Geese

When we were at the beach last weekend, a flock of geese suddenly appeared.  I think they had been resting on some rocks further along.  They hovered just above the water - their feet and wings just tapping on the surface. 

 

Then they swept down the beach in a long, long line - one after another, following the leader.

They veered round

 

and then organised themselves into a crocodile again and careered off towards the West.

and disappeared from view.

Beach

 Here are some photos from last Sunday.  It was such a beautiful, warm & sunny afternoon, the girls and I couldn't bear to stay in.  My husband and the dog were both exhausted after a busy week on the farm, but we persuaded them to come out with us.

Actually, the dog needed no persuading - as soon as he realised we were getting ready to go out, he sat by the front door, waiting to be invited.  We rarely go to the beach. I suppose we just don't appreciate what's on our doorstep.

I don't think my pictures can capture just how beautiful the beach looked.  The light was fantastic.  It was one of those perfect afternoons.

Jed's ears blowing in the wind.

Know your onions

The allotment is nearly bare now.  There are just a few green tomatoes left on the plants. We'll pick these soon and if they ripen, they will be turned into pasata and if not, made into Green Tomato Chutney.

The Purple Sprouting Broccoli and Brussels Sprouts are hanging on, although they have suffered terrible slug damage.  I must remember to take my camera so I can show you the lacy patterns the leaves are sporting this Autumn.  Fingers crossed they will produce a crop in time for Christmas.

The onions are all pulled and are drying in my Mum's garage.

Except for this handful I brought home to use in the meantime.

Windfall

A friend asked me if I'd like some apples.

Bramleys to be specific.

"Oh yes please"

Well, I can always use them ...

 

So we've been eating Apple Crumble with an oaty topping:

100g plain flour

50g butter

40g sugar

50g oats

I would show you a picture, but we ate it all!

Still plenty of apples left to cook up and freeze for another day.

Perhaps I could make Apple Muffins and maybe an Apple & Cinnamon Cake?

Then, my Mum said a friend of hers had dropped off a few apples for me, as she knew I did a bit of cooking ....

Don't know what variety - does anyone recognise them?

Truly a windfall!

And here are some more windfalls carefully collected by the girls!

Lost and found

 

 Our elder daughter and her BFF went to cinema on Sunday to see Abduction.   The plan was to drop the girls at the pictures, then BFF's mum, our younger daughter and I would go into town for coffee and shopping.  I wasn't in the best frame of mind, as I'd had a migraine the day before and instead of enjoying the unseasonal sunshine, had taken to my bed in a darkened room.

While we were waiting for their order of a gallon of coke and a bucket of popcorn (which my daughter believes counts as one of her five fruit & veg a day), I thought it might be worth asking again about my wallet.

The girl serving me said
"Oh I think I may have seen that in the office."
  She called the Manager who appeared holding a clipboard and a small package ....

Have you guessed what it was??

 

My lovely and no-longer missing wallet AND it still had all my cards, driving licence and £160 in cash inside.

I did an impromptu dance of gratitude in the foyer. 

Children were embarrassed.

I was very happy.

 

See, there are good people in the world!

So now, by my logic, I am £160 better off, have saved a further £20 as I don't have to pay for a replacement driving licence and I have a new wallet (not shown) and a pair of consolation shoes.

What an antidote to a migraine!

By the way, I don't think the girls saw the same film as each other, as when we collected them and asked what it was about, their synopsi (plural?) were completely different and anyway the real point of going was to look at Taylor Lautner. No, I don't who he is either .....

Lemon Tray Bake

I haven't posted a recipe for a while, so let me remedy that now.

Lemon Tray Bake

You need a tray which is about 9" x 13".  I am lazy, so always line mine with parchment paper.  That way there is no greasing and flouring, and often not even washing up involved!

 6oz soft marg

 6oz caster sugar

7.5oz SR Flour

1.5 teaspoons baking powder

3 eggs

3 tablespoons of milk

rind of one lemon

You can combine in a mixer but I always make cakes by hand. So mix everything together and bake for about 30 mins at 180oc.

While the cake is baking, squeeze the lemon and add icing sugar to the juice to make a glace icing.  Not sure how much you need, I just keep adding until it is quite thick.

When the cake is cold, spread over a very thin layer of icing and let it set for 15 minutes or so.  That way you can add another layer of icing without it all just slipping off, or sinking in.

It's a very quick cake that is light and the icing has that lovely sharp lemony zing without being too sickly.

My husband who doesn't usually like cake (yes, I know that is not normal) actually likes this one, which is recommendation indeed.

Gwen

By popular request, here are some photos of Gwen.  

If we leave the kitchen door open they are both straight in, but Gwen is more inquisitive than Pam and not afraid to spread her wings ... She thinks nothing of flapping up to sit on the stable door.

Sometimes she scares us witless by suddenly appearing.

What a pretty chicken she is.