As The Workhouse Approaches....How To Do Everything To Avoid It, the Old Style Way

grandma247

vjsmum some fruits are naturally low in pectin but as martha said just add a tablespoon or two of lemon juice and it will be fine. Freezing does not affect the fruit for jam.

kittie do you like curry flavour? If so there are a number of recipes . I have two which are very nice.

westlothianlass

Thanks Kidcat, we have an ongoing saga with rats here (one of the downsides of living in the country), chicken wire is great and we have it around the rabbits run, but ironically they are digging underground via the chicken coup aaaah.
Rabbit is completely unconcerned as it knows its gonna get fed anyhow and is about as big as a pygmy hippo:D.
It adopted us a couple of years ago, we think it was dumped on the country road outside our house and was getting attacked by crows. Tried every house for 2 miles but no one had lost a bunny so it came to live with us (i've tried to rub the mug tattoo off my forehead but to no avail:rotfl:).The only animals we have bought are the chickens as the 2 cats and rabbit just sort of found us.
x

cat_smith

purpleheather2810 wrote: »

Chocclare, the tarragon chicken thingy sounds yummy. I must try it. With rice and green salad methinks!

Don't mention the 's' word round mardatha. She'll break out in hives.

ubamother

if I'm cooking something starting with softening onions (which is pretty much everything savoury - we love onions) I always cook them very gently, but far far longer than pretty much everyone I know - probably a good 20 mins even for a basic tom sauce - it gets rid of any of the harshness that is often associated with cheapy sauces, and the onions start to caramelise which gives a great flavour and sweetens off the cheaper tinned toms. I tend to add the garlic only in the last 10 mins as I find this brings out the flavour without overcooking it. I'm also a huge fan of smoked paprika for adding richness.

chirpychick

Hi everyone hope you are all keeping well.

I have 2 weeks left now at my job.

Hubby and i have set a challenge to use up everything from the fridge/freezer/cupboards.

we went to 2 dump shops and a carboot over the weekend and brought a few items as we have just finished painting and needed a couple of things to finish.

we got a draught excluder for 50p to use in the winter and a candle for the winter box.

we also managed to get some baskets for 50p each to put the christmas hamper stuff in. I think ive finished those nose (just need to put them together. So its just hubby and the dogs i need to buy for.

but i might make the dogs their presents as last year i got them a teddy each in poundland which they loved so i got some extra and put them in the loft so they have those and im thinking of making them some biscuits or something.

hubbys birthday is in october and my inlaws are paying for us to have a holiday so we will be in cormwall and i think i know what im getting him for a present but that will have to wait until ive got some spare cash.

i also got my best friends birthday present at the carboot too.

we still have quite a lot to do to prepare for winter, ive read its going to be really harsh this year so i desperately want to make sure im sorted as our fuel bill went up 12% this year.

the veggies in the garden are doing great and im hoping we get the promised thunderstorm tonight as its unbearably hot here.

GreyQueen

33 degrees!!!!!!!!!! It's outrageous, we've been wilting all over the office with our brains on meltdown.

Honestly, I think I might have to migrate north of the border back to the land of my foremothers; can't hack this kind of temperature and am lurking indoors to keep my redheaded self away from the sunbeams.

Thought I might do a tiny wee bit more allotmenteering after work and before I go out with mates but it won't be cool enough in time so may be up earlier than ever tomorrow.

Hey, my Dad had few drills of carrots sown 2 months ago in the drought with very poor germination and, all of a sudden in the rain last week, the rest of the beggars germinated.

Gotta go, need to find a darkened room to lie in and why-oh-why can't I afford Pimms, s'not fair!

Have a good aft and eve, y'all.

suzid

What weird weather we're having here. Saturday was fairly mild but grey, and I got on planting up sunflowers I'd been given a couple of weeks back, and a plant that had been in a flower bed but which had been stripped bare by blooming slums. Since then it's been sitting in a pot on top of the wheely bin regrowing some foliage. When I added extra insulation in the roof last year I found old copper pipes disconnected from when the new boiler was installed, so DH made me some copper circles to put in the pots to protect the plants from the slugs. They grow to humungus proportions here in Wales.

You lot going on about all your veg has got me feeling quite guilty that I've stopped growing any, so when I saw some runner bean plants outside the local newsagents I caved in and bought some. We already had large pots from growing peas and two ton bags full of top soil from digging out the pond. So filled the pots with a mixture of left over compost and top soil with organic fertiliser. The beans were two per quite shallow pot so I had to do my best easing them apart. Everything went against all I've ever read so I expected to see very miserable looking beans the next morning. Amazed to find them all looking very perky and all bar three had curled themselves round the canes during the night. This is NOT my usual experience of planting out beans. Like many of you have commented on - they sit a sulk until the roots get established - and in my case, get battered by the wind and eaten by the slugs too. These have definately grown since Saturday - what have I bought?:eek:

Stepped out of the house into the oven yesterday. It was so hot! A1 staying indoors most of the day while DH and I worked in the garden. I cut the daisies while himself lumbered around looking miserable. Don't know what was up with him but after several hours of trying to be cheery and encouraging I gave up and just avoided him. Rotten wife that I am . He was putting up the frame to take chicken wire (got the last three rolls in Focus last weekend for £9) to stop Junior going through the hedge. I did have to act as chief gofur, doing my best at mind reading and keeping out of the way while having everything to hand for grumpy. We'd had to bite the bullet and buy new hedge cutters last week. Oh how I begrudged doing it. It's the third pair in five years :mad: Before that the old pair lasted about 15yrs, then we bought a dirt cheep pair that lasted 12 months and the last pair 4yrs. This time I've gone for 70cm blade with 700w motor and 2yr guarantee. If these don't last I'll be spitting feathers!

Today I was up and out with Junior by 6.15am to avoid the heat, and then took A1. Both dogs walked by 8am so the rest of the day I've gone through the house like something possessed. Stripped DS's bed, washing on line expecting it to dry in seconds and then in roll the clouds, temperature drops dramatically and it all looks glum. What's going on?

Happy to report that we've had our first raspberries and strawberries :T. I did almost end up falling backwards into the pond while picking them when a frog leapt out from the strawberry bed frightening the life out of me, but was delighted to think it's probably been munching on those slimy little blighters. The blackcurrants are nice and plump and black so will need picking soon. Thanks CC for your knowledge about tart jam keeping well and the honey. However this year I will be adding more sugar.

Take care folks and (((hugs))) for those who need them, you've been in my thoughts and prayers.

kidcat

Am struggling today- DS13 has been in an awful mood since he got up, has come home from school wanting to go out with his friends but as his room is trashed I have said not until he clears his room. It was one of the rules we set down when we moved - room tidy before going out, in at set time etc. I went into said room today to find it full of flies - so its imperative its sorted - but he has sat on floor simply screaming and sobbing. He doesnt listen to reason and cant be bargained with - and it hurts to sit here listening to him.

Have been out to garden today and inspected all teh plants - all are growing well but no signs of flowers on any of them at all. No idea what I am doing wrong. Found some tomato feed in the shed and was wondering if I should be using it now or wait till flowers show.

JIL

sorry to post on here but i need some advice urgently. I am watering my mums green house tomato plants while she is away on one of her many holidays. I went up yesterday and the tops of some of them had shrivelled up and were hanging. I think it was the suns heat that caused it as it has only affected plants on one side that is not as shaded as the other. When i went today they are still well and truly shrivelled and am not sure what to do. It is only the tops that are affected the rest of the plants and leaves look ok, but should i cut the shrivelled bits off or just leave them? I really do not think the affected parts will perk up again. thank you for any advice

kidcat

JIL - I really have no idea but didnt want you to think we were ignoring you. I am sure someone much more knowledgeable than I will be along to help.