Doing My Bit For British Dairy Farmers

 

 

For a long time I have felt rather sad that our British farmers are forced to sell their milk at a loss.

It just doesn't seem right does it?

Up until today, as consumers, we had little choice but to pay the price the supermarkets charge.

Today however, Morrisons  (and maybe this has been in place elsewhere?) have started selling a new range, whereby 23p of the milk goes direct to the farmers.

I read a BBC article that said even 10p would make a huge difference, so lets hope 23p gives these hard working families in the farming industry the profit they deserve.

I must say, at my local Morrisons today, customers most definitely voted with their hearts....the new milk section was empty! I had to ask a member of staff if there was any more.

Whilst I like a bargain, and wont usually pay more than I have to, I am hoping our budget can sustain  the extra pound or so its going to cost me each week.
It will be worth it if it means we are able to continue to buy British milk.

 

 

 

Tonight we are definitely going to have to start lighting the fire, both Teens were chilly after their bath last night. Teen One wrapped the crochet rainbow blanket around her legs to keep herself warm, and Crystal must have thought she look cosy, because she jumped up and snuggled next to her.

 

 

Teen Two had an INSET day today. I had arranged with the local college for him to have a trial day there.

It was suggested at the open day earlier in the year and Teen Two was eager to try it out.

He had an enjoyable time in the Creative Media lesson and was able to meet up briefly with Teen One at break time.

He walked home alone, which is the first time he has been that far by himself.

It was a major triumph and has built up his confidence no end.

After lunch we had a sort out of his many soft toys.

He has managed to part with a charity bag full, quite an achievement....but I won't tell you how many he has decided to keep!

 

 

On Wednesday we are having a new fridge delivered.

Our old fridge freezer really hasn't been man enough for some time, but we have struggled along with it.

Hubby had a bonus in the summer and we thought we would use some of it to replace this old "friend."

It's hard to believe that this little freezer was all I had for many years.

Our neighbours gave us their old upright freezer a couple of years ago, so I really don't need this little section, and it invariably ended up being filled with odds and ends.

It needs a good defrost and clean before the men come to take it away....

 

 

 

...and goodness knows what's in some of these tubs and bags!

I doubt any of it is worth keeping now but no doubt at the time it seemed like a good idea to save it!

It will be such a treat on shopping days to open the fridge and not have to find space to put things in....or am I kidding myself!

 

 

A Quiet Day At Home

 

Today has been a very quiet day spent at home.

All the usual things have of course been done, cooking the Sunday roast etc, but it has been a very quiet day and peaceful day, time to unwind after the rather hectic and slightly traumatic week we have had.

The fireplace is starting to look more seasonal...

 

 

 

...we still need some more leaves and maybe some acorns...no doubt this week Teen One will spot something on her walk to college.

 

 

Tea was a very informal affair...some hot buttered crumpets and a cuppa.

 

The evenings are really drawing in fast and before long the heating will have to go on, we are holding off for as long as we can!

 

 

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All Things Pumpkiny

 

Today is one of the highlights of our year, visiting a Pumpkin Festival.

It's a great family day out with so much to see.

It is particularly  great for kids, with so many activities to do, many of which are free.

The Teens are too old for many of the activities, but there are still things there they enjoy.

Everything has a pumpkin theme and I really enjoy seeing all those orange beauties.

 

 

 

Various charities, allotments, groups etc run stalls  and we always take home plenty of goodies.

 

 

 

There is a competition to see who can grow the biggest pumpkin, quite how they pick some of them up is beyond me!

 

 

They really are a sight to behold!

 

 

We stick to a more sensible size!
I particularly like the unusual squash at the back...it looks like one squash growing out of another

 

There are plenty of things to eat there, with the Scouts, Brownies and the like selling home made wares

 

 

Pumpkin soup is something we look forward too...but sadly this year it was tasteless, I am sure they had forgotten to add any seasoning. I did have a word with the stall holder but they insisted it was to the usual recipe.

We have learned our lesson and next time, instead of ordering 4 will order one and taste it. £12 was a lot of money to spend on something that had no taste.

It was a disappointment...but the only one of the day.

 

This pumpkin curry smelt very good indeed

 

and the pumpkin pie tasted very good indeed!

 

There are traditional games to play....this was  a twist on the fair ground coconut shy

 

and this "splat the rat" game is always good for a laugh...we have yet to see anyone actually catch the rat!

 

Something Teen Two really looks forward to is the Circus skills workshop tent.

 

This game was new to me

 

Hubby always likes to show off his diablo skills!

 

There is round the clock entertainment....

 

...and our hearts really went out to this couple of teens who were part of an Irish dancing team.

Bad traffic had meant the rest of their group hadn't arrived, so these two brave souls danced for us alone, ending with a great rendition of RiverDance, which brought tears to my eyes.

 

There are stalls aplenty, with  some great crafters there.

This knitted gifts stall caught my eye

 

 

all her work had such a lovely neat tension, I was quite envious!

 

This stall had some lovely sewing work...I am 99% sure this fabric is the same as a cushion I bought in Amish Country USA a few years ago!

 

Everything was so pretty I found it hard to resist buying everything

 

These fabric pumpkins were amazing

 

All the items on this stall were made from can ring pulls!

 

Teen Two is a huge marmite fan, so treated himself to this knitted jar

 

I fell in love with this little mouse...at 30p I figured I couldn't knit him for that

 

and as I am 99% sure this fabric IS the same as my cushion, I splashed out on this little kitty for £1

 

One of the things Teen One loves, is tasting the various jams, chutneys, marinades etc that are found at such events.

Today she fell in love with this blueberry and basil vinegar, which is said to go well with feta cheese and tomatoes..one of her favourite salads.

 

But the highlight of the day has got to be for Teen Two.

We saw a Brownie stall selling a box of Lego Bionicles...bagged up for £1 -£1.50.

Teen Two just loves this series, but they are not often stocked in shops, or found second hand.

The ladies running the stall had bagged up the pieces rather haphazardly, Teen Two immediately spotted  where the "missing" pieces from some of the bags were and they were delighted when he offered to sort it all out for them.

He of course was keen to buy one or two...but as they were so cheap I said he could have as many as he wanted....you should have seen his face! It was like winning the lottery for him!

He came away with a carrier bag full to the brim, for a mere £15! One new kit alone would cost around that and he had a whole bag full...with "extras!"

 

 

As we exited the festival and returned to our car, I spotted an iPhone on a bench.

There was no one else around, so it had obviously been left by mistake.

Between hubby and Teen One they managed to get to the contacts list ( thankfully the phone wasn't locked) and after a few attempts we managed to leave a message on the last number called,saying the phone had been found and we would leave it with the entrance staff.

As we were walking there the phone rang, a friend of the owner was very grateful to hear from us and arranged to meet us at the entrance.

A few minutes later we were able to hand over the phone.

We don't know if the owner was aware she had lost it, but her friend expressed her gratitude and was going to call the husband so when she got home she would know it had been found.

Having "lost" my phone several times ( thankfully to turn up at home!) I know the sheer panic it sends me into and was delighted to be able to help someone's day end on one of relief rather than distress.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The festival has grown in popularity over the years, we have always gone early...and for the last couple of years have been grateful we have, for when we leave the queue to get in stretches back miles...

 

...and miles!

 

 

 

Grandma has gone away for the weekend and as we dropped her off at the station she mentioned her grass was in need of a cut.

So on our way back from the festival, we stopped off and Teen Two cut it for her as a surprise.

It's been a great day and as tonight has turned a little chilly we have lit the woodburner for the first time this autumn...time to settle down beside it with some knitting I think.

 

"I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles...."

 

With the bright sunshine and chilly starts to the day, that autumnal feeling is definitely in the air.

I decided it was time to start cracking on with adding a few more decorations around the house.

This candle came from Ikea a year or two ago and the tree from Lidl's this year.

 

 

This pumpkin was bought a year or two ago from a Christian Book shop around, in their reduced section.

It was slightly damaged so only cost a pound. It has the text "I will give thanks to the Lord" written on it.

 

 

 

These beautiful red leaves were on the ground outside Teen Two's speech therapists office.

I am hoping we will find some more when we go out to a country park tomorrow.

 

 

Our Bible story tonight at Friday Club was Moses crossing the Red Sea.

We used plastic beakers, added a squirt of paint, a smaller squirt of washing up liquid and filled about a quarter up the beaker with water.

 

 

The children then blow for all their worth...and boy do they love this bit!

 

 

 

A piece of card is then held over the cascading bubbles which then leave a bubble print.

Its great fun, and providing every child understands they BLOW and not SUCK, it keeps them occupied ages!

 

Our house guest has now gone and the house seems very quiet.

 

Deep Heat!

 

Today is our house guest's last day with us.

He promised to make us a meal and as delighted as I was to have the night off.... I was having concerns over the portions, this was way more than I would use...

 

 

 

 

...and even more concerns about  the temperature!!!

 

 

 

 

When making a chilli, I use ONE chilli....he had bought three AND FIVE scotch bonnets!!!

These are seriously hot chillies and I had grave reservations about using so many!!

 

My reservations were not unfounded! We all needed to use gazilleons of yogurt to try and put the fire out in our mouths....copious amounts of milk as well!

All of us that is, except our house guest....instead he just went bright red and sweated profusely from his bald head whilst saying "Mmm, this is delicious isn't it!!"

 We have at least half of it left...so my portion gauge was more accurate than his that's for sure.

Quite what we will do with it I don't yet know...but it will involved plenty of yogurt!

 

 

 

Teen One spent the afternoon creating a gift for our friend.

He had seen a Bible verse she had painted for me in the summer and asked if she would do him one.

 

 

 

This was the verse he chose.