Sally forth

This little map show you the shape of our village, just one lane running through -  the pink line.   The lanes at the bottom, in green, are simply that,  green lanes which just lead to barley fields.

One day you are connected to the outside world, you go to bed and...

...this happens, deep snowdrifts at either end of the village road.

We are once more connected to the outside world.
More or less.

There is now a single track of  slushy road leading from here to the next village and on to freedom.    However,  if you meet an oncoming vehicle you have a real problem because there are hidden, deep ditches either side.
   
We are staying put..


Around midday yesterday the doorbell rang.

A friend from the village had decided that he, and his beautiful Great Dane dog Oscar,  needed fresh supplies so he was calling to see whether there was anything he could collect for us.

So thoughtful!

I'm glad to say he made it to the shops and back, though the journey was a bit hairy.


Had I thought about it a few days ago,  I  may have been tempted to make this recipe:


Snow Pancakes

Mix and beat the flour and milk as usual, leave it to stand for half an hour.   At the last minute fold in a dessertspoon of melted butter.   Put a pan over a low heat to warm, and sally forth, well wrapped up, with a spoon and cold basin in hand to find one level tablespoonful of clean snow to replace each egg normally used.   Lightly fold snow into the batter with a fork and cook immediately.   The snow will remain crystalised and will make the pancakes light and fluffy.

The secret is to keep the snow crystalised when cooked, so if you make a large number it is better to divide the batter into four-person portions and  get the snow at the last minute.

I don't like pancakes, but this one does intrigue me. 
I found the recipe in an interesting book - Australian Early Settlers' Household Lore.


We had a little more snow overnight, but the major change today is the silence.  That roaring wind has given up screeching down all the chimneys and battering the windows and doors, it has lost a  lot of energy and is dejectedly prowling around instead.

The early birds are already around, searching for breakfast so I must head off to replenish their feeders.

I spotted a couple of large rats by the bird feeders nearest the house, they will need to be dealt with at some point.

There will be no sallying forth for snow to make pancakes, I seem to have gone off the idea.