Baking days

 Baking of cakes and other baked goods, lovely aromas wafting from the kitchen to all areas of the home, and family heading for the kitchen to sample the cook's art.

Victoria Sponge cakes, chocolate cakes, coffee and walnut cakes, lemon sponge cake, fruit cake, pound cake, not to mention cupcakes, muffins or jam tarts, fruit scones, cheese scones, drop scones, treacle scones, pancakes; then biscuits, breads, buns, croissants........oh the list is endless.

Doesn't that make your mouth water, the merest mention of such delicious foods, the thought of sitting down, munching on a favourite item, scooping up all the crumbs and sitting back to savour that mouthful of heaven you've just consumed.

Marvellous....and not just the eating and sampling but also the making and baking, the weighing up, the sifting, the stirring, the creaming, the beating, folding in and the careful scraping up of the soft, moist mixture in your ready prepared tin, lined with parchment paper, greaseproof paper or silicone paper, and putting the whole into the waiting oven.  Timer in hand, oven cloth ready and waiting and your cooling trays poised on the kitchen worktop, earnestly standing by for its precious cargo.

Scrumptious tea times, sumptuous suppers, splendid breakfasts, lovely luncheons and elevenses, even handy grabs during the day by hungry kith and kin!

Is there not a time and place where such deliciousness is not appropriate to the hour and occasion, where the cook or baker's art is not more highly prized or where the delivery of such bliss is not more longingly discovered than in one own's home kitchen, when the family is expected back and the place ripe for happy and glorious devouring?

And now I'm more hungry than I ought to be and I'm off to the kitchen to whip up a few blueberry drop scones!

Toodle loo.......

Daisy

Book Club meeting...

I missed last week's book club - bother - but tonight was good and we all had remarks to make about our latest  read - Tiny Songbirds Far Away by Christie Watson.

It's quite likely I shall miss next week also for I'm off to spend time with my daughter and my grandson's who, of course, will be at nursery but after I've taken them there, I may be able to do some sight-seeing, if its  not too cold, which will be splendid.

I've had to miss two much looked for London outings recently so, fingers crossed all will be possible next week.

I'm baking more cakes this week - sponge cakes, cupcakes and a special pudding bake for Thursday evening when we are having dinner with the dear SO's daughter and family.  Not sure yet what I'll bake but it will be very nice and fun too, I hope.  Then if time permits, I shall take a cake for my daughter and perhaps another chocolate cake which we all enjoyed on Saturday afternoon.

So busy times and much fun all round.

It's been very cold and dreary today, and rainy too, and all of us are very much looking forward to spring's arrival. l It will be lovely when it does eventually arrive!


Happy days.....

Daisy

Hi there

I've been suffering the effects of a bad cold this last week, which is why you've not heard from me, and now it's going,  I'm back and ready to chat again!

We had breakfast out this morning at a favourite local eatery and, with the morning newspapers to read, spent an enjoyable time, despite having to wait for our order to be delivered.  This was most unusual and, as soon as it was realised, the staff hurried to send our missing breakfast to our table; and I had an extra Latte by way of apology, which was most acceptable!

The place was packed with chattering, hungry people, determined to get out of the cold wintry, snowy morning, for tiny, whirling flakes were desperately trying to settle.  However, I really don't think they will, and not to-day, at any rate!

We had friends to dinner mid-week, despite my achy head, and it was good fun.  I cooked pork chops, apples and leeks, with a tablespoon of quince jelly, in the pressure cooker for ten minutes, and they were delicious, and with them served creamy mashed potatoes and fresh green cabbage.  The evening was a great success.

Alice and I have just been out for a walk and those pesky snow flakes are still trying hard to settle but happily, I don't think they will, in spite of their busy presence, thank goodness.

But, oh my, it's so cold...will spring never back?

We've been watching our rugby team this weekend and delighted they won their match against the French team and I'm sure my son in Australia will have been more than happy to see the match, and rejoiced.  My young grandson has become an enthusiastic member of a Saturday morning "rugby" club and they spend their hour running about and playing various games, which he absolutely loves.  He comes home quite tired out and has to have a mid-day nap, which my daughter and son-in-law find very therapeutic.  Our little ones really do need to get out and about at the weekend to use up their energy; and they simply love it!

Next week is beginning to look busy, with me trying to complete tasks left undone because of my cold; well, you really cannot do too much when your head is aching and you're feeling below par, can you?

Cheerio for now

Daisy

Spring is sprung.......

A very beautiful spring-like day, bright sunshine, warm air and birds, springtime flowers, fields and a vast blue sky - can you spot the Buzzard?

Delicious  - Daisy

Misted paler shade of cream....

Today, my palette was of the distinctly palest shade of cloudy, washed out and misted grubby white.

The sky overhead seemed to come right down over everything and down to the roof-tops, and the morning mist swirled around, making it almost impossible to see where one was driving.  The green grass was clearly visible and so too the terracotta of brick and the white of the stone houses, and the white painted window and door frames.

So still today our world was full of colour but of a different hue than yesterday.

Alice and I went for a good walk around a favourite village green and once this blog has been "put to bed", we shall go out once again, but now it's late in the evening, so it will be dark overhead with some stars out and I think a mid-cycle moon.

Well, we shall see?

My dear SO is looking forward to the Formula 1 Grand Prix season which begins in March and presently my son and son-in-law, plus countless others, are eagerly watching the rugby championship games.  My mother used to watch all sports on her television set and particularly enjoyed the golfing and tennis championships.  Ah ha there's Wimbledon to anticipate, cricket at Lords and elsewhere and horse racing at Royal Ascot.....what a very busy summer season we're expecting.

My day has been full of chores and mostly ironing, which I've tried to do as quickly as possible, yet it still takes some hours.  You see, ironing is not a favourite thing to do and it tends to be left until there is masses to do, when I find some good TV films to watch as I iron.  It certainly helps.

I may not enjoy the "dashing away with the smoothing iron" but find it's extremely unpleasant to wear un-ironed garments.  How about you?

Alice is now looking at me with very sorrowful eyes, so we're off.  Cheerio....

Daisy

Colour my world pretty.....

Isn't colour beautiful?  Almost any colour you choose to pick, it's beautiful; just because it is, or because you connect it to something or someone or some place in your life that encompasses something uniquely special to yourself or your family.

Colour can be felt, tasted and imbibed.  It fills one's senses, pervades one's very being and if you're sufficiently tuned in to your very heart of hearts, it will lighten your whole existence and enhance every fibre of your being.

Colour became of greater significance to me when I began to sew and make my own clothes, my mother having decided it was time for me to take on this chore, when she had to make clothes for my younger sisters, of which I had three and one elder sister.  So my mother was always busy.

So began my journey of discovery of the wonder of fabric and the delicious sensation of colour - colour me beautiful indeed.

As a girl, my favourite colour was pink, sweet, sweet pink, in all its glorious manifestations.  My bedroom was papered with rose pink and white striped paper and sprigged with tiny rosebuds of a deeper pink hue.  All the paintwork, door, skirting boards, window frame and ceiling were painted a paler shade of pink and when my bedroom door was closed, I was totally enfolded in it's pink, sweet cocoon, and my surroundings filled me with an immense delight.

Staying with a favourite Aunt in Lancashire and going shopping....don't you just love to shop?..........I found this wonderful double-faced fabric; one side pink with blue spots and the other side, blue with pink sports.  A soft and smooth woollen material just perfect for making into a simple skirt and jacket; I was in seventh heaven, barely able to contain my excitement at the thought of making up this beautiful cloth.

On another occasion, I found some amazingly glorious silky pink and white stripped fabric which I turned into a rather sophisticated backless top with  a high front collar and long ties at the waist.  Oh gosh how perfectly wonderful was that garment?

Well, I thought so!  I continued on my pink odyssey for many a year until, that is, I discovered red.  And Laura Ashley dresses with pie crust collars, high gathered long sleeves with frilled cuffs, full long skirts, made up in a lovely array of fabrics

This evening, while driving out to look for a lost glove in a local wood, and to give Alice another walk, I found myself travelling into a pink and blue skyline - all sky-blue-pink and baby blue, against a pale creamy-pale mushroom sky.   Late afternoon on a warm spring-like Saturday afternoon, relaxed and positive after a good piano lesson, I was entirely receptive to the pink magic unfolding before me.

Colour is there all around us, every day of our lives, if we are open to its delightful warmth, simplicity and sophistication, if we have but eyes to appreciate its many and varied hues, its rainbow arc above us, and the myriad spectrum of colour beneath our footfall.

Just see what colour inspires your thoughts tomorrow, you may be thrilled by your discoveries!

Of course, there have been other hues on my palette - remind me to describe them to you sometime?

Daisy

Walking photography

Alice and I thought you might like to see a few notable buildings from the town of Banbury in Oxfordshire, where we live.

Banbury is a busy working town, a lively market place and a vibrant community.

Daisy

Happy Days

Pancakes for Shrove Tuesday, love's sweet greetings for St. Valentine, and happy home comings for my dear SO, who's home today from hospital.  Nothing to worry over and certainly no long term problems to deal with, so for us, all is well.

Our latest snow fall has almost all gone and family and friends are all pleased.  Yes, I know, it's lovely white stuff, the grandchildren adore it and the diamond-frosted winter garden looks glorious, but the slush, frozen or wet, is both slippery and dangerous, and no-one wants to fall over and bruise or damage an unwary body.

Going to visit my man in hospital, I've been amazed at  the time and effort it's taken to get there, being there and getting home again, plus the before and after chores to be taken care of.  And Alice, who's come with me, well, she does wherever I go;  looking so anxiously at me as I don my coat and boots, terrified of being left behind.  She's been very good waiting in the car, then needing mid-visit walks, her early morning walk, and walks just before and upon returning home, busy days indeed.  I really wonder how people cope with regular visits for constant check-ups or visiting loved ones on long hospital stays, both of which must be awfully tiring and emotionally draining for everyone.

Our hospital was as a city-state in itself, part of a system but also an entity unto itself.  An all-consuming, ever open and working world of care and nursing, teaching-learning, an administering and administrative body, resolute in its desire to supply care and attention for all in need, which they do every day, each day of the year.  The staff were friendly, helpful and supportive and the volunteers simply brilliant but for those  charged with the daily running of such an organisation, daily routines must present an enormous range of matters to be dealt with.

Yesterday was winter, today we had warm spring-like weather and it was really good to walk about in the sunshine.  Happy days indeed.  I should have been in London at Chiswick House and garden but my visit had to be cancelled, of course; but never mind, there will be another day for such a jaunt, so it's a happy day to look forward to and like spring itself, such a day is surely coming.  And Easter will also soon be here and time for family gatherings and meetings, chocolate eggs, hot cross buns and everyone's own particular national favourite festival food.........sweet happy days indeed.

Spring Fever

All is well when the sun do shine, as dull is dull and grey just black
When the bird song trills, spring petal frills, grass bright green
Skipping lambs to be seen, Baby clouds hang on the breeze to dry
Hearts miss-a-beat, as friends and lovers meet
The world's all smiles for miles and miles
This earthly paradise measures every treasure
Weighs each and every ounce of worth
Then the majesty of heaven, crowns humanity's endeavour
With happy days and peaceful nights
To bless and renew all kindred souls



Cheerio

Daisy

News update.....

The latest snow is now rapidly going away, thank goodness.  However, our weather forecasters are bringing us news of more snow, on Wednesday and Thursday, plus rain and icy conditions.  Bother!!

You know, when my dear ancient aunts used to talk about not going out during the winter months, because of the bad weather and transport difficulties, I frankly thought they were just a bit batty!

They were not...in fact; actually I know understand they were jolly sensible, and in any case, our winter here generally only lasts for January and February, and sometimes into March, when we can have awful storms and windy rainy days.

Spring soon creeps up  on us and then we can venture forth again, as long as we take our bad weather wraps with us and be prepared for anything.  And it's so very nice to have adventures to look forward to!

So I've been indoors trying to salvage my lost poetry collection and I have done pretty well.  I've even found some forgotten half-written works and been able to lick therm into shape.  I've still not found the piece about my mother, written in Sydney's botanical garden, and prompted by their tropical tree and bird filled jungle area; but am hopeful of finding it buried within my Australia notes, and I do know where they are!  My mother was very knowledgeable about trees and birds and her spirit was definitely hovering over me that day.

Well I did get to church on Sunday morning and after the Service, the Mother's Union ladies made pancakes for everybody and they were hot and delicious and to go with them, they provided lots of different toppings and cream as well!!  Then my girlfriend and another lady provided coffee and biscuits, which is a regular activity at many of our church meetings throughout the United kingdom, which is such a lovely feature, giving an opportunity for folks to chat together in a cosy and inviting atmosphere.

After having my pancake and coffee I got stuck into the washing up and was very pleased to have something to do, and it made me remember when my children were tiny tots and taking part in their Sunday School meetings; back then we young mums were excused most of the general tiding-up activities occasioned by the coffee gatheration and children's activities, so it's nice now to be able to help in this way.

And here's my thoughts for St. Valentine's Day -

Valentine, my valentine
Won't you say that you'll be mine?
Oh hurry do
Please don't tarry
For it's you I long to marry
Live my life with you alone
Within our darling village home
Where we'll raise a family fine
Our love to cherish, dear Valentine


Toodle-oo

Daisy

Busy, busy and busier......

Since last chatting to you, I've had to search for my mislaid poetry collection; how one can lose an entire collection of poetical writing, I just cannot think.

The entire work, all neatly catalogued and filed away in brightly coloured folders, has simply become lost.  I've searched through all the boxes and bags in our flat.  The dear SO has very patiently stood by while I've turned our home upside-down in my quest to find my missing papers.  They are simply nowhere to be found and my brow is horribly furrowed, and I am absolutely distraught by my loss.

Now of course, my computer has been able to print off  copies of everything saved within but, earlier works, half-finished and just begun works, and some work written while in Australia and Hong Kong on holiday, somehow has not been recorded and this is what I am most upset about not being able to find.

I have to admit my problem is one of too much; by this I mean I try to keep everything, and somehow, papers become terribly muddled and confused, and things become lost, or lose themselves.

It's all very upsetting.

On Thursday evening my girlfriend and I went to our first Women's Institute evening and we heard a most fascinating talk given by the wife of a Belgian chocolatier, who now has his own business in Oxfordshire, which he runs with his wife, and it was she who came to talk to us.  It was absolutely fascinating.

Now I've made a few chocolate Easter eggs and sweets  and knew a little about the art of tempering the chocolate to ensure a good shine and crisp snap to the finished product, but I knew very little of the pod in which the beans are contained on the tree, and how these pods are collected and dealt with in the process of   chocolate production.

And then, of course, we were able to taste and buy some of their special chocolate, which we all did with much enthusiasm; obviously, all of us very keen chocoholics and we even brought some home to our waiting families.

Scrumptious!!

I go up to London next week for my visit to Chiswick House and gardens, providing it doesn't snow before then, and am Skyping my son in Australia tomorrow evening, and we shall have much to talk about, for I've been  doing more family research, so we shall have a very lively conversation!

Well, must finish now, for it's late and really I ought to go to bed.  And it's Saturday tomorrow, which is a jolly nice day, when we always manage to do something interesting.  On Sunday, ah peaceful day, for church and family or a jolly walk, or a cosy sofa to curl up on and read a good book, or even.......to watch a nice TV film.

Have a lovely weekend, whatever you have planned to do,, and we'll chat again very soon.

Cheerio - Daisy

Spring time blossom....

Budding twigs ahoy

Catkins and crumpled leaves

Out and about fairly early for Alice's first walk of the day and we pass clusters of Catkin hanging in the bright morning sunshine, and it's lovely to see them.  Yesterday I saw my first cherry blossom and there are snowdrops everywhere; and masses of spring time flowers at garden centre for the garden and house - daffodils, narcissus, anemone, hyacinth and tiny aconites, hiding from the unseeing glance.

Yesterday, at Marsh Baldon, the wind was biting and we were all terribly cold whereas, for our afternoon walk at Daeda's Wood, there was a warm  winter sun, without the chill wind; and today, we have a lovely bright sunny morning.

However, the weather men are talking of snow flurries in Scotland and northern England, so perhaps we should make the most of our present warmer conditions; we may have more snow soon.  My young grandson will be delighted to see it but, I shall not be, for I have planned a day out to Chiswick House in west London, and snowy weather could certainly mean a cancellation of this event.

Chiswick House, a Palladian Villa, designed by Lord Burlington and completed in 1729, is a marvellous example of 18th century British architecture, and surrounded by extensive gardens, which have recently undergone much restoration; and I'm really excited to be going there very soon now.

Can you see the catkins?

Well, here's a picture of the catkins and budding trees we passed on our walk this morning.  I was hoping for snowdrops but they were all hidden from view; and no chance of sightings of the blackthorn tree, for that tree likes to hide in a handy hedgerow, and for that I must go out into the country.  I always thought it was the first tree to bloom, so there must be at least one, somewhere, and I'll let you know when I find it.  First to bloom and the last tree for fruit picking; for the fruit needs to be kissed by the first frosts of winter, which action renders the fruit ready for immersion in gin and sugar, to turn it into sloe gin, which is yummy and one of my favourite winter tipples!  I did see cherry blossom out yesterday and that was good, but I must go and check-up on my garden pots, which should have signs of springtime blooms bursting forth.  And I might even find my own snowdrops sprouting?  My flower pots currently live in a friend's garden and I'll pop over to see them on Saturday.


I was telling you about salt in bread, wasn't I?  Well, my research has confirmed my thoughts about salt and I'm happy to tell you my findings.  In fresh-baked store bread, the salt content is fairly low,  and their in-house staff are more than happy to show you their exacting documented details for all their own baked bread products.  It's the pre-wrapped bread products which contain more salt, it seems.  Bread always contains salt, as a flavour enhancer, a preservative and as a necessary addition for the fermentation process and, like most staple foods, are brilliant to eat.  It's what we spread, add or mix with such foods which cause us dietary and waistline problems, and I'm sure you can name as many as I can, hey? Items such as butter, cheese, cream, preserves, mayonnaise and well, you name some!

So all bread has a salt content and some members of our community, the babies, the elderly, our sick folk and pregnant and nursing mothers, quite possibly need to be ,more careful about their daily salt intake; and so to the rest of us.  Therefore, let's be more careful about what we spread on, or add to, our bread slices for lunch, our breakfast toast, and the delicious crusty chunks and slices eaten before and with our evening meal.

'Moderation in all things' is a fine mantra for everybody, if only we'd listen to our inner voice, as we tuck into another slice of something or other.  And me included, for I can eat at any time, you know - happy or sad, hungry or bored - its all grist to the mill!

Happy eating!

Daisy

Out and about again in Oxfordshire......

Ah ha, we were out early this morning at the very attractive village of Marsh Baldon, where the villagers are planning to buy their local pub, and get it up and running again...and soon.

A whole team of village friends have got themselves into a support group, are fund raising and have been organising matters so that they may be on course to have the pub open in April this year.

They're not quite there yet but their plans are coming along nicely and they're all terribly excited about the prospect of using their own pub pretty soon now.

So there we all were, this dull, cold and very windy Sunday morning, standing in the car park of the Seven Stars pub, clutching mugs of steaming hot drinks and munching bacon or sausage baps, talking about their plans and hopes for the future of their exciting new venture; and waiting for a regional BBC filming unit to take pictures of the pub and its team of enthusiastic supporters.

The filming unit were their to photograph the pub, and its supporters, for a discussion programme on the closure of this and other village pubs, and the ramifications of such happenings, on the local and  wider community, for they pose a complex and diverse problem for country dweller and visitor alike.

Our village pubs provide a warm and inviting haven for all who enter their portals and many a jovial    evening and welcome meal, can be had within their premises.

We were there because my parents once ran this establishment for the brewery who  then owned it, and I was married at the local church of St. Peter, and had my wedding breakfast afterwards within the pub's warm confines.

Enthusiastic supporters

Me, wrapped up against the cold

And here are three of my photographs from this morning, to show you how we were all enjoying ourselves, together, this cold winter's day!



Cheerio  -  Daisy xxx

Where would we be without water?

Me - watching Welsh water

Then the waters of Loch Ness

Or driving past Scottish water

Harbour watching in Hong Kong

D

Footsteps on freezing water

Welsh tumbling waterfall

And divining for water in Oxfordshire

And waiting for the thaw!




Happy snapping!


Daisy