Scotsmists Take on Life!!!!!! And everything else :-)

[Scotsmist]

WHOOPPPEEEEEE - I AM BACK, I AM BACK, I AM BACK!!!!!! )))))))

My wee gorgeous hubby sorted my wee poorly laptop and boy, am I pleased to be back.

Now, I dont know what to say..hahah....now, I know that doesnt happen often.

So, all is well at my end! I am just about to finish my Wk 4 of the Plan - made it to the end this time around and well pleased with myself and feel great.

I am off walking tomorrow with the girlies, and HOPE it isnt as bad as it is tonight - really raining hard here!! Not going to the Lakes now on Sunday which is probably just as well as I have so much to catch up on.

Just keep cooking as we have so much to harvest. Tanya, you will be well proud of me......made a lovely cake tonight, filled with gooseberry/elderflower and cream...it was a swiss roll recipe and had to roll it up, etc !!! AND, all I had was a little tiny tiny piece! Gave 3 pieces to Ted and we have about another 4 to get through....when I took the cake and gooseberry fool up to Ted tonight he gave me ANOTHER tub of gooseberries...oh dear! So, I need to bake something else..hahaa..never ending!

Harvested 5 cauliflowers and 4 brocoli last night!! Oh my word, so having to make soups with these! PHEW!!

Hope you are all doing well....I have missed you all!

 

[Scotsmist]

Got a phone call from my sister tonight...her youngest son fell out a window a few days ago!! Fell about 50feet and has been in intensive care...he has broken almost every bone in his body and his eye has come out of his socket and they arent sure if they can save it! Bless, the poor thing...he has got in with my sister's ex-in laws who are not the best company and he got drunk (he is such a shy boy and very easily led)! Not sure whether he was pushed or jumped or whether it was an accident..all a bit strange....

So, wasnt a nice call, and he is refusing to eat and cant remember a thing and is very down. He lived with his auntie (long story) and she died of cancer a few months ago and he has just gone right off track.

Needs some good positive vibes guys!!

 

[summergurl]

Did you take a pic of your baking?!!!! :giggle: I wana see if you did!

Hmmm gooseberrys - why not make gooseberry muffins?! Ive never had gooseberrys or used them (shocking really as i used to sell them when i was younger as i worked on a fruit & veg stall!!!) so dont know what would go best with them!

Aww Iris. Such a shame about your nephew. I hope he makes a full recovery. But here are some positive vibes :vibes: ++++++++++++++

 

[JanD]

Good Heavens Iris poor him!! I hope he gets through it all okay - poor thing! Positive vibes galore on way!!

Couldn't you sell some of your allottment 'goodies'?? Or do a swap with a local butcher/fishmonger/baker/etc for some of their wares??!!

Glad you're back xxx

BEV! Good luck with your weigh in and have a lovely week off xx

 

[kered]

Oh Iris, thats a shame about your Nephew. I hope he makes a speedy recovery and can recover mentally from the death of his Auntie. Poor lad.

Iris, I just freeze cauli and brocolli, I dont blanche it or nothing, just wash it, and seperate the florets and straight into the freezer. I think carrots and onions are about the only veg I dont freeze.

 

[MiniB]

Sorry to hear about your nephew Iris, hope he recovers OK.

Sounds as though you're doing a great job on this plan, good luck with this week's weigh in and have a great time at the lakes!

 

[Scotsmist]

Did you take a pic of your baking?!!!! :giggle: I wana see if you did!

Hmmm gooseberrys - why not make gooseberry muffins?! Ive never had gooseberrys or used them (shocking really as i used to sell them when i was younger as i worked on a fruit & veg stall!!!) so dont know what would go best with them!

Aww Iris. Such a shame about your nephew. I hope he makes a full recovery. But here are some positive vibes :vibes: ++++++++++++++

I didnt Tanya....wish I had now as it looked ok, although it cracked a little....it isnt easy to roll up - eh! Will take a photo next time a make a cake, but mine never look as nice as yours!! haha...I am becoming a dab hand at this baking lark! Think I need some new bakeware though! Maybe when I get my new kitchen I will treat myself!

Yes, I think I will do some muffins cause they freeze well! I have blackcurrant muffins in Ted's freezer already, so sure I can squeeze some gooseberry ones in. Unfortunately, the ones we have are the green type that are quite tart, so need loads of sugar!! We are going to buy a red gooseberry bush for next year and these are as sweet as grapes and you are able to eat them straight from the bush, which is better actually! You should try them, but you will have to use either honey or sugar to sweeten them up, but I do like them cause they are seasonal and only around so many months of the year!

Thanks for your good vibes...

Good Heavens Iris poor him!! I hope he gets through it all okay - poor thing! Positive vibes galore on way!!

Couldn't you sell some of your allottment 'goodies'?? Or do a swap with a local butcher/fishmonger/baker/etc for some of their wares??!!

Glad you're back xxx

BEV! Good luck with your weigh in and have a lovely week off xx

Thanks Jan......Nah, I have never sold any of my stuff...people are forever asking me to, but it doesnt sit well with me, never has. I will continue to freeze, etc ;-))) Or give away !!!! Mind you, wont be giving the honey away, that will definately be sold!!! ;-)

Nice to be back!!!

Oh Iris, thats a shame about your Nephew. I hope he makes a speedy recovery and can recover mentally from the death of his Auntie. Poor lad.

Iris, I just freeze cauli and brocolli, I dont blanche it or nothing, just wash it, and seperate the florets and straight into the freezer. I think carrots and onions are about the only veg I dont freeze.

Thanks Mary, hope he does too...funnily enough, I only found him on FB last night as my sister and her b/f became friends....anyway, on his page it said something about him hating a certain day and I think this was just about the time it all happened...his wall seems full of hate for his life! Bless his wee cotton socks,,hope he can find his way. Thankfully they are arranging counselling for him.

Oh, thanks for that about the freezing cauli, etc..didnt realise I could do that! I will now, as I havent had chance to make anything!

Sorry to hear about your nephew Iris, hope he recovers OK.

Sounds as though you're doing a great job on this plan, good luck with this week's weigh in and have a great time at the lakes!

Thanks Bev! I am loving the plan, but I think I have turned a corner actually Bev. There is no desire whatsoever to binge and I am not even thinking...I can do it, and just deal with it later on..the feelings arent there, so it is good and I just take one day at a time.
Didnt go to the lakes, was trying to see my litle brother, but he was attending a conference for the week so it wasnt worth going when he wouldnt be free!

 

[Scotsmist]

Good day today!
Went out walking...wasnt a tough walk at all, and could have really done with a good, tough walk, but it was lovely being with the girlies.....we did about a 4 mile walk all round, but in the middle went to a restaurant in a posh place..ahha....with us and our walking gear! It was funny. But we sat outside...when we were about to leave, saw one of my boss' in the same restaurant so that was strange!
It was a lovely day..

Met Tunc afterwards and we were all over the place; went to B&Q/Homebase, then visited the Community Orchard near home and then went to see our friend who has a horse as we hadnt met the horse yet!!!
I feel knackered....done over 20,000 steps today!!!! my word!!

Off to see friends tomorrow and going for lunch in a nice pub. It is there little boys birthday so it will be nice to see him as he is a lovely little boy and really intelligent for his age and you can have a really good conversation with him and he is only 10 or 11! Cant remember exactly how old now, but think 11!!!!

So, great weekend....but it is just going in too quickly as per usual, AND the weather has been really mixed.

Tunc getting more bees!!! He went to a meeting today and someone can give him a full hive for almost half what he paid for his last one, so he is very keen and going to see them on Tuesday! I joked right at the beginnign that he would have loads of hives and he said NO WAY!!Well, we have 2 and I reckon we will hae another 2 before the year is out!! What is he like.

The jury is out about the other allotment as there is a lot of work, BUT it would be ideal for fruit trees.....so, I am actually more keen now than before even although I KNOW the place needs a lot of work!
Will keep you all posted.

So, think that it is for now! We are now thinking about going to Amsterdam...haha...London has fallen through as the flat is a mess and a full renovation is in full swing now!!!! So, wont be able to even think about going until september and that is just far too late!

 

[kered]

Another busy day in the life of Iris......I honestly dont know how you manage to fit it all in girl. You SHOULD be about 7 stone!

I love green gooseberries, especially when they are fat and hairy, they are lovely and sweet then.

Never heard of red gooseberries Iris, I must look out for them hun.

 

[JanD]

I'm not fussy on goosegogs they take soooo much sweetening!!

I enjoy your 'day in the life of' posts Iris xx

 

[Scotsmist]

Another busy day in the life of Iris......I honestly dont know how you manage to fit it all in girl. You SHOULD be about 7 stone!

I love green gooseberries, especially when they are fat and hairy, they are lovely and sweet then.

Never heard of red gooseberries Iris, I must look out for them hun.

I know Mary!!!!! 7 stone...more like 5 stone..hehhee...oh, if only!!!!
The red are absolutely gorgeous Mary! But as usual, you cant get them in shops, unless you go to a little independent!!

I'm not fussy on goosegogs they take soooo much sweetening!!

I enjoy your 'day in the life of' posts Iris xx

I know, that is the only problem...I actually used elderflower cordial in the cake as I found a recipe to use this with gooseberries.....it was a nicer taste as well.

Oh, I am so glad you like the posts..ahahahahaahah....

 

[summergurl]

I adore your posts Iris!! You are so hectic like mary said you really should be about 7stone! :giggle: xx

 

[MiniB]

You should have your own reality tv show, The Busy Life of Iris! How you do so much I never know!!

 

[Scotsmist]

hahah - me on TV..no way!!!!!! Far too shy ;-)!!

Well done on your 1lb loss Bev..dont be sad with that....it is still in the right direction and you know it will all add up in the end!!

Well, my Sunday has been just as mad, but lovely all the same.

Went to see our friends and went to a lovely pub....I had a few olives (from Tunc's feta cheese salad). then a burger, on ciabatta, Tunc had the top of the ciabatta, and I asked for new pots instead of chips!
And some salad. Then had a latte!
)))) later on tonight I had 2 x quorn sausages and that is it, so rather pleased and felt very relaxed about the meal.

Once we got back, Tunc went up to the bees with Ted and I spent about 3 hrs in the allotment, harvesting my carrots, preparing a bed for my turnip and swede seeds during the week....then did some weeding and tidying up! Very productive and I could really do with another few days to get straight as the weeds have taken over with this rain we have had the past month.

Then, made some cauliflower soup..oh, nice or what! I am looking forward to having this tomorrow night after the gym! Should have put some walnuts in it, but decided to leave them out as it tasted fine without them!

So, feel a wee bit tired as have been on the go the whole weekend, but enjoyable. My legs and back were really sore last night when I went to bed...by the time I had gone to bed I was over 20,000 steps and I think my sockets were telling me,but fine today!!

Busy week ahead as we have the gym 3 nights this week and RC Club on Tuesday and need to try and fit some time in at the allotments. Still considering the other allotment!!!!!! Been looking at lots of different fruit trees ...oh, exciting or what!

Back to the grindstone tomorrow folks...August already!! My word, can you believe it!! Where did Jan to July go????????? Time is just flying in.

Have a great week everyone.

 

[JanD]

OMG Iris - I get worn out just reading what you get up to never mind DOING it all!! It's a wonder you have time to THINK about food never mind eat anything!!

Still - as long as you're happy my love xx

 

[Scotsmist]

I know Jan... I wonder what I did before I was busy, if you know what I mean!!! I wish I only worked 3 or 4 days a week and I am sure I would maybe have some ME time!! But, yes, I do enjoy what I do and I think that is so important. If I ever get to hate the allotment, etc, I would give them up! There is nothing worse.

 

[kered]

Absolutely Iris, and you always seem such a happy person. I admire you for what you do.

 

[MiniB]

Another full day in the Life of Iris. I've never known anyone do as much as you. But like others have said, you seem so happy. You have control over your food and you are enjoying all that you are doing, can't ask for much more really can you?

 

[irish molly]

Iris, I can see you are as busy as any of your bees. Jolly good for you. Nature is wonderful and it is great to be able to enjoy these nice summer days. I had for tea this evening a trout caught by my friend's hubby with lettuce/tomato/herbs/pepper/onion all from her garden. All organic too and it tasted divine. So I can just imagine the lush produce you are having this summer. Have a good week.

 

[JanD]

What an unusual way to catch a trout!! xx