Far too organised

(A little sneaky peek at some of the handmades heading to various folk very soon - as usual, a full reveal will be on it's way soon after Christmas.)

More and more of my Christmas gifts have been hand made this year and yet, dare I say it, with a week and a half still to go I think (I think!) I am finished! With only wrapping and writing and a little posting to be completed until everything is done I feel far too organised this year.

Hoping your preparations are going well.
S. x

A gift and a beginning...

Just a quick post today. Firstly to say thank you to my dear mama who sent me some beautifully soft alpaca wool last week. Not sure what it's going to become yet and it's finer than my usual crochet yarn so may call for something a little different anyway. During the rain storm yesterday, whose ferocity was quite a surprise after the sunshine of the day before, the wool was wound (with only a few knots!) and now sits on my 'to-do' pile. I'll keep you posted about that one.

And the other crafting project that I began this weekend? Turning tin cans into candle holders...well, let's say it's not my favourite craft, as a hammer and nail are not my best tools, but it's quite good fun and pretty much free. With a little enamel they can scrub up fairly nicely and I have plans to make these into a mobile of sorts but we'll see.

And to finish off the weekend, yet another harvest - one of many apple gatherings (we are living on crumble at the moment and neither of us complaining) and almost the last of the blueberries.

Wishing you a lovely start to the week.
S. x

Produce and surprises

A somewhat flying visit to my parents in the north this time as, once again the summer has disappeared far too quickly. Whilst there jams and jellies were made (and tasted of course) and, as usual, I came home with a box of goodies. This time plenty of fresh veg, local cheese, my very own darning mushroom and of course a good collection of jam!

But that was not all!  On the doorstep when I arrived home was a parcel and inside, a very unexpected but delightful gift - the Taveners sweet tin as seen in this post. Thanks Will! So a quick spot of card making was in order.

Must pop that card in the post and then get on with some housework as a certain someone is home tomorrow :)
S. x

Cherries

After a day of picking (and climbing) on Friday, a day of traveling on Saturday we have arrived in the north with an abundance of cherries to be preserved. Pitted (must add a proper pitter to the list of wanted kitchen items!) and weighed we set to work creating a sour cherry sauce for tonight's pork, a crumble and my first (certainly not Ma's first) jam.

Very tasty and with much more fruit to come I think I will have to invest in a great big jam pan and a jar funnel very soon.
Happy harvesting all.
S. x