Sunday 29 March 2020

Plenty to get on with here


The new rhythm of our days is now settling into a pattern.  Bread dough made in the breadmaker, then shaped and cooked in the oven, so we get a nice crusty loaf instead of the rather pallid (but tasty) loaf from the breadmaker.  This one had a quick plait, an egg wash and Sunflower seeds and salt and pepper sprinkled on top.


Tea the other night was a simple Beef Cobbler, made with cheesey scones on top.  No onions, as Keith doesn't like them.

There is absolutely no waste in the kitchen - trimmings from vegetables go into the freezer for a stock base for soups.  Some little plum tomatoes which were thinking about going over have just joined them.  Things which need using up go into stews, curries or stir fries.  Fruit wise, we still have LOADS of blackberries from last summer (and the one before I think!) and lots of other tubs of fruit grown here or bought as £1 trays from Abergwili, which were cooked up and still provide dessert.  I used to turn them into crumbles but Keith is always very careful of his waistline, so it's just ordinary stewed fruit for him.  I have started a pot of peas in the greenhouse to provide pea shoots for stir fries too and have also blown the dust off my seed sprouter and it has some mung beans sprouting beautifully in it - we will have chicken stir fry tomorrow or Tuesday.

We have well stocked freezers but when we need to replace any meat, we will be using our local butcher Dewi at Ffairfach - and sticking to him in the future.  Like many people I am sure we will remember who stepped up to the mark in their local community and boycott those who rackateered or took advantage of a dire situation - we won't ever darken the doors of Sports Direct again, that's for sure.  So many local businesses have been enterprising, and local shops offering deliveries.  Llanfynydd Young Farmers have offered to pick up prescriptions and do shopping for vulnerable people (we come into this group) in the area.


Rubbing this down is what made me ill the other day, so now I am just going to paint it as is!  We got this for our middle daughter Gabby last year (she asked us to look out for one) and it's been waiting for me to work on it.

Indeed, talking of Gabby, she did a shop for us (perishables) last week and delivered it.  Tam had got so anxious about shopping for us and inadvertently bringing the virus back, so Gabby offered to help out as she doesn't live under the same roof. It was surreal as we had to keep her 6 feet away, touching nothing (though she has new disposable gloves on) and didn't even let her touch one of the cats (though she was desperate for cat cuddles). It was lovely to see her.  Everything she brought has been in quarantine down in mum's kitchen.  Finally the elephant in the room down there - Gabby's big fridge freezer which we were storing for her - has come into its own and we have transferred all the frozen things across from the small freezer, and the fridge is the quarantine fridge . . .


Above and below:  Working on the brash from having those diseased ash trees dropped back in January.  Half way through it now - Tam in action dragging it down to Keith by the stables, who then saws it up and the top brash is in a huge pile for another bonfire.



Some of this has already gone in the woodshed, so we should be ok for firewood next winter.


Celendines in the top corner of what used to be the paddock.  It's meant to be the "side lawn" nowadays, but won't be cut much this year!



Finally a view from the paddock looking up towards the hill on the other side of the valley.  You might just make out a bit of a bank that was once an Iron Age camp - Dyffryn Camp - HERE is a link.

We are so glad to live where we do - it feels safe here and as long as we don't see too much of the news we can keep the horror of all this at bay. Keeping busy helps too, but every now and then I get a shaky moment and get emotional.  I'm pretty sure I'm not alone with that reaction.  Keep safe, my blogland friends.


12 comments:

  1. Please keep blogging throughout this time. All my blogging friends are keeping me sane although like you I have little wobbles now and then. Oh to live with views like you do. I live in the middle of a village but to see fields I have to climb to the attic to get a view!

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  2. Hi Jeannie. I am glad my mutterings on here are helpful. We are trying to be as normal as possible and so long as we can just hunker down and carry on, we can distance reality. Glad that you can at least see fields. Your having to go up to the attic to see them remind me of a flat daughter once had with "sea glimpses" -hmm, in between rooftops and you had to stand on a chair to see them!!

    I had been saying that when we moved, I wanted to be nearer civilisation. Those words have now been retracted. Middle of nowhere will do nicely.

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  3. Whenever you put pictures of the views from your house, or pictures of your gardens on to your posts I am full of envy BB - it all looks so peaceful. I can quite understand how you feel at the moment - a little more remote from all the horror. Take care and keep safe - we ave been blogging for a long time you and I - I feel I know you well.

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    1. It is peaceful Pat. Until we see the news (as little as possible does for me) then it is just life as normal, only not going anywhere in the car. No trips to Wotton auction or Malvern Fleamarket or even the beach of course, and supermarkets are a real no-no.

      We have been blogging friends for a good few years now haven't we? I think we know a fair bit about each other's tastes and characters. Thank heavens for blogging and the internet, as without it at such a dire time, we would be in a bad way.

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  4. You certainly are surrounded by beauty such stunning views. Take care and stay safe.

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    1. We certainly are. Just as well, since we face the probability that the next 6 mths is going to be like this. I dare say because of my asthma, I shall be staying at home until there is a vaccine . . . Ah well, I shan't run out of books any time soon!

      I hope life is almost normal on your beautiful island. Thanks for crafting inspiration btw - I shall be busy with my needle again tonight. SO many things to finish!

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  5. I loved this post BB. You and your family just getting on with the things that have to be done. Such a beautiful place to be if you have to be marooned for a while. Love to you all. DWx

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    1. Better than being marooned on a desert island DW!! Always LOTS to do here, especially outside, but plenty for rainy days too. Love to you all too, J xxx

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  6. Replies
    1. It tastes as good as it looks too Jackie. Have you tried your hand at breakmaking yet? You'll never look back.

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  7. Wonderful post today. I adore when you post what you are doing, have done and about to do. Were you live is beautiful and I enjoy seeing the sights.
    Stay safe
    parsnip

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    1. Ah, that's what I shall concentrate on then parsnip. At least it makes me feel I am in control of something, when all is chaos and meltdown elsewhere. Even though it's only making a loaf of bread or digging in the garden.

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