Logan's Homemade pasta.

My multi talented son (well, he takes after his Dad) was a little concerned about everybody during this pandemic when he heard how everyone was buying as much pasta as they could , so he figured he'd show you all how to make it at home from a few simple ingredients..

Firstly, what you'll need is some flour, salt an egg or two depending on how much you want to make and a little oil.

Put two cups of flour on the counter and add the egg, a little salt and just enough oil to bring it all together into a dough.

Knead it till it forms into a non sticky dough, add some flour to the counter top and your hands to stop it sticking.

Let the dough rest in the fridge for an hour or so.

Once rested roll it out into thin layers

Cut it into thin strips and separate into plastic bags, these will stay fresh in the fridge for 3 or 4 days

It will cook quickly, 2 mins or so, then add some garlic, mozzarella, cheddar, a few herbs and a drizzle of oil and there you have a meal fit for a king..Enjoy!

Mink tracks

This lockdown due to the coronavirus seems to be taking its toll on a lot of people, I know its difficult not getting out the way we used to but hopefully it wont be like this for long. We are allowed out for exercise each day and theres a little creek not too far from me and I saw mink tracks on the riverbank, first time I've ever seen them in this area thought they are prevalent in other places I've been too  but it's nice to know our furry friends still go about their daily business oblivious to what's happening to us.

Coronavirus - what are we not being told?

In 2009 there was a flu pandemic and nearly 600 000 people died globally as a result.

Did you know that ? Probably not, because there was no panic, no closing schools or cities down in fact I have no recollection of it being mentioned at all. To the date of this article there has been less that 4000 global deaths of coronavirus and yet the world is in complete and total meltdown. Virtually every person I talk to, even the most rational people, are saying something isn't right with this, is it a distraction or something more sinister?, the only thing we can say is there is definitely something we are not being told.

Coronavirus - purify water to drink with sodium hypochlorite

Most household bleaches contain sodium hypochlorite, this can be used to purify drinking water in an emergency situation. Although we are unlikely to face any problems with water shortages with the coronavirus outbreak it does no harm to have the information at hand just in case. Buy basic household bleach, no additives like fragrances or any other chemicals, usually the bargain brand ones are the best to use. Make sure if using rain water or ground water that it is properly filtered first, then use the table below to add the correct amount of chemical to make it safe to drink. Remember this should not be used for the long term and only if you can't get to boil the water instead.

If you do get the chance to boil water instead of using bleach to purify it, you can make it more pleasant to drink afterwards by adding 1/4 tsp salt per litre and shaking vigorously.

A day in the Mournes

It was one of those days when a little snow had fallen, but the sky became clear and blue and tou know you've just got to spend it as high up as you can. The Mourne mountains are really just hills, but to us, they are mountains that reach to the heavens and are beautiful beyond compare.

A few new pike lures

I bought some pike lure blanks from a certain chinese online seller and have to admit, I was quite impressed by them. I'll colour them simply using aerosol paints as I dont have an air brush but I dont think the pike will mind too much. Just made a start, I'll post more pics when I get a few painted up.

Candlesnuff fungus

This little fellow is often overlooked when out in the woods, yet it is quite common if you take the time to look around. It tends to grow on rotten wood and is small in size with white tops and a black base.

In theory this fungus is edible as it has no poisons or toxins in it however it is so small and tough in texture that it really is not worth the bother. The main thing I find interesting about this fungus is that it is bioluminescent, it emits light, however this is usually so faint that it cant be seen with the human eye, but it can be picked up with light intensifiers.