Yesterday, Friday, I was busy...
No, the busyness goes back to goes back to Thursday...
Although, come to think of it, did I mention the weird weather on Wednesday? It was such a dreary dark morning, and then I noticed how it seemed to be lightening up a bit. I looked out of the front window and saw that the sun had come out and there was a heavy shower of rain at the same time. I was actually sitting in the dining half, at the back of the house (it's all one long room from the front to the back of the house) and, lo and behold, no rain, no sun. This situation lasted a few minutes, before the rain stopped completely.
Right, that was Wednesday's notable moment.
Our next door neighbour is a passionate gardener, but his garden in pretty much a scene of devastation surrounded by large pots of salvaged plants. They are having a downstairs extension built at the back. So, he has turned his attentions to ours, partly to show his appreciation that we are happy to have his wheely bins in our driveway, and to havec5he access to the back of his house through our garden. They took a fence panel out so that they could get the old garage out, and we've said we don't mind waiting for it to ge put back. Besides, it gives a grandstand view of the progress!
Anyway, he's had a wonderful time with BB's cordless hedge trimmers sorting out our hedge and shrubs. Then he appeared with a rake and set about the fallen apples under the tree... we went down to join in. At leat, BB did; I stood on the sidelines cheering them on.
We got a good haul; we took some round to neighbours and he took some home and some friends will be collecting bags too. There are still a good number left on the tree.
This book is wonderful! I think the magazine is longer being published, actually, I don't think I ever bought a copy. 'Will it Freeze' was published in 1976, and this copy is a reprint in 1979. Well worth every penny of 60p!
In the afternoon there was another sunny spell and I sowed some lambs lettuce. It took me a while to get to grips with the instructions but I eventually deciphered them;
As a young housewife, way back when, I used to buy H&FD every month. I even bought the binders to keep them in. I loved that little book, so informative. I had to let them go several house-moves back. I wish I still had them. I always keep an eye open in charity shops but I’ve never seen a single one anywhere.
ReplyDeleteAnna.
this is the same book... https://www.worldofbooks.com/en-gb
DeleteAnd
https://www.abebooks.co.uk/servlet/BookDetailsPL?bi=32157293797&dest=gbr&ref_=ps_ggl_2039220669&cm_mmc=ggl-_-UK_Shopp_Tradestandard-_-product_id=UK9780743237666USED-_-keyword=&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=2039220669&gbraid=0AAAAAD3Y6gsTHZP0Y0VDA1gMq2kS4Eced&gclid=Cj0KCQjwrJTGBhCbARIsANFBfgtxNMRFxsQCVHhsPr9xLk9iQzvgShQC5Zkd4C2YQcsRUHNUzkMshOEaAqWQEALw_wcB
If you Google 'will it freeze ' there seem to be quite a few around second hand. No longer 60p though!
I had only been married a year or so when I got my copy
Busy times!
ReplyDeleteI love lamb's lettuce so I hope yours comes up to expectations.
I must say, it's interesting watching other people's extensions being erected - all the pleasure without the mess!
I'd love to have a similar extension; our houses are identical so I'm watching with interest. So far they've needed deeper footings than they had planned, had to dig a huge soakaway which wasn't forseen, and the gas pipe was where they thought it wasn't. Hmmm
DeleteWhen we were first married I got H&F Digest regularly. Never had a freezer till years later. I had the Christmas guide too. We went to the tank museum a few times when we lived in Dorset. Never bought the slippers though!
ReplyDeleteI had the 'Christmas in your freezer' not sure if I've still got it. The red cabbage recipe and freezer mincemeat recipes were very good.
DeleteOur paper today has a recipe for "any-fruit chutney" which they say freezes well, rather than fussing with jars. They mention peaches, nectarines, apples, pears, grapes, rhubarb..." in any combination. The only ingredient not in my kitchen is apple cider vinegar, easily obtainable although I wonder whether white wine vinegar would do. I bought nectarines and plums in our weekly Saturday farmers' market , and decided not to worry if we can't eat them all up before they spoil - I'll make and freeze chutney. They suggest serving with baked brie but I can see us having it as a relish with various different meals. You've probably told us the variety of your apples - looks like a good haul, and what an obliging neighbour (as are you!).
ReplyDeleteFreezer chutney! Well, there's an idea. I use wine and cider vinegar interchangeably. I'm more suspicious of 'white vinegar', it can be a sort of chemical concoction. I avoid malt vinegar, that's for fish and chips!
DeleteI think my apples are Cox.
Farmers markets on your side of the Atlantic are amazing! Ours tend to be more expensive, I'd never seen fruit and veg sold so cheaply and in such quantities until friends took us to an Amish market in Ontario.
White vinegar is only fit for cleaning the windows
DeleteI rather thought as much
DeleteI mistakenly thought that Mache meant a mixture of different lettuces. Now I know better.
ReplyDeleteYour apples look very good. I don't know if you get the same kinds as we do but I bought some Gala last week. Today I wanted to use them but they're only fit for applesauce. They fall apart and become mushy. Never going to buy those again.
I'm familiar with Gala; like you I don't care for them, nor for Golden Delicious. Cox (like ours) every time for me; although the Red Delicious from a friend's tree were amazing, but don't keep.
DeleteAt £16.99 the slippers and at 78 years i think I could get away with it. They will go nicely with my socks that have liqourice allsorts as a pattern 😁
ReplyDeleteHello Bob! I definitely think you would look distinctive, nay, even distinguished! I wonder if the tank museum have matching socks, although liquorice allsorts sounds a dashing choice!
DeleteI accidentally deleted Margaret's comment, sorry. Here it is copied and pasted;
ReplyDeleteI still have all my Home and Freezer Digests in their binders. I still use recipes from them. Margaret in Manchester.
That's going to make you very much in demand judging by previous comments!
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