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Monthly Archives: January 2016

Visiting Feline, Ginger Grater and Cheesecake

For the last two mornings a beautiful cat has visited. It’s the one we saw in a stand-off with Zorro a few weeks ago. I don’t know where it lives but it is really very beautiful with such lovely colours and symmetrical markings.

Visiting cat

Visiting cat

Ginger is one of my favourite ingredients (and for eating as crystallised pieces!) and I needed some grated for a delicious recipe from my new cookery book, The Art of Eating Well by Hemsley and Hemsley,Teriyaki Sea Bream. This little wooden tool is very efficient for grating ginger root.

Ginger grater

Ginger grater

I spent a happy morning making the first and last courses for the lovely Mr Smith’s birthday – Curried Cheese Ramekins to start and Lime and Ginger Cheesecake for dessert. I have attempted to make it in a ring mould as I am only cooking for two and we don’t need the whole recipe. I’ll let you know if it turns out properly! I put the crumbs on top of the ginger and now it is in the freezer.

A different take on my Lime and Ginger Cheesecake recipe

A different take on my Lime and Ginger Cheesecake recipe, upside down in a ring mould

 
 

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Yotam Ottolenghi, Seaside and Snoods

I read a recipe in The Guardian this morning that sounded delicious. It was one of Yotam Ottolenghi’s, Cauliflower and Chickpeas with Warm Tahini Yogurt and it was as delicious (and easy)  as it sounded. I chopped the tomatoes though rather than grating them! If you would like to try the recipe, here is the link http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2016/jan/30/tahini-recipes-yotam-ottolenghi-chilli-fish-roast-cauliflower-sprout-burnt-butter-black-garlic  It’s the third recipe in the article.

Roasted Cauliflower and Chickpeas with Warm Tahini Sauce

Roasted Cauliflower and Chickpeas with Warm Tahini Sauce

Gylly Beach looked inviting from Castle Drive today but, in fact, it was very cold and we didn’t stay very long.

Gylly Beach

Gylly Beach

We were in Falmouth to deliver some warm clothes, and the four Snoods I have knitted, to Espressini, a local cafe that is acting as a Collection point for donations for refugees in Calais. The young woman in the cafe told me that the lovely local people have been very generous which is good to hear. Some people are driving over next week to visit The Jungle and to take all the donated items to those in need.

Snoods with labels to show people that they are being thought os with love and respect

Snoods with labels to show people that they are being thought of with love and respect

 

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Sculpture, Leaving Barcelona and Polyphant

Home again tonight. Here are  a charming sculpture, the take off and a sign to the village in Cornwall, Polyphant,  the name of which made us laugh as children. I must take the turning some day and see what the village is really like.

Sculpture at Terminal 4

Sculpture at Terminal 4

Leaving Barcelona

Leaving Barcelona

Nearly home

Nearly home

 

 

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Weekly Photo Challenge – Optimism

What gives me optimism for the future? Our Grandchildren, all lucky enough to be growing up in secure and happy homes with our own offspring and their well chosen partners! They all have a verve for life and for learning and will help to make this a better world. 

 
Our oldest Grandchild, here reading in Catalan, just one of the five languages she can speak.

 
On the way home after adventures in Highgate Woods, Livewires Two and Three with their Dad. 

 
Cousins, Littlest Livewire with her cousin, Livewire Number Three, cooperating and creating together.

And here we all are in a specially commissioned Family Portait by Kate of Cornishbirdinthesticks. All these wonderful people give me optimism for the future.

 
For others in this challenge, click here https://dailypost.wordpress.com/photo-challenges/optimistic/

 
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Posted by on January 28, 2016 in Beauty, family, Grandchildren

 

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Apartment, Hedge and Balcony

From the supermarket we can see our apartment on the hill. 

 
Surrounding the car park of the supermarket is a bright yellow hedge of Marguerites.

  
Lots of balconies are planted but this one is the best, overflowing with Geraniums.

 

 
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Posted by on January 27, 2016 in Beauty, environment

 

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  Warmth, Lemon Tree and Shopping

It was really warm when collecting Oldest Livewire from school yesterday at 7pm. 

 Walking up to our apartment from where the family live, we pass this Lemon Tree glorious against the cerulean sky.

 
We found a fabulous green grocers where everything was beautifully displayed and huge! Here are the Strawberries, sweet and delicious and the best Celery I have ever seen. 

 

 
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Posted by on January 26, 2016 in Beauty, Food

 

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Heron, Flowerpots and French Knitting

As we cross the bridge into town we can sometimes spot the resident heron.



All along the bridge are enormous flowerpots in strong primary colours which look really bright and cheerful.

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I am teaching our Livewire how to do French knitting. We are hoping to have made a necklace before we leave. DSCN9277

 

 
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Posted by on January 25, 2016 in Beauty, craft, family

 

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Lemons, Playing and Homework 

Our Landlady has given us a beautiful bowl of lemons. Have them all are her instructions, there is a tree full in the garden.


We took Oldest Livewireout this afternoon to play on her new scooter, her Christmas present but she was in Senegal at the time so it was opened yesterday.


Then it was time for homework which she revels in! Wolof is her native language,French was the language she was taught in at school in Senegal. She has been

in Spain for 15months and now speaks Catalan and Spanish as well as English. She helped me when shopping the other day. I told her what I wanted to ask for and she talked me through and corrected my punctuation. She is seven years old!

 
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Posted by on January 24, 2016 in Uncategorized

 

Trees, Helping Hands and Goldenboots

There were lots of winter skeleton trees and some green Cypruses, all reflected in the glass wall of a building.  

 
It was such a delight to have help while making lunch today as  the oldest of our Live-Wires chopped the red peppers for our Chicken and Red Vegetable Stew.

  
Those of you who know me well will be able to imagine my delight when I saw this shop display of beautiful Goldenboots. You will also recognise my dismay when I realised that they were simply that, a display, and not for sale. I would so love a new pair of golden Docs! 

   

 
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Posted by on January 23, 2016 in Beauty, Happiness

 

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Weekly Photo Challenge – Alphabet

This was a tricky Challenge – of course, that’s what a Challenge is all about!  I was going to post hieroglyphs, an alphabet I cannot read and then decided on a different approach – things I love that spell it out – growing and baking!

For others in this Challenge click here.

 

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