Happy Easter Day......

Just wanted to wish you all a very Happy Easter Day. The weather has been pretty awful, not that I saw much of it as I have been to work all day. My feet ache, and I am ready for a snuggle up to watch TV and some knitting. DH has just cooked a most delicious Dinner, just like Christmas, Free Range Chicken with all the trimmings, thank you.
It's another Bank Holiday tomorrow and I expect we will wake up to more snow as it is snowing now, quite heavy. I plan to take it easy, I must try and get round to some textile work.

They just keep coming.....

I feel like the Easter bunny is arriving every day now. The eggs keep coming. It is such a pleasure to open the hatch of the coop and find another egg. Jill seems to be laying the true colour egg for her breed, which is a blue/green. Lucinda the baby is perhaps not a full breed and her eggs are more like a bantam's .


This photograph does not show the true colour, they both taste delicious however, and it is so rewarding to know they are our own free range. Purr...fect.

Sushi....

Did I tell you recently that I love sushi, as does DS2. We usually have a conflab about what to have for supper and tonight we came up with making our own sushi rolls. A perfect opportunity as DH is away again and he is not a fan of said above. I bought a packet of sushi rice a couple of weeks ago in readiness, this was our attempt this evening. We followed the instructions on the packet, the rice certainly was sticky and much easier to roll on the nori sheets. On the menu:-


Smoked Salmon, King Prawn, Tuna, Cucumber, Red Pepper Maki,

Served with wasabi paste, picked ginger and light soy sauce. It was delicious. A much better attempt than the last time we tried it.

The Eggs Have Landed.....

This is what I came home to from work today. DS3 was anxiously waiting for me to arrive to show me what the girls had left for us.....there was so much excitement in the house, hope the neighbours don't think we have gone mad. DH is away on business for the night, can't wait for him to ring to tell him the good news. Well done little chickadees.

Things are Happening......In our Garden Pond

Every year almost to the day frogs seem to appear from nowhere, and the activity begins. I shall say no more...

Within the course of a few day we have lots of frogs spawn....

And still lots of frogs!!!

So come on girls, the frogs are doing it! Don't let the side down, we anxiously await your eggs!

Planting has also begun, here a selection of what we intend to grow on our allotment. Last year

we had great success with Sweet corn, grown for the first time. The leeks did well, as did onions and squashes. However, no such luck with flowers at the allotment last year, the sweet peas were terrible, and something ate all the leaves off the dahlias. I suspect it was too wet and cold. Finger crossed we have a good summer this year. There is so, so, much to do and very little time! I spend my life saying this.... sound familiar.

Ready and Waiting Girls.......

A day out to Kelso in the Borders and we came back with this, a must have buy in anticipation of our own eggs. It is like waiting for a baby to be born, I tell you. There will be celebrations in the Primrose House when it arrives. Who will get the first egg! I think DS3 .

A taster with shop bought eggs, soon, soon I hope filled with eggs from Jill and Lucinda....

Trying to live a more healthier lifestyle....

DH an I had a trip to our local garden centre recently and these caught our eye, there were so many different mixes to choose from,(as is usual in life). We opted for the "salad sprouting mix", the idea being we can jazz up sandwiches and salads. The seed sprouter is not necessary, as a jam jar can be used instead. According to the packet they should be easy to grow, and ready to eat in 3-4 days. Hum, well, these lot have been on the go for about 7-10 days. We have followed the instruction on the packet, so not sure where we went wrong, I can only imagine it has been too cold. I am looking forward to tasting them soon.....

Mothers Day...

It was Mothers Day yesterday, the day where I try to totally relax. The boys woke me up, with cards and flowers. A lovely card from DS1, who is at Sheffield University. He had written some nice thing in the cards which said how much he cared and missed me. I was really touched.
Breakfast in bed was Granola, Goats Yogurt, Apple and Honey. We decided to go for a walk in the countryside, so a 30minute drive led us to North Middleton, the weather on the drive looked iffy, cloudy, windy and showers. But as you can see when we arrived as if by magic the wind had calmed down and the sun came out. It really is a lovely spot.
At this point it was really warm and we needed to take our coats off. It was lovely to feel the warm sunshine, how I long for the summer.

The walk spread out into more open countryside so we decided to turn around, walking back through woodland ,noticing how many trees have been blown over in the recent storms. We could also not help noticing the carpet of snowdrops everywhere. Is it just me , but are there more snowdrops than ever this year.
We had worked up a bit of a thirst, so we stopped off at The Plough in Powburn for a half, and the boys enjoyed a game of pool. DS3 was chuffed as he beat his older brother, or was it just beginners luck! Supper was lovingly cooked by DH a Fish Pie, Cod, Smoked Haddock, Salmon and Prawns. The topping was mashed potatoes,homemade golden breadcrumbs and cheese.

A smaller portion, yummy!!!