Monday 7 December 2020

Housebound

 And here I am at home again


The first mince pies are baked and have mostly disappeared.  The first batch went across the waters to an english friend who is the only person near and dear to me who really appreciates these english traditions.


We have been given a big bag of avocados.  They were hard but I put them in a paper bag with an apple.  It works, they ripen fast. 
Yesterday I made guacamole for the first time.  I've eaten it before but never made it.   

It's very easy.  I chopped half a tomato, finely chopped an onion, squashed the avo a bit, added a bit of apple cider vinegar and chilli flakes called boukovo here.  No lime and no coriander (cilantro) because it is not available.  It was fresh and tangy with rice crackers.  


This open tiled space has not been clear of bits of wood and tile and brick and rusty iron for at least 5 years.  Our last load of wood was dumped on this space too.  The sons-in-law and daughter carried the wood up to our back door and stacked it and then one of them set to and cleared out the cache of  rubbish  treasures.  I got quite emotional when I saw those clear tiles.  There is still a lot more to be done but the it's a start







20 comments:

  1. Those tiles will be covered in a careful arrangement of pot plants before you know it..... Those mince pies have firmed my resolve - I am going to have to make my own. The Christmas cake is made and quietly soaking up booze... (the cat is the only thing in this household that doesn't)

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    1. I make my own mince meat and pastry. It is actually quite easy. Our first fruit cakes have already been eaten. I'll make a different recipe closer to Xmas and pour over alcohol. The last ones had whiskey, all that was on hand. I'll even use raki if I have to

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  2. I love it when every thing is in its place

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    1. So so I. I don't mind dust but piles of this and that mess with my mom nd

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    1. I would like to eat someone else's and see what they taste like. I think mine taste of Xmas, spices and fruit so they are fine

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  4. I would love to join you for a mince pie!

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  5. Your mince pies look fantastic. Love avocado dip, or avocado any way to be honest😀. Those tiles look super shiny.

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    1. The tiles are wet, that's why they're shiny. They were hosed down too!

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  6. oh avocados! I just about live on those! Soooo good.

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    1. We have been given a lot of avocados recently. An in-law walks a lot and gathers what he can lol always carries a big back pack

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  7. That tiled terrace looks like it needs a little attention. A vine covered pergola to give you shade, and table and chairs, a BBQ by the side, and it would be heaven. What a view!

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    1. 6 years ago there was a swing seat down there, big umbrella, a grape vine growing on one side and, gasp, lawn around it. Unbelievable .
      The lawn dried up, the grape vine was never trained over its supporting wires and we just preferred sitting on another terrace. It slowly became a dumping ground. Damn shame. I will fix it up again

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  8. I'm with Cro on that view. What a great place to sit and sip.

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    1. Yes, it WAS once a nice CE place to sit . We have three sitting places in the summer and follow the shade. This one got left to turn to ruin

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  9. Will it be warm enough to sit out on the patio on Christmas day?

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    1. Hopefully it will be warm enough. We will eat inside and have coffee out on the terrace.

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  10. It’s looking great. You will be able to enjoy a lovely cuppa out there very soon

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