ALWAYS A PLEASURE

Fresh from the cooling rack

Showing the consistency 

I moved to my present location in 1991 and found that I had a lot to learn in regards to 

living here among the green, green fields of Ireland. 

One of those tasks was to learn about making Soda Bread and so I was given instruction by a local housewife however, my early attempts were utter failures each time. 

I read and re-read her instructions and realised that some vital information was missing, so knowing the days when she made bread I hid behind a hedge that over looked her kitchen table and studiously watched her every move and was able to discover a process that tested the worthiness of the mix before putting the mix into the oven.

Simple and easy it was and part of the kneading process and it is to lightly press the dough mound downwards and check for the springiness of the mix prior to the final stage of cutting the four armed cross on the top.

I returned home and immediately tried it out and never again did I ever have any failures.Through the years up until I gave up eating carbohydrates a couple of years ago, I used to make about three or four soda breads a week; sometimes I would add other ingredients such as sesame seed or sunflower seed, amongst my friends "sesame seed" was their favourite addition.

Yesterday I decided to make a Soda Bread just for a change and also to see if that old magic was still with me - am glad to say that it is !

The ingredients are roughly 1lb of self raising flour (bicarbonate of soda included) and

about 1 pint of organic buttermilk. I never add salt or sugar to any foods.

Bake in a pre-heated gas oven to Mk 4.5 for about an hour, the test is to tap it's base for a distinct hollow sound.

Final proof is when cool to cut three slices and apply a generous coating of the best butter in the world - Ireland's own KERRY GOLD, make a cup of tea pull up a chair by the fire - eat drink and enjoy!

A JOINT BIRTHDAY

My friend Ita and I share the same birthday and often have a joint celebration, I should stress that there are several years of difference between us, however that day is the 9th of January.

The niner's at play

OUR JOINT PARTY

Started at 3pm when our friends arrived some of whom where musicians and we partied away for 12 and half hours before falling into bed. It was a brilliant time of song music and dance; the nominated photographer slipped into the joviality and the consequence is that very few pics were taken.

Musicians in session

Charles on the harmonica, Seamus on the accordion

and Colm Mac Con Iommaire on the fiddle

Sean-nós dance is an older style of traditional 

solo Irish dance and is a casual dance form. 

A SECOND PARTY

Took place on the 12th January at 3pm for those who were unable to make the one on the 9th, this one was minus musicians and it focused mainly around a Storyteller who arrived and sat in the kitchen entertaining guests by the telling his tales for most of the night, similar to the first party this one went on till gone 4 in the morning!

I have gloriously celebrated my 70th birthday and am looking forward now to my 150th !

If I had any doubts this card sure told me

The grand collection of cards

A special gift from Lucy

representing Earth, Air, Fire & Water

her web site

http://crelegra.com

Ita and I wish to thank everyone who attended both parties, because we know that some of you travelled many miles from all over the isle of Ireland to be with us; our very special thanks and appreciation go to Mrs H whose organising ability astounded us ! 

A BIT OF BACKGROUND (about me)

A wonderful event took place in Birmingham City Children’s Hospital on January 9th 1943 at approximately 0520, the timing, place and date were unique for it marked the umpteenth rebirth of Me. Little did I realise at the time that a warm welcome heralded my arrival, for evidently several resounding blasts were heard in the locality.

These were caused by the Birmingham Blitz of heavy bombing by the then enemy (9 August 1940 - 23 April 1943). Overall, about 2,000 tons of bombs were dropped on Birmingham making it the fourth most heavily bombed city in the United Kingdom. Is it any wonder then that sound of a propeller driven plane flying at night has always awakened me?

Happier events though were around the corner when hostilities ceased and chocolate, biscuits and other goodies became available and better still, we departed from ‘Brum’ in 1946 to soft and sleepy Somerset.

A CONUNDRUM

Mystified

I spend time in contemplation studying various aspects of life. One aspect in particular has recently caught my attention and it is I think something that we all practice, in varying degrees. Although that phrase ‘varying degrees’  might not be the ideal, perhaps frequently would be better. How frequent is frequent? What about twice a day, once a day, every day, three times a week, twice a month? Perhaps once a month or once every two months - who is to decide?
I suppose that it actually comes down to need or desire. 
I told this to Mrs H and she asked if by desire did I mean pleasure?
Then she said that she didn’t actually believe that it was pleasurable each time. 
To which I retorted that it rarely seems anything but pleasurable to me.
Yes, I do think that the need to do so answers an inner desire in all most every case and in only a few rare cases do I feel that it comes from a negative source.
That to which I am referring can be practiced while alone, yet I mainly do it in the company of herself. Others that I know have absolutely no qualms about doing it in front of several people. I have to say though that I am not that brave.

If you would like to find out more about this particular aspect of my life you will need to visit
my other blog  wordsofaramblingmind.blogspot.com

To Pagans Everywhere !

A toast from the East

With a glass of Irish Mist I toast Pagans everywhere and send a not so humble blessing

That they keep themselves sharp, lively and be very full of Fun

and

Long live the Sun !

in the South

Cheers me hearties !

The Great Goddess!
without whom
no ritual
can be done.

No cards or presents sent

This year Mrs H and I decided not to buy any greetings cards or gifts, instead we have made a donation to our favourite charity.

The Society of St Vincent de Paul who do so much good work for those whose need is greater than ours.

Our personal message to you all :-

To those of you who celebrate Christmas 

and to those of you who don't 

we send you 

Peace and Happiness !

http://www.svp.ie/Home.aspx

Council of Ireland, National Office, SVP House, 91-92 Sean MacDermott Street, Dublin 1

Telephone: 00353 1 838 6990 Facsimilie 00353 1 838 7355 Email: info@svp.ie

Charity Reg. No. CHY 6892

WINTER: Food and Cures

A Cornish Pasty

The pasty has to be one of my favourite dishes and especially at this time of the year. This one was made quite recently by Mrs H when I was feeling slightly under the weather and her culinary skills cheered me up no end. It contains cubed swede, parsnips carrots and lean beef steak, plus white pepper and an oxo cube for additional flavour. 

It was absolutely delicious and very filling, so much so that I was unable to consume all of it at one sitting and approximately half of it became a meal on the following day  

A cough remedy

I recently suffered an irritating dry and tickly cough which disturbed me both day and night. After having tried homeopathic drosera which helped, that alone was not sufficient and so I resorted to Manuka honey to which one drop of thyme oil had been added and stirred into; the dosage I took was one teaspoonful twice a day for about four or five days which am delighted to say completely cured me.

Cayenne Pepper

Another one of my home remedies is cayenne pepper which I use fairly frequently throughout the year. It is well known for improving the circulation and has many uses; my best advice is for you to look it up on the internet and make your own decision.

I take it once a day: one teaspoonful in a small glass of cold spring water.

The Cayenne Pepper Drink

The cayenne pepper drink is extremely hot and the way I take it is have one large mouthful and to hold it in the mouth for about three seconds before swallowing down as rapid as is possible, quickly followed by drinking second glass of water to flush away any residue from the gums, of course another way to reduce the burning sensation in the mouth is to have a spoonful of honey.

I try to avoid pharmaceutical medicines and visits to medical practitioners as far as is possible, unless it is absolutely unavoidable. My preference is to eat wholesome foods, exercise regularly, do nothing to excess and maintain my height/weight ratio.

My plan is to grow old disgracefully by being a geriatric hippy !

Important places

The Spirits that live unseen in our cottage are

most definitely feminine. So to honour them &

the Divine Feminine I brought back from Glastonbury

this figure and in her belly sit my favourite crystals.

This is the most important area of our home, in my mind

I call it the 'engine room' for from this small space is

delivered the sustenance that drives our lives.

Our array of storage pots, you will notice two coffee

jars and that is because we blend two different types

&  sometimes we make a brew from just one of them.

The brandy was there just to remind me that I still

had to make another coffee liqueur for Yule.

I have a deep curiosity of looking at other peoples 

storage cabinets when visiting their homes & so

just to correct the balance, I thought to display ours.

Our collection of jugs, pots and vases sitting safely

on a beech shelf next to the books.

Shelves of curiosities from from a quaint musical box

to willow plates, a smoker's cabinet & the requisite

drinks shelf with a dish of crystals that separate

Wine from Whisky

All of the willow ware shown here was purchased to display in Mrs H's recent series of paintings. 

I hope that you have enjoyed your visit to our home.

The Trees Sleep

This is a special day it being November the 1st also the first day of Winter. Now please stand as you read on... 

The very special occasion is that it's Mrs Heron's Birthday, she is now xx years of wisdom and I am too much of a coward to enumerate here exactly how young she is. Er' you may now sit okay.

Ollie playing peek-a-boo while standing on a

carpet of leaves

Above is the largest tree in our back garden - an Ash of which is always

a delight to the eye throughout the year and I am keeping my fingers crossed

that it avoids being damaged by the dreadful fungus as are so many elsewhere.

This pair of horses live in my neighbours' grounds, they seem to spend much of their lives grazing in this field and are only missing during the warm summer months. I took this photo to tie in with the title of the blog and depict the sleeping trees.

Oliver's 2nd Birthday

Today is Ollie's second birthday

The Rufus Family

Oh look he has toes just like mine

Ollie with his friend Leah

'What is this all mine?'

'Sorry Dad but I'm too puffed out after all of that cake, to play footy

with you today'

Magic at the Door

Our black cat Magic sits in sunshine before the door 

 cleaning up before entering. 

I not being a gardener cannot tell you the name of this shrub;

 all I can say is that when it's green leaves brightly redden 

then winter is on is on it's way

In a southern corner of our garden old roses still bloom

partnered with the luscious red Fuchsia