Make do, Mend and Minimise in 2015

candlelight_2013

Good morning all,

The morning is brightening up now, was a little overcast earlier.

We popped into town, dropping DGD1 off at work first. I needed to go to Boots and we had look in M&S. Home again just after 10 and now Himself is out in the garden doing some more pruning. We have 2 conifers either side of an arch about a third of the way down the garden which have grown enormously and over this an ivy is cascading down. He was working on it yesterday and hopefully will finish it today. I like to keep a discreet eye on him because he had a heart attack whilst he was gardening some 7 years ago, but it has to be discreet otherwise he gets cross with me.

DGD1s washing is out, she did it last night, but I don't have enough to make a load. My sister has had a water meter fitted recently and she is waiting to see if her water is going to be cheaper, I shall be interested to know.

Chicken kiev and salad for our meal this evening, I love salad in weather like this.

I don't know whether our 3 tomato plants will be any good. We have little green tomatoes, and I am watering every day and feeding once a week, but they are outside so obviously will be much later than greenhouse ones. Many years ago we had a small greenhouse and Himself grew the most wonderful tomatoes, and the smell was gorgeous when you walked into it.

I have masses of gooseberries in the freezer so might make crumble later. I am not ever so fond of gooseberries but Himself loves them, and our lovely friends who have an allotment brought us bags of them. They also have damsons so I am hoping we might have a few of them eventually.

Have a good weekend all

Candlelightx

Bigjenny

In the spirit of MM&M can anyone recommend a good de-bobbler, tried sellotape round hand but not strong enough.

I've several items that just need going over, to freshen them up.

Jenny

candlelight_2013

Jenny, I use a lady's razor (gently) and seems to work very well.

Candlelightx

[Deleted User]

I'm making chutney today, we've a surplus of courgettes and I can't keep up with eating them all so I've used some homegrown tomatoes, homegrown onions and a couple of cooking apples which should give my 3 to 3 1/2 kilos of nice spicy chutney for the winter. Kitchen smells amazing but I've got the doors shut tight as I don't want the rest of the house to smell that way too!

vhalla1478

Hi again,

I use a JML 'Bobble Off' (sold at Wilko's). It''s gentle but effective especially on cashmere.

Viv xx

FairyPrincessk

We use similar to a bobble off as well Big Jenny. I think we got ours as Claus Olsen. Word of warning: Make sure the garment is absolutely flat and preferably on a hard surface as it is possible to cut small holes if there is a wrinkle. Fortunately I experimented on one destined for the rag bin first!

[Deleted User]

First lot of chutney made 6 lbs which is cooling down in its jars and the second lot is simmering away on the hob, something different as I had peaches and nectarines in the fridge that had gone just that bit soft so I found a recipe for Peach and Nectarine Chutney which smells amazing, lots of spices and my kitchen now smells like Christmas!!!

candlelight_2013

Ooooo Lyn the nectarine and peach chutney sounds lovely, has Christmas come early?

Candlelightx

[Deleted User]

I think I'm going to melt.........The peach and nectarine has made 2 large jars and one small one with a tiny bit in a dish that won't fit. We might just have to force ourselves to try it, it smells delicious it's got ginger, cinnamon and ground cloves in it, peaches, nectarines, red onion, green pepper, brown sugar and vinegar. My kitchen feels like the sahara desert, I've had the oven on low sterilizing jars and been standing over the maslin pan stirring most of the day. I've got a cuppa now and am in the cool of the study, mind it will be worth it when we eat the chutney won't it?

candlelight_2013

You are probably several pounds lighter now Lyn, be careful you don't disappear

Candlelightx