Diary > Sunday 4th April - Easter Sunday

[Roobarb]

Another uneventful day for me. A  lovely sunny morning, not too many people around when I went for my walk. Was walking through the woods, a man had stopped and was keeping a close eye on his dog that was in amongst the trees. He pointed out where the teenagers had left numerous plastic and glass bottles and drinks cans. He said they'd also smashed some of the glass, he was concerned about his dog getting it in her paws. I was absolutely disgusted at what they had done, he said they get drunk and think it's funny to smash the glass. Luckily his dog came out unscathed but others might not be so lucky.

My lovely neighbour sent round Easter Sunday dinner for me, it took several of the family to bring the starter, dinner and dessert and the gravy and sauces, not only that but a bunch of flowers, a box of Thornton's chocolates and a couple of drinks. I was so overwhelmed by her kindness and generosity.

The afternoon was sunny but quite windy, had a potter in the garden but didn't do much. Did some more ironing later. Have been feeling a bit unsettled, can't seem to focus on anything at the moment. Am sure I'll sort myself out soon.

Happy Easter everyone, hope it's been a good day.

[Ruskie]

Happy Easter Roobarb. Sorry that you’re feeling out of sorts at the moment. I’m amazed by the generosity and thoughtfulness of your lovely neighbours. I’m sure they are grateful to have you as such a nice quiet neighbour. 

Smashed glass bottles are so dangerous. Normal litter is bad enough, but intentionally broken bottles are a whole different level. Moronic behaviour.

Sunday - my daughter’s birthday. She wanted money to put towards her dog’s allergy test and treatment. I baked her a cake using coconut flour as she suspects she might be a bit gluten intolerant.  I’ve never used it before. Cake was odd texture wise but seemed to bake up quite nicely. Icing was very nice - just a buttercream style but with some coconut milk included. I will bake it again. 

Daughters and partners came for morning tea and birthday cake. I thought both had other plans for the day, but that wasn’t the case. Later in the afternoon had a phone call from daughter - partner had made birthday lasagne as requested, but their oven wasn’t working, so they brought it over to use our oven and everyone came back for dinner. A good day considering none of it was planned. Dogs behaved themselves and weren’t too interested in fighty playing which was an added bonus.

Weather drizzly and about 25 degrees. Nice. Lots of rain is predicted for the next couple of days though I think/hope will will miss the worst of it.

[Caw1]

How lovely of your neighbours to be so generous... not just a meal but flowers, chocs and drink... I’m sure you thoroughly enjoyed it all..
What a dreadful thing to do smashing glass up in a area where dogs and possibly children walk too...
Sorry to hear you’re still feeling unsettled hope that soon disappears..

It was a beautifully sunny day when I got up but the outside temperature was only 3C... too cold to get out early and the grass still had a heavy dew on it...
Once we’d had breakfast and read the papers, emptied the dishwasher, put the washing machine on... I know it’s Easter Sunday so shouldn’t be doing washing but hey ho the sun was out and the next few days look cold...
 my Aunt must be turning in her grave at me washing on a Sunday!
Of course it would have helped if I’d actually put some washing liquid in the machine 😤😂😂 but by the time I’d realised it was too late and so it had a water wash and then a quick 20m wash with the liquid... daft idiot...
OH had started to creacote the fence whilst I finished edging the other side of the path... by now it was lovely and warm ...
We sat outside and had lunch discussing what plants we were going to put where.
There is a nursery that sells plants to nurseries and it’s very reasonably priced ... sadly not open until Tuesday!
I’d bought a half shoulder of lamb so got that started as it takes 3-4 hrs slow cooking... rubbed it with chopped up rosemary (from bush in the garden) paprika and I used our village produced rape seed oil... placed on a trivet with stock, onions, celery and carrots in the tray underneath... cook on quite high heat for 20 mins and then turn down low, cover with foil and occasionally baste with liquid and keep adding more stock...left it to get on with cooking..
Moved some stray daffs and iris plants and put with others, re planted the holly we’d taken out in a new place and dug over the bed OH had compacted whilst standing on it doing the fence..
Sat out in the sunshine with a nice cuppa... listening to the motor bikes screaming up and down the road... so the police got another phone call.. we got yet another incident number!
After clearing away had nice shower and then cooked rest of dinner, roast vegs and brussels and cauliflower, gravy made from remaining stock with dash of red wine added... meat beautifully tender...
Watched tv...
Think tomorrow could be an indoors day.... glad we’re not meeting up with family if it’s going to be that chilly!
Was strange not to have them here staying as I always make an Easter tree for the boys and daughter and I do an Easter egg hunt in the garden... hopefully next year...
Good to be outside in the fresh air despite the noise...
Sadly one of our friends up the lane behind us had their large teak table stolen on Saturday night... their garden is quite open with  fields at the back and they don’t always shut their gates onto the lane... it is a private lane with only three houses .. they, along with some other villagers pay for a security firm to drive round to check all is ok... didn’t do them much good this time round.
Always unsettling when this happens close to you... fortunately we’ve got high locked gates either side of the house... tall trees at the back only place they could get in to us would be over our next door neighbours fence which runs up the side of the lane....
Unlikely they’ll be caught unless they’re picked up by any cctv from other peoples properties ..

Caroline

ADDED. - looks like we posted at the same time Ruskie!
How lovely to have an impromptu day and I’m sure your daughter enjoyed her birthday cake and dinner too.
Cake sounds interesting with coconut flour... not heard of that.. I’ve a couple of friends who have to have gluten free food and I’m going to be doing an afternoon tea in a couple of weeks time so will be baking specifically for one of them too... any suggestions greatly received!
Hope your rain doesn’t amount to much.. my son won’t be happy he’s still trying to finish the wood ceiling in the pool house and get electrics sorted!

[Mowsehowse]

Thanks for turning the wind round Roobarb, it was a much calmer day here yesterday, and sunny due to clear skies.
We decided to avoided the beaches and made for a patch of medieval woodland which has banks of bluebells, but they are not quite out yet sadly. The walk was quiet and glorious. About half of the people we passed didn't have a dog, just enjoying a walk, same as us. The garlic and celandine were profuse, and despite hunting buzzards and rowdy jays, the air was wild with bird song.  We walked up as far as the cafe, which wasn't open, and then walked back again.
Spoke to older son and one grandaughter for a while, but they don't seem to want to make time for a visit during the holidays as older daughter is revising, though actually she was at the beach with a friend. No response from others in Oz.
Passing the pier there were people and camper vans everywhere, and it looks like the Travellers have taken up residence on the green again.
On the news we heard theere was 100s of youngsters out making trouble on Plymouth Hoe. Police involved and people injured.  A lot of rubbish and broken glass left around.  I often think how dangerous that might be for dogs, and I am not surprised you were disgusted to find it around your route Roobarb. Hope you are feeling a bit brighter today after the lovely attention you had from your neighbour.
Someone has left some white hyacinths outside the door of a woman in the flats which smell wonderful.
Sounds like Ruskie had an unexpected family day, and Caroline enjoyed the garden, so all is fairly content.
Hope no one gets snowed in today, as threatened..... we could get millimeters on our balcony!!
 

[Ruskie]

Caroline, this is the cake I made:

https://www.wellplated.com/coconut-flour-cake/

Slight variations:

I omitted the almond extract and lemon zest. (I don’t like almond extract and couldn’t be bothered with the lemon and thought it might be too strong a flavour).
I used about a quarter of a teaspoon of salt. (I thought 1/2 teaspoon sounded too much)
I used a heaped teaspoon of baking powder rather than baking Soda (I read that there is a difference between soda and powder, but decided to throw caution to the wind and go with the powder).
I used maple syrup instead of honey (it was an alternative suggested in a few similar recipes).
I used salted butter in the icing, and I didn’t beat it as suggested (too much work), just used a fork and gave it a good old whip.

I made a single layer cake. It doesn’t rise very much so next time I would probably double the amount and do a two layers with icing in between. Using the amounts as per this recipe and making it into two layers as suggested, would make two quite low cakes I think. The cake isn’t very sweet so the icing is needed.

I topped it with some very moist coconut flakes. Next time I will try toasting them I think. 

MH, such a shame you haven’t been able to catch up with family. Sadly it is not unusual for teenagers to be too busy socialising to make time for family. I bet if you leave it till Monday evening or Tuesday, your Oz family will be back home, after a weekend away. 

I think what happened at Plymouth Hoe is truly disgusting. Generally there is little that the police can do in these circumstances, but I think the least that can be done isif any of the perpetrators caught should be made to clean up the mess.

Your medieval woodland walk sounds beautiful, and the wildlife and peace and quiet must have given you a lift. You’ll have to make a point of revisiting when the bluebells are out.

[Mowsehowse]

I have an idea we never visited those woods even once last year, due to first lock down being at bluebell time, but hopefully we will go again a few times this year, before high summer.

Yesterday there were 2 lads.... (maybe 12 years old,) laughing like loons, trying to get on a swing seat hanging from a tree out over the stream together. Unforced laughter ringing out through the trees. It was really uplifting to see genuine good natured play and fun.

You are right of course Ruskie, and Teenagers are welcome to do whatever they do, (and I wouldn't want my grand daughter to stay in all day in case I phoned,) but I feel a bit sad that my son feels the hour we spent together in January should be enough to last me till...... who knows when?    I shall just have to accept they are very busy people.

[candleflame]

I watched the Easter services on tv then we went for a short walk along our local disused railway lines- only 2 miles in total. The chicken was cooked by then so we had dinner. Then daughter wanted us to go and 'play' in the garden with the grandkids and I had to hide the Easter eggs. They'd already had the proper Easter egg hunt in the morning , but I hid the empty eggs ( it's a set of 24 plastic eggs, egg sized in four different colours and inside there are jigsaw pieces. You then do the four Easter jigsaws it makes) . She got it a few years ago in Sains and it keeps it a chocolate free activity!
I'd made some chocolate crispies cakes for them so with those and their own Easter eggs, they still had plenty of chocolate. It was very sunny but breezy so I needed my fleece fastened up right to my neck. Today I'd need a winter waterproof as we've had a dusting of snow during the night. Very sunny now but a tad chilly with a strong breeze.

Roobarb I knew what you mean about being unsettled. Do you think it might be the change of the seasons as we've moved into Spring? Sometimes that can upscuttle us. I know my allergies are worse when the seasons change! Anyway be gentle with yourself, we've all had the strangest year and the unlock brings more changes, some of which we'll like and others we'll find more challenging.
We went for a walk at our local beach last week once it was legal to do so. We kept away from folk, walking on the sand one way then back on the top path, rather than the middle one which looked too crowded for me ( though in reality it wasn't crowded). I think it'll take us all a while to feel comfortable with some things.

[Mowsehowse]

Loving "upscuttle"..... 

[Caw1]

Ruskie - thanks for the recipe will be useful for gluten free... funnily enough having not heard of coconut flour before when I was skipping through baking items from Tesco there it was coconut flour!

MH - sorry you’ve not had a chance to catch up with your OZ family perhaps as Ruskie says once they’re back from a W/end away will be a good time... do you text first to see if they’re around before calling...
You medieval walk sounds delightful, I love bluebells too... there’s a walk through the woods round us that we’ll be going on soon once they come out... did see some at Wimpole but not many..
I agree that these youngsters creating havoc are certainly a cause for concern... letting off steam I suppose but at everyone else’s expense and the litter left behind is incompressible to me...

Candleflame  - I love the sound of your grandchildren’s Easter egg hunt... they can have too much chocolate that’s for sure...the Easter nests my daughter made was with one of those Lindt bunnies she found in the larder from last year!

Caroline