Preparedness for when

maryb

GQ I seem to remember you saying you have a John Lewis in your neck of the woods (or did you have to make a special journey when you bought your Rolser)?

You can buy butter muslin very cheaply by the metre in the haberdashery department - that's if you can fight your way in there after the Great British Sewing Bee. I frequent a couple of local craft shops and they have all said they noticed a real surge in business.

Another alternative is to buy a pack of men's hankies from Primani or a market stall. They're thin enough to be used for straining. And if they're plain white they are easy to sanitise

ginnyknit

They sell muslin cloths for babies for wiping their fissogs (faces) after feeds and you can pick them up in £shops. They are a little thicker but can be boiled a lot and keep their shape. I have had one for 3 years and used it for jam and cheese making and though its an odd colour now its still going strong. They reckon - who ever they are, maybe the same people who thought decimal coinage was a good idea - that you can use J cloths but I ended up with a shredded cloth and jam everywhere :mad:

Just packed all the food I need for a few days away and it all came out of my stocks apart from a multi pack of crisps. We decided I needed a break before I began digging up the grass verge to plant apple tree's and raspberry canes. I have been a tad stressed of late and its a long time since we had a break. So off to sunny Lincolnshire to a little fishing centre that caters for disabled persons and a bargain was had too boot, due to people not risking booking because of the weather. So I can throw OH out the door into, sorry, near the lake and then I can sit and watch wildlife while I craft. This maybe the last trip for a long while for many and various reasons so I intend to make the most of it. I may even get to Skegness for a couple of hours so have packed my woolies and my wellies. Left DS detailed instructions re which dustbins go out and watering the soon to be seedlings in the greenhouse. His comment was 'Its not rocket science mother' always calls me mother when Im telling him what to do So will see you all, metaphorically speaking, later in the week.

pineapple

Bedsit_Bob wrote: »

I was interested, until you said "but only for gardening duties".

I honestly think that's all you'd want BB :rotfl:

Popperwell

Bedsit_Bob wrote: »

You don't need a vice (just a G Cramp), or a drill.

I use a plastic handled drawing pin to make the holes.

I may have to rethink this again and see if I can make one some time soon...:)

VJsmum

Have a lovely break Ginny.

[Deleted User]

GINNY have a lovely trip away and rest up in the sunshine (hopefully) while you are being creative. We've started making paper bricks again for the woodburner next winter, He Who Knows made 11 yesterday and they are drying off on wracks in the polytunnel. We have had a real success in there with Hispi Cabbages, we planted out a stand of them at the end of the summer and then some more just after christmas and they've hearted up beautifully, both lots. They are the best cabbages we've ever grown, completely clean, insect free and succulently crispy. The only problem I can find is they are all ready at once so I've got round about 24 cabbages to use up fairly quickly, good job we like coleslaw!!! Cheers Lyn xxx.

D&DD

MrsL can I ask how big/how much room those Hispi's need..I have seeds but debating if I can cram them in Bear in mind if it says 3 feet of space I use one lol

Well it's another beautiful day here :j guess where I'm going?? yep more seeds to sow think I'll do my courgettes and squashes now the toms are all out in the greenhouse,I actually have a few empty windowsills!

The courgettes I dried came out so good I'm planting extra this year,where they'll go I have no idea,probably up one side of the front drive :rotfl:

Having a cobb dinner tonight,minted lamb chops,steak and chicken.Made some rolls yesterday for the boys for burgers if they want them although I made a dozen and there's only 5 left *gannets* will try to remember to take some pics!

Right off to 'work' will catch up later have a great day all XX

ETA Ginny have a wonderful break XXX

[Deleted User]

He Who Knows plants the young hispi plants 6" apart in the poly, a dozen to the block 4 wide by 3 deep. Planting them close forces them higher and saves room. This will work for any tall pointy cabbage such as Greyhound etc. I don't think I'd plant a normal round type cabbage as closely as that, but these work well, Cheers Lyn xxx.

ClootiesMum

Mrs L - can I ask about the paper bricks for the woodburner - how lng do they last on the woodburner & do they not leave a lot of ash?
This might be a nice wee job for DH on his hip recovery...

Thanks

[Deleted User]

OK CLOOTIESMUM - we have a rectangular brick shaped mould for making the bricks. We save all our newspapers and tear them into strips and then squares and make a giant amount of papier mache in half a barrel outside. You leave this to soak for a couple of days, then scoop out the required amount to fill the mould and then squish it hard, DH stands on top, to force out as much water as you can. Then turn the brick out onto a mesh or grid to dry it completely until it is hard and light in weight. This takes around a week to 10 days at this time of year, less time in the height of summer when it's considerably warmer. We dry ours in the greenhouse and the polytunnel. We use 1 log as a firestarter when we light the stove, stood on top of scrunched up paper and some kindling. The actual log burns for about 2 hours but we don't use them for anything other than lighting up. I don't think you would get very much heat from them if you just used paper logs. It's a very good way to recycle newspapers and it's free fuel. Hope that helps, Cheers Lyn xxx.