Esther Chilton sets a limerick challenge every week, this was my offering for the prompt Glum.
Today’s limerick
Category: Uncategorized
Mince pies
December comes and I fall for delicious mince pies again. These are traditional Christmas treats that historically have been eaten around this time of year. Nowadays they are made with mincemeat which strangely has no meat, but instead is a gooey, sweet mix of dried fruits like sultanas and raisins, possibly some lemon juice and lemon zest. In this pie which was shop bought had bramley apple puree in it too. The filling is enclosed in a short crust pastry dusted with a little icing sugar.
Shop bought are nice enough, but home made are lovely. I tried a couple made by a friend at the weekend. She made them smaller- less calories, and sugar free mincemeat. Tasty and healthy.
I’m not sure what they were made of in the past. I suppose I should look it up. Probably they were ‘fast food’ in the past. Served hot I think? I would imagine they became popular in the Victorian era when Christmas celebrations ramped up with the use of Christmas trees and Christmas cards… I know I should check all of this…. But I’m too busy eating my mince pie!
Sudden
A sudden flash of lightening (imagined) lit up the night sky. Sudden was Sundays prompt for our #bandofsketchers challenge. I couldn’t think of what to paint until I had a sudden ‘flash’ of inspiration! Acrylic black and blue paint and a bit of glitter glue to try and add a few sparks of light.
Tree branches…
Just a little light digital editing gave me this network of patterns. The colours of a sunset sky held in a web of twigs. I think I could use it as a design for cushions or duvet or bed covers, even bags and tee shirts. Not anything I’ve actually done, but maybe I should find out. I’m finding out about file sizes, types and colours. I know if I don’t get the resolution right the images cannot be scaled up successfully. I mostly save my images as .jpeg’s but I recently found out I should save them as .tiff files. Also the resolution should be 300dpi where my computer saves to 72dpi normally. I’m learning as I go on.
B’oatcake boat
Called at the B’oatcake boat, Que Sera Sera, on the canal today. We wanted cheese oatcakes but they were sold out ao we had cheesy burgers with salad instead. I have to say they were very tasty with a nice hot drink. Suitably fed we went for our walk round Westport Lake. Thank you b’oatcake boat.
Westport Lake
While we were at the Waiting Room gallery in Longport we decided to go for a walk round the lake. The local council has bought in parking charges at the lake (I’m not sure if they have started taking money yet), but rather than driving there we left our car on the street and walked a few hundred yards along the canal to the lake.
As you walk along you see the sad dereliction of the industrial heritage of Stoke-on-Trent. Buildings that used to use the canals for transport are falling to rack and ruin. Firms buy them up then instead of restoring them and perhaps nurturing the buildings and creating museums or even apartments like they have in Manchester or Birmingham, let them fall down or burn down!
Leaving the sad buildings behind, we walked along the canal towpath to the lake. We bought a bag of bird food and fed the wild fowl around the lake. Worryingly we did see a Canada goose with what looked like mucus hanging from its beak. There is bird flu in the country which is very harmful to the birds. Once round the lake and then back along the canal. A good walk.
Food
I just made a very nice curry with bombay potatoes, raita, mixed garlicy vegetables and chicken.
I was using one of the meal boxes that get delivered by post. My friend have it me because she had already got food in and she decided she didn’t need it.
Unfortunately I didn’t take a photo, by the time I had eaten it I realised it was too late. I added extra vegetables (courgette and fresh tomatoes) to bulk it out a bit, I’m trying to add vegetables to our meals to make them healthier. I don’t know if I would ever order a food box myself, I don’t know how much it cost as it was a gift. The meal was very tasty, but I added extra garlic and turmeric.
May memory
Tulips bloomed
Scent filled the air
Warm breezes
Touched my hair.
purple flowers
Proud and bright
Give enjoyment
To my sight.
May was gentle
Soft and true
Forget-me-nots
Bloomed in blue.
Fine flowers
Grown up tall.
Magic bower
Soft waters fall.
Memory of
a lovely day.
Gives my heart
Delight today.
Birds?
Off cuts of paper fly across a desk. The curl of paper behind is meant to show the wind swirling. The pieces were cut from a large paper snowflake I made to show a friends child how to cut shapes out. But to be honest I prefer these birdy shapes. Once I had curved their ‘wings’ out they took on even more of a resemblance of birds.
Craft stall
For the first time in about 18 months I put a few paintings up for sale on my craft stall. These included the paintings I did yesterday and some from the last few years. There are a lot of varied images and ideas. I used to be able to paint almost anything but since I’ve developed a shake in my arm I’ve found it more and more difficult to paint accurately. I’m frustrated but I won’t give up yet. Maybe I will get some treatment? Hope so.
Mallaband-Brown 