Showing posts with label bread. Show all posts
Showing posts with label bread. Show all posts

Sunday, August 02, 2020

Into August

August already.  Days just fly by even though we are not doing a quarter of the things we would normally do with them. 

The weather has gone from cool to hot over the last few days.  There have been blustery winds throughout but the skies have been wonderful.

Above and below daytime skies on Thursday

Up amongst the clouds were at least twenty herring gulls, whirling, swooping calling with their evocative seaside sound.  I think many of them have probably never seen the sea.  That seems a great shame.

Above and below skies around 9p.m. on Friday with just a light rumble of thunder in the air and a few gentle spots of rain not enough to dampen anything.
There were also the sounds of people's voices from beyond the fences and hedges enjoying their gardens and the crackle and pop of fireworks could also be heard  in the distance.


On Wednesday we ventured to Waitrose which was very quiet, everyone wearing masks and respecting each other's space, the staff were well protected by screens and visors as well as masks.  All very strange but comforting too.  I was able to wear one the the masks sent to us by a good friend who has been making them over the last few weeks for friends and family.  We received them the day before they became mandatory and they are very comfortable to wear.  I wouldn't want to wear a mask for too long though but an hour or so was easily coped with.


A few posts ago I told you about the wheat that had grown in the garden and how we had harvested it and left it to dry.  We had hoped to grind it with stones but this rather romantic notion wasn't practical for various reasons so the grains were ground in the chopper and some French T55 flour added to make enough dough for four little rolls.


Lastly as I'm missing visiting places of historic interest I've been looking at places on line and have enjoyed some virtual tours of houses and gardens and church buildings too.  I was taken with one tour I found via The Friends of Friendless Churches.  I'll put a link below.


I hope you are all enjoying the weekend.

Wednesday, August 22, 2007

Good Morning, Mr. Blackbird!

Every morning Mr Blackbird waits for his breakfast on the fence near the bird table. He watches whilst we put out the crumbs of bread from our breakfast table.



Usually he and his other bird friends have Paul's homemade bread to eat but this morning he had something new to tempt his appetite.



On Monday we had forgotten to take some bread out of the freezer to defrost in time for lunch so on our walk back from Longton we called at the Polish Delicatessen for a pack of their wheat and rye bread - and very nice it was too. This morning Mr. Blackbird had the remains of this to himself.

Mr. Blackbird, our name for him, has been calling for his breakfast for the last couple of years. He is very distinctive as he always looks a bit ruffled round the edges and has two grey patches on his back. I've no idea how long blackbirds live but I hope he makes it through another winter.