really old style living?

ginnyknit

Many many years ago my Mum had surgery and one part wouldnt heal, the nurses painted it liberally with honey and theres barely a scar. In those days it must have been ordinary honey as we had not heard of Manuka so I have used it ever since. sadly though I too hate the taste of it. Dh has it to sweeten his homemade yoghurt, I try to keep him on as healthy a diet as possible even though I cannot cure his condition I can keep try and keep him from develping anything else. Dgs had honey the other day for his sore throat and it made such a difference and he loved it!

ChocClare

NualaBuala wrote: »

lucky you with your own hives - do you sell the honey you don't eat?

That is the plan for next year - we had an ancient extractor up until this last Friday, which meant we couldn't really sell the honey, as it didn't meet current food standards regulations *rolls eyes - honey, the one substance which doesn't go off*

Anyhoo, Zaz (DH) has now bought this thing the size of a water tank, all gleaming and stainless steel and HUGELY expensive (birthday present monies pooled to buy it), so all we need now is productive bees to get it all up and running.

Funnily enough (or sadly enough), bees are actually MORE productive if they live in town as there is a wider variety of stuff for them to feed from. Where we are, even though we have a site of special scientific interest behind us, and acres and acres of open fields, there just isn't enough in the way of bee-friendly crops. I will be planting masses of flowers next year for the first time ever in an effort to get some diversity for our poor bees. Z has bought some bee-friendly seeds which we're going to chuck down by the river as I'd rather have meadow flowers than (all) nettles. Obviously, we can't chuck the seeds OVER the river into the SSSI but we'll do what we can...

NualaBuala

Oh that's exciting CC, I hope it all goes well! I was just saying to my sister yesterday that there was a guy who kept hives on a rooftop in New York and apparently he has great honey as there are lots of different flowers nearby whereas in the countryside it's often just field upon field of rape or corn.

ginnyknit

I would love a bee hive, but I guess they are quite expensive to set up? I am allergic to bee stings but only got stung when I lay on a sleepy bee many years ago. If one comes in the house I talk to it and then put it in a cup and take it outside ( gypsys reckon you can talk them into a calm state and they won't sting)

Am going to do a baking session now as we have no nibbles and Dh gets the munchies cos of his meds. Also with my Ds home now I need to stock up. Went to Mr S today and got a few bargains, am fed up with Mr T as I always miss out. the cheese counter has offers on every day and just got some amazing aged cheese for 50p/100gms. Much better than cheap stuff. So its quiche and rice krispie cakes. Might just do some hobknobs too but will hide some for tomorrow

Hope everyone is well today and having a bit of the warm sunshine we have here in Manchester

mardatha

If anybody can dig up websites with old xmas customs, gifts or eatables please post them. Annie I'm talking to you cos you're good at that ! There might be some nice recipes or ideas that we could copy.
I'm knitting a load of these sugarmice that somebody posted, they are so cute. Havent a clue what to do with them as yet but summat will come to me

mardatha

LOOK AT THESE -
http://www.misi.co.uk/gifts/9350/5_X_Large_EDIBLE_

NualaBuala

mardatha wrote: »

LOOK AT THESE -
http://www.misi.co.uk/gifts/9350/5_X_Large_EDIBLE_

Oh those are gorgeous! But at 60p a pop, I'd probably be asking people to remove them carefully before eating so I could reuse them!

Re the old fashioned Christmas, that'd be interesting. I remember in The Victorian Farm or one of those things on telly, they brought in boughs of greenery to decorate the place. Decking the halls so to speak. I forget what else they did but it was fascinating. Turkey is only a recent tradition , isn't it?

mardatha

I love these and will have some, had my eye on them for ages but forgot about them.. I have earmarked some holly and will get some fir cones but maybe there are other traditions maybe older ?

mags50_2

http://www.lovelychristmas.co.uk/

http://www.mookychick.co.uk/diy_ethic/make-cheap-christmas-gift-ideas.php

try these two sites....the second one is a bit wierd and I did notice a very norty word on one of its pages (not the Christmas ones) :eek:.... but it has got a few different ideas of crafty things to make

ceridwen

mardatha wrote: »

If anybody can dig up websites with old xmas customs, gifts or eatables please post them. Annie I'm talking to you cos you're good at that ! There might be some nice recipes or ideas that we could copy.
I'm knitting a load of these sugarmice that somebody posted, they are so cute. Havent a clue what to do with them as yet but summat will come to me

Depends whose Christmas/yuletide/etc we are talking about.

Not so much a website - more a book:

"Celtic Folklore Cooking" - Joanne Asala

One of my more recent purchases from Amazon....complete with the good intentions to celebrate each Solstice in appropriate fashion - but it gives suggested recipes for each Solstice.

<wanders off reminding self "it doesnt matter how I celebrate it now....so must look up recipes that are appropriate"......>

there is one BIG section on Yule in this book if interested...but for right now I've got to make some bread tonight - I havent got a slice left in the house - so missing half my breakfast tomorrow if I dont get my !!! in gear to make some...so cant investigate fully what the book has to offer...