SIMPLE PLEASURES

Line dried laundry is one of my favourite seasonal things. I don't use fabric conditioner when line drying,  as washing always feels softer after being blown about in fresh breezes and I want that lovely sunny, outdoorsy smell.

I've been itching to get my first load on the washing line, but was thwarted a few times, when on a sunny morn the farmers decided to muck spread. The dogs were in the garden for ten minutes one day and came in reeking, so a no go for laundry.   I don't mind, I chose to live in the countryside. I might have mentioned this before, it is a bug bear of mine - people who move to the countryside,  then start complaining when cockerels wake them up, or a barn is erected in a field that ruins their view or there are nasty smells.   I therefore have to put up with a bit of a pong when they fertilise the fields.

Anyhoo, Mr. found the little thingy in the gravel for line to sit in, took him some time, and voila, all good to go.  I'm all about the simple pleasures!

Another pleasure,,

 New walking boots (with my crocheted boot trims, one of my first makes that didn't just involve granny stitch...so proud).

It's taken ages to find a comfortable pair as I have awkward feet.  I really wanted an all leather pair like my lovely girl, but couldn't find a store that had them in my size, despite many attempts.  I could have bought them online, but a previous experience put me off and as I was desperate, leather and other materials had to do.

I last wore my old faithfuls in the slushy snow thaw and  they leaked like sieves. The pic below was taken when we were at the beach, in case you were thinking 'that snow looks odd'.

Just look at those cracks!

These eighteen year old boots have seen some miles, but I'm not binning them. They'll live in the shed on our allotment as I'm forever turning up there on the spur of the moment, wearing footwear that's not suitable for doing a spot of digging.

My new pair were half price and we had another £7.00 off by using our National Trust card....I loves a bargain!

Since the snow,  our local shop has had trouble supplying bread, so out came  the old bread maker for quick, simple and lazy bread making....

 ,,,, and you can't get any simpler than this.

I always keep bread flour and yeast in my larder. Hattie, my sourdough starter lives in the fridge, but that's a post for another day.

I keep my skimmed milk powder in the freezer. Prior to this, I kept the container in the fridge, but wouldn't use it up before the short use by date came round and I hate waste.  Look, I have a 'divine' beam, blessing my bread making endeavours, haha.

The loaf size is ideal for a small household.

Bread is another simple pleasure for me but I have a problem with shop bought and shouldn't really eat it.  I don't believe I have a gluten problem, it's the fact that commercial bread production doesn't allow for slow proving methods, therefore making the bread harder to digest. Sadly, this bread does affect me  for the same reason, as it proves and cooks in three hours so I don't eat as much of it as Mr, just the odd slice....with lashings of butter of course! 

Like I say,  my pleasures are simple and these are just three of them!

Do you have simple pleasures, I'd love to hear them xx