TF and I found ripe raspberries in the garden today. More than a handful which made it worth getting the trug out. This trug is just the perfect size for TF. Each year, the children join in collecting the ripened fruit. Today, I was struck that TF really knew which berries to take and which to leave for a few days.
We collected blackcurrants and raspberries. As it was approaching elevensies, I picked a sprig of elderflower for a cup of tea. We passed a lavender bush and collected some of their heads as well.
As I tugged off the lavender, unfortunatley I managed to pull off a branch. Hmm! Never mind. TF took it into the kitchen and used his scisors to cut the lavender off, taking care to leave long stems.
He took such care arranging the lavender in his trug. I love our Tuesday’s together. It is a change of speed and I know this time in his life will be over far too quickly. I just want to saviour every minute of this time together.
We found this little caterpillar in among the raspberries and blackcurrant leaves. I’ve spent too much time, trying to figure out what it is and whether it is going to strip my plants of their leaves. Any ideas anyone?
Also bottled 4 litres of elderflower cordial. The first batch was all gone by the end of yesterday, so it is good timing. I now have juice from 2 kilos of blackcurrants to boil up as jelly, tonight. This is one job I prefer to do with no children in the kitchen. Lots more blackcurrants to pick and this year I have the signs of a dream team of pickers. Yeh!
oh you lucky gal to have raspberries!!! I’m hoping ours will be ready in a week or two!!! I can’t wait…we’ve got big ol plans for the raspberries this year!!!!
xo maureen
I hope they come thick and fast. I love raspberries. We should be reaping the benefit of putting new bushes in two years ago.
BEAUTIFUL photos. I love picking berries. We have quite a few bushes on the trail behind out home. I wait all year for them to be ripe.
I love Lavender. It is one of my favorites and it smells so good!
Thanks. I find picking the berries and currants time-consuming but absolutely therapeutic
Those blackcurrants made made my mouth water, they are one of my favourite fruits. You are lucky to have those willing helpers. Just wondered if you could let me know the name of the jam making book you mentioned the other day. Thanks in advance.
The book I use is Good Housekeepings’s “Complete Book of Preserving”. I’ve just checked on Amazon and it appears to have gone out of print. My version was published in 1991. Where has the time gone! I have found this book so good that I haven’t got another to recommend. If you can get a copy of this one, it is worth getting.