Sloe's, stinkies and yellow feathers.....

We are coming to the end of our harvesting wild foods to preserve.

Just had sloe berries to pick, to make apple and sloe jelly and some sloe gin.
They are tiny sour plum like fruits that are themselves not something you would eat.

They are about as big as your thumb nail are the most beautiful purple almost black colour!


We have a secret place we go to every year, and it has never let us down.
There was a smaller amount of fruit on the tree's but the berries were bigger and much more juicy than the last few years.
All the rain we have had made the bracken and nettles huge round the sloe tree's.


We freeze them to get the skin to break down more easily so it seeps into the gin or jelly quicker.

Steeped in sugar and gin for months makes a beautiful liqueur.

And they make a lovely jelly with apples.

Poppy had a great time running around, she never went far away and came back when we called her, which is something she has only starting doing outside!

Even came back and sat with her lead on as folk rode past on four horses!
And she had never seen a horse before!

Before I boast about how well my beloved Poppy dog behaved......it is time to admit she found some decomposing animal and did what all manky dogs do.....ROLLED ON IT!!


MANKY Girl!!

quick rub down with baby wipes and a bath in the garden when we got home!!!



On the way to the sloes we saw a field with vintage tractors having a ploughing competition.

There were loads of beautiful machine all ploughing away. Quite something to see!



On the way home we called in to see Fiona who's dog Bailey is the litter mate of our old beloved Tilly.
He is almost 12 and a mumbly auld mannie of a dog now....the fact Poppy wanted to give him lots of poppy kisses was not something he enjoyed.....

After her busy day....and a tussle with a cats yellow feather toy....a girl just has to have a sleep!!

I know it looks like she has killed the budgie....but she hasn't!

Rowan & Rosehips.

Harvesting and preserving continues here,

Andrew made the most wonderful Rowen and Apple Jelly.


He is also made some Rose Hip and Apple jelly.
It is darker than the Rowan & Apple.
And tastes fantastic!




And will make some Rose Hip syrup which is Hugh says
is tasty over pancakes and good for colds as it is high in Vitamin C.

Planning gathering Brambles later on today or tomorrow.

Today is our 14th Wedding Anniversary and this is the card I made Andrew.




We went out for Chinese food last night and will go to dog class with Poppy Dog tonight.
Fun for the whole family !!

Talking of Poppy dog......if you get caught on the sofa,
where you are not ment to be ,
cause you are wet.........

do you................

A) jump down quickly and run away
B) Act very sorry and promise not to do it or get caught again....

or

C) ......

lie on your back and wait to have your belly tickled!!!

This is Poppy delivering my card from Andrew,





At least you don't get teeth marks on Elf post!

post 1 of 4 ~ Harverst and Preserve.

Haven't been on blog much....have done little crafting...mojo has not been around......

Time to catch up.....

I love this time of year....harvesting and preserving the last of the crops to see you through the winter....
It brings out the witch in me!
But too much rain has ment that brambles and rasps for making jam with this year will have been bought rather than wild fruits picked on rambling walks.
It is not usually this wet, and I must admit , low iron levels in me and colder weather are making this time of year less pleasant for walking Poppy. Not that she minds being wet.....

Anyway....my Lovely Hubby makes some fantastic preserves....

This last batch he has done beetroot chutney, and a few of pickled beetroot,
both now maturing and mellowing in out kitchen larder , should be ready for Christmas.

The smell in the house with the hot vinegar...is fairly pungent.....but the end result is worth it!


Look at the colour of the chutney in the pan!





Poppy loves to help....this is her after licking the bottom of a greek yougurt tub.....
Nothing to do with preserving.....but she loves to be in the kitchen chaning her luck for a tit bit!