Wet, Wild and Windy.

The wind is howling, buffeting against the house with such force that it occasionally shakes from the onslaught. Rain pelts down turning the duckpond into a giant murky puddle where leaves surface only to be swooshed down once more as yet another heavy cloudful is thrown upon them. How different to yesterday, a day of sunshine and blue skies. Granny-mother and I took the two girls out for an afternoon trip to the beach to see if the breezy day would blow away the last of the poorliness, a need for fresh air after being shut inside for much of the week.



We grabbed some sweet cherry tomatoes and cucumber slices as well as somwe of the apple and sultana buns made earlier in the week from Lucy's very own recipe.



Our little waterbaby did her usual, stripping off tights and shoes to paddle her feet in the icy water. The tremendous winds of late have stripped much of the beach of sand leaving a rocky landscape we barely recognise. No doubt a change in wind direction will see its return some time soon as is usual at this time of year, but for now it is a lunar landscape most unfamiliar to the girls, but to be explored nonetheless.



Lucy sat mermaid-like on a rock to read her book which she is so enjoying that she whips it out at any and every possible moment to lose herself in its pages once more.



And Isabella hoisted the skirts of her ladybird outfit which she had been wearing for the day. Such a sweet sight to see a brightly clad ladybird skittering surefooted over the rocks complete with snug winter coat over the top!



At last the chill began to descend as the afternoon moved on and we headed to Granny-mother's for warm drinks and cake. Home once more, the girls played quietly, exhausted by their windy outing and I retreated to the kitchne to turn some windfall apples and the squash grown on our allotment into spicy chutney. I love chutney making as it takes me back to when I was a child, the smell drifting through the kitchen as my Mum did the same.



Such gorgeous colours



I intend to cosy up by the fire now and complete some Noel Christmas Tea Cosies ready for next week's orders. A lovely thing to be making on such a miserable dday.



Have a lovely weekend xx

Cider Sunday.

It is early morning and the garden is shrouded in an October mist. Hopefully this heralds another beautiful Autumnal day full of sunshine and warmth much like the perfect weekend we have just had. My weekend began with a treat, a little something of such loveliness that I couldn't resist - I bought myself a pincushion from a gorgeous new online shop called Made by Florence. I suggest you take yourselves off for a look at some of the beautiful things Florence makes, all very original and stitched with care. It is just perfect Florence and I have already used it to great effect all weekend - thank you x



Orders poured in all through last week, so I spent much of the weekend working in my sewing room which was very enjoyable. I can only imagine thoughts are turning Christmas-wise judging by the order list pinned on my wall and what is lovely is the range of things being ordered, everything from bags to Babbits (of which there are a vast number of the baby variety lined up on my shelves) to garden door hangings. It is all very busy and makes me feel I have hit the mark with my designs which is most gratifying. In between all this activity Dave and I made sure we all had a good time as a family - it was the weekend after all. Sunday morning saw us dressed and out by 9am after first downing a pot of coffee in bed first of course. By 9.30 we had collected two trugs of apples from a friend's garden.



Home once more and Elias and Dave set up the fruit press in the front garden while I got a hearty breakfast underway - sausages, beans, etc as a rare Sunday morning treat. My eldest son, Tom, arrived and was soon pulled into service with our diminutive press, which is somewhat ironic as he makes cider for a living with a press that makes ours seem a little on the small side. Doesn't everyone make cider dressed in surfwear?



Elias worked hard and the girls splashed and sploshed up and down the pathway in the excess water from cleaning the equipment. They were truly drenched by the time I called them all in for a sustaining breakfast - how often it seems I dress & re-dress little Isabella. Much toast was consumed accompanied by glassed of freshly squeezed apple juice which is so unlike anything I can describe. Each time you press it, it tastes different depending on the year, the varieties used, the mix of apples, but it always tastes just wonderful. This batch was brownish in colour as is usual and sweet. The remaining apples were pressed and the barrel now sits in the mint bed in front of the kitchen window turning into cider for Christmas festivities as a change from the other homemade beverages stowed away.



Dave went off to London in the afternoon for another meeting and what did I do instead of sewing? Made chutney with Tom as he had a burning desire to make some to take home to his girlfriend on her return from work later that day. We chopped and stirred and measured and chatted away the afternoon to the delicious smell of mint and vinegar, and the deeper aromas of fresh ginger combined with apple. A short while and several cups of tea later and here was the result of our endeavours, mine sensibly labelled like so...



and Tom's not so sensibly labelled like this (but much funnier I think!).



For those who may be interested, the recipe for this chutney which is delicious with cheese or meats is written up here. Make some, keep some & give some away for Christmas - homemade presents are always lovely aren't they?

Bye for now x