The All-time Outstanding October NSD Challenge

beanielou

NSD no 4 today.

Nargleblast

And a good evening from me! Still unwell, now have a sick note for several days so will have the chance to get myself fighting fit ready for the busy time ahead at work. In the meantime I am pottering around at home - made two little jars of elderberry jam and three big jars of elderberry syrup out of some foraged elderberries near our house. And the crab apples on our tree are nearly ready for new batches of crab apple jelly and crab apple syrup- but I will wait for a week or so, till I have more energy.

NSD-wise the little blighter escaped me due to some essential purchases of provisions. Tomorrow, however, is another day -
Igor! Get the hunting nets and swamp boots ready, we're going in!

kerri_gt

beanielou wrote: »

Think I am not doing well this month in my pursuit of NSD's.

That's payback for you encouraging me off course last month

ModestyB wrote: »

The last few days have been hectic and I can't remember what I've spent no matter what days. DD's been back in hospital since Friday, same thing, clots in her lungs. She's on Warfarin so don't know how that's happened. Hope she's able to come home soon.

Hugs to all our poorly friends and any who need one.

poor DD, big hugs to you and her xx

Nargle - I was just looking at my elderberries today wondering what to do with them (actually have a tall elder tree at the side of our house that I'm going to have to give a good chop to this autumn) - I've never done anything with them before, reckon a blackberry and elderberry crumble would work, or elderberry and apple? (ohhhh, bet I could use the cob nuts from our tree in the topping too)

Well NSD #3 racked up today. Made boot camp again (bit sore from yesterday) and it was 'interesting' to say the least doing one legged burpees due to my toe :eek: I've prob got one thigh muscle at least an inch bigger than the other now :rotfl:

Leaves are falling a bit here but still really mild, although I have noticed the washing isn't drying outside any longer

Knit_Witch

Ooops not been checking in, but I HAVE been lassoing those pesky NSDs and have snaffled 7 now and 6 in a row :j:j

fedupandskint

NSD 7 for me today

Nargleblast

Kerri - elderberries are a bit tart so would need to be partnered with a sweeter fruit, I think. The syrup I made is for medicinal purposes - take a tablespoonful every day to help ward off colds and other illnesses, and if you do fall ill, take a dose every 2 to 3 hours. it is supposed to be a well-recommended herbal remedy so I thought I would give it a go.
Apparently elderberries also make a heavenly red wine.

Knit_Witch

Nargleblast wrote: »

Apparently elderberries also make a heavenly red wine.

They do indeed! *hic*

kerri_gt

Nargleblast wrote: »

Kerri - elderberries are a bit tart so would need to be partnered with a sweeter fruit, I think. The syrup I made is for medicinal purposes - take a tablespoonful every day to help ward off colds and other illnesses, and if you do fall ill, take a dose every 2 to 3 hours. it is supposed to be a well-recommended herbal remedy so I thought I would give it a go.
Apparently elderberries also make a heavenly red wine.

So that would rule out elderberry and rhubarb then :rotfl: Hmmm, I have some nectarines in the freezer, and perhaps best get my bum to the PYO for final plums before the season closes.

You know, I have actually thought about starting to make my own wine - bit scared of the process though, and not really sure where to do it, our shed's a bit damp so i couldn't keep anything in there for any length of time.

beanielou

Modesty~Hope your DD is on mend soon.
NarglE ~Hope you are on the mend soon.

Nargleblast

Beanie - thanks for your good wishes (ditto to other NSD gang members). i am usually disgustingly fit and healthy so expect this to be a short-lived episode.

Kerri - I used to make wine years ago with husband number 1. You need a moderately warm place to store the fermenting must because if the room is too cold it won't be active. Perhaps try one of those winekits with everything you need in a tin, first, to see how you get on. If it is successful, you can start to use real ingredients. I remember orange wine being very potent and strawberry wine turning out quite disgusting for some reason. I think plum, blackcurrant, elderberry,deep red fruits like those, should turn out well.