Variety is indeed the spice of life, a statement relevant to this blog, and sumach is a spice that I use to add occasional delicious variety to my culinary repertoire.*

One weekend saw me and Mr Cooper heading, with enthusiasm, towards Bristol, where we were looking forward to seeing Bristol Rovers defeat Rochdale.  (One of us was more excited than the other, I leave you to decide which one. And the same one was much more confident of a victory too!)

Let's just say that they were lucky to draw.  In the first half the defence was pitiful, but also the referee was indeed what the crowd said he was.  They must have had a good pep talk at half-time, and the ref emerged far less biaised, the final score being 2-2.  A very draining match to watch!

Leaving Mr Cooper's world now, and returning to my part of our shared life.
A while ago, I showed some pictures that needed a good home, and this was one of them.
A kind and caring home was offered, and it was duly delivered, and received with much excitement.

It also travelled with a studio-companion, one that has been much admired in the past.

'Naked, But Surrounded by Cake', minus frame,** was also happily accepted by Diane.
I did check the house and garden to make sure they fitted the painting's requirements, as you have to do when re-homing an artwork.  Luckily the garden is secure, and the house is usually full of Di and Keith's friends and family, so they should settle in well, and not feel neglected.
 In fact, they should blossom after being rarely seen.
I should be re-homing another artwork next week, then I will see if there are some more who would benefit from a second home.
 All donations gratefully received, then I get to buy more paints to paint even more!

Here is a photo of the painting and its creator, both settling in very well!  I do find that, if handed a glass of fizz, I settle pretty well.

After a busy weekend, Monday can seem a little flat.  But not in this household!
Since becoming a volunteer for Trinity, in Winchester, I have enjoyed working with the Monday afternoon art group. http://trinitywinchester.org.uk/
 We have been making a coat of arms to depict ourselves and our interests, and here is the first completed section of mine.  It has been inspired by my walk of the South Downs Way, and hopefully is showing my love of the countryside, and walking in it.
Life is not always easy, and sometimes it can feel as if 'difficult' has got the upper hand.
Having an interlude where you are creating something in the company of others is so beneficial.

Time marches on, or, in the case of September, surges on.  Nearly time for Mum's birthday, so three of us set off for Eye, one sunny Saturday morning. (Sam was not able to join us, for, as he said, 'When am I ever going to get a weekend off work?')

As usual, we broke our journey in Turweston, near Brackley, where I had a beautiful blast from the past.  Directors, and a packet of honey roasted!  https://www.facebook.com/strattonarms/
When I lived next door to The Greyhound, in Stockbridge (1986-1996), it was a Courage pub.
Now I work there 2 days a week, and like most places, it is not really a pub anymore, it has become an eating establishment.  How can a pub survive now without being so?
On a positive note, the food there is really good! (And you can have just a drink there too)
http://thegreyhoundonthetest.co.uk/

When we visit Mum, me and my brothers always bring flowers.  Mum loves getting flowers.***
Over the years, the number of vases she possesses has declined, and when the three of us descend, it is difficult to find enough receptacles for the blooms.
So I set out to search for a large vase as a present from the 3 of us. Have you tried to do this lately? Look for a specific object, with a firm idea in your head of what you would like?
I went to one shop which sold flowers.  I was shown the vase selection and I chose the largest ceramic vase, only to be told that it wouldn't hold water!  Well, that's handy in a vase!  And yes, I also spent a long time looking at a vast selection on the computer, and none fitted the bill.
 But then Mr Cooper stepped in, and said, 'What about Malcolm?'
So I walked down the lane to ask my friend and work colleague (Malcolm runs the Chichester Art Trail, and I am a committee member) if he had a large, fit for purpose vase, preferably with a handle.

Here it is, sitting on the table at Mum's, full of Mark's flowers.  Mum was delighted by the vase.
Malcolm is a very talented potter, and a painter and photographer too and runs pottery courses from his studio in Nutbourne.  http://www.dobbies.net/

So we have had football and art, beer and ceramics.  Now it is time for tattoos.
One of the chefs at work, in an interlude from producing some amazing food, was sketching away.
He was putting together ideas for a tattoo.  He knew what he wanted, it was just how to do it.
I did a working drawing for him, of his ideas, and here it is.
I have got another to do now for him.  Any more offers, out there?
 I have always loved working with someone to give them a visual image of the ideas in their head,
but it stops there, I won't be reaching for the needle and the inks!

Perhaps next time there will be design number two on view.

Just off now to get ready to meet someone I have worked with on several occasions, to put together an image of a working mission tent.  Life is certainly not dull, and they are buying me lunch too!

If you feel your week is a little dull, just reach for a new recipe to add a little more spice.

And in this transition between summer and autumn, why not wear a different combination of garments to add variety.  Just stop when your friends start laughing.  And talking of friends, it is always good to actually meet, and chat, and end up laughing...... even if you have to cry first.

*  This is a recipe I enjoy greatly, courtesy of Nigella.  it is called 'Za'atar Chicken with Fattoush',
Za'atar being a Middle-eastern spice blend which contains sumach.
Fattoush is also up there in my top 10 salads.
Cling on to summer for a week longer and try this.  Or cling on anyway, and eat something else.
The choice, as always, is yours.

** I needed the frame for this year's significant drawing, 'Naked And Surrounded By life.'
Next week I will know whether is has been accepted or rejected for it's third competition this year.

*** I take flowers when I stay with friend and family, and love receiving them myself.
Luckily Mr Cooper buys me flowers, or my vases would be a little empty (apart from when my brothers and close friends descend!)

This week, an outdoor theme still pervades, punctuated by a culinary delight for you to feast your eyes upon.
Once again, son John and I found ourselves as the only passengers in my elderly Volvo as we made our way to the Gaylard Wood Fair 2016, near Sturminster Newton. Apparently, Wood Fairs are not for everybody, (this was news to me!) Mr Cooper went to one once, so he should know.
 It was a bit of a hike, but so worth it.

The setting is in woodlands where there is truly an abundance of oak.  Here is a typical oak avenue, plus a good cross-section of the visitors.  Beards, shorts, hats, glasses of cider, dogs.
 John and I had beard and cider (him) and shorts, hat and cider (me).

Set against a backdrop of clumps of oak trees were many vintage woodworking vehicles.
 A couple of weeks ago we were looking at a saw bench being powered by a traction engine, and now we were looking at one being powered by an elderly tractor.  If you look closely, the man in charge has shorts, bowler hat and cider.

I have been to many steam rallies of varying sizes, since I was very young.
 If you too have attended a few rallies, this poster should indeed make you smile.
We found it in the perfect place, tucked amongst the stationary engines.
 And if you don't know what one of those is, this joke will be lost on you.  But if you have unwillingly accompanied a steam enthusiast to many rallies, try to contain your hysterical outbursts!

If I was able to have my time again, I would love to have a pair of working horses, not as an exhibit from the past, but earning a living by working in the woodlands.  This would take up a lot of my life, leaving painting, writing and cooking to fill up the corners, ready to take over for when I got too old for working in the woods. (Probably in my early eighties!)

It was a real delight to see so many horses there, demonstrating working with timber,
and this is Jenny.
Although she looks like she is sporting a bonkers outfit ( another plus for me) she is in fact wearing a covering to protect her from flies.

Another thing that serves to protect us all from flies is our friendly spider.  This one was doing a good job of keeping the fly population down, plus any badly-behaved terriers.

John must have been in a good mood, for after he had let me stroke the Suffolks (horses to John are dangerous bitey, kicky things)........

.........he accompanied me on a ride round the site on a cart pulled by them.
Strangely enough, we had a peaceful, uneventful ride with no biting, kicking or bolting.
Darling and Boy behaved beautifully, as I thought they would.

Leaving the woodlands behind now, we returned to The Gables to make a Shanghai Steamboat, a delicious request from Sarah.  It is now going to be introduced to the Falkland Islands.
Years ago now, Mr Cooper and myself experienced our first 'steamboat' in a tiny Vietnamese restaurant in Southsea, back in the days when I lived in the Pink House, we had some money,  and ate out a lot.
It is such a fun dish to eat, each diner cooking their own meat and fish in the broth, which is served over noodles.  Vegetables play an important role (of course) and the beauty of this dish is that a fussy eater can stick to what they feel safe with (yawn yawn) leaving people like me and Mr Cooper to stuff down as much steak, squid, prawns, chicken, tuna etc as we can (hurrah!)
I will include the general outline for one, at the end of the blog.  This week's recipe.
The chances are that I will be writing a cookery book soon!

Sarah and Ali's visit was sadly drawing to a close, and they bought cases to pack all their purchases, mostly wedding-related.
Sarah's dress was packed in a cream coloured suitcase, just the right size for hand luggage, and she asked me if I would paint it to be more 'wedding-y'. 

So on Sunday I applied the base colours.  It was a bit of a pig to paint on, as I was painting on a canvas-like fabric stretched over a thickish board.  I was happy though, as for the first time in absolutely ages, I was in my shed on a Sunday afternoon, painting away whilst listening to Radio 4.
A state close to heaven, well, heaven for me.

Here it is at the end of Sunday afternoon.......

And here it is at the end of Monday afternoon.  Luckily it was  Bank Holiday Monday, so for once I had a free afternoon.

Tuesday found me reluctantly back at work, but I disappeared into the shed on Wednesday morning,

 

and once again on Wednesday afternoon.  Just in time, as the case was then taken away along with Sarah and Ali on Thursday morning to Heathrow, to begin their long trip home.

And the next time we see them will be in February, when we join them to celebrate their marriage, which will take place in Ali's parent's garden.
Just got to make lots of purple and silver bunting now, not forgetting my purple dress!
Now when was the last time I made lots of bunting?

That's it, for when I got married to Mr Cooper!

Looking forward to making lots of bunting for you now, Sarah!
 (Not forgetting knitting the odd garment for Henry too, of course)

Enjoy your working week, and the weekend to come.  Make sure you have something frivolous in your life to make you smile, and if you feel that is lacking, you can always make some bunting.
Or you can visit the Irregular Choice website to purchase truly frivolous footwear!
 http://www.irregularchoice.com/
I have just purchased some truly frivolous footwear for the wedding!

Whatever you decide, looking forward to seeing you all in a week or so's time.

Shanghai Steamboat.

Make a broth from stock, sliced onions, leeks and carrots, chopped parsley, and a chili cut in half.  Make enough to fill a medium/large saucepan, which will be placed onto a camping stove on your table.
Prepare various fish and meats cut into bite-sized portions.  Steak, chicken, tuna, squid, whole prawns, salmon and lamb fillet all work well.  Cook enough egg noodles for you all, and have a variety of chili dipping sauces ready.
Put the broth onto the stove to simmer, give each diner a large soup bowl, with noodles covering the bottom.  Add a ladle or two of broth over them.
Now grab your 80s fondue forks, preferably 2 each, and cook your chosen delicacies in the broth.
Dip them in the sauce before eating, if desired.
Have a range of vegetables prepared to add to the broth at regular intervals, such as pak choi, mushrooms, sliced courgettes, baby sweetcorn etc.
Add a little boiling water to the broth if required.
At the end, when all the meat has gone, serve out the remaining broth to be eaten as a broth.
Enjoy!