Compost and other stuff

The compost bin has been sorted out,

I forked the fresher stuff off the top onto a sheet, took the lovely rich compost from the bottom and then put the fresh stuff back into the bin to continue composting.  I spread three barrow loads onto the veg patch (some of the broad beans were reshooting from the bottom of the old plants – I’ve cut off the tops and left the new shoots to see if there will be a few late beans).

I did find a few strange items in the compost – a missing spoon, a nail brush and the burnt out remains of a candle – can’t think how they ended up in the compost bin though.

Of course, I had lots of help …

Hmmppp I’m sure there’s a mouse in here somewhere!

… it generated great curiosity and enthusiastic sniffling and snuffling.

The chimney sweep turned up the same day to clean the wood burning stove flue.

Another extremely interesting curiosity in Daisy’s mind, such a shame we humans wouldn’t let her poke her nose inside the burner as the brush was being pushed up the chimney.

I’ve also defrosted our two freezers, one is a small chest freezer and the other a tall fridge freezer.  Lots of hidden treasures to be found in the bottom, not least several boxes of frozen fruit from the garden that had been in there quite a while, and which has been made into mixed berry jam (blueberries, blackberries, raspberries and blackcurrants).

and redcurrant jelly, completed this morning.

  I’ve run out of jam jars and resorted to using glass ramekins.

I think there will be some Crab apple jelly in the near future as there is an abundance of crab apples on the tree, but I must get my hands on some jam jars first.

I’ve also been sorting out my sloe gin I started this time last year (more details here).  It’s been patiently sitting in a cupboard waiting to be strained and bottled.

That’s what I’m doing right now – waiting for the liquid to strain through coffee filters.

I wonder what it will taste like?

Jane & Daisy xx

Sssshhhh don’t tell…

She’s busy doing something, so I thought I’d just sneak in and say helloooo while she’s not using this box thingy.  It is my blog after all, although you wouldn’t think so the way she hoggs it!

She’s finished this off.  A Tuck-in or Bow-knot Scarf.  I’ve put a link in the side bar in the Tutorial whatsy, so you can knit it up too.

Thing is she can’t wear it because she  says it makes her itch.  She thought it was baby soft alpaca, but turns out it’s got 4o% wool in it.  Well it is called Louisa Harding Thistle – what does she expect?  I think she’s going to knit it again in something with no wool in it.

Not that it feels at all itchy or thistley to me.

Trouble is I don’t have anywhere to tuck it into.

But that aside it looks rather fetching on me don’t you think?

He just snorted and said dog’s don’t need scarves, but we have had some more of the white stuff and it is rather cold out there, and I do spend a lot of my time here …..

… and she says I must feel the cold when I go out.

She was mumbling something about taking photos for “the” blog when she’d done her hair and got make up on and something suitable to wear it with.  Anyway, I’ve beaten her to it – what a load of nonsense, hair and makeup hmmff.  I don’t have to do any of that stuff, I always look beautiful and good to go.

And look what else she’s been up to in my name ……

… honestly, what is a Westie to do?  She gave some to our Christmas guests who all laughed when they saw the label.  They all said it tasted good with the turkey.  I can’t tell you anything about that as I didn’t get offered any.  Turkey was good though – wish it was Christmas every day!

Anyway, I’d best scarper before she catches me.  Don’t tell her you saw me doing this earlier in the white stuff.

Yes, that blur with muddy paws and tummy is me after our walk.  He’s right, who needs a scarf when you’re having this much fun.  It would just get in the way.

Woof xx