Saturday, 31st October 2015 - Scrummy Scrum - Sorry Tom

The Evans were off to Canterbury for daytime Trick or Treat for children. Bella went as a little devil and Hetty a witch. Tim was concerned about having a witch in the garden but Hetty gave a thorough explanation that she was a good witch and allayed his fears. 

Another day with pots. I had to come in because it was dark and the rugby was on. I do love a bit of a scrum and appreciate all the hard work that has gone into those gorgeous bodies. 

Friday, 30th October 2015 - Dormant until Spring

I have been clearing out the old wrinkly, spindly, past their best plants into the compost. The pots are now newly plants with various bulbs and Thompson and Morgan persuaded me to buy, topped with the tiniest polyanthus - they have plenty of room for growth.

The fox hat I am knitting for Hetty is speeding along. Huge needles and very chunky wool. Just the way I like it.

We had pizzas for dinner leftover from last Saturday and still quite a quantity to go. I love not having to cook a meal.

Thursday, 29th October 2015 - Rabbit and Fox

There was a post a few weeks ago on Facebook showing the most gorgeous children's animal cowls. After a bit of research I tracked it down to The Velvet Acorn in America. You can buy the patterns as PDFs. So I did. I spent the day with Mum and we went into Rye to the wool shop. The lady in there was incredibly helpful translating my American pattern. I now have a carrier bag full of beautiful wool and a circular needle. I feel quite excited about this project. Is that a bit odd? 

Wednesday, 28th October 2015 - Cider Under Lock

We have our cider sitting in the utility where it is warm and cosy. Not a lot of fermentation going on as yet. The glass airlock reminds me of my brother's wine making attempts. I was fascinated by the bubbles rising through the water in the airlock. I had a simple childhood.

My guests left after purchasing, three jars of honey, three jars of chutney, two Katie Brinsley vases and one of my paintings. What perfect guests.

Tuesday, 27th October 2015 - Turning Leaves

Following serving breakfasts I spent the rest of the day going round in circles. The house is back to its pre party state and the freezer full of pizzas and fish soup.

I am not sure if it is because I am getting older, possibly I have always been the same, but I find recovering from a late night entertaining takes a couple of days to recover from....and I am getting repetitive!!!

The new Lewis is very good. I do like DS James Hathaway very much. An intelligent, highly educated man does make me dribble a little, sorry, appeal to me.

Monday, 26th October 2015 - Moths

It was a bit of an effort to get my wheels, cogs, gears in motion today ready for bnb guests.

We have little moths that accumulate outside the windows when it gets dark. These were on my studio window this evening.

Sunday, 25th October 2015 - Waiting for Apple Juice

Michael, Emily, Gabriel and Primrose came this morning. The weather was perfect and sunny. The apples got thrown into Michael's Scratter. I had to look it up and it is also a derogatory term for someone. Then into a wine press. Nice looking equipment. The outcome was a few gallons of apples juice to be made into cider. Harriet, Brett, Hetty and Bella joined the session. Some of us were feeling a little fragile from the night before.

The clocks changed so we did get an extra hour to process our alcohol.

This afternoon we were at Ewan and Kath's for a late lunch. Tim and I had a mental hiatus over time and arrived an hour early. Whoops. We were joined by Sarah, Nigel, Pippa and Mike who we had seen a few hours previously. The food was delicious. Ewan and Kath have built an amazing extension which we got a tour of. Nice work by Brett. We slipped in a quick book group all agreeing that The midnight Rose by Lucinda Riley was a great read. I went to bed exhausted.

Saturday, 24th October 2015 - 57th Birthday

I did a bit of Internet investigating last night. The flower I was so delighted with is probably Japanese Knotweed. It is now consigned to a bin liner for disposal.

Hetty and Bella were keen to help Tim unwrap his steam juicer. Lesley gave Si the very same gift for his birthday. I blame Michael for tempting us.

The day was spent preparing food for twenty one friends. I was making apple pies and fish soup while Tim got going in the pizza bases.  I got a bit hysterical when Tim and I got the pew stuck in the doorway. You know when you get to that point of wondering what the hell you are doing. Just a couple of times during today.

Who came? Sarah, Nigel, June, Barry, Si, Lesley, Nick, Suzy, Nick, Ali, Lindsey, Mike, Pippa, Tony, Wendy, Ray, Linda, John, Innis and Tim and myself.

We ate:- Jamie Oliver's Sicilian fish soup, lemon sorbet with lemoncello or gin shots, pizza, apple pie and cheese make into a stack with a sparkler on top. 

Lovely evening with lovely friends. Thankyou all of those who were able to come for making it a fantastic birthday.

Friday, 23rd October 2015 - Table Decoration

We have had a morning and afternoon delivery from Waitrose today. It was all to do with spend £70 and get £14 off. Something has gone wrong with my system as I have another coming tomorrow. For goodness get yourself organised woman.

Tim and I came back from a walk through Benenden School with a carrier bag of this sweet smelling flower. I am going to use it to adorn Tim's birthday dinner table tomorrow. I said it was 'forward planning' to Tim. He said all planning is forward - fair but irritating point.

I have spent the last few evenings working in my studio on a gift for Tim's birthday. I finished it this evening. It has taken rather longer than I anticipated but I am delighted with the result. I hope he is too.

Friday, 23rd October 2015 - Table Decoration

We have had a morning and afternoon delivery from Waitrose today. It was all to do with spend £70 and get £14 off. Something has gone wrong with my system as I have another coming tomorrow. For goodness get yourself organised woman.

Tim and I came back from a walk through Benenden School with a carrier bag of this sweet smelling flower. I am going to use it to adorn Tim's birthday dinner table tomorrow. I said it was 'forward planning' to Tim. He said all planning is forward - fair but irritating point.

I have spent the last few evenings working in my studio on a gift for Tim's birthday. I finished it this evening. It has taken rather longer than I anticipated but I am delighted with the result. I hope he is too.

Thursday, 22nd October 2015 - Red Fungi

I almost squashed this little fungi under my Wellington boot it is so diminutive. What it lacks in size it makes up for in colour. What a stunner.

Wednesday, 21st October 2015 - Sorrel

I have had a productive day catching up with household tasks due to rain preventing outside activities.

I did find a spell between rain and the sun setting to get out for a walk. My guilt of yesterday's vegetation I could have gathered was assuaged a little by gathering a bunch of sorrel for Hetty and Bella to try. They liked it. Tim and I had a cauliflower and courgette which were a bit more plentiful in the fridge. 

Tuesday, 20th October 2015 - At The Bar

I have been attacking the garden again today. I now have a feeling of guilt every time I send a Hairy Bittercress into the compost. Should I be savouring its flavoursome delights? Bugger that I have got other things to do.

Yesterday's gathered apples are now washed and ready for juicing. They looked quite wonderful laying on white sheets drying in the sun.

This evening we joined Tony and Wendy at The Woodcock. They have a Tuesday fish night we thought we would give a try. Mine was thoroughly enjoyable. Others not so. Well, what do you expect when you choose squid!!! 

Monday, 19th October 2015 - Find Kate's iPhone

Harriet and I spent a couple of hours gathering windfalls from Sarah and Nigel's farm. I had a wee by a hedge and dropped my phone but did not realise until I got home a few hours later. Tim tracked it down using some nifty app. Tim and I went back to the farm. I found my phone. We collected more apples and had tea and Dinkums. The apples are hopefully going to be turned into juice and cider. I have not a lot of hope as homemade cider can be rather disgusting.

Thankyou very much for all the apples Nigel and Sarah.

It was a great art class this evening. My tutor was reticent about our exercise. We were the first class to approach it. We were all given a splotch and had to work it up into a finished piece. Amongst the landscapes there were animals, witches and monsters. Mine had three dead figure and birds of paradise amongst a stark woodland. An art therapist would have a field day interpreting our pictures.

Sunday, 18th October 2015 - Trees with Discipline

What devils we are. We diverted from our usual walk and ventured into Hempsted Forest. There are reasonable quantities of sweet chestnut. I will head back during the week with a collecting bag. Probably a highly priced 5p one from Tesco. Do people really complain about paying for carrier bags. I hope and believe it will reduce the waste and damage they cause.

Tim made an amazing fish pie. It was a Jamie Oliver one - Sweet Pea Fish Pie - just in case you want to make it. 

Saturday, 17th October 2015 - Hetty, Bella and a couple of Worms

I have spent the majority of the daylight hours in the garden clearing. My method I would call thorough. Tim refers it to as the flowerbed being nuked.

Hetty and Bella joined me. I now have a pruned elder decorated with snail shells. It took a bit of work for them to track down some earless, eyeless earth worms.

Friday, 16th October 2015 - Dinner with The Carters

The weather was fine so we struck out on a walk. It drizzled and rained. We got wet. Don't you just hate it when your coat is mid thigh level and all the rain drips down onto your jeans which become tight and cold. I was delighted to find sorrel. We have been tramping over it oblivious for years.

This evening we headed to the open fire at The Three Chimneys to meet Mike and Pippa. The boys went off to get fish and chips while we finished our drinks. They are doing a bit or work on their house. A large proportion has been demolished. It burns brilliantly on their woodburner. A great evening of catching up. 

Thursday, 15th October 2015 - Blue and Cream make Blue

I found two pots of partly used paint at the back of the cupboard. Mixed together they are now the covering for the bathroom floor. I didn't realise that one was gloss. What a high sheen it has. I have stepped out of the popular muted chalky colour trend completely by accident but I like it.

Wednesday, 14th October 2015 - Foraging with Michael White

After Tim getting over the disappointment of not having a ride in a Spitfire he thoroughly enjoyed his day foraging.

We went with Si and Lesley to the woods where Michael showed us the delights of how to forage. Followed by Tim's favourite lunch of rabbit stew and an afternoon sampling the goods collected while drinking elderflower wine (very good) and cider (tart). 

I thoroughly recommend Michael's course. You get to go on a lovely long walk and if you happen to be in the right place at the right time get to see a bit of bottom. Sorry, sorry!!! But charming.

A fantastic day put together with a huge amount of knowledge and effort from Michael.

Tim did have a strange magnetism for anything poisonous. The Death Cap was just one he was drawn towards.