Author: Bungalow Blogger

Burns Night

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Right now there is a ceilidh going on at my place, there are two girls with Scottish Country Dance music on.  They have found everything they can in the house that is even vaguely tartan including a scarf, a picnic blanket (now the carpet) and the scout necker of a boy I know.  They have to be the most enthusiastic Burns Night fans I’ve ever known.  As I wrote this time last year, it would be my Mum’s birthday today and she was often a Burns widow when my Dad was doing The Immortal Memory at someone’s Burns’ Supper – he often did a few every year, he was a real fan of the Scots language.  The whole Burns Night/Day is a bit of a ‘thing’ now especially at the primary schools which means even at six, the children can manage a Gay Gordon’s or a Dashing White Sergeant.  The grandparents would definitely have a big smile at the girls today although, true to form, they have had to stop for a wee something to eat.

Lucy started the day with a stink, she came in from her morning trip round the garden covered in fox poop.  Nice! Apologies if you have already seen the photo on Instagram.  Please do request to follow me, I have kept it personal for now but I’m happy for you to follow me since you read my blog.

just as well my sister bought the dogs this luxury shampoo
just as well my sister bought the dogs this luxury shampoo

Recipe Trial No 1 

Celeriac is something I love the idea of but when the nodulated root appears in the veg box it is sometimes an effort to deal with it.  Luckily I know a girl who knows what to do to make it taste fabulous (and, no, it’s not soup).

celeriac, egg, spices and hope in the bowl
celeriac, egg, spices and hope in the bowl

Sarah posted this just as I was going for soup again.  Brilliant I thought, my husband has the Rosti King title round here – he’s always keen to get it right – so he can make dinner.  Double brilliant.

The Rosti topped with a poached egg, not bad indeed.
The Rosti topped with a poached egg, not bad indeed.

This recipe is highly recommended  Root Veg Rosti from The View from the Table, much better than the potato ones I’ve had here before if you know what I mean.  Thanks for trying it out, C and thanks to Sarah for passing it on.

We are off to a Burns themed birthday party so it’ll be haggis tonight no doubt.

Nearly forgot to show you another food first, my niece’s Battenburg.  Tasted amazing, Mary and Paul have a lot to answer for…

home made battenburg, my favourite, from the kitchen of my niece aged 6
home made battenburg, my favourite, from the kitchen of my niece aged 6

Have a good weekend, just one more photo for you, hope you like him.  x

on the bath wall at the moment, always makes me smile
on the bath wall at the moment, always makes me smile

For Mum post funnily enough there’s a recipe from Sarah there too, xx

My January Read – The Year in Books

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There seems to be a bit of a book love thing going on in the blogosphere at the moment, there are lots of ‘must read’ lists and photos of piles of books.  Laura at Circle of Pine Trees has started a link up for those of us who wish to join in with her and here’s my chosen January read, a well received Christmas present.

I’ll let you know how it goes, if it is at all typical of Maggie O’Farrell’s other books, I’ll be hooked right away.

photo

A year on…

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These were given to me before Christmas, the vivid colour and whiff of perfume is so welcome at this dull time of year.
These were given to me before Christmas, the vivid colour and whiff of perfume is so welcome at this dark and dingy time of the year.

The last tiny steps of the works are still ongoing, today we had all the little bits of plaster that had blown where screws lie underneath filled in.  Now the rooms look a little spotty – I’ll go round with the faithful white paint once they’re sanded.  There’s tidying up outside and a couple of other bits to be done too.  Slow and steady we are getting there (haven’t I said that before a few times) and compared to this time last year the house is a joy. You can refresh your memory here about how I was feeling – One Year Ago and Stuff

My thoughts are turning to the next projects to be done in the bungalow.  There’s the front door to be painted Front Door Colours and the front room to be decorated Living Room Ideas, I am swithering between going dark navy on the walls and my usual white with colourful furniture.  The hall needs something too, I’m looking out for just the right piece, I think that may be a long-term hunt.

The poor old garden needs lots of love and thought. After a happy hour or so faffing around out there this morning, snipping a few shrubs and snowdrop spotting made me realise that it got little attention last year.  Flowers are a priority and sorting the paving when you first go out either the back door or the side door.  “There’s always something” as my Mum always said. She was so right.

How can it be Friday again?  This working four days is not good for my blog post rate (I’ve only done two weeks so far).  It’s interesting though that I feel a lot more productive and efficient at home despite doing the day job too.  Maybe there’s a different gear for work that helps at home too, so far so good. Ask me again at Easter!

Time to wish you a splendid weekend, no matter how skint you are waiting for the end of the longest ever month! xx

(or is it just me?)