Gooseberries!

The cupboard where I keep jams and chutneys has been beginning to look a little bare
BUT
the soft fruit is starting to ripen - sometimes a little too much of it at once.

We have lots of raspberries and redcurrants of our own, which are being picked and frozen to be dealt with later, but my parents asked us to help clear their fruit bushes as well so we came home at weekend with more raspberries AND about 6lbs gooseberries.

Time to get out the jam pan!



A few hours of slaving over a hot stove and I have 2 jars of gooseberry chutney and 4 of gooseberry and lemon marmalade.

A little treat for my knitting

I've been looking for a while for a new, larger bag to keep my 'in progress' knitting in and was delighted to find this - with a print from artist/illustrator Jackie Morris entitled Little Bo-ho Hippy Peep and her Sheep

In the panniers, the Sheep is carrying balls of wool and knitting needles - so just perfect for a new knitting bag.

Elderflower time

flowers, sugar, lemons and water preparing for Elderflower fizz
I can't wait long enough for it to turn alcoholic but drink it as soon as there's any fizz to it.
mainly using old lemonade/coke 2 litre bottles this year instead of having to track down corks for wine bottles.