I spent the weekend either in the kitchen cooking or trying to solve my transport problem. To be honest my wonderful dh solved the car problem, but I was there! While the grownups were preoccupied, the children crafted. AJ completed her first (yes, first) knitting project. I helped her with the increasing and decreasing, but she did the rest. She is so pleased.
BL surprised me by completing a mermaid, pretty much on her own. She received this kit for Christmas and has been desperate to make it. I sat down with her, with the thought that she would need my constant help, but I was wrong. She can successfully cut and sew, with very little help. She is so pleased with her finger puppet.
Not to be left out, TF got out some materials from the recycling area and we started to make something that he is excited about. More about this is a later post. He loved using the sponge to paint.
In between I moved the last tray of basil out of the greenhouse and into the warmer conservatory. I’ve moved the outside tomatoes into the greenhouse, to protect them from the chillier nights. Under the basil trays, I found a few of these strange little grubs. Seems almost a cross between a mouse and a grub. The basil is thriving, so I don’t think it is a threat, just intriguing.
More chutney. I made apple and marrow chutney during the week. Now I’ve added lots of jars of apple chutney. I have made more than enough to last us a year. I’m glad I can put these away for a few months as I’ve had enough of the smell of chutney. While I was sorting out storage for all these jars, I found four old Kilner Ravenhead glass-topped jars, that used to belong to my Grandma. She used to pickle, bottle and preserve every autumn. I have been wanting to try my hand at canning/bottling some apple puree and I reckon these are the jars to use. I wish she was still around to tell me of her experience. They are in perfect condition and I know where to source some rubber rings. Good job I’m still enjoying the fragrance of apples.
Busy weekend and another busy week to come!
You have all been very busy and productive. It’s lovely to see kids crafting, a nice change from being in front of a t.v. or computer.
We are not TV free, but computer games are unheard of in our house. I try to limit their screen time, but I really do believe that they would rather be crafting than watching, in any case. I’m really glad they make that choice.
Gosh you’ve been busy!
you might look at this
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eristalis_tenax
for the bug
Just checked the link. We do get a hoverfly type fly, in the garden, that looks like a drone fly, so this would be a likely candidate. Big thanks for the link. I’m glad they describe it as a mainly harmless curiosity.
Enjoying all the photos of your harvest home. I don’t think I’ve ever tasted an elderberry. Is it sweet or tart? And, that grub-mouse thing…what is that? Does it have an actual name? Or maybe you’ve discovered a new species (!)
Ha. I had to go out in the garden to check. Elderberries are a new area for me, although they have been in the garden all this time. The berries are very small, but the ripe berries, I just tried, are full of juice. They are more on the sweet side than tart, but I think our modern taste palates would find them neutral in taste. I suspect they would be more interesting, in taste, to people of an age gone-by that did not consume food that is full of sugar. Next time I will try and use honey to make the syrup and add by taste.
As for the mouse grub, I think Val has solved the mystery. It looks like it may be a drone fly. Not sure I really wanted to lend my name to a new species that looks half mouse, half grub.!
The common name is rat tailed maggots!!
That is such a descriptive name. They look like a mad scientist has put two creatures together.
Wow! BL did a GREAT job on the mermaid!
She is so pleased with it and I really am stunned at how much she was able to accomplish. She just keeps growing and growing!