Organic Veg

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About 4 weeks ago on a Sunday morning we had a knock at the door, it was a lovely lady called Tracy, she was selling her home grown organic veggies.  People who know me know I just love all my veggies and really cant resist buying home grown produce.  Tracy and her husband have a plot of land a couple of miles away and have started growing organic veg for their own table and selling the surplus to friends and neighbours.  I also discovered while we were chatting that Tracy is a reader of my blog and she knew from the things I was writing about that I must live quite near her, actually we only live yards apart!!  How wonderful is that?  I agreed at once to buy from her every week, its a lovely arrangement and we get the freshest of produce.

 This week we had the above selection, which was still growing about 2 hours before this photo was taken. The cabbage is about the size of a football and so crunchy and sweet it was a shame to cook it.

 This lettuce and the few cherry tomatoes were from my own garden.

My lunch from today combining the salad ingredients with a few extras from the fridge.

Thank you Tracy and long may your garden grow delicious veggies.

Thank you for looking

Karen xxx

Willow's Birthday

Saturday was my grandaughter Willow's 9th birthday, where did that time go?  

 So it was time for a party in the back garden of their cottage.

 The birthday girl....Happy Birthday Sweetheart xxxx

 Lots of fun and nice party food and drinks

 You're never too old for a game of pass the parcel, with a treat inside for everyone.

 Wind up the music and have a bit of a birthday boogie.  Louise (my DIL) had gold medals for all who stood and did 20seconds in the centre circle.  The kids loved it!!

 A fabulous sunflower cake with cute lil fairies, the one in blue is "Willow"

 The "Chill Out" area .... empty... too much fun to be had

Presents galore.

Just having a minute to reflect.

A fabulous day!! 

Thank you for looking

Karen xxx

Blickling Hall

One of our holiday days out was spent here at Blickling Hall.  What an amazing place, the photos dont really do it justice.

 

 The gardens and grounds were stunning.

 The stained glass window over the main staircase.

 The lady sat underneath this portrait was dressed in costume and was telling the story of the lady in the picture Henrietta Hobart.

 The tapestries were stunning, this one dated back to the 1600s and the colours were fabulous.

 Hubby just couldn't resist patting this statue of a dog found in the hedge on our way to the Courtyard Cafe for a cup of tea.

 Me sat under a red umberella....my skin isn't really that colour!

Ooops!! forgot to take the piccie before we ate our delicious Clotted Cream Tea.....mmmm yummy!!

Another fab day and well worth the visit if you are in the area.

Thank you for looking

Karen xxx

5 days of bliss

Last week while the sun was shining we managed to get 5 days away in our caravan, we were supposed to be going to Northumberland but as the weather looked a bit iffey we plumped for north Norfolk and Wells next the sea.  It was 5 days of absolute bliss, with the sun shining every day and those warm balmy summer evenings where you sit outside until forced to go in.

 Its quite a few years since we were here and I had forgotten just how pretty it is, they even make a great effort with the signposts.

 Down at the waterfront, the building in the background is now luxury apartments with a fabulous view over the sea and the salt marshes.

 There is a lovely coastal path which is a mile long, it was a bit of an effort on a red hot day.

 But at least there was ice cream at the end and very delicious it was too, locally made at Holkham a couple of miles away.

 We did spend quite a bit of time just chillin out and reading outside, with a bit of nodding of too!!

 Even the local high street with its quaint shops catered for those not wanting to shop.....bored husbands!

 The only shade on our walk into town and the waters edge was via the churchyard across from where we were staying.

 Amongst all the posh sounding names of the boats there is always one to make you smile.

We had a fab 5 days with lost of lovely walks and a couple of days out to Blickling Hall (NT) and Norfolk Lavender.  Its definitely a place we will return to.


Thank you for looking

Karen xxx

Garden Pickings

One of the things I love about my garden is walking down to the veg plot on a warm evening and picking something to eat.  This year the weather has been dreadful, even though we need plenty water for things to grow we also need plenty of sunshine, something which has been lacking lately. However we do seem to have had plenty of Strawberries,  but sadly these are the last few, the plants are quite old and I think its time to look after the runners and create some new plants for next year.

 From the last of one crop to the beginning of another, this is our first cucumber this year.  We love homegrown cucumbers they are so different to the supermarket ones they are more crunchy and have a lot more flavour.  This one will be delicious in our salad for tomorrows lunch, even if it is a bit bent!

We also have some salad leaves ready but they will be picked just a few minutes before we eat them to get the maximum taste.

Even though we will never ever be self sufficient its good fun growing eatables.

Thank you for reading

Karen xxx

Another Rainy Day

When is this rain ever going to stop? It does save the job of watering the garden and it keeps the grass nice and green but I am getting fed up of it now. Might as well take the washing line down for all the use its getting at the moment.

 Time for a stew I think, made with some reduced price lean steak from the Co-op.

 I have browned off the meat with a chopped onion and then added some frozen mushrooms, chopped carrots, a bag of frozen swede and parsnip, 2 stock cubes and two heaped spoons of plain flour with salt and pepper.

 I love these sliced mushrooms they are so handy for dishes like this when there aren't any needing using up in the fridge.

 I tipped the lot into the pre heated slow cooker and topped with some baby new potatoes, it can sit slowly cooking all day and then just before we are ready to eat I will add a few petit pois to add a bit of colour.  Hubby might have a warmed cheese scone with his as there won't be any dumplings.

 While I was prepping dinner I made my lunch, hubby is out today doing his voluntary job and gets lunch provided.  Today I am having a chopped salad with ham and a few olives, I recently discovered these bags of croutons in Morrisons and they are delish on a salad, you only need a few and they give a lovely crunch, resealed they keep ages in the fridge.  I know I should make my own  but sometimes lifes too short, besides my left over bread usually gets whizzed up for stuffings.

 Well thats Lunch and Dinner sorted, so right now I will settle for a skinny latte and a skip round blogland.

Cheers!!

Hope you all manage to keep snug and dry today.

Karen xxxx

Hello again

Hello friends, long time no blog, I can't believe how time flies even when you're not having much fun.  There has been so much happening since my last post I hardly know where to begin.

First of all I have been suffering with a frozen shoulder, the pain has been excruciating and I have very limited movement in my right arm so much so that I also have some muscle wastage. My GP did give me a cortisone injection in May but that just made things worse, so he recommended I see a Physiotherapist at the local hospital, he just confirmed that my shoulder is at the frozen stage and could be 18-24months before it returns to normal, in the meantime I have a list of exercises to do.  Its just a case of living with it until it decides to thaw!!

Nearly 4 weeks ago my lovely Mum had a really nasty fall, she was chasing next doors cat when it came in the house and ran up the stairs, Mum went after it and slipped and fell down about 7 steps and ended up on her back and unconscious for a few minutes. The next 8 hours were spent in A & E where they told us she had broken her right shoulder in 2 places her right wrist, left hand ring finger, nose and a cut on her face caused by her glasses, she also had several bruised ribs, knee and foot as well as being very badly shaken. So my time has been taken up popping backwards and forwards looking after Mum making sure they are ok and doing as many jobs for them as I can fit in.  We have been back to the hospital several times and even though she is still in a lot of pain things are starting to look better, although the shoulder may never heal properly due to her age.

Last week we had suprise visitors.......my lovely son came up from Plymouth with my gorgeous grandaughter to see us for the weekend. We all had a fab time even though it was far too short, still, we can look forward to seeing them again in October when we go to see them.

I don't quite know how I have done it but I have managed to keep up with the dieting and have now lost a total of 2.5 stone, just another4lbs to go to my goal weight.  Its been hard work but I feel so much better for it and its great to get back into the clothes at the thinner end of the wardrobe  lol

WE had a week away with friends too in our caravans which I will tell you about in another post, as I still havent sorted out the piccies.

Its good to be back blogging and I'm looking forward to catching up with all your amazing blogs.

Take Care

Karen xxx