Bucket List

Everybody has a bucket list whether it is written down or milling around n your head. It’s unique to each individual and you write down everything you want to do before you die. I have a notebook for mine and as I think of things I want to do I make a note of them. At the moment it stands at twenty-seven and I have crossed off fourteen of my things I want to do. I am constantly adding to it and enjoy that moment when I can score another item of my list.

Here are mine

1/ Visit my friend in America…Yes

2/Write a book…yes

3/Publish a book…yes

4/Ride a motorbike…not yet

5/Visit Greece…not yet

6/ Drive along Route 66…not yet

7/Stay in New York…not yet

8/ Visit Ocracoke Island…yes

9/ Go to Nags Head…yes

10/Get a tattoo…yes

11/Write a best seller…not yet

12/ Visit Paris…not yet

13/Go horseback riding…not yet

14/Go and see The Northern Lights…not yet

15/Witness A Solar Eclipse…yes

16/Dance with Michael Buble…I wish!

17/See Michael Buble in concert…yes

18/ See Matchbox Twenty in concert…yes

19/See Donny Osmond in concert…yes

20/Go to a Drive-in Movie…not yet

21/Fit into my small black jeans…yes

22/Become a vegetarian…yes

23/Go to a jazz club…not yet

24/Play snow angels…yes

25/Feed a homeless person and pay for them to have somewhere to stay…yes

26/Write a children’s book…not yet

27/ See Niagara Falls…not yet

So there it is my Bucket List…out of 27 things to do I’ve scored off I’ve achieved 14 of them.

Autumn Time

Autumn is the third season of the year. When the leaves begin to turn red, brown and all different shades of orange they fall to the ground by the winds leaving a carpet of colour beneath the trees.

The weather changes turning cooler, the winds stronger and raining more often. Nights draw in and mornings become lighter, sometimes misty. Dewy grass, spiders webs, animals like hedgehogs getting ready to hibernate until spring.

Birds like swallows and swifts start to fly south going to places like Africa because they don’t like the cold weather we have here in the UK.

Long country walks, the smell of the autumn coolness in the air.

We change our clothing for warmer wear, our make-up to more autumnal colours and our skincare so that we can accommodate the cold biting winds and impending winter.

Food plays a big part in the change of the seasons. Home-made soup, casseroles with dumplings and fresh bread to accompany these. Puddings are more hearty like apple pie and custard.

Although I am a sun girl and hate the cold weather, I do like this time of year when so many changes are going on. The earthy colours suit my Capricorn sign and I have to profess a great pleasure in being able to wear my boots with skirts and jeans. Red nail varnish is a favourite of mine and perfect for this time of year. Spicy perfume, a darker shade of lip gloss and going for a pumpkin spice cappuccino.

Virgin olive oil

1 medium onion, sliced

3  garlic cloves, thinly sliced

3 celery sticks, trimmed and thinly sliced

3  large carrots 

1 yellow peppers, cut into 2cm/1in chunks

400g/14oz tin chopped tomatoes

2 vegetable stock cube

1 tsp dried mixed herbs

400g/14oz tin butter beans, drained and rinsed

1 head young spring greens (approximately 125g/4½oz), trimmed and sliced

sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

Chick peas

Spinich

Preparation method

1.     Add tablespoon of  oil and cook the onion, garlic, celery and carrots and peppers gently for 10 minutes, stirring regularly until softened.

2.     Add 1 litre of water and the chopped tomatoes. Crumble over the stock cube and stir in the dried herbs. Bring to the boil, then add all your other vegtablesw then reduce the heat to a simmer and cook for 30 minutes.

3.     Season the soup with salt and pepper .Season to taste and serve in deep bowls.

4.     Serve with fresh bread