A Friday Natter . . .

You cannot master the art of happy and successful living . . . until you have mastered the technique of timing . . . knowing when to do a certain thing, or when not to do it . . . and knowing the psychological moment when all is finished!



There is always the right time to say the right words, and there are times when nothing you say will be right. Wisdom is knowing the difference! Eccliastes, a religious philospopher who penned these words over six hundred years before the birth of the Saviour certainly understood the importance of perfect timing . . .



"There is a season and a time to every purpose under the heavens." he said . . . "A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silent and . . . a time to speak!"







We had a perfectly lovely time last evening. We had our good friends Audrey and Peter over for supper, along with another couple who are friends of theirs. It was Peter's birthday. He was turning 70. Peter is an amazing man. He has had a quadruple by pass (some 5 years or more ago now) and he has never let it keep him down. He is like the ever ready bunny. He just keeps going and going. Audrey had a stroke about 2 years ago now, and has very limited mobility on her left side, but she is like Peter. She just keeps going despite it all. They are wonderful examples to Todd and myself. Peter was Todd's best man when we got married, and I worked with Audrey for a number of years in the Primary as one of her counselors. She is a real sweetheart, mild mannered and soft spoken and at the same time, willing to stand for the right. They are an amazing couple. Anyways, I think we did Peter's Birthday up in style! We didn't get into bed until gone 11, which is really late for us!







I just have to show you this sweet picture of my Granddaughter, Maryn, especially since I showed you all the grandsons the other day! She is so precious and looks just like her mum. The dress she is wearing is one we sent over to her and it was so nice to see her in it, and see that she is just as pretty in it as I thought she would be!







At only six months, she is quite the poser already. I surely with that I could hold her in my arms, and smell that soft sweet little head, although in truth she would probably make quite strange with me . . . a Grandmother can dream though . . .



I am skipping my one step class today. We have to go to the Chapel and clean the windows. We didn't get them done last week at all, and I felt bad about that. This is our month for doing them and I want to do my best. We don't have chapel cleaners any more so each family has to take their turn throughout the year doing different jobs.



Ohh, and my laptop has died! It won't turn on for me at all. I had an episode like that with it one day last week, but then it did come on, but yesterday it would not come on at all and so now we will have to take it in for repair. It figures . . . the warantee is just up on it as I have had it just a year! I think they build that type of thing into them on purpose so it will happen just as the warantee expires! Most annoying. I hope it is not too costly to have it fixed.



Anyways, I have nattered on long enough so I will end this now with a cheery wish for you all to have a great Friday! Don't forget . . .



"We are on a journey and we are not here to stay.

That is why we have to make the most of every day.

We plot and scheme and plan and dream

and build our castles high . . .

But often we forget that we are only passing by."



Have a great day everyone, and don't forget to make every moment count, as it will never come again.



I made us a lovely vegetarian curry for our lunch yesterday. It comes from off those recipe cards you can pick up in the grocery store and I’d been eyeballing it for about a week now and wanting to make it. The picture looked delicious and let me just say, I was not disappointed! Of course I made a few changes and so it’s not exactly like the one on the card. I like to think it’s better!







*Cauliflower and Cashew Nut Pilau Rice*

Serves 4

Printable Recipe



This delicious rice dish combines several of my favourite flavours. Sweet and tender cauliflower, wonderfully crunchy cashew nuts, aromatic spices and basmati rice all work beautifully together to create a very tasty pilau! You can add a can of chickpeas or a peeled, cubed and deseeded butternut squash instead of the cauliflower if you wish.



1 TBS vegetable oil

1 red onion, peeled and finely chopped

400g basmati rice (2 cups)

1 TBS Korma curry paste

750ml of boiling water (3 cups)

1 TBS vegetable stock powder

1 cauliflower, cut into small florets

50g roasted cashew nuts ((1/2 cup)

A small handful of fresh coriander leaves, roughly chopped (cilantro)

Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

4 TBS natural yoghurt, to serve (I like Greek no fat)



Heat the oil in a large saucepan and cook the onion for several minutes over medium heat, until softened. Add the rice and curry paste, cooking and stirring until all the grains of rice are coated.



Tip in the boiling water, the stock powder and the cauliflower florets. Bring back to the boil, then cover the pan and reduce the heat. Allow to simmer gently for 13 to 15 minutes, until the rice is tender and all the liquid has been absorbed.



Stir in the cashew nuts and coriander leaves. Season to taste. Divide between four heated places and serve with a dollop of yoghurt!







I'm cooking up Irish Pancakes over in The English Kitchen today!

Thursday Chit Chat . . .

There is a sameness about summer trees . . . when the boughs and boles are covered in heavy green lush foliage . . . and then autumn arrives.

The leaves begin to fall, one by one . . . we begin to see the individual outlines of the trees and mark their different colourings.



In people's gardens there is a glorious blaze of colour . . . maple, cherry, sumach, liquidambar . . . parrotia persica outdoing all of these . . . a glorious dome of gold and crimson leaves.

In the woods . . . the oaks are still green above the brown bracken . . . but the birch tree tosses it's yellow leaves into the wind . . . slim and graceful amongst the solid mass of fruited thorns.



Over yonder is a lane line by beautiful beech trees. They take my breath away. The sun shines down and draws the fire out of every bronzed and coppery leaf. They burn above my head and beneath my feet.

In the garden here the roses are fading, the dahlias are drooping . . . the blooms have disappeared from the petunias and other garden beauties. It looks quite desolate and ruinous . . . but there amongst the decay stand the chrysanthemums, displaying their brilliant blooms! They set the garden ablaze and light up chilly rooms with their loud array of colours, brilliant rich and bright.



Oh I do love the autumn! We are supposedly in for an Indian Summer this weekend. I can't wait! The rain and cold can get one down sometimes. Many thanks for your get well wishes. My chest is a lot looser now and not so much coughing . . . but it has moved into my ears and I find myself completely deaf on the one side and it does hurt. I manage the pain with Paracetamol and Ibuprophen. It works a charm. If I have been slow to visit around your blogs, that would be why. My balance is a bit off kilter and I get a bit dizzy on the computer. Hopefully all will be restored to normal soon!


Mitzie in a rare quiet moment. She is looking more like an
English Cocker with each day that passes.

I thought I had not showed you a picture of our Mitzie in a while. She is such a little dear, and growing by leaps and bounds. She is such a happy dog! When we say to her do you want to go for "walkies", she practically turns herself inside out with excitement! She has taken to it very well. I am so pleased. She sits here next to me in the mornings and snoozes until Todd gets up.



As soon as we hear Todd moving about she sits right up and watches the lounge door in great anticipation, ears pricked and head cocked. Once that door opens she bounds off the sofa to fall at his feet in giddy adoration, ripe for her morning belly rub. Oh it is a sight to warm the heart . . .

I made us a lovely vegetarian curry for our lunch yesterday. It comes from off those recipe cards you can pick up in the grocery store and I’d been eyeballing it for about a week now and wanting to make it. The picture looked delicious and let me just say, I was not disappointed! Of course I made a few changes and so it’s not exactly like the one on the card. I like to think it’s better!



*Cauliflower and Cashew Pilau Rice*
Serves 4
Printable Recipe

This delicious rice dish combines several of my favourite flavours. Sweet and tender cauliflower, wonderfully crunchy cashew nuts, aromatic spices and basmati rice all work beautifully together to create a very tasty pilau! You can add a can of chickpeas or a peeled, cubed and deseeded butternut squash instead of the cauliflower if you wish.

1 TBS vegetable oil
1 red onion, peeled and finely chopped
400g basmati rice
1 TBS Korma curry paste
750ml of boiling water
1 TBS vegetable stock powder
1 cauliflower, cut into small florets
50g roasted cashew nuts
A small handful of fresh coriander leaves, roughly chopped (cilantro)
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
4 TBS natural yoghurt, to serve

Heat the oil in a large saucepan and cook the onion for several minutes over medium heat, until softened. Add the rice and curry paste, cooking and stirring until all the grains of rice are coated.
Tip in the boiling water, the stock powder and the cauliflower florets. Bring back to the boil, then cover the pan and reduce the heat. Allow to simmer gently for 13 to 15 minutes, until the rice is tender and all the liquid has been absorbed.

Stir in the cashew nuts and coriander leaves. Season to taste. Divide between four heated places and serve with a dollop of yoghurt!



Sultana and Oat Squares, in The English Kitchen today.

Tis Blossom Time . . .

It is blossomtide again.
In the sunshine and the rain
Thruses sing a madrigal
For this Vernal Festival.
From the bare bough there has come
Milk-white bloom on pear and plum,
And upon the apple tree
Pink buds cluster daintily.
Spring's green banners are unfurled.
Joy comes back into the world.
Man may weep, but with one voice
Nature says,
"Rejoice, rejoice!"
~author unknown

Oh what a beautiful past few days we have had here. The sun has been shining and there's been nary a cloud in the sky. A cold wind has been blowing but yesterday it finally let go and we were able to walk about in relative warmth.



What an incredible season this is. The season of blossom. It is as if all of nature has decided to explode upon the byways and highways of the land in a riotous dance of blossom!



It's just so very beautiful. Of course where we lived down South, surrounded by Orchards as we were, we were buried in a virtual sea of blossom and bee . . . it was so very lovely . . .



But even here, enclosed in a city in the NorthWest, we are able to find the lovely blooms. They are scattered here and there . . .



Along the canal walks . . .



In serene gardens . . .



along the hedgerows at the edge of town.

Oh what a beautiful gift our Heavenly Father brings to us each year in the form of spring!! When one stops to think that all we see here on Earth is but a pale reflection of what lies on the other side . . . the mind boggles. Oh how very unimagineably beautiful it must be!!



Happy Friday everyone!! Wherever you are, I hope the sun is shining and that you are able to take a walk amongst the blossoms of springtime!

I had a clean out the fridge day yesterday. I usually have one about once a week. I make a hash or casserole, or in the case of yesterday, this tasty clean out the fridge rice dish that is a real favourite of ours!! The quantities are given for two people here, but I can imagine it could easily be increased for more!



*Clean Out The Fridge Rice*
Serves 2
Printable Recipe

This is the perfect supper for those nights when all you have left in the fridge is the basics and a few leftovers!

3 rashers of sreaky or back bacon, chopped
a handful of closed cup white mushrooms, halved
1 TBS sunflower oil
1 small onion, peeled and chopped
1 clove of garlic, peeled and crushed
5 ounces long grain rice
300ml of hot chicken or vegetable stock
a handful of leftover cooked vegetables, chopped (optional)
1 cup of leftover cooked chicken, cut into cubes (optional)
a handful of grated strong cheddar cheese, or other hard cheese as desired



Heat a large nonstick pan over medium heat. Add the bacon and fry it for a few minutes until it begins to brown. Tip in the mushrooms and turn up the heat. Fry for another 3 to 4 minutes, until they begin to brown. Scoop out into a bowl and set aside.

Add the oil to the same pan and heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring occasionaly until beginning to soften, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for a minute or so longer until really fragrant. Tip in the rice and cook, stirring to coat and mix together with the onion. Add the chicken (vegetable) stock all at once and bring to the boil. Reduce the heat to a simmer and cook for 10 minutes, or until almost all of the liquid is gone. Take off the heat and give it a stir. Cover with the lid or a large plate. Leave for 5 minutes to allow it to finish cooking in it's own steam. Stir in the cooked mushroom/bacon mixture, and the leftover veg and chicken (if using) along with the cheese. Serve immediately.



In honour of St George's Day there is a delicious Apple and Blackberry Crumble over on The English Kitchen today!