So close, we can smell mortgage freedom!

Karmacat

How lovely about the family origins of the bunting!  And that's a good day overall too  

themadvix

Thanks Karma. Finishing the bunting for the family was a huge tick on my to do list, so I’m very chuffed with it.

Can confirm that the pilaf was a very nice meal with prawns and worked well in the instant pot too. Definitely a keeper. Used 3 very sad looking carrots - so bendy I couldn’t grate them as the recipe suggested. Worked fine finely chopped.

savingholmes

The bunting sounds an amazing use of family fabric and embroidery.

Suffolk_lass

Re Curtain linings - we have hung a second curtain between the originals before now to improve the insulation. We hung them inside to inside (IYSWIM) so they looked better from outside. It does presuppose you may have a rail that rings or ring-clips will fit and that it is robust enough to support a second pair of curtains. I did consider using those tiny bulldog-type clip to temporarily attach one curtain to the other but wasn't happy with the pull. Then I realised I had some spare rings. It works really well and I was able to take them down again in Spring

We also hang a too-long curtain on a rail above the front door which makes a big difference (as our porch is open).

Re Blackberry and apple bottling (you asked over on my diary) - I don't see why not and I was going to. However, if it doesn't work, I have a plan B. A couple of the spring clip jars I used have not retained their seal because (I think) the rubber seal has become brittle so yesterday I tipped them into a big pan and effectively gently stewed the plums they contained. I did syphon off some of the syrup. I heated (the newly delivered second dozen) screw top jars in the oven and then simply rebottled in these as one might with a non-set jam. I screwed the top bands tight then upside down with a towel over for a couple of hours and they took. I'm confident this has worked and I have recovered the situation. I plan to use the spring clip jars for hm pickled onions and possibly chutney (although they are a bit big for this). 

themadvix

Afternoon all,

Thanks SL - I'll have a go at the apple and blackberries this afternoon. How do I tell with my plums if they're still ok - I can see the odd air bubble in the jars and one of the plums is looking like it's going a bit brown - is that a sign all is not well? And should I worry about air bubbles?

The second lot of curtains behind the first would work in the dining room, except for the rail (or more actually the baton is it attached to) definitely coming into the category of not strong enough. It's a really good way of doing it though. I might see if we could do something like it with something relatively lightweight - anything is better than nothing after all. No door curtain for us though as our hall has an entirely glass wall - massive floor to ceiling windows right next to the window (it's all one double-glazed unit), so nowhere to pull the curtain to, IYSWIM. It's just such a big expanse of glass that gets cold, rather than anything being particularly draughty. Have found somewhere that sells thermal lining fabric online for £5.95 a metre - just need to measure up and work out how we're going to attach the fabric to the windows - am thinking velcro or magnets, a la campervan style. We'd then just put these up (one for each panel - top window and door) in the evenings when we pull the curtains. I think it would make a big difference (and improve privacy too; although we're not overlooked at the front there is a footpath that runs past - during the day our bamboo blinds give plenty of screening, but at night they're completely see-through!)


Had a good day yesterday - got my work out of the way first thing and then picked mum up from her town as her car was in for MOT and service - we visited a couple of new to us garden nurseries - I bought 12 good-sized pansies for £4.80 (40p each). Then back to hers, had lunch and a good chat, she decluttered a wardrobe drawer (leading to my acquisition of a nice top!). Eventually, having not heard anything from the garage, I needed to head back, so I dropped her back in town and headed home, via Costco - picked up chicken for the cats and petrol. Cooked cats' chicken when I got back and put beans in IP so we could have chilli for dinner. Was quite a long day, but really nice to spend some time with mum and very pleased with my bargainous pansies.

Have heard from my main client and this week is going to be a busy one - good stuff.

MS things:
* NV survey
* HW done - a free bet won, so 🤞
* Ebay stuff posted so postage profits there
* Dinner used up some bits from weekend, plus HG tomatoes

Gratitudes:
* Nice time with mum
* Lots of work arriving
* Sunshine today

Have a good afternoon all!

Suffolk_lass

Not sure what sort of jars your plums are in (mine were spring clip that failed). I just released the clip to see if it was sealed and they weren't so I went for plan B. The rubber seals were old and a bit brittle so there is a lesson there. Mine were starting to discolour and the bubbling could be the syrup beginning to ferment so I would definitely test them.

I tipped the surplus syrup into a jar of fermenting plums in vodka (with sugar) so it wasn't wasted and also added a spoonful of sugar to the bubbling fruit in the pan. They are a sort of cross between bottled and jam - stewed fruit preserved by the vacuum created by sealing them while hot. All in the screw top jars with a metal disk and a screw band now. These are easier to check.

Is the band tight and is the top "button" still in or has it popped? (if you can pop it, they have not sealed) - Sorry long ramble. Up with dog three times in the night as DH away on his motorbike for the weekend.

After the redo I am confident mine are OK - more like stewed fruit in a jar though. We will use them!

We have a similar situation at our front door because the ceiling is so low. We did consider securing a rail to the ceiling but the beam is one of the old (ship's timbers, redeployed) ones that are black and like iron, but DH managed after much swearing. It is a horizontal rail but in contact with the ceiling where the finials are

themadvix

Morning all,

Thanks SL, really appreciate the help with this! They are disc and band type jars and the buttons are all sealed down. I don't think they are necessarily new air bubbles - just some bubbles that were already there. If that's OK, then I'll leave them for now - at least if it's fermentation, I'll know when I open it  (or it opens itself - please no!). I'll keep an eye on them for changes.

Didn't bottle the apples in the end - made a crumble last night and stewed another portion for the freezer and we've got a few left for eating (they were eaters). While the oven was on I made a batch of jam muffins too, using half and half plain flour and some white rye which we had lurking. Forgot to put the egg in and reduced the sugar, but they taste OK!

We had leftover chilli last night, accompanied by a homegrown corn on the cob (with leftover chilli and garlic butter from BBQ). Would have had crumble for dessert but neither of us were bothered, so we've got that for tonight. Breakfast this morning was hm hash browns, eggs and baked beans. Made a double batch of hash browns and the rest are open freezing, before I bag them up. 

Mr MV is in a lot of pain (back and neck problems) this morning, so a quiet day here I think. I've claimed a job on the work platform which I'll need to do some of today. But because the platform will pay for this month''s work a week on Tuesday and this job was quite big, I decided it would be a good boost to the funds (which are looking particularly poor for the end of this month), so it was worth claiming. It's also from a client I've done a really interesting project for before, so I know the subject material.

We do need to get stuff moved in preparation for scaffolders arriving tomorrow, and I will pop to allotment and Argoose (for gas canisters - bought using a S&S-earned gift card). Also need to take the requested photos of the bed for mattress retailer.  And I have three items I want to fix today - a china herb planter that fell off the greenhouse and is in two pieces; the broomstick, which has come adrift from the head; and the biscuit tin, which the knob fell off of a while ago and has been fixed but is no longer airtight - it's on its last chance.

MS things:
* 16p on HW
* Ebay sale - of my own stuff! Packed up and ready to go and I may walk it over to the PO today to reduce pressure tomorrow - with scaffolders, work etc.
* Food efficiencies - see above.... we're all doing this now though, aren't we - it's just becoming a way of life. I did start an inventory of all food yesterday - my baking cupboard and the freezer still to go. Have highlighted a few bits that could be helpfully used up and now I can see what we already have spares of in. Hoping it'll help me to see what's available in the dry stores (and the preserved stores) so I can work with those bits a bit more for meal planning.

Gratitudes:
* A quiet day today - tomorrow is going to be anything but!
* Not having to have cut the lawn in months 
* Homegrown corn on the cob (even if the squirrels did eat the rest!)

Have a good day all!

themadvix

Quick update:
* Gas canisters collected and £9 spent in Mr T's on matches, carrots, onions, yoghurt and more superglue.
* Dropped off the plastic bag recycling while there - always a satisying job to get done (it was a (used) bin bag full)
* Dinner is orzo bake followed by the crumble. It feels like a comfort food sort of day and I can't be bothered to do too much cooking, having done quite a bit yesterday and this morning. (6 hash browns now in a freezer bag and separately 6 lumps of mash - ready for a quick shepherd's or fish pie)
* Have broken the back of the work project - was easier than expected
* Mr MV has moved the stuff needed for tomorrow
* Mr MV also sorted the broom out

Not a lot, but some useful progress there, including on winter prep.

savingholmes

Good progress all round. You are making me just want to freeze my surplus fruit though. Alternative seems complex.

themadvix

I think that’s just me SH. And a case of practice giving you confidence. At least there’s no risk of botulism with fruit. That said, I still have plenty of fruit in the freezer. I’ll be turning some of the blackberries into more blackberry vinegar at some point though.

Herb planter has been glued back together, food inventory completed and photos of our mattress taken. Just discussing thermal fabric and curtains… and we’ve realised that now Mr MV has an SDS drill we can properly attach the curtain pole baton in the dining room, which will allow better insulation.