll have to see if I can find it.

Ooops.......found it online. I use choc chips instead of raisins as my lot don't like them I also use much less salt http://www.food.com/recipe/rumpledoodles-aka-heffalump-cookies-137587
They are very similar to Twink's world famous hobnobs.

RRR The best of luck with the interview x

VJsmum I hope you have a great time and don't get too waterlogged.

I hope everyone has gotten some sleep or a better nights sleep tonight.

Here's the recipe for the falafel burgers if anyone is interested. http://www.girlmakesfood.com/falafel-burgers/
I thought I might try adding some roughly crushed chickpeas to add a bit of texture to them. I'll let you know how they turn out.