Very nice Steve - I usually put up with a mug - we only have biscuits in this house when the builders are here, or if OH brings some home from work - this is a real treat ... thanks
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
I made all the curtains in this house and used to make my daughters' and my clothes when I was younger. I suppose that's the key word "young", had more energy then and worked more quickly.
Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
House is smelling yummy from the beef casserole which has been cooking slowly since midday. I might put some chocolate in at the end as Lily P (?) suggested - makes it taste nice and smooth somehow. Has already got anchovy and thyme in to give it a deep savouriness so will have to decide about the chocolate when I take it out of the oven.
Hubby got sent home last night so is at home today instead of flying around Europe.
So we'll have the beef tonight with pommes boulangere. I love making dinners where everything is cooked in advance leaving minimal work to do at the last minute. Makes me feel like a domestic goddess and I can also enjoy an extra large pre-dinner G&T.
Managed to rustle up enough (in date) ingredients for a large Christmas pudding. Everything is marinading in it's soak of brandy, cider & stout at the moment & will be steamed tomorrow afternoon. Can't resist lifting the cling film and inhaling deeply every now and then - smells delish.
Tonight we will be watching the travelogue about Ireland followed by Don Monty . It's cold out there so time to light that fire & get snuggled in...
Heaven is ... sitting in the garden with a G&T and a cat while watching the sun go down
Can you send some casserole over here T'bird - that would do me nicely
Had a fab day on the hills - let's just say it was 'Alpine'. Utterly beautiful. Will post a couple of pix later when I get the camera organised. Sunshine and blue skies, so you didn't really notice the sub zero temps...Hosta would have hated it
Glad you're keeping your spirits up RB
Wasn't Adele terrific?
I'm off for a quick look round and a catch up with my cuppa, before a shower and then a fish supper, or 'fish slipper' as youngest fairylet used to call it
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Steve - pommes boulangere is potatoes sliced, layered with some very finely sliced onion and a bit of decent stock added. Dot with butter and cook in the oven. Bottom layers are meltingly soft. Top layer is lovely and crunchy. Think of a nice thick hot-pot topping and you're there
I think the name comes from the tradition of communal baking at the village bakery when a lot of people didn't have an oven - or not one large enough to cook more than one dish at a time.
Heaven is ... sitting in the garden with a G&T and a cat while watching the sun go down
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(thought you'd like the nice china cup, and I think that may be a chocolate Hobnob!)
Very nice Steve - I usually put up with a mug - we only have biscuits in this house when the builders are here, or if OH brings some home from work - this is a real treat ... thanks
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Afternoon
No snow here Dove, but no gardening done either
might have had a cheeky lie in 
Lunch guests have gone, dish washer is on.
Been lovely and sunny, but still cold.
I made all the curtains in this house and used to make my daughters' and my clothes when I was younger. I suppose that's the key word "young", had more energy then and worked more quickly.
House is smelling yummy from the beef casserole which has been cooking slowly since midday. I might put some chocolate in at the end as Lily P (?) suggested - makes it taste nice and smooth somehow. Has already got anchovy and thyme in to give it a deep savouriness so will have to decide about the chocolate when I take it out of the oven.
Hubby got sent home last night so is at home today instead of flying around Europe.
So we'll have the beef tonight with pommes boulangere. I love making dinners where everything is cooked in advance leaving minimal work to do at the last minute. Makes me feel like a domestic goddess and I can also enjoy an extra large pre-dinner G&T.
Managed to rustle up enough (in date) ingredients for a large Christmas pudding. Everything is marinading in it's soak of brandy, cider & stout at the moment & will be steamed tomorrow afternoon. Can't resist lifting the cling film and inhaling deeply every now and then - smells delish.
Tonight we will be watching the travelogue about Ireland followed by Don Monty
. It's cold out there so time to light that fire & get snuggled in...
Can you send some casserole over here T'bird - that would do me nicely
Had a fab day on the hills - let's just say it was 'Alpine'.
Utterly beautiful. Will post a couple of pix later when I get the camera organised. Sunshine and blue skies, so you didn't really notice the sub zero temps...Hosta would have hated it 
Glad you're keeping your spirits up RB
Wasn't Adele terrific?
I'm off for a quick look round and a catch up with my cuppa, before a shower and then a fish supper, or 'fish slipper' as youngest fairylet used to call it
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
How do you boulangere a pomme, Topbird? (Presumably pomme de terre, and presumably involving something from the boulangerie ?)
Love to see pix of an alpine hill FG
Casserole on it's way to warm you up Fairy...
Steve - pommes boulangere is potatoes sliced, layered with some very finely sliced onion and a bit of decent stock added. Dot with butter and cook in the oven. Bottom layers are meltingly soft. Top layer is lovely and crunchy. Think of a nice thick hot-pot topping and you're there
I think the name comes from the tradition of communal baking at the village bakery when a lot of people didn't have an oven - or not one large enough to cook more than one dish at a time.
As summit views go - it ain't too shabby
The summit cairn's a bit disappointing though - and no spare rocks to add to it..
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Wow - fantastic pictures Fairy - what a wonderful day. Enjoy your fishy slipper