Saturday 31 October 2020

Ginx Woolly Linx Party November

I hope that everyone who visits the link party is keeping well, and your family and friends. Life does seem hard at the moment, and the only way through seems to be to look for small pleasures, and to be kind to each other. I hope that my party is one of those small pleasures.

I liked Sandra of Hakelfieber's crochet pencils. She has translated the pattern from the original Russian into German.

Julie of Sum of Their Stories has made a lovely baby blanket in yellow and pink. So pretty with those spirals, daisies and hearts.

Carolyn of Flickensalat has also used a lovely colour combination - pink, grey and while. I really like this checkerboard cushion, and she has made a lovely throw from the rest of the wool.

And finally Caroline of Inekedcblog has made these really imaginative fish dungarees. Aren't they adorable.

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

 

Monday 19 October 2020

Conker and Shell

One subject that I have revisited from time to time is conkers. I just can't help picking one up at this time of year and slipping it into my pocket. Putting my hand in occasionally and feeling the lovely smooth surface. Then I get home and give it as a gift to someone. I think I also do the same thing with pebbles if I am walking along a beach. Do you have anything that you like to pick up when out for a walk?

There seem to have been more around this year than others, and we have a little pile on the mantlepiece. I have just made this conker and shell for a customer on Etsy. Photos not great, but it is already on its way to Scotland. You can find the pattern on ravelry here if you want to make your own. Or I make then to order from my Etsy shop. I made this one in a very long evening, although the version with the whole shell would take longer. Making all the spikes is a bit of a fiddle, but I am always please with how it turns out.



 https://ginxcraft.blogspot.com/2020/07/ginx-woolly-linx-party-august.html

Just a reminder that there is still plenty of time left to join in my Ginx Woolly Linx party for October. Click on the photo above or at the top of the page to find the party. I would love to see what you have been working on this month.

Wednesday 7 October 2020

Garden Diary September and October

I am a bit late with my garden diary, because I am back in town.  I tried to persuade my husband to write something, and although he has been keeping me up-to-date, he did not seem keen on this. But fortunately I have been down for a long weekend, so have been able to see how all the vegetables are.

All the beans, peas, and courgettes are over. But we still have lots of vine tomatoes. I think next year I will try some other varietes of tomatoes. The peppers are also looking good, and we are waiting for them to perhaps turn red. My husband says he is going to make some chutney, perhaps with the tomatoes and apples.

Somehow the broccoli plants (which I nearly gave up on at one point) have pulled through. And the turnip seedlings, which had also got eaten, are hanging on in there and plumping up.

We have dug a few potatoes, and although the early ones were not very big or many, the main crop seem good and roasted nicely. I have memories of my father digging all the potatoes and storing them in the garage, but we are just digging a few plants as and when we need them. I guess when there are signs of frost we may dig all the remaining ones. Also planning to dig the Jerusalem artichokes and make and earthy soup. 

We have put aside some of the older runner peas, french beans and peas for seed for next year. Sunflower seeds we are planning to let the birds eat. I have also picked some sweet peas and poppy seeds. It just seems sense to try and save some seeds.

We also had a second crop of raspberries - enough to make a crumble. I think these are the ones that I may have over-pruned in the spring.

The squash and pumpkins are still looking great. We picked one of the squash, and it was really good. This is a pumpkin. I have mislaid the seed packet, and cannot work out what sort of pumpkin it is, but it is clearly a bit different from the traditional orange ones.

Our other big project is brewing. There are several apples trees, and although I have picked some of best to store as eating apples, we have so many that we decided to make some cider. So far we have started two batches, and I think there will be enough for a third. So we spent a very jolly morning chopping and pressing. Very hard work, and with blisters from all the cutting, but it was a nice family activity, and even my son joined in. Only seemed fair, as I am sure he is expecting to drink some of the finished product. 


So that is it for now. I am not sure if I will do a November/December diary, as I will have to see what there is to write about. So you may next hear more of the garden in the Spring.

 https://ginxcraft.blogspot.com/2020/07/ginx-woolly-linx-party-august.html

Just a reminder that there is still plenty of time left to join in my Ginx Woolly Linx party for October. Click on the photo above or at the top of the page to find the party. I would love to see what you have been working on this month.