suspected of eating frogs in the pond

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title proved by gorse flowers

No matter how cold it gets there’s always one somewhere

Seasonal bits:

Frugal Christmas and Vegan Yule have been updated and weeded free of dead links and outdated information. Lebkuchen from Lidl now contain butter

Drawing attention to Rose Elliot’s Vegetarian Christmas just now (see last years blog review of it) as it is currently still available for 1p from marketplace sellers on Amazon. That will change nearer Christmas.

A new inhabitant of the wood shed, he joins the toads for winter, they will probably not be kissing…

newt

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whooper swans over the trees

They fly over the garden every evening just now, about forty of them. By the time I’ve grabbed my camera they are always nearly gone though…

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vanilla cake with cream and buttons

creamovita and chocolate buttons - recipe for sponge on this page 

colours from the garden – a smoothie to be (added avo, banana, and OJ)

moth

check out VegaNation, a new vegan online shop! 

boy by sea

Pennan

girlish toes in the sea

salad

cauldron

sequins

Books of the moment:

Ecstatic Beings - Shazzie and Kate Magic

The Brightest Star in the Sky - Marian Keyes

Balletboyz - Michael Nunn and Billy Trevitt

Waldon and Other Writings - Henry David Thoreau

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rabbit eating a shrub bent down by the weight of snow

Charlotte's window

No post all week. Car buried in pile of snow, track too deep for it anyway. Here’s  hoping a handsome man can get through with a truckfull of provisions tonight

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one of my favourite books ever

An older book, now out of print, but I don’t think anything has come along to best it as a veggie festive title (do comment if you know otherwise!). I got the hardback out of the library something like 18/19 years ago and it impacted me. The gorgeousness of Christmas food, the hints on preparing and freezing taking the hard work away from the day itself, the photos all through it. In fact looking through the pristine copy I now own (thank you Amazon marketplace, used condition, 1 pence!) I see obvious influences there for some of the recipes on our Yule page

a puff pastry mushroom Christmas tree!

I waited for frost and sunshine to write this post, dismal downpours were not hitting the right mark for the photos.

that's the chestnut and red wine pate en croute that we all love

There are five complete Christmas dinner menus, sections on preparation, party food, puddings and cakes, lighter festive lunches and so many cute sides. There’s also a craft bit about making your own gifts.

little Santa pizzas, easily veganisable

As with all Rose Elliot books there are vegan adjustments added in where appropriate.

parsley potato stars

As mentioned both paperback and hardcover are out of print but it is available secondhand from both Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.com though I think the 1 pence ones have all gone…

a search for Vegetarian Christmas on AbeBooks.co.uk turns up quite a few editions, very well priced, but remember the paperback does not have the photos!

As I was out there in the frost our daily visiting whooper swans flew over. I stared up at them as usual, the cogs of my brains slowly grasping the knowledge that I had a camera in my hand. They were almost out of sight by this point but a quick aim in the direction of the sky caught a glimpse of their wings through the trees.

most indistinct picture of swans ever

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cliffs and blue sky

more cliffs

rocks and water

beach

rocks and deeper water

limpets

various sea vegetables

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field edge

apple - found five on that previously blossoming tree

Cairnbulg Castle on zoom

people walking into my charming rabbit/railwayline composition

honeysuckle at the side of railway

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Mither Tap against sun

but it didn’t, so we did not have to brave the mines of Moria, 3 times up and down Bennachie accomplished and quite a bit of money raised for the trees :) My legs hurt today!

at the bottom of the Mither Tap path

top of first climb up steep Mither tap path

down the Donview way

caterpillar

back up on top and heading down Rowan

These new signs help to avoid confusion, there are even paths at the bottom linking different carparks so you can go down different ways without reclimbing if you wish

no such plan for us - back up Rowan

This was the toughest climb being our third, even though it is the easiest path and most gentle slope.

resting on way up - some of the shoes did not make it (5 years old, ethical wares, much walking done)

reaching top 3rd time

steep final descent

down down down

treat picnic at bottom

rose cupcakes

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Peregrine Wildwatch Centre

Wonderful place this, great home ed group event there

quarry face where the nest is

red squirrel

female peregrine in tree - she was making a lot of noise!

fast

building a hide

impression of a caterpillar called Bob

best friends

a few more pics in our home education set on flickr

and a short video of the squirrels below, much topical talking in background…

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