Naughty Naked Bear

Beauty Tips

2012-01-25T13:47:00.000-08:00

Dearest readers,

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Apply daily and watch the world become more beautiful every day!!
Lots of Love
Beardogxx

Being Grateful for the here and now, for what is and what isn't.

2012-01-24T13:01:00.000-08:00

It can be easy to be dissatisfied with what we have...mostly because we are too busy looking at what every one else has got and some how they always seem to have 'more' and better stuff.

Its an illusion. They haven't got more and better stuff...its fool's gold.

Is it? Some lives just look better lived. Families for instance. I am always extremely envious of families and family life.....why? Because my family life has never been conventional...'normal'. I suspect that my normal would be someone else's conventional, but that is wishful thinking on my part.

Worst still relationship envy......you know...the man who seems to be perfect in every way, the pair that seem so sympatico, so 'in-love', so bloody annoyingly happy. Your wasteland of a relationship seems parched in comparison of any happiness, not even a droplet, a trickle. Don't be PatHEtiC....your relationship is fine...remember yesterday when he made you a cup of tea without you having to ask......take the plank out of your eye...have a real look...let reality in.

Happy with your lot? Grateful?......ha! Caught you being envious...wishing for...hoping that....mind off in the future and not in the here and now. Stop what iffing...its a curse of too much information, the world wide web, the tacky Hello type magazines, the pimp my ride, location, location, location, grand design world of envy.

Least we forget, we are alive and well and have enough to eat, we have families, conventional or otherwise. We have friends, absent or present, relationships: good and not so grand, we have beds and homes and places to go and so many things that we fail to be grateful for.....

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The Simple Living Pledge

2012-01-15T22:39:00.000-08:00

Happy Monday,

I have decided to try to live a simple life this year and beyond hopefully.

So What is Simple Living?

Identifying what is most important for you and eliminating everything else.
Freeing up time for doing what inspires you and being with the people you love.
Decluttering your mind, your everyday life and your virtual life.
Single-tasking and learning to diminish stress.
Striving to live frugally by wanting less and buying only what is necessary.
Slowing down and being actively present in the moment.
Living a healthy life, including cleaning your home and your body, eating, exercising and thinking.
Striving to be green and sustainable as much as your surroundings allow.
Enjoying the simple pleasures of life.
Simplifying your goals, tasks and expectations.

A part of my goals for this year. I am striving for less stress and just enjoying the home I have made.

If you want to take the pledge too, go to http//blog.kanelstrand.com

Mid Life

2012-01-13T11:31:00.000-08:00

a) Aged between 40 and 55?

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b) Acutely conscious that life hasn't panned out for you quite the way you thought it would when you were 18?

c) Obsessed by your childhood, especially your inability to remember it?

d) Alienated by technology?

Source: Uploaded by user via Arielle on Pinterest

e) Scared of cancer?

f) Even more scared of death?

g) Planning your retirement even though you know it will be a wasteland of impoverished misery?

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h) Nervous of all the young people in your office?

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i) A lot happier when you've had a couple of glasses of wine?

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j) Okay, half a bottle? Well maybe a few .....

k) Getting divorced?

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l) Consoling friends who are getting divorced? (Yeah its tough...you'll get over it...have a drink!)

m) Worrying about what all those drugs you took when you were younger are going to do to you?

n) Stuck with a tattoo you hate?

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o) Tired. Just really really tired?

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p) And depressed?

q) And angry. Christ, where does that anger come from. Why did no one prepare you for it?

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Source: Uploaded by user via Michelle on Pinterest

r) 'Growing out' of all your clothes?

Source: nytimes.com via Jesse on Pinterest

s) Turning into your parents?

t) Thinking about moving to the country?

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u) Puzzled because you seem, somewhere along the line, to have lost all the friends you actually liked and acquired a load of new ones you barely know?

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If you have answered 'yes' to more than half of these questions, then you are officially middle aged, experiencing 'mid life'.

Great news, retirement is round the corner and you have earned the right to sit back and feel just a tiny bit smug and ever so, ever so knackered!!

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Welcome to my world...

love Beardog xx

Thanks to The Midlife Manual by John O'Connell & Jessica Cargill Thompson.

Working from Home

2012-01-10T09:38:00.000-08:00

In an effort to save cash, the organisation I work for decided to close down our offices and make all staff work from home. Sounds wonderful doesn't it, being at home all the time and avoiding the stressful commute to work every day. In the summer you can be working in the garden, in the winter working from your bed!!

The negatives are: It can be lonely. And it can be frustrating especially if you're not that organised and your office is so small you can barely swing a hamster.

However it does give me an excuse to revamp my home office. I have my eye on a desk like this:

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Or one like this:

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My office currently looks like this:

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And not like this:

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I WISH!!

I'm too ashamed to show you the glory hole that is my office. Maybe one day I'll give you a peek when I tidy it up.

Although I do have a plan; hubby is off to California in a week or so for 3 weeks so I will do a make over on his office, which is much scruffier than mine, and that's saying something!!

I have something like this in mind, only much smaller:

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Minus the flowers of course!!
And some good storage in my office for crafts etc:

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Love Beardog xx

Food and diet

2012-01-09T11:28:00.000-08:00

I love food. Love eating. Adore cooking. Three things that will end in my finding myself with a huge big fat body if I'm not very careful. Well I'm not giving up eating food I love for anyone or making the food I love. Hence my love affair with exercise. This way I can eat stuff I enjoy without guilt.

I make jam and I like eating it!

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I bake cakes and I eat them too:

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I can make a batch of cookies in a blink of an eye:

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I am happy to eat salads and other delicious healthy foods too, I guess I just like eating. Much of food is in how it looks , this is certainly half of the attraction.

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Don't let the word diet interfere with enjoying food, I know I don't.

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Good eating people,

Lots of love xxx

Exercising: the new religion

2012-01-08T00:37:00.000-08:00

I am on a mission to be fit and fine by fifty. Although I seem to recall a similar mission for my forties but hey what's a decade between friends. However I have always been fit, always been a runner or done some sort of exercise, but not as consistently as I should. Subsequently I have spent time being fat(ish) (not including pregnancies, that is legit fatness!) being uncomfortable and feeling unhappy with the way I look. But I have my mojo back. And this time it is different!! Honest Indian! This time it isn't a mission about being size 10, (although it may be a very welcome side effect) and its not even about competition either (after all I am only competing with myself).
It is however all about staying alive. Its about staying alive and staying alive WELL, it is about reversing the effects of ageing on my body.
IT IS NOT about wrinkles or grey hair or nasal hair because they won't kill me but being unable to move fluidly and bend with suppleness and walk with a bounce in my step and be super energetic are things that once absent can lead to decrepitude, slowing down, coming to a stand still and death. I want to be the super fit old person the one who does not grunt and groan when they stand up or shuffle instead of walk or who is crippled with aching joints and bad knees, but who thinks nothing of going for a run and dashing about having adventures.

The other alternative to 'appear' young is of course plastic surgery. Wrong for so many reasons that I won't go into just now.

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I could afford plastic surgery if I wanted it desperately enough and saved up, but I don't want it because it just makes people look fake and it takes NO effort just cash. In the end you need the effort to stay alive because money isn't oxygen and there are a lot of dead rich people in the grave yard. (Yes I know there are lots of dead poor people too ). But all the research indicates that exercising and keeping fit, using muscles and eating well can contribute to a healthy old age. I don't mean I am trying to avoid EVER dying, after all who wants to live forever, but I don't want to spend my retirement unable to enjoy myself and moaning and groaning....boring!!!

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It seems to me only natural to want to feel good and to want to get out and about and do fun stuff, there is sooooo much FUN stuff to do!!!

Check out this website ( one of hundreds) for information, instruction, hints and tips on getting healthy and fit: http://www.muscleandfitnesshers.com and this for information on ageing well : http://www.livescience.com
and ageing interestingly: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/columnists/nigelfarndale/6257885/How-to-grow-old-gracefully-and-interestingly.html

Get out there and just do it!!!

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Otherwise:

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Love you all.....now go exercise!!!

One last tip that works for me:

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xxx

Things I have learned

2012-01-07T09:01:00.000-08:00

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Clocks

2012-01-07T04:35:00.000-08:00

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I love clocks. Strangely I don't wear a watch though, but I do like clocks.

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I like big clocks. The sort you find in uber trendy homes based on the design of those huge train station clocks. This one is perfect in the kitchen isn't it? I love the simplicity of it and how it is so perfectly colour coordinated.

Source: mixandchic.com via Lisa on Pinterest

Clocks on the mantelpiece are classic. These are lovely clocks, although you normally only have the one. I don't have one above my fireplace either because I haven't found the perfect clock yet.

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But these are my favourite of all clocks and one day I hope to have one:

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until next 'time'....

Love Beardog xx

Running and Laughing

2012-01-04T01:15:00.000-08:00

I have never felt so happy as I was this morning running into the wind and laughing like a loon. When you body is fit and strong enough to make running feel joyful, there is nothing better.

On my way to fitness and long life.

Year 2012

2012-01-03T00:54:00.000-08:00

It is 2012, it is raining and very windy, I am out walking the dog. Christmas feels like a blip in a sea of ordinary day to day stuff. I'm back where I started but with more cleaning to do and a ton of mince pies no one wants to eat. I am thinking about spring and my garden. It has been so mild over the past few months that all the bulbs in the garden are already showing their tender green tips. There is no big freeze or snow storms predicted by the weathermen but it can and does snow even as late as March/April, so we will see. But I have great plans for the garden, all of which of course involve money. So it will be slow and hopefully the better for the lack of haste.

By February, the new year feeling will have gone, no doubt. Time will fly by. But I have decided that this year, I will have put in place the seeds for a new way of life.

For now I will visualise my improving garden and consider my new life adventures and finalise my plans to make it all happen.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

Time to say goodbye

2011-12-28T08:55:00.000-08:00

Whatever you think you know, you don't know and whatever you guess, is wrong or exactly right.

But unless you are a complete idiot, you will always know when the genuine friendship you once had is gone to be replaced with a barely concealed tolerance.

Then you know to extract yourself and be swift, be thorough and be final.

Goodbye you say, cheerio, see ya.

Make no drama, take a pledge, and closed the door, lock it and throw the key with great force into the sea.

Bye

Deck the halls....

2011-12-12T23:04:00.000-08:00

The time has come to get out the Christmas decorations and make the house and garden look festive. This year in the spirit of austerity I have been a little less over the top and have been inspired by the current make and mend ethos.

Here are a few inspirational photos:

Jazz up candles

Decorate with ribbon

make your own tree decorations

home made hearts

twiggy tree for christmas cards

rusty birds

trays of candles add sparkle to the coffee table

In Santa and the spirit of Christmas

Branches from garden: add baubles

Add lights to trees outdoors

Finally a wreath on the front door

Photos from Pinterest.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!

xx

Elderberry Jelly

2011-09-01T06:47:00.000-07:00

Jelly is a preserve of fruit and sugar which is clear and colourful and consists of the fruit without the attendant pulp, skins, seeds and pips. I made my jelly from the recipe in the following book:

The Right Way to Make Jams (Right Way S.): Amazon.co.uk: Cyril Grange: Books

I love free stuff especially food.

I was given a large free bag of elderberries and decided to make some jelly.

After a wash and de-stalking ( which if I had read the recipe first I could have avoided as de-stalking is not necessary when making jelly).

I placed the elderberries and 2 lbs of cooking apples (cut up and washed) from the garden into the preserving pan and add water and lemon juice.

Quite a good haul!

Simmer to cook and extract the juice.

Strain, allow the fruit pulp to drip through the double layer of butter muslin overnight to extract all the juice.

The next morning measure out the juice and add 1 lb of sugar for each pint of juice to the pan.

Bring the juice and sugar to the boil, and allow it to boil rapidly, stirring so sugar dissolves. Setting point should be reached within 20 - 30 minutes, the thermometer should be 104 - 105 C (200 - 221 F).

Clear the scum off the top, fill sterilized jars right to the top; pour slowly so that no bubbles are formed. Cover with waxed disc and screw lids on tight. Label etc.

A tip for pretty jam jar covers like mine: cupcake cases, they come in lots of pretty designs and are very cheap.

Jellies can be time consuming but for great for people who prefer jams without 'bits'. A good jelly should wobbly, be clear and have the concentrated flavour of the fruit.

Until next time,

Beardog xx

Sitting Room Reveal

2011-08-27T01:55:00.000-07:00

Well the sofa was returned and I felt all at once a bit disappointed, it didn't look how I imagined in my head. I have a terrific fantasy life which doesn't always match up to reality. It was a fleeting disappointment thank goodness.

So the Sitting Room is now complete, I spent a few hours putting up pictures, re-arranging cushions and placing lamps here and there. So here it is, let me know what you think:

View from the door to room

I am very happy at the results, the walls are dark burnt chocolate and the sofa contrasts fantastically.

Orchids add a french flavour perhaps. There is a really nice feel to the room, it feels fresh and bright, yet is dark and moody at night, so very cosy.

Managed to get fairy lights inside the cupboard and it looks lovely. The chicken wire doors adds a country charm. It is painted in Annie Sloan's Chalk Paint : Old White (inside) and Paris Grey.

It contrasts well with the dark walls doesn't it?

There are lots of windows in this room so it can handle a dark colour on the walls without looking gloomy.

TV flanked by two urns

Close up of patina on urns

Fire place all lit up

Hope you like the results as much as I do. Hubby hasn't seen it yet as he is in California still but he is in for a surprise. Its amazing what a girl can do in five days with a paint brush and a little imagination!!

see you soon

xx

First the prep...

2011-08-25T21:48:00.000-07:00

I love transforming a room with the magic alchemy of paint. It is always a wonder to me that a room can go from dull, cold and uninspiring to warm, cosy and spectacular with the simple application of paint!! However as much as I love the transforming thrill of painting, I do not enjoy the associated mess and that is where the tedious bit of decorating comes in: the prep!!

It can be avoided, but really you shouldn't as failing to prep properly leads to more work further along the road. Who hasn't spend hours scrubbing paint splashes from floors or trying delicately to remove a smudge of paint from a cushion?? Just me?? Well I've learnt my lesson and now I make sure the first job when painting a room is the prep.

It is worthwhile removing as much furniture as possible from a room before decorating, I appreciate that this isn't always feasible. Luckily painting the sitting room this time was facilitated by Mr Upholstery Man, Robert removing the huge sofa to recover it for me; so the biggest obstacle to a good paint job was removed. ( It also gave me the opportunity to refinish the floors too).

fireplace all masked taped off and covered.

The skirting boards, light switches, sockets, door trims and floors were all masked taped off and covered with dust sheets. This admittedly took me about 2 hours but then the painting was relatively plain sailing after that.

I went from a darkish grey to a deep luxuriant burnt brown which is the new black. Here's a sneaky peek:

The paint goes on chocolate brown but dries a dark almost black burnt colour.

The full reveal of my sitting room will come soon, just need Robert, Mr Upholstery Man to return my sofa. But I am so excited with how it looks so far. Will also blog the new look furniture too.

Have a great weekend.

xx

Exhausted!!

2011-08-24T12:44:00.000-07:00

How exhausting is decorating. Been at it all day. But soon I will be able to show you the results of my labours. It is funny however that one small design decision can lead to so many more small and huge changes. The decision to re-upholster the sofa has led to a change of wall colour and a re-painting of furniture. Here are some of the photos that have inspired my design choices:

Painting furniture in a pale grey means that they will make a big impact against the very dark walls.

God, as always is in the detail and will add the extra wow factor.

Distressed furniture ironically is calming and peaceful.

Dark walls are just too chic, just on vibe and makes any room elegant and declares its individuality.

More drama on the wall with the use of a strong dark colour!

Dark on dark for extra POW!

I am getting excited about the final look of my sitting room, my choice of a very dark paint for the walls in contrast to the cream/beige linen sofa will add a zing to our space....watch this space for the final reveal!!!

a little more grey, a little less aubergine

2011-08-22T05:42:00.000-07:00

It all started with the sofa springs popping. Our big old sofa was 11 years old and had suffered under the weight of quite a few bottoms. It was no surprise then that it was getting tired. Our sofa is big and very comfy and was extremely expensive when we bought it. To replace it like for like would set us back £3,000!!!!

So we decided to re-upholster it: I chose a very heavy weight textured linen which Hubby immediately found fault with, "Its cream!" he said, stating the obvious when I showed him the fabric sample, "It won't last five minutes with the dog and red wine and tea!" His final nail in the coffin was "And you're so clumsy."

Discussions began...formal in their nature and then not so formal. Finally, we settled on a very heavy weight textured linen because it is the best. So the dog will have to lie on the floor and FYI Hubby: I am really not that clumsy.

With the sofa fabric settled on, the next obvious step in our sitting room was a change in the furniture, or should I say a change in the colour of our furniture. Currently both the armoire and large dresser are painted in a rich dark aubergine. I fancy Paris Grey and a little gentle distressing.

Hubby can't bear the thought of the whole upheaval, luckily his work takes him off to sunny California for a week. I am armed (with Annie Sloan Paint, a paint brush) and could be considered dangerous...

..watch this space!!!

Sparkle

2011-08-13T09:03:00.000-07:00

I absolutely love sparkly things, they cheer me right up and make even dull days good. I have ~~wasted~~ spent a few hours just lusting over all the beautiful photos of sparkly loveliness. I thought I'd share as I'm sure you'll love them as much as me: Feast your eyes:

Thank you Pinterest and all those great people who contribute their fabulous images.
xx

simply objekts: {last days of summer}

2011-08-13T02:04:00.000-07:00

Check out this blog! It is fantastic and an inspiration if you like simple modern scandinavian style.

simply objekts: {last days of summer}: "{photographs by simply objekts} today is rainy. grey . cold. slowly winter is creeping up on us. i find myself looking forward to burning ..."

Beautiful things available from our website: www.beardogandjoolz.co.uk

2011-07-14T22:46:00.000-07:00

We have lots of beautiful things available on our website. Please visit us soon and have a look.

Nautical cushion

Bunting Cushion

Driftwood Heart

Seaside huts Picture

Little Fishes

3 Hook Shelf

Vintage pink glass butter dish

LOVE sign

Beautiful cards for all occasions

Look forward to seeing you soon at www.beardogandjoolz.co.uk

xxx

Harder than it looks...

2011-07-04T23:26:00.000-07:00

I am so behind...I have so much to do that actually writing this blog constitutes (in my to do list book) not a very constructive use of my time. :0(

I am in awe of all those bloggers who make maintaining their homes, cooking fab meals and attending to small children, whilst sourcing, restoring and selling vintage furniture, in between taking fantastic photographs and writing e-books and updating their blogs everyday, look so easy.

How do they do it? Seriously...I mean how do they???

Not long ago I bought some little treasures with the intention of doing a Annie Sloan paint job on them. Remember these:

I had all sorts of plans for them. I was even enthusiastic about my plans for them. I honestly thought that I could cram in another hobby, into my chore ridden days, hampered by the inconvenience of a full time job, a large garden, a dog to walk , a non self cleaning house and a Mr Restored to keep fed and watered. Ha! and Double Ha!

My energy did a spectacular no show, only determination and stubbornness turn up at the starting line.

Yes, the Before pictures of the chair, bedside cabinet and table look a bit untidy, dull even but I am not sure the After pictures make them look any better. But here they are, I'll let you judge for yourselves:

PS: be kind, I did paint them in my sleep.....

On being dumped...

2011-06-26T00:31:00.000-07:00

Where is the love of my life? Good question.

I spent the early evening and late night with my lovely friend who has just been dumped. When you are young, 18 going on 24, you can shrug off being dumped and be back on the saddle before you've barely hit the ground. When you are in your thirties going towards 40, it's not so easy. It stings. For women there is that biological clock ticking away and the additional pressure of parents-seeking-grandchildren asking questions like "When are you going to find a nice young man?" Lately those questions have an edge of desperation, "When are you going to find a bloke, what ya playing at? " So to be dumped and to be dumped by text is not nice for a girl in her mid thirties.

My friend and I discussed the 'moral efficacy' of dumping by text and we decided by unilateral vote of two that it is wrong. Essentially unless the relationship was conducted via text messaging, then the break up shouldn't end via this means...its cowardice! As my friend said, he turned up for the sex in person!

My friend and I discussed why relationships are hard to find, hard to keep and hard to be without. I focused on the hard to keep bit, although after years of being married, I guess I just wanted some praise or to be awarded the Nobel Peace prize for tolerance beyond most human's endurance, but that was a momentary relapse into fantasy and obviously I deserve what I've got. Anyway back to my friend, she said it was difficult to meet men, so I asked her to assess how she had been meeting men before and it was all randomness, " in a pub, in a club, being blind drunk at a mate's party..." that kind of thing. Now randomness is great when you're young, time is on your side and you have the lifestyle (loads of cash, no mortgage yet) and energy to support endless rounds of 'going out'. As you get older you acquire or have them forced upon you: bills, mortgages, car loans, weak ankles, being tired at 4pm and an increasing interest in knitting! (That last one is just me, my friend wants me to point out she has NEVER been interested in knitting) The point is, randomness is just not working because here she is at 35 and no boyfriend and no baby. My advice, (apart from telling her she is lucky, no pongy nappies, no sulking etc : this applies to both man and baby) you have to plan finding the right guy, yes he is out there, but you have to find him. You can't wait to bump into him outside the post office. However he may live in New Zealand so he'll never ever happen to be walking past your post office, just as you step out of the door and bang: fall straight into his arms, stare up to see his dazzling white smile and dangerously deep blue eyes. The truth? Plan finding your bloke like you would the perfect pair of shoes, leave nothing to chance. Be realistic, gorgeous, rich, tall, intelligent men are rare (Yes I know I have such a husband but we can't all be as lucky as moi.) Lower your sights a little, after all I have heard that not so gorgeous, not so bright, not so tall middle class men can be a fun and attractive dates. Scratch that, I am being a bitch, there really are lots of nice normal blokes out there that never get a look in because we women have been conditioned to expect tall, dark, rich and gorgeous. I know a few women who have got such rare creatures as husbands and boyfriends and they report the same nasty behaviour, farting in bed, picking nose in car and talking with their mouths full, not to mention ( so I shall) forgetfulness of birthdays and smelly socks left on the kitchen table (why?) all the usual habits that are afflicted upon all women by all men in relationships. So good looking or not, a pert bum does not a thoughtful husband make. Here ended the lesson, I am bored with myself.....

PS: I am looking for a lovely playmate for my beautiful, blonde, extremely intelligent, slim, funny and sincere friend. Must be tall dark and gorgeous...failing that just be nice.

Being Boring

2011-06-22T22:54:00.000-07:00

Being Boring

Wendy Cope

If you ask me 'What's new?', I have nothing to say

Except that the garden is growing.

I had a slight cold but it's better today.

I'm content with the way things are going.

Yes, he is the same as he usually is,

Still eating and sleeping and snoring.

I get on with my work. He gets on with his.

I know this is all very boring.

There was drama enough in my turbulent past;

Tears and Passion - I've used up a tankful.

No news is good news, and long may it last.

If nothing much happens, I'm thankful.

A happier cabbage you never did see,

My vegetable spirits are soaring.

If you're after excitement, steer well clear of me.

I want to go on being boring.

I don't go to parties. Well, what are they for,

If you don't need to find a new lover?

You drink and you listen and drink a bit more

And you take all the next day to recover.

Someone to stay home with was all my desire

And, now that I've found a safe mooring,

I've just one ambition in life: I aspire

To go on and on being boring.

(picture from Period Living)

Car Boot Booty

2011-06-19T13:42:00.000-07:00

For £6 this what I got:

Will work on these over next few weeks and hope to blog the results.

Painting with Annie Sloan chalk paint

2011-06-12T23:22:00.000-07:00

This paint makes restoring furniture very simple, it is easy to use and drys very quickly. The wax allows for brilliant finishes.

This is a pine shelving unit in our downstairs cloak room, it isn't terrible but looks much better with a brush with Paris Grey:

Had a go painting India, my horse's head which was originally a very dark wood, it looks entirely different with a coat of Old White and dark wax.

An old pine chair bought and made in the 80's was looking a little tired, a coat of Duck Egg Blue over a base of Old White brought it back to life! Now it looks fantastic in my office.

Went a little crazy and did some innocent candle sticks with Old White, they looked just as lovely before but if anything stand still for long enough I'll paint it!

This old mirror was bought for 50 pence at a car boot sale and after a bit of Duck Egg Blue, I sold it for £7 at Hoveringham Vintage Fair. Not bad since it took about half an hour to do and used virtually no paint!

I will have plenty more restoration projects coming up, planning on painting my pine settle and hall table, so watch this space.

Making soap...

2011-06-12T07:29:00.000-07:00

If you can cook then there is no reason why you can not make your own soap. I like to make my own soaps because I am able to ensure that it is pure, safe and gentle enough to use on babies and toddlers. Most commercial soap makers use questionable synthetic fragrances, preservatives, chemicals and animal fat in their soaps. In addition making your own soap from scratch is very satisfying!! I have enjoyed making soap for our business but also just for me and hubby and the family to enjoy. It also makes your house smell wonderful. So why not give it a go, its easier than you imagine.

It's a good idea to get all your equipment, ingredients together and your choice of mould greased and lined before you begin.

It will make the whole process less fraught and you will feel more confident. I would also recommend that you read through the method first before you start instead of as you go along. I am going to make a basic soap, but if you get hooked on soap making you'll find that there are loads of books with recipes for all kinds of soap!! Olive oil castile soap is very moisturising, as are milk based soaps. This soap recipe is also moisturising and kinder to your skin than any soap you could buy in the supermarkets.

For a basic soap you will need the following:

615g coconut oil (solid) You could substitute some of the coconut oil for beeswax which helps makes a firmer bar of soap.
670g sunflower oil and the same of olive oil.
295g caustic soda (lye)
930ml still mineral water

You can also add essential oils, cosmetic colourants and other supplements for example: rose petals, calendula petals or poppy seeds.

Water and oil measurements have to be approximate and it is essential that the caustic soda is measured with exacting accuracy. Care should be taken using caustic soda as it will burn the skin on contact, happily after the curing process it is completely harmless.

Okay to get started, melt the solid fats first in a large pan, then add the liquid oils and remove from the heat. Put water into a large plastic bucket. Weigh the caustic soda and pour directly into the water, stirring constantly.

Using the thermometers ensure that oils and lye water are both at 35-36.7C/95-98 F.

When they are both at this temperature, add the lye water to the oils. This is the start of the saponification process. Stir continuously until the soap traces or in other words thickens and becomes opaque. You will know it is ready when the impression of a line of soap can be seen on the surface after drizzling from a spatula.

Depending on the oils used, temperature of the room, how vigorously you stir, tracing can take a matter of minutes or an hour or two. 30 -40 minutes is the average time.

Add colours, supplements if using, then essential oils, while stirring.

I made a marble soap, so added some colour to the mixture in a separate jug and stirred.

Pour into prepared mould which should be lined and greased.

I added the coloured soap to the mould and swirled to make a random pattern.

Cover with sheets of cardboard and thick towels. Set for 24 hours.

I used Lemon Peel Granules and Calendula petals as supplements and deep pink colourant. The essential oils I used were: Cinnamon Leaf, Tea Tree, Sweet Fennel, Lemon, Linaloe Wood, Peppermint and Basil to create my favourite soap Naughty Naked Bear.

After 24 hours we demould the soap on to greaseproof paper.

Wear gloves as the soap will still be caustic. Peel the greaseproof paper lining from the soap, then cut into bars. Leave to cure for 6-7 weeks in a warm dry place on waxed paper.

This is what they look like after being cut into bars:

You can wrap and label your bars of soap if you wish once they have cured.

There are lots of websites, suppliers and books available to help you quickly became skilled at soap making.

Believe in pink

2011-06-10T22:14:00.000-07:00

Watching the world wander by...

2011-06-09T10:53:00.000-07:00

Sometimes it is just nice to sit and watch the world meander pass, even if that world consists of your dog and birds and bees, or the scurry of the wind in tree tops and the low hum of a lawn mower. Had a rest from frantic living today and counted my blessings.

with a little paint...

2011-06-04T12:34:00.000-07:00

I have a perfectly good pine chair...boring and a bit orange. Here is the chair with nearly a complete first coat of Old White:

Here it is with Duck Egg Blue and a coat of clear wax and a bit of distressing:

A close up of the distressed bits:

With cushion:

And indoors:

The Don't list: No time for tea and cake.....

2011-06-03T04:12:00.000-07:00

Everybody as far as I am aware has a 'To Do' list usually chock full of with chores and tasks that make up the fabric of our 'adult' lives. These lists are what make us competent, mature adults, right?? These list allows me to imagine I am coping marvellously in a world that demands so much from me and my limited time. My 'To do' list is an impressive thing, it has headings and sub headings and asterisk to denote urgency and red strike throughs to declare: task completed ( although admittedly not so many of those these days) Usually my 'To do' lists makes me feel tired, it berates me for failing to complete the tasks, it tortures me by growing ever longer. I keep it in a draw in the kitchen to avoid the guilt of being several chores behind, but nevertheless I can unfortunately recite the 'To do' list verbatim. I carry it about in my conscious like a talisman to my inability to be a proper grown up responsible human being, it wears me down like water dripping on a stone, until I have the groove worn in my brain that says: you're unorganised and lazy.

As I was sitting about this morning, staring into space, my brain on yet another hiatus: a thought wandered in..'what if..' my little brain suggested, ' you had a 'Don't list' instead of a 'To do' list??' The possibilities for lounging around would be endless I thought. Don't clean up, don't cook dinner and whatever you do, don't mown the lawn. Unfortunately my thoughts quickly moved on to the more restrictive don'ts; don't drink wine, don't waste time, don't forget to mown the lawn and cook dinner. It would seem that the 'To do' list has a firm grip on me, even when I try to throw it off the scent by ignoring it, it simplely masquerades as a 'Don't' list!

So I have the list out before me and I am going to start on it now: I will be hanging the washing out if anyone needs me and after that i will be knee deep in ironing!

Doors in Split, Croatia

2011-05-09T21:38:00.000-07:00

A little history about Split and Diocletian's Palace around which the town is built.

Emperor Diocletian was Dalmatia's most outstanding contribution to the Roman empire. When he retired to his birthplace (Salona, near Split) he decided to built this monumental fortified palace.

He began in 295 and for ten years oversaw the quarrying of stone from neighbouring Brac and the construction of his palace. It measures 215m from east to west and the walls are 26m high. Poised between the classical and the medieval Christian civilisation, Diocletian's Palace is a compendium of all the styles that preceded it.

The palace is now a commercial and residential centre, a development which dates to the 7th century when nearby residents fled to the walled palace to escape invading barbarians. (This is taken from http://www.croatiatraveller.com/Heritage_Sites/Diocletian'sPalace.htm)

This one of the older doors in Split, in Diocletian Palace.

Our holiday in Split, Croatia has been a great opportunity to check out beautiful architecture and buy fantastic handmade lace, pottery and art. One of my favourite hobbies is to take photographs of doors. Last year I wrote a blog about Dutch doors in Amsterdam. ( Its a lot less boring than it sounds...honest).

This very charming grey door is elegant and is my favourite.

This is a very grand door at least 12 feet tall: imposing!!

The ornate stone surround on this door stops it from being ordinary, shame it can't stop it from being that yucky green.

Really double doors are far more imposing than single doors, but again the real show stealer here is the stone surround and coat of arms carved on the pelmet. The planting is obviously due to neglect I imagine.

What a fantastic balcony!! The door is not bad either. I love the stone surround and corbels at either side of the step.

very Romeo and Juliet...

This green is very popular, personally I hate it but these doors can handle the colour, unfortunately the door surround that detracts from the beauty too.

Love the panels on this door. But hate the colour.

More improvement needed on the door front in Split, but not bad...seen worse in England.

Need to know what to see in Split? Sightseeing inSplit starts with the awesome Diocletian's Palace, and its marble streets scattered with Roman ruins. And, you can wander the palace any time of the day or night. Visit this website for all the information you need on how to get to Split and what to do when you get there!

http://www.croatiatraveller.com

incredible smashed peas and broad beans on toast | Jamie Oliver Recipes (UK)

2011-05-09T07:28:00.000-07:00

incredible smashed peas and broad beans on toast | Jamie Oliver Recipes (UK)

Getting in the mood

2011-04-24T01:28:00.000-07:00

I am getting in the mood for the Royal wedding, the bunting is up and the cakes and buns are ready, champagne is on ice and a bank holiday looms: how fantastic is that.

I am getting in the mood for summer, these past six days have been wonderful with sunshine and blue skies, blossom and early tulips. More of this please God and more time off work too!

When all is blooming outside, don't you just feel in the mood for flowers in doors? They look beautiful.

I have been motivated to tidy my tiny office...will be working at home soon and want to be in a lovely space. New shelves and a lick of paint.

Feel in the mood for smiling too...all is well with ~~the~~ world, all is well with my world to be accurate.

Repainted this cupboard to fit in with my office colour scheme: grey and deep purple with touches of yellow: sounds grim: looks fantastic!

And later on today, I will be in the mood for a long country walk with Roo and George, a stop for a drink or two in the pub by the river and a good but gentle walk back home.

Yes definitely getting in the mood.....

Merry-go-round!

2011-04-12T21:36:00.000-07:00

I fully accept that having decorated a room, and often this is when the paint is still drying, that it will be changed at some point. Any day now I will get over my fetish for the colour grey and move on. I will find myself getting out the Farrow and Ball paint chart and hanging my nose over wallpapers at www.Wallpaper Direct, and cruising the fabric aisles at Jessops: a change will be imminent. I don't mind this, I am the sort of person who will move furniture on a whim; change is in my nature. However there are some jobs I expect to only do once and never have to think about again. All the structural, electrical and plumbing jobs, should never need to be done again in my considered opinion...but apparently in the real world this is not so. Every week it seems a new repair man for either the drains, the electrics, the heating, the alarm system is at the door at my behest because there has been some malfunction or another. Enough already!! In response to the ever increasing costs I have joined forces with British Gas and taken out one of their insurance policies that covers all household calamities. I can now focus my attention on how to make my tiny office beautiful, what to do with my clutter and designing my summer house...oh and planning the best party ever for Hubby's birthday.

The Summer House currently: In 18 months you won't recognise it, as it will be entirely different and quite beautiful.

My darling, long suffering, hard working hubby. He has never had a birthday party, so its about time he did. He is a lovely, generous and very kind man.

CLUTTER!!

I have decided it has to go: into storage while I figure out a new approach to my interiors. By the time I have that figured out, my clutter will seem like treasure again.

bye for now xx

PS: one day I'll actually get off this Merry-go-round...honest.

okay..one of those days

2011-04-09T13:44:00.000-07:00

sun shining, blue sky, Abba on stereo: loud. cut the grass, put in bedding plants. Cleaned the house, hung out washing, made supper, drank wine, went on a walk by the river, washed dog, hoovered up, made cups of tea, wrote a list of things to do, organised Dyno Rod to clear blocked drains, wondered if I should paint cupboards, did grocery shop, changed sheets, swept yard, wondered why my friends don't like me, spoke to sister on phone. sorted paperwork, emailed son, pretended to be cheerful, watched film, emptied bins, weeded gravel drive and cried.....

My name is Beardog...

2011-04-08T22:52:00.001-07:00

Much like the character in 'My name is Earl', I have been going around for the last 6 months righting the wrongs ( perceived, real or imagined) that I may or may not have done in my long life. So I have apologised to all three people I've pissed off. However I am aware there may be many many more who feel they also need an apology. If this is you please let me know so I can issue the appropriate level of heart felt regret immediately.

I will then move on to returning items that don't belong to me but have somehow come into my possession. Alison I still have your pink spotty Lycra short from a holiday in France in 1998!! Alex, your bandana has been part of my running kit for three years but as I don't run anymore, it is washed and iron and waiting to be reclaimed. I have books aplenty...who do they belong to, why don't people put their names in them?? Towels too and remarkably spoons and a random bowl.

After all that I will be free and guiltless. I can be a cankerous old bag and accrue new sins with a whole new copy book to spoil by blotting.

Solitude

2011-04-08T13:00:00.000-07:00

If I had a penny for every time I told myself that I could get so much more done if I only had the time. I discover to my great shame that NOW I have the time; no kids demanding things, no paid employment cluttering up my thoughts, nothing much that I can't dismiss, but still the chest that needs painting, and shelves that need hanging, wallpaper that should be chosen and bed room re-modelled; all gets left undone. Of late my solitude leaves me unmotivated, I have long long lists of things to do, plans in my head stay there unfulfilled.

I think I need the hurried, demanding short of time madness to urge me on to achieving all I need to do.

Being alone...simply leaves me alone with no drive to do anything but listen to the silence and do nothing at all.

Dogs go travelling..

2011-04-05T14:43:00.000-07:00

This is my brother's house. I was never more relieved to pull up to his drive than today.

Roo and I in Cheltenham.

I am, without doubt, crap when it comes to navigating. I could get lost in my own village if it wasn't for the dog who knows her way home. And we are talking a small village. So when my brother invited me up for a couple of days of chillaxing, I was initially quite excited, but as the day arrived to travel, I got a severe case of nerves. I was okay on the M1 because I've driven on it before but when it became complicated ie: Junction 14, right on B4509 and M42 turning into M5 and all that jazz, I started to freak out a little. Not helped at all by Ruby farting almost consistently throughout the three hour drive or her insistence that she sit up front and put her head on my knee. So after a long and nerve racking journey, I arrived and was quite frankly shocked not to be greeted with a hot cup of tea and vallium.

A gentle 2 mile window shop in a strange landscape, ie: Cheltenham, soon perked us both up. Now I am dreading the drive back......

PS: Roo was a big hit with the natives.

Creating a Home That Inspires Your Life

2011-04-04T23:51:00.000-07:00

Creating a Home That Inspires Your Life

I really like this blog and I like it because it doesn't take the piss out of wanting to make your home a special place to live in!

in and out doors

2011-04-03T13:03:00.000-07:00

ten green bottles

rustic charm

twiggy pencils

indoor greenhouse

Ruby is one today!!!

2011-04-03T02:46:00.000-07:00

As a special birthday treat, George and Beardog take Ruby for a long walk besides the river. Usually only Beardog and Roo go out for walks.

Look what I have found, she says...here have some, it's a delicious cow pat. We politely decline and swiftly move on....

Two forces of nature about to collide. Ruby runs at full pelt everywhere and George takes big giant steps. Ruby is still only a pup and so is George!

I stop to contemplate the beauty around us. Aren't we lucky to live in such a wonderful place and isn't it a lovely day for the Roo dog's birthday!!

Come on ...I've run up this bank at least a 100 times already!! says Roo, showing off just a little. But it's allowed today as you're only 1 once.

Happy Birthday Ruby Hendrix Boo and many many more, love Beardog & George xxx

Random things

2011-04-01T13:28:00.001-07:00

Annus Horribilis

2011-03-30T22:36:00.000-07:00

This spring reveals the full horror of the winter we have just had. Many old and loved friends have died at the hands of extensive freezing, snow storms and dank, damp days. Two bay trees bowed out, an olive tree also and a great many 'hardy' shrubs.

The garden is looking bare, devastated ( brought to ruin by violent action) and in need of love.

my little bird

2011-03-29T13:47:00.000-07:00

my little bird. She is wonderful and funny. She is air-bourne with joy, she is happy and gives us love.

A sneaky look....

2011-03-15T00:15:00.000-07:00

utility ware @ www.beardogandjoolz.co.uk

kitchen goddess

blue & white pottery

vintage mirror

utility room shelves

the front hall

my kitchen

the door is always open to guests

a cosy corner of my kitchen to sit and read cookery books

old urn in sitting room: one of a pair

vintage books

Lazing in bed

2011-03-05T06:12:00.000-08:00

It is Saturday afternoon, where did the day go, it surely can only be 5 minutes ago that I woke up, went for a pot of tea and came back upstairs and back to bed to switched on my laptop and browse the web.Now the clock is telling me it is 2.05 pm. Crikey!! However it isn't often that I laze about in bed all day...this will just be my little secret guilty pleasure......better get up now.

sorting the junk

2011-01-15T23:57:00.000-08:00

I have too much clothes, and at least 89% of it is either too small or too worn out and ugly to be worn. Yet they are cluttering up my space and making it difficult to just put things away. It is depressing and I tell myself I need to sort it out, but the sheer volume make me tired just thinking about it. In the past when I have attempted to de-clutter I have spent too much time dithering over whether a t-shirt that is a little too tight would be okay for gardening in and I really should keep it just in case. I also tell myself that I'll slim down and be able to get back into those beautiful Miss Sixty jeans that are just too good to give away. Hence the mental torture of 'should it stay or should it go' halts any notion I may have of sorting the junk.

Kitchen Aid

2011-01-03T20:48:00.000-08:00

I am a ‘basher’, or ‘a bit heavy handed’ as my mother would say. A trait great for the initial kneading of bread and for digging tree stumps out of the garden; but for anything else it is a liability. So, knowing this about myself, I have always preferred and bought heavy duty kitchen equipment, which can with stand my clumsy bull at a gate approach.

This has worked out very well really, as I have a selection of kitchen apparatus that has withstood the passage of time and my cack handed use of them. Of all the equipment I have, I love my MERCURY cooker and KITCHEN AID mixer best of all, mostly because I use them every day. They are solid and reassuringly heavy. The Mercury cooker is a huge and beautiful beast with a main oven that can hold an 18kg turkey and five powerful gas rings. It is also a thing of sleek beauty, designed to do a job and not over embellished with twiddly bits to impress those impressed by bling. It is a solid piece of kit and worth every single penny. So too my Kitchen Aid mixer....it is heavy and shiny and robust. Every cake, meringue or pastry I have ever made, starts here.

Although these things may cost more, I have had them all for many years and will have them for many more I am certain.

An Age of Austerity

2010-10-24T01:03:00.000-07:00

Sunday 24th October 2010

We are in an age of austerity, there are calls for strict budgeting and the tightening our collective belts. The reality is dire for us all and even worse for others who will lose their jobs, incomes, even homes. It is at times like these that we have to become resourceful, to make do and mend, to organise ourselves to use our skills to make the best of what we have. Of course we could easily allow this economic down turn to be an opportunity to practice rigorous asceticism, to deny ourselves even the smallest crumb of comfort. But that I believe would be a terrible shame, a mistake even. Now is a time when we must take comfort where ever we can find it. Now is the exact time when having a welcoming home that excites our senses is of paramount importance. To get through and out the other side of this recession, we need to keep positive, stay optimistic and enjoy our homes and family life. Some things can cost very little to cheer our souls; a roaring log fire, a brisk walk in the autumn afternoon, a freshly baked batch of scones with a nice, cup of hot tea, a favourite tv programme and the Sunday papers or having friends/family over for a simple lunch.

This is indeed a period of financial austerity but it does not have to be an age of creative austerity too.

Windfall Apple Jelly

2010-10-03T08:50:00.000-07:00

Everyone can cook. Actually I have to take that statement back straight away, on reflection not everyone can cook, but everyone must eat. Whilst some eat just to live, most of us I think in addition to nourishment, eat for pleasure. I love to cook AND eat and it is something I do every day of course. Epicurus the Greek philosopher said along with many other wise musings, that “one must practice the things which produce happiness,” No surprise then if I tell you I spend many long and happy hours in my kitchen baking, cooking and recently experimenting with recipes. I realise that there are many people who like me love to cook and are fascinated enough by food to find nothing even faintly ridiculous about reading cookbooks in bed or thinking about ingredients or recipes in those spare idle moments. Of course it is often difficult to find any spare idle moment that can't be filled with a must do chore.

Yesterday was one of those days.

Having ownership of an apple tree that feels obliged to produce several kilos of apples each year is, believe me, a chore. How to store them, cook them or dispose of them occupies your thoughts from late August to November. I have tried every recipe going containing apples with the bid to use as many as possible just to stop myself feeling bad about composting the lot. I have attempted to give them away but no takers; everyone I know seem to be trying to force their windfall garden produce on me instead. I have apple trees, so I have to make Apple jelly, it is the simplest way of getting rid of a few kilos of apples with hardly any effort.

Garden produce

For this recipe you need 5lbs of cooking apples, chop them up, but check them first to be sure they have no bruises and blemishes. There is no need to peel or core. Place in a very large sauce pan and add enough water to sit level with the apples in the pan, about 3 pints. Heat up until the apples start to turn mushy. Add 6 cloves, a sprinkle or three of ground ginger and some lemon juice and a cinnamon stick ( the cloves and cinnamon stick should be removed at the potting stage).

This is the moment that occurs at this time every year when I realise I should have bought a jelly bag as I won't be able to strain the mixture over night to capture the pure apple essence. I wonder who actually has a jelly bag apart from say Delia or Gary Rhodes. I kick myself because I don't have one and driving in to town to get one from Lakeland is just not going to happen, can't see myself making that journey. And so a cheap pair of tights ( new of course) are my genius substitute. It does the job!! I tie it to the door knob of a kitchen cupboard and Robert is your father's brother!!

A jelly bag made from a pair of tights!!

Early next morning, measure the juice you have strained and for every pint ( 600ml) add one lb (500g) of sugar. Heat gently, stirring until the sugar is completely dissolved, add the chopped tarragon, grated lime and finely chopped garlic. Skim any scum off surface and boil hard to setting point. Pot in warm sterilised jars. Label and store

Sweet Oven Dried Tomatoes

2010-09-26T01:11:00.000-07:00

Growing tomatoes is something anyone can do whatever the size of their gardens. Two tomato plants in a couple of pots will yield enough harvest to make several jars of chutney and adorn a salad or two. As I am, unlike my husband, not a big fan of chutney, this year I decided to oven dry some of the tomato harvest. Unfortunately given the unpredictable weather in England, sun drying is not always an option. Oven drying however is a good alternative and easy enough that very little skill or effort is require, except perhaps a good memory. When choosing the variety of tomatoes to grow, go for the very sweet variety for oven drying purposes, as the sweetness is intensified by this method of preserving and makes for better eating pleasure.

You will need:

A good amount of ripe tomatoes, sliced quite thinly.

Good quality Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Salt.

That’s all. This method of preserving relies solely on the flavour of the tomatoes.

Place the slice tomatoes in a single layer on a lightly greased baking sheet, sprinkle with salt. Place in the oven at the lowest temperature possible and leave for about 10 hours. The tricky part is not forgetting about them completely, as you may find that they are dried beyond the point of redemption. Once they are dried but still with a tiny bit of moisture and flexibility, put them in a clean sterilised jar and at this point you can add fresh torn basil. Pack them in tightly and cover with Extra Virgin Olive Oil. Seal and label and store in a dark cupboard for a few months to let the flavours infuse before use.

Cinnamon Apple Sandwich Cake

2010-09-25T00:54:00.000-07:00

Cinnamon Apple Sandwich Cake

At this time of year there is always a glut of apples and over the years I have made a whole array of recipes. There is, however, only so much you can take of row upon row of apple jelly, crumbles and pies. So this year I have been looking for different ways to diminish the glut. Last night when I came home I had the urge to bake so I made up this cake, based loosely on a Victoria Sandwich.

Weighing your eggs is a tip I stole from the Hairy Biker’s cookbook. You weigh the eggs and simply use the same weigh of butter, flour and sugar. My four eggs came to 9 ozs so the recipe is based on that.

Ingredients:

4 free range eggs

9oz butter, at room temperature

9oz caster sugar

90z self raising flour, sifted

1tsp baking powder

2 cooking apples: one diced and one thinly sliced.

4 tbsp crème fraiche

A pinch or two of cinnamon to taste

A few drops of vanilla extract

Topping:

½ tsp cinnamon

½ oz melted butter

2 tbsp caster sugar

Filling:

5 oz soften butter

Icing sugar

½ tsp cinnamon

Jar of home-made Apricot jam

Method:

1. Heat the oven to 180c (160c fan) 350F, gas mark 4.

2. Grease and line two sandwich tins

3. Beat the butter and caster sugar together until light and creamy. Then gradually add the beaten eggs and crème fraiche. Add a small amount of flour to avoid curdling.

4. Gently stir in the vanilla extract, sifted flour, baking powder and cinnamon until it is a smooth, soft dropping consistency. Stir in the chopped apples.

5. Divide the mixture between the two tins. Arrange the thinly slice apples on top of one cake.

6. Mix the melted butter with the caster sugar and cinnamon and brush over the top of the cake.

7. Bake for 35 to 45 minutes until the cakes have risen, is golden and firm to touch. Remove from oven and cool on wire rack.

8. Mean while beat the butter until light and fluffy, incorporate the icing sugar and cinnamon. When the cakes are cool sandwich them together with the butter icing and apricot jam. Sift caster sugar on top.

Utilitarian Simplicity

2010-09-13T13:26:00.000-07:00

How to make your own Eco Friendly Householder Cleaner..

There is really no need to use harsh chemicals, fact is with a few basic ingredients you can make your own household soap cleaner. All you need is about 50g of pure soap flakes, 1/2 a cup of soda crystals, the same of white vinegar, a few drops of tea tree oil and lemon essential oils , have ready five litres of cold water and four and a half litres of hot water. It is simple. First you place the soap flakes and two litres of the cold water in a sauce pan and bring to the boil, then add the soda crystals. Stir it until completely dissolved, stir in the essential oils and white vinegar. Pour into a bucket and add the hot water and the remaining cold water. When cool transfer to smaller containers and label. The is basic cleaner is good for soaking heavily soiled items before washing and then add 2 cups to the washing machine per load for fresh clean laundry. Give it a go.

Strawberry Jam

2010-09-13T13:23:00.001-07:00

Strawberry Jam

You will need about 3lbs of strawberries and the same of sugar and the juice of half a lemon. That's it...3 simple ingredients. Wash the strawberries and hull them (that's taking the green stem of the top) and mash a few of them. Warm the sugar in a bowl in a low oven about 120 Celsius, 250 Fahrenheit or Gas Mark 1/2. If I'm in a rush, I tend to miss this step out, it doesn't seem to harm the process or the end result. Put the mashed and whole strawberries in a big preserving pan with the lemon juice and bring to a gentle simmer. Then add the warmed sugar and let it all slowly dissolve over a really gentle heat. Then let the jam boil rapidly for about 10 to 15 minutes or until setting point is reached. Remove from heat. Leave to stand for a few moments, then stir until the strawberries are well distributed throughout the jam. Pour into warmed, sterilized jars, seal immediately, label and date, sit back and feel like a true domestic goddess. (It is a fleeting but wonderful feeling). NB: To sterilize jars see the Finer Details above. Seal jams with a circle of wax paper and a screw top lid. Store your jams in a cool dark place for up to a year, but depending on your family they won't last that long!!

Garden Harvest: fruit

2010-09-02T03:00:00.000-07:00

Having inherited a garden crammed with fruit trees, I find at the end of every summer I am overwhelmed with the bounty of fruits from plums to figs to pears. Of course I tend to give most of it away as I find I hardly have time to make jams and pies and chutneys. I feel incredibly guilty of course being a self proclaimed domestic goddess, that I have not got row upon row of gleaming jars of apple butter, plum jam, preserved pears and fig and tomato chutneys. However, I like to make a jar or two of jam and five or six pies to tide the household over the winter months.

Plum Jam.. well of course you need plums; about 3 lbs/1.35kg will make 8 half-pound/225g jars. The plums need their stones to be removed, this is boring, bribe a child to do it for you, one that you can trust with a knife. Add the stoned plums to your nice big jam pot and add the same amount of jam sugar. A touch of lime zest and the juice of one lime will make your jam memorable for all the right reasons. Bring slowly to a rolling boil, and let it boil away for at least 30 minutes. This is not the stage in this recipe to go off to inspect your tomatoes or to get on the phone for a marathon chat with a best girlfriend. No, this is the time you stick to the kitchen, wooden spoon in hand, ensuring that your jam does not stick and that you are angelically spooning off the scum that forms on the top. Getting rid of the foamy scum will give you a nice clear luminous jam. After 30 minutes or so, do the jam set test, put a little of your jam on a chilled saucer, place in fridge to cool. If it wrinkles and leaves a clean path when pushed with your finger it is ready. If not, then boil for a while longer. Your jam jars should be sterilising in the warm oven, get them out, pour in your jam.

Apple Crumble is an old family favourite and here is the recipe I use:

Ingredients

For the crumble

300g/10½oz plain flour, sieved pinch of salt

175g/6oz unrefined brown sugar

200g/7oz unsalted butter, cubed at room temperature

Knob of butter for greasing

For the filling

450g/1lb apples, peeled, cored and cut into 1cm/½in pieces

50g/2oz unrefined brown sugar

1 tbsp plain flo

1 pinch of ground cinnamon

Preparation method

1. Preheat the oven to 180C/350F/Gas 4.

2. Place the flour and sugar in a large bowl and mix well. Taking a few cubes of butter at a time rub into the flour mixture. Keep rubbing until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs.

3. Place the fruit in a large bowl and sprinkle over the sugar, flour and cinnamon. Stir well being careful not to break up the fruit.

4. Butter a 24cm/9in ovenproof dish. Spoon the fruit mixture into the bottom, then sprinkle the crumble mixture on top.

5. Bake in the oven for 40-45 minutes until the crumble is browned and the fruit mixture bubbling.

6. Serve with thick cream or custard.

One further recipe using the figs I have in abundance:

Roast figs with honey and yoghurt

Ingredients

· 2 figs

· 2 tbsp honey

· 1 pinch cinnamon

· 50g/1¾oz Greek yoghurt

· 1 orange, segmented

Preparation method

1. Preheat the oven to 200C/400F/Gas 6.
1. Cut into the figs to make a cross on the top. Place on a baking sheet and drizzle with the honey.

2. Place into the preheated oven and cook for five minutes.

3. To serve place the figs on a plate with the Greek yogurt and garnish with the orange segments.

How I decorate...

2010-08-24T22:45:00.000-07:00

It can start with one simple and beautiful object: that is where the inspiration can come from. Or a view; the way sun shine caresses and sparkles on moving water; or the pureness of a blue clear sky or anything really, anything unexpected can be the jump point for a decorating idea. A favourite inspiration for me has always be looking at other designer's homes.

Homes are places that you have to feel at 'home' in. Your home should welcome you back with open arms, you should feel able to be comforted and happy at home. There is nothing worse than a house that accuses you the minute you walk in..."paint this wall....wash these pots....this hall way is too dark...there is too much clutter here...etc". When you open your front door you want to feel welcomed and this is the starting point when you begin to think about decorating your home...'what feeling do you want to create? And how can you achieve it?' For instance if you want to create a cosy feel it is best to stick to warmer colours. Although it is not impossible to do this with lighter shades, but these are considerations to take into account. It is also important to have a level of authenticity to your home, a level of reality that is only possible to achieve with vintage furniture, paraphernalia, real art work and faded linens and shiny pretty things. Whatever look you go for in your home, let it be real to you and your personality, don't buy your interiors wholesale from furniture stores: think for yourself. Understand your own taste and if it is miles away from recent trends or completely off the wall...if it says home to you then that is the aim.

Making cakes

2010-08-23T22:43:00.001-07:00

When I was a child, I would often spend the afternoon in the kitchen with my mum and sisters baking. Mum would make currant buns, heavy rich fruit cakes, pasties and fragrant lemon cakes speckle with poppy seeds. In fact my mother was a superb all rounder, she made ginger beer, lemonade and frizzy strawberry cordial and then to top it all she made all our clothes and still worked a full time job. She basically did it all. At the time I didn't think about the mountain of chores my mother went through every day, I just enjoyed being in the cosy, steamy kitchen with my sisters, stirring the cake mixture or kneading dough.

Now I find myself in much the same place as my mum, but without the blessing of a brace of young daughters to stir cake mixtures, roll out pastry and chatter like blackbirds with me in my kitchen. But even alone, I enjoy spending the day in the kitchen baking. In this modern age with all the demands on women to compete in the job market and be all things from mum to journalist to gardener to business woman, there is a simple pleasure from tying on an apron, getting out a mixing bowl and weighting scales, gathering ingredients and baking. The air in the kitchen becomes heavy with the aromas of vanilla pods, lemon rind, cinnamon, ginger, the toffee smell of dark brown refined sugar and you can almost taste the chocolate lingering like a brief memory of a kiss.

From 'How to Drive a Car.' (1940's)

2010-08-12T23:00:00.000-07:00

Riders of pedal cycles are often the source of much worry to the motorist. One would think that the rider of a bicycle would be so very conscious of the flimsiness of his machine and his exposure in the event of a collision that he would be particularly careful to observe scrupulously the rules of the road, but, as a matter of fact, he is often the most reckless of road users. He delights, for instance, in swooping down an exceedingly steep hill at 25 mph, entering the main road in a grand sweep, which takes him right across the path of one line of traffic, and face to face with anything on the other, so that he relies entirely on the skill of other road users and the efficiency of their brakes, while such are the anomalies of our motor laws that he is permitted, head down, with cap hung on the lamp bracket, to dash through villages at 18 miles an hour where red-and-white-painted discs impress the motorist that he will be liable to dire penalties if he exceeds, be it by ever so little, the 10 mph allowed. An Annoying Habit Many cyclists also take pleasure in driving side by side several abreast and obstructing the road entirely to one line of traffic, often obstinately refusing to make way for those wishing to overtake them, so that if there is much traffic coming in the opposite direction - i.e., towards them - the pace of every other road user is set by a few slow cyclists talking as they ride. Verily, cyclists are to be treated with the utmost respect, especially at night, when, scorning even a red reflector which would ensure their safety, they pedal silently along the road, their machines and garments merging into the gloom. The motorist, in order to pick them out, must needs have powerful headlamps, yet, when they see a car with bright headlights, which the driver is compelled to use in order to save their skins, they shout loudly some remarks about road-hogs and dazzling lights. It is a hard life!

Frustrating chores

2010-07-11T09:01:00.000-07:00

There is always the day when you find your list of chores are too mind numbingly dreary to complete. Today was such a day. The first a simple task was to complete a job I had started about a month ago: replacing a nasty plastic doorbell with a chrome one. This was of course turned out to be not as simple as I wish. The drill bit was the wrong size, the screw driver had stripped the thread of the screw and a wasp nest was disrupted apparently by my attempts at D.I.Y and a flurry of furious wasps made short work of my desire to continue. Okay I thought, I'll wire the walls for the wisteria which was flopping all over the patio. This job went fine until I discovered the wire was too light weight to support the bulk of the wisteria. A list began to form: Larger drill bit, stronger wire and wasp powder, clearly a trip would be necessary to the hardware store.

Well there was the fence waiting to be painted, it was a job started many weeks ago and was so tedious, so incredibly dull that although I had begun I had only managed to do less than a third and could not bear to continue; so had prevaricated for as long as I could. Well it could be put off no longer... But anther obstacle frustrated my attempts to lay waste to my long 'to do' list: the paint brushes had harden off because the last person to use it had failed to wash it up and put it away properly. (That would be me then,..) With a true sense of relief I put 'paint the fence' back to the bottom of the chore list and added 'new big fence paint brush' on the shopping list.

There was clearly no other option but to go shopping, so I had a bit of a chance to start and finish at least one job this weekend.

Cool and calm

2010-07-04T11:05:00.001-07:00

In the heat of summer, it is lovely to have a house that is cool, serene and calm.

Not just a walk

2010-06-10T11:43:00.000-07:00

Taking Ruby, the energetic cockerapoo pup, for her daily walks has been a revelation in many ways. She is full of curiosity, inquisitiveness and has a nose set to seek out mischief. Her doggy being simple requires walking and there is no debate. So I have at last been disciplined into taking regular exercise by a dog; simply the best personal trainer anyone could ask for. It is impossible to make excuses for avoiding a brisk walk when your doggy looks so dejected and disappointment sitting by the door, or to resist the keen enthusiasm of a dog straining on the lead, desperate to get out into the big wide world.

Every wind heralds another scent and Ruby charges from aroma to aroma, dashing about in her own world of delicious smells. Walking with Ruby is not a matter of going from A to B, it a thorough exploration of the alphabet!! It is easy though, on walks, to allow your mind much like Ruby's nose to wander. My thoughts are chasing smells, darting from worries to plans to ideas to memories: resting for a second perhaps on a plan or worse, lingering for a while on a worry. In a mere mile I can cover the whole gauntlet of emotions from pleasure to tears to glee to horror and back again.

My dog walking mornings are a wonderful opportunity for emptying my head of petty thoughts and worthless worries and pointless niggles. I can watch Ruby intent on moving forward, seeking out new scents to smell and only occasionally darting back for a second sniff at a lingering whiff. Much like her I have learnt to jettison the crap and move onwards straining on the lead of life. And if occasionally I look back thinking I caught the aroma of the past, I can be forgiven for that.

Recipes for Quick Summer Lunch

2010-06-04T03:43:00.001-07:00

When the weather is good, I for one , do not want to be stuck in the kitchen. I want to be able to get outside and enjoy the sunshine. So I have a few very quick recipes that can add up to a very presentable lunch with the addition of a bottle of chilled white wine or two.

Sweet Pear, Pea and Potato Salad

This is a recipe that takes no time at all to prepare and is light refreshing and delicious served with fish or chicken.

You need enough new potatoes to serve however many people you're feeding, along with frozen peas, and a good size sweet and ripe pear, peeled, halved and cored.

Fresh mint, black coarsely milled pepper and mayonnaise and a slurp of extra virgin olive oil will also be required.

Cook peas. Chop new potatoes length ways

(there is no need to peel) and cook in salted water until just tender.

Drain and add cooked peas, chopped mint, roughly chopped pears.

Add mayonnaise to taste with a dash of olive oil and a generous grind of black pepper.

Serve slightly warm with:

Salmon topped with pesto

Have a skinned salmon fillet for each guest, season lightly with salt and pepper. Place each salmon in an individual non stick, grease proof baking paper, add lemon juice, a dash of olive oil, and top each fillet with a level table spoon of pesto.

Parcel up the fish and ensure it is sealed sufficiently and place in a ban marie. This should take 20 minutes in a gas mark 5 oven.

Serve the above with a lovely salad.

Lunch in the garden.

Something for nothing ...

2010-05-31T11:11:00.000-07:00

Warm and wet weather means seeds germinate and suddenly there seems to be a multitude of weeds springing up daily in the garden. And yet there is also a bonus, because in amongst them will be many self-set seedlings. With a couple of hours to spare, they can be teased out of their randomly chosen home, potted up and before you know it, you will have a collection of cottage garden favourites to give to your friends or even to set out on a table by your gate and sell to passers by. There is something very satisfying about sharing plants with fellow enthusiasts.

This year my gravel path has proved to be the perfect place for self-set hardy geraniums, a sweet variety called Walter's Gift. Potting up this crop of seedlings was an easy and enjoyable task.

Ease each one from the ground with a gentle tug and the help of a plant label or garden fork, and into a waiting pot of compost. Water well and place in a shady spot for a couple of days, until the plantlet has had time to recover. Keep watered and wait. Before long your efforts will be rewarded.
I’ve been lucky with some other plants this year. Jacob’s Ladder has happily set seed, along with Verbena Bonariensis and the delightful everlasting sweet pea. Any takers?

How to paint your fence and not fall out with your neighbours..

2010-05-28T21:33:00.000-07:00

Painting a fence in the hot blazing sun is not the worse chore in the world, but it is in the top ten for tedium. I have been putting off painting our new fence for weeks, always blaming the onset of rain as the reason I can't get started. However when that excuse wore thin, I knew I had to get on with it. So suitably dressed in my decorating scruffs (a pair of old tatty jeans and a very unflattering T-shirt) I set about painting the fence.

Living in a small village puts a self imposed restriction on ones choice of paint colour. If I could have indulged my taste for the outré and the unusual I would have gone for purple, a deep sensual purple. But imagine the gossip in the village store...it doesn't bear consideration..walking the dog would have been impossible as I would have been given the evil eye by everyone and be known as "that woman with the purple fence..ruins the looks of the village that fence does". So the fence is being painted non offensive dark 'rich oak' and predictably gets approving nods from all dog walkers passing by. I also get some helpful hints ..." you might get it done quicker if you use a bigger brush.." ...."you'd be better off spraying, rather than using a brush.." ..."you've missed a bit..". All this I can put up with, after all the fence is a step closer to a bit more privacy, I think of witty and cutting responses in my head as I paint, ignoring the growing ache in my painting arm after two hours or so. I am just considering stopping for a tea break when the neighbour from across the street, comes over.

Of all our neighbours which number just five, these are the neighbours: Mary and Malcolm, I like the most. This is because they always say a cheery hello, don't get involved in village gossip and basically mind their own business whilst being open and friendly. So it was with some trepidation that I greeted Mary, added to which I looked like a dog's dinner and sweaty to boot.
"I've been meaning to come over to have a word for a while..." she starts..."like your fence by the way, you're doing a good job" Mary smiles, I smile back and wait for the blow from the blunt instrument of other people's opinion. "You may have notice that we've not been out and about with Marcus lately..." Marcus is their very friendly black Labrador retriever. Strangely enough I spend no time at all wondering what my neighbours are up to, but I do not say this, I just nod and put the appropriate concern expression on my face. "Unfortunately Marcus had to be put down last month..spinal problems." "Oh dear," I say genuinely upset...dogs are often the best neighbours to have, they can't be held responsible for their owners. "Well.." says Mary bravely "we've got a new dog, a puppy. I wasn't really ready, but Malcolm was adamant we replace Marcus right away..he's called Magnus...the new puppy....would you like to see him?" I can see her bottom lip quivering and sense tears are hovering. I put down my paint brush and agree. It is only when I'm in their house, which is the top end of posh, that I become aware of my scruffy clothes, sweating armpits and paint splattered arms. I immediately feel like a teenager, gauche and awkward. My body betrays me by sweating more and I wipe my face on my T-shirt, which I realise immediately after doing it, that it was the wrong thing to do, as Mary's face crinkles slightly with disapproval.
"Would you mind taking your shoes off" Mary asks politely, with horror I look down at my muddy wellies and the mucky foot prints I have left on her pale green hall carpets. I apologise profusely and feel a blush of menopausal hot flush proportions. "Follow me.." Mary instructs. I do as I am told.
I can't help but cast a sneaky eye at my surroundings. I am caught doing that too. "Would you like a tour?" Mary asks with a hint of sarcasm. I decline and place my interest back on the fat wriggly black lab puppy squirming in my arms. He's beautiful I tell her and he is. I make my standard comments one makes for moments like this and gratefully leave. As I resume painting the fence, I can't help thinking that the impression I made on Mary will probably result in her avoiding me forever. Its not fair, I was just minding my own business and painting the bloody fence!!

de Hortus Botanicus: Amsterdam

2010-05-26T23:00:00.000-07:00

On Planage Middenlaan, just off Muiderstratten is a 2 arce plot that plays host to Amsterdam's Botanical Gardens. It is an intriguing place, sort of a mini Kew Gardens, with an Orangery built 1875, the Palm House for palm trees and cactus constructed in 1912, an miniature rainforest in the big Three-Climate Greenhouse dating from 1993, the Hugo de Vries building was built in 1915 to honour Professor de Vries was a famous genetics scholar and a director at de Hortus from 1896 to 1918. There is also a pond and potager. It was a beautiful hot day, so wandering around was a delight and a pleasure.

The Hortus Botanicus Amsterdam is one of the oldest botanic gardens in the world. There are apparently over 4,000 plant species from all over the world. The Hortus started out as a medicinal herb garden in 1638 by the Amsterdam City Council. I can't imagine any other city in any other country doing the same. Although it was in part due to an plague epidemic that the medicinal garden was formed to allow doctors and pharmacists to train in the preparation of prescriptions.

Find out more on www.dehortus.nl

The Dutch Touch

2010-05-26T12:55:00.001-07:00

A little time spent away from home and nosing about in another country is always interesting and an opportunity to be inspired. Luckily for me I hitched a ride on my husband's business trip to the Netherlands and had a sunny weekend in Amsterdam. I came back with a few treasures and lots of fantastic experiences finding vintage shops with unusual and quirky stuff. I was very inspired and captured some brilliant ideas for Beardog and Joolz.

I will be writing other blogs in the very near future about my extra long four day weekend in Amsterdam, but for now, here are a few tantalising images:

The simple beauty of every day things:

Dinner Party Tips: How to avoid the DP Blues

2010-05-19T22:31:00.000-07:00

The invitations have gone out, the menu has been planned, the shopping has been done and everything is in place for a dinner party bar the actual cooking. Dinner parties always seem like a good idea at the time. You get to thinking, 'gosh I haven't seen so and so for ages, lets' invite them over for a meal...' or you exchange invites one drunken night after a session in the pub and only remember the promise of a meal when they turn up on your doorstep expecting to be fed a week later. Or your husband hands out invites to dinner to all and sundry like smarties and every weekend you feel as if you're running a five star restaurant but with no tidy profit at the end to make it feel worthwhile. Things that are a good idea at the time are only ever good at the time, the brilliance of it fades with every passing second. The closest I want to get to a dinner party these days is watching 'Come Dine With Me'.

But sometimes there is no avoiding it: you either 'owe' a dinner to someone who fed you 6 months ago and has been hinting ever since that they "haven't seen you for ages not since you came over to ours for a meal" or circumstances mean you can't ditch the kids and take some worthy friends out to share an Indian and are force to cook instead. I use to make a right meal of a dinner party (ha ha) and by the time I dished up I would be completely exhausted and unable to enjoy the food and unwilling to engaged in dinner party chat. These day I am very laid back and these are my handy tips to put the fun and conviviality back into providing food for friends.

1. Are your friends coming to inspect your house or have a meal? Don't give yourself more to do or put pressure on your hubby to re-wire the house. There is really no need to repaper the downstairs loos or sparkle clean inside the under-stair cupboard. As long as your house is reasonably clean and hasn't been condemned by Health and Safety, all is well.

2.Keep it simple. Don't start planning an elaborate menu with a 6 bird roast or a Heston Blumenthal feast, don't even think about cooking something you've never cooked before. This is when you revisit your own perfected repertoire of dishes that you have mastered and made your own. I always make a Lemon Meringue Pie as pud because I can make it with my eyes close and one hand tied behind my back. Yes..it is boring to keep churning out the same dishes, but if you have perfected more than a dozen recipes you can mix and match for ages before anyone notices.

3. Get someone else to do the cooking: the other guests for example. It is quite charming for guests to be asked to be responsible for preparing one of the courses; clearly not the main course; but the starter or dessert can be palmed off on others. This gives you more time to focus on making the main course fantastic. You do have to share the glory but you are sharing the work, so its all good.

4. Don't reward the cook with a glass or two of wine whilst preparing the food. You'll end up a very sweaty drunken mess with a potentially uneatable meal on the table. Take it easy. Wait until the dishes are prepared and you've got a relaxing half an hour before your guests arrive: pour a drink then, you will have earned it.

5. Reward your kids with treats if they agree to set the table, walk the dog or keep their toys off the stairs. Every one in the household should be drawn into helping. There is always something you've forgotten to buy or do.

Follow these tips and dinner parties may end up being fun. Or like me you can simply get a family size bag of crisps and a bottle or two of pinot and amuse yourself watching other people sweat on Come Dine With Me.

Perennial Pleasures

2010-05-18T21:08:00.000-07:00

Perennial Pleasures

Some pleasures come round year after year. We mark the seasons by some and renew our acquaintance with others which we have quite forgotten about and then are pleasantly surprised by, every single year! These perennial pleasures are as individual to us as our birthdays. For me, the year is not punctuated by commercial holidays like Easter and Christmas, but by the changing styles of the seasons and the delight each one gives. The seasons for me are marked by simple things, like the first journey home from work without having to put your car lights on. That is when I note that Spring is definitely on the way. Hearing bird song first thing in the morning is another.

The first smell and sound of a lawn being mown reminds me of the
rhythm of grass cutting, marking out the start of a love affair which by mid- summer has become an arduous chore. However mowing the lawn for the first time after a long bleak winter, gives a certain pleasure that is not easy to explain. Encapsulate in that moment is the very definition of the start of summer, a promise of hot, lazy days and passionate sultry nights to come.

Similarly having an excuse to light the fire and illuminate the room with candles always invokes a singular feeling of comfort and being secure at home. It is the only part of winter that soothes; the rest is a battle against the weather and the commercial hype of Christmas.

I love the stillness of summer’s afternoon, when the sky is aglow with heat, the blueness as perfect a colour of blue that no painter could match; the sounds of bees, of birds chattering and the distant drone of a lawn being shorn somewhere; the clink of ice in a glass and the gentle creak of a deck chair as you settle into the moment; this for me is the very definition of high summer.

These perennial pleasures are perfect markers for my year, each loved and exclaimed over when they are here and mourned and fondly remembered when they have gone.

A Few of my Perennial Pleasures:

First asparagus.

The longest day.

Summer rain (as long as it is infrequent and comes after a really muggy hot day).

Smell of freshly picked tomatoes. The perfume of blushing plums.

Foggy autumn day and the smell of a bonfire.

Finding beautiful and unique things for my home and for Beardog and Joolz.

Fireworks in the night sky.

The feel and smell of sheets after a day on the washing line in the sun.

The smell of the sea and warm sand between ones toes.

A cup of tea and a bun enjoyed after an autumnal walk. .

Email us at Beardog.joolz@btinternet.com and share your perennial pleasures and the most evocative will win a 10% discount voucher to spend with Beardog and Joolz Ltd.

New life

2010-03-28T15:49:00.000-07:00

There has been a lot of discussion in the old homestead recently, centred around the arrival of a new household member. This very special someone is due to arrive around June and already there has been a lot of changes because of this. This new arrival will need a room, a nice comfy bed and a copy of the house rules ( just as soon as we know what they are).

How to make your home ready for spring.

2010-02-01T20:28:00.000-08:00

Spring cleaning is not just about emptying cupboards and de-cluttering, banishing cobwebs lingering high up in the stair well or cleaning windows inside and out. Spring cleaning also presents a good opportunity to review how well your housing is running generally and to adjust your organisational skills. Here are 4 steps to a spring clean sweep:

Once a year it pays dividends to take the time to review how you manage your home.
MOT your central heating boiler, water tank, and other regularly used household appliances like the dish washer. These simple checks will ensure that you avoid unexpected breakdowns.

Check your standing orders/direct debits for utility bills are accurate, ensure your meter has been read recently and your have no outstanding credits/debits.

Check guarantees for household appliances like toasters, vacuum cleaners are up to date, if not check out if further household insurance for appliance failures are available.

Sit down with a notebook and list the bare minimum needed to keep household systems flowing on a weekly basis. The usual tedious chores: washing up, the kitchen tidied fairly regularly, food shopping, laundry washed and ironed and put away, vacuuming, dusting, changing bedding and cleaning bathrooms and toilets. This is a list of the bare minimum health and safety standards for your home.

Divide your list into daily jobs and weekly ones. It is for example not necessary to change your bedding every day, but washing the dishes or filling the dishwasher is a daily task.

Next draw up another list for: Spring-Cleaning Tasks.
This should include some of the following:
clean interior windows - remove curtains/blinds (have those dry-cleaned).

Open windows (silly as it sounds people usually keep their windows shut all winter) air the whole house thoroughly. Keeping a house ventilated is very important to avoid the growth of mould. A damp house is essentially an unhealthy house.

Take all your rugs (if you have any) outside and take your aggression out on them by beating them thoroughly. (It is good exercises too). Carpet beaters are still available at old- fashioned hardware stores.

Move beds, vacuum underneath, also vacuum the mattress and turn it over to ensure even wear.

Empty out and clean all cupboards in the house: this is an ideal time to de-clutter and get rid of things you never use. Charity shops, car boot sales and ebay are just a few options of recycling your unwanted belongings.

Employ an Oven cleaner, but get a reputable company. They can deep clean your cooker so it looks like new.

Hire a carpet cleaner: choose a day when it is dry and you can leave all the windows open. Clean carpets in high traffic areas thoroughly. If you don’t have carpets, you can also hire a floor polisher to give your wooden floors a boost.

Use these lists to divide up chores between your household members and get started.

Reading by the fire

2010-01-06T23:03:00.000-08:00

Reading by the fire is something I would recommended for cold wintry afternoons. There is a certain smugness about it, a feeling that all is right with your world. A cup of tea and a modest plate of biscuits enhances the pleasure. But finding the right book to read is the real purpose of this treat. It must be a book that is captivating, that has the power to transport you to the author's world completely and allows you to wallow in all the emotions unfolding in the tale.

It is so strange when you look up from reading a intriguing book to find yourself back in your comfy armchair with the fire blazing merrily when seconds before you had been lost on the forbidding Kilimanjaro volcanic mountain range, or fighting off a murderous assailant in a dark city ally way. I love those books that have the power to chill your bones and make you shiver just from the prose describing the snow, to make your heart race with fear or your eyes swell with tears.

I suppose that writing blogs is a way that we have to set down our emotions, to describe our lives, make observations on the world around us and engage with a wider audience, people we will never meet in real life. Yet so many of our authors feel like close friends, like people we know and love. That is the power of the written word. I have started writing blogs before and certainly kept on doing it even when I knew that no one was actually reading anything I wrote. Essentially I write for myself, for the cathartic value and to capture a snapshot of my life that I can reflect upon years later and assess how much or little I have changed.

Prose, Poetry and Lyrics

2010-01-06T12:03:00.001-08:00

I love poets and poetry, I like prose that makes you stop and listen to the sound of the words resonating in your head after you've read them. I love lyrics that do not need music to touch the nerve endings of your heart and make your emotions fly. I love the sheer beauty of words and with them the peace that can be made, the humour that can be shared, the wounds that can be healed. Poetry saved me from my wretched childhood and swept me up on its comforts and took me far away, books were my friends, they were whole worlds that I could live in for hours at a time. The worst thing in all the world is to be shut out of the world of words, to be unable to express your thoughts in prose that will linger in the memory of others. I read poetry every day and today I read the following:

Candles
by C P Cavafy

Days to come stand in front of us
like rows of burning candles -
golden, warm, and vivid candles.

Days past fall behind us,
a gloomy line of burnt out candles;
the nearest are still smoking,
cold, melted, and bent.

I don't want to look at them: their shape saddens me,
and it saddens me to remember their original light.
I look ahead at my burning candles.

I don't want to turn, don't want to see, terrified,
how quickly that dark line gets longer,
how quickly one more dead candle joins another.

The Hardship of Accounting
By Robert Frost

Never ask of money spent
Where the spender thinks it went.
No one was ever meant
To remember or invent
What he did with every cent.

Christmas Past

2009-12-14T19:33:00.000-08:00

Because it is the season to be jolly and because there is an anticipation of good things to come in the air, there can surely be no reason to feel a little sad and tearful? Sitting at my desk, Classic FM providing the sound track, I was as close to tears as it is safe to get at work today. Suddenly I had a feeling of the world changing and reforming and sliding away from the safeness of the past. I felt the urge to capture a picture perfect life and never let it change. I suspect when we indulge in the traditions of the season; when we put up our Christmas tree and order our turkey, send Christmas cards with red breasted robins and listen to Christmas carols on the radio; we are harnessing a Christmas past, clinging on with our finger tips to a better world, nourishing ourselves on the 'milk of human kindness' that flows with abundance at this time of year. When, more than now, are we inclined to wish good wishes for others, or to give generously to those without, or to pity those 'alone' at Christmas? It is a time of family gatherings, a reunion of souls and a period of thankfulness. Any bad thing that happens at Christmas is automatically twice as bad, it is after all the season to be jolly. Misfortune, badness, crimes and wickedness can not be tolerated, not at Christmas. At other times, we shrug off such things and explain it away with the phrase ' thats' life these days'.
The Ghost of Christmas Past haunted Ebenezer Scrooge showing him scenes from his past that occurred on or around Christmas, in an attempt to demonstrate to him the necessity of changing his ways; most of the events which negatively affected Scrooge occurred around the Christmas holiday season. With the media hyping us all up to have a picture perfect Christmas, is it any wonder we all experience a twinge or two of disappointment.

I wonder if Christmas is a time of reflection we humans need to allow us to regather our energies for the year ahead. It is a time to reinforce ourselves with the nourishment of the love given by others, in which ever way it comes: gifts, a good meal, a card in the post. It is a time for remembrance, to look back before we move forward, to feel sorrow, before we experience joy.

Nearly done

2009-12-07T21:25:00.000-08:00

Kitchen is nearly complete. Just a few tweaks. I will be able to reclaim my home before Christmas.

Waiting to reclaim my home

2009-12-03T18:30:00.000-08:00

We're having work done on our house. So far it has been a nightmare which started in April 2009 and I've just been informed by husband that it will not be completed until sometime in early 2010. I am so frustrated, I could cry. Mostly it is the endless promises that are broken that defeat me. It is the way that my home feels like a workshop or a garage or a pit stop for builders with five minutes to spare. It does not feel like my home, my heart does not sigh with contentment when I open my front door. The feeling is one of anxiety: what mess, or broken ruin thing will I find today? Husband is endlessly stoic and patient, I am not. I am that broken and ruin thing that the builders have created. I started out with so much hope and excitement and now I am the exact opposite. Yes worse things have happened at sea, this is not the end of the world..it just feels like it.

Entertaining in style: how to cheat in the kitchen at Christmas

2009-12-03T09:35:00.000-08:00

Christmas in my experience means cooking and baking and cleaning. It is an exhausting time of year if you are the one responsible for everything. Over the years necessity has resulted in some clever shortcuts. It is not necessary to make your own pastry, let alone your own mince pies. Christmas cake? Does anyone eat it except the old man? Buy one, if you simply can’t imagine Christmas without a cake. But don’t even consider wasting the two hours it takes just to assemble the ingredients, it’s not a crime: buy a cake.

Hire a cleaner for the week before Christmas. It may cost you about £60 for a thorough clean but just think of the time and effort saved. The pleasure of having a fresh sparkly clean house to welcome your guests without you being bone tired and disgruntled makes the price as cheap as chips.

In October start stockpiling bottles of wine, brandy and other hard liquor, tins of biscuits, sweets and chocolate, pack your freezer with mince pies (the bought variety darling). If you are really organised make extra meals to freeze, so you have dinners available at your fingertips for those unexpected dinner invitations you issue at random when you are completely inebriated and full of goodwill.

The thing is, if you are a good cook, there is no reason at all to panic about Christmas. But if you can’t cook at all, the recipes that follow are for you; they are easy and quick and won’t send you mad with having to assemble 47 ingredients just for the gravy.

Here is the simplest recipe for Roast Turkey you’ll ever find, basically you just have to sling it in the oven.

Simple Roast Turkey

Ingredients
4 oz butter
2 large onions (chopped in half)
3 or 4 cloves of garlic
1 very large 12 - 13 pound fresh or frozen and thawed turkey
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
Large pack of stuffing (choose your favourite)
6 medium carrots, peeled and cut in two length way
Coarse salt and ground black pepper
Jerk chicken seasoning
White wine (for the pot and the cook)
Brandy
Mustard
Plain flour

This recipe should serve 12 not so hungry people but in our family this is sufficient for 6 healthy appetites.

Preparation time: 20 measly minutes.
Gravy cooking time: 6 minutes.
Roasting time: 3 hours. (ish)
Standing time: 15- 30 minutes.

Cooking Instructions

Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Wash your turkey thoroughly in water with a little lemon juice. Pat it dry with a very clean tea towel. Place onions, neck, and heart of turkey in bottom of roasting pan. Make up stuffing as directed on packaging. Add stuffing to front and back cavities of turkey, but do not pack it tightly. Push the butter under skin of turkey along with garlic, massage it in well. Sprinkle turkey with salt, pepper and Jerk Chicken seasoning. Fold wing tips under bird and place turkey breast side up on top of onions. Add carrots around turkey.
Place turkey in oven. You can breathe easy for a while, but periodically check and baste. After 2 hours, add 2 small cups of water (or white wine) to the bottom of the roasting pan.
Roast about 3 hours, or until instant read thermometer in thickest part of thigh registers 170 degrees F. Let rest at least 15 minutes to half an hour before carving. You too should rest, get a glass of wine and sing carols.
At some point you must make gravy. Its simple: Pour liquid from roasting pan into measuring cup. Discard onions, carrots, heart, and neck. Skim off fat from liquid and pour all but 1/4 cup back into roasting pan. For every 1/2 cup of liquid (what's in the pan and what is set aside as the reserved liquid) use 1 tablespoon flour. Stir that total amount of flour into the 1/4 cup of cooled, reserved liquid, and mix together well. Add a glug of white wine and a tiny bit of brandy to the liquid in the roasting pan and place over a medium heat. Slowly add the flour mixture to it, stirring constantly. Bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer, and cook 2 minutes, whisking constantly. Adjust salt and pepper to taste. Add a teaspoon of mustard to spice it up a little.

2009-12-02T21:51:00.000-08:00

Utilitarian Simplicity

How to make your own Eco Friendly Householder Cleaner..
There is really no need to use harsh chemicals, fact is with a few basic ingredients you can make your own household soap cleaner. All you need is about 50g of pure soap flakes, 1/2 a cup of soda crystals, the same of white vinegar, a few drops of tea tree oil and lemon essential oils , have ready five litres of cold water and four and a half litres of hot water. It is simple. First you place the soap flakes and two litres of the cold water in a sauce pan and bring to the boil, then add the soda crystals. Stir it until completely dissolved, stir in the essential oils and white vinegar. Pour into a bucket and add the hot water and the remaining cold water. When cool transfer to smaller containers and label. The is basic cleaner is good for soaking heavily soiled items before washing and then add 2 cups to the washing machine per load for fresh clean laundry. Give it a go.

The Gentle Art of Domesticity

2009-12-02T21:44:00.000-08:00

I spend a lot of time in my kitchen, cooking, cleaning up after cooking, drinking tea, chatting, reading recipe books, hiding from the rest of the household and having a few moments to myself. It was the first room I designed when we moved into this ram-shackled ‘money pit’ and it was the last room to get finished. A kitchen is a redemptive place, here you can make up for whatever shortcomings you have elsewhere. A bad day at work can be eased by the making of a lovely creamy cheesy pasta dish, which is greeted with joy by your family. This week has been a frantic round of jam and chutney making, the usual attempt to productively use the harvest of vegetables and fruit from the garden. This year our dear little wizen plum tree has gone crazy producing hundreds of sweet plump plums with purple bluish hue. My first instinct is to make jam, but after a few hours standing over a hot stove, I am fed-up of stirring the bubbling cauldron of sticky dark liquid as it spits and burps and splutters. I decided a plum pie would be an easier way to use up some of the surplus. Below is one of the recipes I ended up using this year. Give it a try.

Plum Pie with Almond Pastry

For this beautiful scrumptious pie you need a shallow pie tin and the patience and will to make your own pastry. Dissolve 4 oz or 100g of soft brown sugar in 10 fl oz or 300ml of water in a pan over a low heat. Once the sugar has dissolved add the zest of half a lemon and boil it for 10 minutes. Get 6 –8 nice fat juicy plums and halve and remove the stones then add them to the syrup and leave them to simmer uncovered until tender. This should take about 15 –20 minutes or even quicker if your plums are very ripe. Now for the hard bit, making the almond pastry. Rub 4oz/100g of butter into 10oz/275g flour with a teaspoon of cinnamon until the mixture looks like breadcrumbs. Stir in 4oz/100g of ground almonds and 1oz/25g of icing sugar, mix with one small beaten egg to form a dough. Chill for about 20 minutes. Heat the oven for to gas mark 5/190C/375F. Cut the chilled pastry in half and roll out one piece to line a shallow pie tin (about 8 -10 inches or 20–23 cms). Make sure you grease the tin thoroughly first. Spread the plums over the base along with 3 or 4 tablespoons of the syrup. Make the lid by rolling out the other half of the pastry. Place over the top of the plums, seal edges and make a hole in the centre for the steam to escape. Bake for 30 minutes possibly 40, at any rate until the pastry is firm and has a lovely golden colour. Serve with ice-cream or cream or proper home made custard.

Make do and Mend

2009-12-02T11:02:00.000-08:00

I have long admired the make do and mend approach of my parents. Back in the olden days being thrifty was not exactly a choice, it was a necessity. However being thrifty and making every penny work twice resulted in some inspiring and imaginative approaches to decorating, cooking and gardening. Our family home was a Heath Robinson affair with quirky interiors, cobbled together decor and a wealth of things masquerading as something different in their new recycled life. For instance, a pretty flowery skirt I wore as a six year old became a frilly lamp shade cover by the time I was eight. Nothing went to waste back then.

I guess we've come full circle and now we are recycling those old attitudes and ethos of our grandparents and parents in the 50's, 60's and 70's, although now we have different reasons; making do and mending, recycling and salvaging, reclaiming and reusing have become the new mantra for the 21st century too. Mostly it is environment led rather than poverty driven but what ever the impetus I am happy to embrace the return to sensible re-using of stuff that previously went straight to a landfill. There is no greater excitement I think than getting out your sewing box and turning an old tablecloth into cushion covers, or sitting at the kitchen table with the children and hand making birthday cards out of a collection of pretty buttons, fabric, paper and lace.