Black Friday

Today I went to the City, Christmas shopping with my Daughter. I drove to hers and was there by 8 40am, she then drove us to Norwich and we began our shopping. It was quite busy but we have seen it worse,we got loads of bargains and everyone seemed to be in a happy, friendly mood. A quick coffee and a mince pie at 10 and then back into spending money. At midday we were joined by my Grandaughter for lunch, deposited our first load of bags into the car boot and back into the Frey. We finally arrived back at my Daughters house, a nice cup of tea, waited to see Grandaughter no 2 after school and then to the chip shop on the way home because I am too shattered to stand and cook tonight. While I was out H had got my washing dry, made a loaf of bread and ridden over 30 miles on his bike!!

Thursday in the mud

Work again today and first I had to pick and bunch 10 dozen bunches of carrots, then a sack of sprouts. After that i was sent to trim leeks. It was really wet and muddy and I spent ages trying to pull my feet out. I had to do this till 3pm and then go to the washing area to wash and pack them.there were 14 boxes altogether but I did get help in the last hour. I am now off till Monday so looking forward to a nice long weekend. I hope you like my picture and can see how sticky it was underfoot.

Wet Wednesday

It's too miserable to do much today so after doing some housework I decided to put the marzipan on my Christmas cake(one I made earlier) .i always used to make my own almond paste but one year I used a shop bought packet and none of my family noticed the difference !! I simply took it from the foil packet, warmed it in the microwave, shaped it into a ball and rolled it out on a board dredged with icing sugar,laid it on top of the cake and smoothed it down,job done. Should you fancy making your own here is the recipe I used to use. 1lb icing sugar. 1lb ground almonds.2eggs beaten.1tsp vanilla essence and a dash of lemon juice.   Sift the sugar into a bowl and stir in the almonds. Gradually work in the eggs, vanilla essence and enough lemon juice to make a stiff dough. Form into a ball and knead lightly. It's work again for me tomorrow so I hope it dries up a bit.

Tuesday

It was minus 2 degrees when I got up this morning and our garden was white. My H said we would go out on our mountain bikes today. We got ready at ten and the temp.had gone up to zero!!! It was also misty. It was a horrible ride, really hard work and I struggle to breath when it's cold. We rode just over 30 miles and it took two and a quarter hours. When we got back home I made some soup for lunch, had a shower and don't intend doing much else all day but at least I have had my exercise!!

Today at work.

I had to pick and bunch carrots first ( 4dozen bunches ) It was trimming leeks next, till lunch and then to the washing area to wash and pack them. Back to the top of the field next to fill 2 boxes with loose carrots and 3 with turnips,there was just time to wash and pack them before home time . A nice cup of tea and a hot relaxing bath and I feel human again.

Baking day

Today I baked black currant rocks and chocolate choc chip buns.

 

My H likes quite plain cakes,not too much cream or icing so he enjoys both these. 

Black currant rocks.   8 OZ self raising flour, 3OZ margarine,3oz granulated sugar,pinch of salt, 1 egg & a little water. 

Put flour & salt into basin add sugar, rub in fat.Add egg & mix with a knife & add just enough milk & water to make a family stiff mixture. Put on a baking tray in small even heaps. Make a hollow in the centre of each with a teaspoon & fill with Jam. Do not place buns too close together as the mixture spreads when baking. Pop in oven, temp 230 degrees c for approximately 15 minutes. I like them best with Raspberry jam but I haven't any, they are also nice with lemon curd. 

  

Friday

Today we cycled 30 miles after we got back from doing our weekly shop. This is a photo H took on our way through the Blickling area. I can just be seen under the trees with my bike. I think I have found how to add photos all by myself!!!!(it was no.2 son put the first ones on) We had a chocolate milkshake and a slice of cheese on toast when we got home and for dinner tonight I am making meatballs with spaghetti in tomato sauce. I have ironed , vacuumed and dusted so now I intend to relax for half an hour with my book.

Thursday

It was interesting at work today, it was really foggy in the field at 8am and as I walked to the sprouts I startled a deer that was laying down between the rows. ( it also startled me when it jumped up and ran off) It was a Chinese water deer and they are quite big up close.we have 3 types of deer that visit our fields, Muntjac, Roe and the type I saw today. I had to pick 2 sacks of sprouts and my jumper was then wet up to my armpits!! No matter what plastic coat I wear I can find nothing to keep me dry while picking sprouts.i am glad it wasn't too cold. I did a bit of weeding and then one of the men came along with a tractor and trailer,I climbed on the back and went with him to harvest 4boxes of carrots,4 boxes of parsnips and a box of beetroot.we went back to the yard to wash and pack them and it was 12.30 there was nothing else for me to do so I came home. As I walked in the door I was welcomed with the lovely smell of baking bread! H had just lifted it from the bread maker, it made my mouth water. We had a cup of coffee and then,as I have my old work clothes on I went into the back garden to prune some trees and bushes to fill my brown box. I came in, showered and as my dear H had made chicken curry this morning all I have to do is cook the rice and dinner will be sorted. No work for me tomorrow so I am home till Monday,lovely.

Wednesday

Work today so up at 5 40 for breakfast, toast again but black cherry jam for a change. I left home at 7 30 and arrived at 7 50 so I had time to get into my wet weather gear before starting work at 8 o'clock.i had to pick and bunch carrots first,10 dozen bunches! Next onto sprouts to fill 2 sacks,that only left me with the tomatoes to pick. It's almost the end of tomato season for us and I only managed to find one box full. I then had to spend the last 3 hours weeding the rhubarb bed. I worked on my own all day so my Walkman came into good use and helped to pass the time. Back home by 4 20 to a nice cup of tea and a hot bath. I took photos of my carrots so when I learn how I will add them to my blog.

Tuesday

Monday

Today I had to work so I got up at 5 40 am and put on a load of washing, the dish washer and the tumble drier. I had a slice of toast with marmite and a cup of tea for my breakfast. I packed 2 cucumber sandwiches, 4 plums and a bottle of water for my lunch and break, made the bed, dressed,and at 7 30 left for work. First I had to pick and trim 3 boxes of turnips, then pull and bunch 30 bunches of carrots. By then it was pouring with rain ! I walked to the leek bed and trimmed 8 boxes of leeks and by that time it was 12 30 pm and time for my 15 minute  lunch. I spent most of the afternoon washing and packing the veg, I had harvested in the morning. I spent the last hour or so pulling the old tomato plants up in the greenhouse. At 4pm I left work and was home by 4 20  and was met at the door by my Husband and a lovely cup of tea. He then ran me a bath  while I was  peeling veg, etc and that was my day!!! I did take a nice photo of my turnips to put on my blog but couldn't find how to do it ! I will have to wait for one of my Grandaughters to visit and show me.

Cooking Flapjack

Today I baked a flapjack. 

My no2 son wanted flapjack so I used a quick recipe. As I am so old all my cooking is done in pounds and ounces. 1 oz sugar (today I used soft brown), 4oz marg, 2 table spoons golden syrup, a pinch of salt and 8oz porridge oats. Oil a tin approx 9x9 (inches) and heat your oven to 180c. Cream the sugar and marg, warm the syrup and add to the mixture. Finally stir in the oats and press into the tin. Cook till golden brown (approx 20mins) and leave to stand for a few mins then mark into squares but do not remove from the tin until it's cold or it will crumble apart. Today I added sultanas but it is also nice with chocolate chips, dates, apricots, nuts etc. You can create your own favourite taste :-)