Tea Cups , Spring and Things

HURRAH

BIG HURRAH

BIGGEST HURRAH

Spring is on it's way  I can see from my dining room as I type this my tree is starting to bud , the tree is in the shrubbery and this amuses me especially with Monthy Python and the knights that say Ni.

The cat is on the fence literally on the fence and not on the fence about politics and the situation in the EU , I really don't know what a cat's view on politics is , I may well have to interview the cat on this situation.

Valentine's Day was on a budget following on from those Tesco flowers (voucher used) . A visit to the grounds of Kedleston Hall was in order and everyone had the same idea . This was no problem as I had my trusty walking shoes in the car ! I had to gaze longingly and lovingly upon the snow drops with their flower heads bowed in reverence .

We do rather enjoy our National Trust membership, especially when there is so much stately majestic beauty on our doorstep. It's like having your own stately home but without the cleaning , though I'd quite to have a library I could lose myself in. Or indeed a wardrobe where I could find my beloved Narnia .

It was 2 for 1 at ye olde Starbucks , we pushed the boat out and has a tuna and cheese croissant ~ don't tell me I don't know how to live .

My favourite tree this week is this one , I had to step back to see how tall it was . I sort of get giddy when looking up at tall objects ! 

Tea will be served at 3pm bring your own cucumber sandwiches .

Review of Pet Life App from It’s a Jungle out there

Review of Pet Life App from It’s a Jungle out there

Every good pet needs a special personal assistant to treat them as the celebrity they really are, from changing their biscuits at a whim to cooking them scrambled egg or giving them their special teddy, the list is endless in the pursuit of their happiness. We buy shoes just to keep Jack the cat in the style he has been accustomed to, Rollie just sits on the draining board or in the sink (he is very much a maverick)

We celebrate special occasions with Jack and Rollie and it seems fetching the cats toys after you have thrown them (for them to play with) is the new fitness craze. I really do love chasing after a fluffy mouse with a multi coloured feather tail, I love light I have been in a fight with a parrot and lost.

The Pet Life App from It's a jungle out there is a free app that helps you manage all your beloved pet's life. It's a personal pet App that is available for devices: IPhone, Android or tablet. 

It keeps all your pets' important deals in one place, for example linking to your vet’s contact information(which is handy when you have to tell the cattery or kennels these details ) and chip details. It can also remind you of important events (perhaps that well behaved cat show you have always been meaning to go to) and of course your cats schedule (as cats do rule your life) 

1. Keep your pets important details safe in one place.
2. Track their weight.
3. Get reminders for parasite protection treatments.
4. Alert you on treatment timings, and insurance updates.
5. Vet appointments and other import dates in their lives

        

Thoughts:

Rollie and Jack are ever so grateful for the app and that remembering to work and flea them will be done like clockwork now (which is just as well since someone forgot and Mr T suffered some flea bites) I still say the cats could have administered their own flea treatment I mean cats are clever you have seen them playing the keyboards and all sorts. It was very easy to down seamless in fact and of course you have to put the cats best selfie on there!

As cats obviously own the Internet Rollie and Jack can actually tell when they have to go to the vets so it is not such a surprise when they do go. And there is a resource page full of useful advice and videos on how to protect your pet and also what affects them.

Disclaimer:  

This is a sponsored post brought to you by Bayer, it’s a jungle’. The Pet Life app is part of the ‘it’s a jungle’ programme from Bayer, which aims to help you keep your pet parasite free. For more information, please visit – itsajungle.co.uk.

My Washing Machine Valentine

All hail my washing machine which was delivered between 7.20 and p.20 arriving at 8.30 which was just ticketty boo as for the past month, my previous machine was starting to give up the ghost. I think it was stressed to the eyeballs due to washing numerous football and rugby kits over the years . And horror of horrors I had to buy this machine , you see I may love comping but I can't win everything. It was taking all the day to do one wash and Mr T was getting a bit alarmed at the lack of pants . With the decrepit  washing machine we had to turn the spin speed down by a quarter ( as the machine was beginning to sound like an asthmatic hamster). Also we had to set it to drain , a big nightmare and then woo or woo betide it shrunk Mr T's wool jumper into a action man size ( insert laugh ) never did like that jumper anyway it looked like a cat having a argument with a red fluffy cushion.


Ooh dear oh dear "

And to add to this stress I brought my husband a valentine card 

" To my Dear Wife "

aaaawh l'amour

Least I brought myself some tulips  saving myself money over priced Valentine flowers ~ with a voucher I hasten to add ( The voucher was From Orcgard - Tesco)

Ideal Sausage Recipes Perfect for Spring

Perfect recipes for the ultimate romantic night in this Valentine's day and also as Spring I promise you is round the corner.  There are a few recipes rom Debbie and Andrew's sausages that you could try. I decided to give the "Give A Fig Salad Recipe " a whirl. It was very quick and easy to do and ready in no time at all.

Give A Fig Salad

Give A Fig Sausage Salad

Ingredients 1 pack of debbie&andrew’s Perfect Pork Sausages 8 figs, quartered 2 red onions, peeled and quartered 200g feta Balsamic glaze Olive oil 200g bag mixed leaf salad

Method 1. Preheat your oven to 180°C. Place onions in a roasting dish and lather in salt, pepper and olive oil. Bake for 20 minutes until soft and golden. 2. Chop the debbie&andrew’s Perfect Cumberland Sausages into thick slices on the diagonal and in a non stick large fry pan, fry off over a medium/high heat until lovely and golden. Set aside. 3. Assemble your salad by layering salad leaves, red onion, sausages and figs. Season with salt and pepper. Finish with a generous drizzle of olive oil, balsamic glaze and crumbled feta.

And the sweetness of the figs balance beautifully the saltiness of the feta .

Perfectly Paired Pies

Ingredients 2 packs debbie&andrew’s Perfect Pork Sausages, chopped into chunks 1tbs olive oil 1tsp butter 2 leeks, washed and sliced 2 green apples (Granny Smith or Bramley), cored and diced 250ml apple cider 2tbs plain flour (for a Gluten Free alternative, try Udi's All Purpose Flour Mix) 250ml chicken stock 100ml double cream 2tbs wholegrain mustard 1 egg - beaten 2 sheets of puff pastry (or Gluten Free alternative) 2tbs pumpkin seeds

Method 1. Preheat oven to 200°C. 2. In a large heavy based saucepan over a medium high heat, fry off the leeks, sausages and apples in the olive oil and butter for about 10 minutes until golden brown. Stir in the flour and cook out for a further 2 minutes. 3. Add the cider and reduce down to half. Add the stock, mustard and double cream and reduce until lovely and thick. Cool. 4. Divide your filling between 6 small pie dishes, 5. On a floured bench top, cut out 6 pieces of pastry just larger than the small pie dishes/cups. Lay over the top of the pie dishes, using a fork tightly press the edges. 6. Brush the pastry with the beaten egg and sprinkle with pumpkin seeds. 7. Bake for 20-25 minutes until lovely and golden. Serve hot!

 
Their sausages are available in Asda, Morrisons, Ocado, Sainsbury’s and Tesco. Prices range in store . I found mine in Sainsburys and they were priced £2.00 so £1.50 with the voucher 

This post is in collaboration with Debbie and Andrew's Sausages ~ The recipes are theirs. The bottom photo of the pie is there  but the pictures of the Give A Fig Salad are mine.