- @LauraBlackwell my dad ends every statement on IM with between 4 & 12 ridiculous smilies. i wonder how we'll annoy our kids in 20yrs time :) in reply to LauraBlackwell #
- Meh. #
- Procrastinating. #
- Fell over in the beck on the way back from a walk. Now both the dog and I smell somewhat swampy. #
- Dog unimpressed that we tried to drag her out to the shop in the pouring rain. Sent @johnleach on his own in the end, he's easier to dry. #
- Still in bed as feeling a bit poo. Am surrounded by many animals. #
- A busy day out and about, mostly in the wet and cold, so I feel justified about being in my pyjamas by ten past six. #
- We're going to the Leeds Farmers Market tomorrow then for a Lily walk in some Leeds park/woodland (probably Meanwood). Anyone want to join? #
- Scored bargains galore @ Leeds Farmers Market, had a lovely stroll with Team Peach & Team @xbaz in Meanwood & pottered in the garden. Ace. #
- Just freestyled a risotto using one of the BOGOF Whitby crabs from the farmers market & wild garlic from the garden. Very fresh & light: yum #
Categorylife
The general parent category for most of the things I write about on here.
One of the more interesting Louisa-centric sub-categories is biodata (where I explore my personal history with graphs, maps and whatnot), and if you’re that way inclined, you can read about the wonderful felines and canines with whom I’ve shared my life too.
A change from my last very quick and easy wild garlic (Ramsons) meal – I made crab & wild garlic risotto for dinner today.
I got two dressed crabs from Leeds Farmers Market – the guy gave me a free one because he wasn’t doing another market for a few days and they don’t freeze them, so I decided to do something a little different than my usual, which is gobbling them down with some bread & salad. I found a crab and leek risotto recipe online and thought wild garlic would do instead.
I’m not the risotto maker in this house but John was out (and doesn’t like crab anyway) so I just bodged it. I knew I didn’t want to cook either the crab or wild garlic for too long so I made a very plain standard base with the rice (although as a nod to the to-be-added ingredients, I added lemon juice to the stock) and added the crab and the wild garlic (roughly cut again) just before the parmesan at the end.
The risotto was very fresh and light – the crab quite delicate but definitely there; ditto the wild garlic. The leaves were mostly wilted like spinach and I was glad I’d cut them up a bit.
Right, we’re a quarter of the way through the year – am I a quarter of the way through my goals? Nope.
1. To make a meal using only ingredients I’ve grown, raised, caught or killed myself.
This feels like it’s moving on a bit now as the sun is shiny and there are potatoes chitting, seeds in pots of soil and many more seeds to meet their soil this weekend. Plus, there is more wild food about now – I “caught” some wild garlic the other day and have plans for the nettle shoots springing up everywhere (and maybe even try the cleavers).
2. To travel to a place on my “top ten places to go before I die” list.
The only places I’ve travelled to this month have been Liverpool and Bingley. So, not got any further with this one.
3. Finish writing my second novel.
Thought about it this month than I did last month. Have yet to apply pen to paper. Sigh.
4. Learn how to make sausages – wet English style ones and cured ones too.
We unfortunately couldn’t make the wonderful course at Old Sleningford Farm last month but are trying to organise going on another one with them, maybe later this month. Still can’t wait – was gutted about having to miss the last one.
5. Spend at least a day fishing out on the North Sea.
There has been preliminary talk of a week in a cottage on the coast in May-ish – my fishing may coincide with this.
6. Finally finish learning how to drive.
Nothing happened with this. Buses from Bingley still frustrating but I’m now passing the time crocheting & listening to TTC lectures — much more productive than if I drove.
7. Make a full outfit’s worth of clothing for myself – including spinning any wool used.
I’ve pretty much stopped playing WoW again for now so I’m crafting more. Working on a (dog) blanket at the moment but I’m determined to start something clothes-y soon.
8. Learn how to program and make a mini-game/application using Ruby.
My progress has slowed with this but I’m still doing bits. My book suddenly got less usable though so I’m looking for other resources.
9. Climb a mountain or at least a jolly big hill.
Last month, I alluded to something happening that would make this goal a lot easier to accomplish – the arrival of Lily. We’ve walked so much this month! Actually, it’s lessened a bit over the last week or so – the initial excitement of her new environs has worn off and she’s happy to run about everywhere off-lead while we dawdle a shorter route behind. Still, way more exercise than we used to do.
10. Participate more in the real world – plan/run a real life green event or scheme.
Getting out and about more with the dog has made me a) talk to more local people (albeit just doggie small talk so far) and b) see more of the area. The brain cogs keep turning.
1. I wake up just before dawn to the sound of some low half-barks – Lily getting excited in her sleep. She’s still in her bed so I go to her to soothe her. Next time I wake up, perhaps an hour or so later, she’s lying in between us, on her back with her paws in the air, Carla is sat on my chest purring and Boron is fast asleep on my head. The best way to wake up.
2. On the bus, my ears and brain are distracted by a lecture on human pre-history, my hands and eyes by granny squares.
3. After a difficult rehearsal, I need cake. Lots of cake. Then I spot it – a fancy, expensive cake reduced to clear for just 99p.
- @davidsmalley we went out during a little break in the rain earlier. Lily got *slightly* muddy. Bathtime later for the furry filthpot! in reply to davidsmalley #
- Cleaned dried mud of Lily's belly ahead of @strowger78 coming to tickle it tomorrow. #
- Cat & dog both curled up, bums touching, on the sofa. Too cute. #
- @sarahjarvis or a couple of months if you'd swapped to wearing muu-muus and claimed it was a new fashion trend. in reply to sarahjarvis #
- Had to interrupt a business phone call to stop the dog chasing squirrels. #thejoysofworkingfromhome #
- @sarahjarvis your question should be "do i eat a 4th cupcake or not?"; the first three don't need questioning. in reply to sarahjarvis #
- Off to Salvo's with @johnleach tonight for our first proper date night in flippin' ages. Can't wait. :D #
- Full of Salvo's. Happy. #
- Wild garlic & leftover mash potato cakes. Y.U.M.M.O. #almostafreelunch (Eaten with @johnleach-paid-for smokey bacon so still free to me ;) ) #
- @davidsmalley that's why i booked team always-late onto a direct train ;) in reply to davidsmalley #
- Boron's head smells of biscuits … and burped wild garlic gas. Funny that. #
- Had a good run around the Chevin with Katherine & Joe, and Lily-dog. All got rather muddy but was fun. #
- Would really rather like a nap. #
- @tim_waters ooh, maybe. would a (well behaved, ever so pretty) doggie be welcome too? in reply to tim_waters #
- Just had one of those "the food isn't very good but there is lots of it" moments with a random takeaway. Leftover dhal & naan for tomorrow. #
Saturday:
1. We walk further into West Wood that we’ve done before and come across high cliffs of rock with dangling ivy floating in the breeze; a dead tree snapped in half; a precarious overhang.
2. The garage at the end of the road (which, strangely, sells some of the best samosas I’ve ever eaten) has installed a slushie machine – two flavours: raspberry and strawberry. I text John to tell him and he replies: “we’ll look back on this as our diabetic summer.”
Sunday:
3. We sit on the balcony in the sun, waiting. I don’t hear the doorbell but the dog does and we all race to welcome John home.
4. There isn’t quite enough room but I join them on the sofa anyway and watch the film from underneath his arm.
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