A clear out.

Sometimes a good throwing out session can be good for the soul.

To say we had a tidy out is a bit of an over exageration, but I sorted through some things in the box room we never go in. I think a lot of things in there hadn't moved since the day we moved in. There was poems my friends wrote at my 16th birthday party, postcards from when I was about 7 upwards, coursework from school, photos from gigs I went to in my teens, all sorts. I found these that I had on my wall from being a tween

The one about singing encouraged me for years as I am decidedly average when it comes to singing. I would love to be a fantastic singer, but I'm not . I think they are good things to remember whatever age I may be.

Throwing some of the things away seemed like a good step forward. I was reminded I'm not the person now that I was when I was a teenager, and that the people I knew aren't the same any more either.

Now just got to have a good clear out of every other room in the house.

Baking and making

If you have 2 minutes spare and you like chocolate cake or pudding then I absolutely have to recommend this recipe. Oh it is delicious, and there was enough to feed 2 of us, you'll need a big mug though!

Following on from my last comment about the yogurt making I've done two batches now and it is so easy and tasty. I put a 1l box of uht full fat milk in the slowcooker on low for about 3 hours, might have been a bit less. Then I turned the slowcooker off and did nothing for about 2 1/2 hours. Next I measured out 1/4 of a cup of live yogurt, mixed it with some of the milk from out the slowcooker, then mixed the whole lot together back in the big slowcooker pot. Then I just covered the whole lot in towels and coats to keep it warm, and went to bed. When I got up in the morning, the yogurt was ready! It's a bit thinner then normal, but it is great for making smoothies or curries, both of which I have a lot of.

My next slowcooker triumph this week was coconut and cardamon rice pudding. I measured out 100g of short grain rice and put it in the slow cooker with a 400g tin of coconut milk. I filled the empty can twice with full fat milk and put that in the pot, then I took the seeds out of 5 cardamon pods, ground them up and put those in the slow cooker too. Turned it on and left for a couple of hours, then just sweetened to taste and eat. It would probably be good after indian food as the flavours are that sort of thing, but I would eat it whenever.

And to top off my kitchen accomplishments this week I have also made some pear and rhubarb jam and a birthday cake.

I'm feeling quite pleased with little self.

Crunchy

My husband is cooking lentils while I read up about making yogurt. Sometimes, just occasionally, the stereotype fits.

I'm not broody but...

My little man is now 5 months old, 18lb2 at last weigh in, he is rolling over and he chatters away such a lot. He is wonderful and beautiful but most definitely not a little newborn any more. I love this stage, before too long he will be discovering food and crawling, but I also am slightly sad at the fact that I probably won't do the whole newborn thing again. I love having babies, feeding babies, slinging my babies, cuddling my babies, I'm just not to keen on the whole being pregnant thing.

I feel happy with my two boys, and am looking forward to the next stage for us which will be adopting when they are bigger. It's always been my intention, and I'm impatient for that stage. We have a lot to give and their are lots of children who need stable loving homes.

It all seems planned in my head, until the other night hubby drops the bombshell that he is broody!

Holidays

We had an absolutely wonderful holiday, we have onbly been back a week but it seems so long ago already. We stayed in a lovely cottage in Wales, with a stream in the grounds and a swimming pool just by the back door. For April the weather was gorgeous, and we had a fab time.


Had a lovely day on one of the most beautiful beaches. If you ever get chance to go to Barmouth beach then do, the beach id lovely and the scenery is stunning.



We had a day at the zoo, and saw N's current favourite animal. Happy feet is a firm favourite at the moment.

And we had not one but 2 days out on steam trains, a firm favourite with not only N but also with the husband. We have heard lots of shoutrs of engine, choo choo, track etc since we have been.




So there is a brief bit of our week. I would recommend north Walws to anyone, you may not get the weather we did but it is a beautiful place to visit.

Garden menaces

It has been very quiet here recently, partly as we all had a horrible fluey bug and then partly because we all went on holiday, which was lovely. We had gorgeous weather and a relaxing and lovely time with our friends. However that is for another post.

This post is for my garden and the things attacking it, and for once it isn't cats. No I'll give you a clue
Those spots aren't caused by some mystery plant bug, and they aren't confined to one plant, they cover all plants, toys, compost bin, shed, raised beds etc on the left side of the garden. They are caused by this menace, fence sprayer If you are thinking about this, just don't do it!!!

And then to add insult to injury I've come back to find all my gooseberry bushes covered in mildew and completely stripped of leaves by sawfly. This gardening malarky doesn't always suit my style of bung it in the ground and hope for the best.

However summer is not too far away, the tulips, daffodils and blossom have all gone,
the seeds are growing and sprouting. The first salad leaves are almost ready, and before you know it we will have so many courgettes coming out we will be eating them every meal.

Spring has sprung.