Too Many Chefs? Not In Our House!

 

The first port of call for Teen One and I today, was the dreaded dentist.

Quite why this chair fills me with dread, when it has more than not been a place where pain has been relieved, rather than inflicted....and yet I don't seem to get over that feeling of fear as the appointment time draws near.

Thankfully, both the Teens have had good experiences at the dentist, so it's not something they fear...long may that last.

Today Teen One was given a clean bill of health...I almost got away with it, but a chipped filling let me down.

I have to go back Saturday ( yes a weekend appointment!) to get it sorted.

It isn't causing me any problems at the moment, I hope the same can be said this time next week!

 

 

 

I dropped Teen One off at college...along with a batch of brownies she had made last night.

As I passed through the kitchen I saw her in the corner licking out the bowl....I guess there are some things you just never grow out of!

Her English teacher has turned Wednesday's into Cake Day! Someone else is bringing along spinach cake... I was eager to try one, so Teen One brought one (of the several!) left over....

 

 

 

 

...it was very green...

 

 

... even more so when cut open! But it was tasty...it had a slight scented taste to it....Teen One informs me it as cardamom.

There was no spinach taste ( which is just as well in a cake!) but would be something I would happily eat again.

 

 

I called in to see my Recycled Teenager in the dementia home. Her family are away on holiday so I said I would call in as often as possible to make sure things are ok.

I noticed today that in the signing in book it had a list of people who signed themselves as "Inspectors."

I thought that would for sure mean everyone was getting top rate attention....however the place was like a graveyard...not a soul to be seen.

My poor friend was no happier than the other day and showed no signs of recognition, just kept pleading for help.

She has a lovely view out of her window, but it's not something she is able to enjoy.

 

 

 

There was a time when she could at least sit in the chair, with all her worldly belongings inside the cabinet, and enjoy a little of the day, and look back at photos of happier and healthier times, but those days are gone.

Like last time, all I felt I could do was put my hands together, as a child would in prayer, say a few words, and hope somewhere in that poor muddled brain she would remember how prayer once comforted her.

 

 

It was then back home for that pile of ironing that just never seems to go away...

 

 

...drive over to collect Teen Two as he had a half day......

 

 

...treat him to the drive thru KFC for lunch...and this time they got the order right, beans instead of fries!

 

 

 

 

I have been trying to get the Teens interested in some basic cooking...it's not something they appear to have a particular flair or passion for, so I have decided to do it the easy way...using ready made jars.

I figured most people probably use this method ( judging by the vast array on the supermarket shelves.)

We have gone for the oven method of making bolognaise today...its by far the quickest and I think makes the tastiest meals as well as the meat has time to tenderise in the slow cooking.

He doesn't really like onions, and although I always put them in a bolognaise, there didn't seem much point putting him through the agony of sore eyes chopping up something he is not likely to use should he ever live alone.

 

 

 

Later on this afternoon we will learn the next step....cooking pasta...now how easy can that be aye!

If he can master this simple dish, then he wont ever starve...or have to live off beans on toast.

 

 

I have ordered one of these meat thermometers, which costs less than £3, which will be useful for both the Teens and Hubby.

I don't know about you, but cooking is not an exact science for me. I cook a lot by instinct and knowing when things look "done."

Having the thermometer will reduce the risk of any of them giving themselves food poisoning!

That is of course if I can persuade any of them to actually cook something in the first place!

I can at least try!

 

 

 

Soap Making....For Dummies!

 

Today started with an early, planned catch up with a friend.

It's ages since I had a proper barista latte...so this taste delish!

 

 

 

Knowing the coffee lounge we were meeting in was famous for it's breakfast menu...I didn't have any breakfast before leaving.

She recommended the bacon butties....I wasn't expecting them to be this big!!

They were made with sourdough bread from a local artisan bakery.

The bacon was locally sourced too and was so tasty.

 

 

We had met to discuss the changes to our sons special educational needs provision, from a Statement to an EHC Plan.

Unfortunately, our coffee had just been served when I had a call from Teen Two's school...he had pulled a hamstring in PE and was in considerable pain.

I asked if they could give him some painkillers and have a little lie down, then call me if things didn't improve.

I munched down the bacon sarnie as quick as I could, as I knew that it was very likely they would be calling me again.

True enough.....the call came that they felt he should come home.

I can't hide the fact I had looked forward to meeting up with this friend and enjoying the good company and food...so to have to cut it short and risk indigestion was not what I had planned.

That's life I guess.

 

 

 

So I said a sad goodbye to my friend and whizzed over to collect Teen Two.

On returning home, however, I was greeted with the unexpected pleasure of another friend there waiting for me...complete with flowers and....

 

 

cake!

 

It's just a shame that bacon butty had left me so full.

Hubby will enjoy it later no doubt!

 

 

 

 

 

Unfortunately she was only on her lunch break, so after a cuppa and catch up, she was back off to work.

Teen Two had spent some time on the PC...and it felt only right that he shouldn't be on there all afternoon...so I set him the task of preparing the veg for tonight's dinner.

 

 

 

Meanwhile, I wanted to do something creative, still feeling I had missed out somewhat on a lovely morning!

I had been itching to try soap making...for dummies...for a while.

I started off with some "pure and simple" style soap...

 

 

 

...grated it all....

 

 

 

...added it to a bowl with a cup of water (2cups of grated soap needs one cup of water) and melted it over a pan of boiling water....

 

 

 

...once it had melted, I added some lavender...

 

 

..and some oatmeal...

 

 

 

...spooned the mixture into silicone cupcake cases, adding a sprig of lavender on top...

 

 

..and pretty soon they started to turn white again!

 

They are still a little soft...I am eager to see how hard they ultimately set.

If they are a success they are destined to become Christmas pressies.

 

 

A Running Around Day

 

Today started with an early morning appointment at the dentist for Teen Two.

However, as their "system" was "down," getting there early didn't do us any favours, and we had to wait an extra 20minutes after our appointment time!

It's always a pleasure going to this dentist though, she is always very cheerful and instills a lot of confidence in her patients..and their parents!

I only wish she was my dentist...I have that pleasure later this week and am not looking forward to it.

 

 

 

It was then a case of getting Teen Two to his school 12miles away, getting back into town, via a pharmacy to collect his special toothpaste ( extra fluoride) and then onto my Monday Recycled Teenager.

 

 

 

You may recall...she had to go into hospital last week. I was pleased to see she was more or less her old self, if a little tireder than  usual.

 

 

We had a chat over a cuppa, and then headed off to the supermarket.

 

 

 

 

For some reason, the supermarket was heaving with customers, so it all took much longer than usual.

By the time we had finished, we were exhausted.

 

 

 

 

Whilst I unpacked the carriers, Teen One made us an avocado and tomato salad.

 

 

 

She was running a bit late and with the weather being rather miserable, I  took pity on her and drove her to college.

Having got soaking wet myself just bringing the shopping in, she was going to get far wetter on her 15min walk!

 

 

 

Whilst on the road, I decided to pop in and see my Recycled Teenager in the dementia home.

She had no idea who I was and kept saying she was frightened, which was upsetting to hear.

How I miss the days of seeing her in her chair knitting for one of her grandchildren.

 

 

It was then time to get back  home before Teen Two came home from school, make a couple of phone calls, finish putting the shopping way, put some chicken and curry sauce in the oven, ready for dinner, then grab some me time catching up with emails and of course this blog!

 

My camera has gone walkies today, so I apologise for all the clipart!

 

 

 

Good To Be Back Home

 

 

Today has been busier than a usual Sunday.

As well as church first thing and cooking a roast beef dinner,

I then had to dash off to collect Teen One from her Young People's Bible Study Weekend.

 

 

 

It's true to say I was not looking forward to the long journey up there, but the roads were fairly steady and the view as I drove through Boars Hill, where Teen One was staying, was breathtaking.

I wish I had taken my camera...but was thankful to find this view online which is exactly the road I drove along.

 

Oxford is of course called "The City Of Dreaming Spires" and it's easy to see why.

It is also has the worldwide known University, which is the oldest English speaking University in the world.

 

 

 

After all that driving, it's good to be back home again.
It was a beautiful evening for driving in, and its so good to have Teen One back.

We do so miss the her gentle voice and company when she is away, but are glad she had such a good time.

 

 

 

 

What Are Garages For?

 

Today has been one of those days where we have achieved far more than we anticipated.

Tackling any sort of DIY in the house generally takes much longer than we think as we always hit an unexpected hitch along the way.

This morning started with Hubby tackling a long over due plumbing job.

These taps were in the house when we moved in 22 years ago and I have never liked them.

Not only that, they have caused several problems over the years and have been a pain to work on, with no access space underneath.

 

 

The job wasn't very easy, and the air did turn a little blue....although hubby doesn't swear the frustration was palpable!

Despite it being a really tricky job...in less than an hour ....

 

 

...I had lovely new taps!

What I really love about these is the fact when my hands are contaminated with raw chicken and the like...I just have to knock the handle with the back of my hand and hey presto, I can wash my hands!

The spout swivels and it is so much easier to fill up the bucket to mop the floor.

The one thing I need to get used to is, the fact the cold tap is now on the right ( where it should have been anyway)

All day I have been holding things like, the kettle, a glass etc in my right hand, ready to fill up with water, and then realise its the other tap I need now!

No doubt I will get the hang of it soon.

 

 

Whilst Hubby was on the plumbing job, Teen Two and I made some Brownies.

 

 

Teen Two did most of it by himself, with me making sure he had read the instructions properly.

It was just as well, because at one point he misread 350g flour for 35g!

 

 

 

The recipe calls for walnuts, but as Teen Two doesn't like nuts, I asked him what we could use instead.

Mini marshmallows and cheerios were his choice!

 

 

 

It turned out looking delicious....

 

 

 

...and as you can see we have been tucking into it proving it is delicious!

 

 

 

Now then....what I don't understand is...not matter how many trips we make to the dump, in a bid to empty the garage....there is still more left!

I can't count the number trips we have taken, with the boot full to bursting, and yet we still aren't in a position to put my little Clio into the garage!

 

 

But we do at least have this corner cleared finally.

Ultimately Hubby wants to put some steel shelving up (kindly donated by a neighbour some years ago)....and he has one or two tool boxes to store on the shelves....

 

 

...but once it's all organised, it will be such a pleasure for him to put his hand on the tool he needs, instead of having to clamber of piles of rubbish in a bid to find the right tool box!

And you never know, I may even get my car in there one day!

 

Thankful for Safe Journeys

 

Today was always going to be a busy day...but it got busier due to the occasional knocking sound from the rear of my car!

Hubby took a look last night and discovered it wasn't the exhaust about to fall off...just the rubber seal of the mounting completely perished.

 

 

 

I was very grateful that they were able to sort the problem out in the morning, as I needed to be out of town around midday.

I was also thankful it only cost £30. Most car repair bills are way more than that in my experience.

The reason I needed it doing as soon as possible was because we had arranged to meet a friend of Teen One at a service station in Berkshire.

A fair distance from where we live.

 

 

 

Before collecting Teen One from college, I needed to make sure dinner was sorted so hubby could just pop it on the oven...so lasagne was the order of the day.

 

 

 

Then there was the washing to be taken out of the machine and put out to dry.

 

 

 

 

A quick trip to the supermarket to get some fresh fruit and veg in the house for the weekend.

 

 

 

A visit to the Golden Arches to get Teen One a Happy Meal for her lunch  (yes...17 and still loves a Happy Meal )

 

 

 

 

then head on up the motorway to make the promised 2.30pm meet up.

Just a shame it wasn't a lovely clear road like that....

 

 

 

 

....it was more like this!

Thankfully though....leaving oodles of time as I always do....despite all the hold ups, we arrived bang on 2.30pm.

 

 

There was no time to indulge in a lovely Costa coffee...just a quick trip to the Ladies and then back on that miserably busy motorway back home again.

 

 

The journey home was much much slower and after a lot of stop starting, it became apparent why....three ambulances and two police cars went whizzing by on the hard shoulder to deal with a six car pile up.

I was very thankful to be part of the stop start traffic and not part of the accident.

 

 

Our Bible story at Friday Club tonight was Moses in the bulrushes.

With Teen One away, and my other helper away, I needed something that was  quick and easy and the kids could do unaided.

I printed off these worksheets and after some colouring, gave the kids some netting from supermarket fruit punnets, cut up, to be glued on to the basket..it gave a really good basket weave  effect.

I then gave them cut up pieces of fabric to act as the blanket.

They also were able to cut up some scrap fabric to use for the dress....wasn't sure if its Jochabed (Moses' mum) or Miriam (Moses' sister) there in the picture to be honest!

 

I was very grateful that we were down on numbers slightly tonight, making for a peaceful hour after the hectic day.

 

Teen One  and her friend continued on up to Oxford for a Young People's Bible Study weekend.

 She has sent a text saying they arrived safely and had gone on a walk...passing Mary Berry's old house en route....it was big and pink!

Hoping they all have a great time and the weather holds out for some fun activities they have planned as well.