How to be happy

Suburbia

Painting and photo copyright SvD

Jack Frost

...visited last night with a vengeance and is set to return tonight.

Photo copyright SvD.

Precious gems for a day

Even the humble chalk resembles priceless diamonds when covered in early morning frost.

Photo copyright SvD.

Autumn colours

This frosted oak leaf in the woods laying on the beech, maple and chestnut leaves combine to pay homage to the hues of autumn which are perfect in their contrast. Nature's way...

Photo copyright SvD.

Preparing for my seven course feast

We (my ex-husband and I) made the 'conserve' of apples and plums used in this pie from our then garden. The date on the jar of 'conserve' is 2003 and it has preserved beautifully. I still have many jars of preserves, chutneys and jams from that wonderful Garden of Eden. The marriage ended but the food remains! This pie (I know, my lattice work is not very good but I'm a cook not a fancy chef) will be served with cream and there will be stollen as well.

Preparing for my seven course feast

Spinach flan. I will serve this with some gently stewed rabbit. This flan is eggless and cheeseless in case you're wondering. Those flavours would ruin my rabbit!

Maybe this is the second course.

Flan and photos copyright SvD.

Preparing for my seven course feast

Chicken liver pate (no accents in google, sorry).

Pate and photo copyright SvD.

Send me your happy memories

Please email me your happy memories and I will read them out on my radio show every Sunday. Please remember to include your name and location.

Email me: radiohappymemories@yahoo.co.uk

Remember: we want to make listeners feel good. Many people are alone and sad at this time of year and would appreciate some cheer and happiness once in a while!

Your Happy Memories radio show

Buy a copy of Maestro and change a child's life

I signed a pledge with the founder of Kidsco to donate a share of my royalties for the rest of my life. Please help us raise money to support these children- they need our help. Thank you. You can read the signed pledge here: http://tinyurl.com/cbk37eq

Eve

Painting and photo copyright SvD.

Slippery little bugger

I don't find the grey squirrels cute at all. They steal the bird food, eat our native berries and nuts and leave nothing for anyone else and are incredibly destructive.  Here's one in action about to steal the last oatcake I had made specially for the hedge sparrows.

Photo copyright SvD.

Sadly it was too late

This baby badger had been knocked down by a car and died.

Photo copyright SvD.

Be on my radio show

Become part of my radio show every Sunday! Why not share your happy memories and cheer up our listeners! Drop me a line here being sure to include your name and describe your happiest memories in no more than 250 words. Many thanks!!!

Your happy memories

• by Your happy memories
• in Self Help
• Sun, December 2, 2012 12:00PM

This 30 minute show every Sunday invites callers to share their happy memories. In a world of bad news, Samantha van Dalen wants to spread cheer and happiness instead.....

Great review by best-selling author Lizzy Ford!

How to be Happy review by Lizzy Ford

Thanks, Lizzy!

Tinker, tailor, soldier, spy

Painting and photo copyright SvD.

Click here to buy my books

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=la_B0090O03H2_sr?sort=relevance&search-alias=books&field-author=Samantha+van+Dalen

Maestro

Heart-shaped smile

This oddly-shaped mushroom made me smile.

Photo copyright SvD.

Poor little mite

Sadly this baby badger met his end last night and ironically, within spitting distance of his home. I walk past this spot every morning so I quickly notice anything that is not the norm. This badger most surely died last night and he was hit in the face by a car.

Photo copyright SvD.

Gigantic mushroom

I have never seen such a huge mushroom but there you have it, although a bit battered by the heavy rain of the last few days. That's my hand, by the way, just to give you an idea of scale. Despite the dreary, grey and wet summer, everything that has managed to survive is bigger. That surely is the opposite of what we thought was true- just goes to show that one never really knows anything!

Photo copyright SvD.

My faithful hound

Is always standing there while I take my photos and generally daydream or go off with the fairies. If I turn around he is usually there wagging his tail or he has run off on a sniff-a-thon but returns to my call. Dogs are truly remarkable in their capacity to put up with humans....

Photo copyright SvD.

Amazing what a little white wine can do

I eat like a peasant and am not ashamed to say so (I'm getting too old to play games). This dish is based on petit pois a la parisienne- the method is similar but the ingredients are not. I used up an old leek in the fridge and laid on the freshly ground black pepper which contrasts beautifully with the sweetness of the peas. And of course, a good splash of dry white wine. A plate of oven roasted chips and haddock kiev rounded off this feast.

Photo copyright SvD.

I come in peace

The holly is intent on harming us if we come too close. Some humans share that trait.

Photo copyright SvD.

Sometimes we can't believe our eyes..

I ran a competition where the winner would win a copy of my book, Maestro, had they guessed what this is. No one did.

It's a close up of a field mushroom.

photos copyright SvD.

My radio show, Your Happy Memories

My show went off OK today and I hope you'll come and listen sometime. Please do tell me your happy memories every Sunday at 12noon! PS I'm happy to make a fool of myself occasionally...

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/howtobehappy/2012/11/25/your-happy-memories

Your happy memories

• by Your happy memories
• in Self Help
• Sun, December 2, 2012 12:00PM

This 30 minute show every Sunday invites callers to share their happy memories. In a world of bad news, Samantha van Dalen wants to spread cheer and happiness instead.....

Waspy

This is one of my all time favourite photos- I took this of a wasp as I discovered him rigor mortis on the windowsill. The is the shot of the back of the wasp as I placed him in the standing position. I think the 'face' he has is quite extraordinary. Another present for my scientist/atheist friends.....

Photo copyright SvD.

How to be Happy

Mother

This is one of my favourite paintings. When I painted this, I was inspired by my own mother- there is a resemblance- and with whom sadly, I have a fraught relationship. But she's still my mother.

Photo copyright SvD.

Shall we sail away?

The view at Eastbourne looking out and wishing......

Photo copyright SvD.

I'm nuts about nuts

In the autumn I usually fill up my pockets with acorns. I am often pleasantly surprised to discover acorns lurking in the pockets of old dog walking jackets many years later. Acorns literally last just short of forever: I have some in pristine condition that are at least ten years old. I marvel at the symmetry of these nuts- scientists and atheists of course will laugh and call me simple. Their loss! To me, God is in nature and here's the proof.

Photo copyright SvD.

It's what humans do.

At the Nobel Peace Center in Oslo. I visited Oslo in the Winter- it was decidedly chilly.

Photo copyright SvD.

Death is part of life

All too often I see poor animals slaughtered by cars. This fox died on a road where the speed limit is 30mph. Be that as it may, we need to be reminded of death in order to live.

Photo copyright SvD.

Recipe: Spinach and feta pie (for Shannon)

SPINACH & FETA PIE (FOR SHANNON)

This recipe is not really mine as it is a very popular dish found in Turkey and Greece and in Italy where ricotta cheese replaces feta. The method is more or less the same in all three countries but of course, my variation uses loads of garlic and bacon for that extra flavour. If you’re a die-hard vegetarian, omit the bacon. If you’re pressed for time, use shop bought filo pastry instead of making the shortcrust recipe below.

I make my own pastry as I like to know what goes into my food plus it is easy and quick to make in a food processor.

Ingredients:

Make the pastry first:

4 oz unsalted butter

12 oz plain white flour

pinch salt

2/3 cup of very cold water

Blitz the flour, butter and salt in a food processor until you have the same consistency as fine breadcrumbs. Turn the mixture into a bowl. Add the cold water slowly and mix with the blade of a knife- this brings the mixture together nicely and without annoying bits sticking into clumps. Once the mixture is homogenous- i.e. has come together, use your hands to squash gently into a ball. Do not be too enthusiastic at this stage as you want air bubbles in the pastry dough so it will be light. Be very careful to just bring the dough together and then stop. Wrap in cling film and place in the fridge for at least 30 minutes.

For the filling:

200g or more of spinach leaves (washed)

one medium onion

four cloves garlic

100g smoked bacon cut into cubes or pancetta

splash olive oil

pinch salt

good grinding black pepper

pinch nutmeg

one egg

200g feta cheese, broken up/crumbled into small pieces

Peel and finely chop the onion. Heat the olive oil in a large, heavy bottomed pan over medium-high heat. Fry the bacon pieces until just beginning to brown. Add the onion and fry until brown around the edges- around 7 minutes. Peel and chop the garlic cloves really finely. Once the onion is browned, add the garlic and toss for 30 seconds max. Garlic burns easily and becomes bitter- so be careful as the bitterness will ruin the dish! Wash the spinach in a bowl of water. Lift the leaves gently out of the bowl and add to the pan. There should be enough water from rinsing the spinach so no need to add any more. Cook the spinach over medium heat uncovered. The spinach will release its own juices and become very limp. Continue cooking over medium heat uncovered- this ensures that the spinach does not become too acidic tasting. Once the spinach mixture has cooked for around 20-25 minutes the liquid will have evaporated until there is little to none left. Allow the mixture to cool completely.

PREHEAT THE OVEN NOW AT 200 DEGREES C. - A VERY HOT OVEN IS KEY TO CRISPY PASTRY.

Butter a pie dish (12 inches in diameter). Roll out the pastry on a lightly floured surface. Place the pastry in the pie dish and set aside- forget about the overlapping, untidy edges for now.

Lightly beat the egg and add to the spinach mixture. Crumble the feta in. Grate the nutmeg into the mixture and add a pinch salt and pepper. Mix it all together. Place the mixture into the pie dish. Using a spatula, even out the mixture. Slice off the overhanging pastry and place decoratively on top of the spinach mixture. Place the pie in a preheated oven (200 degrees C) and bake for 20 minutes. Turn the heat down to 180 degrees C and continue baking for a further 20 minutes. Serve warm with a salad and copious glasses of red wine.

Enjoy!!!!!

Words and photo copyright SvD.

Philomene

Painting and photo copyright SvD.

God, my dad and the snow IV

This is a field in the middle of nowhere where I used to walk daily to escape the challenges I once faced not so long ago. We are lucky in the UK that we can walk in the countryside and feel safe. I used to come to this field and get down on my knees and pray. One day I was feeling so lonely and really missed my dad who had died a few years earlier. I told him how much I loved him and missed him and would do anything to have him near me. The thick clouds began to part and I could have sworn my dad came to say hello and to tell me he would always be near me. Here are the shots of that moment.

Photo copyright SvD.

God, my dad and the snow III

This is a field in the middle of nowhere where I used to walk daily to escape the challenges I once faced not so long ago. We are lucky in the UK that we can walk in the countryside and feel safe. I used to come to this field and get down on my knees and pray. One day I was feeling so lonely and really missed my dad who had died a few years earlier. I told him how much I loved him and missed him and would do anything to have him near me. The thick clouds began to part and I could have sworn my dad came to say hello and to tell me he would always be near me. Here are the shots of that moment.
Photo copyright SvD.

God, my dad and the snow II

This is a field in the middle of nowhere where I used to walk daily to escape the challenges I once faced not so long ago. We are lucky in the UK that we can walk in the countryside and feel safe. I used to come to this field and get down on my knees and pray. One day I was feeling so lonely and really missed my dad who had died a few years earlier. I told him how much I loved him and missed him and would do anything to have him near me. The thick clouds began to part and I could have sworn my dad came to say hello and to tell me he would always be near me. Here are the shots of that moment.
Photo copyright SvD.

God, my dad and the snow

This is a field in the middle of nowhere where I used to walk daily to escape the challenges I once faced not so long ago. We are lucky in the UK that we can walk in the countryside and feel safe. I used to come to this field and get down on my knees and pray. One day I was feeling so lonely and really missed my dad who had died a few years earlier. I told him how much I loved him and missed him and would do anything to have him near me. The thick clouds began to part and I could have sworn my dad came to say hello and to tell me he would always be near me. Here are the shots of that moment.

Photo copyright SvD.

The best things in life are free

The autumn leaves of the Japanese Maple are a sparkling red - these are the last few days to enjoy this unforgettable spectacle. Autumn will soon enter the darkest days leading to Christmas and the real start to our long winter. The autumn rains are driving the leaves off the trees until the new cycle commences.

Photo copyright SvD.

Worshipful birds

The blue tits decided to bow this morning when they caught me peering at them.

Photo copyright SvD.

Diamond trader in Africa

Franck used to travel to Africa to source diamonds - a dangerous job indeed where the gain runs a very close second to the risks. We lost touch but this is how I remember him.

Painting and photo copyright SvD.

Can you guess what this is?

Sometimes looking too closely, like thinking too hard, confuses us.

(Answer: Moss)

Photo copyright SvD.

Moules/frites

Supper- seasonal mussels, stored potatoes, stored garlic, parsley still growing in the greenhouse. Stored Cox apples and Conference pears for dessert. Copious red wine, obviously. Eat with the seasons- always!

Photo copyright SvD.

Maestro

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This was the first painting I ever sold

I sold this for £1,500. Musing Man, 2007

Painting and photo copyright SvD.

Mirror, mirror, on the wall

Wissant, France.

Photo copyright SvD.

The best things in life are free

Beech leaves go from orange to copper in the autumn. The leaves are the last to fall off the tree and hang on tenaciously until late winter.

Photo copyright SvD.

The nose

Sometimes it is better to follow one's nose....

Painting and photo copyright SvD.

How to be Happy

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The best things in life are free

Holly berries. the old wives' tale: few berries on the tree means a milder winter. And the opposite applies.

Photo copyright SvD.

Strange creatures

These mushrooms growing so closely together resemble a pair of breasts or alternatively and because of my extra vivid imagination, aliens. I can see a face....

In the woods.

Photo copyright SvD.

Each day is a new beginning

Photo copyright SvD