A Day of Domestic Bliss - Make that Chores...

John and I slept in this morning - I think all the excitement of having Vix to stay had finally caught up with us and it was past 8.00am before we even stirred and then I think it was only because there were little paws tapping at the window reminding us that Breakfast was LATE.  

As we stirred we were surrounded by the sounds that remind us that we are living deep in the countryside - gunshots and chainsaws!!!  As Vix will testify I have become completely besotted by wood and the prospect of purloining wood free of charge.  The woodburner is fantastic but wood is expensive so free wood is a very enticing prospect.  On the pretext of trying to find Chivers' and Minnie Mou's collars I persuaded John to go over into the field next door and then started to pick up wood that was loafing.  We actually managed to amass quite a hoard - although we have no idea how well any of  it burns but tonight is going to be a 'free night' as we had found enough that was dry and seasoned.  I feel like a proper scavenger now and will be able to discuss the same with Marion's husband Chris when I next see him as he is always rooting round the fields looking for wood to burn!

During our scavenging John came across a veritable plethora of irrigation joints and joins which had been discarded in and around the green area.  We are planning on extending the pipework that carries the water to the outside shower so that when it is hot we can capture more free hot water and dump the excess into the swimming pool.  The corners are exactly what he needs to snake the pipe backwards and forwards on the back of the wood store because this is what gets the maximum sunshine all year round.

Anyway you will be pleased to learn that we did, in fact, find Chivers' collar sitting in amongst some loose branches - the colour of the collar probably made it easier to spot as we have yet to find the one that Minnie lost which was leopard print (to match her colouring).  Chivers has got this girlie one back on as it has his details in the metal barrel just in case he ever wanders off.  As he didn't have his ear clipped when he was neutered without the information in the barrel there is always the danger that someone finding him would take him off to the vets to be done although one look at his nether regions should tell anyone (irrespective of their knowledge of anatomy) that he has already been done (Edvard Munch eat your heart out - remember). 

So on the subject of Chivers, life for him is just one big adventure and everything is a toy - as we were out in the field today he was in his element racing around like a mad thing and so excited to have us out with him.  As John was busy cutting up wood and kindling for tonight Chivers decided to help by holding onto the end of the wood for John!

He is still very much a kitten and loves to play and he can't understand why Minnie Mou doesn't always want to join in.  Since her operation she has become quieter and sleeps a whole lot more and is a little bit more of a lap cat although always on her terms.

She absolutely loves to sleep on our bed - just after we have vacated it so that she can benefit from our residual body-warmth!!  Today she waited patiently on the dressing table whilst we made the bed and then jumped on and settled down amongst the cushions - later I found her snuggled up in John's bedshorts (worn to spare Vix blushes) and which he had thrown on the bed awaiting a wash!  She is very much a little girl with a tight little mouth that she refuses to open when you want to get a tablet down her, tight little ears that she flattens to her head when you are trying to squirt in the anti-mite solution and a tight little bum from which she produces very small very hard poo which she squeezes out with a look of distain - unlike Chivs who constantly suffers from a dickie tummy and could pebble-dash for Cyprus!

On the subject of washing I was able to get Vix bedding stripped, washed, ironed and put back on today in readiness for our next visitor or visitors (which will probably be Laura).  I never mind ironing when it is cold as at least it keeps me warm.  We had had a glorious day but that meant that the temperature plummeted early and was in single figures by 4.00 pm.

We had a phone call from Trish and Alan asking if we were in as they were in the area and thought they might call in - we though it would be a good opportunity to test out the effectiveness of the patio heater in the conservatory.  It works brilliantly and didn't damage the wood and polythene (even though that is coming down this week) and confirms that it will be a useful area for us when it is all enclosed.  We got all ready only to get a phone call to say that they weren't coming after all!  Never mind we are bound to see them soon!

It being Sunday we have had a special tea - not a roast but something Sunday Dinner like.  Yesterday, when Vix was still with us, I bought a hunk of pork from Paps.  I have never really been a pork lover but over here it is so cheap that really it would be a sin not to buy it.  We have just had tea and John keeps saying 'stunning' over and over again - even I have to admit that I really really enjoyed tea tonight.  The joint I purchased turned out to be neck of pork which is not a cut I am familiar with so I had to look on the tintyweb for a recipe that didn't involve slow cooking as we were quite hungry and wanted to eat sooner rather than later.  I will post the recipe on the food page of this blog as it was, as John says, STUNNING.  Preserved lemons have been a revelation to us so if you have never preserved a lemon can I encourage you to do so.  The intense flavour just cuts through fatty meat beautifully and adds an extra dimension.  Roast Neck of Pork with my own sage and preserved lemons, onions, ginger, garlic, mustard and cumin - YUM YUM.

Preserving lemons is easy - cut your lemons into quarters but not right the way through - remove any pips you can find.  Get a Kilner jar or similar and put salt in the bottom.  Put salt in your cut lemons and pack the lemons into the jar.  Fill with water leaving enough room for more salt on top.  Seal the jar.  Give the jar a shake every day for three weeks - do not refrigerate there is no need.  After three weeks the lemons are ready to use - the skins should be soft and intense in flavour - not sure if this works with waxed lemons!