TARRAGON & THYME

Well the two gallons of Nettle Wine I made last night is fizzing - so the yeast is starting to work - pleased about that.  Now have another 4 gallons to make.  So I am posting early so that I can get stuck in and get some more wine on the brew.  The nettle wine is a great favourite with our family my mum used to make it on a regular basis.  But it is also meant to be good for arthritis.  I have other wines to make as well during the coming weeks and when it is elderflower season it is not just elderflower wine and elderflower champagne but lots of other goodies too including Elderflower Vodka.  So I need to get as much as I possibly can done especially during these lighter nights. I paid a visit to the pound shop at dinner and came away with 6 blackcurrant bushes (£1 per plant)and two white rambling scented roses (they are currently lurking under my desk at work as I forgot to bring them home) (£1 per plant). So hopefully I will then be able to gro...

Continued from earlier We had a lovely roast pork dinner tonight together with apple sauce, roast potatoes, parsnips, shredded cabbage, peas, broccoli and carrots with lashings of gravy.  Very tasty it was too. I then watched the final episode of Poldark in the current series and then set about doing the wine.  I now have two gallons of nettle wine made and look as though I have enough nettles for another three demijohns.  Nettle wine to this recipe is very sweet.  Its currently in its soaking bucket waiting for the temperature to come down before I add the yeast. This coming weekend though I will be going for nettles again and I have in mind to do at least a couple of batches of Nettle Beer as per the recipe provided for at:   http://www.smallholderseries.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=571:nettle-beer-and-nettle-wine&catid=44&Itemid=316 This makes four gallons, for which I will need three carrier bags full of fresh ...

This morning started well with walking Missy down the river bank to a nature reserve area called the Boardwalks and then back by a different route. It was a beautiful peaceful morning. We walked her quite a distance and then on the way back I started to collect nettles for making some Nettle Wine I got stung in the process and my hands are only just starting to settle down. They have been very tingly all day.  Not something I would do by choice - although funnily enough my granddad did because its supposed to stop you developing arthritis!  I don't think so.  Anyway I managed to pick  two carrier bags full.  I intend to go again at the weekend and then get some nettle beer made . The recipe I intend to use is a C J Berry one. Mum made this on a regular basis when I was younger but it is something I have never made. The ingredients are: Young nettle tops   - Metric 2 litres           British 2 quarts     ...

The weather has not been too bad this weekend when you put things into focus and look at the bigger picture but one of the bonuses for me is that I can get the washing out on the clothes line, and dried naturally without having  to resort to the Tumble Drier which I have to do for the main part during the winter months .  With me having Arthritis I cannot do with damp washing hanging around drying as it does not do me any good. The house is cold enough as it is. Therefore it is a blessing to get the washing on the line.  I like the smell of freshly laundered linen; its one of these smells like fresh bread very comforting very homely very clean.  The light nights are making me want to take advantage and get on with some of those projects that I keep putting off like the garden.  Winter I tend to vegetate, and do things whilst watching the TV or I am on the computer..  Now that the lighter nights are here I want to do things (medical conditions permittin...

I need to take myself in had and start to get things done I have been spending too much time on the computer researching some things I want to make or have a go at but now I need to get on with things so I thought I would set myself a little aim list for each week.  This week is starting with a deep clean of kitchen equipment - it gets cleaned regularly but this is a deeper clean if you get my gist. I would like to get done the following this week:  Use the Tumble Drier as little as possible. - achieved Clean the Dishwasher, add sachet of cleaner pop it on a regular programme and let it run through the cycle empty. Once clean add more salt and then clean and polish the outer part of the machine. achieved Clean the Washing machine, add sachet of cleaner, pop it on a regular programme the same as the  Dishwasher . achieved Clean the cooker. Clean the fridge. Clear some of the ironing pile. achieved Wash all the seed trays and pots and planters ready for use this ...

It has been quiet here this weekend.  A lot of pottering has gone on but not as much as I would have liked which is frustrating but this is mostly down to my back which has been playing up a bit this past week;so its a case of taking things steady whether I want to or not but that is the way the cookie crumbles so it has been a resting weekend where I have been internet hopping, doing some research for some projects ahead.I did go out in the garden yesterday when it was nice and sunny and started to sort out two mini growing houses I have had for the past couple of years.  It was time to replace the covers which I managed to do and clean the houses out themselves.  I now have to start washing the pots and then I can start sowing some seeds.  That's the bit I like best (apart from eating that is) More washing was done, some bread made, and a lot of resting done.   I had a play with a square for a future project .- another blanket - a larger ...

I love parsnips and I love swede and carrot crush and we will soon be at the end of the season for both items.  Therefore to carry me through the summer months I always prepare a quantity of each so that we have the option to have  them for a change intermingled with the new produce.  There is something comforting about good what I call comfort food good for the soul and the body. I have therefore set about preparing the parsnips by peeling and chopping the ends off and then cutting in half. Only if they are big enough do they get halved again.  They then go into a pot of boiling water and are blanched for a couple of minutes and then straight out into cold water refreshed and drained.  Patted dry and then I portion them into bags (in this household 2 at moment but if more then portion it up for what your needs are  - say a couple of pieces of parsnip per person. I have also managed to get some swede reduced (20p each) and I have on this occasion p...

Just pretty pictures that say it all mostly in my mother's garden but there are violets lurking there which cuttings originally came from a plant that my great grandmother owned.  At this time of year I love the colours and vibrancy of plants especially after the long grey months of winter. Lovely Catch you soon Pattypan x

I managed to find this little mat for 55p at a Local Antique craft centre recently.  It will go beautifully with a set of mats that have come down through the family made by my maiden Great Aunt who was a beautiful needlewoman and in exactly the same colourway. Her forte was finework crochet. I think it was a popular pattern for the time.  I believe she used this pattern several times and I think she made a set of mats for my cousin as her wedding present. I like them anyway as I have a particular penchant for pansies. A Basket - I will let you in on a little secret.  I collect baskets.  This one is at present being used to store my ever growing collection of fabrics for patchwork.  Several shirts have been stripped down in readiness for the cutting out and the other day I came across bags of patchwork fabric for £2.50 a bag so I snaffled two. Here's the selection of fabrics: Some decent sized pieces here...

Just would like to say that it would appear that I have some new followers through Google and via Bloglovin - Hi and welcome says me waving frantically.  Make yourself at home and I hope you find lots of information to take your attention - there are loads of posts going back about 4 yearsor more on anything and everything or more.Please feel free to comment. So get that mug of tea and make yourself comfortable. Look forward to hearing from you. Pattypan x

This turned into this! The cot blanket I crocheted for my friend Karen and gave to her at work yesterday at her baby shower.  It is her first child and so I made the cover a generous size in order that she can snuggle in it when nursing or baby can lay on it or under it.  It is lovely and soft.  I believe in lovely comfortable things make you feel snug and secure. I have equally being me started another blanket well the centres of to say the least.  So far I have made 50 small centres in a lovely marled wool this one is for my bedroom as it has all the colours I like. Ice cream colours.  The wool is from Wilkinsons and £1.35 per ball and you get approximately 8 squares give or take a bit and depending on your tension per ball (just the marled wool).  The outer edge is going to be worked in cream wool.   The inspiration came from The Patchwork Heart a favourite crochet blog as she has such lovely designs and ...