Archer sounds like a lovely dog. My daughter has had a few Kelpies as she lived on a farm. They are such hard working dogs. They stayed with the husband after she left her marriage last year. Now she has a Jack Russell who is just as energetic but more pint sized energy. She is called Peggie and she adores the girls and they love her. I was only thinking about seasons yesterday. The way my Mum would say she was on a knitting jag at the first sign of cooler weather. I miss the camaraderie we had with our knitting jags. Now I have writing jags and painting jags. I find it fascinating how creativity ebbs and flows.
It is fascinating - and when you learn to go with it rather than fighting it, the energy is somehow more concentrated. And you must miss that connection, I know that I miss the little things I shared with my mum. It's odd how soemthing will come up and I think that I should let mum know or tell her about something, then realise she's not here to tell (I tell her anyway).
It’s like soup making weather. I knit when it’s chilly out too. I can’t wait for it to be cold enough to make a pot of soup and to crack out the knitting.
Love the weaving of writing and puppy, both works in progress. I had a beautiful red kelpie in my teens, she herded everyone and everything. Now I have a British bulldog - with a complex story of me learning to love her. Now almost 5 yrs old she’s my constant shadow. Dogs are great, even the troublesome ones.
They become such a part of us, don’t they? Sometimes I think it’s the ones we have to work with the most that we end up having the closest bond with. My boy is a challenge, but I feel very close to him (sometimes too close when he pulls me over!)…
Oh, Cate, you are a lovely puppy mum to Archer. That emotional roller coaster is so familiar, first with my boys, who both had colic and didn't sleep for the first 2 and a half years, then with my beautiful, big rescue dog, Tin Tin. There were lots of days spent crying and doubting my abilities. I'm so glad you've stuck by Archer, though I'm sorry about the hard, emotional work of finding and giving him what he needs. I too, love this season, though I need to get a bigger repertoire for soup other than the Pea and Ham, and Pumpkin soups that I already cook. I received a recipe for a Croatian Kale and Smoked Bones soup that I'm itching to try. What's your favourite soup?
I adore soup - pea and ham is a favourite, especially with a smoked ham hock to bring out the flavour, and I also make butter ash as a comfort food, very similar to potato and leek but with a few Lancashire twists - best served with a hunk of crusty bread! I used to enjoy minestrone, back in the day, but I can no longer eat tomatoes so, if I make it, I use pumpkin for the base instead: not quite the same, but delicious nonetheless :) I appreciate your empathy re Archer, and totally acknowledge the often unspoken difficulties of motherhood when you have a child with extra needs.
I've never heard of butter ash soup. I can't find anything about it on Google. What are the twists? I'm so curious to know! I'm looking forward to our traditional pea and ham soup near the winter solstice, using the ham hock we kept from the Christmas ham. If I have the time or energy, I'll cook a delicious Beef Wellington with wild mushroom duxelles, herbed kipfler potatoes, and a winter salad. The pea and ham soup is a great alternative for times when the winter solstice falls midweek, when I'm busy with kids' sports, or when I'm just plain tired.
That all sounds so delicious - I must get planning! Butter ash is a poor man's soup. The potatoes are cut into small slices and boiled in water with sliced onion until the potatoes have 'fallen' then a generous dob of butter is added for the last 10 minutes. Served with a generous amount of cracked pepper on crusty bread.
Great listen Cate😊 It was many years after she died, that I stopped thinking ‘I must tell/show/get Mum that,’ and it still slips in once in a while. Still takes me by surprise, but the sting is gone.
On another note, perhaps you should get that collie, might be the perfect companion for Archer. Lots of energy, but a calmer nature. Just a thought🙂
Glad to hear your earlier extended writing block has eased. Can’t wait to read the results of your muse’s return.🤩
Thank you Artelle x I sometimes feel as if Mum is in the room with me and will occasionally have a chat, just in case.
I have been looking at the collie for several weeks now, on and off, thinking that if she is still there I’ll go and meet her at least. The RSPCA seem to think she needs a rural property, though, so… and I probably can’t afford another dog.
Working on a YA ‘first feelings’ story and loving it (at the moment - I’ll probably hate it tomorrow LOL)
Archer sounds like a lovely dog. My daughter has had a few Kelpies as she lived on a farm. They are such hard working dogs. They stayed with the husband after she left her marriage last year. Now she has a Jack Russell who is just as energetic but more pint sized energy. She is called Peggie and she adores the girls and they love her. I was only thinking about seasons yesterday. The way my Mum would say she was on a knitting jag at the first sign of cooler weather. I miss the camaraderie we had with our knitting jags. Now I have writing jags and painting jags. I find it fascinating how creativity ebbs and flows.
It is fascinating - and when you learn to go with it rather than fighting it, the energy is somehow more concentrated. And you must miss that connection, I know that I miss the little things I shared with my mum. It's odd how soemthing will come up and I think that I should let mum know or tell her about something, then realise she's not here to tell (I tell her anyway).
Hi Rhiannon
I’m with your mum. I only knit in winter. Perhaps I’ll pull out the needles soon.
My mum was the same - she said it was too hot to have the knitting on her knee in summer
It’s like soup making weather. I knit when it’s chilly out too. I can’t wait for it to be cold enough to make a pot of soup and to crack out the knitting.
Ditto to both. My young granddaughter said last week that she was looking forward to soup and crusty bread for dinner.
I'm not a knitter but I love soup! I'm looking forward to soup season, too!
Hi Cate,
Love the weaving of writing and puppy, both works in progress. I had a beautiful red kelpie in my teens, she herded everyone and everything. Now I have a British bulldog - with a complex story of me learning to love her. Now almost 5 yrs old she’s my constant shadow. Dogs are great, even the troublesome ones.
They become such a part of us, don’t they? Sometimes I think it’s the ones we have to work with the most that we end up having the closest bond with. My boy is a challenge, but I feel very close to him (sometimes too close when he pulls me over!)…
Oh, Cate, you are a lovely puppy mum to Archer. That emotional roller coaster is so familiar, first with my boys, who both had colic and didn't sleep for the first 2 and a half years, then with my beautiful, big rescue dog, Tin Tin. There were lots of days spent crying and doubting my abilities. I'm so glad you've stuck by Archer, though I'm sorry about the hard, emotional work of finding and giving him what he needs. I too, love this season, though I need to get a bigger repertoire for soup other than the Pea and Ham, and Pumpkin soups that I already cook. I received a recipe for a Croatian Kale and Smoked Bones soup that I'm itching to try. What's your favourite soup?
I adore soup - pea and ham is a favourite, especially with a smoked ham hock to bring out the flavour, and I also make butter ash as a comfort food, very similar to potato and leek but with a few Lancashire twists - best served with a hunk of crusty bread! I used to enjoy minestrone, back in the day, but I can no longer eat tomatoes so, if I make it, I use pumpkin for the base instead: not quite the same, but delicious nonetheless :) I appreciate your empathy re Archer, and totally acknowledge the often unspoken difficulties of motherhood when you have a child with extra needs.
I've never heard of butter ash soup. I can't find anything about it on Google. What are the twists? I'm so curious to know! I'm looking forward to our traditional pea and ham soup near the winter solstice, using the ham hock we kept from the Christmas ham. If I have the time or energy, I'll cook a delicious Beef Wellington with wild mushroom duxelles, herbed kipfler potatoes, and a winter salad. The pea and ham soup is a great alternative for times when the winter solstice falls midweek, when I'm busy with kids' sports, or when I'm just plain tired.
That all sounds so delicious - I must get planning! Butter ash is a poor man's soup. The potatoes are cut into small slices and boiled in water with sliced onion until the potatoes have 'fallen' then a generous dob of butter is added for the last 10 minutes. Served with a generous amount of cracked pepper on crusty bread.
That sounds delicious!! I'll keep that in my back pocket for a cold and rainy winter's day.
Great listen Cate😊 It was many years after she died, that I stopped thinking ‘I must tell/show/get Mum that,’ and it still slips in once in a while. Still takes me by surprise, but the sting is gone.
On another note, perhaps you should get that collie, might be the perfect companion for Archer. Lots of energy, but a calmer nature. Just a thought🙂
Glad to hear your earlier extended writing block has eased. Can’t wait to read the results of your muse’s return.🤩
Thank you Artelle x I sometimes feel as if Mum is in the room with me and will occasionally have a chat, just in case.
I have been looking at the collie for several weeks now, on and off, thinking that if she is still there I’ll go and meet her at least. The RSPCA seem to think she needs a rural property, though, so… and I probably can’t afford another dog.
Working on a YA ‘first feelings’ story and loving it (at the moment - I’ll probably hate it tomorrow LOL)
Probably. Hopefully you’ll love it again later and longer😊