make do and mend for tougher times

[Deleted User]

ugh, we used to have a cess pit and a local farmer/business man used to empty the cess pits and spread it on his fields. Gross :eek:, the manure was feet thick as he did it all year.

I am getting geared up for wine making too, parsnip wine this autumn. I use 5 litre water bottles for 1 gall quantities but have big fermenters when I make 5 galls. The wine boxes are very good for holding finished wines and can be re-used. You must make absolutely sure that fermentation has stopped, I once had a bottle of red pop its cork on a carpet. There is a helpful brewing thread on mse

Byatt

The Great British Bake Off starts at 8pm tonight.

fuddle

elona wrote: »

Spent ages making rolls by hand- just looked in oven and they look awful.

Going to let them cool and hope that they taste better than they look.

Might have to go back to using the breadmaker to make dough and do a bit more experimenting. Think my new gas oven is too effficient and have been turning things down a notch but still not great.

Wish I had not bothered now :mad:

Have you tasted them? Hope they taste nice. Really disheartening when bread doesn't turn out the way it's supposed to

Pooky wrote: »

I love love love rice and raisin wine, will be making some in a few weeks time when we start getting some foraged berries. it smells lovely, I've made wine before but never had a lovely smell just a few hours after after the yeast was added. I'm really hopeful

I'm determined to read your blog tonight pooky. I'll add it to my reader

Put some more pics on my blog of my patchwork and crochet bits, it's spurred me on to get things finished so I shall be plonking my bum in front of something easy to listen to whilst I crochet away tonight.

I once came down one morning to wine all over the kitchen ceiling. The bung had burst off. Any idea what might have happened so I can try o avoid that happening again?

fuddle

Byatt wrote: »

The Great British Bake Off starts at 8pm tonight.

Oh thank you! I forgot about that and love watching it :j

Byatt

I love the GBBoff, started watching it part way through one season and I was hooked and never thought I would be!

Pooky, your blog is amazing, and you are such a talented lady, love your home and the furniture, love wood. Love the crochet and the quilting. And the wall! wow, you worked hard there.

Possession

fuddle wrote: »

Have you tasted them? Hope they taste nice. Really disheartening when bread doesn't turn out the way it's supposed to



I once came down one morning to wine all over the kitchen ceiling. The bung had burst off. Any idea what might have happened so I can try o avoid that happening again?

My Dad used to make wine when I was a child and once had a demijohn of red explode over the entire - and I do mean every square cm - spare room. No more wine after that. On the plus side after being redecorated the spare room became my room!
Other than that my main memory of my Dad's wine-making is all the neighbours and my parents getting extremely squiffy during the queen's silver jubilee street party. Showing my age there I expect!

Byatt

Mr T's basic tinned spahetti is not so bad. I know tinned is not everyone's cup of tea, but I love it as comfort food. Can't remember the price but something like 20p.

Possession

Re. the rice and raisin wine, does it taste of raisins? And is it particularly alcofrolic? (DH hates raisins, and loves alcohol!)
Thanks for letting me know about curtains at Argos, DD is still on at me to change her fairy curtains. Fairies are way too babyish for a 7 year old you know. Sigh.

Popperwell

Byatt wrote: »

The Great British Bake Off starts at 8pm tonight.

Forgot about that, will watch later...thanks!

Got my electric blankets. Can leave them on overnight if I wish to but if not heated in 15 mins and they say they give extra heat so your toes are cosy...three settings!

SDG31000

Evening all

kidcat I hope you managed to get your DD to produce a suitable sample and that you got your outing

Popperwell It sounds like you had a nice day and I'm glad

gailey How nice to see you posting again. I can't believe your DS is so old already. it doesn't seem like 5 minutes since you had him.

I hope the wine turns out well. I draw the line at home brewing as I know it would be a disaster.

This morning I went to knit and natter and had my knitting style assessed by Veronica the Knitting Guru. I had always been told that I'm a loose knitter, but trying to knit a tension square for my first attempt at a cardi had me foxed. Veronica took a look and told me what a tight knitter I am which had me very puzzled. She taught me how to hold the wool and to just drape the wool over the needles. I just have to stop myself from doing that while I finish the wrap/scarf I'm knitting at the moment.
I then popped into the new charity shop for a nose around and found a blue curtain in the right width for DS2's bedroom for £4. I've managed to shorten it to fit although any self respecting seamstress would have a fit at my sewing.
I cooked roast pork for dinner, but DH had to rush out of the house at 7pm to go to work, so the pork didn't have a chance to rest. Lots of frantic chewing on his part and a few grumbles and he was out the door.
I'm watching The Great British Bake Off and crossing my fingers for a few of them. The parsnip sponge looks interesting. Here's hoping it turns out.

Take care everyone xxxx