Two Years!

Remember this?

The log store roof had taken a battering during a storm, the roofing felt needed to be replaced and you two decided to tackle the job, to save Max from having to climb up there on his less than limber limbs.

I'm glad to say that a few years on, and the roof is holding up well.  Your repair work was first class!   Alas! the log store has a decided tilt towards the shed in Owl Wood, but that is another matter.  ;-)

Today, as you celebrate your second wedding anniversary, remember that all your family back here are thinking of you.   We send you our love and look forward to sharing lots of...

...dumplings!  

Young Hector is very keen to try dumplings made by Poppy, he watches Kung Fu Panda...he eats a LOT of them.   Little Merry is rather more keen to share lots of rice dishes; she loves rice, hates pasta, adores rice.   Hector loves pasta, hates rice....

Miles, does that remind you of anything?   You, James, and Alice, perhaps?

Enjoy your special day - Valentine's Day and your second wedding anniversary.  Ooodles of love, Mum and Dad xxx

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!

XXX

Supper in Shanghai

We are very lucky to have a wonderful Chinese daughter-in-law.

For blogging purposes, I call her Poppy, although her real name is much prettier.

On Poppy's first visit to Lincolnshire, she was amazed and delighted when she saw all the poppies

which lined the lanes and were scattered in the fields, 

something which wouldn't be permitted in China under article 351 of Chinese Criminal Law.

So when I decided to start afresh with blogging,

giving everyone an alternative name,

Poppy seemed appropriate.

Miles and Poppy live in Shanghai - although we hope that it won't be too long before they come

home to the UK to live in Cowslip Cottage which they bought last year

and which Max is working so hard to help renovate.

Communication is so much easier these days,

vastly different from the 80's when Max worked in the Middle East

and one brief telephone call a week 

plus the occasional snail mail letter

was as good as it got.

We get to chat to Miles and Poppy several times a week, via Skype, we also use email,

as well as this blog,

to keep in touch, which is great.

Poppy is an excellent cook and I have decided to share some of the wonderful suppers which

she prepares for Miles.

The main dish here is a home-made sausage, which has been cooked and drained, to remove as much fat as possible.   It is eaten with garlic... as Poppy says,

it should be eaten when you don't plan to do much socialising

because although it tastes delicious, the garlic smell does tend to linger!

There is also a dish of sour beans and mince, another favourite, all served with fluffy rice.

A dish fit for a king.

I know that Max would be very happy to tuck into some of that - and I would be delighted to have a bowl of rice and sour beans (I don't eat meat) - mind you, if he ate the garlic he could find himself banished.

More dishes from Shanghai next week.
xxx

Poppy's Home-made Sausages & Bacon

Over in Shanghai, Poppy has begun her preparations for some special celebrations next month, she has been making home-made sausages.     Miles loves them but he'll have to be patient for they won't be ready for a few weeks yet.   They are being made for Chinese New Year, February 8th.

She has also been busy preparing her own favourite, Chinese bacon.

Image borrowed from nipic.com

The bacon and sausages take quite a while to cure/dry/mature, but when they are ready and cooked they will look like the photograph above.     I can imagine Miles salivating already and I know that Max is looking forward to Poppy making him something similar during their summer visit this year.

Chinese New Year celebrations see friends and family getting together and whenever people get together that means that lots of treats are produced from the kitchens.   The sausages and bacon are traditional treats.

Poppy is a trained cook, so Miles is absolutely spoilt with her superb meals but I think these are something very special!

Xitang and Manning the Pump in Lincolnshire.

The rain has been falling heavily since about 11 am so the road under the old railway bridge 

has become a swimming pool (well, paddling pool) as the water drains off the fields 

and runs down to the river at Butterbump Splash.   

Of course, compared to those areas which have been so badly affected during recent weeks, 

we have absolutely nothing to grumble about!

Xitang water town, China.

Max is outside, manning the pump, a necessary action if we are to keep our water drainage and septic tank systems working properly.   The little submersible pump needs some extra help now and then - and today is definitely one of those times.   The joys of living in the country and on heavy clay soil.  

Yesterday I came across a big folder of the photographs which Miles and Poppy took when they visited the ancient water town of Xitang.

Somehow they seem appropriate.

It feels this wet here, today.

Xitang is lovely by day, but beautiful by night, even on a rainy night when all the umbrellas

get put to good use and the lanterns are lit.

The hustle and bustle would be a bit too much for me, but I can imagine that the atmosphere must be very lively with food vendors and cooking smells, tourists, and locals.

Back to Lincolnshire and the weather, of course.

Dobson hates getting his paws wet.   There he is, part Labrador, for goodness sake, and he either goes around puddles, or jumps across them.  

 He hates to go out when the rain is falling, despite the fact that I always give him a good rub down with his towel and make sure that he is dry 

before I dry myself.   

You can probably imagine how difficult it is to get him outside, in this kind of weather, to do the necessary.    However, sometimes a boy has to do what a boy has to do, even though he assures me that he really doesn't need to go.     I clip his lead on and make him come with me into the garden.   He tugs to go back inside, but I take him around the bushes and shrubs uttering encouraging phrases..."Pee-pee"  or take him to the corner of the polytunnel (always a tempting spot to have a widdle, providing Max doesn't see him)   "Come on Dobson, pee-pee-pee, wee-wee".   "Oh, for goodness sake, dog, pee-pee...".   It takes an age to get him started, then an age to finish.

He really needed that break.

The rain is still falling heavily, there are vast puddles forming in the Owl Wood and everywhere, including the gardens, is very squelchy, the ground saturated.   The ditches along the lane were brim full this morning, I can only imagine how they must be after all this rainfall.

Enough of the rain talk.   

I came across this photograph of the two of you - remember when it was taken?

xxx

Keeping the Home Fires Burning, Cowslip Cottage Update for Poppy and Miles

Max and I spent all morning down at Cowslip Cottage.    Max had some more wiring to put in before the builders can get on and do the rest of the work.   I assisted by holding wires, pulling wires, writing measurements down...dull stuff, but it meant that Max could achieve a lot more than if he were down there by himself.

During the really quiet times I wondered off into the gardens and made a start on sweeping the leaves - for there were drifts of them, three feet deep in places.

The colours were glorious and almost made the hard work seem worthwhile.

Here's the view over your back garden fence - the parkland looks just as delightful, although I do miss the cattle, they have been moved indoors for the winter.

So much colour, even in winter.     The couple who lived there for so long really did a marvellous job of planting the garden for all year round enjoyment.    By the way, Poppy, there are still some yellow poppies in bloom.

Even the tiny shed has a cascade of gold to decorate it.   Simple and beautiful.   The lovely fucshia is blooming strongly..

and I was really excited to find some winter flowering jasmine...

Back to the cottage.    We worked on the cabling, up ladders and down ladders, ditto stairs.   It is getting there.

 Today is very cold, a seeping, creeping damp cold, so now that the chimney sweep has been and cleared all the soot and birds nests out of the chimney we decided to have a small log fire.      It drew beautifully and definitely helped to keep the chill at bay.    I know the fireplace is coming out and a log burner going in the space, but I thought you may like to see what it looks like with a fire in your hearth.    

It is an old chestnut, but that room is going to be magnificent at Christmas times and delightful at all others.

Home!

Once we got home I had a quick cup of tea and then went along to feed my old friend, Benedict.   He loves those pony nuts...eyes closed in total enjoyment.

I also had a chat with old Oscar, he was busy outside (walking sticks propped against the wall) filling a bird feeder and trying to ensure that those pesky rats can't get in to steal the bird food.    Somehow, I think the rats will win, but he likes to keep pottering and to feel useful.

So, my darlings, your cottage is coming along wonderfully...did I tell you that I have painted the exterior in pink............;-O
Love,
fliss&max

Cowslip Cottage

This morning I felt well enough to take a walk along the lane to visit this old chap, Benedict, for the first time in almost three weeks.       He was initially a little grumpy, I think you can see that from the photograph, but once he realised that my pockets were stuffed with carrots and apple he decided to forgive me, especially when I also managed to find a couple of old polo mints.   He was delighted to have some company and spent ages gently nibbling on my fingers and telling me that perhaps I wasn't so bad after all.   I told him how much I love him.

His owner, Oscar (aged very late 90's) was pottering around his garden.   He hasn't been well and these days he has to support himself on two sticks, when outside, and uses a wheeled walker indoors.   Despite all his health problems, Oscar keeps soldiering on.  

Calling in to see Benedict allows me to keep an eye on Oscar without appearing to do so, I hope.

As the day was fine, we went down to your cottage, Max had some more measurements to take and I wanted to try to get the lawns mowed before the weather turns.  

I mowed this lawn, then Max strimmed the edges, while I mowed the other lawn.   It looks nice and neat again.   We also weeded the front garden and swept all the hay out of the parking space, those hay wagons shed a huge amount, I think we filled two and a half sacks, it will all go into the compost heap.

This is the view from the back garden gate, the cattle are still out, just not in shot.

Poppy, this one is for you!   One brave poppy flower still blooming in the rockery area today.   I had to photograph it for you, what a shame I didn't have the macro lens with me.

On the way home we called in at the fruit farm and picked a couple of large bags of pears, they make superb juice, but taste just as nice as a fruit.

fliss&max
xxx

A Bed in Rural Wuhan, China

Eighteen months ago, Miles and Poppy got married.   In order to do so, they had to make the long journey from Shanghai to Wuhan, where Poppy was born.   They took the opportunity to visit family and friends, taking lots of photographs along the way.

I'm not saying that I would like to sleep in this bed - but wow!   Goodness knows how old it is.   I like to imagine that the whole suite of furniture was a wedding gift for some long-ago couple.   I imagine the paintwork would have been much more vibrant.

A straw mattress, plastic and board sheeting on the roof, mosquito netting, concrete floor...   It is one of those images which I like to explore, there is so much going on.  It could almost be a staged piece, except that I know it is not.
fliss& max

Poppy and Miles in Shanghai

Happiness!  Miles is back in Shanghai, home with Poppy

after spending a month here, working on Cowslip Cottage.

It is still a work in progress,

but will become their home in the future.

I know that Miles enjoyed my food while he was home, 

but I also know that

 he is extremely happy to be eating food cooked by Poppy!

She is a marvellous cook.

Take your eyes off that beef, Boy!

*  *  *

Now that Miles is back in China

the nest is empty again.

I don't have any problem with that,

although 

I know many parents suffer dreadfully

from 'empty nest syndrome'.

All I have ever wanted for my children

is that they should be happy and healthy

so

now they are all happily married

and living their own lives,

I couldn't be happier.

I can indulge myself in all my hobbies and interests.

I have time to read, to sew, dabble with a variety of crafts,

visit the old churches and buildings, which I love so much

and,

I don't have to cook so many meals!

Yippeeeeeeeeeee!

This is what Max and I ate yesterday evening.

I made a large jug of custard, thick and unctuous

and we indulged in

wild plum and windfall apple crumble.

No starter, no main course,

just crumble and custard.

We were happy little piglets!

My worktable has become own again,

it is covered with fabrics

as I play around with making a patchwork quilt for young Merry.

fliss&max