tinker

sadly our beautiful boy lost his fight for life on thursday,although we expected it we are devastated.

lemon meringue pie

Haven't updated blog for over a month due to collapse of our internet and phone line and subsequent batttles with sky and bt,Not nearly as exiting as it sounds!

My January resolution is to try and post up some favorite recipes and as i had lemons left from christmas and the hens are laying well again the first is lemon meringue pie!

6 oz shortcrust pastry,blind baked in 8 inch flan tin.

In a pan combine an ounce and a half of cornflour,4 oz sugar and the juice of 3 lemons.Bring to the boil and cook for 2 minutes.Remove from heat and beat in an ounce of butter followed by 2 egg yolks,pour mixture into flan case.

Whisk 2 egg whites till stiff then whisk in 2 ounces of sugar till firm and shiny.Next fold in 2 further ounces of sugar and half a teaspoon of cornflour.Spread on top of flan making sure all lemon filling covered.Bake for 25 mins at 150* c.Yum!

Cats relaxing.....

Wish i could too,all a bit hectic here at the moment!!!

job!

Starting a new job today in the kitchen of the local primary school,just a couple of hours a day.Have always wanted to be home for the children plus dogs cats chickens and two allotments!However whilst we have always managed on one wage, since eldest daughter Jess started uni its been harder as we pay for her food,and the delay in her grant meant we were paying for everything which involved the dreaded credit card!hate having any debt, hence the job!
Never mind at least i get the school hols!

mondays

Busiest day of the week!
.clean house top to bottom
.stripped beds yesterday and sheets are flapping merrily away on washing line
.cleaned out chickens
.make batch of dog food
.plant onions at allotment(been trying to do it for the past month!)
.pasta bake for tea
.pop to bank
the best bit when all thats done sit down with cup of tea and sew up the jumper i have made for my litle nephews xmas pressie.Phew!!

relaxing?

This is Jeffrey relaxing with the saturday paper,clearly he didn't find anything to interest him!

Got all the necessary housework done by 10 am,hoping to get out in the garden as it was glorious first thing,but by five past the heavens had opened!

made a apple,blackberry and elderberry crumble as my contribution to our meal ou this evening and had to take a phot of the glorious colour of the fruit!

So have found myself with an unexpected free afternoon so shall sit and knit!

shopping

Managed to do shopping for £40.85!and that included dog and cat food!
We are getting rid of our chest freezer via freecycle as I feel its a big drain on the electricity,so i only bought one loaf of bread,but two bags of bread flour,so need to be more organized and make sure there's always enough bread for packed lunches.
Have made a menu plan,but already altered as we've been invited to friends for a meal tomorrow night and i just need to make a dessert and we'll take some homemade wine.
Tinker is slowing down and can no longer lift is leg to pee,but still eating and loving his walks,but feel we may be on a downward slide now:(