Times and Seasons: October 2011

Thursday, 27 October 2011

A simple craft idea with hearts........

Last night I sat in front of the fire and spent an hour making a heart garland using an idea I found on the internet.

Easy, Easy Easy!!

This is how I did it..........

This is such a simple and easy idea. Go on... have a go and show me how you got on!

Click on the link for full and clear instructions.

Paper Punch Hearts

Wednesday, 26 October 2011

Autumn - It's the most wonderful time of the year!

I can't imagine living in a climate with no seasons. Don't get me wrong, I am sure there must be advantages in waking to wall to wall warmth and sunshine every single day of the year. It would certainly help with making plans. We had planned to finish the work in our garden today, but having woken to heavy rain and day time darkness, we find ourselves instead drinking tea in the warm and dry, both occupying our time in other ways.

For all the unpredictability of our weather, I would always prefer to live in a seasonal climate, and fickle as I am, the current season is usually my favourite. This Autumn is no exception with the its beautiful jewelled colours, misty mornings, the feint chill in the air, and smells of late afternoon bonfires or coal fires lit to warm chilly homes, whilst robust stews are bubbling on the stove.

It is at this time of year, that an inner compulsion to 'nest' and prepare for the winter months comes to the fore. Christmas pokes it's head on the far horizon, and thoughts turn to preparing it's Provender.

Chutney has been made with my autumnal gifts from friends.

This week we found the elusive sloe and picked enough to make 2 litres of rich ruby red Sloe Gin.

SLOE GIN RECIPE

450g/1lb sloes

225g/8oz caster sugar

1 litre/1¾ pint gin

Preparation method

Prick the tough skin of the sloes all over with a clean needle and put in a large sterilised jar.

Pour in the sugar and the gin, seal tightly and shake well.

Store in a cool, dark cupboard and shake every other day for a week. Then shake once a week for at least two months.

Strain the sloe gin through muslin into a sterilised bottle.

Onions were bought from the farm shop, to pickle in vinegar and fiery spices. Prepared now, they will add their zing to our cold meats on Boxing Day.

I am unusually late in baking the Christmas cake and Christmas puddings. These are usually prepared and cooked around mid October, and are always, (well with very few exceptions!) a shared event with my dear friend Nikki; a tradition of some 18 years. Her village am dram commitments, and our busy diary, have delayed this annual event by a couple of weeks. The sense of occasion that this traditional Baking Fest brings, along with the heady smells of sherry and the fruits soaking in brandy, and the cooking aromas of the cakes and puddings which fills my home, reminds me that all is well in my Autumnal world, and feeds my nesting instincts.

Yes Autumn is a feast for the senses, and for me the most homely time of year and my favourite!!

Tuesday, 18 October 2011

The Wild Geese

Ancient Celtic symbol of the Holy Spirit

SOMETHING TOLD THE WILD GEESE

By Rachel Field

Something told the wild geese

It was time to go,

Though the fields lay golden

Something whispered, "snow."

Leaves were green and stirring,

Berries, luster-glossed,

But beneath warm feathers

Something cautioned, "frost."

All the sagging orchards

Steamed with amber spice,

But each wild breast stiffened

At remembered ice.

Something told the wild geese

It was time to fly,

Summer sun was on their wings,

Winter in their cry

Loved this poem..........worthy of sharing!

Monday, 17 October 2011

When is a cream tea not a cream tea? .....When it's taken in Bosham!

Our lovely friends Al and Lynda visited us at the weekend. They live in the West Country...Devon to be precise; a county rich in picture postcard perfection, and chocolate box wonderment when it comes to scenery and beautiful places to visit.

In wanting to show them both why living in this neck of the woods offers some charm all of it's own, we took them to Bosham which is tucked just inside West Sussex between Portsmouth and Chichester.

The weather continued to be glorious and this weekend proved no exception, giving us another warm, cloudless autumnal day.

It was high tide when we arrived, so we walked through the village to the small meadow by the quay. Here we sat in the sunshine and watched the world go by.

Bosham attracts many visitors who like us were keen to enjoy the peaceful surroundings. Children were crabbing in the water, dingys were sailing past in the breeze, and all the while the church bells were ringing out, ushering in the wedding party for the three o'clock wedding.

The bride was fashionably late keeping us waiting for our afternoon tea.

We had our cuppa in the tea shop in the Craft Centre. Tea, scone, jam but no cream I'm afraid! A Sussex Cream Tea is, for those who herald from the west, a poor relation to a Devon Cream Tea. The missing essential ingredient being of course clotted cream!!