Living on next to nought - is that the key?

Greying_Pilgrim

Good Morning :hello:

Well, we've woken to wall-to-wall sunshine and stillness here. I though it was supposed to be clouding over and getting windy today? It went awful hot and humid last night, like we were in for a humdinger of a thunder storm. Anyway, we had about 6 - yes, six, I counted them - spots of rain, it stayed humid and that was that

Tilly - One day, I am going to make that Avocado dish with mozzarella and basil, just as she describes! From a presentation point of view, if you have individual oven proof bowls, it is a better way to serve the dish, but I make ours in a big dish and plate up. Loses [STRIKE]a lot [/STRIKE] something in the presentation though But baked avocado is still lush

So, I'm still not sure if we are going on our picnic or not. I don't think that we can do the one thing that we were planning on doing today, so we might as well go, I'm thinking. The day will just be wasted otherwise. DP is still abed, so no rush into a decision.

I cut up the lemon cake last night to freeze pieces for snap and I have to say it was OK, but probably the worst version of that particular recipe that I have made. It was lemony, but not too sweet, which is OK, but the texture wasn't quite right. It was actually quite smooth, rather than having a distinct 'crumb' like good cake does. And although it isn't 'dry' as such, it is drier than I would like it to be. Makes me wonder if commercial cake makers make cakes with liquid sugar rather than the granulated stuff. So, entirely edible, but not a practice to be repeated I feel And a lesson that good cake needs to be sweet (enough) and moist I suppose And store cupboard levels should be checked before you begin baking!

I'm hopeful that I won't have to make dinner tonight, as I'd be really stuck I thought that July was a long month a week ago. Now........................ :rotfl:

At least we can enjoy our HG tomatoes on our butties today I'm loving that throughout the boards people are proudly reporting eating HG tomatoes, peas, raspberries, strawberries, tatties, broad beans etc, etc. I was watching 'shed of the year' last night, and I have to say, I loved the 'allotment on top of the shed', but did wonder how he got so much weight up on the roof. They didn't really explain what his growing medium was - even though it clearly worked. But still, a worthy winner, and a delight of a programme on British eccentricity Mind, it'd be nice to see some female shed builders/owners. We do exist

Right, I suppose I'd better toddle off and find something constructive to do

Have a good day, one and all.

Thanks so much for popping in, reading and commenting. I greatly appreciate it

See y'all later.

Greying

mrsinvisible

Morning, wow, GP and little sweetie, thank you, flattery will get you..... a front row seat, popcorn, and anything else you'd like!!
Yesterday was a make it do and mend it sort of day, taking in too big clothes, taking up too long trousers, sewing up hems and replacing buttons and zips, making dresses into tops and/or skirts. I now have a complete wardrobe of makeover clothes! go me.
The rain was welcome, it refreshed the garden and gave me a day to do indoor stuff.
Haven't been to that garden, GP, but I often find that the prices of goods in such are over the top, but good to get inspiration from.
I agree about the fruit, and its ripening properties, currently I am working my way through a pineapple that could do stand- in for a turnip.
Sending 'happy new apartment' wishes Satch's way, and l'm off to build up the caffeine reserves, xxxx

Maryland_Cookie

I just wanted to pop in out of lurkdom and say a quick good morning. I love, love, love reading your diary GP, and everyone else that posts as well. It inspires me, makes me smile and gives me food for thought every single day XxX

Verbatim

Ooooh avocado recipes. I think I came upon your diary about this time kast yeas when you made a souffle or similar???

Greying_Pilgrim

Hello

mrsinvisible - you clever thing! A new wardrobe by your own ingenuity :T Oh yes, I agree about the over-priced nick-nacks at these garden centres etc. The price I paid for the spelt flour was about on a par with what the supermercados charge, plus it was only a couple of miles from where it had been grown - but everything else stayed resolutely on the shelf! Mind, in the designer outlet bit, the staff are so uber busy being chic and cool, they didn't mind us....... :rotfl: May as well of had a sticker on me head - *NOT BUYING* :rotfl:

Maryland Cookie - now we just need you to de-lurk at slightly more than 6 monthly intervals :D Thank you so much for popping in and for such a lovely comment

Verbatim - you've an ace memory The recipe that I adapted to cook in the PC was in post #5 whilst the picture of a pea & mint version of it, which caused so much hilarity - entirely due to norty Piq - was in post #24

Right, cheese and tommy sangers made and packed, cake sliced, peaches cubed and tupperwared, flask filled DP has done a couple of chores and been to the tip, and also braved the hoards in teskies. But we have cooking oil at Greying Towers once more :j Remind me not to claim a NSD today! We'll be away out just shortly.

See y'all later.

Greying

little_sweetie

Good evening GP & chums :wave:

Well what a hot day we have had again today! I feel a bit frazzled to say the least. I just couldn't get to sleep last night. I was hot and someone somewhere was having a party with very loud music, (heavy on the drums) which lasted until after midnight If I didn't know better I could have sworn it was Pippi's Rock God bashing away :rotfl::rotfl:Then...then...I lay awake listening for it to begin again. How silly is that?

little_sweetie - it is my understanding that pears naturally
ripen from the inside out, which is why it is such an experience when you have a *on point* ripe pear to eat

But GP, I like my pears soft and running with juice and those two were horrible. Rock hard with black middles...yuk...:( I so sympathise with MrsI and her turnip like pineapple :eek:

Thanks so much for the linkie to Kilver Court. It looks like my kinda place and has gone on my list of 'must visits'....

Today I felt sort of lonely...sigh...DD and family have been to a wedding this weekend, DH was at work from 10am - 6pm today(then a meeting with nibbles and drinks :cool:) and he took my car so I was stranded (no buses on Sundays). I haven't seen a soul all day and felt drained with lack of sleep. I know, I know, me...me...me...:o An early night beckons methinks, then a fresh start tomorrow and a countdown to money in the bank Just praying for rain, praying for rain....

Hope you had a super day GP & chums x

Greying_Pilgrim

Good Evening :hello:

little_sweetie wrote: »

But GP, I like my pears soft and running with juice and those two were horrible. Rock hard with black middles...yuk...:( I so sympathise with MrsI and her turnip like pineapple :eek:

Mea Culpa, little_sweetie - I didn't explain myself right. What I meant was, it is extremely difficult to tell when a pear is ripe, because it ripens from the inside out. Therefore, whilst we are thinking, it isn't ripe, it isn't ripe, it isn't ripe, it is merrily turning to mush inside But sometimes, more likely when it is pear season - although you can get it with stored pears too, you get the pear at the absolute peak of perfection, and it is just like you describe, soft and running with juice. I was thinking about your dilemma whilst drifting off to sleep last night. Rather than throwing the pears away, is there any point in trying to see if there are a few blackberries in the hedgerows round and about - we actually spotted some corkers when we went out for our picnic tea the other night - and see if the pears (cut up and minus any 'icky' bits) can be salvaged into a crumble or something? The cooking may soften them? I think I would try to cook them, if they are not playing ball and ripening nicely for you to eat them as is.

Phew! What a day. Wall-to-Wall sunshine, and despite trying to hide in shady spots in the garden, I'm sure I have caught the sun.

We didn't go to a NT property - there wouldn't have been enough time for us to have visited and then gone on to our other commitment, so we opted to visit a local little town betwixt ourselves and the rellies. We had our lunch in a nice shady spot, and watched the world wander by.

We are stuffed to the gills. We have talked the hind leg off a donkey and had an all round ace time. We were able to watch wild life all around us - bees, butterflies, every type of garden bird as well as swallows, a heron and buzzards. We have been breathing in fresh country air, in the bright sunshine. And we have been in the company of everyone from teeny tots to septuagenarians and everyone inbetween :cool:

So, nothing for dinner, we're still full!

I spent some money today, so can't claim a nsd But I got what was needed

Today I am grateful for these 3 things;

For family - so alike and yet so different...... :mad::eek::D;):cool::T

For the fun that blowing bubbles creates..... I know, technically it depends on your age and from which end....... :eek: but humour me..... :rotfl:

A perfectly ripe peach - summer in a bite YUM!

Thank you so very much for popping by, reading and commenting. I enjoy the *conversations* we have. Very much.

See y'all later.

Greying

rtandon27

Greying_Pilgrim wrote: »

...For the fun that blowing bubbles creates..... I know, technically it depends on your age and from which end....... :eek: but humour me..... :rotfl:

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

Greying you are a hoot!

Cheery_Daff

:hello: Hi Greying and all :hello:

Just wanted to give you a hug about C (((())))) I found out about the death of an ex partner through the internet (facebook of all things) about a year after it happened - a dreadful shock although we'd lost for a couple of years before that. So lovely that you can be grateful for all that they brought into your life xx

in_need_of_direction

What a multi talented person you must be, bubble blowing from more than one end. Is it done simultaneously?