Hope it's a Good One!
Thursday, December 31, 2015
Wednesday, December 23, 2015
Thursday, December 17, 2015
A Murderous Christmas?
Well my enthusiastic start to Christmas posts was scuppered by violent bloody murder actually murders ...No not real ones thank goodness. My OH was teaching a two week special Forensic science class to mostly High School (but a few middle school children made it in)children.
This involved much setting up of crime scenes for them to investigate. Think masking tape body outlines ...bloody murder weapons (Glossy Holly red paint ..very festive) Foot prints on newspapers, fingerprints (nice bloody red ones ! on cups, phones, glasses, chairs you name it... we had lines of drugs left on tables at the scenes (sugar actually ..lol) tables tipped , china broken , fibers to id clues to discover etc etc times this by Seven for each set up ...so 14 in total and you find how much effort and time it takes ..... We are now officially ready for the holidays!!!
I scoured the local thrift stores for outrageous ties (strangulation) Cast iron frying pan, assorted tools.... who could resist Candle sticks for the school library crime scene ...not me .
Another great find was a golf club ($2.95 so within budget !) It sounds like they've have had a great and very interesting time ..a mix of lectures and short videos ...lots of lab experiments... testing chemicals ..testing fibers to identify what they are....looking at hair and fur under the microscope (oops just realized I forgot to add dog hair to this mornings crime scenes....still it's too late now)
Fingerprint ..making, lifting , id'ing... ballistics ... gun shot holes in glass ...(gosh darn it do you realise how hard it is too produce bullet.. actually air gun pellet... holes in glass to examine ..without shattering the whole thing ...very I say and it's darn messy to clean up the disasters in the garden on a below freezing snowy day.)
He also had visits by interesting speakers including A Pharmacist, A Prosecutor, Crime Lab foot print chap (excellent apparently) ..and more .
All in all Exhausting, informative and great fun!
So tomorrow the Children start their Winter Break and I get to help clear and put away rather a lot of labs... but at least life is not boring.
Anyway to keep on a vaguely murderous theme Christmas stories I like to read at this time of year
The Nine Tailors by D.L.Sayers
also a short story called A Necklace of Pearls from her collection
" A Treasury of Sayers Stories"
On a non Christmas or Murderous theme I'm really enjoying this work by Sayers
The Lost Tools of Learning
I must be on a Sayer's influenced roll here as I just realized I also have The Late Scholar by Jill Paton Walsh on my bedside cupboard which I'm enjoying for a second time.
I've also dipped into Martin Edwards lovely fat book The Golden Age of Murder which talks of D.L. Sayers life and work.
And that leads me onto The Christmas book edited by Mr Edwards Silent Nights:Christmas Mysteries ..which I'm rationing to one to two at bedtime ...Just right for a cold Winter'y night.
The only progress I've made on the Christmas cooking front is Three nice fat jars of Mincemeat. I used raisins, dates,chopped dessert apple, brown sugar, fresh grated beef suet, spices, home made candied peel, blanched chopped almonds and some Maraschino cherries (because I had some in the store and no other cherries in sight) plus of course some sherry ..oh and some white rum oh and a little Amaretto...it smells and looks rather wonderful and Christmass'y.
Well enough for now I'm off to clean my fridge (it's all fun here)
This involved much setting up of crime scenes for them to investigate. Think masking tape body outlines ...bloody murder weapons (Glossy Holly red paint ..very festive) Foot prints on newspapers, fingerprints (nice bloody red ones ! on cups, phones, glasses, chairs you name it... we had lines of drugs left on tables at the scenes (sugar actually ..lol) tables tipped , china broken , fibers to id clues to discover etc etc times this by Seven for each set up ...so 14 in total and you find how much effort and time it takes ..... We are now officially ready for the holidays!!!
I scoured the local thrift stores for outrageous ties (strangulation) Cast iron frying pan, assorted tools.... who could resist Candle sticks for the school library crime scene ...not me .
Another great find was a golf club ($2.95 so within budget !) It sounds like they've have had a great and very interesting time ..a mix of lectures and short videos ...lots of lab experiments... testing chemicals ..testing fibers to identify what they are....looking at hair and fur under the microscope (oops just realized I forgot to add dog hair to this mornings crime scenes....still it's too late now)
Fingerprint ..making, lifting , id'ing... ballistics ... gun shot holes in glass ...(gosh darn it do you realise how hard it is too produce bullet.. actually air gun pellet... holes in glass to examine ..without shattering the whole thing ...very I say and it's darn messy to clean up the disasters in the garden on a below freezing snowy day.)
He also had visits by interesting speakers including A Pharmacist, A Prosecutor, Crime Lab foot print chap (excellent apparently) ..and more .
All in all Exhausting, informative and great fun!
So tomorrow the Children start their Winter Break and I get to help clear and put away rather a lot of labs... but at least life is not boring.
Anyway to keep on a vaguely murderous theme Christmas stories I like to read at this time of year
The Nine Tailors by D.L.Sayers
also a short story called A Necklace of Pearls from her collection
" A Treasury of Sayers Stories"
On a non Christmas or Murderous theme I'm really enjoying this work by Sayers
The Lost Tools of Learning
I must be on a Sayer's influenced roll here as I just realized I also have The Late Scholar by Jill Paton Walsh on my bedside cupboard which I'm enjoying for a second time.
I've also dipped into Martin Edwards lovely fat book The Golden Age of Murder which talks of D.L. Sayers life and work.
And that leads me onto The Christmas book edited by Mr Edwards Silent Nights:Christmas Mysteries ..which I'm rationing to one to two at bedtime ...Just right for a cold Winter'y night.
The only progress I've made on the Christmas cooking front is Three nice fat jars of Mincemeat. I used raisins, dates,chopped dessert apple, brown sugar, fresh grated beef suet, spices, home made candied peel, blanched chopped almonds and some Maraschino cherries (because I had some in the store and no other cherries in sight) plus of course some sherry ..oh and some white rum oh and a little Amaretto...it smells and looks rather wonderful and Christmass'y.
Well enough for now I'm off to clean my fridge (it's all fun here)
Friday, December 11, 2015
Friday, December 4, 2015
4th December 2015
Christmas reading list ....A work in Progress
I'm adding
The Necklace of Pearls by D.L.Sayers (from short story collection Hangman's Holiday)
I even found this site here explaining references in the story to those not in the know.
So now I know what the game "Clumps" is.
Mog's Christmas by Judith Kerr (Which I see is even available on kindle ! ) A family favourite.
today's Poetry addition is ...
Ceremonies for Christmas
by
Robert Herrick (1648)
Come, bring with a noise,
My merry, merry boys,
The Christmas log to the firing,
While my good dame, she
Bids ye all be free,
And drink to your heart’s desiring.
With the last year’s brand
Light the new block, and
For good success in his spending,
On your psalteries play,
That sweet luck may
Come while the log is a-tending.
Drink now the strong beer,
Cut the white loaf here,
The while the meat is a-shredding;
For the rare mince-pie,
And the plums stand by,
To fill the paste that’s a kneading.
by
Robert Herrick (1648)
Come, bring with a noise,
My merry, merry boys,
The Christmas log to the firing,
While my good dame, she
Bids ye all be free,
And drink to your heart’s desiring.
With the last year’s brand
Light the new block, and
For good success in his spending,
On your psalteries play,
That sweet luck may
Come while the log is a-tending.
Drink now the strong beer,
Cut the white loaf here,
The while the meat is a-shredding;
For the rare mince-pie,
And the plums stand by,
To fill the paste that’s a kneading.
and with that reminder of Christmas cooking a quick Chutney recipe ...made in the microwave
Christmas Chutney.
I fancied making some Chutney for Christmas ..I haven't found it to buy here so it's make some or miss out.
I decided to use what I have in store and make it in the microwave using my fall back recipe ...for "Mixed Fruit Chutney" but a half recipe. So I needed about 1 and a 1/2 pounds of Fruits and Vegetable mixed. 3-4oz of Brown sugar. 1/4 pint of Vinegar (the nicest you can find) Small handfull of raisins (I prefer Sultanas but can't find them to buy)
Method.
Dried apricots ( dried 4oz) finely chopped and then covered in boiling water (just) left to sit a while
( resulted in 8 to 9oz of plump pieces.)
Onion I used half of a fat onion about 7 oz ( chopped into small chunks)
Apple 1 dessert apple ( chopped into small chunks)
Fresh Ginger about an inch long piece peeled and sliced.
I put all these ingredients into a glass bowl and microwaved until soft.
I zapped them for 11 minutes.
Then added about 1/3rd of the Sugar, a pinch of salt, a shake of black pepper.
Oh and a small hand full of raisins.
Gave the mix a good stir.
Zapped for another 4 minutes.
Then added 1/4 pt Apple Cider Vinegar (any you like works fine ..just don't make the mistake I made once and tried a white vinegar that would've stripped paint ...it never mellowed)
Also the rest of the Sugar.
Give it a good stir and then
Zapped for another 11 minutes .
(Checking and stirring every so often.)
The aim is too lose some moisture and end up with a nice consistency.
Bottle in sterilized hot empty glass jars .
Cover and cool then label.
I decided to use what I have in store and make it in the microwave using my fall back recipe ...for "Mixed Fruit Chutney" but a half recipe. So I needed about 1 and a 1/2 pounds of Fruits and Vegetable mixed. 3-4oz of Brown sugar. 1/4 pint of Vinegar (the nicest you can find) Small handfull of raisins (I prefer Sultanas but can't find them to buy)
Method.
Dried apricots ( dried 4oz) finely chopped and then covered in boiling water (just) left to sit a while
( resulted in 8 to 9oz of plump pieces.)
Onion I used half of a fat onion about 7 oz ( chopped into small chunks)
Apple 1 dessert apple ( chopped into small chunks)
Fresh Ginger about an inch long piece peeled and sliced.
I put all these ingredients into a glass bowl and microwaved until soft.
I zapped them for 11 minutes.
Then added about 1/3rd of the Sugar, a pinch of salt, a shake of black pepper.
Oh and a small hand full of raisins.
Gave the mix a good stir.
Zapped for another 4 minutes.
Then added 1/4 pt Apple Cider Vinegar (any you like works fine ..just don't make the mistake I made once and tried a white vinegar that would've stripped paint ...it never mellowed)
Also the rest of the Sugar.
Give it a good stir and then
Zapped for another 11 minutes .
(Checking and stirring every so often.)
The aim is too lose some moisture and end up with a nice consistency.
Bottle in sterilized hot empty glass jars .
Cover and cool then label.
This worked really well...it's very yummy, quite a sweet chutney but the Ginger adds an interesting bite. I'm not sure how well it would keep? but this batch won't have the chance to find out ... it's not at all harsh and you can eat it straight away. We tested it with crusty bread and cheese.
Wednesday, December 2, 2015
2nd December 2015.....
First a seasonal poem (short story!) from 1622 that is quite new to me
(all credit to http://poetry.about.com )
 |
| from http://www.artbible.info/art/large/247.html |
A Christmas Carol
by
George Wither (1622)
George Wither (1622)
So now is come our joyful’st feast,
Let every man be jolly.
Each room with ivy leaves is drest,
And every post with holly.
Though some churls at our mirth repine,
Round your foreheads garlands twine,
Drown sorrow in a cup of wine,
And let us all be merry.
Now all our neighbors’ chimneys smoke,
And Christmas blocks are burning;
Their ovens they with bak’d-meats choke,
And all their spits are turning.
Without the door let sorrow lie,
And if for cold it hap to die,
We’ll bury ’t in a Christmas pie,
And evermore be merry.
Let every man be jolly.
Each room with ivy leaves is drest,
And every post with holly.
Though some churls at our mirth repine,
Round your foreheads garlands twine,
Drown sorrow in a cup of wine,
And let us all be merry.
Now all our neighbors’ chimneys smoke,
And Christmas blocks are burning;
Their ovens they with bak’d-meats choke,
And all their spits are turning.
Without the door let sorrow lie,
And if for cold it hap to die,
We’ll bury ’t in a Christmas pie,
And evermore be merry.
Now every lad is wondrous trim,
And no man minds his labor;
Our lasses have provided them
A bag-pipe and a tabor.
Young men and maids and girls and boys
Give life to one another’s joys,
And you anon shall by their noise
Perceive that they are merry.
Rank misers now do sparing shun,
Their hall of music soundeth,
And dogs thence with whole shoulders run,
So all things there aboundeth.
The country folk themselves advance,
For crowdy-mutton’s come out of France.
And Jack shall pipe and Jill shall dance,
And all the town be merry.
Ned Swash hath fetch’d his bands from pawn,
And all his best apparel;
Brisk Nell hath bought a ruff of lawn
With droppings of the barrel;
And those that hardly all the year
Had bread to eat or rags to wear,
Will have both clothes and dainty fare,
And all the day be merry.
Now poor men to the justices
With capons make their arrants,
And if they hap to fail of these
They plague them with their warrants.
But now they feed them with good cheer,
And what they want they take in beer,
For Christmas comes but once a year,
And then they shall be merry.
Good farmers in the country nurse
The poor, that else were undone.
Some landlords spend their money worse,
On lust and pride at London.
There the roisters they do play,
Drab and dice their land away,
Which may be ours another day;
And therefore let’s be merry.
The client now his suit forbears,
The prisoner’s heart is eased,
The debtor drinks away his cares,
And for the time is pleased.
Though others’ purses be more fat,
Why should we pine or grieve at that?
Hang sorrow, care will kill a cat,
And therefore let’s be merry.
Hark how the wags abroad do call
Each other forth to rambling;
Anon you’ll see them in the hall
For nuts and apples scrambling.
Hark how the roofs with laughters sound!
Anon they’ll think the house goes round,
For they the cellar’s depth have found,
And there they will be merry.
The wenches with their wassail bowls
About the streets are singing,
The boys are come to catch the owls,
The wild mare in is bringing.
Our kitchen boy hath broke his box,
And to the dealing of the ox
Our honest neighbors come by flocks,
And here they will be merry.
Now kings and queens poor sheepcotes have,
And mate with everybody;
The honest now may play the knave,
And wise men play at noddy.
Some youths will now a-mumming go,
Some others play at rowlandhoe,
And twenty other gameboys moe,
Because they will be merry.
Then wherefore in these merry days
Should we, I pray, be duller?
No, let us sing some roundelays
To make our mirth the fuller.
And, whilst thus inspir’d we sing,
Let all the streets with echoes ring,
Woods and hills and everything,
Bear witness we are merry.
And no man minds his labor;
Our lasses have provided them
A bag-pipe and a tabor.
Young men and maids and girls and boys
Give life to one another’s joys,
And you anon shall by their noise
Perceive that they are merry.
Rank misers now do sparing shun,
Their hall of music soundeth,
And dogs thence with whole shoulders run,
So all things there aboundeth.
The country folk themselves advance,
For crowdy-mutton’s come out of France.
And Jack shall pipe and Jill shall dance,
And all the town be merry.
Ned Swash hath fetch’d his bands from pawn,
And all his best apparel;
Brisk Nell hath bought a ruff of lawn
With droppings of the barrel;
And those that hardly all the year
Had bread to eat or rags to wear,
Will have both clothes and dainty fare,
And all the day be merry.
Now poor men to the justices
With capons make their arrants,
And if they hap to fail of these
They plague them with their warrants.
But now they feed them with good cheer,
And what they want they take in beer,
For Christmas comes but once a year,
And then they shall be merry.
Good farmers in the country nurse
The poor, that else were undone.
Some landlords spend their money worse,
On lust and pride at London.
There the roisters they do play,
Drab and dice their land away,
Which may be ours another day;
And therefore let’s be merry.
The client now his suit forbears,
The prisoner’s heart is eased,
The debtor drinks away his cares,
And for the time is pleased.
Though others’ purses be more fat,
Why should we pine or grieve at that?
Hang sorrow, care will kill a cat,
And therefore let’s be merry.
Hark how the wags abroad do call
Each other forth to rambling;
Anon you’ll see them in the hall
For nuts and apples scrambling.
Hark how the roofs with laughters sound!
Anon they’ll think the house goes round,
For they the cellar’s depth have found,
And there they will be merry.
The wenches with their wassail bowls
About the streets are singing,
The boys are come to catch the owls,
The wild mare in is bringing.
Our kitchen boy hath broke his box,
And to the dealing of the ox
Our honest neighbors come by flocks,
And here they will be merry.
Now kings and queens poor sheepcotes have,
And mate with everybody;
The honest now may play the knave,
And wise men play at noddy.
Some youths will now a-mumming go,
Some others play at rowlandhoe,
And twenty other gameboys moe,
Because they will be merry.
Then wherefore in these merry days
Should we, I pray, be duller?
No, let us sing some roundelays
To make our mirth the fuller.
And, whilst thus inspir’d we sing,
Let all the streets with echoes ring,
Woods and hills and everything,
Bear witness we are merry.
Next Baking....like the White Rabbit I'm rather late but better late than never ....and also to be honest I'm always late :o)
I grew up with Marguerite Patten cook books and cards ...my Mother loved her books and it's easy to see why.
Reading ....
Thought I'd start the season off with an old favourite !
Now off to do some chores and hopefully start a craft project thats buzzing in my head....
1st December 2015 Christmas is coming ......
Christmas is Coming
Christmas is coming,
The geese are getting fat,
Please put a penny
In the old man's hat.
If you haven't got a penny,
A ha'penny will do,
If you haven't got a ha'penny,
Then God bless you.
The geese are getting fat,
Please put a penny
In the old man's hat.
If you haven't got a penny,
A ha'penny will do,
If you haven't got a ha'penny,
Then God bless you.
Traditional
Getting in the Christmas mood! .....sorting out my Christmas Reading list......Christmas Watching list....Christmas Baking list..... Christmas making list..... and Christmas listening list.....
No alcohol was involved in the production of this post ....impetus and mood are courtesy booking tickets to visit family in the UK after a gap of several years ... I rather think I may be in an Excellent mood :o)
Wednesday, November 25, 2015
Saturday, November 21, 2015
Ramblings on a Snowy Saturday. (mostly about a hen)
Today we woke to more snow .....it's warmer (we've had a week of colder nights around -1f
(0f = about -17 C ..I think)
Anyway it feels a lot warmer, I think it's about 27f as I type but it's a bit breezy so I expect it'll feel a bit chilly outdoors.
We have the woodstove cranking out lovely warmth. You can always tell when it's colder as it's a pet magnet..even the collie can wriggle underneath if he so desires.
Today's weather advisory..and guess which part of Town we live in ...The East ..ha ha
I think later today we'll dress up and go get some fresh air..a bit of path clearing and vehicle uncovering is on the menu too. Get in some more logs ..feed the outdoor birds (now we just have one hen and one pheasant together in a covered run outdoors .)
The bantam comes into the laundry for the Winter . 4 years ago I though she was going to succumb to the cold and bought her in to die in peace ..but the indoors was all she needed for a new lease on life and this is her fourth Winter indoors ....she chats to the Guinea pigs who also Winter indoors. As soon as we're frost free they go out into their Summer quarters in the garden.
The G-Pigs certainly make visits to the laundry lively as the Guinea pigs "Week" and "squeal" hopefully for treats ..and especially loudly and indignantly if I forget! "
The Guinea pigs are "Cinderella"," Princess Ruffle"s and their Prince Charming "Fluffles" The Bantam is originally named "Banty" there are obviously no limits to my creativity (The girls named the Guinea pigs)
Banty is a tiny hen ..I believe she is a Dutch Bantam..she was bought as an odd chick many years ago when we were rearing our own Golden Pheasants ..the pheasant chicks need encouragement to peck and bantam chicks need none and are great examples to reluctant feeders.
She also reared a nest full of day old standard hen chicks ..we thought she'd like her own small flock and chose larger bird chicks as they should stand the cold better (or so we thought) but we had to separate her when they grew so big she was running beneath them and they got a bit bossy. Now she has outlived the Pheasants and all but one of her brood of hens and she still seems a happy hen.
The girls insist they taught her to fly when she was small....and she survived being tucked under small arms and carried around the garden. I remember circus tricks being performed (just picture a small hen on a beach ball) and she even used to lay eggs...so if any one needs a recommendation for a small, mellow extremely sturdy breed of hen I know which breed I'd choose. Actually I think a small trio of chicks (that Winter inside) may be on my future projects list.
Here's a picture from Wiki of a bird that looks just like Banty did in her prime . For an idea of sizze think of a Dove ..a fat pigeon would be too big. She's tiny.But full of character.
Well enough rambling I have an appointment with a snow shovel!
(0f = about -17 C ..I think)
Anyway it feels a lot warmer, I think it's about 27f as I type but it's a bit breezy so I expect it'll feel a bit chilly outdoors.
We have the woodstove cranking out lovely warmth. You can always tell when it's colder as it's a pet magnet..even the collie can wriggle underneath if he so desires.
Today's weather advisory..and guess which part of Town we live in ...The East ..ha ha
I think later today we'll dress up and go get some fresh air..a bit of path clearing and vehicle uncovering is on the menu too. Get in some more logs ..feed the outdoor birds (now we just have one hen and one pheasant together in a covered run outdoors .)
The bantam comes into the laundry for the Winter . 4 years ago I though she was going to succumb to the cold and bought her in to die in peace ..but the indoors was all she needed for a new lease on life and this is her fourth Winter indoors ....she chats to the Guinea pigs who also Winter indoors. As soon as we're frost free they go out into their Summer quarters in the garden.
The G-Pigs certainly make visits to the laundry lively as the Guinea pigs "Week" and "squeal" hopefully for treats ..and especially loudly and indignantly if I forget! "
The Guinea pigs are "Cinderella"," Princess Ruffle"s and their Prince Charming "Fluffles" The Bantam is originally named "Banty" there are obviously no limits to my creativity (The girls named the Guinea pigs)
Banty is a tiny hen ..I believe she is a Dutch Bantam..she was bought as an odd chick many years ago when we were rearing our own Golden Pheasants ..the pheasant chicks need encouragement to peck and bantam chicks need none and are great examples to reluctant feeders.
She also reared a nest full of day old standard hen chicks ..we thought she'd like her own small flock and chose larger bird chicks as they should stand the cold better (or so we thought) but we had to separate her when they grew so big she was running beneath them and they got a bit bossy. Now she has outlived the Pheasants and all but one of her brood of hens and she still seems a happy hen.
The girls insist they taught her to fly when she was small....and she survived being tucked under small arms and carried around the garden. I remember circus tricks being performed (just picture a small hen on a beach ball) and she even used to lay eggs...so if any one needs a recommendation for a small, mellow extremely sturdy breed of hen I know which breed I'd choose. Actually I think a small trio of chicks (that Winter inside) may be on my future projects list.
Here's a picture from Wiki of a bird that looks just like Banty did in her prime . For an idea of sizze think of a Dove ..a fat pigeon would be too big. She's tiny.But full of character.
 | |
| photo courtesy wiki Thank you! |
Friday, November 20, 2015
Ignore (please)
and what are you doing here ? I may well ask :O)
I know it's crazy saying ignore .....but I'm just testing re-sizing photos and this is the easiest way for me...
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