When will there be broccoli?

Oh, my poor, neglected blog! Where has all the time gone - it's been over 2 weeks since my last post! Well, I am here now...for a few minutes, anyway!

I've been busy finishing off a large wholesale order, which included kilt pins and brooches like these:


Having had quite a good run of sales over the last few weeks, I am busy making more stock and trying to update my various online shops, including a new outlet here. November is going to be quite a busy month with various fairs & markets and, of course, my Learn to Crochet Workshop (see side bar for details - there are still some places left), not to mention thinking about Christmas on a personal level! But I do like to be busy, so I am not complaining!

The nights are drawing in, which I quite like...curtains closed to the world, lamps on...time to snuggle down on the sofa with a hot drink and some crochet or knitting! I love he colours of Autumn! I can see this miniature apple tree from the kitchen window and have watched its leaves change from green to gold to this vibrant russet shade that brightens some the dull days we have been having of late!
There is no doubt that it is easy to see the seasons progressing at a pace by looking at all the changes in the garden and around abouts. However, while some things are changing quickly, others are taking rather longer! Each day I go to the bottom of the garden to our small veg patch and search...and always return to the house asking myself the same question: when will there be broccoli? Despite massive leaves and careful nurturing (you might remember this), there is no sign of any broccoli! It's been in the ground for a year...how long does getting broccoli take? Are we nearly there yet?


Bye for now,

Rebecca
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Jammy

There was a distinct autumnal chill in the air yesterday morning, so I decided that the time had come to clear the rhubarb patch before the first frost takes us by surprise and ruins what is left.

Time to dig out one of my favourite books:

This year, instead of my usual rhubarb and vanilla or rhubarb and ginger jam, I thought I would try Mrs B's simple recipe:

I love the colour of rhubarb and the way it changes as it cooks!

While the rhubarb bubbles away...time to browse my much-loved, but very tatty, copy of Mrs B's Cookery Book that I picked up for a couple of pounds at The Needlemakers in Lewes a few years ago.

I love to read Mrs B's advice and I am often intrigued and amused by her recipes, such as this one: a Bengal recipe for making mango chetney [sic] .....with no mango!! It is made with sour apples and once blended and in its bottles, Mrs B recommends that you 'tie a piece of wet bladder over the mouths of the bottles' - lovely!

What I also love about my copy of Mrs B is that it has lots of newspaper cuttings and hand written notes and recipes glued into the back....

A recipe for nettle tea, notes on how to clean marble, and Mrs Edward's recipe for sandwich cake...

and how about a recipe for Semolina Snow or Flunnery!!

Based on a lick of the spoon, Mrs Beeton's rhubarb jam gets the thumbs up - deliciously jammy!!

Also very jammy - 7 balls of wool, 100% british wool, at 10p a ball at the charity shop on Tuesday! I'm sure I leave that shop with a huge smile on my face when I've been so lucky with my thrifty finds!

Before I go, I would just like to welcome my new followers and say a huge thank you to everyone who leaves comments for me here. I've not been very good at keeping up with everyone else's blogs over the last couple of weeks, but I've not forgotten you!!

Back soon,

Rebecca

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