Summer Holidays Week 1

The holidays have not had a great start for me as I have not been well, some kind of virus that has put paid to the usual trips out, but I have managed to do a spot of sewing and keep up with orders for cushions and doorstops.

We have been out on shopping trips and are planning a London trip for next week, some fabric shopping for sure!!

Laura is dancing again in this years Pepper Show and luckily this year it has been in the holidays so she gets a good lie in in the mornings. We are going to see it tomorrow, it is a fantastic show lots of dancing in the isles and singing along, we are so lucky to have something like this in our community if you are local you must make a date for next year, you will not be disappointed.

Strawberry conserve

This is a recipe for Strawberry Conserve. It does not set as solid as a jam which I like and the taste is much better and fruitier as there is no added pectin which gives a slightly metallic flavour. Use equal amounts of strawberries and sugar I used 3lb of each and put the strawberries into a bowl, cover with the sugar and leave, covered, for 24 hours, overnight will do.



Transfer to a large pan and heat gently, stirring, until the sugar dissolves. Then boil for 5 mins.



Return to the bowl and leave in a cool place (the fridge is fine) for another 24 hours.



Put back in the pan bring to the boil and boil for 10mins.



Leave to stand for 15 mins and then transfer to clean jars and seal with jam jar covers.



This may seem like hard work but it really is a very short amount of time and very little effort for the most amazing results. I love this best on Sunday morning on a freshly baked scone, yes I do get up and make scones on a Sunday morning, just call me Nigella!!

Today has been really lovely, I sat and sewed while the thunder raged outside and a flurry of sales from my shops. Pretty good start to the weekend!

Beans!

I have not been feeling too well this week but have been down to the allotment and picked the rest of the broad beans to freeze.So I took them out to the garden this afternoon and got the first batch podded and bagged while sitting in the sunshine. I always blanch them and slip them out of their skins, a very satisfying job and much tastier too!

I also made strawberry conserve from our strawberries this year as we had so many, I must take a photo before it all goes. It is much tastier than jam made with pectin or that 'sugar jam' which gives a very artificial flavour I think. I shall perhaps take a photo and share the recipe with you, very simple, fruit and sugar.

I have managed to keep up with sewing orders and much excitement is filling the house as plans are afoot to create another bedroom which will free up space for me to have a sewing room, small it will be but it's mine!!

Breakfast anyone?

If there is anything to encourage you to eat a healthy breakfast its good china, I have an assortment of bowls old and new and so these finds have gone into my vintage shop. I really was in two minds about the top one, I love the design and the rim looks to be sponged and then the centre printed with colour hand painted. They both look a bit autumnal, in fact the top one is called October, but you know the weather here in the UK, autumn could start at any time!!

The second one is Midwinter and has a great rounded square shape to it , very vintage.

I am off to Hampton Court Flower Show on Sunday with friends, an annual event which I love so I should come back inspired and hopefully I might managed to remeber my camera!

In my garden

Really loving some of the flowers in my garden, above is a hanging basket.

They are all enjoying the extreme weather we are having down south at the moment.

How delicious is that purple, I planted this to climb with an Albertine rose that you can see just behind it, the are starting to find each other, hopefully next year the effect will be complete.

Buckles

I came by these beautiful buckles the other day and have been photographing them today out in the garden. They are made of plastic but have the most wonderful pearly effect that makes them resemble mother of pearl.

I love the ice cream colours and was very tempted to keep them for myself, but I must resist.

So they are available here

My vintage store has seen a trickle of sales and is rather fun. I have had items included in treasuries and on blogs which is really lovely too!