Christmas 2009

Christmas is almost here..we had our First snow today...lovely but VERY cold...my tree isn't very good this year..all the stress and problems of the last few weeks have really taken there toll..but at least i have put a tree up ( i wasn't going to)..Bailey would not get out of that box..what is it with Cats and boxes ???.. I would like to wish anyone who happens to visit my blog at anytime...a Happy Christmas and a good and Peaceful 2010.

Garden Centre 2010

Just want to put these pics on as promised..or Christmas will be over..the camera doesn't really do them justice, as the lights are so much brighter and the whole thing makes even a misery like me (at the moment)feel a bit Christmasy..I would love to Share the pics of Kerry & Dee or anyone else if you visit any.

Too stressed to Blog at the moment.

I am just too stressed to write my blog at the moment, trying to act 'normal' when i feel so disjointed is making my situation worse, i am feeling physically sick & my head aches, but the worst are the anxiety type of feelings,they are so strange...My dearest friends & close family know what i am talking about...so until this ordeal is over i am going to take a break. I will still read the blogs of my friends to help me get through the day.....but i just can't get my head together to write my own...i will be back when it is all over.

I had to delete my meme

I have had to delete my meme..it was just taking up so much room on my blog.
I dont know why but the letters were just so large !!!..was it because i cut & pasted it from Dee's ???..but Dee's letters were very small & neat..so i dont understand that...i am hoping Kerry or Dee will be able to tell me ???
I think even after all these years i am still very much a novice with some aspects of my computer.!!

Apple and Toffee Flapjacks.

This is a recipe that was given on a Local Radio a few years ago.I think they are delicious.

Ingredients
Juice of half a lemon.
3-4 good quality apples
175g/6oz Butter
50g/2oz SOFT brown sugar.
2tbs black treacle
3tbs Golden Syrup
350g/12oz Porridge oats
150g/5oz dairy Toffees
2tbsp Milk.

Method

1. Place apples and lemon juice in a small saucepan, cook until the apples are JUST soft. Mash with a fork to make a puree.OR this can be done in a microwave if you prefer..leave to cool.

2.Place the butter,sugar and both of the syrups into a pan and GENTLY heat untilthe butter has melted...remove from the heat and stir in the oats until they are completely coated.

3.Place half the mixture into a baking tin and press down firmly...Spread the apple Puree over this then cover with the remaining out mixture. Place into a pre-heated oven Gas mark 5(190c)..or Aga baking oven for 25 minutes or until golden brown.

4. When Flapjack is cooked, remove from the oven and allow to cool...Cut into 18 squares before completely cool..It will remain soft in the middle but will harden as it cools further.

5, while they cool, gently heat the Toffees and milk in a small saucepan, stirring all the time.....drizzle the toffee mixture over the top of the flapjacks. Chill for 10 minutes before serving.
Note if preffered a larger amount of Toffee /Milk can be used and a thicker all over coating can be added...delicious served with whipped cream or alone.

I hope we are able to share more tried and loved recipes soon it is good share these things..I look forward to getting some more from you all.

My Buritto's with Red Onion

These are my 2 huge buritto's that i had for my dinner tonight...i dropped one onto the cooker as i was getting it out of the pan..so it doesn't look too good..but it still tasted great (i put sliced red onion on these for a change)...i have Dee to thank for introdicing me to these wonderful new meals...i'm like a kid, when i find something i really like, i have them day after day...i really must stop it though as i think they are very fattening !!!..last week i cooked a really huge pot of Chilli Beef and froze it in individual bags..so that all i have to do now is take one out when i fancy a quick filling for my Buritto's...and i've always got grated cheese in my fridge...I put Dee's special sauce inside them...am i supposed to put it on top as well ??..i did that the other night, when a friend came to dinner and they were lovely..i cooked just one each that night with a baked potato & green salad..she thought they were wonderful & took Dee's recipe home with her...so she will be making them too now...i hope she does them when i visit her LOL...must stop talking about food, it makes me hungry...i will have a go at doing Dee's Moo Shoo next week..that will be a change.

Armistice day at the Arboretum

I spent a wonderful day at the Arboretum near Tamworth, as it was Armistice day and there were many interesting events taking place...including a fly past of the Hercules, which must have flew as low as was legally possible..we could even see the pilot, Fantastic !!. There was also marches and various displays. The Monument itself as the names of all who lost their lives in World War 2, names are been added all the time to include those of soldiers who are losing their lives in other war torn areas of the World in the present time.
There is also a monument to those who gave their lives in World War 1. It was so good to see so many of the veterans of World War 2 wearing their medals, they were all so pleased to talk to us and answer any of the questions we asked...it must bring back so many memories for them of when they were in the front line facing all manner of hostilities..so that we might live in Freedom.
We should never forget these men, who fought in any of the Wars past or present, Army, Navy and Air Force..also the young men, some barely seventeen, that even as we stood in the cold November rain in a free Britain..were out in Afghanistan,Iraq and other places in harsh conditions, often with Inadequate equipment..fighting that we may STAY free..we owe them our lives and 'Must Never Forget' we should wear our poppies with pride in memory of them all.

Laughter is the Best Medicine

Forgot to go to the Doctors again..slept through my alarm...if i didn't laugh i would cry..what is happening to me ???..My memory is so worrying...but i will make a later appointment next time..then i will hopefully remember..after leaving myself a note on my bedside table, another pinned to my front door and a message on my Computer for when i switch on !!!!

Removed my grey day post..it was too depressing.

I have decided to remove my grey day post....it was just me sounding off and i am sorry...but thank you to my kind friends who commented on it..dont know why i get these really low days..there are so many folk MUCH worse off than me..

Saturday Pics

Saturday is family visiting day..i have had Simon, Pam and baby Jack here today with Sims friend Ian, ( Ian as given me a great new c.d.. player for the car, as he had a new car & it had one already fitted...(.so he took this one out when he exchanged it)...i Love it, its much better than my old casette machine...Then Jim & Polly and also my friend Jackie...all came today..but it helps with the boredom.

 I'd get a bit fed up on these long grey winter days if i didn't have visitors..Just look at Jacks feet...they look massive !!!!..but i think its just the way the picture as been taken with his feet at the front near the camera...LOL

Scottish Highland Cattle.

Here are a Few pics of Highland Cattle..i wonder if these are the ones you have seen over in Idaho ??..i love them, when i go to Scotland we see lots of them they are lovely animals...i love their long hair...its even longer in winter time to keep them warm in those Scottish Highland winters.

Pot Cat

Lady as a really comfy bed in the house,and  a warm radiator to sleep under..yet she is SO hard to get indoors in the day time..all the other cats hate been outside now its getting colder and go mad to come back in...not her !!!...she does come in at night..eventually, ( probably only because she is hungry & i won't feed her outside )..but she would rather sleep in this flowerpoot during the daytime..she looks at me as if i am going mad when i try to coax her inside.

My New Great Grandson Jack.

Here is the latest edition to the family..Jack my new Great- Grandson.  Mom Stacey & Dad Charlie, are so proud of him..he weighed 7lb 15 oz..so he is quite a big boy....i am going to see him tonight.

Bailey & Ollie

Poor Bailey and Moses cant understand why Ollie will not play like Seb did, i think Bailey just got fed up of trying to get Oliie's attention and fell asleep.

I do hope Ollie gets used to them as they are both used to rabbits & wouldn't hurt them..Seb used to chase them all around the room, then they would all fall asleep..Moses is worst because i think Seb was his Best friend and he used to sleep in his hutch & his cage if he had the chance..

Few More Black Country Museum Pics

A few more pics of the museum..you could go into all the Shops & houses and they were all traditionally furnished as the homes of the poor would have been about 100 years ago...the last time we were there..many of the houses were supposedly inhabited by traditionally dressed folk..and they chatted to you as if they were actually living in those times....NOT in 2009

Black Country Museum (part 1)

Here are just a few of the pics of The Black Country Museum..it is such a fantastic place..like stepping back in time..this one is a little nearer to me than Blist Hill, and i just love it...you can go into all the houses & buildings and people are in there and they dress authentically & talk to you as if they are actually living in the time era....We had such a laugh when we were last there in August, some folk who worked there re-enacted a street argument between 2 women..it was so very funny,their husbands dragged them back indoors,...after that  when you went into the various houses on the street, the folk who were supposed to be living there..were talking about it, and taking sides or saying how disgusting the women were etc..it was just like been part of a film set...and so very Funny and cleverly done, it really was a fantastic day out..we all Loved it,...but we always do...fantastic place, the Old Fish & Chip Shop still cooks on old equipment as was used 100 years ago,and uses the same ingredients..you can buy the fish & chips and they are wonderful ONLY problem was the prices were NOT as they were in the old days LOL, also you could Drink real old ale in the Pub that is there, just like it was in my grandma's day ....loads more pics to..(.but i dont want to bore you, as i could go on about this for ages)...i think if you click onto some of the  pictures they will enlarge and you will be able to see it better.

Day out at Blist Hill Museum (at long last !!)

I keep forgetting to post some of my pictures of  Blist Hill Museum..i spent a day there in early August...It is a great place, just like stepping back in time about 100 years or more..All the buildings are original and have been moved brick by brick into their new home on the site...all the goods in the shops are as they were at the turn of the centuary or earlier& the staff all wear authentic costumes. I also love the Black Country museum and will post some of those pictures later ( they are both similar) but Blist hill seems to have a lot more shops & business's, but the buildings are just as they were..The Black country as more homes, a working mine & shows how life was for the poor at that time... I found both so interesting..i love history and i remember my grans house & furniture etc been very similar when i was a kid.....i could visit these places every week and not get fed up..so could Simon (my oldest son)..we have got  special tickets that enables us to go as many times as we likes in a year..its only about an hour or so away from Tamworth in the car..but it is a brilliant day out..even the grandkids enjoy it...Things are so very different now..it does them good to see how different things are today..life is so much easier..especially for the poor..only the wealthy could live comfortably in those days at the turn of the century...the last picture just fascinates me..it shows some lovely old brickwork and arches places like this were often built around the local towns.

The Rabbit Nobody Wanted..until now.

This is the latest member of the family..i have named him Oliver (or Ollie) because i had just been to book up for the stage musical 'Oliver'...we go on trips  arranged by the local Garden Centre, ..so i decided to have a look around while i was there...I saw lots of little bunnies selling @ £30 each, females in one pen, males in another....then there was this little fellow in another  pen the only rabbit with lots of guinea pigs and he was only £10.....i asked an assistant why he was on his own and not with the other bunnies, and why he was so much cheaper....Its because no -one wants him she said, he as been here over 6 months, so he as been put in with the guinea pigs for a few months, hoping that someone will notice him more, but still no-one as brought him....i was SO upset..NO BODY WANTS HIM...how sad is that, i think maybe its because of his colour, (all the others were cute little whites, and multi coloured ones, & he was much bigger because he had been there so long)...Also she said if he is not sold by the end of October they are taking him to a pet shop.....a PET shop, is that just another name for something more nasty ??..any way my friend Marg who was with me told the assistant..thats it..Joy will have him now,..she was right i couldn't bear to think no one wanted the dear little thing...Seb my lovely old rabbit died recently, so i already have an indoor cage for cold weather, a lovely big outdoor hutch for summer..and lots of food and toys..so it made sense i suppose, I was going to get one eventually...but had decided to wait until next spring as i still miss Seb....i brought the little chap home and here he is....he is very quiet and i think his little personality as got to develop....but he is so sweet & i love him already...how could no-one have wanted him, the poor little mite.