Frosty morning and Fish

This morning, when I looked out of the bedroom window before I came downstairs, I could see the frost on the log shed roof.  The car windows and wing mirrors were all iced up so I made, for me, a very unusual decision.  I came into the house and fetched my camera and walked - yes walked - up to the field.  Only 200 metres, but on an uphill slope and I never walk to the field.  It's all part of my feeling stronger and more able to walk because of my weight loss - and it's a good feeling!

The animals were all surprised to hear the barn door open as they hadn't heard a car arrive.   I gave them a bit more food than usual - well it is getting colder and I am a bit of a softie really.

The beetroot leaves had frost around them and a nettle which has grown in the parsnip bed.

It was a slight effort going up to the field, but nothing too daunting and I will definitely walk more often than not now I know that I can.  Coming back down, strangely, is not necessarily easier, as it seems to hurt my hips more.  Nevertheless, I got home and opposite my driveway was this was a drop of melted frost water dangling on a twig of my neighbour's peach tree.  I couldn't believe how difficult it was to get this glistening drip into my camera; and even now it is slightly out of focus.

When I went supermarket shopping later, the frost had long since melted and the electronic temperature board at SuperU changed from 10 to 11 degrees centigrade as I left the car park in the last-day-of-November sunshine.

I bought some prawns which I shall eat in a light tempura batter dipped in sweet chilli sauce and mayonnaise.  I can only manage 6 for one meal, and even those I have to spread out with 5-10 minutes between prawns, 3, 4, 5 and 6.   The fish counter looked lovely and I took photos of two sections:

I've never cooked squid at home.  I sometimes buy a mixed bag of fishy things to stir fry or battered squid rings from the freezer section, but have never been brave enough to buy the fresh article and prepare it myself.

I still had my camera in my pocket when I arrived back from SuperU and photographed a nasturtian which is continuing to bloom, in spite of the frost, in my driveway, lying on fallen oak leaves.

I am having so many problems eating since my mini gastric bypass and soup has become one of my absolute stalwarts for getting something nutritious into me each day.  This soup is made from homemade chicken stock blended with olive oil roasted onions, parsnips and carrots, salt and pepper, which is then passed through a sieve, a bit more chicken stock added to achieve the not too thick texture I like, and heated with a sprinkle of pili pili.  I've already had two bowls since I got back home.  It may not look particularly appealing but believe me, it tastes scrummy.

This is a photograph of Purrdy,  taken yesterday, completely relaxed and just going off to sleep on the top of the settee.  Please excuse the washing in the background - I don't know what I'd do without my ceiling dryer at this time of year.

This is the sun backlit wisteria on the corner of the gym, a room I almost never use.  It's gets used when my daughter is here visiting and one of my friends comes round to keep her company on the machines. 

And the last photo is of the chickens and ducks going in and settling down into their safe night time accommodation this evening.

Three things I like:

1.   Homemade soup.

2.   The sound of my dishwasher purring away.

3.   The sky turning pink in the fading rays of the sun.   Didn't happen tonight though.