ten on tuesday 17th April

1)Go away over the weekend and not really pay much attention to your emails on your phone... come back to far too many! -

2) Speaking of numbers, if you watch stats, on your blog or photo stream, it is sometimes mind boggling why they say what they do. Like Flickr the other day - more than twice my 'normal' views, for no reason, on a day of no new photos....

Aside from noticing silly peaks like this, I try not to 'read' my stats. Watching stats is not good for your health, it leads to competitive streaks, with bouts of depression and joy based entirely on random numbers. Dont do it!

3) I can say I can now bake gluten free white sponge, shortbread, sweet pastry, and peanut butter cookies successfully. Successfully being most people cant tell its gluten free, and it tastes nice. Its a pitiful list compared to what I can bake using flour, but as my friend reminded me; its more than some people bake, full stop. I'll go with that for now! I dont find it easy, baking gluten free, its far more science based than my usual throw it in a bowl method. and just because its got Gluten Free Version stamped all over the recipe, doesn't actually mean it will taste like the flour version of whatever you're making. That's my biggest learning curve here, make something that tastes nice, not attempt necessarily, to replicate something. 

4) If famous people, or more to the point people who have become successful in whatever field/career, could just remember that its the 'other' ordinary people who put them there, liked them, supported them etc etc that would be nice. Its really bothering me lately. You cannot force your way into the public eye and then complain about privacy! You cannot scale your career ladder and then sneer at people doing the same behind you. That's this weeks bug bear, folks :)

5) I've just made caramel salted popcorn. Its gluten free, its fibrous, and its far less sugar than a cupcake. Whats not to like?! Just make it in a saucepan please, and not that awful smelling stuff Teen Daughter makes in the microwave.. LOL

6) Mice. its obviously that time of year. Mice time ;) The conversation in the {village} playground turns to mice more now. Spotted in people's gardens, getting a bit too cocky. Or scaring me to death at dusk in the hen run. To be fair it was only one, and he was as freaked out as I was when we came face to face. But still.  They ate half my seedlings too. I nearly cried. The garden backs onto woodlands here, so its a bit tough to 'police' mousewise. But I am trying.
Now we netted the top of the hen run for protection from magpies, we made it even easier for mice to nip in, steal a grain or two and nip out. The buggers. I already have a cat, who seems to catch frogs far more than mice - what?!- and likes sleeping at dusk thank you very much. But now I need a ferret. or a Rhea, and some mint planted all around the hen house. Apparently mice cant bear any of those things.  Right. Maybe I'll start with the mint?!! Local garden centre all out of stock of ferrets...

7) We had a mad overnight pit-stop in London last weekend. Myself, Mr Britguy and the two littlest people. London with the kids - whole different kettle of fish than just hubby and I. Hotel over night with the kids - an effort. No staying out, no sitting in the bar quietly watching the world go by, no super fancy restaurants. er, no. How about a tantrum about bedtimes, an argument over the TV, and much kicking of feet about who was over which side of the double bed they had to share. And a 5am meltdown about not sleeping well... Every time we do take the girls overnight, it puts us off doing it again EVER  for a while. I have pictures of London to share, but luckily for you, not of the meltdowns and squabbling..... 

8) All the trend for 'vintage' china  is making me chuckle. Thats not new! I grew up with 'vintage' mishmashed bone china side plates for cakes and sandwiches, and have never matched my own china in my life. My sister and my Mother find far more than I do, and keep me stocked in pretty side plates. Now I'm restocking my dinner plates and teacups... The girls adore picking different cake plates from our stack :)

9)I appreciate most of this is about gluten free, can you tell what on my mind??!! I've just been sent a link to five G/F pizza restaurants in london. I am grateful. But I really wish I had known last weekend!!!! On the woohoo side, ASK pizza restaurants are now serving gluten free pasta. Okay its not a pizza, but I am so grateful I could hug them. If you could hug a whole chain of restaurants. All Mollie wants to do is fit in, be the same as she was before this diet came her way and eat out with us or her friends in places she likes. I think big ol' PIZZA EXPRESS need to shape up and offer gluten free too. 

10) I'm playing superbetter. I dont know if it will work, but I think, and I hope, that it cant hurt. What a truly fabulous idea. What is it? read lifehackers description here. If you sign up, shout out, we can become allies on there :)

 

Comments

[Trude]

That's definitely more baking than I do. I'm considering braving a colored layers cake for my BFFs but not sure I can pull it off! Usually I only attempt one-layer-in-pan type cakes. :) Have you traded GF recipes with Anna Aspnes yet? I remember when she was having to get creative for her kiddos. And you're cracking me up with the mice, I think mint is probably a good place to start! ;) I had no idea they didn't like it!