I am slowly gaining the trust of the mandarin ducks

[Ieuann133]

Hi folks, I have found that focussing on things that I can control rather than the chaos that is happening outside in the world is really helping me stay calm which is vital for us autoimmune junkies.

I have two goals at the moment, master the art of making sourdough bread (I always make our bread to ensure that we are eating healthy food but have never had the time to begin and cultivate a sourdough starter)

The second task is to befriend the mandarin ducks that visit our garden. This involves lots of mealworms and sitting still for a long long time whilst they decide that I am not a threat.

I had a minor break through 30 minutes ago, a pair wandered up to the house to get some food, I was in the snug approximately metres from them... I stood still just watching them. They could see me, in fact the male kept an eye on me whilst his wife fed... I wanted my camera but that was on the other side of the room and if I moved at all they would fly off, but I decided to try and voila ... they stayed! This is huge... I am so happy 😀

Stay well all, try to forget about the worries we have, you need to be as healthy as you can be during this..

a demain

[DJK99]

Love it! I have been doing that previously with my birdies - and you saw the result the other day! The jackdaws were very skittish.I am about to start baking wholemeal bread... The lovely woman in the tiny but fabulous (posh) "essential" goods shop two down from me was v kind indeed and gave me a packet of yeast as they don't sell it. haven't touched it yet though. Two days ago I made my own kimchi (garlic free, of course as the worst thing for making your immune system go beserk - could never understand whyI felt so utterly awful after my roast potatoes with roast garlic or chorizo!). Once ready to be sealed and refrigerated it keeps for upto 3mths in the fridge and I for one love my veggies so if we run out at all, I can pop it open. Rather chuffed. I discovered it last month when a friend suggested I try fermented food for my poor tum etc. It was rather exhausting to make but got there in the end! So absolutely Leuann, if we can, I think it's a great time to have some ideas we might like to try if feeling well enough. Do post a pic of your bread please... good luck. x

[Ieuann133 in reply to DJK99]

Kim chi is on my list, I was bought 2 Kim chi jars at Christmas. Will try that on Friday!!!

The sourdough starter is looking good, a little like the batter you get when you make homemade crumpets ...

bread making is great, it takes an entire day if you knead and prove properly. If you are making wholemeal it takes more fluid. It is always good to mix your flour with some white flour, makes it easier to prove

Let me know how you get on

😁😁xx

[KayHimm]

My television just went out. So glad to see your photos are still coming . Makes my day. Your ducks, ponds and maybe the poetry that appear in my inbox is more calming anyway.

XK

[Hidden]

So fun! And I am still jealous of your gorgeous grounds!!!

So my alternative therapist put me on sourdough last October, the first time I saw her. I was soooo happy, because I’d gone without bread for years (gluten, right?) She said that the starter is very simple, but I haven’t been brave enough to ‘start’ yet. I was telling my husband just a couple of days ago that it might be time. One less thing to run to the store for.

🤦🏻‍♀️Now if only I had planted that vegetable garden I was suppose to...

Let me know how it goes for you.

[overnighthearingloss]

Look up Anna Breytenbach. She is an animal communicator.

She sits quietly and thoughts come into her head as to what the animal may be saying/thinking/feeling.

Imagine if you could manage it with your duck troop.

[Ieuann133 in reply to overnighthearingloss]

I have koi carp too, one in particular comes to have his chin tickled... he is called Steve I will get a picture tomorrow

Animals are fabulous, I would be happy to surround myself with them but with hopping from France to the UK all the time means that I have to keep them to a minimum. 😊