really old style living?

NualaBuala

mardatha wrote: »

Yyyy this Virgo is supertidy, as well as Ratty. I thought Ginny said she was off to get togged up in her wellies--- for a second there I thought I wasnt the only one chasing pink sheep round a field with a pair of knitting needles...

I like wellies! I can just imagine the pair of you trying to knit the wool while it's still on the poor sheep!:D Ratty eh, well I can't say anything against that cos I have my moments too believe it or not.

ginnyknit

mardatha wrote: »

Yyyy this Virgo is supertidy, as well as Ratty. I thought Ginny said she was off to get togged up in her wellies--- for a second there I thought I wasnt the only one chasing pink sheep round a field with a pair of knitting needles...

Strange you should mention wellies I just popped back in the office to check up on you all and there are my wellies under the desk - mind you the thought of chippendales digging your garden I'd be down there in my wellies with a handy bottle of baby oil to watch - I mean supervise:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

Smileyt I may well be down in the spring to help you hunny, Im sure we can do more together than you can alone, will bring the camping stove and brew up too - thats a promise! Ain't got any Chippendales but Dh can drive us in our estate car and we have all the tools you could need.

Patchwork_Quilt

ThriftyFelicity wrote: »

How do you bottle your fruit purees and what kind of jars do you use? Do you do apples on their own or mixed with other fruit?

We have a "pantry" in the garage... a few wall-mounted cupboards and a shelving unit. It's amazing how much can be stored when everything is organised (unfortunately, organisation is not my strong point, but I'm getting better )

I use ordinary jars but the ones with the separate lid and screw band are the best. I followed the instructions for a quick water bath in the Reader's Digest Food From Your Garden book (sorry can't see the ISBN it was printed in 1977). I'm reluctant to type it all out here, though, in case I miss some vital step out and everyone ends up with botulism. Another books I'm always referring to is the US Department Complete Guide to Home Canning and Preserving ISBN 13:978--0-486-40931-1.

I mixed the apples with blackberries but you could use anything.

Patchwork_Quilt

Janebo12 wrote: »

Hi, would you mind telling me how you pickle your beetroot - I am totally clueless on pickling. I go to a community allotment and we have lots of nice beetroot on there for sharing out - I brought one home the other week and cooked it (peeled and simmered in a pan - is that right?) but that's as far as it got!

Hope you can help - thanks!

I cook and peel mine too. While it's simmering, I sterilise a few jam jars and lids by filling them with boiling water. When I've cut the beetroot into slices, I empty the jars (back into the kettle to save water) and fill them with the slices. Then you have a choice of either filling the jars with boiling vinegar or just using it cold. I haven't found a difference in the keeping properties but hot vinegar will contract as it cools, pulling the jar lids down and making a better seal. Put the lids on and label.

Good luck.

ThriftyFelicity

Patchwork_Quilt wrote: »

I use ordinary jars but the ones with the separate lid and screw band are the best. I followed the instructions for a quick water bath in the Reader's Digest Food From Your Garden book (sorry can't see the ISBN it was printed in 1977). I'm reluctant to type it all out here, though, in case I miss some vital step out and everyone ends up with botulism. Another books I'm always referring to is the US Department Complete Guide to Home Canning and Preserving ISBN 13:978--0-486-40931-1.

I mixed the apples with blackberries but you could use anything.

I actually have that book, but forgot there was preserving info in it... thanks for reminding me . I've used the quick water bath method in the past for bottling pickled gherkins, but haven't tried fruit purees. Last year we picked tons of apples and made it all into cider (12 gallons of it! gave some away and still have some left), but I wanted to do something a bit more... nutritious this year

maryb

Phew

I've been back from holiday for a week now and I'm still not quite caught up with all the threads I follow (still got several pages to go on the "Tough" thread) but I've barely been able to tear myself away to cope with all the washing. The allotment was in full swing when we got back. I deliberately planted everything late in the hope that we wouldn't have too much ripening before we went away but then we had to postpone the holiday for a week so it was all ripe when we were away anyway. Still my sister agreed to come and pick everything and water if necessary (it wasn't!)

I let all my stocks run down a bit over the summer but I am blanching runner beans like there is no tomorrow and they are going into the freezer. The bean stringer/slicer gadget is working overtime! I have found that blanching them for exactly 2.5 minutes in the pressure cooker is just right - any longer and they start to look less bright green. Then I dump them in cold water in the sink to stop them cooking and then use a salad spinner to get the water out - that works brilliantly.

I've also discovered the zip top plastic bags from Mr T. The small size holds just enough for one meal for the 4 of us and they are sturdy enough to reuse. I put the beans in and zip it almost closed then fold it over to squeeze out the air and zip it closed. It works pretty well to get all the air out and then they stack well in the freezer.

Also grating any courgettes we can't keep pace with and freezing them. I made individual courgette souffles on Saturday as a starter and they were the most delicious thing I have ever tasted and so pretty with the flecks of green. So happy to use lots of courgettes that way but even so the blighters just keep coming


Mardatha
Sorry if I have missed it with reading through so many pages in one sitting , I think you made a reference to a stash list for people to use when planning how much to stock up on. Could you please point me in the direction of the link because I just can't find it

Thanks ever so much

elona

Mardatha

Have you looked at LETTS?

Maybe you could trade a few pairs of hand knitted socks for a few hours to get your garden set up.

missychrissy

mardatha wrote: »

Oh thanks everybody but (lol, my fav word BUT!! ) its easy for me to sit here and witter on - anybody can do that . I just wish I could DO it. All my life I worked and he worked and things were fine , probably because at weekends we were too knackered to do anything at all. But now we're both off and spend all day together, what he wants to do and what I want to do are not the same And I cant do what I want to do without his help... He was brought up to think anything home-made was an insult. His parents never bothered with the garden or grew veg. My dad was a miner and so were all the neighbours and EVERYBODY had veg gardens.
I will sit and knit my fingers off making socks, and he will say "forgoddsake just buy PROPER ones"
So I suppose that if I was fit then things would be fine, I could do my thing and he could do his . But the problem is that I need him. He does do his share of housework, and makes the breakfast - he doesnt just sit and let me do it all. But I need muscles and labour in the garden and he wont be it !
LOL!

That is so sad! I put up with an unhappy marriage for far too long and am so glad that I am now 'LIBERATED'.

My ex husband didn't appreciate my skills and spent all my frugal saving on going to the pub every night. After 25 years of marriage I was glad he went off with another woman and to my surprise, so were my 4 sons.

I am now in complete control of my finances and it is bliss. I was always more savvy re financial products than he was anyway.

Life is too short to put up with unhappy relationships. I tolerated his unreasonable behaviour for far too long because he was the father of my 5 sons.

seabright

Patchwork_Quilt wrote: »

This is an incredibly interesting thread, thank you all. By the way Ceridwen, you can pickle nastertium seeds. I just get some of my really tiny jars (ask the local cafe to save the individual portion jars for you) and some white vinegar. Then, I pour boiling water over the seeds (my allotment had goats on it and you never know) then put them in the jars and cover them with vinegar. Quite nice scattered over a salad.

Use them in any receipe that needs capers - nice on pizza too

betony

mardatha wrote: »

is anybody else in here 60-ish ( or ill )? - do you think maybe its too old to be starting a new type of living ? My oh is not at all supportive, and on bad days when i'm knackered he blames it all on me and my "silly ideas"...(that means gardening !!) and thinks i should spend all my days on the couch watching telly or polishing bloody ornaments:eek: Please gimme some shining examples of folk who do wonders to use as ammunition!

this post is for everyone !!!

if everyone who loves mardatha and wants to support her clicks the 'thanks' button on this post to show her unappreciative husband how so many people feel about her, he may take more notice of her feelings and opinions!