Teatime with Mr. 'n' Mrs. C 🌞❤️🌻...

Our 2nd experiment with the new steamer was also a success. 10 minutes yielded a perfect hard boiled egg. I had mine with gerkins, olives, dry salami and Caprice des Anges (Whim of Angels) cheese on biscottes. Mr. C wanted a yammier yolk for his egg and tomato sandwich; so, I only steamed his egg for 8 minutes.

Everything went down well with a mug of tea and 'Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope.' Our annual viewing was delayed as Mr. C was in hospital on May the 4th.

All's well in our world, Sunbeams. 

P.S. The trick of tapping the end of the egg gently with the back of a spoon until one hears the membrane snap before boiling really does make them easier to peel.

#cooking #teatime 

Update on us:

11:40 hrs.

The village pub sometimes sells used small appliances. Mr. C had bought us a steamer there for 10€ and it did yoeman service for several years but finally gave up the ghost in the middle of cooking our dinner potatoes last week.

I ordered a new one which arrived yesterday. We decided to try poaching eggs in it for breakfast this morning. It worked brilliantly! 😋

I had mine with avocado and toast. Mr. C, of course, had beans.

#cooking #breakfast 

Update on us:

21:48 hrs 

I had most of the work of cooking dinner done before breakfast. We had crockpot beef patties and potatoes in mushroom onion gravy with sautéed courgette (zucchini) which went down well with buttered bread, a mug of tea, and a ghost story read by Simon Stanhope.

https://youtu.be/q2U72ToerVo?is=vy0rIutqQiNvPnTN

All's well in our world, Sunbeams. 🌞❤️🌻

Mr. C says:

Update on us.

22:42 hrs

An early start to go shopping left us both tired although I would probably have been exhausted had it not been for Sarah who drove us into town to save me from driving.

The rest of the day was spent relaxing apart from doing two loads of laundry during as we watched 'Stardust' which is one of our favourite films and contains one of my all time favourite scenes involving Robert De Nero and The Cancan.

Dinner was a joint effort as usual with Fair Damsel taking care of the chicken whilst I fried the chips she had prepared: it went down a treat with an episode of Midsommers Murders.

All's well in our world, Sunbeams.

😊☄️🌻🌞

Update on us:

12:20 hrs.

We knew Sarah and Michel needed the car this afternoon but we needed some supplies. So, we rose early, had some Cheerios and tea and got dressed.

Sarah also needed a few things; so, she volunteered to drive us on our errands. We swung by the doctor's office to make Mr. C a follow up visit for next week and made a couple of other stops before hitting Intermarche for groceries.

We got home just before 11am and Mr. C cooked us a delicious second breakfast of eggs, tomatoes, and potatoes with fresh bread.

Michel knocked on the door with a present for us: a big bowl of freshly picked cherries.

All's well in our world, Sunbeams! 🌞❤️🌻

Update on us:

00:20 hrs.

Mr. C and I both thoroughly enjoyed his first full day back home with good food, good music, and good TV.

Mr. C, still responding to the former hospital routine, rose at 6am and had a first breakfast of cornflakes before taking his morning meds.

He rejoined me in bed for a bit before I got up and cooked him a second breakfast of scrambled eggs, tomatoes, and bacon.

We listened to a selection of Monkees tunes and watched my favourite episode of the TV show.

Mr. C fixed his own lunch of beans on crumpets and took a nap. This allowed me to finally get my mind to focus on the first of three crochet patterns I've been chosen to test but couldn't concentrate enough to start while concerned about Mr. C's health.

Dinner was a joint effort with me making KFC spiced chicken strips and Mr. C taking care of the chips. It went down well with an episode of 'Midsomer Murders.'

All is once more well in our world, Sunbeams. 🌞❤️🌻

Mr. C says:

Update on us.

11:35 hrs

I spent a comfortable night in our own bed for the first time in 17 days. I slept well, although the hospital routine had me waking up at regular intervals as I had when the nurse checked my temperature and blood pressure.

I was up just before 06:00 hrs and spent some time downstairs practising my french before eating cornflakes, taking my medication, and returning to bed where I quickly fell asleep.

I'm writing this after a Sunbeamadelicious breakfast of scrambled eggs, tomatoes, and rashers of bacon prepared by Fair Damsel: absolutely Sunbeamadelicious.😋

All's well in our world, Sunbeams.

😊☄️🌻🌞

What with everything else happening, I forgot to mention that I received a parcel from my Fairy Yarnmother today. It's also thanks to her that we had crumpets to put under Mr. C's baked beans. Thanks, Momma Wolf!

#crochet 

Mr. C says:

Update on us.

20:52 hrs

I'm home (isn't home a wonderful word?)

after 17 days in hospital. I'm very tired but on the mend and enormously happy to be reunited with Fair Damsel who has kept my spirits up during a very difficult, at times uncertain, and often painful period of my life.

Her steadfast encouragement and support during what was an equally stressful time for her made our enforced separation bearable and facetiming with her strengthened my resolve to get well.

The final lap today was particularly stressful for me due to an interminable delay of two hours in being discharged until Michel arrived and sorted things out in minutes.

The icing on the cake was a long and loving embrace from Fair Damsel when she greeted me as I stepped out of the car. Once settled inside, I had a long luxurious bath before sitting down to a Sunbeamadelicious meal of baked beans on crumpets followed by an episode of Midsommers Murders.

Thank you to our dear friends and family who supported Fair Damsel throughout this difficult time.🙏❤️❤️🙏

All's well in our world, Sunbeams.

😊☄️🌻🌞

A Glimmer is a small moment that sparks joy, happiness, or peace.

Today's glimmer is:

It's not often that I can see Limonaid from the kitchen, but she's in just the right spot right now.

#horse #glimmer 

Update on us...

18:45 hrs.

Mr. C saw a different and much sharper doctor who speaks excellent English today.

The doctor says the infection seems to be clearing. They will run another test in the morning. This will show whether or not Mr. C will need to take antibiotics after he comes home (Isn't home a wonderful word?) hopefully tomorrow afternoon.

The doctor said the reason this has taken so long is that Mr. C was misdiagnosed with a urinary tract infection by the urgent care staff. The infection was actually in the flesh of the site of Mr. C's recent surgery. So, they had him on less effective antibiotics. 

Now that he's on the correct antibiotics, all should be well in our world very soon.

I want to thank everyone who has shown their concern for both of us during this difficult separation. I don't know what I'd have done without you all.

🌞❤️🌻

Meanwhile...

Watson's trying to use Jedi mind powers on me.

"You don't need to get up. Those aren't the crisps you're hungering for."

#Watson #cats

Someone's been up to his old tricks again.

#Moriarty #cats

A Glimmer is a small moment that sparks joy, happiness, or peace.

Today's glimmer is:

The two little borage plants I grew from seed 7 years ago have taken over an entire flower bed.

#flowers #gardening #glimmer #glimmers

 

A Glimmer is a small moment that sparks joy, happiness, or peace.

Today's glimmer is:

Mes fleurs des lys sont en fleur!

My irises are blooming!

I transplanted them from down by the lake years ago.

#flowers #gardening #glimmer #glimmers

Cooking with Mrs. C 🌞❤️🌻...

I love to take leftovers and wrap them in puff pastry to make pasties.

Today I tried it with leftover parmesan artichoke dip and the result is brilliant! 😋

Not sure if this counts as a glimmer or a triumph. 🤔

I should start a web series titled "Will it pasty?" 😂

They've improved the puff pastry recipe. They're so flaky! 😋

#cooking #WillitPasty 

Update on us:

19:30 hrs.

It's been a roller-coaster of a day. Mr. C had a scan and then was told he wouldn't be permitted to eat or drink until tomorrow afternoon, a grave disappoinment as I had packed a care package for Michel to take to him including boiled egg sandwiches choccie biccies, almond cakes, and proper tea bags. 

We were expecting minor surgery but then they announced that there is no abscess; so, surgery is not necessary and they gave him IV antibiotics.

Michel kindly delivered the goodies and other needed items that I had packed.

Mr. C just had an egg sandwich and his first decent cup of tea in 12 days. 

I celebrated by making myself some parmesan artichoke dip. 😋

Update on us:

20:15 hrs.

Mr. C hasn't seen the specialist yet, but the physiotherapist stopped by. She asked some questions and had him to walk for her. Then she laughed and said, "You don't need me."

His consultation with the specialist has been canceled. They told him they need to do a urine test and a scan. We don't know anything else. I'm getting a few things together for Michel to take to him.

I didnt actually expect him to come home today, but I did hope the specialist would be able to tell us something.

Michel will take Mr. C his care package tomorrow afternoon.

I'm going to crochet some flower coasters for Mr. C to give his nurses.

A glimmer is a small moment that sparks joy, happiness, or peace.

Today's glimmer is:

I took great pleasure in sprinkling my turkey, mushroom,, and parmesan omelette with fresh chives from our herb garden. 😋

#cooking #gardening #glimmer #glimmers

Sweet dreams, Sunbeams! 

Fais de beaux rêves, Rayons de Soleil!

🌞❤️🌻❤️😻😻🐦‍⬛

#Watson #cats

Happy Star Wars Day! May the 4th be with you!

#StarWarsDay #maythe4thbewithyou 

A Glimmer is a small moment that sparks joy, happiness, or peace.

Today's glimmer is:

I just completed a new outfit for Raffles, my Finch self care pet ! Giggle, snicker, guffaw! Not only have I cast pearls before my swine but I gave them an apple in case they want to put something in their mouth. And my pig can fly! 

#finch #selfcare #glimmer #glimmers

https://www.facebook.com/share/1BR4Dst1et/

The avocado gods smiled on me today. This one had gone quite wrinkly but I cut into it on the off chance and it was green and fresh.

It went nicely with rice and tuna.

A Glimmer is a small moment that sparks joy, happiness, or peace.

Today's glimmer is:

The clouds have been teasing me all week. It's finally raining. ⛈️

#rain #glimmer #glimmers