Saturday, March 28, 2020

Home and Garden

I'm getting used to staying at home although we did manage a walk very early on Wednesday morning when there wasn't a soul about.  The car hasn't left the garage since Monday morning. 


Berryhill Fields is just a short walk away from home, down the street, round the corner, across the road and up a little lane and we are there.  It is still very wet and muddy up there so we wore wellies.  Just us and the skylarks out in the fresh air.  It's good to have a green space so close.


 The good weather has enabled us to get out into the garden and start tidying up now that the soil and grass have dried out after that extremely wet winter. Cutting, clipping, mowing and sweeping have taken place.  The first butterfly seen this year was a Peacock which rested for long enough in the sun for me to take a photo.  Later on the same day we saw a tortoiseshell and a yellow Brimstone.


Exercising has been on the bike which we have placed in the corner of the conservatory so we can look out over the garden as we clock up the miles.  As our humble abode doesn't run to a long gallery in which to elegantly exercise indoors I may have to take to walking round and round the table like the Bronte sisters did.  I have  friends who walk the length of their house from back to front door with fitbit counting their steps whilst they listen to an half hour radio programme or podcast through ear phones for timing - seems like a great idea.  Apparently Desert Island Discs or radio dramas are good for this.



We had several items of vegetables left over from previous meals which needed using up so we had a cooking session yesterday morning.  Little bubble and squeak (cabbage and potato) burgers were made and frozen.  Both celery and carrot soups were made.  the carrot soup has been frozen, tomatoes skinned and frozen too.  I made a red cabbage and apple bake for today's tea and we will have the celery soup for lunch. 

Clocks go forward tonight to take us into British Summer Time even though we have only just seen  the first day of Spring.   

To pass the time I'm reading, watching television or iplayer when I feel like it and blogging and reading other blogs, again when I feel like it.  

Take care and stay safe everyone.


31 comments:

  1. Glad you are keeping busy.With the glorious weather we had last week it was good to get out in the garden to work,read or just watch the birds.Cloudy and windy here today but I may wrap up and venture into the garden.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Barbara, glad you were able to get out into the garden, it was lovely weather last week although colder now. At least we got a bit of clearing up done:)

      Delete
  2. A nice uplifting post, just what the Dr ordered, lol
    Briony
    x

    ReplyDelete
  3. A cheering post so thank you. Our car hasn't moved since Monday either although there still seem to be rather a large amount of cars going past the house :( So glad you saw the butterflies to raise the spirits. We've been using up bits in store cupboard and freezer and other items that are near sell by date too. We had cheese onion and potato pie one night with carrots followed by an apple and blackcurrant crumble with custard made from Marvel! I've hurt my foot so can't get out in the garden at the moment but are just spending time doing lots of small but different things - like reading, old GBBO on netflix, looking at blogs, knitting etc. Stay safe and well and take care Rosie.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, RR. Sorry to hear that you have hurt your foot and I hope it feels easier soon. It won't seem so bad staying indoors now it has gone colder again, we too have been using up bits and bobs left over and trying not to waste anything. We don't eat meant so it's susually just vegetables and fruit which are getting harder to find but if anything does get left it goes into the compost bin. We still have some apple pieces frozen from last year and thubarb in the garden so that will have to be our fruit for the time beeing, I have a few tins of fruit (mostly breakfast fruit) which I'm holding on to incase this lock down takes longer than anticipated. Take care and keep well:)

      Delete
    2. Gosh so many typos in that reply but I think you can see what I meant to say!:)

      Delete
  4. Here, we can walk outside, without getting near anyone else. And lots of people, are out walking. Young people, who probably used to go to gyms!!!! -smile-

    Walking inside with fit bit and listening to something, is a cute idea. And your bike, with a lovely view, is too.

    So glad we never were ones to go-go-go. So being home, is not a change or a chore.

    Day by day....

    And it will be over!

    Gentle hugs
    🌸🌸🌸

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you WoW, I'm glad you have the space to be able to walk out if you want to. Yesterday I walked up and down the garden quite a few times - yes slowly and surely doing the right things and we'll get there:)

      Delete
  5. Thanks for sharing how you are coping Rosie. Our walks too are confined to our neighbourhood, which is mostly now, new housing estates, but it still means we can see progress on new builds, garden etc. & there definitely doesn't seem to many people around. I'm loving everyone's spring photos, as we are just coming into autumn. Take care, stay safe & huggles.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Susan, we are lucky to have the green space so close although we haven't been back since that walk last week as there are many children at home now, walking locally is a good way of spotting new things around the area and looking at people's gardens. Take care:)

      Delete
  6. Your photos are lovely and your cooking sounds delicious. I am doing more cooking and walking the lovely footpaths nearby too.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Jean, glad you have some local footpaths for walking and exercise. Cooking and walking seem to fill part of the day, cleaning and reading the other part:)

      Delete
  7. A lovely post Rosie, just the thing to remind us of the joys in daily life, thank you x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Julie, it is certainly daily life with a difference at the moment. Glad you enjoyed the post. Take care:)

      Delete
  8. It sounds like you are making the best of things and maybe even getting more exercise than usual! It's a good job we have our gardens. I haven't seen any butterflies yet but this morning a bullfinch is chirping away, very unusual here. Take care 😊

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Karen, I don't know how many bike rides and trots up and down the garden can make the same footsteps as walking around the lake a couple of times a week but I always feel better after a bit of exercise, it seems to clear the mind:)

      Delete
  9. You are staying very active and busy right now Rosie. I have a dusty old exercise bike that may seem some action again. Like you, I have had to find ways of using up the ingredients I have and enjoyed being creative with it. Great outdoor photos again with the signs of spring. Hope you and Paul are well:)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Simone, when I'm on the bike I pretend I'm cycling down a country lane, round corners and down hills towards the sea. We are both okay at the moment and staying in as much as possible, just using the local shop every couple of days, take care:)

      Delete
  10. Replies
    1. Thank you William, the birds are always a delight to see:)

      Delete
  11. Some lovely nature pics there Rosie. I keep seeing people post about Brimstones but I have yet to see one! Never in my life. Peacocks are so beautiful and kudos on getting a shot of a bullfinch. X

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Shazza. The bullfinch comes everyday to the feeder, both male and female were coming together but now only one at a time so I guess there is nest sitting going on. We saw the Brimstone flit across the garden one day last week when it was quite warm. I hope you get to see one soon:)

      Delete
  12. Having a green space close by is useful. I haven't been out myself as it's so cold at the moment. Let's hope we'll get some sunny weather again. Meanwhile we stay at home grateful for neighbours and local daughter helping us out with shopping and going to the surgery and pharmacy for our on-going medicines that we need to take.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tank you Linda. I don't know how much longer that green space will be there as they are trying to get planning permission for houses which at the momnet keeps getting deferred as there is much opposition because of access, services and also wildlife etc. Long may it stay as it is. It has been colder this week and I haven't left the house since last Wednesday except into the garden to walk up and down a few times. Glad you are getting help with shopping etc, we are just using the local co-op every few days:)

      Delete
  13. Lovely views on your walk and it's good to be able to see so much in the garden isn't it, it really helps at the moment! The food looks yummy, i'd not heard of a red cabbage and apple back before, something to try!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Pam, we like the red cabbage with a nut roast, or on its own with added chesnuts or cranberries and a jacket potato:)

      Delete
  14. Lovely photos from your walk and it seems you are making the most of the enforced time at home :) Our cards haven't moved in over a week either, which I'm actually quite enjoying!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Louise, we are trying to find things to do, I'm trying to keep the house clean but any decluttering has been put on hold. Glad you are enjoying your time at home:)

      Delete
  15. Beautiful photos, Rosie. I'm glad that you are keeping busy and still managing some of your lovely walks. We've been in lockdown for a couple of weeks now, normal seems like a distant memory. Stay well and safe!
    Amalia
    xo

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Amalia, this is our seoond week too and I've left the house twice in that time for a quiet walk in the early morning. I think I've forgotten what normal is. Hope you stay safe and well too:)

      Delete