1st March update...

I wondered how all of you clever people were getting on with your Christmas gifts...?

good lord woman.... hush your mouth... I've barely recovered from last Xmas!!!!!!!!

Xmas gifts ???? Good gracious, December is too far away for me to even think about such things....oh, except that I will have my first grandchild by then )

Or are you checking how much from last Xmas is now in various landfill sites by now? []

No, a number of people were going to meet here on 1st February to discuss progress...as 1st February passed with comment, this was a reminder...

www.lifestyleblock.co.nz/vforum/showthread.php?t=2646

Kate;151416 wrote: No, a number of people were going to meet here on 1st February to discuss progress...as 1st February passed with comment, this was a reminder...

www.lifestyleblock.co.nz/vforum/showthread.php?t=2646

I posted my one, can't remember the date and nobody else did, or one did I think, so didn't bother with the 1st March. Still working on it though. Will try for April.

Have made several jars of brandy apricots - should be nice by christmas. (if I don't get into them first)

15 jars of blackberry Jelly, 20 jars of pickled gherkins, 20 jars of pickled onions, 2 gallons of cider, a couple of gallons of assorted fruit and veggie wines, Several kgs of 'sundried' tomatoes and dried mushrooms. Got herbs and lavender dried for scented sachets (got to leave something to do over the winter[]). Sheep fleece/dags collected for strawberry 'mulch mats' and eco pots.

The Kats Place;151491 wrote: Have made several jars of brandy apricots - should be nice by christmas. (if I don't get into them first)

Brandied prunes are also yummy. I must make some more and the apricots. Do you use the Alison Holst recipe.

My recipe is one my son (chef) gave me using cinnamon quills and poaching the dried apricots in syrup.

24 plump dried apricots
100 grms sugar
3 cinnamon sticks
300 mils brandy (approx)

in medium saucepan place apricots sugar and cinnamon, barely cove with water and gently poach over low heat for 10 minutes. Drain liquid and reserve, discard cinnamon sticks. pack the apricots into small sterilised jars and half fill with the reserved liquid and top up with brandy. Seal and allow to mellow at least 8 weeks before eating.

nice with vanilla icecrean and the sugar/brandy syrup makes a lovely icecream topping.

Well its the 1st of april and I am no further ahead than I was in march. I was inspired by the tread on crochet beaded milk jug/sugar basin covers though so will be off to look into posibilities at spotlight over the next few days.

I didn't create anything with fabric this past month we were busy though doing various wines, Rhubard, Peach, and Apple Cider which hopefully is fermenting more for AC Vinegar, March has been a month of dealing with the harvest here at "Waimarie"

I thought I might mosaic pictures onto some rocks for gifts to gardening friends, a good pass time when holed up in the garage over the winter.

Jug covers make great Xmas gifts. I have made a lot by cutting a circle from lace curtain net, crocheting round the edge for 2 or 3 rounds and working the beads on as you work the last row. Simple and easy and it looks quite effective. I have sold dozens over the years, all made like that. I found the totally crocheted ones are quite heavy.

The Kats Place;156151 wrote: I thought I might mosaic pictures onto some rocks for gifts to gardening friends, a good pass time when holed up in the garage over the winter.

If you do decide to do this, give me a yell, TKP, in the cleanout I uncovered my box of mosaic stuff including a pile of coloured tiles and some cement glue and grout that needs using up and you are welcome to it