A Day on the Couch

Well it was SO cold. It never even reached above Freezing Point yesterday.  And the day before yesterday I overdid it just a little. So I had to have a rest day which means no sitting down, no bending over and no lifting.

My kefir mother had been working for  24 hours so  I made a big loaf of wholemeal, flaxseed bread and smelt it rising then cooking  from the couch. I find it does the best if I put it in the cold oven and then turn the oven on to cook it. It seems to complete its last rise very vigorously that way.

Then I lay on the couch and ate hot bread with butter and great gulps of hot tea because that is the best way to eat bread.

Then I decided to experiment some more with an oat base for a custard pie. This is an apple rosette custard pie with a gluten free oat, walnut and honey base. The base was almost lovely. When I make it again I will write down what I do, so I can share it with you.  The custard was lovely too. But the apple rosettes were horrible. I am still working on this recipe too.

Because it looks so good.

Then I spent some of  the afternoon back on the couch reading about kunekune pigs. I hope this link will lead you to a wee video of kunekune. They are just so cute I can’t bear it! This is a pig that could come in the car to the old folks home with me. I have discovered a breeder in Illinois. Oh Dear.  It would be a pet though and you know how I am about pets (I know, I know – with three dogs and four cats, three peacocks and those guineas!).  I pretend not to have pets!

Then I called a local sheep man I have just discovered and asked him if he wanted Hairy Maclairy. He said he will come and have a look and seemed very positive.  Yay for Hairy who has been lonely on the other side of the fence.  He is too rough with Mama, and has been head butting Daisy. He needs bigger pastures and more girls (who he is not related to). And I can get a new ram from the new sheep man next year. This fellow raises organic lamb for restaurants in chicago.

Then I laid on the couch and did some research on what legumes we will sow into the patches this year (I want ones with flowers for the bees).  And John has requested a small turkey for next years Thanksgiving so I needed to do some research on that.

Then I got John to drive me down to the newly reopened local pub and asked them if I could put a bucket in their scullery to collect scraps for the pigs and the chickens. And the man in the kitchen said, yes.  I told them all they have to do is put the full bucket outside in the tile I provided (so it does not become a target for dogs or wind) –  out on the footpath and I will swap it for a clean one. It is called curbside pickup. And is legal. The man looked bemused but did a lot of nodding so I think we are clear.

Then home again, (I can ride quite well in the passenger seat of the big red truck) I ate the Irish lamb stew that John had cooking on the woodstove all day.  And then went to bed to lie down and research nothing.

It was the day of small successes. But not a day of pictures. 

Very cold and windy and grey.

Have a lovely day.

your friend

celi