Projects and preserving

I'm loving these last days of summer, the weather is just perfect,warm sun, lovely cool mornings, with the smell of Autumn in the air, and the relief of of cooler evenings and nights,I've had my fan on full every night for months! I like it when it gets dark earlier too, the garden looks really pretty with there fairy lights on.

 I'm already preparing for winter, making Jam's, and chutneys and  pickles, I really enjoy this, and find it very satisfying looking at a stash of homemade jars in my dresser. The market was selling strawberries and raspberries cheap today, they needed to be eaten straight away, but I made jam , delish it was too. Will make some nice Xmas gifts!

I still have more pickles and chutneys to make, I'm just waiting for all my chilli plants to turn red , the ones that have fallen off the plant I have put into the banana bowl, and they are ripening quickly, I'm storing them all in a sandwich bag in my fridge and once I have enough I'm going to make a massive batch of chilli jam or 'Chelly' we get through a lot in this house, very yummy with cheeses, and very versatile for use in cooking and dipping sauces, mixing in with mayo, endless uses...Another favourite chutney of mine is caramelised  onion, so will be making that soon too , I will post up pics and recipe.

Chilli plant

Those bananas have seen better days, banana cake tomorrow me thinks.

I have also been  painting some old pieces of furniture, and picture frames, still have a few more to go.
It's very therapeutic, transforming junk into something special. This old table used to sit in my nan's hall, I think it's one of her oldest pieces of furniture originally purchased in the1950's, from where I have no idea, I have been after a table for a while, but thought I would have this from my nans house clearance, It's nice to keep something of hers in the family, and it was made to fit! but No matter how old or frumpy a piece may look, a lick of ivory paint transforms it into something elegant and beautiful.

Before at Nan's house

After!

Boot sale frame 15p

Revived

We are off to our beloved Cornwall on Monday morning, just for a few days, and I can't wait! We are staying in Looe, we haven't been to this part before, as always go to St Ives,  I'm excited about exploring new places, such as Polperro, and Fowey, think we will still have to spend at least one day in St Ives though, need my fix, can't resist the shops! So will take a drive down just before we come home, buckets, spades nets at the ready!

My little one starts school full time, when we get back, don't know where the time has gone... :(

On the up side this means I have many hours of total peace and quiet during the day, and can now resume with my oil panting, I'm bursting with ideas and can't wait to get started! My aim is to be doing this for a living so I don't have to go to work, and can be at home with my child, I want to be my own boss, It's just a case of building up my portfolio, and good marketing, networking.  Fingers crossed...

My eldest starts college, and and am hoping he settles in well and gets stuck into his studies as he's had a bit too much relaxation and free reign this summer!

Purchasing roses was most definitely a good decision this year, I got so fed up with slugs eating everything I planted, they don't touch these they have flowered all summer and are still doing so.

Warm wishes

Twice in a blue moon

Ena Harkness

I took cuttings from my nan's pink blush roses and yippee they have taken!

My garden is a mix of all styles, people had said you can't have cottage garden mixed in with contemporary plants such as the bamboos and maples, I don't care and don't conform to me it all works fine, roses are my fave thing of all, great to cut and bring in they add cheer.

Enjoy the last days of summer everybody. xx