Food for thought

There's something about cold weather that makes me want to cook.  I've just added a new recipe to my recipes page - Oaty Hotcakes with mock maple syrup.  Wonderful comfort food, and even better when stacked up with crispy bacon and home made corn fritters.  I think I'll keep this one for Sunday brunches when our kids come to visit - subtle hint there lads.  

Of course, I haven't been toiling over a hot stove continuously.  My current mission is pruning the roses - I figure they've been so badly neglected I can't do too much harm.  Last year The Winemaker taught me how to prune grapes - he told me the secret is to "Think like a vine".  Today I've been outside trying to "Think like a rose".

When you're pruning grapes you're pretty much out there on your own, in my case - away in my own wee world. Pruning the roses has been slightly different.  I've had a couple of young roosters for company, giving a running commentary on my progress and pecking enthusiastically at the weeds I've been yanking out along the way.  Dukkah has cruised by a couple of times to see what I was up to, while Noodle has been grumbling away as she's tied up and can't quite see the action.  Not really sure what she has to complain about - this morning I gave her a beef bone with a knuckle on it the size of her head.

Mouse is looking a lot happier today, and I know he's feeling better as we had a bit of a wrestling match on the kitchen floor this morning when I attempted to get his antibiotics into him. Saffron and her chick are doing well, and the nine eggs that Quince is sitting on are due to hatch this time next week.  The Boss tells me the piggles are all looking positively rotund. He also told me that Wilson the ram was trying to make whoopy with the girl pigs - I'm just pleased I wasn't there to see it!

What I've learnt today:
1. We had our hardest frost for the winter last night - minus 5.4 degrees at the house, minus 6.8 degrees at the road.  No wonder I struggled to get out of bed!
2. On the subject of struggling - Prince Charming is simmering away in the oven - can't quite get my head around the idea of eating him for tea tonight.....