Picture of the day......"...Oh me, oh my, love that..."

I usually plan what to make for dinner in the morning, so that I can take out anything from the freezer, etc. This morning's plan was for a pie, and after getting home from a walk on the beach, where it was very cold, I think hot pie was definitely the right choice!

As far as my freezer is concerned, I don't feel I'm getting the best out of it. It's always full, and I can always pull something out of it for a meal. However, I do tend to buy lots of ready-made vegan stuff - burgers, joking mince, etc., and I'm concerned that we're eating too much of the processed stuff and not enough made-from-scratch vegetable and plant based foods.

So I've decided to change that, and make more meals from scratch, using fresh veggies, beans and pulses. Instead of using leftovers for lunches, I'll be freezing them to use as main meals on days when time is tight or I'm not feeling up to par for cooking a meal from scratch, instead of reaching for the burgers, etc. It should work out healthier and cheaper!

I've made a start on this by freezing two portions today of what was left from our meal last night - a bean chilli which I did make from scratch.

Picture of the day......"...a host..."

I usually buy daffodils for St. David's Day, when it's really starting to feel like spring. Today though, on a trip to Morrisons for some grocery shopping, I couldn't resist these little beauties to cheer up the bedside cabinet. Daffodils are one of my favourite flowers. I always feel cheered by their happy colour, and their perfume is scrumptious!

Picture of the day......"...It's Friday..."

I've shamelessly stolen this picture from t'interweb, because I haven't taken any pictures today.....and I don't care - so there!

It's Weekend - yaaay! I'm hoping that it will be a lovely weekend, filled with lots of things which make me (and my Lovely Man) happy. We'll do our best to achieve that anyway, with the help of some quality time together and with our furbabies....and some reading, walking on the beach, cooking & eating yummy food, watching T.V. (we're currently enjoying the "Shetland" series), yarncrafts, and general stuff & nonsense.

I wish whoever is reading this a very happy, healthy, and safe weekend!

Picture of the day......"...I feel the sense of possibilities..."

I love taking photographs, and take lots of them, especially for this website and blog.

Up until last year I was using my PiePad to take them, but then that broke. I was then using an old 'phone, and was always disappointed, because my images never seemed to be sharp. At the moment, I'm not in a position to be able to spend a lot of money on a camera, so I thought I'd have a little look to see if I could pick up a cheap but reasonably good one on eBay. My Lovely Man had a look for me, and found a "Nikon Coolpix", which was going really cheap, so I bought that.

Picture of the day......"...and I feel all right..."

I was feeling a little bit disappointed at reaching a weight loss plateau this week.

Even though it's obviously going to happen during my weight loss journey, and I am fully aware of it, and generally positive of mind, there was that little niggle at the back of my mind saying "You didn't do so well this week then...". If you've been on a weight loss journey, or even if you're on one now, I'm sure you know what I mean.

So, to combat it, I decided to go through a few bits of clothing in the drawers and see if anything is now fitting, which wasn't a couple of months ago. Et voila - these jeans! They are a particularly favourite pair, because of the lovely embroidery and applique on them, and they were very much on the tight side the last time I wore them. Today they fit comfortably.

A good result, and a definite reminder that I'm doing ok! We all need that now and then, don't you think?

Picture of the day......"Threads"

My Lovely Man's weaving so far - I'm impressed!

Bob's been trying out a few different yarns and combinations of weave stitches. He tells me that he's enjoying, and learning by his mistakes as he goes along - as is the case with all new ventures. It's a shame that the photographs don't show the details, but I think you can get the idea.

I'm looking forward to seeing more, and to watching the progression as he gets used to the loom, and different weights and textures of the huge variety of yarns which are out there.

I'm also keeping a close eye on my yarn stash! Haha.

Picture of the day......"...Try and keep your head up to the sky..."

Monday is Weigh Day!

Alas and alack, I haven't lost anything this week. However, I haven't put any on either - I've just stayed the same.

This means that clearly I've reached a plateau and need to reduce my calorie intake and/or increase activity.

Up until now, I've been having around 2000 calories per day, which is actually quite a lot, and I'm very pleased and positive about the fact that I've lost twelve pounds on that! I'm surprised really that I haven't reached a plateau sooner.

From this week, I'll reduce to 1,800 calories per day - still quite a lot actually - and we'll see what next week brings.

We popped out to the beach this afternoon. It was really cold, but at least there wasn't a cold wind.

Picture of the day......"We’ve got a fantasy..."

A lovely pile of books!

I love books and read as much as I can - as much as time and energy allow for, and I do get through a fair few. These books are the one I'm currently reading, by Peter May, and the ones I really want to get through over the next few months.

In spite of actually turning a (small) room at the back of my house into a library during last summer, and vowing that I would buy no more books until I'd read all that's in the library (at least a couple of hundred!), I have ended up accumulating more, and until today they've been kind of dotted around the house.

Now they are neatly piled on a bedside cabinet, and just begging to be read!

Picture of the day......"...a wond'rous woven magic..."

My Lovely Man has been slaying his table-top loom (setting up the yarns ready to weave).

This is for a practice piece. I'm looking forward to seeing his first weaving! I love the colours he's using.

We saw this sad little sight on the beach too - somebody clearly has a broken heart! I hope it's been mended already, or that it's not really broken, they just think it is, but are mistaken. Yes, I know I'm a softie. Haha.

Picture of the day......"...winter's tale..."

A lovely book in the post!

Patricia Cornwell is one of my favourite crime fiction writers, and I've read most of her Kay Scarpetta books. Kay Scarpetta is the main character in the books. She is of Italian descent and, and in the books references are sometimes made to her Italian cooking.

For some reason I thought of it again recently, and asked Bob if he would have a look online to see if there was a copy available. He did, and there was, so I ordered it!

I've only had time to have a quick look through it, but it looks like a really lovely book.

Picture of the day......"Patience"

I love shortbread!

However, since giving up dairy, almost two years ago, I haven't had any shortbread at all. I've been hoping that someone would do a vegan/dairy free shortbread, and lo and behold, when shopping after work today, I found these in Home Bargains.

They are very yummy! They're not quite as crumbly and buttery as proper shortbread, but they'll definitely fill the shortbread gap for now.

Picture of the day......"A little bit me and......"

......a little bit you!

Today I've been reorganising my craft room, so that I can share a corner of it with my Lovely Man!

A few weeks ago, whilst reading a Peter May book, Bob got caught up in the idea of getting a hand loom and doing some weaving....so get a loom is just what he did! It's a floor-standing, full sized (five feet) Countermarch loom. However, because of the current lockdown, he's unable to use that one, so in the meantime, he wants something smaller to play around on. A table-top loom is on its way to him, and I've freed up this little corner of my craft room so he can use it. Exciting times!

At some point, there will be pictures of said looms, and hopefully some 'fruits of the loom'.....watch this space!

However, when I asked him to give me a hand putting all this clean washing away today......

Picture of the day......"Reasons to be cheerful......"

Tomorrow is Day Off!

I have quite a bit planned - a good mixture of productive and chilled, and most definitely including all the things on my list.

I'm definitely looking forward to some quality time with my Lovely Man, Ollie, and the kitties, and sorting out some stuff to put up in the loft, which will give me more space in the front bedroom.

Picture of the day......"...just keep moving......"

Monday is Weigh Day, and this morning didn't disappoint. Another pound lost (and gone for good!)

I have one week to go until my third small target. If I'm to meet that target, I need to lose two pounds this week. I'm not going to stress about it - if I lose it then fab, and if I don't, I'll just extend the target date. I'm not going to reduce my calories intake just yet. My plan is to do that when I reach a plateau - i.e. when I have a week where I haven't lost any weight. So, I'll try to get some more activity in this week, to get those two pounds off. My energy levels have been better lately, so perhaps I can manage to be a bit busier! We'll see what happens.

In the meantime, I am more than happy with another pound off - that now makes a total (from my original heaviest weight) of 28 pounds, and a total of twelve pounds during this particular journey.

Picture of the day......"Come into my......"

......kitchen!

These two products combined, made a lovely meal this evening. I got the Meatless Farm mince for 50 pence (reduced from £2.50) a couple of weeks ago, along with a whole lot of other stuff. At the time, it was well dated (15th, 16th & 17th January), so I've had all the products in the fridge, adding them to the freezer as and when there was room. This pack was left, and with today's date, I decided to use it for our evening meal.

I sliced and fried some onions and mushrooms, and when cooked, added them to a couple of carrots which I had on the boil.

Then I fried the Meatless Farm mince and added that to the simmering veg, mixed up the Colman's sauce, with a bit less water than suggested, popped in a can of peas, and simmered it for a bit longer.

In the meantime, I par-cooked a few potatoes in the microwave, then sliced them up. I transferred the mince/veg mixture into a casserole dish, topped it off with the sliced potatoes and a few dabs of Flora, then put it in the oven for about half an hour.

We ate it with fresh brocolli and it was very yummy! It was around 400 calories per portion, and there is plenty left over for tomorrow night. This is great, because Monday is when I do my main food shop after work, and it will be nice to have something I can just reheat for us, and cook a bit of fresh veg to go with it.

Picture of the day......"...something in the early morning......"

Bob's getting busy with his bread maker again this evening!

I am so excited to wake up to the smell of baking bread, and have jam on yummy home made bread for breakfast! Nom nom.

Today's been a good day - I had a lovely, chilled self-care kind of morning.....crocheting on the sofa, accompanied by tea, cake, and three episodes of the second series of "Killing Eve" which has been on my planner for about two years!

We took Ollie to the beach this afternoon, and as we were driving there, we could see the sun in the sky, heading her way down to the horizon. I anticipated lovely sunset pictures, but by the time we reached the beach, she'd sneaked behind some heavy clouds which were just above the horizon and of course had been out of our view whilst driving there. Never mind, I'm sure there'll be more sunsets!

Picture of the day......"All that you touch, And all that you see, All that you taste, All you feel......"

Another weekend, another list! Two of my favourite things!

This list is in no particular order, and in case you can't read it properly from the photograph, I've put it below.

Picture of the day......"The moment I wake up......"

......I think about the day ahead, and that's the part of the day that I sometimes read the daily reading from this publication, the latest copy of which arrived in the post today. It was a lovely thing to come home to (as well as Bob, Ollie and the kitties of course!).

My sister introduced me to the UCB (United Christian Broadcasters) "Word for Today" many years ago, and I've been receiving a quarterly copy of it ever since. I often find it a source of inspiration and comfort in this busy, sometimes crazy world. I don't read it avidly every day, and not always first thing in the morning, but I do try to read it most days, at some point.

Picture of the day......"Breakfast Time"

Sometimes only breakfast in bed will do....and sometimes only bread and jam will do for that breakfast....especially when the bread is home baked.

Not only did the loaf look really nice, but it tasted yummy too! It was also completely vegan, since Bob used Flora plant butter, and dried coconut milk.

I think I'd be happy for Bob to make bread often and to have bread and jam for breakfast again very soon! Norty but nice.

Picture of the day......"Make it with You"

There is a vegan shop in Llanelli called Kind Earth, and I love it!

I needed to find some powdered plant milk today. This is because Bob is making bread overnight in his bread maker, so that we can wake up tomorrow for yummy home made bread for breakfast, on Day Off!

The recipe asks for powdered skimmed milk, but as I don't eat dairy, I didn't want to buy 'Marvel' or something of that ilk. I did ask in a Facebook vegan group, if anyone knows of any powdered plant milk, and explained why. A few people got back to me, and said to just leave the milk out, and the bread would still be fine, or to replace some of the water with liquid plant milk. However, I did want to follow the recipe as closely as possible.

I knew that if powdered plant milk was available, then Kind Earth were likely to have it, and so off I popped to have a look.....sure enough, they had some powdered coconut milk. Yaay.

Whilst I was there, I also spotted some vegan jelly, so I popped that in my basket. I love jelly, but never eat it, because of the gelatine.

I'll let you know in tomorrow's blog how both the bread and the jelly turned out!

Picture of the day......"...and another one gone..."

Weigh Day sees another pound lost! Yaay.

I may up the ante this week and reduce my calories, because my next small target is to get to 12 stone 7 pounds by 25th January, which is three pounds off. I'm currently losing at the rate of a pound a week, so I may try for two pounds this week.....or next week, it doesn't really matter which.

Anyway, I'm very happy that another pound is off! Long may it continue.

Picture of the day......"Lazy Sunday..."

...morning!

This was the scene for part of my morning today - coffee, cake and crochet. If you look closely, you can see Ollie Dog also enjoying a lazy Sunday morning, snoozing on the sofa!

The rest of the day wasn't quite as lazy - more a healthy balance of productivity and chilled, Sunday vibes!

I knitted for a while, working on this lovely yellow throw for my kitchen. Yes, you did read that right - I did write 'kitchen'. I know it's a funny place to have a throw, but I just want it to drape over the back of a chair really, just to add some textile interest to the kitchen.

......so this afternoon I got out this pile of cushion pads, to marry some of the covers up with similar sized pads, and then choose one to finish off this week. Obviously Joe Cat helped me to choose!

The rest live to be chosen another day!

Picture of the day......"Tastes so good..."

Two hot chocolates after a fab but chilly walk on the beach this afternoon.

I made mine with oat milk, so that it was dairy free, and used a few squares of Tesco Free From chocolate in the bottom of them, to give more chocolate oomph!

Then they were topped off with 'Food Heaven' dairy free squirty cream and some sprinkles. Blinkin' yummy!

There were lots of clouds today, so no chance of seeing even a glimpse of the sunset. Just a very calm, quiet beach.....still beautiful nevertheless!

Picture of the day......"Ready for the Weekend"

I didn't take a suitable picture for today's Picture of the Day, so I thought I'd put a collage together of pictures of the kind of stuff I'd like to do this weekend.

Picture of the day......"So tired..."

I bought some vitamin B12 supplements to see if that will help with the fatigue. I think it's worth a go - the fact that I don't eat any meat may be adding to the fatigue which I experience. Perhaps it's not all down to Lupus after all!

Picture of the day......"Living in a Box"

Today the Christmas decorations went back into their box for next year!

I don't know what Mr. Snowman thinks about living most of his life in a box! He was given to me lots of years ago, by two teachers at Lydia's primary school, as a 'thank you' because I went in to the school and worked with two of the classes to make snowman tapestries.

I loved doing it, and it was one of the experiences which first made me think about going into teaching. Mr. Snowman always reminds me of that lovely time.

Picture of the day......"Book of Days"

This lovely little literary treat turned up in the post today!

I might read it after my current book, or I might read some Peter May first, and then go to this. Hmm....decisions decisions - so many books, so little time! Either way, I'm sure that I'm going to enjoy it.

Picture of the day......"I'm a Loser"

Another pound off today!

That now makes ten on this particular journey and a total of twenty-six, from my all-time heaviest weight.

We enjoyed a slice of it with a pot of Glengettie after dinner, and Bob said it's the loveliest coffee and walnut cake he's ever tasted! Wow! Well done Braun, and well done me I think!

We watched the final episode of series three of "The Bridge"......I definitely think it's one of the best series I've ever seen on T.V.

Picture of the day......"Tea For Two"

Apart from the kitties, this is the nicest thing we come back to each day after our walk.

It's particularly welcome on such cold days as this one. We went to the beach - the last time for the Christmas holidays, as it's back to work for me tomorrow.

Picture of the day......"Black Coffee"

This lovely retro Braun Multipractic food processor arrived in the post for me a couple of days ago.

I had an original one in the early 1980s, and absolutely loved it, especially for cake making. I love to bake, but my fingers, wrist and elbow joints hurt so much when I'm actually mixing the cakes, that it kind of takes the edge off it. My original Braun packed in (the motor died) around five years ago and I very sadly took it to the tip.

The recipe is for a coffee and walnut gateau, but I will just make it as a layered cake I think. It's on the agenda for tomorrow, so no doubt (if it's successful) you'll be looking at pictures of it on here!

I also had lovely book post today! My Lovely Man has been at it again. He likes to read on a e-reader, and has been reading the "Lewis Trilogy" by Peter May. He thought I too would enjoy them (and I think he's right!) and he bought the books for me and they arrived this morning, together with another Peter May book.

I think they'll be jumping to the head of the books to read queue!

Picture of the day......"New Year's Day"

This is the grumpy face of a dog who's just had a bath!

We went for a New Year's Day walk this afternoon......