Tales from The Shire

Fortune_Smiles

Horror!

The veg box arrived 😁  I got very excited.  It's lovely to unpack all that lovely, fresh, healthy food and see it all sitting in the fridge looking virtuous.  I've told Mr F about the courgettes and promised I'll feed him everything else first so he has a courgette break 😂

Yesterday's lunch was Leek & Potato Soup with rolls.  There was enough for today's lunch too and there's still plenty left for tomorrow 😁  Supper was Herb & Garlic Baked Cod with Romesco Sauce & Spinach.  We had it with Oven-roasted Potatoes with Garlic & Rosemary.  The spinach, garlic and rosemary were home grown.

Chores were completed and I had a lovely video catch up with my friend whilst she did some knitting and I painted my nails 😆  I've not been painting my nails much during Covid but it's one of those little self-care things that lift my spirits.

My FB buyer realised her mistake and sent me a further £5 which is £1.01 too much.  When I mentioned it she said not to worry and to have a Mar$ Bar on her 😁  I'm trying to eat healthily at the moment so I'll forego the chocolate but the extra will cover the packing and fuel costs I wasn't anticipating.  What a lovely lady though 😁  As I don't need a long rain coat now I'm going to put the sale money towards some new boots.

Yoga has been practiced... including another headstand 🤸‍♀️  I'm going to practice at the end of each session along with other positions I'm trying to work up to.  Crow pose is next on the list.

I'm off out into the world soon 😲  I have to post the FB item and also return the two pairs of garden clogs I'd ordered which weren't suitable.  Terrifying!  Mask and hand sanitiser at the ready 😉

I have a few chores to get done this afternoon then I'm planning a nice, hot, bubble bath after supper.  Another little low cost something I can do to take care of myself and keep my spirits up over the winter.

Maybe we should start a thread - 'Low/zero cost self care ideas'?

Fortune x

beanielou

Good idea on the thread 

Fortune_Smiles

Morning All

I'm leaving Mr F to have a lie in this morning.  He's had a lot of late nights/early mornings with work this week and I don't want to have a grumpy hubby for the whole weekend.

I ventured out to the Post Office yesterday.  Our nearest Post Office is inside our local, independent supermarket.  The Post Office part wasn't too busy but the main store was so it was a bit of a hairy visit.  Anyhoo, three parcels posted.  I'll have to go back next week because one of my Bay items has sold.

I ordered the new boots as there was 20% off until this weekend.  Also ordered some toiletries that I've run out of.  I got to choose a couple of free sample items with the order which reminded me I have some posh face mask samples from previous orders.  So I used one whilst having my bubble bath last night as an extra free treat 😁

We had Spiced Broccoli, Paneer & Peas with Garam Masala Cashews and naan bread for supper using broccoli and sprouts from the veg box and garlic from the veg patch.  There's enough leftover for tonight's supper 😋

It's the weekend!  So no chores planned although I may make my Christmas cake.  Mr F and I are going to watch a Halloween film this evening but I'm a wuss so it's probably going to be something by Di$n£y or PIxar.  A friend wants a catch up video call on Sunday so I've a few things to look forward to.

Happy Halloween everyone!

Fortune x

PS Here's my pumpkin...

rtandon27

Beautifully carved Fortune! You are such a talent!🍁🍂🍊

South_coast

That's some carving 😀!

greent

Amazing pumpkin, fortune!

Fortune_Smiles

All I want for Christmas

Thanks for the pumpkin love people 🎃

Well here we go again, back into lockdown.  I think I'm more worried this time.  Not just about the virus itself but the long term impact it's going to have on everyone and everything.  I feel so sorry for the businesses and people who are going to struggle through this.  Mr F and I are having a think about what we can do to help.  I have already managed to use an e-book token I got through C0nsum£r Pul$£ in my local book shop.  I phoned them with the order and codes and they are going to post out to me.  I ordered four paperbacks which should see me through to Christmas.  There are many small, independent cafes, restaurants and shops that we value and would hate to see disappear so we'll support them as much as we can.

We didn't get to watch the wussy Halloween film last night as Mr F remembered the rugby was on 🥱  I did get to make the Christmas cake though and it's looking good.  I usually feed it with brandy but I'm thinking of trying Grand Marnier this time.

We had the last of the Leek & Potato Soup for lunch with a cheese roll and Spiced Broccoli Paneer for supper.  Opened a bottle of red from the rack to go with it but saved half for this evening.  Todays lunch was more soup 😆 Roasted Sweet Potato & Carrot to make use of veg box contents.

A couple of parcels arrived including the new boots 🙂  However, despite being the very smallest size, they slip up and down so will have to go back 🙁  Still, money saved.  I shall have to get to the Post Office before Thursday so that I can return them before lockdown.

I have my video call with a friend soon and, tonight, we are joining the Younger Fortunates for a catch up and quiz.  It will be nice to see their faces.

As anticipated, Christmas looks as though it's going to be a very quiet affair this year.  We can cope with that and all I really want for Christmas if for everyone to stay safe and well.

And that includes you guys 😘

Fortune x

Fortune_Smiles

Surviving

Well we have survived Storm Aiden with minimal water ingress despite not having our new windows yet.  Mr F managed to cover the bottom of the back door with some tarpaulin which stopped the water blowing in.  A couple of the windows are a little damp but nothing compared to the deluge we had last winter.  There was very little bumping and thumping up on the roof either so it looks as though our last roof repair has done the job.  FDawg got scared in the night and started barking.  I had to get up and tuck him back into bed and he was fine after.  He was very glad to see me though.  He's such a wuss.  I'm pleased there'll be fewer fireworks this year as he does find them worrying.

The paint tester pots arrived so I shall make up some swatches this week and see what works in the Cottage.

One bay item sold but I also bought one bay item so I've broken even 🙄

Last night's supper was Cheesy Leek & Spinach Pasta to use up leeks and spinach from the veg box.  There's enough left over for tonight's supper too 😀  We had yesterday's soup for lunch.

We had a good video call with the Younger Fortunates last night.  They are a bit peeved at the thought of another lockdown but have already developed some strategies to get through.  We demonstrated one of ours by drinking the rest of the bottle of red wine we opened yesterday 😂

I've done the week's meal planning this morning and re-jigged my veg box order.  The veg box company have a group facebook page and they ran a pumpkin carving competition over the weekend.  I entered mine and... I won! 😁  My prize is a cook book.

More yoga practice this morning and I find I can do things that I couldn't do before 😁  I'm definitely a bit more bendy and am getting less joint pain.  Hurrah!  I've really started looking forward to it too.

Hope you're all surviving too.

Fortune x

ruby_eskimo

Well done on winning the pumpkin carving contest!  Sounds like you definitely have some good ideas for lockdown number 2 and I especially like the idea of a self-care thread as I could really do with some ideas.

rtandon27

Oooo - a new cookbook!   Fabulous item to win - Is it one of theirs?  I love the recipes created by our veg box people - all the ones we've made have been hits!

Fortune - you've inspired me to get back to my daily yoga practice, which slowly vanished during the summer when I spent most of the day outdoors both working & gardening.  Now as the days draw shorter, I need a pick me up & yoga is just the thing.  I was surprised how stiff I'd become & was also pleasantly surprised this morning, when my shoulders rotated back just a bit further than they had yesterday & the day before! My joints however are rebelling against this damp weather & a higher dosage of glucosamine along with more homemade bone broth is the order of the day