<<<out of cheese error>>>

greenbee

Apparently a lot of apple trees have struggled this year as they're still recovering from last year. The neglected tree I've inherited here has plenty of fruit, but most of it has scab. My mum has a decent crop, but can't get to most of it!

KajiKita

We’ve had very few apples this year too.

KK

Cheery_Daff

I thought this might be the first year we actually had some apples to eat from our trees as there looked to be a good, healthy crop, but nope, all dropped before ready and carried off by the critters 🙄

EssexHebridean

So many folk mentioning apples being an issue this year - that will be the next place we'll see rising prices in the supermarkets no doubt!  

redofromstart

I was guessing it wasn't just me when all three mature apple trees failed!

the wind is whipping down the wood burner chimney tonight. We had the register plate off to release a Stupid Pigeon a few months back and I'm not sure it is quite in the right space now. We had a delivery of some lovely ash logs a few weekends ago - nicely cut which allowed for aesthetically pleasing stacking. Not actually put the fire on yet. 

I made bread again today, some rather lovely rolls (using a third milk in the liquids) which will be one to do again. One of the little rubber feet on my kenwood chef has perished so I will need to source some new ones or remove them all. I can pretend that I'm cooking when I make bread.

greenbee

I'm already burning logs, and will start on my new pretty logs on Friday at this rate (I'm also burning curtain pole offcuts). Rain is very noisy against the windows on the east side of the house, which is relatively sheltered by the wood. 

This house has a tiny oil tank, which I have a feeling is going to be a PITA. 

EssexHebridean

I love a milk bread recipe - it’s a firm favourite here for toast! Might the eSp@res people have the Kenwood feet? They seem to do spare bits for just about everything else! 

I’m sure Greenbee is aware already but in case anyone else reading sees the curtain pole thing and thinks “that’s a good idea to get rid of my old ones” - it’s important to be careful about how any such burnable poles might have been treated - some varnishes and even paints cannot only damage your fireplace/stove but can also give off really nasty fumes - so generally it’s often advised to stick purely to untreated wood, or stuff you know exactly what treatments have been used. 

redofromstart

Thanks EH, will try there. Haven't looked anywhere yet.

the wood burner finally got used yesterday, much to the happiness of assorted furry residents. We invested in one of those heat powered stove top fans and it does indeed make a difference to the heat distribution rather than just the inglenook being warm.

the rain has finally stopped here but the ground is still saturated so inside jobs for me. Plenty to do, work has been very full on recently so things have been neglected.

current contract comes to an end later this year which means we need to be more careful with what we are spending. My pension pot will look a lot healthier than it did five years ago at least so I am on target for our plans. 

Today I want to:
tidy the freezer and do a store cupboard check
make another lamb curry and some meals for next week
make more bread rolls as they seem to evaporate
Something nice with the rest of the cream - iced buns or profiteroles maybe

greenbee

I forgot to get my stovetop fan back from my mum's when I went over there today. I might get her one for Christmas... 

Sun_Addict

The apple tree on the park across the road has hardly produced anything this year. Normally there are apples everywhere this time of year, same with the pear tree. The area we live in used to be an orchard many years ago and there are still a few trees around, unfortunately inaccessible so the fruit just drops and rots, but they produce a lot of fruit to say no one looks after them.