From debt to freedom...

savingholmes

Have a nap - but hide the food!! LOL. We are grazers and unfortunately have the weight to prove it. I'm sure your orange loaf wll be amazing. I've ordered some baking tin liners. I remember making a microwaveable pineapple upside down pudding as a teen - so wondering about diggingout the recipe for that. I think I bought tinned pineapple recently.

Honeysucklelou2

Thank you SH.

I’ve had such a lovely day today. I set my alarm as I seem to have had so many late wake ups. Being up early meant I saw the early morning mist this morning. I had to get  a few things from  the shops but avoided Mr T’s. The purchase of poultry corn was interesting. I had to ring the shop from the car park, explain what  I needed, pay for it over the phone, then it was brought out and left at a safe distance. Efficient, just a little bewildering first time.  

Back at home, I’ve spent much of the day sowing seeds - a mix of veg, herbs and flowers. I know you can’t eat most flowers but they are useful for companion planting or to attract bees🙂.  The DDs, DS3 & I managed a walk this afternoon. We went on a public footpath within the parish but one I’d not done before so a good circular walk of a decent distance. Definitely one to do again 😀.

This evening one of the younger DDs has helped me to sweep up and clear the patio area. It looks so much better for having the weeds pulled up from between the cracks and the whole lot swept. Tonight I’ve enjoyed a cup of coffee sat outside on the bench, savoured the evening air, listened to the birds and enjoyed  the stillness.

savingholmes

You do have a way of making a lot of hard work and effort still sound idyllic - keep it up

Honeysucklelou2

Thank you SH.

Not such a positive day today 😕. I had an email from the mediator to say the ex had finally been in touch but doesn’t seem to have accepted separation. He told her he’d be talking to me this evening, which she alerted me to. That put me straight into feeling anxious and on edge all day. Needless to say the  ex has been today to help DS1 and not made an attempt at any kind of conversation.

I’m concerned about DD1 but aside from talking to her, there’s nothing I can do. I suppose the one bright side is that I was so on edge the kitchen got an extra clean 😬.

I’ve walked to the allotment this evening with the elderly lurcher and watered the seedlings and generally checked the plants . The primroses were beautiful, set between the hazel and blackthorn trees. The fragrance was lovely as I walked past them. The sun was starting to set against the backdrop of the field, rising up from the allotment and the clouds beautiful wisps of gold and grey. The elderly lurcher seemed much more sprightly this evening. I think the extra time at home has given more opportunity for local walks. Sadly he can’t manage the rigours of the cliff walks or too many stiles these days, but local lanes, he’s happy to trot along.

Cherryfudge

I can see the kitchen gleaming impressively from here! I'm sorry your ex put a dampener on the day, though at least you didn't have to talk to him.

I hope a photo of the lurcher, the sunset and the primroses makes its way into that book you will one day write about your walks and recipes.

savingholmes

Sorry the divorce isn't going well. I wish I could wave a magic wand and sort it for you. Glad you got to the allotment. Seeing a sunset is always magical. Our dog was happy to be with me while I weeded in the front garden and pruned a little in the back - throwing her an occasional ball. Trying to train her to be off lead even at the front of the house and not to wander off while the roads are quieter. She's been very good so far - she's a mini labraoodle. 

Honeysucklelou2

Thank you Cherryfudge and SH.  The primroses were so beautiful, almost glowing that pale yellow colour against the backdrop of the ground, that I did take a couple of photos 😀👍. SH - a mini labradoodle sounds intriguing ...is she the size of a toy poodle?

Forgot the MSE bit...I usually pay for Youngest DD and DS’s swimming lessons by direct debit but have had an email to say they will keep membership open but not charge during this time. I was glad about that,  but hadn’t expected it, as they must have people’s wages to pay. The money saved does seem to have gone straight on food to keep everyone fed. I think DD4 is having a growth spurt as she always seems to be hungry, despite good sized meals and plenty of snacks and fruit!

NSD today and on Sunday.

janb5

Hi HSL...so sorry to hear about the latest tension with soon to be Ex.  More game playing methinks!  At least he didn`t have a bath in your home this week!
You do have a lovely style of writing.. have you considered writing a blog especially as some bloggers are asked to write paid items?

janb5

New recipe for the week!

Apple scones

1 medium cooking apple

8 oz SR flour

½ teaspoon salt

1 level teaspoon baking powder

2 oz butter

2 oz caster sugar

Scant ¼ pint milk

 Glaze

 Little amount milk

1 oz demarara sugar

 Oven setting 400 deg F/Gas mark6

 Peel core and finely chop apple.  Sift together the flour, salt and baking powder.  Rub in butter then add caster sugar and chopped apple.  Mix to a soft but not sticky dough with milk.

 Roll out on a floured surface a ¼” thick 8” round.  Mark into 8 wedges.  Place on a greased baking sheet brush top with milk and sprinkle with caster sugar.  Bake in a moderately hot oven for 20- 25 minutes.

 Serve warm with butter.

Honeysucklelou2

Thank you Jan, these sound delicious. I must confess I struggle to make scones. I think in the past I’ve rolled them too thinly and ended up with biscuits, but will give these a go.

Its been a work day today. Technical difficulties meant that I ended up having to go to work to sort them out. Got a fair bit done in the end.

The ex was here when I  got home. It’s been 6 times in the last week. I’m not quite sure that’s what Michael Gove had in mind for separated parents, but am trying hard to be patient and upbeat. Bathgate continues unfortunately ☹️.

To relieve the stress I did get to the allotment and got a good hour’s digging done. The small plants got watered. The mangetout looks to be putting on growth after being planted out which is good. The elderly lurcher lay down and kept a watchful eye! After digging we went for a walk, along the lane, up the track and across the fields. The elderly lurcher even broke into a run and voluntarily threw himself over a stile! Not sure if it’s Spring that’s given him a zest for life or he’s feeling fitter or just enjoying daylight walks but it was really good to see him look so happy and animated😁.  The fields we were in (part of a public footpath) were quite high up, giving us a clear vantage point over the village, across the fields and hamlets to the moor in the distance. I love that patchwork effect of the fields, some a rich chocolate brown as they’ve just been ploughed and drilled, other fields all in white from the protective covers over the soft fruit crops and other fields a lush green. The sky was a huge, light blue dome giving  such  a sense of space and freedom, even if we are on lockdown. The elderly lurcher and I walked on until I could feel and smell the cool sea air!  On our return we startled a rabbit on top of the hedge. It proceeded to race along the hedge like a rabbit roadway!  We ambled back and enjoyed the sound of the lambs in the nearby fields and the more distant cows.