A visitor in the house........

 I had internet problems yesterday, so it’s late again.

For those of you who don’t watch Great British Bake Off, it’s hosted by Matt Lucas, a little chubby bald guy and Noel Fielding, lots of hair and a penchant for huge jumper. 

Yesterday, it was our son and his girlfriend’s turn to do their cheesecakes. The kitchen was taken over first by our son and as he was just starting using his culinary skills, I remembered I had a dark wig in the fancy dress box. That, along with my ancient, very long, gardening jumper and some bristles painted on with mascara, turned me into Noel Fielding......sort off! Hubby and son’s girlfriend thought it was really funny, our son? not so much, especially when I was trying to interview him about his cheesecake base, haha! This is the real Noel Fielding.......

and are local Noel Fielding........

Post interview, I raced upstairs to get back to being me. I was bloomin’ baking ( sorry for the pun!) in the big jumper and wig. Also, I didn’t want to keep the mascara ‘bristles’ on my face any longer than I had to. Thankfully, a normal Ann, came down the stairs minutes later. 

Anyway, cheesecakes are in the fridge and we will be judging tonight. My daughter and her partner are making their Millionaires Shortcake today, so she will drive over to ours later ( a 5 min journey) to swap the samples over, on our doorstep of course. We’ve also got two independent judges (neighbours) who jumped at the chance of sampling everything. Photos of cheesecakes and millionaires shortcake will hopefully be on tonight’s post. Hubby and I are baking tomorrow.

Other than the Bake Off excitement, it was a normal quiet Sunday for me. I did roast pork for lunch and made an apple crumble for Sunday tea. Hope you all had a lovely weekend, cheerio for now, Ann x

Lockdown Bake Off

 

Our daughter rang late last night with a challenge to the household, or rather each couple. Our son and his girlfriend are to bake a New York Cheesecake each and we will judge them. Our daughter and her partner are going to bake Millionaires Shortcake, which I think, all four of us here are going to judge. (She will have to drop some over to us enroute to work or on the way home) Hubby and I are baking a Swiss Roll each. It’s years since I made one of those and I don’t think hubby has ever baked one! So it’s going to be very interesting and perhaps a little stressful, particularly when there are others in MY kitchen. But it’s also going to be a bit of fun and something a bit different. I’m not sure if there’s a round two, but I have to get through round one first. The first bake is the New York cheesecake, taking place tomorrow, so watch this space for an update! 

In other news today, I’ve done some Christmas shopping online from a Cornish craftsperson, https://www.cornishfusedglassbykirstynsmith.com/  and I’m really looking forward to receiving the goodies in the post. There’s a virtual craft market I’ll be going to soon, so perhaps I’ll be supporting another small business and it’s a good feeling. 

Now, I’m going to settle down to watch an episode of Midsomer Murders and wait for hubby to get home. Thanks for popping by, cheerio for now, Ann x

Oscar

 

I realised last night, as I was about to drop off to the land of nod, that I had not posted on Thursday or indeed yesterday! Naughty me, although I did say I’d TRY and post a photo every day. 

So here’s a bit of a catch up, Thursday was food delivery day from a local supplier. He came a bit earlier than normal, I guess there were not so many wholesale deliveries (which they do first). Then it was a quick jaunt to my usual farm shop, to get the other bits and pieces that I can’t get delivered. It was lovely and quiet there. Such a contrast to last week when it was half term. I parked up near to Oscar, pictured above. He’s been there for quite some time and always comes over to investigate who has parked up by him. There have been times when I’ve seen him racing around his large enclosure, his gorgeous feathers doing a bit of a shimmer! 

The rest of Thursday was spent cooking, cleaning, ironing and the final declutter of the dining room. It now looks quite spacious, particularly as we’ve put the dining table back to normal size. We don’t need it extended all the time. 

There was no Blue Cross baking, as I’m not allowed to volunteer again until lockdown is over. So unless my daughter can pop by on her way to work ( which is unlikely) they will have to do without for the time being. 

On to yesterday, when I had a bit of a lie-in, as hubby got up to feed and give insulin to Karma. But I didn’t lounge around too long, I had a PE with Joe workout to do! I followed this up with an hour of gardening. I really needed to clear a lot of the old vegetation and get the garden spicy and span for the winter. We have had a few lovely days, after so much rain, but the ground was still very heavy. So I’ve cleared quite a bit, leaving the earth open to hopefully dry out a bit. I really want to dig up some old plants, turn the soil over, scatter wildflower seeds and put a fleece over it. The fleece to keep the ground a little warmer, but also to stop Karma from thinking I’ve just prepared a lovely ‘loo area’ for her! 

Friday is fish and chip shop night, therefore no evening meal prep, so I made a batch of scones. I’ve got to get my baking fix and a pot of clotted cream might have found its way into my basket at the farm shop, hee, hee! 

After our fish  and chips, the table was cleared and we (me, hubby, son and his girlfriend) played cards and later had a giggle watching Celebrity Gogglebox. A lovely relaxing evening! Hubby is working away today, so I’m hoping to have a quiet day today, pottering and watching some sport, well that is the plan anyway. I’ll let you know if that happens tonight when I remember to post! Cheerio for now, Ann x

Lockdown preparation

 

I was struggling to post a photo today, then I forgot I’d taken this one yesterday (before this morning’s frost!) Despite the awful weather we’ve had recently, we still have colour at the front of the house. This little patch of garden is between us and our next door neighbours, although I look after it. The Busy Lizzies are still doing well and we have a few freebie Antirhinnums (thanks birds!) Hopefully they will last a little longer, despite the fact the frosty mornings have started. 

Our house has been a bit chaotic in the last couple of days. My son’s girlfriend, who is in a bubble with us, has moved in with us for the lockdown. She works for the same company as our son and is working from home. So there has been a lot of moving of furniture, so our spare room which housed one desk, now has two desks and my chaise longue is now in our dining room! A lot of upheaval, but one that will make two young people deal with this lockdown far better. 

And me? I’ll have to get used to three people working from home in our ‘not so big’ house. Hubby is relegated to working from the dining table, so I have to make sure that any noisy chores are not done during video calls and no hoovering upstairs during ‘office hours’! I might just put my feet up for four weeks, haha. 

I escaped for a short time this morning, to nip down to Plymouth, to visit my Mum before lockdown starts. I brought her a good supply of books and several mags to keep her going for a while and we had a good natter over tea cakes and coffee. Then it was back up the A38 to tidy a bit more of the house up. I have to say, I’m ready for my bed this evening. So goodnight and cheerio for now, Ann x

A damp and chilly walk

 My friend and I met up for a last catch-up for a while, at least. I know am able to see one other person for a walk etc. during lockdown, but we live at opposite ends of the city and a drive to meet a friend for a dog walk unfortunately doesn’t get classed as ‘essential travel’ ,haha.

So we met up at Haldon Forest, both of us wrapped up warmly. It’s quite high up on Haldon and always gets the worst of the weather. The first part of the walk was amongst the firs. Very dark, dank and gloomy, not that we minded, we were too busy putting the world to rights...like you do! Bruce was oblivious to the miserable conditions, as he disappeared into the undergrowth and reappeared further down the path. He must have run twenty times the distance we walked! 

Shortly before we reached the refreshments kiosk, the terrain opened up and the different trees showed off their autumn glory. Some of the colours in the forest at the moment are truly beautiful. You will notice that Bruce is still running his socks off!

We treated ourselves to steaming hot coffee and a rather lovely slice of coffee cake, while ‘Auntie’ Ann gave Bruce some gravy bones. It was a brisk walk back to our cars, just before the rain came....again and off to our respective homes. 

I’ll miss our weekly catch ups and Bruce will miss his gravy bones, but all for the greater good :)

Until tomorrow, cheerio for now, Ann x

Small and independent businesses

 

I shared this today on Facebook, as I have several friends who have small ‘non-essential’ businesses and are now relying on internet sales only. 

Shortly after last Christmas, I decided that this year I would try and buy some of this years presents from local or small businesses elsewhere. However since the world has been turned upside down, I’m making it my mission to see if I can do nearly all of my Christmas present shopping this way, with some homemade by me included. There will be the odd thing ie. some autobiographies for my Mum, that I will get from our local Waterstones, but I will strive to support as many independents as I can.  

So I’m going to use some of the extra time I have at home in the next 4 weeks, to source local craftspeople and also look on places like Etsy. I have bought many a lovely original gift (or present to myself!) from the little shops there. Also I’ll be making up some hampers with goodies from the local farm shops. I do love making hampers to suit the recipient. 

Who knows what our families will receive from us this year! But what I do know is, that I will feel I’ve helped in a small way to keep these precious businesses going. How will you all be dealing with your Christmas shopping this year? It’ll certainly be a very different one that’s for sure! 

Well, thank you for popping by, cheerio for now, Ann x

Bloomin’ Weather

 I’ve had the house to myself today as hubby was working and our son spent the day with his girlfriend. So I took Snoopy’s advice, apart from feeding the washing machine which seemed quite hungry, haha! 

I have plenty of books to keep me going during lockdown (and beyond!) as well as knitting, cardmaking and gardening (weather permitting!)  There’s always meals and snacks needed to keep the ‘working from home’ troops going too. So I think I’m going to be kept quite busy, as in the first lockdown. 

I’ll leave you with a photo that my daughter took of Bumble, using her new phone. I think it’s one of my favourites. Until tomorrow, cheerio for now, Ann x