Puddle Hunt

We are going on a puddle hunt.

Going to catch a big one.

Such a beautiful day.

First some mud,

then a trail,

a winding trail,

and then up and down a slope.

At last we found one.

A nice, squelchy, deep one.

And it really was

a beautiful day.

What is your purpose?

Post storm

Last night was an interesting lesson in which windows leak

and what it sounds like when the sea showers you walls with water, seaweed and the occasional potted plant, stolen from someone's garden.

Around the back of the house the bunnies collected up their fair share of seaweed. 

Our bunnies are normally free range, but we though it best to keep them in their hutch through the storm.

Now, the worst has past, and everything feels bright and clean.

And we are thankful for the warm home that kept us safe and dry.

The wind has returned

As though it has been in hiding,

the wind has returned.

It roars and howls and screeches.

The sea out front of our house is so full of motion.

Huge deep waves turn over and over again.

It will be a while before we are down on the Scapa beach again, I would imagine.

Though winter does not last for long.

We have put our starlights up in the kitchen.

Hot chocolate is back beside the kettle.

The winter winds have returned for their season.

And we are enjoying listening to the show.

Stay warm and safe.

Spiced Plum and Port Jam

Lidls has been selling plum at roughly £1 a kilo!

And after our failed rosehip jelly this year, the hatchlings and I needed an easy success to sooth the loss of a dozen hours spent deseeding rosehips.

Today was spent making this:

1kg plums, stones removed, quartered

60ml orange juice

250ml water

1 cinnamon stick, halved

½ tsp cloves

1 star anise

Approx. 1.1kg granulated sugar

125ml port

Combine plums, juice and water in a large pan and bring to the boil. Reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, for 15 minutes or until plums are pulpy. Meanwhile, tie the cinnamon, cloves and star anise in muslin.

Using a cup, measure fruit mixture into a large pan – allow a cup of sugar for each cup of fruit mixture. Add the port and muslin bag. Stir over high heat without boiling, until sugar dissolves.

Bring to the boil; boil (uncovered) without stirring for 35 minutes, then test for a set. Test every few minutes until setting point is reached.

Discard muslin bag. Pour into warm, sterilised jars and seal immediately.

Good morning!

A firey good morning to you!

Country children

We saw this rabbit out and about yesterday.

Sure would have made daddy dragon proud.

Hatchling no1 says, 'Yum, just look at the legs on that rabbit.'

Well, right up until hatchling no4 says, 'Needs ketchup, lotta ketchup.'

Sigh, that kid. 

We should have taken out shares in Heinz. 

Stoptober - Day 3

The sun rise this morning.

It is a gift to be able to wake up early and write.

For this blessing, I am thankful.

And working in the early hours, affords me the opportunity to take a cup of coffee outside and watch the sun come up.

We are three days in to our annual Stoptober, and have not yet needed to spend anything above expected bills.

We are getting geared up to list on ebay, though I'm holding out for Sunday evening, apparently that is the best day to list items to end on.

We have sold various items over our local for sale board and will continue to work towards our £200 goal.

It is a funny thing, this not spending, allowing ourselves an artificial reason to say no to buying things we don't need, actually brings a lot of peace into our home.

There is a certain sense of easy living, and we turn ourselves toward the things that matter more to us, from which we are frequently distracted.

I can only assume this was what lent was meant to feel like and achieve.

Anyways, I hope your October is starting off well.

Whether you are stoptober'ing, crock'tobering (which we seem to be doing with out intentions - dinner went into the slowcooker today for the fourth day in a row.) Or just working your way through another month.

May this month bring you peace, joy and prosperity.

Happy Friday! 

Hatchling no2 knitting her way to Christmas

I am so proud of this little wool addict.

She doesn't do patterns, like her mama.

She likes to make things up as she goes,

and right now she is busy turning all her dolls into father christmas and his elves.

I am very blessed to have such a cute knitting partner. 

Autumn days

The three eldest hatchling woke up this morning plotting.

They asked me to 'stay out of the kitchen'.

I had been quietly hoping they were not baking anything too complicated.

I was wrong.

They were washing dishes, and sweeping the floor.

They cleaned and scrubbed,

and then came to find me.

We cleaned the kitchen they exclaimed, and now we want wool.

You have time to sit and teach me to crochet double crochet, said one hatchling.

Another told me that now I could help her practice doing turns left handed.

So we sat this morning and chatted and crocheted.

They have plans, which involve making a serious dent in my wool stash.

And that make me very happy.

Today, I am very blessed.