From Frugal Foundations to Fortified Family Future

Greying_Pilgrim

We're back!

We went to a hill across the way that has a ancient monument thingy on the top of it, and had a picnic.  There were a few people around - quite a few had had the same idea, and were carrying picnic baskets away from the site.  We ate our lunch, then LG got bored, so we took one of the tupp3rware type boxes and picked blackberries.  We ended up picking about 300g (weighed them when we got home).  

We came back through a teeny-tiny town and called in at one of those aladdin's-cave-esque farm supply stores, and picked up some bits and pieces.  I was thinking of the gardeners on here, as it is the sort of place you can pick up all manner of pea and bean seeds etc (interesting varieties), by the pint or half-pint , ounce or whatever.  I know we're out of season now, but sooooooo useful otherwise - you could probably buy 10 seeds if you wanted, or 5 or 25......

We saw some interesting wildlife, and at one point, a bird of prey dropped down level with the car and matched us for a few wing beats - it clearly had something in it's claw, mouse/dormouse/little bird size - and then it flew up and away.  I thought first of all by it's colouring it was a barn owl, but it's head was too small and it was far too slim for a barn owl - even though it isn't unusual to see them in the day.  

We stopped at a teeny-tiny PO and purchased a stamp for the postcard we'd bought in the farmers mercantile.  LG can practice their handwriting and write a note to an Aunty who's not been feeling too grand.

So, the day is ending better than it started, and we have done some 'work', some preparation for chores and done some 'holiday leisure' type activities today.  That's a win, surely?

I shall give some thought to what to make for tea.  If I can make something that uses the oven, we could make crumble with the blackberries and a couple of the apples in the fruit bowl.  I suspect DH and LG will approve.  Especially if the last of the vanilla ice-cream is made available.......

Greying X

redofromstart

That sounds like a lovely afternoon, and yes a Win.  

You are the second person to mention blackberries today, I must have a look.  The trouble with being more on top of the garden is that I have no resident brambles to check.  My mature apple tree is absolutely covered with fruit (scabby cookers - but useful), so hopefully a good year for foraging.  

rtandon27

Definitely a Win GP & a nice way to turn around the day!  I'm looking forward to tomorrow's exploits in the next chapter of Family Greying's summer adventures!

Cheery_Daff

Definitely a win, excellent work! 😊 We picked some blackberries as a side product of doing some work in Mr Cheery Snr's garden the other day. I promised to make jam... in the meantime they have gone in the freezer. Will have to check ours once we're back - we are at least 1000ft higher above sea level than him so we are usually a bit behind 😂

teapot2

Glad the day was saved after the wobbly start.  Enjoy the brambles and apples especially with ice cream yum.  x

kayannie

We had the same pudd as you tonight, even down to the vanilla ice cream! I picked a few blackberries earlier today & made a crumble with a couple of eating apples. I'd made extra crumble a few days ago & frozen it which saved a bit of time today. 

It looks as if it's going to be a good year for blackberries, but I had to discard lots that had grubs in them - & I don't eat meat!

We had a walk on the local salt marsh earlier today & picked lots of samphire. I do love 'food for free'!

Good to hear you all eventually got out today - hopefully your DH was happy once he'd spent some time in his garden!

Looking forward to the next installment! 

KA

Greying_Pilgrim

rtandon27 said:

......I'm looking forward to tomorrow's exploits in the next chapter of Family Greying's summer adventures!

Ha ha - no pressure then RT..... 🤣👍

I forgot to mention that whilst out and about in the tiny town, we spotted some wooden planks that were labelled 'free to good home'.  Heavens, I had to sit on my hands and resist the urge to bring them home.  They were probably about 4-5ft long (different sizes) and about 3" wide, nice planed wood - like you'd get in a futon maybe.  But we've a stack of wood here, and nowhere to make anything at present, so it would have just added to the clutter, as I didn't have a specific use for them in mind.   But gosh, it went against the grain to leave it behind....

Also, the town does have a museum, that I had intended visiting, but given we didn't plan to go today, per se, of course I discovered it's open..... tomorrow..... so that will have to wait for another day.  

We took delivery of some mudguards for LG's bike this evening.  DH has affixed them, so we're now able to go out in all weathers.  That's the downside of getting a pre-loved bike I suppose, people don't always use things in the same way, so mudguards aren't a priority - plus bikes aren't sold with them anymore.  We had difficulty sourcing some as it was.  

Tea ended up being 'use up all the things'.  2 plant-based burgers were made into burger baps with a slice of cheese and some salad.  4 fish fingers made 2 FF baps, with a scraping of garlic mayo and the last of the (washed) lettuce leaves, and some oven chips were cooked up, alongside the crumble.  I used a large apple that has been in the bowl for yonks.  The fact it had gone slightly 'woolly' helped, as it soaked up more blackberry juice, then I cut up a small apple to balance out the fruit.  There was enough to fill the bigger casserole dish, and I put mixed spice and porridge oats in the crumble mix.  There was just enough vanilla ice cream left to make two (very small) balls of ice-cream, and I had a bit of yoghurt with mine.  The taste could have been improved if the apples had been cookers or an 'interesting' variety, but the blackberry flavour certainly came through.  Clean plates all round and a small portion left for everyone again tomorrow.  

I suppose I am just grateful that today turned out alright in the end.  DH got his way a bit, and perhaps feels he'd achieved something - plus he's now 'finished' LG's 'new' (to them) bike, so that can be utilised in adventures - but also I think he came to realise that his family (such as we are) want to actually spend time with him, and be together.  And I have to say, that whilst LG is still contented (sometimes) with relatively 'simple things' (blackberrying today being a case in point), we need to capitalise and be a bit more spontaneous, and say 'yes'.  The time when LG won't want to be seen dead with us, or will only indulge in activities that cost a packet might not be too far away.  Let's make hay and memories whilst we can!  

And just in case you're interested......



(DH's portion, with a scant ball of ice-cream, which at least has cleared the empty tub out of the freezer 😉)

Greying X

beanielou

Greying_Pilgrim said:

beanielou said:

Listen, my DS is 30 & I am still not sure I know how to parent!  We just muddle along doing the best we can!  

Lawks Beanie - that made me laugh out loud - Thank you 🤣

Dusts off the top bunk for RT...........

Greying X

Always glad to be of service  :lol

maggiem

Well I for one am deeply jealous of that delicious crumble. Always good to make something and eat it straight away when foraging food. Must check local brambles.

Hope adventuring goes well today. 

rtandon27

Mmmm - berry crumble - I'll be nicking that idea and making an apple strawberry one before the 1/2 punnet of remaining berries goes over!