Saturday 22 December 2018

Of biorhythms and mince pies









The dog went for his first big walk since his operation today. Oh how he loved it. There were boys to chase, sticks to fetch and dogs to talk to. The weather was glorious. He adapts according to the weather I think. On a particularly rainy day last week he spent the whole afternoon pressed into a cushion, motionless. If I got up and walked past he followed me with his eyes, but nothing else moved.


It suited me though, the lunchtime dog walk can make the afternoon disappear rather. By the time I've settled down to work again the urchins start piling through the door and all is noise and chaos. It's my worst time of day I think, the time before tea. I am grumpy and definitely not in the mood to get in the kitchen and create something marvellous. I'm more of a morning person, and I'm in a very good mood in the evenings too. I would happily join the dog in pressing myself into a cushion come 4 o'clock though. My biorhythms and blood sugar levels are all wrong. It's a nice time for a little dog walk round the neighbourhood, especially at this time of year. I love to see the odd window where someone is sitting in a chair with a book and a lamp on, it always looks so cosy and peaceful. You know how I like to look in the windows, and right now it's practically expected, what with all the lights and trees and things.

School finally finished on Friday. The middle boy dissected an eyeball on the same day as the Christmas lunch, but didn't seem phased. In fact he was rather thrilled that his group of three were given an extra eyeball as there was a spare one left over, and that it was tipped out and all the blood came out of the bag with it. It's the little extras that make the memories special.

I was planning on making my Christmas veggie roast tomorrow, but I bought the ingredients from memory and now I find I don't have any mushrooms which is annoying. I can't tackle the supermarket just for mushrooms, but what to do? It would probably be easier to forage in the woods for them than take on the massed inhabitants of Above The Riversville, who can turn a bit savage in the veg aisle at this time of year.

Has anyone noticed how off-piste mince pies have gone lately? I have seen salted caramel, frangipane, florentine, almond and black forest. I thought I was avant garde with my crumble topping, but this is mince pies taken to a whole new level. It's easy to get overcome with it all and find all sorts in the bag when you get home isn't it? Or maybe just me.

Cauliflowers have been insanely cheap lately. I bought an extra one and I'm fermenting it. If I'm brutally honest, the scent of fermenting cauliflower isn't entirely festive, but it's delicious when it's done and I'm persevering. The gas will stop bubbling up fairly soon, I'm certain of it. Any festive smells I should know about chez vous?

12 comments:

  1. Could you find mushrooms at the corner shop? Ours sells some although they look not so great. Still, better than facing the queues at the big shop? I am so glad Bertie is up and running again. I rather like the idea of hiding on the sofa, with only the eyes moving.... I am more of a morning person also, although I don't actually like getting up but once I am up I am like a newly charged robot. Not with the drum playing bunny rabbit variety of battery though, I usually run on empty from about lunch time. There are no festive smells in my house. I am told my son's farts smell like roast chicken, which is almost festive, but I disagree. Have a good Sunday xx

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  2. Oh such joy in seeing Bertie out being a dog and having fun.. you certainly captured some award winning photos of him responding to "the call of the wild". I can see with your photographic and writing skills that you could write a best seller. How about "Bertie the Beautiful"? I have to say the idea of the smell of fermenting cauliflower turned me a bit green. LOL!!

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    *M*E*R*R*Y* * *C*H*R*I*S*T*M*A*S*!*
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    ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

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  3. Bertie is such a sweetie; he looks so happy to be out and about again. Are the mushrooms structural or is it just the flavour that is needed? Like me, do you have a packet of dried porcini mushrooms lurking at the back of the larder? I have to avert my eyes from the use by date on mine! It's the same with the mushroom ketchup. Other than that, you may have to just bite the bullet and brave the supermarket once more. You could always stock up with a few more mince pies whilst you're at it! The fermenting cauliflower sounds a bit challenging! xx

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  4. Nice post and pictures. It's good to see Bertie is fully fit again. That last picture of him and what you wrote has me smiling.
    I prefer the ordinary, traditional mince pies not the fancy ones. Your last paragraph has my nose twitching. xx

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  5. I had a chuckle with my husband over the eyeball story. I think I would solve the mushroom problem by driving to the supermarket and sending a small boy in to do battle. Otherwise just festive smells in my kitchen thank goodness. How long does it take to ferment a cauliflower?

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  6. I probably shouldn't have read about the dissecting eyeballs whilst mid breakfast but never mind. I'm another morning person fading away with the afternoon light at this time of year. It was a relief to get the supermarket shopping over and done with on Friday. It is the only and only part of Christmas that really stresses me. We are without limes but I'm sure we will survive!

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  7. Fab photos of Bertie and the countryside. Glad he’s back in his stride. Love the sound of your children’s conversations; eyeballs indeed. That time around tea time was known as arsenic hour in our house when the boys were young. Blood sugar levels certainly have a lot to answer for. My men are still cranky when they haven’t been fed.
    Good luck with the mushrooms, definitely head for a small local store. Have a great Christmas. B x

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  8. Oh Bertie, it is lovely to see you up and active. I just loved that last photo of you Bertie. C.J. we have just celebrated Christmas with our son today, and as we head off tomorrow (Christmas Eve) to be with our daughter, I want to wish you and your mob a very merry Christmas and a happy New Year. Regards, Robyn

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  9. It does my heart good to see that woof out in the land having fun. I would worry about you if you went mushroom foraging on your own..... And as for the eyeball- I was eating a croissant with strawberry jam at the time I read that. I shan't say anymore. XX

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  10. Bertie certainly looks happy being out and about and seems to be recovering well. I'm a morning person also but I'm finding that between 2 and 4am seems to be the usual time for me to wake these school holidays (like now!). It's so quiet in the house and the only chance I'm getting to enjoy the peace so I'm running with it for now. Good luck with the mushrooms. It's all normal festive baking and family smells here! xx Susan

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  11. Just wonderful seeing Bertie back to being Bertie!!!Oh.....eyeballs!!!! Yikes!xxx

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  12. Oh Bertie is looking especially trim and handsome in these photos! I'm with you on the mince pies. Just keep them nice and normal please, although Lidl did do some amazing ones with buttercream topping that were dangerously moreish. And 4pm is my absolute worst time of day, knowing that I have to drag the mutt out for a walk (in the dark) then get tea going. Is it any wonder I drink wine?

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