Blogtober 2021 :: Day 23

Another Saturday rolls around and once again I find myself feeling comforted by my familiar and gentle domestic routines. I took great pleasure in switching off my alarm yesterday, and although I still woke up at around about the same time it was blissful to just stay in bed for a while. I stretched myself out to full capacity like a starfish (J was already up so I took full advantage of the extra space), and thoroughly enjoyed the slow, still, quiet start to my day.

Let me tell you about this box of tomatoes which is probably the biggest thing I've ever carried home from the market, possibly with the exception of the Giant Celery last year. ** As a side note, the giant celery was purchased on 24th October last year - this exact time of October seems very abundant around here, no?

Anyhow - about the tomatoes, these gloriously sweet and juicy sunshine-ripened Spanish tomatoes still clinging to the vine. I've been buying large amounts in brown paper bags every single Saturday for many months, often returning on a Wednesday to re-stock because we eat a ridiculous quantity of tomatoes in this house.

Last week Dominic (the lovely man who runs the veggie stall) was away on his holidays to Scarborough and so there was no veggie market stall last Saturday. Oh I did miss it, we had to buy from the supermarket and I tell you it just wasn't nearly as good, it really wasn't!! So this morning when we went to his stall I told him how much he was missed and in return he said  that he had a present for me. I didn't believe him at first, but then he told me it was no joke and that there really was a gift waiting for me. He asked me to guess what I thought it might be, and the very first thing that sprang to mind was tomatoes. Well I was utterly bowled over when he laughed out loud and reached under his stall to bring out a box FULL of vine tomatoes which he said were especially for me. They are the last cherry vine tomatoes of the season, and he had saved them for me - all mine!!!!! I was so touched, and of course I absolutely insisted on paying him for them because just look how many there are, but he would only take £2.50 for them. I felt like the luckiest lady in town this morning, so crazy-happy carrying my wooden box of toms, popping a few in my mouth every so often and marvelling at how sweet they are.

I wanted to show you these mushrooms too, also from Dominic's stall  aren't they a delight? They are a mixture of edible varieties and I'm not really sure how to identify them or even whether I need to? They were a  bit of an impulse buy (I was still quite overcome by the tomatoes) so I'm not sure what exactly to do with them....

....I think I may just cook them very simply and have them for brunch tomorrow while they are still nice and fresh. I'm thinking I'll pan fry them in a little olive oil, butter, garlic and parsley and serve them up on granary toast. Maybe with some vine tomatoes on the side too, because I do have a few tomatoes to hand that I could use.

Similar to last Saturday, I decided to make some soup for lunch and of course it absolutely had to have tomatoes in it. I roasted up a big tray of red peppers (I bought 5 peppers for £1 from the market), onion, garlic, sweet potato and tomatoes. When they were soft I added them into a pan with some veggie stock, a generous squeeze of tomato purée and a dollop of sundried tomato pesto, seasoned it well then whizzed it all up with my swanky new stick blender.

I only recently bought myself a stick blender for making soups and I am so taken with it. It's a dream to use and makes the whole process so much easier (and not nearly as messy) as transferring the mixture into my blender in small batches. I can just whizz away directly in the pan now. I bought this 600w Bosch one so it's quite powerful and does the job effortlessly. 

The soup was absolutely delicious, very rich and warming and just the thing for a quick weekend lunch. 

This afternoon I pootled along to the pharmacy with Little Lady to collect a prescription for her. Her blood test results came in yesterday and although mostly they were all normal she does have mild anaemia so has been prescribed iron tablets to take. It would go some way to explaining her low energy and low mood during the past few months so in a way we're relieved to have found something that can be worked with and fairly easily fixed. Some of you may remember that I have been anaemic in the past (twice in fact) so I know exactly what it's like and how low it can make you feel. The struggle is real, and I very much hope that she will begin to feel like her normal self again as the iron tablets begin to give her body what it needs.

On the way home we rested for a little while on a bench beside the canal. It was quite cold to be honest but LL needed to eat something and told me in no uncertain terms that she absolutely could not wait until we got home. Okay then, a bench picnic it is, no matter how chilly my bones are.

I snapped the above photo of my sofa when I came home as I could just tell that Little B had been right there at some point. Even when he was very small he always needed at least two blankets to be properly cosy and things haven't really changed all that much. He's just very much bigger now (as tall as me) so I'm surprised he only felt the need for two blankets today - usually he can be found under a whole pile of them. 

I've started writing my blog by candlelight in the evenings and I absolutely love it. It gives me just enough light to see where to put my fingers on the keyboard but feels beautifully cosy and atmospheric. The only light we have in our large downstairs room right now is coming from candles, fairy lights and the fire. It's quite lovely. 

Right then, I'm going to love you and leave you for now, I hope you've enjoyed this scintillating tale of tomatoes and mushrooms, soup and cold benches, blankets and candlelight. Such a thrilling life I lead. More waffle coming your way tomorrow xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

 

 

 

 

Comments

[Tineke]

You must be such a good customer, full of compliments, and always there to buy loads. This is pure customer relation. Is little Lady vegan? That could be the reason. I have a protein intolerance, always low on iron. Happy you found this, wish it will help her a lot. Ooooh, the big mushrooms are used as a meat replacer in China. They are delicious. Nothing cozier than laying on the couch under lots and lots of blankets <3

[Angelina de la Fuente]

Hi Lucy, Wowee, finally finished reading this whole blog of yours tonight.. such an amazing story of the day… so exciting. I felt like I’m with you in that market of yours! So lovely to hear all daily routine.. cooking which makes me hungry with your lovely tomato soups.. hmm so yummy!😋😋 and spending time with your kids. When do you have time to crochet? Anyway, I look forward to your next blog. Thank you for sharing. Good night.
Best wishes,
Angelina x💐

[Joan]

Hello Lucy I have been reading your blog for some years now and have never commented before. I wondered if your daughter might be suffering from an under active thyroid, I only mention this as my younger daughter who is 31 now was diagnosed with this condition when she was 16 and studying for her O levels. She was permanently tired and felt generally unwell and as soon as she started taking the thyroxin she felt her old self again. Perhaps something to consider if the iron tablets don't work. Love the blog by the way.

[Bonnie Brocklehurst]

Lucy we love your life, the colors, the cozyness and the sweetness of it all, we should all be so lucky💕

[Charlotte]

I do envy your tomatoes. It seems so difficult to get delicious produce and you have the perfect place. The blankets do look like someone was very comfortable and warm. It is still very warm here so not quite time for blankets. Soup is always delicious and great for lunch especially with you tomatoes.

[Dawn]

The only thing I have to say is that I love you and your blog soooo much :)
It always puts a smile on my face.
Hope Little Lady feels better soon! x