Reasons to be Grateful 5

Experiment, week 5. This week’s five things which have made me happy or for which I’m grateful.

  1. Parakeets. Ring-Neck Parakeets to be precise. Not going to write more here as I posted about them earlier in the week.
  2. Pine Cones. I love pine cones; indeed I love pine trees. We always have a basket of pine cones by the fire over Christmas as part of the decorations. But even better … Some years ago I bought, in different years, a couple of mini-Christmas Trees in pots; one certainly came from M&S. After their Christmas duty they were planted out at the far end of the garden. Both are now well established, one being as high as the house; the other not far behind it. We were delighted this week, in clearing lots of overgrowth, to find that both have a good crop of pine cones. I think the trees are probably Norway Spruce as the cones look like those pictured.
  3. Small Potted Christmas Trees. Last year Waitrose sold small potted Christmas Trees (about 12-15 inches high, plus pot), complete with some decorations attached. I bought one, so now we have yet another to plant out when it’s bit bigger — we’re getting quite a little copse in our suburban garden, and the birds love it. I wondered if Waitrose would sell these small trees again this year and was thinking I’d not seen them; but on Friday there they were amongst the cut flowers. And not just with decorations, but also with a small set of battery driven LED lights. All for £14.99. A much better investment than something that’s hacked off at the ground as after its festive duty it can be planted out with the others — or kept potted and used again next year.
  4. Oxtail. We’ve not had oxtail in years, but Noreen bought some from our favourite butchers, Hiltons in Pinner, last week. It was casseroled. And our stomachs said it was good.
  5. Biscotti. I’ve been making batches of biscotti in the last few days. Yes, I like them, but I also like making them ‘cos they’re quick and easy. And they always seem to be appreciated as presents. My recipe is here.