Thank you for all of your recipe ideas re feeding a French teenager, I am suitably reassured. I have also embraced paprika in all its forms, and now have hot and smoked which do have a bit more going on. The smoked reminds me of lapsang souchong. I bought some of that the other day too, it took me straight back to years ago, Before Children, when I used to get home from work, make a mug of it and sit and write. Days of disposable income and free time, happy nostalgic sigh. It's amazing how a scent can instantly evoke a memory isn't it.
I am currently wrestling with website construction for two writing websites. There are moments of deep black despair peppered with the occasional dazzling triumph of something actually working. Technology is a real roller coaster of emotion, fury and elation in very short succession. It feels unhealthy.
On the subject of which I have given up cheese for Lent. I was a vegan for 25 years, but lately I seem to be eating ALL the cheese. Blue cheese, crumbly cheese, hard cheese covered in rind, creamy cheese, Cheddar cheese and a personal favourite, the sort of Lancashire cheese that isn't white a crumbly but is just DELICIOUS. I think we're on day 2 of Lent. Don't worry, I will have calmed down by next week and won't feel the need to name all the cheese and talk about it.
Last year I gave up puddings and sweet things. I felt so much better for not eating sugar that I continued it all year, except for the odd slice of birthday cake. It was the middle boy's birthday the other day and I made him Nigella's ice-cream cake. There are no words for how sweet that tastes if you haven't eaten sugar for a year. I had to have a lie down with a damp flannel over my face afterwards.
We've been keeping busy here. That's dog bed stuffing in case you were wondering.
But hearing tales of other puppies, we are happy in the knowledge that it could be worse. Dear little dogs, they do keep us on our toes.
Hope all is well out there. Hang on all, spring is but a breath away.
Oh, naughty little dog! He is so cute, though. It's a trap, I tell you. :) I should try giving up cheese and sugar both. Sugar would be harder for me, I think, but I do want to try. My husband likes lapsang souchong tea. I can take a sip or two, that's plenty, but I like the way it smells. I hope you have a good weekend, CJ!
ReplyDeletesweet little puppy face! I should try and give up sugar - really i should!!
ReplyDeletei like misty fog days - sometimes we get it here in our neck of the woods and it looks all magical and mystical, just as it does here.
Look at that last photo - butter wouldn't melt! Wow, well done on giving up sugar for a year, not sure I have the will power. And, yes, please name all the cheeses - at least I can live vicariously! xx
ReplyDeleteDog he th prix for looking guilty don’t they? Love the snowdrops but not the mist although the photos are great. We don’t eat much sugar so things soon taste oversweet it’s the same with salt.
ReplyDeleteWhenever I cut back on sugar I’m always amazed at how overpoweringly sweet sugared things taste when I do have some. It’s not a nice taste, really, is it? Good on you for abstaining. I am encouraged to follow your example. Good old Bertie, keeping the side up for puppies everywhere. Has he had your shoes yet? Or the boys’ homework? Poppy says to tell him he needs to tick those of the list. I’m interested in what you said about the extreme ups and downs of technology not feeling healthy. I think you have hit the nail on the head there, my friend. I’m strict about limiting my exposure to it, but it is everywhere. The great outdoors is my escape from it, a place of increasing sanity and reliability! Wishing you a lapsang souchong filled weekend xx
ReplyDeleteOh Bertie........did you really do that? You do need a brother or sister puppy to blame it on, 'cause if I was listening to your explanation of how it happened, I would believe you. I noticed that there is still some velvetness left after your trip to the hairdresser and beautician. It's looking good, but no more eating your bed.........
ReplyDeleteI wonder how pulled the poor puppies bed apart :-)
ReplyDeleteI have given up bread and pasta for lent but may allow myself the odd slice of pizza. Also, Richard made French Onion soup yesterday with a slice of toasted bread and gruyere floating on top. I didn't have the heart to say I am not eating it. I love cheese but some varieties make me sick and I tend not to over indulge because I have no idea which cheeses upset my tummy. It appears completely random.
Have a lovely weekend xx
Fabulous atmospheric photographs! Little dogs are a terror at ripping the stuffing out of things - lucky Toby only does it with his stuffed toys and not his bed - oopps, you got an extra naughty cutey pie there x
ReplyDeleteLovely moody foggy pictures. The ones with the signposts look straight out of a mystery novel. Wow, I had no idea you were vegan for so long. Makes my 4 years sound easy peasy. And now I am a definite cheese gal myself. If you're dealing with computer problems, I hope you have some other food for stress-eating.
ReplyDeleteScrolling down this post I was beginning to wonder why no pictures of Bertie. I love his expression in the last one.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with the websites, I've always passed on doing one.
As always an enjoyable read and lovely pictures. xx
Oh I would struggle to give up cheese. I had some chocolate this week after very little sugar for a month and it made me feel really sick, which was a huge disappointment because I really fancied it. The green stuffing made me laugh because we must have had the same type of dog bed. It was instantly recognisable!
ReplyDeleteHe looks as if butter wouldn't melt in his mouth! Sugar...oh goodness if only I could...I don't bung it in everything willy nilly but it's in every darn thing you buy...starting from scratch on most things though x
ReplyDeleteHow could that sweetie chew up his bed? It must have been someone else.
ReplyDeleteAre you sure it was the dog wot dunnit 'cos that's a picture of innocence if ever I saw one. Good luck with the cheese avoiding. I've given up biscuits, cake and chocolate which definitely does not include puddings of the fruit crumble variety. Know exactly what you mean about scents. I got a whiff of something the other day and was instantly transported back to junior school. Have a great week.
ReplyDeleteLoving your fabulous atmospheric photos! But snowdrops do indeed mean Spring is nearly here. I'm ready.
ReplyDeleteBertie has been thinking about what he did and is filled with remorse.
ReplyDeleteSome great shots here CJ, and I'm glad to hear you're getting to grips with paprika! Have a great week.
ReplyDeleteHi CJ
ReplyDeleteOh how I love mysterious misty days like this. It takes me to movies of Robin Hood and such, brave knights appearing from no where in dark misty woods, saving the princess to live happy ever after. I'm so impressed you gave up sugar. For a year!!! I struggle. Having a sweet tooth I am a victim of it. I would like to cut down, but giving it up completely feels like an impossible mission. Saying that, we have decided to cut down on it all for the whole family. I t seems easier to make a decision like that with the kids in focus rather than yourself. It's a bit bizarre... So easy to take care of others, so easy to neglect yourself. Enjoy your cheesy, misty days.
Xxx
Annette
I just couldn't give up cheese, by which I mean of course that I won't. I don't eat meat, but for health rather than moral reasons, and I'm not fussy about rennet. I went to a gathering recently where the host presented us with vegan cheese. This was so many shades of wrong. It's like low-alcohol beer: if I can't have the real thing, I don't want it at all.
ReplyDeleteIt can't have been Bertie he looks too innocent! I admire you giving up cheese for Lent I would find that to be so difficult. Hope the websites are going ok, I am just about to do some of that too, I keep putting it off! Sarah x
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