A Right Dog's Dinner

My word, what a change in the weather, it was hammering down when I woke at 6:00 and carried on for the next 4 hours. The water was bubbling up between the kerb stones and the pavement for most of this time.
Then the rain ceased to a drizzle and that gave up and went home by 1:00. Ben wanted a walk so off we went, on the way we gathered up Archie, Dolly and their owner. It made a nice change to walk with company, although I had to slow down considerably. Ben did not mind, he had more time to sniff around.

I have made a decent start on stitching the granny squares together.

Rows 1 - 4, all ends darned in.

Row 5 and 6, joined but waiting for darning. once done they will be sewn to the other block.

You can buy little packs of numbers and letters to mark rows and columns, I am far too tight fisted for that. Bits of paper, a marker pen and my quilt clips do the same job.

I picked up some Lamb mince half price and cooked a batch for Ben. 8oo gm meat, 2 carrots and 1/3rd cup of uncooked rice.

Dice the carrots, into a pan with the mince and brown gently. Throw in the rice and stir up, add enough stock to cover then bring to boil and simmer 35 minutes. I check a couple of times that there is enough liquid.

The pot goes in a sink of cold water, I stir the contents a few times and change the water. This brings the temperature down fast, then into small tubs and into fridge. Once chilled I put some in the freezer. Tomorrow I will cook a fish batch, I will add the fish 5 minutes before the rice is cooked and then cool as usual.

This means that Ben has a change every 2 or 3 days, he does not get bored and he has a range of nutrients. I plan on keeping him wheat free and will be experimenting with some gram flour to make dog biscuits.

The cost varies, I do pounce on bargains which helps keep it down.

He likes the Lily's tinned food but does eat the home made with more relish and hovers round my feet while I am cooking.

Now for a complete change, has anyone seen The Real Marigold Hotel. I watched it and apart from wanting to shake Jan Leeming and slap Rosemary Shrager I enjoyed it. I thought that Patti Boulaye should have scaffolding to support her false eyelashes.

I can see the attraction, low rent, low cost of living and glorious heat. But, no garden to speak of, the traffic smell and unceasing noise would get to me.

I hope that they do a follow up series, but would have preferred to see it without celebrities.

I am also watching The Great British Benefits Handout program, I am not holding my breath that they will all succeed. One couple in particular have gone into shock over the actual cost of Council Tax. Mind you they had no qualms about buying a PlayStation 4 for their unemployed son.

I am also watching Michael Portillo on his train journey in the US, it is just as interesting as his UK journey.

Now I am off to drink my tea before I pick my crochet up.

               TTFN                                               Pam