September crept up

September, where did you come from?  Just like that its all change.  There is a decided nip in the early morning and evening air, enough to make me grab my dressing gown when getting up. Plants in the garden are starting to go over and I'm doing more than dead heading.  We tried growing veg in pots this year, can't say it was that successful.  The tomatoes were ok, but not so the courgettes, plenty of leaves and blackfly but not much in the way of anything edible.  The runner beans I think peaked whilst we were away, so our daughter got those.  Producing now just a few for a tiny taster, I should just pull them out.

My thoughts turn to more cosy knitting projects.  Hats for the grandkids.  Cosy cardigan for me.  An extension to a ten stitch blanket I completed in 2011 - so easy to do this, just unpick those 10 cast off stitches and away you go.  I've enough yarn in my stash to make this blanket fit a king size bed. And I covered an old bean bag making a great footstool - 3 strands of super chunky yarn in moss stitch, my fingers were very sore when I'd finished but a super quick project

On Monday we walked around the Old Gravel Pits in Hemingford Grey - its a permit holders only walk for villagers and we finally got round to getting a permit - only taken us nearly 3 years

It was certainly worth the walk and we will go back again as it is literally right on our door step.

Tuesday we had a quick trip to Costco in Stevenage - it was very quiet which made for a pleasant visit, not that we stayed long - just shop and go

Wednesday found us in Southwold - we got up early and were sitting enjoying a bacon roll and coffee by 9am.  We spent the morning on the beach, then went for a pint and some fish and chips.  Going into the town wasn't a pleasant experience, too many people, one way systems, queuing to go into shops, just really uncomfortable, so we headed up to the common for a walk and a sit to admire the view.  I suppose at some point life will go back to normal and I'm guessing for now we will just stay home rather than be disappointed. Though it was lovely to see the sea again, especially very first thing when it was quiet.

Thursday I met with a friend at the local garden centre for a cup of tea and a catch up.  The café has been refurbished and the tables were nicely spaced out allowing you to safely social distance.  We had a good natter.

Friday, today - washing, ironing, Peter fitted new taps on the bath and I framed some posters we picked up on our travels

This one actually was bought for us years ago and I never got round to framing it, but it felt right to do so as this was one part of our trip we never got to.  They are now up in the lounge and I'm really happy with how they look.  We still need to get round to putting up pictures, we still have lots but not so many walls these days

No plans as yet for the weekend other than to visit the Farmers Market tomorrow, I'm sure knitting will feature in the weekend somewhere.

Before I go, the boys in France went back to school on Tuesday and Gus finished pre-school yesterday, he will start school next week.  Where has the time gone?

Bye for now, stay safe and wear your mask xx

Preserves

Welcome from a very breezy Cambridgeshire.  My washing is double pegged to the line and hopefully will stay put until I'm ready to bring it in.  We seem to have survived the high winds yet again.  Some bruised and battered plants and disturbed sleep but other than that ok.

What have I been doing over the last few days?  Its that time of year when you feel the need to stock up the cupboards with goodies for the coming winter.  Guess it harks back to a time when you couldn't get produce all year round.  I draw the line at bottling/canning but do enjoy making jams and chutneys

Yesterday I made two lots of jam, Damson and then a batch of Blackberry and Apple.  I tend to prepare and freeze fruit so that I can make jam as and when the family need it so the blackberries and apples were from the freezer.

That should keep them going for a while.  I rarely eat jam myself apart from the occasional Victoria Sandwich cake or scones, but the grandchildren love it.  Both Rufus and Gus love a jam sandwich.

Today I have put up some Tomato and Chilli jam using tomatoes we bought back from the Chateau and some from our garden

I'm happy with my results and think that will be it for now.  I do have more blackberries, apricots, plums and damsons in the freezer so can whiz up a batch in next to no time if the need arises.

Do you have a favourite recipe for preserves you use?  If so let me know, its always good to try something new

Take care and wear your mask x

Changes

 

Knitting I love how adaptable it is. I decided to knit myself a cable sweater with some super chunky yarn which I bought online during lockdown. It was labelled chunky but it’s not it’s very much super but I digress. I cast on in good faith having got gauge on the third attempt. I don’t normally bother but sometimes you just should. 

I set too and started knitting, by the time I got to the armhole decrease I was having reservations but ploughed on for a few more inches until I decided to make a start on some Christmas knitting!

With two hats completed I decided to make a decision on the sweater  I pulled it back to the start of the armhole decreases and cast off. Found a cushion pad and hey presto a new cushion for the sofa.  No guilt about an abandoned project and time wasted. Nothing lost just gain. Though Peter not so happy with yet another cushion. What is it about men and cushions?

Not sure what I will do with the rest of the yarn. I already made curtain tie backs for the hall. Maybe it will be destined for bags or I’ll just give it away ...... or should I make more cushions?

Southsea Shawl

 

Thursday - a beautiful day, sunny and breezy. A complete change to yesterday which was wet and dreary. I spent the whole day knitting. I was keen to complete Linda’s shawl. I’m very happy with how it has turned out. Liking the mesh and picot border which I finished it with. I now have it blocking to open out the mesh and edge. I plan to get it in the post tomorrow. The yarn was from Crochet UK, they do some amazing yarn cakes and I would be happy to use them again. The pattern was made up as I went along, it’s fun to make up your own pattern and there are plenty of basic instructions for the different shawl shapes online.

Still no plans for my next project, I may do some more granny squares for a change, nice and quick.

I’m now sat with a cold drink and a new Sherlock Holmes story on Audible so my afternoon is set.

Back to the new normal

Home again, and back to quarantine.  I really thank Boris for that one!!  Its crazy times, I can honestly say I felt safer in France than I do in the UK,  rules are rules I'm guessing, but the damage it is doing to the tourist industry is unprecedented though. Peoples lives turned upside down by this virus, with no end in sight.  You can't blame people for wanting a bit of normality for a few days or weeks.  If everyone just stuck to the rules then we might get out of this quicker.  I'm sure we have broken some of the rules though, hard not too, but always we keep distance, wear a mask and wash our hands, the only shopping we do is for food, anything else is online. We have no desire to go to a shopping centre and trudge around the shops or even sit inside a pub, so not really much more you can do.

We had a busy time as usual, lots of guests and lots of hot weather.  Lots of fruit picking, lots of ironing, not too much gardening due to the heat.  Long days on your feet, so I'm glad that we only do it in small stretches.

We bought lots of goodies back from the Chateau gardens, figs, raspberries, tomatoes and courgettes.  The figs I have made into Confit of Figs, which when paired with goats cheese is amazing - figs, red wine, sugar, salt and rosemary sprigs

The raspberries will be eaten with ice cream.  The tomatoes roasted and the courgettes I expect with become fritters or 'meatballs' or added to a pasta sauce.

I'm hoping to get the shawl finished this week, I really didn't have time for more than a few rows over the last two weeks, plus the 4 pawed friends hindered my somewhat

I've managed to do all the washing I bought back, I've a bit of ironing, some repairs and some deadheading in the garden then its just sit around for the next few weeks until we are allowed out again.  I plan on sorting some yarn to patterns for some autumn projects and maybe make a few gifts for Christmas, which will soon be upon us again.  This has been such a crazy year.  We have been in shorts since the middle of February, and hopefully will be for a while longer.  The thought of jeans or trousers seems odd after so long.  I realise I still have to finish the last 10 days of our New Zealand trip here on the blog. Something else I can do I suppose.

I'll be back soon with a knitting update and maybe some of the soon to be knitting projects until then, take care xx

Hot hot hot

 

I know it’s a very British thing to talk about the weather but goodness it’s hot. How are you coping?  We are in France where it’s a few degrees hotter than the UK not that it makes much difference. I fear for my plants, though my wall pots and tubs are on a watering system, the main borders are not so I imagine my plants are frying. Hopefully my daughter will give them a drink if she thinks about it!

The borders here have an irrigation system run from the lake so they are maintained ok  The water levels are dropping fast though. The water lilies I put in on our last visit are doing well so that’s ok  

We took the boys to visit Utah Beach museum and beach s great day out plans to go to Sille Plage (lake) tomorrow 

So sorry about the photo placement and the paragraph margins this new Blogger is a real pain. Not sure why they felt the need to change things.

A few photos also from around the Chateau at the top because they won’t paste at the bottom perhaps the hot weather is getting to everything!

August

And just like that it’s August. The garden is taking on a different hue, lots of yellows and oranges amongst the purpled and pinks. 

I actually think orange looks great in the garden. My eldest daughter won’t have it. Soft peach is the closest she will go on that colour spectrum. There is one rose that was in the garden when they moved in which has had a stay of execution as it’s mainly hidden by the fig tree on the side of the to be finished gite. I tidy it when we go and so far so good. 

The heat of yesterday (34c) subsided overnight and we have a much fresher day (25c) which is a relief. I just can’t cope the the heat anymore. I retreat indoors

We met with our youngest daughter and granddaughter this morning and enjoyed a coffee overlooking the river watching the boats felt almost normal until you look around at all the masks. 

Sad times. What a year?  How do you plan? Going out these days seems fraught with indecision and risk. So we keep fairly close to home restricting who we see. 

Knitting and fiddling in the garden fills the days. The hot water bottles are finished and ready to be delivered. I’m about nearly halfway into the shawl. I plan on making more socks or cowls. Something to use up the odds and ends. Maybe another ten stitch, I somehow feel lost without one on the go.....

Right time to go and think about dinner, take care x