Just a Catch Up....Chutneys..Jams..Cupboards & Stuff

How nice to see the sunshine .... hurrah ...lets make the most of it ...it warms me old bones just lovely!

Just a quick catch up ... and a few pic's ... we all like to have a look at a few pic's ... take an interest in others doings, at least I do. (well .. that's the polite way to put it..  he he)

 

Pretty flowers from the garden ... I know we moan about the rain, but everything is growing like fury.

I had another load of rhubarb the other day... and a bag full from a kind friend ... just how much rhubarb crumble can a girl eat? ...don't answer that 

...especially with cream

 .. or custard 

..how about raspberry ripple icecream

  .... oh yum yum

... enough  ... enough!

Anyway I got out the trusty Big Pan

Had a rummage in the freezer and to the rhubarb added some apple and gooseberries, good slosh of water and simmered /softened them... put them through a jelly cloth.

To each pint of juice I added 1lb of sugar and boiled it up.

Very slap dash and 'make it up as you go along' ... but you know what its the most yummy jam/jelly

...just didn't make enough if it!

 Waiting for the boiling jam to jell I stood gawking out of the kitchen window ... it must be the most 'looked at view' by the majority of womenfolk....

(Dont look at the mucky windows)

I'm lucky I have nice green space to look out on .... admittedly a lot of it is weed at the moment .. but its pretty weed ...and its my weed.

Hows your view? Do you too enjoy your weeds?

There should have been some photos of an enormous bag of beetroot here ...I knowww! 

I just so know how to tease you ...I really live it up here....

Unfortunately the camera was 'sick' ....something about having to reconfigure the card ... I don't really know ... Richard just 'fixed it'...I was supposed to be watching and learning ...but hey!

I know how to make Chutney and jam ...what more do they want?

The beetroot was given to me on Sunday afternoon....Colin 'the veg' (Greengrocer extraordinaire ....he has a stall at the carboot sale) was packing away as I sidled over to snaffle any bargains.

 I had bought my bag of bargain veg when he asked if I could 'do anything with' the beetroot....it had been bagged for sale and was sweating a bit in the bags and getting past its best. I took it thankfully and boiled it up Sunday evening in the Big Pan.

Next day I riffled the cupboards and freezer to find 'interesting' things to throw in to make a Fruity Spicy Beetroot Chutney, again...make it up as you go along.

It made a good 7 large jars...being chutney it needs to sit for a few weeks to develop its flavour ... so we will have a tasting in the Autumn with lots of tasty hotpots and shepherds pie.

Of course Colin ..'the veg' got his jar of chutney too.

 

Bit of a problem with the food situation in this house .... major problem has arisen since I have discovered Approved Foods ...I think I get a bit carried away ...we seem to have masses of 'bargain' food ....and no cupboard space.

Hubby P came home with this dinky little meatsafe/cupboard the other day ... 'just the thing' I thought ...and it will fit just nicely next to the other cupboard ...the one that is full to bursting with good bargain foods.

I gave it a good wash and a lick of paint ...and guess what ....it was sunshining, so it dried in no time.

 

Its ideal for storing jars of produce ...funnily enough I have one or two jars of chutney past me ... and some jam....and the way the garden is growing no doubt there will be more goodies to squirrel away for the cold winter months.

Is it just me or have you started your jams and jellies?

Bye for now ..... take care x 

Hanging Out With The Guys In The Evenings ...

Yes ....I know rain ...more rain...& rain and rain..

I'm heartily sick of it.... and now they say its to be a record breaking wet July too.

So much for the photo's of us enjoying our garden... Hubby P has taken to mooching about outside in the evenings....it seems to be dry then.
He has his little bunch of Guys to keep him company...

Remember Percy the pigeon ... well all his feathers grew back and his wing seemed a lot better so we released him from the cage... but he's still hanging around.
He has taken up residence behind the shed...and roosts on an old step ladder...coo-ing softly to us.

And another of the rascally gang....

 Can you see him?

Geoffrey the mouse .... coming out to play ....well feed actually.

On one of the less rainy days I had a good old weeding session...I cleared the garden bed around the apple tree. Its where we feed the birds so there is always lots of spilt seed and crumbs from the bird table, which often sprout into ....well quite tasty lookin weeds actually.

Now I have cleared the weeds anyone or 'anymouse'  ....'knockin about' ...can easily be seen .... not that Geoffrey is that bothered by us wandering about.

He sits happily chewing on a morsel...

........ and communes with Hubby P.

 

 Here's a random pic I had on the camera ...its the lovely bottles of Elderflower cordial... I must put some by for wintertime.

And something bright and pretty to cheer a Girl...

Do you like my new tin ....it has little handles and everything!

I think its just so cheery and pretty ....I shall keep my bits and bobs in it for the 'ongoing' quilt ...so handy on the windowsill ...it may inspire me to do a little each evening. 

Here is the 'ongoing' quilt ....as you can see it is quite large...and very random! 

I shall just keep plodding away with it ...after all there is no rush to finish it ...it just keeps my hands busy without me having to employ my brain very much.

As Gran use to say ...'The Devil makes work for idle hands'...

Anyway enough of me ...how are you? 

Keep warm.... keep dry... it sounds like winter..... roll on summer!

Take care xx

 

A Wild and Weedy Garden of Delights....

A lovely day today.. the wind did rage ..and ragg the trees but we seem to be in a sheltered spot...

 so it was nice to spend some time moochin in the garden.

Will picked a whole heap of Elderflowers ... they smell just so delicious...the air is scented with them.... they are just so 'Summer'.

Whilst I tackled the Gooseberries .... big.. fruity... juicy berries to give a zing to our pies and puddings!

 Hubby P espied me at my picking from his shed/oops sorry 'workshop'....and not wanting to be left out ... it is a very Summer-y thing... a nice 'Harvest Natures Bounty' kind a thing...he tackled the bushes with gusto!

He tells me he is a natural because he knows for a fact ...'He Was Found Under a Gooseberry Bush' .... its perfectly true his Mother said so!

As we picked I began to think that maybe it was a good idea to foster this 'picking the Gooseberries' being a manley ... 

rugged even...sort of thing to do...afterall the bushes were very, very prickly. If anyone was going to be scratched to death and have a bad back ....well... these manley sorts can bear it that bit better than me.

Of course I will make the puddings and pies!

 We had an awfully big dish full...

 Just look at this little lot ....they looked and smelled amazing ...such bounty ....we are so lucky to be able to step into our garden...our own little bit of Eden ....and harvest such wonders.

Whilst I wandered the garden ... and brushed past the plants the Lavender gave up its scent ....so strong in the fresh sun warmed air.

I couldn't resist a bunch for the house. 

The sound of a chainsaw shattered the fragrant stillness of the garden ....I went to investigate and found Will sawing logs ready for the fire.

Free wood! ... always a thrill...

Will had done a 'Tree Job' the other day and brought home some of the wood....the people whose trees were thinned don't have a wood burner ....and were happy to give the wood to Will... lucky for us.

I must say some of it was burnt tonight ...we are still lighting the woodburner ....its chilly in the evenings ... and it dries the washing. 

The wood is/was Ash ...it burns green.... doesn't have to be stored/seasoned/dried out. 

What did I do with my bounty?

Well the Elderflowers are at this moment turning themselves into Elderflower cordial...a wonderful fragrant drink ... It will keep well and give touch of summer in the dark cold months.

A cordial ... we dilute it with plain water, fizzy water, vodka if you like....or even poured over icecream....its lovely.

The Goosegogs I 'topped and tailed'...what a job...I did notice Hubby P managed to wriggle out of that one... very busy 'making a living' was his line..

Anyway they are in the freezer ready for future use ....I may make a bit of jam...and the rest will be used for fruit crumbles, pies and the like.

Anyway ....what have you been doing today? how is your garden growing...I noticed my Sprouts are doing well with all this rain ..

Do drop me a line/leave me a comment ... like to think I am not just babbling on to myself!..

Bye for now x

Finds ....Flowers ... and Craftiness...and A Surprise Visiter!

Hello ...

Just a few pic's of this weeks finds...I should have blogged/posted much earlier but I have spent lots of time sat on the bench outside watching the birds, and enjoying the sun.

I do hope the sunshine is here to stay for a while...

 

How do you like my new basket?....well its an old basket really...bit battered and little unravelled ....bit like me!

But I thought it a shame not to bring it home and enjoy it for a while....it can moulder its life away looking pretty with some of my vintage terracotta pots. 

And how about these vintage buckles for something amazing .... Hubby P found them in an old battered tin .... now there's an exciting project in the offing... what can I make that will show off their fabulous-ness?

 

 Hankies...who doesn't just love a nice crisp fresh hanky ....I found a pile of them in an old suitcase...bit musty....bit of a good old boil up in an old pan and they are just fine. There were very many of them so I have done the usual ...some for me and some on ebay to help restore the funds spent in buying them.

And a bit of Craftiness....

 Last week I had someone ask me if I had any pincushions for sale ...knowing I was a crafty-type person. 

Of course a body never has what one is asked for! ... so I thought I ought to make a couple...or three....just in case!

I just used some odd teacups and scraps of vintage fabric ... worked well I thought....quite pretty.

Sat in the garden...

...of which I have done a lot of today...lazy mare that I am ..the air was filled with the scent of Elderflowers...lovely.

 Great creamy ....frothy heads of flowers...the size of dinner plates.

I have the makings of Elderflower cordial ...just have to pick a few lower heads ....maybe tomorrow.

~~~~~

Well....Hubby P has just walked in with Happy News ...

Guess who's back?

...or should I say happy to stop have a chat and his picture taken.

Do you remember Geoffrey....and the Geoffrey family?

For those of you who don't have the plesure of the aquaintence of ...the Geoffrey's

...they are a family of mice who live quite happily, in the garden, under an old Belfast sink. They venture out of an evening to munch on any titbit's left by the birds in the birdhouse/feeding table. 

Hubby P spends many an evening chatting with them as they munch on varied delicacies (rice is a favourite) and he.... Hubby P has a cigarette. I think they know him from the smell of the cigarette smoke and are quite happy to go about their business.

Of course now we have no cat ...do you remember we lost Charlie Cat earlier this year...so maybe there are a lot more little Geoffrey's than in past years....I know we have lots more birds.

Anyway nice to see Geoffrey out and about again, and happy to be in the limelight!

Who knows we might get to meet some baby Geoffrey's soon....I'll keep you posted..

Bye for now x  

Approved Foods Order.....

Well .... the Approved Foods order arrived in no time at all...and apart from my Sister (who's home it had been sent to) having a bit of a panic at just HOW MUCH food there was...and just what was on who's list ...the ordering process was a great success.

Hubby P picked up 'our box full' from my sisters house (just up the road)....and we got stuck in.....just to see what we had got for our £21.

Lots of goodies .... I had ordered things that perhaps I wouldn't have bought from the supermarket because they are too expensive.... would make the meal too expensive for everyday.

Things like nice sauces and fancy nann breads, ready made poppadoms (so yummy with that chopped up salad and a bit of chutney).

I popped the nann breads in the freezer...ideal for livening up our dinners, and the rest stacked nicely in the cupboards.

 Hubby P is looking forward to the Bacon Grill .....I tell you we lead such an exciting life! 

I haven't been buying his favourite Bacon Grill...its just been too expensive from Tesco ...but at A Foods it was just 78p....I will pay that....I think 'He's worth it'

Has anyone had the baking mixes ....how do you find them? and do you find you use them up, being in such large quantities?

I got a large bag of the scone mix....it said Savoury Scone Mix so I made a round of cheese scones (well.... I say made ...just added water shaped and threw in the oven!)

The next mix I added a bit of sugar and a few sultanas, mixed with milk and cut into rounds with the nearest drinking glass (so lazy...couldn't be bothered to find the proper cutters).

Anyway...

....They look just fine...if a bit rough and ready.

 So....

...in the interests of research.....purely to give you feedback on A Foods you understand....I'm sat munching on the sultana scones ...they go very well with mugs of Earl Grey tea ....Hubby P does brew a very fine tea!

Bye for now xx

Quick Catch up and News Of Percy The Woodpigeon..

Just a little 'Hello' ...quick catch up and a few pic's...

I spotted a nice little mirror the other day at a car boot sale ... t'will be a nice addition to my mirror wall.

The 'mirror wall' is across from the outer wall of the cottage with the small deep set windows....it helps reflect the light back into the room....at least that's the idea ...and I think it looks pretty!

This pretty pair of vintage curtains have been sat at home for a while ... so pretty. I was going to make something with the fabric but to be honest I can't bring myself to cut them up.

 

 Looking at my finances and thinking ahead ...we have a lot of Birthdays coming up and of course Christmas will sneak up on us...I really need to be upping my 'pin money' stash. I think of my paypal account as money for that sort of thing ...presents, treats etc...or emergency money!

 Its been very often emergency money of late.

Anyway.... scratting about for stuff to go on ebay to up the 'pin money' ...I've been through the wardrobe and found some bits and bobs, and decided these pretty little curtains can go too.

Its surprising what you can find ...just walk around the house with a small box in your hand and throw in stuff you have not picked up, looked at or worn in the last few weeks ...chances are you don't need it.

Percy the Pigeon is doing well....

Hubby P found him a bigger cage (rather than the small basket ...which was good initially to keep him quiet and confined so he wouldn't flap and do more damage to himself).... anyway one dog cage ...£5 at car boot sale....handy!

 You can see the damage ...he has lost an awful lot of his feathers from his wing and the side of his body. Good news is the feathers have started to regrow, he is eating well, stretching and preening ...and hopping around the cage. He has a little roosting perch and happily sits there watching the world go by....hopefully he will recover fully and return from whence he came.

 

Today he's been keeping Hubby P company whilst he cleaned up this lovely old mirror. Hubby P kept up a runny commentary and Percy seemed quite content to sit and listen with the odd nod of his head.

Great excitement here too ...nearly forgot to tell you .... we (myself and two friends) have clubbed together to send a Approved Foods order ...

Can't wait for it to come and see what its like...I've tried to be ultra sensible and just order things I would usually buy from Tescos.. or the like.

 But I must say some of the offers are so tempting...but really ....just how much mint sauce does a girl need?

I know a lot of you 'out there' use Approved Foods ...how do you find it? Any tips ...anything to be avoided?

I do like to think it will save me loads ...so long as I don't get carried away!

Bye for now x

Woopy Carrot Soup ...and some random photo's from a rainy day!

Well what a rainy day .... miserable.... damp and cold.

I looked in the fridge for something cheering and was met by this....

 dodgy looking veg....

woppy carrots and sprouty spuds....that will teach me to go having Birthdays with lots of nice things to eat ....and ignoring the good wholesome veg....

 

I thought a good hearty soup was the answer....anyone would think it was the depths of winter!

So I dragged out all the dodgy,woppy, sprouty, wrinkly veg... chopped it up and sauteed it in a drop of oil, added a handful of lentils ... always a goodie ...lentils...and simmered it long and slow.

Funny ... but I was thinking how dingy and battered my old soup pan was ....its just the old bottom of a pressure cooker...lost its lid years ago. And to be truthful it really does look a bit grim...its clean but a bit tarnished with age ... but you know what ...it makes the best soup ever.

Bit like me really ....looking a bit grim...bit tarnished round the edges...but still feel I've got what it takes ...hehe! 

Yummy soup ...I think the wrinkled old red pepper made it....really tasty... its all gone anyway!

So come on do tell ... what grim secret utensils do you keep stashed in your kitchen....what could you not do without ...or is it just me?

Just a few random pic's I thought you might enjoy....

I went with Hubby P to 'help' load the van for tomorrows trading...'help' being a very elastic word....

It involves a lot of 'pointing' on my side... so I spent the slack minutes when I wasn't needed (was in the way....maybe?)

...wandering about with the camera. 

Just a few vintage-y bits and bobs on the shelves in the 'Emporium'!

 Stock is always changing ...coming in and hopefully going out...so I have lots of opportunity to 'faff around' ...a technical term picked up somewhere by Hubby P.....such a darling ... just as wall I'm rather fond of him.

.... I must admit it is a bit like playing shop.

Who remembers these old lipsticks .... such lovely old cases and creamy colours... and the smell of them ... remember the smell?

I'm sure it probably was made from something awful like whale blubber.... but 'those were the days'...it all seems so much more glamorous.

  

Back to the hum drum and washing day ....but how sweet is this little peg bag .... a bit battered but then again wouldn't you be stuck outside on a washing line for years!

 

Well here we are all loaded up .....just enough room for a few bits and bobs from home....completely over the top of course (in my opinion).... he has to unload all this at 6am then reload whats left later in the afternoon .... but he likes 'a good van load' ....'cant sell it if they cant see it' ....and all that!

 

Well ...bedtime now...early start and all that...

 

Bye for now xx