Making the Best of Typical Bank Holiday Weather

 

It's been a busy couple of days, so we decided to make the most of the sunshine that we woke up to yesterday.  

The forecast hadn't been brilliant for the weekend, so the minute I saw sunshine when I opened my eyes, I got up and loaded the washing machine and then managed to get it out on the washing line before we set off to Morecambe and a couple of hours at the seaside.

We walked along the prom and then sat at the far end admiring the view.

The dogs appreciate the rest as much as I do and they are brilliant people watchers. They met a lovely little dog called Rita who was celebrating her first birthday with a Puppicino ... a doggy drink from the café.

And after admiring the views for a few more minutes and seeing the clouds rolling in ...

... Mavis reminded us that part of the purpose of the outing was to get Mum a coffee and Dad a bacon butty.  So we wandered back along the prom to the Clock Tower Café.

We had a coffee each and Alan got his bacon bun, and of course the dogs got a little bit each too.  After a good half an hour of watching the world and his dog go by we carried on walking.  I had spotted a large Animal Rescue charity shop as we drove away from the prom on our last visit so I told Alan I would nip across the road for a quick look while he walked the dogs up to the grassy area for a while.

For less than the cost of Alan's bacon butty I managed to get a t-shirt, 2 books and the cutest little Dunn Bennet & Co. Burslem cup.  I've just looked up the cup online and it's mark dates it to anytime between 1937-1968.  There's a similar much less decorative one for sale on Ebay for £12.99 , so I think I've nabbed myself a bargain.

And of course I still have all these things ... Alan's bacon bun is long gone.

A successful day and one that I ended by binge watching the entire series of The 1940's House.  What a relaxing day.

This morning it's wet and quite chilly, so after breakfast I decided to mend the handle of my kettle with a bit of superglue.  Only Alan's superglue was all stuck up, and when I tried to force the lid open it all spurted out all over my fingers.  I managed to get the kettle fixed ... and now I can have a relaxing day picking bits of dried up superglue off my fingers.  😏

How are you spending your weekend?

Sue xx

Alan and Eric, A Recipe ... and Spot the Difference - the Food Cupboard Challenge

 I was looking through June photos and found that there were lots that I hadn't shared with you.  I thought this one in particular needed sharing, as I love it so much.

Just us on a nice early morning out with the dogs in Morecambe.  Because it was so early there wasn't the usual queue of people waiting to have their photo taken with Eric Morecambe on the promenade.  So we thought that for once we would be tourists in our own neck of the woods.

Sadly the dogs won't face forward if it's not me taking the picture!!

3rd June

For my own benefit ... and for you if you like to play Spot the Difference.

6th July.

There's not a huge amount of difference, but doing this is stopping me from shopping for cupboard items as I know exactly what I have in.  This challenge has also highlighted to me that at the moment I tend to eat mainly from the fridge and buy replacements for the fridge over and over.  It's proving to be a good long term experiment.

Of course there is a lot more food in the bottom cupboard as well, and in the past week or so I am starting to dip into it for things that I no longer have in the top cupboard.

The two missing cans of chopped tomatoes were used in this pan of Roasted Vegetable and Tomato soup that I made as this weeks bulk cook.

I just roasted all the vegetables that were in the bottom of the fridge drawer when we got back after our weekend away.  Just for half an hour in the oven, while they were roasting I sautéed an onion for a few minutes with some garlic from the freezer, added two tins of chopped tomatoes and then tipped the vegetables into the pan and gave it all a good whizz up.  I like my soups relatively smooth, so this is my preferred way to do it.

I had one bowlful straight away for my lunch, we had one portion between us as a starter with some garlic bread last night and the remaining jars of soup are now in the freezer.

Sue xx

Days Out, Sunshine, Washing Veggies and How Many!!

We made the most of the lovely hot weather on Saturday and took the dogs to Williamson Park in Lancaster, it's only 15 minutes up the road from us, just long enough to enjoy the cool of the air conditioning in the car as we travelled the A6.  

Once there we admired the Ashton Memorial, I hadn't seen it close up for years although it's a feature you can see from the motorway very clearly.  It's a remarkable building and I love architectural gems.  Then we shade hopped around the it and the pavilion where the café, shop and butterfly house are.  We shared a bowl of chips ... me Alan and the dogs ... and then shade hopped for a while more before returning for another cup of coffee for me and a cold drink for Alan and the dogs.

Then we worked our way back to the car stopping at every bench that was in the shade for Suky to get cool and me to rest my back.

The dogs snoozed the rest of the day away ... and Alan might have joined them.  😄

I nipped out to Booths for this weeks fresh vegetables, washing them in lovely cold water when I got them home.

I'm finding it's better to wash everything ready for use before I put it into the fridge these days, I used to wash things as I needed them.  But this way am more inclined to use what I have instead of grabbing a snack or something less healthy.

I'm still reading my book and now I find that I am reading the label of everything that I eat.  I thought these wholemeal bread rolls were healthy ...

... until I looked closely at the ingredients, now I think slightly differently!!

I guessed that there would be about 7 ingredients, Alan guessed at 4, we were both shocked to find out that's it's actually over THIRTY!!

I understand now why Chris van Tulleken tells you to carry on eating what you would usually eat while you read his book and not to make any drastic changes straight away.  As well as learning while you go, imagine cutting that many additives out of your diet straight away from all the foods you eat, what a huge shock to the system it would be.

I doubt very much I'll be cutting everything that is ultra processed out of my life but I will be very carefully choosing the things that will be remaining. 

Sue xx

The Seaside from Lancashire to Cumbria

We decided on the spur of a sunny moment, to head to the seaside for a coffee and some chips.

The dogs love the seaside, and although they are not allowed on the sand at this time of year there are usually enough little sandy patches that have been blown along the promenade wall for them to get a bit of sand between their toes and enjoy the sensation in a smaller way.  

Now the girls are older they simply enjoy a walk along the prom, a sit under the table while we have a coffee and a portion of chips ... Dad slips them far too many for my liking, but they never complain ... and they LOVE people watching.

It was like a non-stop parade of people and dogs, there was every sort of dog under the sun, and of course we came across a family with a Pug and a happy mini Pug-Meet was enjoyed by Jake and Suky.  Pugs usually react wonderfully when they meet their own kind.

 

We sat for a long time enjoying the warmth of the sun, the blue skies and the view across Morecambe Bay to the Cumbrian towns and hills across the expanse of the sea.  In the sea were jet skis, sail boats and some very brave swimmers and the beach was full of sandcastle building children having a brilliant time.

It was a lovely relaxing way to spend a  Sunday morning, and we got home in plenty of time for the dogs and Alan to still enjoy their regular Sunday afternoon nap on the sofa.

What have you been up to over the weekend?

Sue xx