Bluebells at the Weekend (lock-down)

bluebells have arrived!!!!

see? little bluebells peaking out here and there

wild violets too

We haven't got the big blue bluebell carpet yet, but it's coming …...

Yesterday I tried a new pizza recipe as I had no bread flour but had been able to get plain flour.  It was so quick to make with no kneeding or rising time required and almost without even rolling out, just press into the tray and can be cooked straight away!  I forgot to take a picture as we ate it so fast!  We liked the base better than our usual bread dough recipe and decided we will have it again.

13oz plain flour

1 tsp salt

1 tbsp caster sugar

1/4 oz yeast granules

2 tbs oil

8 oz warm water

The full recipe is here:

http://allrecipes.co.uk/recipe/2122/quick-and-easy-pizza-dough.aspx

We topped our pizza with mozzarella, red peppers, mushrooms and onions.  I make the topping by mixing a tin of chopped tomatos with tomato puree to thicken and a few spoonfuls of dried herbs.  

We ate our pizza whilst watching The Queen's speech - she did not mention Corona Virus once by name, her speech was timeless yet left us in no doubt this a new encounter and we are entering wartime conditions so must all pull together.  She finished by saying 'we will meet again' - and of course everyone was thinking of the song by the same name sung by Dame Vera Lynn.  Personally I would have liked to hear her issue a Royal Command as some people over this hot weekend have been gathering and not obeying the Government instructions.

Trying to take our minds off the worrying news that our Prime Minister, Boris, is in hospital we watched Race Around The World (teams competing to complete a trip round the world without using air travel (https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0002tvs).  We applied to be on the program ourselves last year but, although we had an interested response, were not shortlisted... maybe next year....  Whilst watching tv I ironed  a large pile of mens shirts that probably will not be worn for many months but needed putting away.

Feeling the need for some comedy I also watching Breeders, a family sitcom (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8129450/) 

I planted some nasturtium seeds and cuttings from last year's herbs which have started sprouting roots and runners.  Had a long chat my brother the landscape gardener, we both planned an imaginary allotment that we hope to have one day and moved on to discuss what he might put in his landlord's greenhouse (tomatos and lettuce) and what I might plant on my patio in grow bags (tomatos and lettuce!).

Dress: All About Audrey

My friend is planting tomato seeds from her fridge and I planted some green chilli finger and red capsicum pepper seeds from mine.   Although seed packet stock is reliable and guarantees quality and quantity, in the present time anything is worth a go.




We didn't go for our walk yesterday as we knew a lot of people would be out and we have a garden so made the most of sitting out in the sunshine and reading our books.  I found wild violets under the apple tree.



Tonights dinner for the men is beef pie with puff pastry lid, roast potatoes and green beans. I shall probably make myself a little veggie mince pie to go alongside.

I am loving my new loose maxi dresses, this is one of four (birthday present) I have from All About Audrey, they have a Brighton shop but online too.  It's handmade from vintage Indian cotton and has a buddha print, I have a purple silk slip underneath for extra warmth but it's surprisingly cosy.

I finished my book 'We are a Muslim, Please' mentioned in an earlier post, not as good as I expected as it hardly touched on her current life experiences but gave a good insight into life in Bradford in the 70s and 80s.  I have moved on to Eric Newby's Slowly Down the Ganges... will let you know how I get on with it.