Put away your purse & become debt-averse

foxgloves

Blackcats - Thanks, yes, the new recipe I tried from that slow cooker book was lovely. It was Greek Spiced Beef & Onion Stew, though the recipe was whole shallots rather than onions. It was lovely - quite unlike anything else I cook because the spicing was lots of bay leaves & garlic, but also cinnamon sticks, ground cloves, etc, so there was almost a bit of a middle eastern vibe going on. I also made the full quantity so was able to freeze some for another meal. Would definitely cook it again. Not much prep then 7 hours in the SC so easy peasy too.
F x

foxgloves

HHoD - Yes, it's nice to have snowdrops because it means having something pretty in bloom so early in the year.
Agree with broke_bear that they do better if planted 'in the green' - I don't know why that is, but they get established more reliably than planting a pack of bulbs later in the year. So now is the best time. Snowdrops do spread once they get established. I wonder if you know anyone who has plenty & could dig up a clump for you, as that's probably all you'd need to get some going in your own garden - shame you don't live near me, as I could supply you with a free clump to plant out.
I wonder if there'll be any little pots of them on garden centre 'hospital shelf' once they've finished flowering. Those'd be fine & I bet they just get chucked out.
F x

Kantankrus_Mare

That spiced beef stew sounds lovely Foxgloves and I would love the recipe if you dont mind sharing. Not sure when my head will be ready for trying new recipes though.......my Mam passed away on Valentines night. She has been suffering for the last few years with COPD and although seemed in good spirits last week, an infection made her extremely poorly very quickly. Still in a bit of shock to be honest even though we have been expecting it for the last year or so. She was such a fighter. A bit in limbo as well it being the weekend. Got a list to start working through tomorrow with my Dad. So much to do. 

HairyHandofDartmoor

Broke_Bear said:

Hi HHOD

snowdrops ‘take’ better if they are planted ‘in the green’. So best done around now...ish. They are quite cheap as I got 200 (100each of single and double snowdrops) for just over £20 from eurobulbs. They also do them in 50’s for about a fiver xx

Thanks Broke Bear . I'll look out for some now.

HairyHandofDartmoor

foxgloves said:

HHoD - Yes, it's nice to have snowdrops because it means having something pretty in bloom so early in the year.
Agree with broke_bear that they do better if planted 'in the green' - I don't know why that is, but they get established more reliably than planting a pack of bulbs later in the year. So now is the best time. Snowdrops do spread once they get established. I wonder if you know anyone who has plenty & could dig up a clump for you, as that's probably all you'd need to get some going in your own garden - shame you don't live near me, as I could supply you with a free clump to plant out.
I wonder if there'll be any little pots of them on garden centre 'hospital shelf' once they've finished flowering. Those'd be fine & I bet they just get chucked out.
F x

Thanks Foxgloves . My garden is tiny (just a back yard really ) so I'd plant the snowdrops in a pot or two. I'll look out for some to plant now.

PurpleFairy26

Kantankrus_Mare said:

That spiced beef stew sounds lovely Foxgloves and I would love the recipe if you dont mind sharing. Not sure when my head will be ready for trying new recipes though.......my Mam passed away on Valentines night. She has been suffering for the last few years with COPD and although seemed in good spirits last week, an infection made her extremely poorly very quickly. Still in a bit of shock to be honest even though we have been expecting it for the last year or so. She was such a fighter. A bit in limbo as well it being the weekend. Got a list to start working through tomorrow with my Dad. So much to do. 

Sorry to hear about your mum ☹️ Take care of yourself. 

Baileys_Babe

Sorry to hear about your Mum Kantankrus Mare look after yourself.

HairyHandofDartmoor

Kantankrus_Mare said:

That spiced beef stew sounds lovely Foxgloves and I would love the recipe if you dont mind sharing. Not sure when my head will be ready for trying new recipes though.......my Mam passed away on Valentines night. She has been suffering for the last few years with COPD and although seemed in good spirits last week, an infection made her extremely poorly very quickly. Still in a bit of shock to be honest even though we have been expecting it for the last year or so. She was such a fighter. A bit in limbo as well it being the weekend. Got a list to start working through tomorrow with my Dad. So much to do. 

I'm very sorry too about your Mum Kantankrus. Mum's are so special and it's such a blow to lose them .

carrielovesfanta

I'm sorry for your loss Kantankarus. We lost fil in similar circumstances last year and it's such a shock. We'll be thinking of you xx

foxgloves

Awww, Kantankrus - So sorry to hear about your Mum. I've felt like the world expert on losing parents since 2017 when Dad died....also of a nasty lung disease, though he had IPF, not COPD. I know what a worry it is regarding lung patients & infections - even a cold can be very serious. I know from experience, having lost Mum barely a year after Dad, just how much there is to do. It's hard to get a moment simply to process the event & inevitable sadness because the task list following a close family death can feel overwhelming. I'm sending my sympathies & also my wishes that everything goes smoothly with all the arrangements. Hope your Dad is also holding up alright, as it is hard for the person who is left, isn't it? 
Yes, of course I will send you that recipe - I won't be in a hurry to do so, as you have plenty on at the moment  - but if in time you think I've forgotten (which I might have done!), do remind me, I shan't be offended.
Take care in the meantime,
F x