Saturday 24 August 2013

Count Down


Hello Everyone, this post should have been all about my preparations for going to Towersey Folk Festival with the Ouse Washes Molly Dancers. At the last moment I discovered it was to last a day longer than I had thought, throwing out our plans to set off to Wales very early on Tuesday morning. Also one or two small but pressing problems with my mum's care arose. So I made the decision to pull out and use the weekend to get things sorted.

I'm really sorry to be missing what I know will be a fun-packed week-end, already the face-book photos and comments are being posted, but as I'm typing this I know I made the right decision; a few more things have now come to light which needed dealing with - not great problems, but they are things I might have overlooked had I been away by yesterday evening. It also means we can leave a day earlier. A huge weight has dropped off my shoulders, I hadn't realised how stressed I'd been getting trying to organise not just myself for Towersey, us for Wales, and my mum for the week. Thank goodness for a good friend, a good neighbour and a lovely son and his partner - all stepping in so we can get away. The header photo is our caravan site. Can't wait to get there!

So here are a few of the things I've been getting organised for our get-away.






The first involves a packet of "cooking bacon" from Sainsburys, some veg, and a pack of oven roasting bags. These bacon packs have become a bit of an on-going thread between a few of we Norfolk bloggers, notably Dc, and Pam, who gives a link to an excellent recipe for bacon casserole. Pam's idea of making up the uncooked mix, bagging it and freezing to take with her to their caravan - also in Wales, prompted me to do the same. One pack cost me £1 10p (they've gone up 10p since we all started buying them!) A couple each of carrot and parsnip, 8 small new potatoes, an onion, 2 sticks celery, some button mushrooms, some garlic and some herbs. Oh and some courgettes from the garden. Chop all ingredients to chunks. Season, pop into roasting foil bags, and into the freezer. I'll pack one in the cool-box just as we set off to Wales on Monday, so it will defrost slowly and be ready to stick in the oven when we want it for supper.


The second is something to keep me out of mischief while Jim is fishing, or in the evenings; some wool/felt stitching on the cushion cover, the panel, and a couple of pin-cushions. Also hexagon papers and fabric to make them up. I've done a few, you can see their size relative to the embroidery thread.






I'll also be taking these -  been itching to read them but have resisted!



Not sure I will find any wifi where we re, so unlikely to be blogging, face-booking or answering emails. However I will use my lap-top for watching DVDs and playing cds, checking my iPhoto stash and uploading the tons of photos I will be taking.

And of course this! (Don't worry, I shall find a remote corner of a field, not to inflict my music on fellow campers/caravaners!)


So whatever you are doing this coming week - and I know a lot of my friends are at various festivals over the week-end - I hope we all get a look-in with some great weather and fun. Catch up with you when we get back.

25 comments:

  1. What a great idea re the oven roasting bags. Never thought about them so shall keep a look out.

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    1. I was looking for boil in the bag bags, Dc, but couldn't find them. Once I'd filled and folded these I realised I could probably have made them myself from heavy-duty roasting foil...ah well, you live and learn!

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  2. Have a lovely restful and relaxing time. Your handicarfts look wonderful and with your reading material and all that wonderful countryside waiting to be explored I am sure you won't miss having the internet - maybe a break from that too is a good idea and we will all be ready and waiting for the news of your break when you get back.

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    1. Hi Jane, and thank you, yes, I intend to chill - but do a bit of walking too, nothing too strenuous! And a bit of stitching will be lovely totally chillin'! And you're right, probably be good to take a break from t'internet. Lx

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  3. Hi Lynne if you need a quick festival fix Shrewsbury folk festival are doing a podcast all weekend, we watched Steve Knightley for free last night. Eddie Reader tonight and Capercaille Sunday with loads more from the main stage. Details on the website.

    Wales looks fab, it's one of our fave places and somewhere I would live! I have even picked my house on the hill for when I win the lottery lol. Hubby won a tenner this week!,,

    Great idea with the Bacon chops, I discovered them when froogs made something using cooking bacon.

    I love all the felt appliqué you do and am quite envious. You are certainly going to be busy in Wales, don't forget to consume lots of tea and welsh cakes loll have a lovely time xx

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    1. Hi Karen, thanks, I will check the website out! I have Facebook comments and photos already from friends at Shrewsbury and Towesey and Folk East, trying not to feel jealous....actually, I'm not, I think I made the right decision not to go, am managing to get everything done and mum sorted without the stress.
      Will be drinking lots of green tea, and yes, I will certainly be trying Welsh cakes. Lx

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  4. Have a wonderful week recharging Lynne :)

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    1. Thanks Annie, shame it's a bit too far to pop round and see you! I've checked the weather forecast - variable, but that won't stop us enjoying ourselves. Photos when I get back. Lx.

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  5. hello lynne - sorry that your best laid plans went astray ( not sure if that is a word - think i'm making them up now!!!) - hope you enjoy your few days away at the caravan - your prepared meals look great and will be delicious i'm sure - loving the felt embroidery and those pretty flowers - sounds like you need a nice break away from it all - hope the weather is kind .....take care xx

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    1. Hi Lynne - do tell me how I can communicate with you - I don't understand these 'circles'!

      Yes, it was all for the best, though I shall miss the fun. However the break away will be wonderful I'm sure, very low key and nothing too frantic, just lots of doing what we enjoy in a very laid back kinda way! The weather looks to be variable, but hey, I can live with that! Lx

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    2. lynne i am the one who doesn't really understand blogland - i just know i have found some nice pages to dip into every now and again from hettie brown's page ..... i am not the artist everyone else seems to be BUT love the words and pictures!!! i haven't got my own blog - not sure i would know exactly what to write about!!!! hope you don't mind me looking!!!!! looking back through some of your pages i think you have a son in new zealand by coincidence so have i - ross is married to amy and living in wellington - they had their first baby this year - india - enjoy your week away without the internet - i could almost get a bit panicky at that prospect!!!! xx

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    3. Lynne, I got into blogging almost by accident, and every step of the way I struggle with the technology. But somehow it works! And you can see how far from the original Textile Blog that I stray from! So maybe you could blog about the things you like ....words, textiles, art, whatever. Or do one for your family!

      Yes, we visited this winter (their summer) our son just outside Auckland, and if you can bear to, search further back into the blog to last summer and they all came to stay with us - it was a frightful squeeze but we loved it! We get to see them every other year at the moment while we can still afford it and I can bear the 27 hours flight!

      It is lovely that people read my blog and even nicer when they leave a comment. So do keep on, won't you! And thank you for doing so. Lx

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  6. Have great time in Wales tight lines to Jim and lots of relaxation to you Lynne
    Looking forward to seeing all the pics you take and I am quite envious of your break
    Won't be having ours until the end of September
    Safe driving
    Good weather and rest

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    1. Thanks, Lesley, I'm hoping most of all that Jim gets some good fishing in. I'm sure we will have a good time too. And just think, when you are away in September ours will be all over....til the next time! Lx

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  7. Great idea with the roasting bags - I really should get as organised as you, just for the days when I'm at work!
    Have a wonderful time away, fingers crossed for good weather - that view from the campsite looks amazing.

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    1. Can't claim the idea, Jay, but it's certainly a good one. i'll let you know how it worked out at the caravan for our first evening meal!

      I can't wait to see the place 'in the flesh' so to speak. Lx

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  8. Hope you have a fabulous time in Wales. You've certainly got some great chill-out material with you. Hope the weather's good and that Jim catches lots of fish for tea. Enjoy.
    Patricia x

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    1. Thanks Patricia, I think we've got it all covered! I have to say...some fishing expeditions result in a 'no-show' so we won't be dining on trout EVERY day. But I am hopeful. Lx

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  9. Love the bacon idea.Have a great time in Wales.
    Gillx

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    1. Hi Gill - that bacon recipe is really doing the rounds now! And thanks, I'm sure it'll be lovely. Just finished packing the trailer - which we hadn't intended taking, and which my husband has only towed once - 5 miles! Lx

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  10. Thanks for popping in, Chris, and I've enjoyed reading your blog also. I'll be posting some photos I took whilst in Wales this week next time.

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  11. What a great idea, I will be stealing!

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  12. Hello Lynne, I just was looking at some older post and discovered your freezer bags filled with vegetables and meat for camping. I have never seen freezer bags Iike those so I will have to do some research on them. What neat recipes. We are campers and we just bought a new one a few weeks ago. Our first trip is Down to Kentucky in May. Could you give the officially name of those freezer bags?? Also do you add any water into the bags before freezing?? Thanks for your help. Hugs judy

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    1. Judy - if I could remember I most certainly would! All I know is, I bought them in Sainsbury's supermarket, and they were not really cheap - it would be much cheaper to make our own with kitchen foil! (They wouldn't have the nice clear window on the front, but that doesn't really matter). I did add some stock, and when you take them out of the oven you can thicken it with gravy granules or similar if that is how you like to serve it. It was a great idea and I'd do it again for sure. Very handy for travelling. Lx

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