Sunday 23 August 2015

A storm blows in, some dehydrating and some shopping

After a warm humid day on Saturday we had a big storm blow in come evening. It made for a good day for us, we had chance to mow the lawn, strimmed the edges and cut some hedges during the day and sit down to watch a film in the evening. It's been years since we've had  lots of thunder and lightening and I admit I was excited. The only problem we had was that it meant a power cut half way through the film. Luckily I knew where the stash of candles was and we got to sit up a wee while and chat by candlelight. It made me think of the people who lived here in the mid 1800's who probably sat just as we did and chatted by the light of oil lamps and candles. One day I'll do some research into the census data and know their names.

The storm brought down an oak limb in our lane and James went this morning to cut it up and haul it home. The big chainsaw wouldn't start though and after endless pulls it managed to do the oak but needs James to have a look over it. But hey, free wood!!! Unfortunately the wind also bought down a big bough from our plum tree. The branch that I can reach without having to scale the hedge or stand in the road. Well you win some, you lose some.




Blossoms babies are getting bigger, she still clucks like mad when they wonder off and they are getting more adventurous.



I'm sure everyone is feeling the same about courgettes around now. We're a bit sick of them so I decided to have a go at dehydrating them.  The oven has a drying function so I set it to 80°C and opened the door a crack. Any further and the fan and heating element stop. I opened the door occasionally to let out steam and after many, many hours the courgettes have crisped up and been put in my beautiful mason jars. Come stew season they'll make a nice addition to a beef stew and dumplings. Can you believe there are 2kg of courgettes here?!



Today we went to the cash and carry for some bits for the kids party next weekend. I also stopped at Homesense and found a jar rack to put in my saucepan for canning. I got it home feeling like a kid at Christmas, but it doesn't fit, by just a few millimetres. Gutted to say the least, but what can you do? Take it back to the shop I guess.



Just a few more pictures, baby girl with her birthday cake. I hope you read this one day angel and you're not too upset by all the pictures on the internet, but mama is so proud of you she can't help it.



10 comments:

  1. Glad to see you are making use of free wood and you have done some dehydrating, its a great way of storing food, can you not shave some off the rack to make it fit its such a shame it dosent fit :-)

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  2. A storm is always exhilarating. When I was doing a lot of time on Navy ships long ago, I always used to go up to the signal bridge when it was blowing, the wind and the spray were invigorating , and a storm at sea is quite a visual epic since you can see the entire horizon for 360 degrees.

    These days, I sit in a rocking chair on my porch and watch the storm come in, especially at night when you can see the lightning to best effect.

    You're smart to post your child's pictures. Too soon the kids grow up and move off to lead their own lives, and the pictures are about all you have left of those times when they were little. Unless,of course, you are like my wife and hid away things like tiny shoes, and toy horses.

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    1. I love a good storm, we just have them so rarely. Our water is generally so mild that even a storm doesn't give us any worries.

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  3. You could use a round cake cooling rack in the bottom of your canning pot (they come in different sizes) or you can put the metal canning jar rings in the bottom of the pot and stand your jars on them. Both work really well.

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    1. Thanks Janice, my mum had a round rack that went in her microwave, I'll have to see if she's still got it. For the time being I'll try using the rings like you suggest.

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  4. Ah, your little one is adorable. Nothing like a fistful of birthday cake to really finish the party off properly :)

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  5. Your little girl is lovely....my 'little' girl is now in her late forties.....they grow up so fast, and by blogging about your family you are laying down a history you can look back on in the future. That birthday cake looked delish by the way!

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    1. No way Vera, I wouldn't think you're old enough for a baby in her forties, must be all the honest living x

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  6. Your little one is such a cutie. Sorry we missed the party, we'll have to meet up soon. I worry my girls might be annoyed at me for all the pictures of them but it's a great record to have.

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