Snow Days - Five on Friday

Hello, I hope you are well. Today I'm joining with Five on Friday to show five things that have been happening here. This week has been a strange one. I've been full of cold all week and haven't felt well at all. I don't know where I'd caught it from. The last 2 that the family had, I managed to avoid. The teens have been off school and college since Wednesday due to closure / no buses, all because of the snow. I'm not sure how Lincolnshire compared to other parts of the country in the UK but, they were happy to be off.

1)  In the garden

My garden, the 2 large trees that the Christmas lights are usually strung around.

                     

No washing out today. In the summer, this border is usually full of colour and bushiness.

The bird table with a variety of seeds, nuts and fat balls. A feeding table which provides some entertainment for the lovely QT. He 'chatters' away to them when he's safely inside out of harm's way. He's only caught 1 bird in the 3 years we've had him, though he's never out for long.

Talking of QT, he went to the vets yesterday having routine thyroid blood tests. Good news, he's gained much needed weight and his blood pressure is down. The meds are working. He was cuddled and praised for being so calm and quiet during the test. I don't think I'd like a needle in my neck vein on a regular basis but then who would. His next check should be in 6 months time, so stabilising. 

2)  No sunshine on snow days

My bulbs are happily growing in strength. Though it's bright, it's not particularly sunny so the dancing sunshine (plastic plants) 'don't feel like dancing'. The teens had one each, many years ago. The one wearing shades was in teen 1 bedroom but the swaying side to side in the morning sun, 'disturbed' his sleep. Oh dear! They sit on a windowsill downstairs now.

3) Last weekend

Last weekend we made up some more mincemeat. I know it's not Christmas but we'd run out. I can't eat sorbitol containing fruit (fruit with a stone) including apples and cherries, so it's easier to make our own. Whenever I make a pie, it's handy to make up a few mince pies with any leftover pastry.

4) Baking bread 

M has made 2 lots of bread this week in the Kenwood mixer. 1 loaf and 6 rolls at a time ready to prove in front of the fire. We've given up on breadmakers, they keep breaking, so we bought a mixer and prove the bread then bake it ourselves. To make - put all the ingredients in the mixer, mixing for 1 minute on low and 3 minutes on number 2. Place the folded dough in well greased tins, or divide into rolls on a lined baking tray. Leave to prove until doubled in size and bake the rolls for 15 mins and the loaf for 30 mins at about 190* / Gas 5.  I think the book is out of print so I've included the recipe with the baking times & temperature, that we find works well. If using the fast acting yeast, only one rising is needed.
M has been off work a fair bit too, as a driver instructor it's a brave person that'll take a new learner out of the icy roads. On Monday alone, the test examiners were cancelling tests and that was before the weather turned really heavy with snow. The beer bread was put out ready to make, a Christmas present which is still waiting to be made.

5) Some crochet

I've been listening to some Erica Jacobs digital library books whilst crocheting sneezing. If you'd like to make your own, here is the flower pattern and here is the square pattern. I used Wendy 100% cotton red, Stylecraft 100% cotton white and a 3mm crochet hook. I also finished my first crochet block for 'Weekend Stitches' on my blog, including blocking it, a process I've never done before but am impressed by. Before I blocked the square, the corners were curling up and the 3 middle sections were tight and narrower than the rest.

Thank you for stopping by to read my blog.

This week have you...
Had a snow day? Got things ready to do and promptly 'not done' them? 'Crafted' anything?
Listened to a story?

Please leave a comment, have a good week.
Cx

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