What the weekends are for.

Now that things are getting back to normal after the moving in/birthday party,  holiday and travel with work, I am pleased to report we have had a lovely weekend.
Having already decorated the snug, we have started to decorate our main living room. The house was built around 1850 and is a farmhouse. We would like to try and be as sympathetic to how the house would have been when it was built as we can. We've knocked out (well Ste has) the fire place that has be filled in over the years and yesterday we picked out a multi fuel stove to go in the space that he's created. The space is how the fireplace was originally built as you can make out the natural space and the brick surround. It needs some TLC but once the stove is in place on the new flagstones that we have bought, it will look fabulous.
We haven't decided on carpet or wooden floor but as the house is so cold I am veering towards a nice thick carpet.
The room will be the main more formal room (if this house can have one with 3 dogs, 2 kids and other animals whose bedding sticks to our clothes) as we use the snug during the week and to watch films in etc.
That's what's happening inside. Outside were having to do more fencing sooner than planned as the pony has decided to jump the stock fencing that's in place and now I am worried he will get hung up on it. Eventually we will replace all the fencing here but I was thinking over a few years, not months! Anyway we have some posts left over from the last fence and they are going in soon as there is a priority section as the horses have leant on what's there almost snapping it.
Today we had Sunday lunch and I am mightily impressed with Steven and myself as we pulled off a tasty and mostly homegrown dinner. The chicken, broccoli, cauliflower and cabbage were all raised by us. We had strawberries to follow and have gooseberries and rhubarb ready to make more jam with. The rhubarb and ginger jam I made last month went almost immediately despite me saying I was making the first preserve to see us through the winter!! It didn't make it out of spring.
I have all the ingredients to make more, now I need to find the time. Happy Sunday everyone.

Summer is here

Summer is such a happy season it seems. In our previous house I didn't really acknowledge it but now we live here, I am really noticing the seasons changing. The strawberries are turning red and the most delicious tasting, the horses are happily staying out overnight and the hens are almost refusing to go to bed!
My daughter had a lovely ride on her pony tonight and we walked him down the lane to cool off afterwards. It's just so relaxing and enjoyable living here in the summer. Next week we are back to the usual routine until the kids break up.
Has anyone else had horrendous hay fever this year?

3 nights away

What a difference a few nights away makes. I have been to Italy for work which really isn't as glamorous as it may sound. When I came back this bounty was waiting for me. I can't believe the growth that's been put on after a few days.

Quicky supper

It's been a non stop kind of week. I find you get those cycles where life flies by and you don't get time to do anything. So tonight, as I only had myself and Steven to feed I made tortellini soup. It's so quick, easy and tasty that it's a must on my quick supper list.
Recipe as follows:
2 carrots and 1 onion sweated (roughly chopped is my preference but you could grate )
Add 1 tin tomatoes and 1l veg stock with some frozen peas and cook for 5 mins. Then add 1 pack spinach and ricotta tortellini and cook for 5 mins more. Voila. Sprinkle grated cheese over to serve.
It is so tasty with crusty bread and amazingly filling. So now I am putting the kids to bed,  doing all the animals and sitting down for a well earned rest to watch a movie with Steven. It's Friday eve after all.
I forgot to get an in between picture :) oops.

Picture updates

We have had a brilliant last week which I haven't had time to post about so for tonight I will just post pictures showing what we've been up to. This includes a very successful and happy party, 3 night UK break, veg plot and greenhouse updates and our first chicken ready for the table. I'll go in to more detail over the next few days. However for tonight I'm chilling and enjoying my time off. Bliss.