Frosty Footsteps

Today was a 116 mile trip to see my son play rugby it was 0 that's cold I lose all function it the cold sometimes. I still have wonderment at how beautiful and breathtaking nature can be and while I was waiting for the pitch to defrost I took this picture. Nature has a continuing canvas , everything has a purpose and commands your attention.

Here was a cloudy day but I see beyond the clouds and look can you see the blue sky in the middle ?

I love quiet , I love solitude I love being with me , if I turn the corner will you be waiting for me ?

Times past of cabbages and kings and time for tea upon Edwardian splendor.

Silent Sunday

Frugal Shepherds Pie

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  Frugal times call for frugal measures and sometimes I don't know about you but with my shopping I 'm not always replenishing as soon as I run out. I like to make use of what I've got and I'm finding that I'm enjoying seeking out recipes and developing my own.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Ingredients
  
  
  
  
  
  
  1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 onion, diced (optional)
• 2 carrots, diced
• 1 garlic clove, crushed
• 500g  beef mince
• 2 x 410g/14½oz tin baked beans
• 
  
• 100ml/14fl oz stock, made from stock cube (ideally beef but chicken or vegetable is fine)
  
  
• Ideally you would have around 2lbs pounds of potato for the mash but the other day I only had 2 medium potatoes and I didn't want to go out in the rain just to get some more so this recipe with show you you can adapt any recipe if you think about it.
  
  
  
  
  Method 
  
  
  1. Preheat the oven to 200 c
  
  2. Whilst the oven is preheating heat a saucepan and add the oil. When this is hot fry the carrots and onions for about 7 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for another couple of minutes.
  
  
  
  3.Add the mince and cook until it has all browned mix with a tin of beans. Transfer to a lidded overproof dish. Add a beef stock cube or even one of those packet mixes for a slow cooker etc.
  
  
  4. Cook in the oven for around 40 with the lid on.
  
  Now it it at this point you will be peeling albs of potatoes until the realisation you only have 2 potatoes. A quick tweet out offers some suggestions of adding mashed swede or mashed  carrot. I had no swede ( I know I've failed as a cook by not having an emergency swede on board)
  
  SO I added another can of baked beans after mashing what potatoes I did have and then spread it on top of my shepherds pie and cooked for a further 20 minutes.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Then I grated some cheese and returned to the oven for 5 minutes . 
  
  
  

  
  
  I am submitting this recipe to #Creditcrunchmunch so pop over to Camillas  Fabfood4all blog and Helens blog FussfreeFlavours and take part and see what other recipes you find. Together we can all stretch those pennies !
  
  
  

  

  
  
  
  
  
  
  I am entering this recipe into the 

  www.coopelectricalshop.co.uk competition .

SwellPets Thermo-Kitty Cabin

"A cats life is a easy  hard life .

I enjoy a comfy spot just like the human beans and who can blame them but sometimes the spot I choose isn't quite the human bean want s. Here I am sitting in a empty selection box it was a protest as the human bean had moved the  heated Kitty cabin  into the dining room during the Christmas period to make room for the tree. But I made up for this and boxed the baubles off the tree and ran up it pahaaaaaaa !

Is an ideal cabin bed for myself and Rollie cat especially in this weather or as I get older and start collecting a pension  which I do hope is paid in mice ! . The Kitty Cabin can be placed anywhere there is a convenient plug socket. I really enjoyed sleeping in it and the human bean I might just keep them as they got this for me"

K&H have launched the new Thermo-Kitty Cabin.™  This a great new product for cats that keeps them cosy and warm.

The cabin comes with a dual thermostat 4-watt heating unit that can be removed when the bed needs to be washed.

The bed has a flexible exterior that can be formed into 3 useful shapes .The bed is designed for internal use only and comes in 2 colours, Mocha or Sage.

Price at £34.99 a good investment for your feline friend and so much better than an old a Christmas selection box.

Disclosure Jack the cat was sent this item by SwellPets and all thoughts, words  and opinions are that of Jack but obviously I had to type for him as we all know cats can't type.

Words Don't Come Easy To Me.

Words don’t come easy to me.

I struggle.

Not sure how I can make you see?

But the written word is gold and worth more than anything.

It brings forth memories happy and sad.

I found some words tidying up you see.

I am a bit of a hoarder.

With the thought that I will need that one day , I could craft with that , I could use that at school.

I started tidying up .

I got distracted.

I dabbled on the net.

I went back to tidying .

I found the words.

The words that stopped me in my tracks.

And you will see why or why I am happy I hoard on the odd occasion.

You see my grandparents couldn’t come to my wedding.

My dad wouldn’t give me away.

My second cousin gave me away.

I have no siblings.

Words I have words.

Words to comfort me.

And they comfort me now as I write this about those words.

It is like a butterfly beginning all over again for the New Year.

Christmas  dreams wished from on far.

Words matter.

These words matter.

I always believe that things happen for a reason .

I’m not really religious.

This is my beginning.

Of words yet to come.