Seven

We celebrated a birthday here last week. Lily turned seven. Seven! Even though I say it each year, I can't believe how fast she is growing and changing. There are times when I would quite like to press a pause button. She is so kind and funny, she has a wicked sense of humour, and I delight in her love of animals and nature. Her laugh is infectious and she has an abundance of energy, running rings around me at every opportunity.

Although we never intended to celebrate with a big party this year, we certainly didn't expect things would be this quiet, but Lily was still able to enjoy her special day. The day before, we baked chocolate brownies, although not quite all the broken chocolate made it into the mixture - some things are just far too tempting.  

Lily was thrilled with her birthday gifts. She got books, a new paddling pool, a solar system and a practical joke set, as well as some other gifts which were all very well received. However, she would probably say her two favourites were a Super Soaker and bubble machine. Oh, and the Whoopee cushion is getting a lot of use, heard randomly around the house, usually followed by squeals of laughter.

We spent a happy day at home, mostly in the garden, but there was time to indulge in a little painting indoors. The bubble machine was put to good use before a quick water fight ensued, then it was time to sing and blow out the birthday candles. I am so grateful for technology which enabled others to share the day with us, she also received some birthday wishes online from her teachers and school friends.

In the end, even after all her hard work, Lily decided she wouldn't bother with any of the brownie after all, but she was more than happy to help herself to the Smarties.

J. X

Another Week

Another week, or has it been two? I've reached that stage where I can't quite remember. Following a return to a steady routine, the days are passing me by quickly but gently. Home schooling is taking up much of my time. I'm learning to adapt the curriculum work to suit ourselves and chip away at it gradually each day in an attempt to avoid any unnecessary battle of wills. I'll possibly have just about got the hang of it by the time the schools open again.

The weather continues to be glorious in our little corner which is enabling us to make the most of our time outdoors. Walks are unhurried and several times now we've ventured a little further afield than usual.  Last week I couldn't resist another visit to the woods to see the bluebells. Many of them are beginning to fade away now and in the dappled sunlight, beneath the canopy of the trees they appear as a purple haze. 

The hedgerows are full of blossom and there is a soft sweet scent in the air as we walk along. With all this fresh new growth the world is turning a brilliant shade of green, and with an abundance of cow parsley the lanes and pathways are becoming more narrow as a result.

Along with a change to our walking routes we've also been out riding our bikes, the quieter lanes being an ideal opportunity to get Lily used to feeling more comfortable riding on the roads.

A couple of  short journeys to get the hang of it, then we travelled a little further, meaning I was able to call in at the farm shop for some sugar, which I hadn't managed to get from the supermarket last week. (I was eager to bake some cookies and I can confirm they were definitely worth carrying the extra weight home in my rucksack for 😋) On one of our rides we took along a light picnic lunch and enjoyed a stop off by the river for a rest and a quick bite to eat, and it was lovely to see the decorations and bunting hung around the village for VE day.  

Last weekend, while the weather was still lovely and warm, we camped out in the garden. We never got the opportunity to go camping last year, the good weather never seemed to coincide with time off work and school, and I have no idea what this summer will bring, so we pitched up in the garden for what turned out to be a pretty good night's sleep. The night was quiet and still and we stayed lovely and cosy in our sleeping bags. The following morning, however,  the wind had picked up, so at 6.30am we made a hasty retreat into the house to make breakfast.

J. X

No-Knead Bread Recipe

A few of you have messaged to ask about the bread I baked, shown in my previous post. It is a favourite of mine and, as with anything that comes out of my kitchen, it is very simple to bake and takes minimal effort. The crispy crust makes it especially delicious served with soup or stews, and in this house it is also traditionally enjoyed on Christmas Eve, dipped in baked camembert and cranberries.

There are, of course, many variations of this recipe online but this is the one that I use.

You will need:

400g Strong white bread flour

½ teaspoon of dried yeast

1 teaspoon of salt

300 ml warm water

A large oven proof pot with a lid

Weigh out the flour and put it into a large mixing bowl, stir in the salt and yeast. Pour in the warm water and mix well together using a wooden spoon to make a sticky dough. Cover with cling film or reusable wrap and leave for at least twelve hours , I leave mine overnight.

The dough will become bubbly and VERY sticky.

Put your empty cooking pot into the oven at 200℃ to heat through for around 30 minutes, then with well floured hands, carefully turn out the dough onto some baking paper and gently shape into a round.

Very carefully, using the baking paper, lower the dough into the pot and put the lid on.
Bake in the centre of the oven for 30 minutes. Remove the lid then bake for a further 15 minutes until golden brown. Allow to cool.

I believe you can also bake this using plain flour, although I have yet to try this myself. If anyone has done, do please let me know how it turned out.

J. X

The Last Few Days

I baked bread. I've never been quite so excited to get my hands on a bag of flour and the bread was simply delicious. Minimal effort for maximum reward : )

Our afternoon walks have continued. Lily insisted I take a photograph of these bluebells which appeared to us all at once through a gap in a wall.

The last of the spring lambs have appeared in the fields.

The wild garlic has flowered, covering the woodland floor with a carpet of white.

Mog has remained in a permanent state of sedentary bliss.

The number of ducklings at the river appear to have increased.

Lily chalked a blue heart on a rock for the NHS workers.

And still insists on talking to the cows.

I got a craving for scones and used the last of my flour to bake some. I ate one fresh and warm, straight from the oven.

In the garden the sweet peas have grown fast and the strawberries have begun to flower.

J. X