Take Me Home, Country Roads

Had a lovely drive out the other week (14th November) in the country lanes around the Norfolk villages of Shernborne and Anmer, and thought I'd share some pictures with you. It was a really still day, not a breath of wind. Just beautiful!

My eye was drawn to a flash of bright pink in the otherwise bare hedgerow - a Mallow!

Beautiful Autumnal tree - Beech or Oak I would guess.

So peaceful.....

Deserted road....

...which was just as well, since it was too narrow for two cars to pass each other!

Gateway to a field. There were hares in this field, but too far off for my little camera to pick up.

All of a sudden there was a great cacophony of noise overhead, as hundreds of geese flew in.

They landed in a field and, after a little chat to each other, settled down to eat. I wish I'd had my binoculars so I could tell you what sort of geese they were.

And finally, to finish the post, a few random photos....

Goodness, my doormat is awfully bumpy!

Ah, it's Bramble, waiting to pounce on his sister when she comes down the stairs!

Our church is having a Christmas Tree Festival. I made these for our Church Choir tree, in the colours we wear. Everyone drew their own faces. (A few were missing at this stage, including our conductor and organist.)

This is me! Do you think it's a good likeness?

Advent blessings to you all!!!!   x x x

Pumpkin Soup

I have never in my life tasted pumpkin. I know, I know, as a half-American that's a shocking confession. As a child I had never even seen a pumpkin, not even at Hallowe'en. I don't remember any fuss about Hallowe'en in rural Norfolk in the 1970s. In fact, I think I first heard about it all via Charlie Brown books and tv - definitely an American thing!

Anyway, this year I bought some cute mini-pumpkins, called Munchkin Pumpkins, for display along with the large carved one. It seemed a shame to just put them in the compost bin so, after first making sure they were edible, I looked on the internet for a really easy pumpkin soup recipe. This is the one I found, from the BBC Good Food site. All you need is pumpkins, onions,  vegetable stock, double cream and seasoning.

So, first you peel, de-seed and chop the pumpkins.

The peeling was a bit tricky - maybe it would have been easier if the pumpkins had been fresher?

Next, chop the onions.

Gently fry the onions till softened but not coloured.

Add the pumpkin pieces and cook till starts to soften.

Pour in the vegetable stock (I used Oxo), season and bring to boil. Simmer for about 10 mins till pumpkin very soft.

Add the double cream and bring back to boil.

Now use a blender to puree. I love my hand cranked one!

Ta da! Delicious soup!

So simple and soooooooooo tasty.

On reflection I think next time I would do the pureeing before adding the cream, since it was too liquidy at that point. (What I actually did was strain off the excess liquid, puree the rest, then add the liquid again.)

I'm sure lots of you have your own pumpkin recipes to tell me about!

Ubi Caritas...

A year ago my husband, Keith Charles Hawkins, was released from the terrible addiction that had made a nightmare of all our lives. He turned to the addiction to cope with his fears and stresses, but I hope, pray and believe he is free from those now, healed and forgiven. Here are some pictures from his life:

Chubby bubby!

Batman outfit - a present to celebrate his new baby brother's birth.

What a beautiful little boy!

1970s school cricket team. Keith played many sports for his school and his county.

Running man - with hairy chest!!!

With new girlfriend...

Officially engaged.

Wedding day.

Proud dad.

Love my toddler.

Daddy/daughter pointing competition.

On the doorstep together.

One of several trips to Disneyland, Paris.

A Master Mason in 2000, we raised lots of money for the local hospital at our Ladies' night.

In his work suit.

My handsome man.

Till we meet again.....   x x x x

Mysterious Ways....

God works in mysterious ways....    Gotta love God's sense of humour:

 I went to the toilet as usual first thing in the morning and, as usual, my cat Bramble followed me in. (He likes to sit in the sink for some reason.) I looked at the floor and thought to myself once again "I really must get the mop up here and give this floor a wash!" I've been telling myself this for a week or more now, but I always forget again by the time I get downstairs.

Anyway, another thing Bramble likes to do is have a good drink out of the bucket of rainwater that sits in the bathroom, with which I flush my loo. The only trouble was this bucket was only half full, so said cat couldn't reach the water. Being a resourceful chap he decided to tip the bucket up......   

Well, my bathroom floor certainly got cleaned, though mopping with towels whilst still in my nightdress wasn't quite what I had in mind!!

The culprit, in the sink.

The patience of Job.....

What a time I've had these last couple of days! 

It started well, with Daughter being home from uni this weekend. In order to make the most of the stay, and to get her back in time for a lecture Monday afternoon, we decided the best plan for her return was to drive to Birmingham (119 miles) on the Monday; then Daughter was to catch the train back to Aberystwyth while I  had a break before driving home again. That plan was foiled by long traffic queues - missed the train.

Plan B - park the car in long term parking, then both catch next train. Daughter would miss first lecture unfortunately, and I would return on next train, pick up car and drive home. Foiled again - being unfamiliar with Birmingham, couldn't find suitable parking at a price I could afford.

Plan C - drive to Aberystwyth (122 miles), stay over night, return next day. This necessitated phoning to book hotel, cancelling several things planned for next day, and arranging for neighbours to leave out food for the cats. (Bunny was inside and had enough hay to make do till next day.) Might have worked if I had paid better attention at a junction and not pulled out in front of another car! Managed to hobble car off road and ring insurance people. I am VERY grateful to God that no-one was hurt, and that the other driver was very kind and understanding. Car was taken away to be repaired.

So, Plan D - train to Aber, stay overnight, return by train next day. Of course, I wasn't prepared for an overnight stay so had to buy toiletries, undies, a nightie etc.

So that was yesterday!

This morning, got to Aber train station in good time, bought ticket, boarded train. Then it was announced that, due to flooding on line ahead, we were to go by bus to Shrewsbury (75 miles). Off we went, many of us having a good snooze on the way. We were just 2 minutes late for the connecting train to Birmingham, so had to wait nearly an hour for next one.

Anyway, although now an hour later than anticipated, rest of journey went well. When I got home, after 8 and a half hours of travelling, I found a message on the answer phone from Monday inviting me to a long-awaited job interview TODAY!!! Too late to ring them back, though I did try. Will have to ring them first thing tomorrow.

Image found on Google search.

Ah well, the main thing is that I got home safely, and Daughter got back to uni safely. And I got to read the whole of my Miss Marple book that a friend had lent me!  ;-)

Random Piccies Around the House

Hi everyone! Sorry haven't posted for a while - just been busy. Took some photos of latest harvesting and then wandered round the house, whilst I had the camera in my hand, taking more images to share with you. I know I like peeking into other blog friends' houses this way, so thought you might enjoy it too.....

The climbing beans that I'd almost given up on, having re-planted them 3 times, have finally produced! Also in this piccy are courgettes (zucchini), and my first ever apple (Jonagold).

This is a cute doorstop I bought at Laura Ashley. I could have made it myself, or purchased it somewhere cheaper, but I had a gift voucher to use up.

Two beautiful wood carvings now that I picked up from the artist herself at a healing fair in Penzance. (I bravely ignore the capital 'E' in the first one....)

One of my Purry Panthers came to have a look..... (I think this is Luna, the girl.)

Some lovely fabric I picked up at a charity shop (old curtains), and the pattern I bought on Ebay which I intend (someday) to use with it.

This painting hangs over our mantelpiece in the living room. It was painted by my late Father-in-law some years ago. He was in the merchant navy in his youth and adored old fashioned sailing ships. As he was red/green colour blind he had to ask us if he'd got the colours right - the sky was green originally!! He named the boat after his late wife, Irene Rose.

I bought these beautiful ceramic tile pictures at Caithness Crystal. It was difficult to choose which ones, but I love the brightness and joy of these two.

These hang in my hallway. The picture of the wren is another charity shop find.

In two weeks' time my beautiful Daughter will be off to Aberystwyth (I have to type that name slowly to get it right!) university. As she has chosen to be self catering there are a lot of things to buy. Naturally, she doesn't want the old fashioned stuff from the house that I've offered; only new stuff will do! This is just some of it. How on earth we'll fit it all in my car for the long drive to the other side of the country is a mystery still to be solved!

And finally, here is the tv on the ultra modern glass table hubby loved but I hated.....

And here's the much better, natural, wooden replacement I found in yet another charity shop...

Ahhh, that's better! By the way, that monstrous tv is going too. The rental place can have it back and I'll buy a much smaller one, since I hardly watch the thing and Daughter will be at uni! (Don't worry, she does know what I've planned!)

Well, that's it for now - hope you enjoyed the piccies. Blessings to you all  x x