Tuesday 17 February 2015

Two P's

Two important P's today.   First of all it is Pancake Day, or Shrove Tuesday - the start of Lent.   Traditionally - and the farmer is great on Tradition - we eat Pancakes to eat up all the eggs, milk and flour before the fasting of Lent begins and we do without them. (nobody has told my hens to stop laying during the period).  So we had pancakes at lunchtime, with lemon juice and sugar  - three each.   Now I wish I had only eaten two as I have overeaten.

Then there is the other P.   My old friend P has a really Red Letter Birthday on Sunday, the kind that although you want to celebrate it you really wish you hadn't got to it.   He and his partner D are coming over from their home in the Lakes and staying until Monday - so today is 'Bake a Birthday Cake' Day.  The mixing Bowl is ready, the ingredients are lined up on the kitchen work top, the cake baker is in the Aga, I weigh out the butter and then discover that the electric beaters are in the dishwasher which has just been switched on and will take over an hour.   So here is another P - Postpone the cake baking until the washing up is finished.

The farmer whose sheep we over-winter is on his way to treat their feet yet again; so many of then are limping and it gets so painful for them.   He should arrive any time now and the farmer is getting in the sheep - an easy job at this time of the year.   The sheep are now well used to sheep nuts every morning and the farmer only has to shake the bag and the whole flock is tumbling over itself to get there first.       Keep warm.   Until tomorrow.

16 comments:

Joanne Noragon said...

How sad for the sheep to have recurring foot problems. Is it because there feet are soft and the damp affects them? Or the cold?
I really know nothing, so and surmising is fruitless, so tell us.
Shrove Tuesday--already. Pancakes are good; birthday cake better.

angryparsnip said...

No milk, egg and flour during lent ?
Being raised Polish Catholic we fasted during lent but we ate very simply. No extras. No dinners out.
But to give up eggs and milk especially on a farm.
The poor sheep. Is this something that happens often in the winter ? Is it because of the snow, ice freezing wet ground ?
I hope they feel better soon.

cheers, parsnip



Acornmoon said...

You paint such a cosy picture with your words, I can almost taste those pancakes. I am sure your friend will enjoy the cake, it will be all the more special if you have made it. x

Sue in Suffolk said...

Have fun finding Boulge, there's not much to it except the church!

Jane and Lance Hattatt said...

Hello,

Pancakes are a staple part of the Hungarian cuisine on every day of the year, not just Shrove Tuesday. We love them but, like you, always find ourselves asking for more when really we should stop.

That sounds rather a sad state of affairs about the sheep and their continual foot problems. Farmers have such a hard time of it during the winter months what with tending to livestock as well as battling with the weather. Spring although busy must be something of a relief.

Terry and Linda said...

Love your header...Spring must be arriving there also!

Linda ❤⊱彡
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com
https://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com/sherlock-boomer

sarah said...

Pancake Day sounds awesome!

MorningAJ said...

I assume you have a large frying pan, because three pancakes out of my little omelette pan wouldn't be too many! They're only about four inches across!

We had american style pancakes (ready made from ASDA!) for breakfast - but that was as close as we got.

Hope the sheep are OK. Does the weather affect their feet?

Frances said...

I have only just read your Sunday post. Many years ago ( BC..before children!) we holidayed on the Isle of Mull, and I picked up several beautiful shiny fir cones and took them home. After a while in the warm they opened up and many seeds fell out. Being the keen gardener that I am, I planted them in pots and waited. (I don't remember doing anything other than just planting them) They soon grew into tiny little shoots, and a couple of years later we had several tiny trees in our garden in Morpeth. About 5 of them came with us to Hertfordshire, but eventually were getting too big for the garden. A friend with lots of land then took the final 3 and as far as I know they are still thriving ( and quite large!) We called them " Sam's trees" as he was almost certainly conceived on that holiday…he is 37 next week.

thelma said...

I find it sad on Pancake day that my children have grown up ;) but I still cook them, delicious.

Becca McCallum said...

I managed to make pancakes for Shrove Tuesday...for supper! I stood at the stove making the paper-thin pancakes and my younger brother manned the sugar and lemon stage. I managed four pancakes before I admitted defeat...but my brother managed SIX. It was nice to have that time with him, as he's normally away at university. Nice way to start the long preparations for Easter.

The Weaver of Grass said...

Frances - thanks for the advice on sowing the pine seeds - we are doing just as you suggest this morning. We have a large plantain on our land and also an acre of Christmas trees with a lot of gaps - so should they grow we shall bed them out in the veg garden and then grow them on. Fingers crossed.
Seems most of us had pancakes - I really do love them and could eat them every day - but the waistline would suffer.
Sheep and feet - an ongoing problem caused in the main by wet muddy ground in the winter - and also long, strong grass getting between their hooves. All were trimmed yesterday and the really bad ones were treated with antibiotics.
Thanks for calling in.

Heather said...

Happy baking and enjoy your friends' visit. I can sympathise with the sheep as I am waiting for the chiropodist to arrive!

John "By Stargoose And Hanglands" said...

You did very well; I always fall asleep after eating too many pancakes!

Frances said...

I wish you success with your seeds. We didn't have pancakes yesterday……first time ever not having them on the day, but I had to go to babysit the grandkids early eve so no time. I shall make some today though, and will enjoy them with lemon juice and brown sugar..my favourite! I love the new header, spring is on the way!

The Weaver of Grass said...

Thanks to every one.