Down at the bottom of the garden, A Danish Goblin dwelled. And on, one, hot and windy day, He screamed! and then he yelled! "Who's stole my Danish Pastries? And nicked my strawberry flan? I'm undone, quite besides myself, I, will have to make a plan."
Our Danish Goblin called his mates, Who lived, beneath the hedge. He told them of his stolen cakes, From off his window ledge. "I suppose it could be garden gnomes, They're all looking kind of fat." But Gertie, pushed them all aside, Me thinks, it was That Cat!
The catwas sitting 'neath the tree, Cream, all about her face. She eyed the Goblins up and down, And then, began the chase. First they watched the slant, eyed puss, Till, her whiskers, began to quiver. "Stand aside men!" Gertie cried, Whilst I grab her tongue and liver.
The Goblin swayed, the big cat strayed- much closer to her quarry. She stretched her paw, with nail and claw, And Gertie didn't tarry. Next up came Bert with his garden spade, He swung it round his head, He missed the cat, and hit a rat, Then toppled down quite dead.
Then, with a grin, the puss did spin, Her tail, curled round her paw. She sent them sprawling across the lawn , Then made it off towards the door. The Goblins beat, made a hasty retreat, Then assembled 'neath the bushes. With scratches and bruises from head to toe, There were no more, heated rushes.
The Danish Goblins sat quite still, Each with their own remorse. Ne'er again would they stand the pain, Of the pussy cat's, tail and claws. Gertie decided right there and then, That, they all, would take a pledge. If they ever made Danish Pastries again, They would never, ever, be left, on the ledge.
AND NOW HERE IS A CHANCE FOR YOU TO MAKE SOME REAL DANISH PASTRIES,
CURTESY OF DAN LEPARD'S DANISH PASTRY RECIPE, FROM THE GUARDIAN NEWSPAPER, MARCH 2012
www.guardian.co.uk/profile/danlepard
Dan Lepard's Danish recipe:
Tricks
to take your danish from ordinary to excellent.
Photograph: Colin
Campbell for the Guardian
You can cook pretty impressive danish pastries at home, so long
as you apply just a little patience and care when making the dough. I've
found that the addition of yeast to a simple rough puff delivers that
big hit of buttery richness and crisp texture I'm after with little
bother.
A few tricks take your danish from ordinary to excellent. I
use 00 flour (McDougalls and Sainsbury's do good ones) because it gives
the danish a crisp texture that I like, but you can use strong white
flour instead and be content with a soft texture. Keep the dough
chilled, but not so cold that the butter turns rock hard: you want to be
able to roll the butter into layers without it melting or cracking. Be
a little mean with the flour for rolling once you're past the first
two folds, as it can tighten the dough and stop it stretching as easily.
And if the dough seems hard to roll out to the final 1cm thickness,
just let it sit undisturbed for 10 minutes covered with a cloth, and it
will then roll more easily.
Rough Danish Dough
If need be,
use a dash more milk when you mix in the flour, so the dough is soft,
pliable and easy to roll. These quantities make enough dough for eight
to 10 pastries.
For the starter 1 tsp fast-acting yeast 75ml warm water 50g strong white flour
For the dough About 75ml cold milk 2 egg yolks 50ml cold double cream 25g caster sugar 250g cold unsalted butter, cut into 1-2cm cubes 300g 00 flour, plus extra for rolling 1 tsp salt Beaten egg, to finish
For
the starter, in a warm bowl dissolve the yeast in the warm water, beat
in the flour until smooth, cover and leave for an hour to bubble.
Make
the dough by whisking the milk, egg yolks, cream and sugar into the
starter, followed first by the butter cubes and then by the flour and
salt. Stir everything together to a rough, lumpy dough, scoop it out on
to a floured worktop and roll out to 1cm thick. Fold it in by thirds,
roll it out again as before, fold it in by thirds again, then wrap and
chill for 30 minutes. Repeat this rolling and chilling sequence twice
more, then roll and shape as needed.
For Chocolate Danish Roll
a piece of dough to 30cm x 15cm x 1cm thick. Chop 200g of good
chocolate into fingers (don't worry if it breaks), then place some
chocolate in a line running parallel to the long side of the dough,
leaving a 2cm margin. Fold this margin tightly over the chocolate to
cover it, place another line of chocolate alongside the new seam, then
roll the dough over to cover it, too. Brush egg wash along the seam,
then roll the dough tightly over again until the bare edge is centred
under the roll of dough. Flatten the roll gently with the heel of your
hand and cut into four 7-8cm lengths (any longer and they may sag in the
middle after baking).
For Raisin Danish Roll
a piece of dough to 30cm x 15cm x 1cm thick. Brush the surface with
water (or spread with a thin layer of custard) and generously dot with
plump, dark raisins. Roll tightly up along the length, so you have
a short, fat scroll, seal the end with water, then cut into four wheels.
Rising and Baking Line
a baking tray with nonstick paper, put the prepared pastries on top,
cover loosely with clingfilm, and leave the shaped dough to rise
somewhere warm until almost doubled in size. Once risen, brush with
beaten egg and bake at 200C (180C fan-assisted)/390F/gas mark 6 for 10
minutes. Lower the heat to 180C (160C fan-assisted)/350F/gas mark 4 and
bake for another 15-20 minutes, until crisp.
Thankyou Dan, this is the best recipe I found, very easy to follow and excellent to eat. Dodie.
For a Child to a Parent - and - For a Parent to a Child
This is a very interesting article due to the fact that there is a lot of talk in the media about OUR CHILDREN AND BOOKS.
Exploring Books with Babies
Reading to a squirmy infant or an active toddler can be challenging — but it's so important. Here, dos
and don'ts for reading to the under-2 set. by Susan Straub Babies
don't so much read books as explore them. It's not about the words,
the
story, or the sound of your voice. It's not about the pictures. It's
not about the physical book itself. It's actually about all of the
above, combined. Babies use all their senses to take in a book. Your job
is to keep your mind open to the possibilities — for example, that
eatinga book can be just as satisfying as reading it — and have fun. It
can take a lot of patience to get through even a short picture book
with a baby, but you'll be rewarded with a child
who's received an excellent start to literacy — and life. Here are some
do's and don'ts for you and your budding reader:
Do: Expand
your child's library. Very little babies have no
real idea what you're reading, so why not read aloud to her from
whatever you're reading, like a novel or a magazine? That way you both
get to hear terrific stories together.
Expose her to art. Show
your baby pictures from the family photo album or a coffee table art
book — just be careful she doesn't grab precious pages! Babies enjoy
looking at images and respond well to simple, high-contrast pictures.
Get
tactile.Touch-and-feel books, like the classic Pat the Bunny, are great
sensory as well as literary tools. Guide your baby's hand over various
textures while you read.
Follow
your baby's lead. Some babies like to open and close books, hand them
back to you, or stack them like blocks. That counts as reading, too.
The more you use books for fun, the more likely she'll see that they are
an enjoyable part of her daily life.
Keep
books handy. Stow board books in your stroller, diaper bag, car, near
the highchair, at the changing table, or even in the bathtub (there are
some wonderful waterproof bath books). You'll always have a book ready
to distract and entertain.
Read enthusiastically. Use silly voices, make animal sounds, and read with drama.
Hand
your baby a book. When your baby's reached the grabbing stage, he's
likely to take the book out of your hands. Let him; just have a couple
books on hand so you can
switch back and forth and read them all at once.
Be
prepared to repeat,and repeat, and repeat. Babies often get stuck on
a particular
favorite, and will zoom right to that book on the shelf even if you
offer others. Repetition and familiarity are soothing to babies and
toddlers. Let her have her way — she'll pick a new favorite soon enough.
Point
to pictures. For your pre-literate baby, illustrations are just as
important (sometimes more so) than words. Don't feel you have to read
every page every time, but do point at the pictures Look at the green car! Where's the moon? as
you flip pages.
Join
the public library. It's a great way to expand your reading
repertoire. You can join story-time groups and classes and meet other
families.
Don't:
Take it personally
when baby rejects reading.Your infant may have seemed relaxed and ready
to settle in to read with you, but after one page
he starts squalling. Just put the book aside; he'll have a better
moment again soon.
Don't stop
your baby from mouthing books. This is one of the ways your baby
explores books; it's part of how she learns about everything in her
world.
Don't be
surprised when your toddler crawls away. Two things to remember
about a toddler: he is more interested in moving than sitting still, and
he can still hear you. Keep reading —
he'll come back (and if not, you can try again later).
Don't get mad at
ripped pages. Has she ripped off a dinosaur's head?
Don't get upset with
her. Babies are stronger than most books!
Plenty of baby-friendly board
books are made just for the purpose of being gnawed and chewed.
Just
refrain from giving children under 2 pop-up books and from reading goodbooks that you'd like to save for when she's
older.
Toddlers may be interested in helping you fix torn books. Keep
some tape handy for repairs.
Don't think you have to finish every book
you start. For your baby or toddler, the process is more important than
the outcome. You may not have reached the end of the book, but you did
share some nice reading time together.
Don't give away baby books
prematurely. Even when he grows into the next stage, he may like to
revisit her old, gummed, and torn favorites.
Read at the same pace all the time. Speed up or slow down, depending on your baby's interest.
Don't underestimate
your baby. You may not be able to see it right away, but your baby is
profiting sensually, intellectually, and socially thanks to your
reading.
Susan Straub is the director of The Read To Me Program, Inc.
From Parent & Child magazine
Thankyou so much for this advice Susan, it was very helpful. Dodie
When you were only 5 years old, I said "I Love You." You asked me: "What Is It?"
When you were 15 years old, I said "I Love You." You blushed, and looked down and smiled..
When you were 20 years old, I said "I Love You." You put your head on my shoulder and held my hand, afraid that I might disappear.
When you were 25 years old, I said "I Love You." You prepared breakfast and served it, then kissed my forehead and said "you'd better be quick, I'm going to be late.."
When you were 30 years old, I said "I Love You." You said: "If you really love me, please come back early after work.."
When you were 40 years old, I said "I Love You." You were cleaning the dining table and said:
"Ok Dear, but it's time for you to help our child with his revision.."
When you were 50 years old, I said "I Love You." You were reading and you laughed at me..
When you were 60 years old, I said "I Love You." You smiled at me..
When you were 70 years old. I said "I Love You."
We sitting on the rocking chair with our glasses on..
I'm reading your
love letter that you sent me 50 years ago..
With our hand crossing
together..
When you were 80 years old, You said, " I Love You! " I didn't say anything. " I Cried. "
We may not express it but when we say "I Love You" we want our partner
also to say the same... there are many ways of expressing love but
nothing can play the same magic that these three words can play when said in
return hearts;
So was it the wife or the husband speaking the first but not last verse.
WHAT AN OPENING FOR WHAT HAS PROVEN TO BE A GREAT, NEW WEB SITE.
OF COURSE I'M PROUD OF MY WORK,
THERE IS NO POINT IN WORKING SO HARD IF YOU DON'T HAVE FAITH IN WHAT YOU'RE STRIVING TO ACHIEVE.
XXX DODIE XXX
DODIES DREAM WORLD
This homepage is a special one for me because it leads me straight into my love of music and films and all things artistic.There is plenty more to see and hear and read about in all the pages on your left. Enjoy my beauties, you are about to venture into Paradise, you lucky, lucky people.
xxxDodie xxx
A little song for you to enjoy.
LED ZEPPELIN LYRICS
"Going To California"
Spent my days with a woman unkind,
Smoked my stuff and drank all my wine.
Made up my mind to make a new start,
Going To California with an aching in my heart.
Someone told me there's a girl out there
with love in her eyes and flowers in her hair.
Took my chances on a big jet plane,
never let them tell you that they're all the same.
The sea was red and the sky was grey,
wondered how tomorrow could ever follow today.
The mountains and the canyons started to tremble and shake
as the children of the sun began to awake.
Seems that the wrath of the Gods
Got a punch on the nose and it started to flow;
I think I might be sinking.
Throw me a line if I reach it in time
I'll meet you up there where the path
Runs straight and high.
To find a queen without a king,
They say she plays guitar and cries and sings... la la la
Ride a white mare in the footsteps of dawn
Tryin' to find a woman who's never, never, never been born.
Standing on a hill in my mountain of dreams,
Telling myself it's not as hard, hard, hard as it seems.
Share You can turn off the music by clicking on the sound button, left bottom corner of picture frame.
^
Turn on/off music here I
wrote the poem below not long after we moved into our house in Sychdyn.
It had been empty a while and the garden was in the most dreadful
state. Every plant was being choked by it's neighbour, in fact it was so
bad we had to wear our motor bike gloves and jacket to keep the thorns
off us. but it was worth it. The picture below is of our home now, after
all the hard work of making London Road beautiful we moved here to
Pontybodkin and once more it took at least three years getting it in to
shape..
As I said before I wrote this piece of poetry on the completion of" London Road, Sychdyn. Sad
to say, the house was resold and the garden has vanished, it is all
lawn now. It still has a few bits of us there, including our
beautiful Cairn Terrier Little Kelly, who passed away and is buried in
the garden. Hush, I'm not telling you where. And so even this isn't the garden Sweet Relief was written about, as I said this is the new house we moved to in Pontybodkin. That's myself and my husband at the very top of the back garden. It is all fenced in now, with many birds, foxes, squirrels, mice, a pond that today Match 1st is full of frogs that have just arrived for the spawning. Then there is toads, newts and so many plants and things, some planted by us and others seeded by the birds. If you look at the video below you will see what I mean xxx Dodie
Dodies Dream World. etc.
SWEET RELIEF
Strangled by nature, turned brown under sodden strands of wilting yellow. Choked stems try to reach up to catch hold of the suns powerful rays. Thorns dig deep into the fragile growth of youth, gouging out crevasses that will never be healed. Dying....all around the cries of starvation can be heard on the wind. Then new voices are heard, hands wrestle with the undergrowth, pulling, twisting, turning, letting light through to the darkened soil.
Oh sweet relief.... I can feel a breeze upon my face. Look, look, there is a light. There, high above me, a faint light shining. Is this me, saved. Are we all to be saved from this hell that has befallen us. Reach out, reach up, climb the sunbeam to a new life, stretch your backs, flex your arms, lift your heads high. Fresh mown hay gives way to a blanket of green. Birds sing in the trees above us, bees fly deep into our bellies, taste the sweet honey which flows freely from within us.
Days pass by, life gets stronger, hearts begin to beat again. Peach and purple, azure and turquoise, russet and gold. Colour creeps across the horizon like a rainbow reborn. Scarlet fuchsia dance gaily above the chamomile lawn. Tangerine montbretia sway to and fro, like fronds of fire, swaying beneath the lilac buddleia which is, in turn kissed gently by the painted lady.
Sweet... sweet perfume fills the air, carried on the wind to each hidden corner. The sickly smell of the honeysuckle tells us that night is descending, Scented stock adds to the evenings mystic aroma. Tomorrow we shall awake and feel the dew on our petals, see the whiteness of the clouds in the summer sky, feel the softness of the rose petals as they fall upon our delicate blades.
Tomorrow we shall fill our bodies with the silver raindrops as they fall to the sepia ground beneath our leaves. Tenderly stretch our roots deeper into the soft earth below. But now to sleep, to dream in the shadows. Sleeping quietly, waking sometime, then drifting back to sleep. The moonlight kisses us whilst we rest, then comes the morning and we awake knowing we have been blessed.
Welcome to the sounds of the 60's and 70's albeit the recordings may have been done outwith those years. Enjoy Seligor and Dodie
m
I
have just made this new version of some Guitar pickers. I think you
should know them all and that you'll agree with me that they are just a
little bit "mmmmeeeeeaaaannnnn" But I'm not so sure about this Malmsteen
He seems to make a lot of noise but it doesn't meld very well. THE COVER HAS NO REAL MEANING TO THE TRACKS
Cuteki 
Be
prepared to repeat,and repeat, and repeat. Babies often get stuck on
a particular
favorite, and will zoom right to that book on the shelf even if you
offer others. Repetition and familiarity are soothing to babies and
toddlers. Let her have her way — she'll pick a new favorite soon enough.
Share
and we awake knowing we have been blessed. 
