I'm usually busy on a Monday, but today has been just non-stop! I got up as usual just after 6.30 to exercise (cross-trainer and rowing machine), then breakfast, shower, first load of laundry on, then off to Hawick to do the weekly foodshop. Back home, shopping put away, a bowl of homemade soup for lunch (another load of laundry on) and then I had time to grab the camera and head out for a walk. It was very cold, so I was well wrapped up ..... a t-shirt, a jumper which makes me look like a teddy bear, a fleece jacket that makes me look like a grizzly bear, windproof trousers, handknitted socks and walking boots ... oh, and not forgetting warm gloves - I'm getting good at taking photos with gloves on! After I got back from my walk, I made a salad to have with the leftover chicken from yesterday for dinner, a pot of soup and put on the last load of laundry .... by which time it was dinnertime!! So now I can sit and relax and show you the photos I took this afternoon .....
this crane seemed to be in the middle of a field .....
.... but it was working at this farm!
the puddle has dried, leaving the ice stuck to the tree
this piece of ice has a pretty pattern
suddenly, there are snowdrops everywhere!
I took the photos of the lambs through a hedge!
please can I have one!
cuddling up to mum
And finally ...... there were several requests for the Border Tart recipe. There are lots of variations, but this is the recipe I have (which is scribbled on a piece of paper - I can't remember who gave it to me)
225g pastry, 50g butter, 100g sugar, 110g currants, 25g almonds, 25g cherries, 1 beaten egg
Heat the oven to 180C. Line a 23cm flan tin with the pastry. Melt the butter and sugar together, then stir in the rest of the ingredients. Spread the mixture over the pastry and bake for 20-25 minutes. Allow to cool before turning out onto a plate. You can also drizzle icing over the tart if you wish.
Now for a spot of browsing through my favoutite blogs, before I finish the octopus circles scarf!