There are certain points of the year that I really look forward to. One of these is the start of the strawberry season. Hard as I try, as yet I’ve not been able to grow enough strawberries to meet the family’s needs. So I have two places I love to go to supplement the gap in supply. First is the pick-your-own (PYO) which is a short drive away. Strawberries and entertainment. The other is a longer drive down to Cheddar, where they always seem to have the first strawberries and the longest growing season.
The PYO is not open yet, so we took a trip to Cheddar. While I bought three containers of strawberries, I told the lady serving, that I liked making jam. Did she have any suitable strawberries. She disappeared and returned with this lovely crate of misshapen strawberries. Hee, hee! I’m making strawberry jam tonight. (little dance of happiness!)
Of course, the children don’t care what they look like. So it is tonight, or no jam.
I’ve been working on a crafty project, which is turning out better than I hoped. Its for my niece’s birthday, so if you happen to be my sister, please close your eyes now.
This is a sneak preview, just because I’m so pleased with it. I can show you proper in two weeks after I’ve given it to the birthday girl.
OK, you can open your eyes, big sister.
I didn’t manage to get to a PYO at all last summer but I did have access to a plum tree with a bumper crop so We’re still eating our way through all the plum jam from that, but nothing beats a good homemade strawberry jam does it!
Have a nice week.
Em xx
I’ve still got lots of plums in the freezer from last year. We have a prolific cropping plum tree. Even my children cannot eat all it produces. Unlike strawberry, plum jam does not disappear quickly. I must find an amazing plum jam combination for this year. Chutneys are great, but I don’t want to buy jam and ignore the plum I already have.
Cheryl, I love the contrasting colors of red and blue in your photos. And the doll looks very sweet. Lucky niece!
Thanks, Jodi. The doll is rather cute. Its going to take real will power to hand her over. That’s once I’ve got her passed my children.
I had to start growing strawberries because I would go broke otherwise, lol. My kids don’t just like them, I swear they inhale them!
You should be okay this year with your plants from last year – strawberries do better after they’ve been able to establish strong roots and are slightly more mature. Just give them a good amount of sunshine and keep the water moist to touch (but don’t over water). The best time to plant them is in the fall – so if you do plant more roots this year technically you should pinch the flowers off so it will be a stronger plant for next season – but I know that is hard to do when you want berries! I hope they grow for you this season, there’s so many good things to make with strawberries!
Thanks for the tip, Michelle. I’m not sure I can resist missing out on the berries, if I do buy more plants. Maybe I could do every other one.
Fab strawbs pic! No sign of any in our garden yet, waiting for the alpines to open x
The alpines have spread really well in the garden and seem to have survived the cold weather. We’ve got the flowers and the buzzing bees, now we are just waiting…..
Those strawberries look delicious and I think the misshapen ones are much more fun! The doll looks beautiful – its something I’ve wanted to try for a while, think I might go and check out the library…. 😀
Thanks Mousy Brown. For doll making, I use Kinder Dolls by Maricristin Sealey. Includes simple patterns and lots of techniques.
The strawberries look yummy, you are so industrious where do you find the time to do all these things? Can’t wait to see pictures of the finished present.
Thanks Sue. As for how I find the time – you haven’t seen the state of my house. Something has to give.
I’m pretty sure you’d be very welcome to sign up for crafty sunday Cheryl.
Click the link on my page to go to the sign-up post.
Em xx
Thanks Emma. I think I’ll take a look.
We are so looking forward to PYO this summer – we have a ‘patch’ in the garden at home and pick what ever is ready at the time but for our boy; Spence to pick a whole punnet like we both used to as children with our grandparents is a lovely experience. We love to hear about your relaxed ‘back to nature’ life! here’s to jumping off the treadmill!!!
Our local PYO usually opens at the beginning of June, but I suspect it will be later this year, as everything seems to be a couple weeks late. Can’t wait to make my next batch of strawberry jam, as we are already on our last jar already!
😛 🙂