You can never have enough...

[Lilith7]

I'm the opposite when it comes to bottling.   When I was a child we had a big section filled with fruit trees and every summer my poor mother spent weeks bottling Golden Queen peaches and Peacherines, surrounded by wasps.  Nobody helped her.  To this day I have never bottled fruit, although I used to love making jams and jellies and marmalades.   These days I use the freezer; yesterday I dealt with the week's tomato mountain and now have nine Jimbo's pots of tomato and onion pulp in the new freezer.  To be repeated every couple of days for the next month, with added tomatillos soon.

We do our best to cheat the blackbirds by netting, then harvesting the tomatoes as soon as they show the faintest colour and ripening them inside.   We also keep enough figs for ourselves by covering each fig with a little plastic bag (bags are recycled every year) when it reaches full size but before it colours.   It's quite laborious but worth it for the figs, which otherwise get completely demolished.

Similar for me Olive. I remember coming home from school to find mum exhausted in preserving season - she did the lot. Fruit,veges,eggs (in horrible slimy goo stuff which I think was called ovoline) plus all kinds of pickles & sauces, & also spaghetti in home made sauce.
Living out in the country (& in pre supermarket days ) meant a  huge garden was needed, as it was for most people then. There was a big floor to ceiling cupboard which was filled every season with preserves.

The most I do is freeze things but interestingly, sweetie darling no.2 has lately started preserving things so perhaps its making a comeback. That, or he's a bit weird like me...

[Oh_hunnihunni]

Beautiful day in the bay - last year I had a preserving flurry made lots and lots of Kiwimaids plum sauce and lots of pasta sauce for the flatting grandchildren but that lot have jumped the ditch so the remaining grandchildren are younger and still under their respective mothers care .I have a bowl of apricots ,peaches and nectarines that I am sick of so when it cools down later going to boil it all up and make a fruit salad jam will only make a couple of pots but better than wasting it .Was given some greengages absolutely beautiful- ripe really early this year my DIL tells me and the best they have been for ages - so the weird weather has suited some varieties
Hunni wasn’t bottled trout spectacular - but I stopped doing it because it was evidently risky - my Mum then my siblings and I continued doing it but I listened to the experts and stopped .Now smoke them when we go to Kinloch
I am going to do some shading with the rainbow colours - one good thing about crochet you don’t have to just have blocks of colour and it’s so easy to unpick - not sure if I put up a photo of Dr Sueus but instead of just being a solid cat outline the shading was supposed to mimic a pencil drawing - so thought I will do a rainbow haze like down the cats side

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Despite being married to a dedicated angler, I never liked trout, smoked, pickled, or otherwise - but bottled, or that is better than the best tinned salmon. And I never killed anyone with my offerings, perhaps the double processing made sure of that!

Mandarins were the next best thing, I am tempted to do those again even now, but oh they were fiddly to prepare...

[kiwimade64]

yummmmmmm bottled trout! We haven't had that for years. So good and the bones dissolved so no need to worry about that. I remember mum making tomato relish by the preserving pan full. And I remember tasting cayenne pepper for the first time lol... I liked the colour so thought I would taste a bit. MrK has taken over the preserving, pickling and jam making since he retired. Now he thinks he's the 'expert' even though it was me who taught him... sigh. When the kids were small, I bottled as much cheap fruit as I could find or left over fruit we grew. Black Boy peaches were a favourite.

[Oh_hunnihunni]

Black Boy peaches, Black Doris plums, and wild picked blackberries - special childhood tastes...

I put this photo on a farcebook page that shows worldwide views from a window, and have been amazed by the response from kiwis all over the planet, Happy Waitangi Day!

https://trademe.tmcdn.co.nz/photoserver/...489256.jpg

[kiwimade64]

morning ladies We're under a thunderstorm watch for this afternoon Bring on the rain!

What a lovely view, OHH. It looks like it's from an apartment. Amazing what people do with small spaces.

Housework for me again today, more spiders to evict. If I can work along the front road at some stage, I will. The Furry One has meds to be picked up from the vet so at some stage we will have to go into town.

Happy crafting

[popeye333]

Morning everyone

Not sure what the weather will be here. its not cold at the mo.

Got the back done yesterday. it looks so nice and back to my normal speed. Its hilly in two way sort of short and sharp. and even tho it hurts it also makes sure my knees have a workout.

Im not a huge fan of smoked things. Bacon and trout being the only two I will eat. MrP did a nice smoked trout. All the more special cos he has caught them .

Dianne's sister is staying up near to mum so Dianne and I will be going through her room today. Impossible to do when she is there. Ill be on the clothes, going through and taking out what isn't actually hers. A very quick look in one drawer the other day had 5 things not hers.

Have a wonderful day everyone

[Oh_hunnihunni]

I came across an thought provoking post on Instagram this morning, it was a guy giving an address at Northwestern University, a graduation speech maybe. He said 'the kindest person in the room is the smartest' - and it made me think about my friends and aquaintances, and you know what? I think he's right.

So I am going to try to be kinder, it might increase my fading IQ, lol...

[Mica]

Morning all 
Another lovely sunny day  pretty nippy at 6.30 though

Just returned from grocery shop letting DH unpack 

Meeting friends for lunch today then more quilting later only 3 more runs to do andnthats donenthen need to trim and choose a binding fabric - that's what my striped fabric stash is for 

Lovely Vista OHH thanks for sharing 


Enjoy your day

[Lilith7]

I came across an thought provoking post on Instagram this morning, it was a guy giving an address at Northwestern University, a graduation speech maybe. He said 'the kindest person in the room is the smartest' - and it made me think about my friends and aquaintances, and you know what? I think he's right.

So I am going to try to be kinder, it might increase my fading IQ, lol...

The more I think about that, the more it seems exactly right, especially when looking at some leaders around the world both past & present. Those who don't care about others seem to also be those who cause most harm because  kindness, & indeed, other people, neither interest nor concern them, (except when its to their advantage) & so they do the most damage.


Had a burst of energy earlier & mowed front lawn then did a bit more weeding - with 'help' from Madame le Cat wko luckily lost interest fairly quickly. Set out lawn clippings to dry out a bit if the sun ever shows itself, came in & had a coffee & read for a bit.
Then came online to find that creative cronies Moon calendar want one of my illustrations for next year's diary, which is really nice.

One of those sunflowers I planted is looking almost haddit not really sure if perhaps I under watered that one although it might just be coming to the end of its life.

[kiwimade64]

morning ladies No fog this morning, that makes a change.

That's an interesting theory, OHH. As Lilith says, when you think about leadership around the world, past and present, he may have a valid point.

No plans for the day, we'll see how it goes. There are a couple of plants I could divide and replant along the roadside and the spring bulbs all need repotting.

I'll work a bit more on this embroidery piece, am very happy with it so far in spite of all the French Knots and buillion stitches.

Happy crafting

[popeye333]

Morning everyone

Overcast here so far.

I think you are right too Hunni.. Interesting how peoples minds work tho.

I have Always been one to tell people to "Have a nice or wonderful Day" when they are leaving etc.. David ripped my head off once saying he didn't need people to tell him that... Yesterday after having a mini snarl about Colleen and Annie fighting AGAIN, at the bottom of the text he said Have a great Day.. That is a first. I must be rubbing off on him.

The fight was cos I asked Annie, in Colleens doorway if she might like to borrow my walking stick.. No it didn't go down well, but Ill try again. But Colleen snarled and told her she was being ungrateful and it hit the fan. I will try again with Annie, but on her own. apparently they had been sat together at the cooked breakfast and Annie was grumpy then.

I know she is annoyed at people suggesting it, Ill pull a daughter trick once things have settled. Its only for her own safety and confidence. And I suggested we went to town putting stickers on it.

My mother was sort of the same, although she did start using one my brother asked her why she had it... So she stopped again until she moved in with us.

We went through mums clothes, there were items for 4 other people, we dumped it in the hallway.. But while we were doing it the one Awesome Kiwi carer stopped , Dianne's back was turned to the door, but I saw her face , it had dropped, I said Its ok she's still with us.. she thought she had passed. The drawers and wardrobe are nice and Tidy again now. Had a thin out of other peoples stuff, ripped or stained things, I have a pile of mending that can be done, to do.

My knee was sore enough for me to consider going to the drs. But I came home took pills, put on deep heat and propped it up.. Its ok this morning. Goodness know what Id done, but Im glad its gone again.

My Aussie friends Hubbie broke his wrist on Thursday when he had a fall. Did he go to the dr or hospital Nope... it will be ok.. I told him off and his wife took him yesterday. Yup broken and he has a cast. She was saying their Grandie wasn't understanding it.. I suggested to Ivan he let Bella chose the colour of her cast, so its not scary so he is now Sporting a pretty pink cast lol.. And she knows its to help Poppys arm feel better.

Have a wonderful day everyone.

[Mica]

Morning all 
Another sunny day 

OHH you might be right about kind people 

Just buzzed around and done the bathroom clean and washed the floors.
Thinking of getting the tabby a hammock to stretch  out in the sun can string it between fence and trellis screen  nondoubt DH will think it is another of my crazy  cat lady ideas then when they turn out to be excellent ideas he had a part in setting it up. Cantngrumboe because he never impedes the crazy wise man

DH plans to do gardening at DD house today so I hope to complete the quilting today

Enjoy your day

[Oh_hunnihunni]

In his speech he pointed out that empathy, which inspires kindness, is a learned trait. That means that being kind indicates an evolved person, someone who has the ability to learn and practise skills that do not necessarily benefit themselves, but do make life better for others. The converse being an unkind person is an unevolved one, who perhaps has some maturing to do. Or something...

Thinking about that in a political sense makes a few bells ring for me.

[Mica]

Can hear the bells OHH

DH didn't bat an eyelid when I suggested the cat hammock. Couple clicks later one ordered  from Catnets nz

Got to love shopping from home   

The test will be will the suspicious tabby use it?

[Jan]

Morning all 
Another sunny day 

OHH you might be right about kind people 

Just buzzed around and done the bathroom clean and washed the floors.
Thinking of getting the tabby a hammock to stretch  out in the sun can string it between fence and trellis screen  nondoubt DH will think it is another of my crazy  cat lady ideas then when they turn out to be excellent ideas he had a part in setting it up. Cantngrumboe because he never impedes the crazy wise man

DH plans to do gardening at DD house today so I hope to complete the quilting today

Enjoy your day

We had a hammock as part of the containment system for our beautiful Bob cat we took over to Oz with us - I was so frightened he would try to get back to Taupo I was only too happy to obey the rules of the village we lived in that all cats had to be contained and so set up a very cat friendly jail. He loved the hammock 
https://trademe.tmcdn.co.nz/photoserver/...972998.jpg

[kiwimade64]

lol hopefully, mica They are their own creatures, that's for sure.

Just spotted a big mistake in my stitching, two leaves were hanging upside down It's all in the angle you stitch and me being a leftie, had it the other way round. It's an easy fix and a lesson learned.

I have picked a big sistema container of grapes. The grape vine has loved being pruned and having the bunches thinned. A strawberry has self seeded from the compost in a begonia pot. It will be repotted and hopefully we will have some yummy berries next season. There are even little runners. It will be from some strawberries I bought that had a couple buried in the middle of the chip going off and ended up in the compost bin. At the time I was annoyed at the waste of $$$ but maybe it wasn't such a waste after all.

[Oh_hunnihunni]

My strawberries are still making berries, which amazes me, but I did lavish attention on them. The plants are huge and not producing runners yet, but I hope they do!

[kiwimade64]

morning ladies We had heavy rain overnight Hopefully the rain will stick around today.

Runners on your strawberries would be a bonus, OHH We're still picking blueberries although almost at the end of the crop. Freshly picked berries are so good!

I fixed the upside-down leaves on the embroidery yesterday and it looks so much better. I'll need to buy an artist's board at some stage to lace it too.

No plans for the day, we'll wing it.

Happy crafting

[Mica]

Morning all 
Overcast expecting the sun later this morning 

Lazy start  will walk k9 after vacuuming 

Quilting finish on to best bit hand stitching the binding  down then it will need a wash as I used basting spray to hold the layers for quilting. Might have it done for show and tell at quilt guild on Monday night 

No plans for today 

Enjoy your day

[popeye333]

Morning everyone

Fine here. I dont think it rained overnight. Not so hot tis morning Yay.

Im going to list some retro Tupperware today. Its going for big bikkies again. It sort of floats so Il try and undercut, which I always do and hopefully make a few dollars.

Been over a week in the bed and its not getting any easier.. I think Ill ask my Dr when I see him next to have my hips and spine looked at again. Its over 15 years since I sore the orthopedic specialist who told me back then my back was 20 older than I was. And cos my mother left hers way too long without having it checked, I dont want to end up with a rotten hip like hers was.
I know when I have my surgery Ill be back in the chair, cos I wont be able to lay on my sides for a while.

I enjoyed doing my little sewing jobs for Mum yesterday. The carers are soo rough on their clothes. Halling bodies up by grabbing clothes. Ladies knickers aren't made for that kind of treatment.

Have a wonderful day everyone.