Saturday 8 November 2008

Cookpots, Crockpots and Crackpots

There are so many things I wanted to tell you about. So many pictures I wanted to show you. Now I don't know if I can remember them all!
23rd October was (it really was!) our 37th wedding anniversary and Keith gave me these beautiful roses, a dozen of them. We never give cards to each other - it seems pointless when we live in the same house and are on speaking terms - but a little gift is another matter. The roses have gone now but I will always have my photos of them.

Here's my great-nephew, Lewis, and his baby sister Holly, with their mum Kate. Doesn't Holly look huge? She isn't really, she's tiny and cute with a rosebud mouth and I'm told she has beautiful eyes (don't they all?). I wouldn't know though because I have yet to see her awake - which must mean I either have a profound effect on babies or I bore them to sleep because this one - apparently - never sleeps. She also has hollow legs, so her mum says, as she is always screaming for food. Aaah, a lass after me own heart!

Remember I said some new pans were needed? We took a trip to Lincoln (about 3/4 hour from here) to haunt one of my favourite shops, Lakeland, where I bought just 3 really good saucepans, these:

and a new old-fashioned type of cream mixing bowl. I had one of these in constant use since 1971 then the other week the bottom dropped out! Quite unprovoked, quite unexpected out it dropped, an almost perfect circle of pot and a stream of crumble mix with it! I was a little bit cross I can tell you. Anyway, there's a nice new one taken its place now:

Now THIS little character was Keith's idea, I have to say - our home would not be complete without it, how have we managed all these years etc etc...........

.........It's a mandolin for slicing vegetables straight or, depending which blade you put in, crinkley, chunky, shreddy. All the things I can do with my food processor only much slower and far more dangerous.......AND it all fastens trogether like this for stowing away in a cupboard. And that's where it remains. It has never seen the light of day and probably never will. Anybody want it? £10.

We had to resort to Comet for the last thing we got that day. I have been wanting a slow cooker for a long time and with fuel prices being how they are I got this:

Now I really do wonder how we managed before!

Here in England it's one of those wonderful patriotic, flag-flying weekends. The Lord Mayor's Show was this morning, Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance at the Albert Hall this evenng, the Cenotaph Remembrance service in the Mall, led by Her Majesty the Queen tomorrow morning. This whole weekend is destined to be murky, cold and wet and yet this morning there were still thousands lining the route for the Lord Mayor and everyone in his parade. There they all were, waving their flags and not a shiver or a long face in sight. Everyone must have been soaked to the skin but still they marched - military, civilians and animals - and the bands played.
Tomorrow at the Cenotaph our 82-year-old Queen will lay her wreath and pay her respects to the war dead. She will bow her head in homage to those who can no longer bow theirs to her. Then the parade will start of those still serving, comrades of those who have died, those who have served and given selflessly over the years, war widows and widowers proudly wearing their loved ones' medals. The rain will fall, they will march - and the bands will play.

Don't anybody phone me, don't call and see me, don't ask when lunch is ready because in front of the telly I will be paying my own homage to Them.












9 comments:

I'm mostly known as 'MA' said...

Looks like you are all set to do some cooking at your house. That slicer thing is a favorite of my oldest son. He slices potatoes and loves it. I guess it's all what you get used to. Enjoy your television and staying in warm and dry. 'On Ya'-ma

StitchinByTheLake said...

It's good to hear from you Angie - I've missed you. I love your new saucepans and I couldn't do without my crockpot either. :) blessings, marlene

Saltydawg said...

Seems like you've been well busy this week. I bought one of those slicers too. What a pile of pooh huh?
Gaz ;-)

Joolz said...

G'day Angie

Nice top see you back again, we all miss you much.

How very romantic of Keith to give you those beautiful roses. Just gorgeous!

Yeah, my M-i-L gave me one of those mandolins - and I gave it back! I could just see half a finger disappearing into a bowl with the salad ingredients! I have a smaller version that grates carrots very nicely thank you and that's all I need apart from a sharp knife.

I love my crock pot too - I do corned beef (silverside) in it and lamb shanks. Delish!

I've been blogging a bit so drop by.

Cheers - Joolz

Marie Rayner said...

Angie, so good to see a post from you and lovely too! What beautiful flowers from Keith! It's our anniversary on Tuesday and I am hoping my kitchen is sorted so that I can cook! I got me one of those mandoline slicer thingies and they do make short work of cutting and chopping, but they are very dangerous. I can remember slicing the top of my knuckle off the very first time I used one many moons ago. Taught me a healthy respect for the machine! I love your new saucepans! Beautiful! I just love Lakeland. It's my favourite store, but then again, you probably had already guessed that! Your little baby niece is as beautiful as her brother is handsome! CONGRATs on the crockpot!!! I use mine all the time!

Joan said...

That's you all ready to cook up a storm now. I have a mandolin for a couple of years now and like you the food processor stays in the cupboard mandolins are so handy for so many things just watch you fingers. Love Joan.

Ally Lifewithally said...

Dear Angie I am glad to have caught up with you again ~ Your Roses were beautiful ~ Holly is lovely ~ I get a catalogue from Lakeland they really do have some lovely things and I do like to buy odds and ends ~ Love the slow cooker I couldn't imagine being without mine :o) ~ Ally x

Grammy Staffy said...

Dear Angie,
How nice to see your blogging again. I always enjoy your interesting posts. Your roses are lovely. Your hubby did a good job.

Wow...when you buy pots....you buy pots. They look wonderful. I do not have nice pots and pans. Most of mine I got as wedding gifts 43 years ago or inhereted from my mom when she moved in with us 25 years ago before she passed away. You can imagine what they look like...not a pretty sight.

I can't believe the bottom dropped right out of your mixing bowl. I'm glad that you were not hurt by the glass...but....too bad about the mess.

Enjoy your patriotic weekend. I love anything patriotic. I think everyone should love the country they live in. I wish that everyone did.

I'd love to hear from you again. Stop by when you have time.
I hope that you are feeling well. Love, Lura

Raquel said...

Angie, you have it all - beautiful baby niece, nifty new cooking pots, a new crockpot and a mandoline! I love my crockpot, couldn't do without it! Roses are lovely - Happy belated anniversary! Now I want one of the mandolines, it is on my Christmas wish list - although I have a feeling I will be getting a new garage door with opener instead! Much love, Raquel XO