some army food

As promised here is a photo of some cakes from the army recipe book. I made them in between fetching back escaping birds. They don't seem to be flying out, more like sneaking through gaps in the fence which Graham is frantically mending everyday.

An army marches on it's stomach!

You will need to click on the photo to look at the book I bought yesterday. It's fascinating and I have already made one of the recipes. Photos to follow if they come out alright.

Oh well!

Life is so very boring and everybody else seems to be up and doing. Spoke to Michael, he's off to Turkey again soon and then off to Oz. M&P are off to Mauritious, The Kansas two are in Montana and here am I waiting for chickens to lay some eggs!! Still only two laying, but still, two eggs a day is good!
The Body Shop Party went ok on Monday night but she didn't have any of the stuff that I wanted. She gave us £19 commission and then took back£13.50 for petrol. We did ok on the raffle and food though so that wasn't too bad. We wouldn't have her again though.
We are at the hospital tomorrow when Graham will have his ears hoovered out. Maybe then he will stop saying "halfpast four" when I ask him to give me some money!?
I have lost my pie plate. It was a perfect size for making a pie that wasn't too big. It origionally belonged to Michaels mother and I miss it. I have no idea where it could be so if you know anything about it's whereabouts please let me know. I even asked Graham if he had broken it but he swears he hasn't,
My nephew is threatening to get rid of one of his dogs. I will have Billy here. He can live outside and round the chickens up for me.
Sheila x

body shop

Tonight is our body shop party at the village hall. I am a little worried that no one will turn up. Still we have done all the publicity etc so if they don't it won't be my fault!
Two of the girls have just escaped. Don't ask me how, but I suspect that they have squeezed through the fence. They are so daft and were almost begging to be put back with the others.
There are no signs of any eggs being laid so far but a few of the girls are acting a little strangely so fingers crossed.
It seems that hens have a cycle of thirty eggs which they begin laying before ten in the morning and then a little later every day.When it gets too late in the afternoon they miss a day and continue the next day. when the thirty eggs have been laid then it's a few days before the cycle starts again so it's a good job they didn't all start on the same day.!
Nothing much has happened since last I wrote so thats it for today.
Sheila x

Audrey and her mate in the labour ward!

Audrey went in to lay her third egg and was joined by one of the other girls. It was a bit of a squash but they both managed to lay an egg each. They did look comical in one box when we have provided 5!

The lovely Audrey does the business!

After two hours of" labour" and a great deal of squawking Audrey finally laid us our first egg!

Look at this!

eggstraordinary!

Rye bread!

Over the past three days I have started some sour bread dough, left it overnight, made a dough with the starter and left it overnight, and this morning baked a loaf. It was appalling!! and I shan't be making it again. Even the chickens don't like it!
I loved the videos of Sofia and Billy going on holiday. I bet they have a whale of a time and won't want to go back to their Kansas home.
Hope the Montana two have a lovely time, relaxing and eating rather more then they should.
Sonia should go to the doctor with her back pain. It could be deferred from somewhere else.
I am getting along with my chia seeds. I sprinkle a spoonful on my toast in the morning and I can't tell I am eating them. I also sprinkle them on sandwiches or salads and my blood sugar is quite low most of the time, I shall carry on with them to see what the long term effects are.
no eggs yet from my girls. I have had them a month now. I hope they produce something soon!!
must go. The football is about to start. Come on you portugal!
sheila xx

again the shoes!

my new shoes!

like mother like daughter

Gina getting down and dirty with "Betty"

Cleaning lady!

So... I have just cleaned out the girls. Again! I don't think I have ever seen so much poop! I think they must be doing it all night because they rarely go into Cluckingham Palace during the day. I have to lock them out in order to clean and this morning, halfway through it started to rain very heavily and they were very vocal in their protest that I wouldn't let them in out of the rain until I had finished. Oh happy days! Or at least they will be when we finally get some eggs!
I haven't been doing much lately as the football is all consuming. I have to arrange dinner so that it is ready to eat at half time and then by the time we have watched the second half and cleaned up the kitchen it is time for the second match. I am a bit jealous of michael, he's got a wife to do all that for him whilst he can concentrate on the football. Also I am missing out on what's happening in Coronation street!
went to Boston yesterday. It's really weird being able to look in SHOPS! I bought some shoes and a handbag!
I have ordered some Chia seeds on the net. I will probably sell some to my friends when they arrive as they are all excited about the possibility of using them to lose weight. I am impressed with them as I am sure that they are lowering my blood sugar so thanks to my nephew for finding them.
I found some ancient recipes the other day and decided to make some biscuits from 1602.
They were very simple :-
3oz Sugar
2 eggs
4oz S/R flour
1 Tablespoon Rose water
Grated lemon peel
Beat eggs and Sugar until very light and fluffy, they should be almost white.
add lemon peel and rose water and beat again
Add Flour and beat again.
put small drops onto a well greased baking tray.
Sprinkle with sugar
Bake for about 10 to 15 minutes at gas mark 3

The hens are eating whats left over so failures of any kind are not serious now!
Sheila xx

as easy as falling off a log!

We have moved the girls to another area of the garden to give their usual patch a chance to recover. They are a bit bemused so have gathered an a log for a conference.!!This morning as I was cooking I saw them go past the kitchen window. We have no idea how they got out as the gate was still locked but it was a job rounding them up. I think they had flown onto a piece of wood and then jumped the fence! The little *****s.
Sheila x

poached egg plant

Don't know the Latin name but it's glorious at the moment. click to enlarge
sheila x

the nice flowers

naughty girls1

Cowering in the corner after I had to stop them eating my flowers!