In the Bleak Midwinter?

 Not exactly midwinter, and not really bleak.  But it is getting colder, the days are getting shorter, and for the most part... I love it!

The winter comes; I walk alone,

I want no bird to sing;

To those who keep their heart's their own

The winter is the spring.

No flowers to please - no bees to hum - 

The coming spring's already come.

- John Clare

In the kitchen

Made more Soda Bread...

The basic recipe...

Lisa  was asking if my bread is heavy?  Yes it is!  Because I like it that way.  I use a small amount of white flour, but mostly wholewheat, spelt, buckwheat, rye, quinoa...

And I add seeds (sunflower. pumpkin, chia, caraway, ground linseed), and whatever else takes my fancy.  I bake in a loaf pan so it's more the traditional bread shape and better for slicing and freezing.  It's also delicious toasted!  If you prefer a lighter loaf, perhaps you could use all white flour, but I haven't tried it with all white.

And a beef and vegetable casserole...

And scones...

with sultanas, dates, raisins and currants :)

Knitting

The single bed blanket is finished...

And went in the mail yesterday to Wrap with Love...

Two scarves done, and will knit a couple of beanies to send at the end of the month to one of  Knit 4 Charities charities of the month...

And I think I forgot to show you this, the hat I was knitting with the beautiful wool Jefferson and Anushka sent me for my birthday...

It's finished, and I also managed to get a headband out of the 50gms of lovely soft and light Malabrigo Merino wool...

So now I'm back working on my Amish blanket squares...

In the Garden

The silver birch in my front garden is looking pretty in its autumn leaves...

And although there is not a lot of flower colour in the garden, this little bee managed to find a dandelion...

until I mowed over it (the flower, not the bee!) when I cut the grass yesterday.

But all is not lost, as my friend Vicki gave me this pretty potted Bellis daisy (aka English daisy) which I will divide up and plant in the garden...

At the River

It's not all gloom and doom, and it was blue skies and sunshine on my mid morning walk yesterday...

I had books to talk about too, but this is turning into a marathon post, so will do the books in a separate post.  Soon!

I really, really, really must try and get here more often!!

I'm still getting lots of headaches, and when I have headaches I need to avoid the computer :(

 I've had a couple of other health issues to sort through too, but there is light at the end of the tunnel :) 

Will leave you with this poem by Amy Carmichael I read this week...

Thou art the Lord who slept upon the pillow,

Thou art the Lord who soothed the furious sea,

What matter beating wind and tossing billow

If only we are in the boat with thee?

Hold us in quiet through the age-long minute

While Thou art silent, and the wind is shrill:

Can the boat sink while Thou, dear Lord, art in it?

Can the heart faint that waiteth on thy will?

- Toward Jerusalem

Hope you are having a good week!  Back soon... :))

xx