New Project..

My handyman husband has started another project..

 replacing the crumbling garage step with a much sturdier one…

He made the form and poured the concrete

Now we wait a few days for it to dry

Next he wants to make a new door…

But first… seeding the lawn…

At last

Love and Hugs

Phoebe x

Testing the Water...

Its been a couple of months since MrDs accident.. 

and hes been itching to get back in the saddle.. so to speak

He was only out for about 15mins... just riding around the streets

He loved it... he had missed it... and even though his back twinged slightly..

he says hes ready to do the mountain trails again..

He may be ready...

But Im not sure if I am..

Love and Hugs

Phoebe x

In The Kitchen ~ Wartime Corned Beef Fritters

My Grandmother made the best Corned Beef Fritters... and I thought it was her own recipe. I remember her telling me of the time when she was twelve years old and was making them for the family. She got into an huge argument with one of her siblings who was refusing to eat them. Suddenly an empty meat tin was launched across the kitchen at her head. She tried to duck but it skimmed her forehead... the sharp edges cutting her skin. It wasnt that deep but she wore a bandage for days... just to make everyone feel bad. And her sister ate the fritters!!!

12 year old Doris and her younger siblings
in about 1923

So anyway... I dont have her original recipe but this is the closest in taste I have found. Its the wartime recipe from Marguerite Patton. These corned beef fritters are cheap, filling and very tasty especially when served as a main course with potatoes and vegetables and some gravy

2 oz self raising flour or plain flour
pinch salt
1 egg (fresh or reconstituted dried)
1/4 cup of milk or milk and water
pinch of herbs (eg parsley, basil, tarragon or thyme)
1 teaspoon grated onion
1 teaspoon chopped parsley
6 oz corned beef finely flaked
a little dripping or margarine (or cooking oil)

• Blend the flour with the salt, egg and milk or milk and water.
• Beat until batter is smooth; 
• Add the herbs, onion, parsley and corned beef.
• Melt the dripping or fat in a frying pan 
• Drop in a spoonful of the mixture and press down to form a patty
• Fry on either side until crisp and brown 
• Serve as soon as possible after cooking.

 Love and Hugs

Phoebe x

The Self Portrait...

Well Done Little Mr...

Its a spitting  image

Lots of Love and Hugs

Well Done "H"...

Congratulations to our eldest grandson who was joint winner in the Caru Caergybi competition on the Island of Anglesey.

Pupils in year 7 of his school.. Ysgol Uwchradd Caergybi.. worked hard in the competition where they were able to show their creativity when expressing what was important to them about the area

Well Done "H"... We are ever so proud

But when are you going to get that hair cut xxx

Sunday Thought ~ Psalm 32:8

Love and Hugs

Phoebe x

Saturday Snippets..

A good old British staple for breakfast... Beans on Toast...

a dish that my dear hubby still cant get his head around...

Although Im sure if he actually tried it..

he might even like it

After breakfast I packaged up an Etsy order I received overnight.

And this one is going  to Maryland

MrD spent some of the day putting the final touches to irrigation system

watched my his faithful sidekick...

and a very inquisitive bird

Who stayed quite a while...

but I really think he was hoping for worms...

Love and Hugs

Phoebe x

Congratulations PixieBobs...

Little Miss attended her first presentation evening for the Northumberland Football League

Well done to her and the Under7s Pixiebobs on a successful first season as a team. 

They also won outstanding team of u7 super league. 

Well done to all player and coaches.

And dont worry Little Tufty..

It wont be long til you can join in the fun too 

Love and Hugs

Phoebe x

All Flowers....

Strawberry..

Blueberry

Petunia

Bottlebrush

All flowers...

All beautiful...

All Gods Creation...

Love and Hugs

Phoebe x

Morning Tea...

Love and Hugs

Phoebe x

Happy Birthday Son..

Happy Birthday to my eldest…

I know you dont like a fuss so I will just say 

Im very proud of everything you do.. 

even tho you are the biggest wind up merchant..

Love you son xxx

Mission Accomplished...

When I went out this morning...

I was surprised to see Fred peering out of the hanging basket

I knew something was going on because he was all excited and fluttery

and as I moved the basket to the table ..

he hopped onto the edge of his nest

And just like that he spread his wings...

And flew into the nearest tree

I heard him chirping for a little while...

and then he was gone

''

She on the other hand stayed a bit longer

It was almost like she was saying goodbye

Then suddenly she too was gone..

So I am officially an empty nester....

I actually feel really sad... I will miss them

Ah well I did what I needed to do..

and now they can have a happy life where they should be..

I just don know what I will do with my time now

Love and Hugs

Phoebe x

Sunday Thought ~ 2 Peter 3:18

The baby birds are big now.. getting restless and moving around a lot

One of them in particular is getting very inquisitive of his surroundings

Im surprised that they are still there every time I go to feed them

And talking of growing fast

Little Tufty went shopping

She knew what she wanted

She knew what she needed

I just hope she had enough pennies to pay...

Love and Hugs

Phoebe x

A Drizzly Day and Toll House Cookies..

A drizzly day here at the Blue House.. which the veggies 

and the shrubs are loving..

Work continues in the back lawn… despite the weather. 

Today MrD spent most of the day rototilling the hard soil.. 

accompanied by his faithful side kick

The baby birds are almost fully grown... 

and ever so pretty.

They are so gentle and trusting...

Im guessing they wont stay much longer..

Its also World Baking Day and my dear hubby requested Chocolate Chip Cookies.. so here's a recipe from  my 1940s Recipe Collection. After working so hard its the least I can do

Toll House Cookies

This is the classic Toll House Cookie recipe and was invented before chocolate chips were available, so it uses a cut chocolate bar instead. But honestly modern day chocolate chips work just as well. The cookies are not too sweet and turned out well.. even though I used tablespoon of mixture instead of a teaspoon. I also halved the amount of water in the recipe.

1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup butter or other shortening
1 egg
1-1/2 cups sifted flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons hot water
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
7 ounce bar semi-sweet chocolate
1/2 cup chopped walnuts

• Cut each small square of semisweet chocolate into four pieces.
• Cream butter or other shortening
• Add sugars and beaten egg.
• Flavor with the vanilla
• Dissolve soda in the hot water and mix alternately with the flour sifted with the salt.
• Lastly, add the chopped nuts and the pieces of semisweet chocolate.
• Drop by half teaspoons on a greased cookie sheet.
• Bake 10 to 12 minutes in a 375 (F) degree Fahrenheit oven.

Love and Hugs

Phoebe x