Sweet, savoury and super stretchy...

Well, winter is most definitely making it's presence known! Cue wellies, bare branches and frozen eggs to collect first thing in the morning...

My wellies are particularly fabulous this year (thanks to D being far too generous for my birthday) - they are honey bee themed Joules wellies and some of the cost went towards the National Bee association.

With the days almost as dark as the nights it's hard to feel the motivation to do anything much and work in and out of The Keep has slowed dramatically now that we only really have the weekend daylight hours to utilise. Can't say it's looking too shabby round here anymore though -  even managed to collar a window cleaner last week, so the old house is looking far more polished than she has in some time.

I've taken to making things during the long evenings. Not just any old things ofcourse, I'm doing a lot of sewing in order to stock pile lots of craft-type-bits with a view to hit the craft fairs next year and sell my wares and, if you follow The Chook Hook on instagram you will know, I have been experimenting with some recipes too.

These are a few of the 'christmas pockets' I've been putting together - they all get strung together to create a bunting that you can put little treats in. Ofcourse ours will probably have dog treats in them rather than the chocolates most people would shove in there!

Vegan Mushroom risotto:

1 cup Arborio rice
1 pint (ish)Vegetable stock
1 table spoon Garlic oil
Woodland mushrooms (yes they are worth the money)
White wine - a good glug
Salt and pepper to taste
Vegan cream if you feel you need it extra creamy (I do!)

Beetroot Hummus:

1 tin chickpeas
2 cooked beetroots
1 clove garlic
a drizzle of oil

Blend it up and you've got hummus for a whole week.

Spiced Pumpkin and Sweet potato soup:

Half a small pumpkin (roasted)

2 decent sizes sweet potatoes (roasted)

1 1/2 pints vegetable stock

1 small onion

chilli powder

Paprika

Black pepper

Salt

(seasonings all to taste)

A short while after making the soup using my new blender, I was gifted a soup maker by my mother-in-law-to-be and, honestly, it cuts out pretty much all of the hard work. Smooth soup in less than half an hour - you just bung all of the ingredients in. When I've racked up a few good recipes I'll list them on here for you to try.

It has been a few weeks of really finding a rhythm to life again. No more just getting by, but rather gaining some ground and having time to invest in the small things that, inevitably, make the world of difference. For example, we've switched from driving several miles out of our way to the nearest farm shop to get our usual supplies to ordering in bulk online. I know, 'what a travesty!' I hear you cry. And to a certain extent I do agree... I am a big believer in keeping things local and supporting local people providing local goods. However, common sense stepped in and the money we now save warrants the move to an online provider. Not only that, but the bedding and food we now get for the chickens is better quality than the more expensive stuff we were running through petrol to go and collect. It comes right to the door - it was a no brainer. 

Another investment, that I think is going to make coop cleaning much, much easier is this bad boy...

200 feet of stretchy hose!! That astroturf is going to wish it spat chicken poo from it's own surface once it gets the 'magic hose' treatment. 

It is what most people would call 'the run up to Christmas' now and it can often be a real burden if, like me, you are the designated gift chooser/buyer/wrapper/sender. This year though I've decided to take a more standoffish approach to the season of tinsel, over spending and turkey-with-everything. For starters I'm vegan now so turkey is well off the menu (I will post about the whole Vegan thing at some point), Presents will be absolutely minimal with as many handmade ones as I can make between now and the big day and I've seen some beautiful tinsel up for grabs in my favourite charity shop... Don't get me wrong I LOVE Christmas. My dad and I spent many a freezing cold, super excited, December weekend putting up lights on the outside of our house when I was growing up and I have only ever had one job (for one miserable year) where I had to work during the Christmas break ( honestly it's just dreadful, they should close all shops/ factories etc for atleast 4 solid days!!) 

It's a time of year I really feel should be valued, a time to consider the people and places and 'things' that make you truly happy and grateful to be on this planet. When you really think about it those things very rarely come wrapped up, or cost money or need a honey glaze... I for one will be celebrating Christmas with an incedibly thankful heart after the support we have received this year and safe in the knowledge of my plans to pay it all forward over and over again in the years to come. I've got lots of volunteering lined up and plenty of plans to live and promote a much more economical, ecological way of life. Just like a good Christmas dinner, it's all in the prep!

Come rain or shine, it'll still be mine.

G