August Photo Challenge Link up Party!

If you have joined in with my

Scavenger hunt, please link

with me on your blog :)

Please add your name to the

link up tool below,

just follow the easy instructions,

don't worry - if I can do it so can you!

Please just add your Name or Blog Name in the 'Link Title',

Now, let the Link-up Party begin!

Don't forget to leave a comment when you visit :)

August's Scavenger Photo Challenge

Welcome to August's Scavenger Photo Challenge.

Can I let you into a little secret? I only completed my list of pictures yesterday! I have been silly busy and suddenly it was a couple of days to go and I'd still not got myself sorted, so this set have been a little rushed :)

Right, breathe! Enjoy!

Relaxed

Pepper asleep on the 'catwalk' on one of our few sunny days. She was so warm and relaxed.

It begins with an M...

Photo taken on Sunday when we walked in the Dales. 

We had stopped for lunch in a little wildflower meadow and enjoyed our sandwiches and coffee. 

We didn't stay too long as it was not a particularly warm afternoon.

Time for ...

Same walk, and as you can see, we are all a little wrapped up.

What do you mean you can't see me?

Oh, sorry, well you will have to believe me when I say, 

I was wearing a hat and scarf and wishing I'd brought a warmer coat!

Tangerine

Sorry about this one - had complaints that it was too hard! But, if the words were too easy then it would not be a photo challenge!

If it is any consolation, I only discovered that the nasturtiums in my garden were the right colour a day or two ago! .... Tangerine is also fruit, so named after the place it came from ...Tangiers in Morocco. The colour is defined as a fiery orange red, which is probably why these nasturtiums are called 'Whirlybird -Tangerine'

It begins with an O...

Sunday again. Beautiful big sky with glorious cloud formations.

Whiskery

Whilst snapping the nasturtiums, I saw these - whiskery word boshed!

Lace

The shadow thrown by the curtain in my room.

It has a crochet lace edging - perfect.

Bridge

Yup, Sunday again, this time doing 

the 'Abbey Road'  thing - my fab four :)

Letters

I have a small wooden box filled with little rubber stamps. 

I bought them a while ago hoping to stamp the back of my work.

They were not as successful as I'd planned, so now they sit quietly on my desk.

They will be useful someday, but not just at the moment.

My own choice

Did I make you smile?

Did I make you chortle?

Then my task is done and...

Now off to see what you lovely lot have got up to!

Don't forget to add your name to the link up

and visit the other blogs, we all love comments

see you soon :) xxxxxx

A recipe - because you asked :)

Lunch Loaves.

A mainstay of a good weekend,

feed the hungry workmen

so they will keep working!

For everyone who asked about the recipe,

here it is....

It comes from my favourite bread book,

Dough by Richard Bertinet

10g yeast

500gm strong bread flour

10gm salt

350gm(ml) water (I warm it very slightly)

Mix together in a bowl,

it makes a very 'wet' dough.

Once upon a time,

I would kneed the soft and sloppy stuff,

by hand,

in the strange, stretching way

as instructed by Bertinet.

But now, I just chuck the four ingredients

into the bread maker,

put it on the dough setting

and walk away for just over an hour.

Then when it has risen

and the kitchen is filled with

the heady scent of yeast

and rising dough...

Which,

after I have generously 

dusted flour on to a grease proof paper....

then tip out a gloopy,

stretchy,

scented

and warm dough.

Then with floury hands (very floury hands)

gently but firmly

spread the dough outwards

to make a roughly rectangular shape.

Open a jar of basil pesto,

inhale.

Deeply.

Grate cheese,

generous quantities.

Whistle while you grate.... **

Slather the dough with pesto,

Cover 2/3 thirds of the pesto

with the grated cheese. 

Re-flour your hands, regularly...

and flap the long ends of the dough

over into thirds.

I use the grease proofed paper to help.

Reach for your kitchen scissors,

or any clean scissors,

and cut your dough roll

into four.

Pinch one end of each quarter closed.

Tip each one on to the sealed end. 

The dough gently slumps

into a delicious fat roll.

Sprinkle on a little paprika...

Put into a hot oven (200 deg c)

and step away for 20 minutes and do a little washing up.

Alternatively go back out and carry on 

working on what ever project you are busy with. 

I was painting door edges.

Then, having checked,

tapped the dough 

and listened for that wonderful

hollow thud of confirmation

that your lunch loaves are cooked. 

Take to the aforementioned workers,

with a pot of coffee

and scoff

the lot

with lashings of finger licking

and lip smacking.

Yum.

I am, still, silly busy.

I've not been visiting blogs

as much as I would like to 

or commenting on those I have,

so I apologise - normal service will eventually return.

I hope.

** why whistling when grating cheese? Well, my sister in law, when a small girl, would have to whistle when she was grating - to prevent her nibbling the spoils!

Well, what's been happening?

I know I have been a little quiet on the blogging front, I promise that I am still around - it just seems that we seemed to have been somewhat busier at the moment and certain things have sort of fallen to the wayside.

However, we all took a day off yesterday, 

to breathe and walk and it felt good. 

Seems a long time that all four of us and Moss had time out together.

We did about 10 miles (13.6km) in the afternoon - suffice to say, I am tired today!

Moss who probably did double and Youngest who seemed to lollop around as much as she did,

both morphed into semi-comatose lumps last night, moving only to eat and then go to bed.

Why are we so busy?

Well, we are still working on the summerhouse studio (still makes me smile when I say that)

Not fully completed, 

we need to finish insulating the roof,

board the walls,

board out the ceiling,

lay some sort of warm but tough flooring.

But - I have lights,

it is warm already.

The windows are in - my favourite being the one we call...

'The frog pond' window - a double sized pane of glass down to floor level.

Most of the exterior has been painted, just a few bits remain - the weather kept beating us to it.

I've got back into baking bread - the boys requested cheese and basil lunch loaves,

seemed silly to deny them seeing they are building my studio for me :)

Painting stock for October is still happening

but not nearly as much as I would like,

need to 'get to it'. 

And, in the midst of all this busy-ness

a friend of mine has recently started leading guided meditation classes,

they are just what I need.

An hour and half of kind and gentle 'nothing'

where my brain tries to switch off (however, not always successfully!) 

Plans, organising and interviews with artists

for our October Art Trail are on-going.

I still waiver from uber excited to positively terrified!

But we are getting there....

the only way is forward!

 

I even have an 'official' event advert for my part of the Open Trail.

So you see, I've been a bit busy...

And you can always find me here,

have a happy week xxx

It's me - Moss

Hiya, it's Moss here.

I noticed there has been a distinct lack of blogginess happenings by herself so I thought I would put paw to keyboard and wuffle a story or two.

Herself does a fair bit of painting type 'stuff' and when she does, I have the essential job of lying on her feet or sleeping up against the back of her chair.

When she is not painting, she does something I used to be terrified of.... GARDENING.  I am still not too sure about certain SCARY things, but I have braved up a bit...actually quite a lot!

Once upon a time my heart would stop at the sight of welly-boots, I would quiver in fear if any spades or rakes were picked up and I would hide myself when a wheelbarrow came out to play.

Now, I am still wary but I have seemed to have grown a (slightly) thicker skin. I've had to - I go 'hard core gardening' once weekly when herself volunteers in the walled garden.

I've been three times and last week was my bestest day so far!

The sun shone on my fur and I was happy playing. 

I sunbathed on the recently mown grass,

it smelt just like hay

My fur smelt so sweet! 

Now, I strangely find weeding rather good fun.

Each time she pulls one up...it might...just...be...a...ball..

which she just might..throw...for...me

oh the anticipation

and excitement!

Oh - it was just a weed.

No wait...she's going pick up a ball!!

And if she just does not get the hint - 

I get my favourite toy and drop it at her feet when she stops for a brew 

(I usually insist on a biscuit then too!)

I have happily discovered that if I drop my ball into the water trough

I get to have a sneaky swim!

Bliss.

She says it is therapy 

(not sure whether I can eat that or play fetch with it)

for both of us

if we garden each week.

What ever it is -

I think I like it.

Woof!

(Just hope she doesn't use the hammer 

or make a loud noise, I might have to hide)

Happy dancing promised

Been a bit busy recently - so thought I'd quickly pop in and chat for a while. Some of you may have noticed a distinct lack of 'Potager updates'. It is not because I have been lax at writing them, or that the slugs had decimated my vegetables (although they have tried their hardest to do so), nor due to the rains flattening them either (although, yes you guessed it - it has definitely tried to do so). No. Nothing like that.

No - my potager has reduced in size somewhat - I have lost nearly 3/4 of it to this........ 

This not quite complete summer house will eventually be my new studio! 

How exciting! (except I am too tired to leap about like a happy thing!) 

We have just spent two days, all four of us, building. 

There has been a few frayed moments,  a few gnashing of teeth but a lot of laughing, loads of nails and screws and tacks and glue. Oh so many planks, beams and boards. Why is it all so very heavy!?!

Have to admit that I never thought I'd see it up. The rain...... the rain - sigh.

Negatives?

The company that supplied the building need lessons with their customer service.

Their choice of delivery company is appalling! (it took THREE separate deliveries before it actually arrived, each one a flat packed summer house made it to the village but only the final one actually got off the truck! The first one arrived horribly damaged and I refused delivery, the second one never got to us, the delivery driver insisted he stood at our door knocking on it and we'd not answered - Eldest stood on the pavement looking out for him when we were given the half hour warning - nothing. A third summerhouse finally arrived .... then it rained for about three weeks....)

The workmanship of the building is not consistent nor was the company's quality control - Himself has had to fix lots of stupid basic errors.

Positives?

Although not fully up - due to time wasted messing with windows not fitting the frames or the hinges needing to be countersunk so the doors actually fit the frame - it is up and waterproof!

I can visualise where my desk and I will be, I can visualise where my art will sit as it drys and I can visualise the layout for October when my 'studio' will be part of the open studios art trail - eek!

I'd planned to have it painted before it was assembled but we watched the weather and saw a small window this weekend - I'll have to paint it another day.  

I'll also have to make sure it is insulated for winter (brrrrrr!) so I can work out all year round. But, despite a lot still to do - I am quietly chuffed that in our garden, tucked in between the trees and usurping my vegetable garden - I have a summerhouse studio :)

Right - off for a shower and bed - I am tired and suspect I will be stiff (as a board!) tomorrow - but I will probably definitely do the happy dance (but not in the rain) in my studio!

PS - I have belatedly added the list of words for this month's Scavenger hunt to the top right of the page - enjoy! xxx