What I did today.

If you google hummingbird feeders, you'll see one. I use small chunks of Mars Bar in mouse traps sometimes, though peanut butter is good too. Stew tastes better after it has been sitting around for a bit because bacteria have had time to get going breaking down stuff and releasing the flavour. Don't let that put you off.

Good morning, Bags

Recipe books usually say something like 'giving it time to allow the flavours to develop' I think I like the 'bacteria breaking stuff down' explanation better

Small pieces of chocolate stuck in the peasnut butter works well. My traps are so violent if I put just chocolate in them it shoots across the room when the trap goes off. However, I'm realising more and more that the 'accident' the other night was my fault for not putting the food dead centre in the little container for it. I always think food like lasagne tastes better the following day although, obviously it's kept in a fridge because of the dairy content.

crimson I saw a programme a while back, about a bee-keeper giving his bees blocks of fudge to help them out whilst nectar was scarce. The size of the blocks was enormous - a full tray in each bee-hive.

It must affect the taste of the honey, surely [although fudge flavour sounds pretty good]. I'd've thought all the rape that's grown everywhere would be ideal for bees, but it has quite a short flowering time I guess. I really wanted to ask him more but couldn't very well follow him into the pub .

Today DH and I went to his cousin's wife's funeral. She'd had an inoperable brain tumour and was ill for only 8 weeks. However DH and I walked to the crematorium and back in glorious frosty sunshine, the crematorium was full to bursting with friends and when the minister spoke of J's life The sun's beams could be seen slanting down into the gardens through the large windows. Just how it should be.

Got myself to the health club and had a refreshing, though rather slow, swim. Sadly the jacuzzi was out of order. Then a quick trot round Lidl. And yes, I did buy a Sicilian lemon cheesecake, Ella. It is now safely in the freezer along with their own brand vanilla ice cream which is the perfect accompaniment to my ginger cake. That sorts out the puddings for when sister and BiL come for New Year! That's my forward planning so far. A well stocked freezer is the answer, so will have to do a lot of cooking in the next two weeks.

Well, Anno all I can say is that mine was in the freezer too! Then all of a sudden it was defrosted and ready to eat! {naughty nanna emoticon}

Ella, please don't corrupt me. I have been known to eat cheesecake straight from the freezer - and I mean frozen, though that was a long time ago when I was a Weightwatchers Leader...

Cleaning and tidying the living room so I can get the Christmas tree in it. However, all the junk and clutter is now in the hall, kitchen etc. The detritus of my home never goes away it just moves around .

Anno my first piece was still.......

Not sure I like the juxtaposition of mice in traps and stews!

And the honey, Greatnan..you forgot the honey....

Not much meat on a mouse. I wouldn't bother making a stew with them. You'd be picking out bones the whole time.

Bet someone has made a hat with mouse skins though. Betcha! Human ingenuity

Synchronicity. Just been having similar thoughts about mice on another thread.
If they can make a coat out of moleskins Bags. And what about larks tongues?
I had a really lovely walk today. My old friend has a week off between jobs (some leave owing) and we met at Ashridge in the snow. Walked for an hour and a half, saw lots of deer and a raven. And no people.
Light lunch and cake in their excellent NT cafe (but seating only outdoors so 2 mugs of tea needed).

Lovely day! I cannot tell you how much we are loving having some of our family nearby for the first time ever; today DG1 (in Y12 and therefore with a little flei- time) wandered down to us and we put up my Christmas tree together. (GDs 2&3 will be here at the weekend, so we wanted to have it ready) I have done it myself for years, admittedly with Theseus standing by to help with the electrics etc, but little interest in design, but with DG it was such fun, and in our new house even more so.

Did anyone else just see Danny Alexander on Channel 4 News sitting next to Rachel Reeves and refusing to debate with her? Why go on the programme to talk about the Autumn Statement if he wasn't prepared to discuss it? Very bizarre.

Just back from Cubs. We made apple crumble. Mega handwashing to begin with.Four chopping apples, weigher-outers of ingredients, relays of butter rubber-inners. More handwashing. Clearing up and floor sweeping. Then some games while it cooked.

It was delicious . Everyone had some.

Cleaning and tidying (mountain of bits and bobs on dining room table ready for sorting.... just like you Crimson... always left with heaps!)
Do wish I hadn't listened to Jezzer Vine donging on about tunnels, a couple of days ago, proposed trip to Brussels doesn't look quite so appealing now. Ho hum!

My designated drawer in the wall unit fell apart the other day, so decided today to sort it out and get rid of a load of stuff as hubby was fixing it. I got rid of lots of rubbish, yet the drawer is STILL full to the brim!

The artificial Christmas tree we bought 'to make life easier' arrived yesterday afternoon so when I got back from looking after 2 DGCs we had a quick meal and spent the next 2 hours slotting the flipping thing together and unfolding and spreading out branches. We were so tired after that we didn't have the energy to decorate the silly thing so had a cup of tea and went to bed. Woke up at 4am needing the loo after a late cup of tea and couldn't get back to sleep. Blessed tree had better look good when it's decorated.

We've finished clearing our office a day early.

Everything packed away or shredded.

Feeling euphoric

Off to Scotland for two weeks on Saturday morning

At last I've got my act together to put in a detailed, reasoned (I hope) complaint to Virgin Media about their dreadful service and high charges. I'm not holding my breath!

Collected my OH from hospital today - been in since last Sat and had a small Op on Monday but because he is on warfarin was in for a longer time. Great not to be going out in the dark and cold visiting! Much better having at home again with us.