Can you smell this warm fragrant just cooked bread?

If I was younger, I would say I was broody ! The urge to make bread came over me at breakfast. One bag of bread flour makes 2 large loves and one big flat pizza.
Sorry, I forgot to take a picture of the pizza until we had eaten half of it....
And the good thing is that we shall have the other half tomorrow for lunch and because it will have had time to stand it will be really gooey. Warms up nicely in the bottom oven of the aga for 10 minutes.
In my days as a B&B landlady I would bake bread almost daily, what with up to 6 paying guests and school packed lunches it all got eaten. Plus I taught a few interested guests. Like most things, it's easy with some practise plus the benefit an aga.
Elizabeth, if you see this.... just look what you are missing.... and not a garlic in sight.!!!
Come home soon.

No more prattle now. Big Brother and then bed.
I am thinking about placing a bet on the outcome of BB.
Now who do you think I will back ????
Will tell you when I have taken the plunge....

Cheers dears

Little Miss Nancy Noodle - the apple of Grandad's eye.

I know that every Grandparent thinks that their little darling is the cutest of the bunch, but our Nancy, now aged 17 months takes some beating.

We were in need of a Nancy and Jennifer fix this week, and we managed to spend a whole blissfully sunny afternoon with them. Ben was in Bristol overnight, so we kept Jennifer company in the evening and ordered ourselves an Indian take-away, which is somewhat of a treat, as usually we are well out of range of any delivery service on offer.
After lunch we walked round to Heavitree Park and sampled the swings.
How super to see all the kids enjoying themselves in the sunshine.

Fortunately Nancy enjoys wearing the sunhat.

Actually we think we've got the best daughters and the

best granddaughter.
If you click these pictures they become very large !! Take a look at the one of Nancy eating and see the pasta on her shoulder..... no matter !!

BIG BROTHER Who will go ? Tonight, I'm not too sure. it might be Karly, but it could be any of the 4. I hope it might be Siavash who thinks that he is so superior. Entertaining to see him lose his cool when he remembered that he was frightened of heights, in the oh so daring roof top protest.
Surely the funniest thing to happen in last night's show was to see Marcus leering over Nicky - former housemate, all macho confidence, whilst on the other side of the glass Nicky's first words happened to be "Oh I hate that Marcus, he's horrible and he thinks he's attractive"

Only another hour or so until we hear the outcome.

Have a good weekend everyone...

At 17 months, she has got a mind of her own and will not be coersed to do anything she doesn't want to do. Little Miss Independent, just like her Mother. Just look at her face when I told her not to pick up what turned out to be some dog poo. Do click the picture. It's worth seeing !

Motorbikes, motorbike, motorbikes..and then some...

Sunday morning saw us taking pictures at Moretonhampstead as the charity ride out for Devon Air Ambulance came through.
Our newly acquired pal Betty Nott, (that's her in the first picture) she of DAM - Devon Advanced Motorcyclists - http://www.advancedmotorcyclists.org.uk/ told us that the route would be coming past our road, so we nipped off to Moreton where we found her and her husband Ken busy marshalling. Happily for us the Dartmoor Tearooms were just 20 yards away; very happy for the odd tray of excellent coffee, and the perfect spot for lunch when we had over 500 bikey pictures in the can. You can see all of the photos by logging on to my own website http://www.jillpendleton.co.uk/ and clicking the links to both mine and Rob's listings on Flickr.

Anyone who knows Moretonhampstead or has ever been through it has a strong chance of knowing this face. We rarely go to Moreton without seeing Michael. A real Dartmoor character, he dodges about the town when anything special is happening, and can be found directing traffic at the drop of a hat. During the Food Festival earlier in the year we saw him outside the White Horse, fully in command of busy traffic in all three directions.

He was most useful on Sunday, as I was dodging between 2 corners, and he gave me a shout whenever a fresh batch of riders hove into view.

Betty and her pals have offered me a ride over the Moor later on in the Summer on one of the club jaunts. She has generously organised leathers for me, so when it takes place, I will ask Rob to turn his camera my way.... So look out !

BIG BROTHER I haven't lost any interest in BB. Quite the contrary.
I was ecstatic on Friday as Kris left the house. My confidence in the great British Public well and truly restored. Amazing that he was so full of confidence in himself. It was most interesting in the run up to eviction night to hear him forcasting the demise of everyone but himself.
Is it just me or does anyone else think that Sophie has put on at least a stone since the start of the series.... ?
NOW then.... Marcus next surely ? Lisa hates him with a vengeance. But manages to delude him into thinking that she is still pally. How can Noirin maintain her interest in him? The body painting on last night's show was squirm making.... He is so needy, and his spouts in the diary room, that he is Mr. Cool is the funniest thing to see .....
I look forward to seeing the nominations this evening..... "Get marcus out ! Get Marcus out !" if I'm not much mistaken.

Cheerio all

What sort of blog do you call this ?

Apologies for tardy attendance to the blogspot, but what with the garden open as part of Drewsteignton Open Gardens on Saturday and Sunday, you can imagine, we have been pulling out most of the stops ....

As it was, only 11 people arrived on Saturday, when my good pal Barbara came to keep me company, Rob being off overnight at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, which he thoroughly enjoyed.
Sunday was marginally better with just over 20 visitors, but the weather was cold and showery and at one point I made warming tea for 10 of us as the rain beat hard against the sun parasol.
I had arranged to sell ice cream pots from Devonshire Farmhouse Ice Cream which is the locally made stuff. As it was we sold just 10 pots and 6 choc ices. Shame....

Monday morning saw us dashing off to Branscombe, to the Mason's Arms for lunch on our way to a photo job at Uplyme, near to Lyme Regis. Rob had promised to take me to the much mentioned Mason's Arms to test the food. Not that you can do as much justice to the job over lunch as you can over dinner, but hey I never look a gift horse in the mouth.
For anyone going to Branscombe let me advise that you drive straight past the village hall car park - on offer to visitors, as it is about a mile away from an up hill and down dale road to the actual beach where there is another , more expensive I am told, car park almost on the shingle itself.
Now the menu on the blackboard offered 'Venison and red wine sausage, balsamic onion' just that.... and just that is what Rob got !! See picture. Fortunately we had been served some wonderfully tasty tomato bread with real butter whilst we were waiting, so with one of my fresh crab sandwiches as an extra, he was just about full enough to walk down to the sea.....

My pals Kenneth and June will not be in the least bit surprised to learn that although the beach was completely deserted and the spume was fast heading inland, we DID treat ourselves to an ice cream each. I am an absolute sucker for icecream. Any time of day, any excuse, no excuse, whatever !

The Talbot Arms at Uplyme has more sizeable food portions than The Mason's Arms, and I can tell you that Steve's cooking is equally good. We had taken pictures of their very pleasant letting rooms earlier in the year, see this page on Flickr to see just how super they are....
This time we were asked to take photos of the front of the pub which is looking very pretty indeed now that the hanging baskets and tubs have taken off... Well done Wendy ! Steve also wanted me to take a picture of Bron the pub dog.... and here it is. What do you think Steve ? good enough I hope !!












Yes she's a very special dog.
Double click the picture to make it full sized.