Where did Autumn go?

Due to 'technical difficulties' I've been offline for most of it but wanted to chronicle some of our best bits...



Bonfire Night - LOVE it



George's first ever trip to the theatre to see Jungle Book. He loved the audience participation bit (almost as much as owning his own bag of maltesers!) so bring on Christmas panto!



After 4 years of cat ownership, she finally jumps onto my lap for cuddle ever night. Miracles do happen!

 Boys Jobs

Tree chopping

A kind of car washing

Spaceship making

Spaceship flying

Gorgeous Autumn

Closing down for winter



See you next year stunning Autumn



Winter Warmers

I love love soup at this time of the year. These are my current top two -the leek and potato comes courtesy of the allotment. Leeks are about all I have left, can't quite bring myself to use the Kale (urrgh) and the parsnips are in keeping for christmas day :-)

Mushroom Soup (Sarah Raven's Garden Cookbook):

600ml good chicken stock

1 garlic clove finely chopped

75g butter

450g mixed mushrooms (I always add some dried porcini and the juice)

50g flour

Freshly grated nutmeg

600ml whole milk

150ml single cream

1-2 tsp lemon juice

Fry the onion and garlic gently, roughly chop 1/2 thre mushrooms and add to the onion. Cook until soft then stir in the flour and nutmeg, whisk in the warm stock and bring to boil, cover andn simmer for 15-20 mins. Liquidise and season well. Finely chop rest of mushrooms and add to pan with the milk. Bring to boil and simmer for 10 more mins. Take off heat and add cream and lemon juice. Season well and serve x



Leek and Potato Soup (Sarah Raven's Garden Cookbook)

Made with allotment leeks :-|)

1 Onion thinly sliced

1 tblsp olive oil

25g butter

6 large leeks

3 medium waxy potatoes

1 litre chicken or veg stock

500ml milk

freshly grated nutmeg

5-6 tablespns single cream

Sauté onion in butter and oil until soft, add leeks and potatoes and cook for 6-7 minutes. Add the stock and simmer until veg are very tender (about 10 mins). Liquidise and add milk, bring to boil. Remove from heat and add herbs, nutmeg, cream and warm through. Season well and serve x





The only cure for an annoying tickly cough

When no amount of cough medicine works, it is the middle of the night, and you'll do anything to stop that annoying cough.... melt some of these (or actually any smooth chocolate) at the back of your mouth to coat your throat ... miracle cure! Thank goodness for 'treat cupboards'.

Treat morning

Rumsey's Wendover - the best hot chocolate on the planet :-)

A Time to Remember

I can still remember my first ever visit to The Somme and other battlefields in France and Belgium.  The sheer scale of the dead and their sacrifice, so that we can lead the lives we do today was astonishing, heartbreaking and humbling.  I went on to sell poppies in the street but always wished I could do more.

I vaguely remember asking my lovely Grandad about his time in the war and he would brush me off saying 'oh you don't want to know about that'.  I was too young to understand that it was too painful for him to talk about.  Like most soldiers, he didn't want or need to be heroic, although I feel my Grandad and the many many, too many, like him were, and are, heros of the highest order. 

This week I have been listening to a radio show (link) with mother's of soldiers talking about their incredible sons and the music that they loved.  It has moved me so deeply and I feel so indebted to these incredible men and women and their families who have lost so much in the hope of helping others to a better life. 

I find it so hard to listen to the personal stories. The pride mixed with the devastation as they talk about the young men that they brought into this world and loved beyond anything imaginable.  The agony of being told that they have been killed. Agony.

I will always wear my poppy with pride and be so humbled, thankful and indebted to the amazing people that make the ultimate sacrifice.
xx

New Camera & Studio Sesh!

Exciting times in the Greer house a new camera has now been purchased. My dear dad has tempted me to the 'other side' and I am now a new Nikon D7000 owner.  I had a blast taking pics of George in his studio, my final Nikon calling.  Just need some time (and money) to get going with plans for a make shift studio of my own :-)

Halloween

George called it 'spooky day' and as a child who is fairly easily petrified by all things ghouly I was impressed that it only took about 6 lots of witches at the door before he ventured out from under my top to offer the mandatory tub of sweets and cakes made by his, and a couple of his friends' fair hands.  We also had apple bobbing and indoor fireworks in case the trick or treaters didn't hit the spot.  I was grateful for this combo when a stray firework lit up the playroom rug - always good to have a bowl of water on hand in such cases. I knew I should never have been thrown out of girl guides.

Welcome to the world Joseph

A gorgeous bundle of loveliness. My beautiful big sister and her new son. Welcome to world Joseph Flynn Newstone.