Finding joy in the everyday

Breadmaking Recently I bought 100 Great Breads by Paul Hollywood and this is the first loaf I made from it.  This is a Guinness and Treacle Bread, made with 150ml's of Guinness.  Anyone who doesn't cook with alcohol or like the smell/taste of Guinness wouldn't like this bread - it does have a slight bitter taste from the Guinness but I was very happy with the results. The yeast when wild when it met the Guinness and I had the most lively yeast I have seen in ages! Yesterday I finally got around to watch Homestead Blessings: The Art of Breadmaking (by the West Ladies) and learnt a few tips from the the DVD. I plan to copy some of the recipes, in particular their pizza recipe and the most delicious cinnamon scrolls. Just watching someone making bread is useful. Card making When I was in Sydney visiting Clara , I discovered Copic Sketch Markers. I had heard of them, but never seen them in action - now I'm hooked!!  Below is my very first attempt - Clara and I spent ...

Did I ever tell you that I don't enjoy cleaning the bathroom - in fact I have been out-sourcing it to my son for many years.  But today he had to work, so I had to do my own cleaning and Ruby decided to help by climbing into the bathtub and watch me!! These are the photos I took of her in the tub.     Even though Ruby is only part Ragdoll she has behaving just like one. One feature of a Ragdoll is habitually lying on their backs with their back legs flattened out and "arms" sticking straight up in the air—Ruby does this all the time, even when she is cleaning her paws—I can’t help but rub her tummy and laugh at her, she thinks she is very clever.  Do you remember the story I wrote about Brenin (our Doberman) who broke his front toe.  Next Wednesday he is back at the vet to have an operation to remove a unusual lump on his back (which appeared within the last few weeks) — the vet tells us it’s the sort that can turn into cancer.  DH is taking ...

What a busy day.  The new fridge came today so I had clean out the old one (I throw away 2 large bags of empty jars, out-of-date food and other things that didn't belong to me!) and nearer the time of the delivery move all the food into an eskey and the laundry basket  For once the delivery came on time - spot on midday.  I could then go and do the grocery shopping and restock the fridge and freezer.  When I got home and started to fill the fridge I realised this one doesn't have a butter compartment nor a place for eggs - two things I didn't think of when buying it!! Otherwise it is fine - it is an up-side-down fridge/freezer with the freezer at the bottom - I have been told that they are better - also for those of us getting older, far less bending!! After all my running about (I also went to the music store to get some things for Caius) I sat in the garden with Charlie Cat admiring the jonquils. I love the smell of jonquils, but they can be a bit too over poweri...