TARRAGON & THYME

I think the majority of us love Christmas although there are the odd one or two bah humbugs amongst us but I suspect that is more to do with a commercialised Christmas than a more honest home made Christmas.  Each year I try to do something a little more on this front.  This year I have found a simple garland or garlands for the Christmas tree that use up something I have had stuck in tins for what is now three generations.  I am talking of the button box.  I have my Nan's tin, my mum's tin and of course my own.  I have always been taught from an early age to cut off buttons that are to go in the rag bag or to the rag and bone man when he used to come around in my youth.  So as far as I am concerned this is a super way to use them up and possibly be making an heirloom in the making.  I have also seen various other ornaments/decorations which I want to have a go at this year but I will talk about them at another time and am first dealing with simpler o...

I have had a late night and an early morning as I have started decorating the littlest room and the kitchen.   The littlest room above the skirting the paint was coming away from the wall so scraper in hand I removed all the rubbish from the wall and then used a plaster repair kit and have carefully filled in all offending cracks and crevices .  Once dry it will just need sanding down and then I may be able to get a coat of the damp seal on.  For some unknown reason the plaster repair I used in the kitchen has dried quicker than in the littlest room.  Very odd.  I have the main part of the bathroom to sort out but the ceiling has been painted. I have also started the same repair of the plaster in the kitchen.  I am part way round.  I have also started painting the ceiling as well. After bogging in for quite some time (excuse the pun I ended up nipping to the Co-Op to buy a fresh croissant for my breakfast together with a jar of coffee...

Unfortunately the cold still persists.  Mostly at night still.  Just have to let things work themselves out which these days for me seems to take forever because of my compromised immune system and the Doctors have said that if there is any chance of a cold going to my chest to get to the surgery asap as there is a particular need to try and knock any infections I get on the head with antibiotics.  I can appreciate this however where I can I help myself I do.  I am not totally convinced that antibiotics every time is doing my system any good so where I can I resolve to old fashioned tactics which are a lot gentler on my system.  I am not sure whether many of you know but antibiotics actually purge the system and clears your system out and this is why many of us experience an upset tummy when on antibiotics.  This in the greater scheme of things although essential is by its very nature "harsher" on the system.  However what I have found is that if anti...

I have had a little more energy today.  However I have been busy cleaning again today and have nearly got it done.  This included a quick trip out to the tip.  Gorgeous afternoon warm and sunny.  Made a nice change.  Still coughing well though. Have also cooked the roast pork and it was delicious.  It was a large joint out the freezer that needed using up.  Should get about three meals out of it or more.  As I have said it was very tasty. So now to fill the dishwasher. Hopefully catch up some time tomorrow unless I manage to pop back a little later. Catch you soon. Pattypan x

Unfortunately the lurgey has returned with a vengeance and that is why I have not popped up a post for a day or so.  During the day am not too bad it is the hacking cough at night which is keeping me awake and then I am nodding off back to sleep when it is time to get up and end up getting up late as a result.  I am so glad I made the Elderberry Rob and also the homemade Cassis which I have been regularly imbibing but it is just waiting for the actual cold to subside and disappear. We have paid a visit to the freezers this afternoon nd got out the meals for the week. We have had steak pie, mashed potato and carrot and swede crush with gravy for tea tonight.  Was very tasty and went down a treat. Tomorrow we have a joint of pork to roast which should give plenty of meat for a couple of meals and also pack ups.  Roast pork sandwiches or buns with home made apple sauce.  yummy. I also have some lamb steaks, mince and also pizza to make something of...

I got up early this morning to do OH some pack up to take with him to work.  Tuna buns. Suddenly I had an audience of very interested cats. They did not receive any perks! I am glad to have the heating on and the house warming up a bit.  It has been the right time to put it on as I have been a little stiff and particularly stiff this morning with pain in my hands.  Despite that I have written a couple of posts and emails and so have been giving my hands some exercise.  The cold is still lurking and I seem to have been left with a residual cough which I am keeping my eye on as I am a bit chesty although a lot clearer than I have been.  I had my shot of home made Cassis with some hot water and a little honey and it helped to soothe my throat and made me drop off to sleep although I read for a little while last night.  As the saying goes "feed a cold starve a fever"! With it having been so wet for the past few days I am not surprised about the stiffne...

I still have a lot to do on the preserving front on the wildings front. Rosehips are still required to be collected and harvested to dry to give extra vitamin C during the winter months and to make rosehip syrup, and rosehip and crab apple jelly and rosehip vinegar.  If I can harvest enough also to make some wine. Haws are required for Haw Sin sauce Rowan berries are required for jelly and crab apple and rowan jelly. Crab apples are required for making both crab apple jelly and spiced crab apple jelly, spiced crab apples, and also pectin for use in jam making in the coming years. Sloes are required for sloe and crab apple jelly, sloe gin, sloe chocolate. The weather has been atrocious for the past few days and I am hoping it dries up a bit so that I can get out and collect what I need to make the above.  I have already done a recce last week and everything was available just need a nicer day for me to walk Missy and do my foraging at the same time.  ...