Saturday 22 November 2014

Busy days

I had no time to post yesterday -out with friends, as usual, in the morning (couldn't miss that) and then 'Dear Diary' class in the afternoon (only one more to go, so shall really miss that after next Friday).

Today the farmer is shooting and I have been to Teesside Park Shopping Centre with friend W.  It is a venture into the 'real world' from our quiet little backwater (long may it remain that way) but it has meant that shopping in M and S has put a whole load of Christmas food into the freezer - the turkey, a nice joint of beef, a couple of vegetarian dishes (moussaka and a cheese, potato and onion pie) and two packs of 'ready to roast' parsnips.  A chunk of my family is vegetarian, so I always have to be prepared.   A couple of quiches without chorizo and a couple of pizzas and I am ready to go.   Luckily they all adore my trifle, which is made in a trice, so that's it really. 

Friends are coming to tea tomorrow, which will be nice - a nice chat and a nice little afternoon tea.   What's not to like?

All our friends in the US seem to be having a terrible time with snow - here in the uk I think we just hope we don't end up getting it too.   So often, what starts over there finds its way over here later.

Our journey to Teesside Park (due East from here) was a journey in and out of fog.   Sometimes the sun could be glimpsed pushing its way through the cloud, other times it was dark with thick fog.   When we came out of the shop the sky was blue and there was a glorious sun shining.    But we came back through fog again before the sun met us near to home.

I was reading John Clare's Shepherd's Calendar for November the other day - my goodness, how well he knew his countryside and the seasons.   As the poor man spent so much of his life in what was in those days called a 'lunatic asylum' one wonders how much better a life he would have had these days - drugs have made all the difference in so many cases like his.   Thank goodness such places, with their draconian ways, no longer exist.

17 comments:

Tom Stephenson said...

I am really hoping for a load of snow, but then I'm lazy. So long as the place is stocked up (we are in town, so this is easy) I would be happy. It must be different in the country, but I used to enjoy being snowed-in there too.

Rachel Phillips said...

It has rained here all day.

jinxxxygirl said...

My fridge is stocked for Thanksgiving too......... We'll be having..deviled eggs,pickles,olives, cranberry sauce, turkey,ham,mashed potatoes,cornbread dressing, probably a vegetable or two, pumpkin pie, peach dump cake, pecan chess pie........ Uuuughh..... we'll be eating leftovers for weeks..then it will be Christmas and we'll do it all over again.....lol

Well Weaver my coffee is calling me this morning......Everything is wet outside. We've had two good days of rain this week. Much,much needed. So funny, here a full days rain can only add up to maybe half an inch...because it does is drizzle and mist.... Stay warm.Hugs! deb

Heather said...

It is so sad that the man who's poems give such pleasure, had to go through such distressing times.
Your busy socialising sounds lovely - hope you don't feel too bereft when the class finishes. Have a gold star for being ready for Christmas!
Weatherwise, I just hope all that snow doesn't arrive in the form of rain. We are soggy enough already down here.

Twiggy said...

So far for Christmas I have made my two cakes and bought two packs of cards, I have a long way to go :)
Twiggy

PS I wish it would snow a bit, the mild weather feels wrong.

Joanne Noragon said...

I dislike driving in the fog more than any other bad weather condition, bar none. Snow, blinding rain, thunder and lightening were nothing to fog to me. I picked up a pamphlet at a mountain rest stop once about driving in the fog, which is incessant high in the mountains. Among other things it told me to follow the white edge line, not the center line, and that is one of the most useful driving instructions ever.

Doc said...

We just finished all the holiday shopping today, I do love it when our food stores are full...let the guests arrive!

John "By Stargoose And Hanglands" said...

Experts assure us that the snow is not headed our way - so expect it any day soon! Hopefully everyone will have stockpiled enough food to get them through the two days when the supermarkets are closed over the Christmas holiday!

mrsnesbitt said...

We were at Teesside Park last Friday. Jon's mum gave him money which he likes to spend in Maplin. Needless to say a shop specialising in electronic components was not of any interest to us Mrs Nesbitts so we went next door to Hobbycraft. Some fantastic projects there - a reindeer head was my purchase! lol!

Mary said...

Wish I was knocking on your door Christmas Day - you seem prepared for all and sundry Pat, and I would definitely enjoy M&S cheese, onion and potato pie and YOUR own trifle!

We have Thanksgiving this week - no turkey going into my oven this year - we're eating out - saving the groaning board for Christmas. The two hols are too close together here - far too much food consumed within a month!

Happy week - Mary

Terry and Linda said...

The winds are horrendous here, terribly cold and snow flurries. I'm very thankful the corn is still standing!

Linda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com/?s=The+Adventures+of+Fuzzy+and+Boomer&submit=Search
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com

The Weaver of Grass said...

Thanks to you all. Forecast for the week is for reasonably warm weather, so looks as though this time we are missing America's snow.

thelma said...

We experienced the fog driving over the moor as well, could it be that the weather is so warm I wonder....

Gwil W said...

I spent half of yesterday travelling in fog. Fortunately I was in a warm train. Interestingly there was a deaf/mute couple in the compartment and they were communicating with grunts, whistles and hand signals. They never stopped talking. In Clare's day they might have joined him in that institution. Fortunately in this respect we have moved on in many countries, though sadly not all.

Gwil W said...

In fact in Europe it's only some 70-years since the German euthanasia programme was at its height. People with certain illnesses and handicaps were deemed "unworthy to live".

The Weaver of Grass said...

Gwil's comment is interesting and quite a comment on this day and age - in this side of the world at any rate. Thanks for calling.

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