Thursday 15 September 2022

September...ing

September has been a month so far of harvesting and preserving. I know this kind of activity is a rarity nowadays but I love the way it punctuates my year and reminds me of my farming grandparents. So here goes...


Picking - Autumn Bliss raspberries. The canes are only one year old and last year we had a few but now we are picking a bowl full every night. I have made raspberry vodka, jam, muffins, pavlova... you name it, we are eating raspberries with it.


Receiving - some specimen stems from my flower growing friend every few days. These are the 'seconds' that don't quite make it to a bridal bouquet but always make it to my window cill.


Taking - a photo of a bee on one of her dahlias. It is dahlia central round here. 


Collecting - apples from lots of my neighbours. I purposefully did not plant a cooking apple tree when I chose my fruit trees because there are always plenty to be had.


Processing - is the only way I can describe using this round courgette that I missed when picking. I had a cooking session and made courgette and apple chutney, courgette cake and then soup. All delicious.



Filling - my table vase with this week's garden blooms from my own garden. I have cosmos, roses, dill, kanutia, gaura and the most beautiful snap dragons.


Deciding - to step away from the sewing machine for a while. I sewed for 7 hours yesterday for work and the sitting position made me a bit stiff today. I went for a good walk up a hill with my dog. 


Returning - to a small bit of knitting. After suffering with tennis elbow for eight months I can feel it easing a bit lately. I have been strict with myself and done 2 rows a night for the last two weeks. This curly caterpillar needs a good blocking to turn it into a butterfly of a shawl. 


Fixing - the handles on my favourite knitting bag which I bought in the South of France a few years ago. It looks as good as new with new handles.


Starting - a craft group in our local hall. The village requested that the hall be used more often so we have been meeting every week. I have taught four neighbours to crochet!

Sewing - up some lovely things which are all secret for Minerva but always keeping my hand in with our day to day wants and needs. At the weekend I made eight pairs of knickers for my girl. It started out as a lockdown need thing and now she won't wear shop ones!


Brewing - lots of homemade wine. I have bottled rhubarb and strawberry, blackberry, raspberry and bloke has had a go at cider. It may be getting slightly competitive!


Waiting - for the damsons one or two days more. We picked a few which are good for eating but the softer ones are better for wine. I am hoping to get my plum port brew on. It won at the local show but I have a habit of never being able to quite recreate the same wine twice. 


Leaving - you with the view as always. Life is treating me kindly.


Thanks for dropping in. Jo xxxxx

4 comments:

  1. Me encanta leerte , ver tus bonitas fotos ¡¡y bragas!! y me gusta especialmente la pasión por hacer productos caseros de producción propia y natural. Te deseo más mejoría para tu brazo para que puedas seguir disfrutando de las labores. BESICOS.

    ReplyDelete
  2. That is an absolute beast of a courgette, well done you. It's lovely to harvest all the things at this time of year isn't it. Loads of apples here at the moment, gigantic dahlias and chillies that I don't really know what to do with. And just the right amount of tomatoes, although I wouldn't mind a glut. Your flowers are absolutely gorgeous. CJ xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It has long been my fantasy to have a glut of tomatoes. Maybe next year!

      Delete
  3. Those damsons! We planted a damson tree a few years ago but it turns out the label was incorrect, just another Victoria plum. Damson remind me of my dad, he loved damson jam. So many lovely ..ings in your life! I am sorry I haven't visited in a while, I don't know where my time is disappearing to. Cx

    ReplyDelete