Wednesday 29 April 2020

The Last Few Days


I baked bread. I've never been quite so excited to get my hands on a bag of flour and the bread was simply delicious. Minimal effort for maximum reward : )


Our afternoon walks have continued. Lily insisted I take a photograph of these bluebells which appeared to us all at once through a gap in a wall.


The last of the spring lambs have appeared in the fields.



The wild garlic has flowered, covering the woodland floor with a carpet of white.


Mog has remained in a permanent state of sedentary bliss.



The number of ducklings at the river appear to have increased.


Lily chalked a blue heart on a rock for the NHS workers.


And still insists on talking to the cows.


I got a craving for scones and used the last of my flour to bake some. I ate one fresh and warm, straight from the oven.



In the garden the sweet peas have grown fast and the strawberries have begun to flower.

J. X


72 comments:

  1. These scones look delicious. I'm struggling to get flour. I have one small bag and have been investigating flourless cake recipes. I have made polenta cakes in the past but they use part flour too, but I found a recipe that uses just polenta. I'll try it at the weekend. Love the picture of the little ducklings. Our sweet peas are looking strong and healthy so fingers crossed for a good display

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    1. Thank you, Eloise. I hadn't eaten scones in ages but I'd seen so many photographs of them online recently that it encouraged me to bake some.
      I'm keeping my fingers crossed for the sweet peas. They are from some seeds I saved from last years crop. X

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  2. It looks like you've been doing quite a lot in the last few days, baking and walking and doing other things in between, too. I love how all the cows seem to be paying close attention to what Lily is telling them! :) Hope all continues to be well with you, Jules.

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    1. I have no clue what the conversation was about, Bless, but the cows were listening intently. X

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  3. Baby lambs, little ducklings and bread and scones.... this is an post filled with ooo's and ahhh's as I read. I baked cheese scones today.

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    1. I don't think I've made cheese scones since I was at school. I might just have to bake some this week. X

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  4. Yum, scones! I made pumpkin scones during the week and enjoyed them with jam and thick cream. Flour has been harder to find here too. I have sweet peas growing and I do so hope they bloom as they are my favourite flowers in all the world. MegXx

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    1. I really hope the sweet peas are successful. They are such pretty flowers. X

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  5. Such a lovely post …

    So pleased you were able to get some flour and both the bread and the scones look delicious …
    Lily certainly likes the cows, but good to see the lambs, ducks, bluebells, wild garlic …
    In fact lovely to see all of your photographs.

    Hope the rest of the week goes well, my good wishes.

    All the best Jan

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    1. Thank you, Jan. The scones did not last long, so I think it would be best that I don't bake them too often :) X

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  6. The simple pleasures are so rewarding. What type of bread was that. Looks like sour dough? Something I’ve never tried. Lovely to see the warmth bringing on your plants. B x

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    1. The bread is made from a no-knead recipe. I find it delicious served with soup or stews. X

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  7. Beautiful photos, Jules.
    Those little lambs are so cute.

    Is wild garlic edible?

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    1. Thank you, Nil. Yes, wild garlic is edible, I usually make pesto with it. The link to the recipe is on the side bar. X

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  8. Scones are definitely best straight from the oven. Yours look scrummy! We can get flour here but no yeast so I made my last loaf yesterday. Now it will just be store bought. Love the photos of the ducks and the cows in the river. Hope Lily didn't get her feet wet!

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    1. I now have yeast but no bread flour now :) At least we can still buy bread.
      Lily didn't get her feet wet but I don't think it will be long before she wants to paddle. X

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  9. LOVE.
    Love everything about this post, my friend.
    Thank you for sharing these beautiful photos that make me feel like I am right there enjoying the beauty myself.
    Have a cozy evening!

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  10. Such lovely spring photos! I have wild garlic envy....I'm seeing so much of it on English blogs (and recipes too on occasion) and so badly wish I could see it for myself! Not to mention all the bluebells...sigh.... We are heading into winter in Australia so its a delight to read about and take a virtual walk thorough your spring pics!
    I've been popping by for a little while now and thought I'd finally say hello!! Evi :)

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    1. Thank you for introducing yourself, Evi, it's lovely to see you here.
      I'm appreciating spring more than ever this year so I'm thrilled that you are also enjoying my photographs. The scent of the wild garlic is really strong just now, which means it won't be around for much longer. X

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  11. Those scones look lovely, I could eat one right now :) Love the ducklings and the lambs, and as always, Mog doing what cats do best :)

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    1. Mog is usually to be found sleeping on Lily's bed. Her room gets a lot of sun in a morning. X

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  12. Wonderful photos, I can almost smell your baking bread and taste your scones. I could comment on every single, delightful photo in this post but have to say what a lovely girl your Lily is, she is a credit to you Jules X

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  13. Amazing how much flour has become a luxury these days. Those scones look delicious, yummy! So nice to see the lambs running around, we are surrounded by them. They are such fun to watch. Take care and stay safe.

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    1. Isn't it? Flour gets spoken about in hushed tones here :)

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  14. You have some lovely things to see on your walks that make it so interesting.

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    1. I'm so fortunate to be straight out into the countryside here. X

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  15. A post full of spring things, lambs, ducklings, bluebells, seedlings, and how hungry I now feel after seeing the delicious bread and scones. Mog looks so comfy laid there fast asleep.

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    1. I think I need to stop baking quite so much, but I've been enjoying it since having a little more time. X

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  16. Love that sweet little blue heart - I hope it is discovered by an NHS worker it would make their day to see that. The bread looks good too - I have my flour and yeast and recipe ready but have been waiting for a good moment to make some - I have spent so much time in the garden recently instead of cooking quite so much.
    Perhaps Lily is going to be a dairy farmer when she grows up. My mum looked after cows in the land army and has always had a soft spot for them. x

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    1. Someone had drawn rainbows and other messages of support on the rocks by the river and (whether intentionally or otherwise) had left the chalk behind. I had wondered what Lily was getting up to by the water, so it was lovely to see her contribution. Sadly, they've since been washed away by the rain. X

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  17. Lambs, ducklings and a sleepy cat, that's helped lift the gloom of a wet lockdown Thursday in Walsall! xxx

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    1. We've had one or two damp and gloomy days here since, but the weather has picked up again now. X

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  18. I am always surprised how different locations within the uk have different growing patterns, our garlic is still green with just a few beginning to have flower stalks with tiny hints of flower heads, my sweatpeas are still snoring their heads off bar one or two who have bravely made the breach, ducklings and lambs are still being produced daily and the bluebells are finally being blue enough to see!! Lovely photos xx

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    1. The unusually bright sunny weather we've been experiencing here has had a lot to do with it. X

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  19. The bread looks wonderful and all the photos are so beautiful. THank you, they give such pleasure.
    xx

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  20. Time marches on despite everything going on...lovely looking scones....darn this social isolating! x

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    1. Yes, it does. I hope you and your family are keeping safe and well, Jackie. X

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  21. I think we've all had cravings for scones, strange isn't it. Study carbohydrates seem to help at times like this. Your bread looks amazing.

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    1. I suppose scones at least make a change from the banana bread many people seem to be baking just now. X

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  22. You need to open up a B&B Jules, I'd love to come and stay, eat your scones and bread and go on one of your lovely walks. I might even be persuaded to stroke a cow as long as Lily held my hand! xx

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    1. Haha! Any guests would go hungry, as I'm eating it all :)

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  23. Scarcity, to which we are not familiar, makes us really appreciate many things. -smile-

    And your baking was delightful, I'm sure.

    As are your photos, always.

    You are much warmer there. I looked for violets the other day, and could not find them yet.

    Lily and the cows!!!!!! Precious! So happy they are so welcoming!

    In your area, you are certainly able, to "do" my Sig. Line.

    Find Beauty
    Especially
    In This Time
    Of Pain...
    🌱💛🌱💛🌱

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    1. Thank you for your kind words, WoW. X

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  24. Just beautiful, Jules! Wonderful photos; I feel I could almost be there :) John has been baking choc chip cookies for us. The weather here has turned cold, windy and wet, but we don't mind. Take care. Best, Jane x

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    1. I want to bake chocolate chip cookies now. :)

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  25. What gorgeous photos! It looks like the cattle are listening to Lily. The ducklings are so sweet. Enjoy your baking...

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    1. Thank you, Stephenie. The cows didn't have much choice ;) X

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  26. I am loving the photos of Lily with the cows, they are magical and so special. I think it is wonderful that she is so drawn to them rather than fearing them. They usually run away from you so she must have a connection to them that means they don't which is deeply moving.

    I am glad to hear that your days continue to move along in their beautiful and gentle way. Your baking looks wonderful, I am so glad to hear that you were able to find some flour. Once again thank you for the lovely bluebell pictures. I hope you have a restful weekend x

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    1. I don't know what it is with Lily and cows, she shows no fear whatsoever. I constantly tell her to remain cautious, however. X

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  27. I can almost smell the lovely warm bread from the picture. Haven't seen any ducklings yet so it's nice to see them in your post. X

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    1. I must admit, I do like the aroma of fresh baking wafting through the house. It was chocolate brownies this week :)

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  28. Beautiful photos. The bread looks yummy, I love fresh bread. Wish I could grow Sweet Peas, the slugs and snails seem to find them!

    Julie xxxxxxx

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    1. Thank you, Julie. I'll need to keep my eyes peeled for slugs and snails. X

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  29. Thank you, Laurie. I was so thrilled to hear your amazing news. X

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  30. Such lovely photos! Mother nature is generous where you live. Then lambs are gorgeous!! Those scones are looking so good!

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    1. She is, indeed, generous. I feel very fortunate to live where I do, especially just now. X

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  31. beautiful visit, it looks like you make your sourdough as I do. Do you overnight your dough before baking? Lovely pictures.

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    1. The bread is a no-knead recipe which is left overnight before putting into the oven. X

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  32. Beautiful photos of your walk. Love the bluebell pics. We have bluebells on our woodland walk to at the moment. They life my spirits. A sea of bluebells is almost as good as the sea at eh beach - that's our other walk.

    My words are here if you'd like to read some:

    gramswisewords.blogspot.com

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    1. Thank you, gram. I love to walk by the beach too. It is something I am looking forward to doing once the restrictions are relaxed. X

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  33. Thank you for visiting, Laurie. I hope you are keeping well. X

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  34. Will you transplant the sweet peas, or leave them in the pot?

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    1. I will leave them in the pot, Ruth. They grew well there last year. X

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  35. Love how Lily loves the cows! Your scones are amazing and very uniform, mine are a little more abstract in shape! I’ve missed going to bluebell woods. Unfortunately, they’re a little drive away here. Perhaps now we’re allowed to drive further, I might be able to still catch them in flower:)

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    1. Thank you, Ann. I don't bake scones very often so I was pleasantly surprised at how they turned out. I might just bake some more now that the cake tins are standing empty.
      I'm sorry you haven't been able to see the bluebells this year. Fingers crossed you might be able to catch sight of some soon. X

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