Monday 30 September 2013

Today (and a bit of yesterday too)



Daisy rejected the flowers I had picked for Dot to welcome her home from her Duke of Edinburgh practice expedition yesterday.

She then scoured the garden for alternatives.  Largely unsuccesfully.  This Japanese Anemone was the only flower she could find.  So you can imagine her disgust when a petal fell off when she was arranging them.

Her solution?  

To glue it back on of course!

And she did.  And it worked!

I wonder if it will still be hanging on there when all the others have dropped?

This is just the kind of mad Locket moment that I want the blog to record - because I know I'll forget otherwise and that would be a shame.


Today I made my first ever attempt at chutney.  I absolutely LOVE chutney and over the summer Mr Locket, Dot and I made a point of buying new chutney and local cheeses on our (many) camping trips (more on them in another post) - so we ended up with about 7 jars in the fridge!  I don't care that it's not really part of my Weight Watcher's diet - it's just too good to resist.  So I don't know why it has taken me so long to make my own.


It's Old Dowerhouse Chutney from Delia's big black cookery book and it used up all the plums I carried back on the train last week after a lovely day with mum and dad and my BIG sister. (I had so much garden produce in my bag that I felt like the Town Mouse returning from the country)


The apples came from the tree in my garden - and were picked by Dot, who unfortunately got her crochet jumper rather tangled up in the tree, so she took it off and threw it to one side where unfortunately it landed in a big yellow bucket of slimy weeds and rainwater!

The only problem with the chutney is that I went off to watch a film and left it bubbling - and burnt it.


Hopefully the rather bitter caramelised taste will become something we learn to appreciate over time.

My knitting is going a little better.


I have finished another of Julie's Seasonal Dresses so now I need to knit the fox to wear it, and I have got a bit further with my Alfredo mittens although I'm finding the thumb insert really tricky to work out.  I've tried looking at the other examples knitted but no one else seems to have had a problem so maybe it's just me.

And finally, here is another gratuitous photo of all my new alpaca yarn - just because it looks so lovely!


12 comments:

Dottie Locket said...

I love the flowers - you can't tell they are glued on!

Quinn said...

Ooh, chutney! I made green tomato chutney years ago, and discovered by a happy accident that 1) it took at least 6 months to "age" properly and 2) it was the best thing that ever happened to ham! If my tomatoes don't have time to ripen, maybe I'll make a little batch this year. Thanks for the reminder!

driftwood said...

I made chutneys years ago and it was pronounced by my hubby "nice, but not as good as your mum's" it was probably 15 years till I tried again..... this year it is too thick and has air pockets in the jars, this can't be a good thing....
I am sure the months of it sitting patiently will ease the bitterness.

Annie said...

LOVE the story of the petal...I have flowers in abundance and would gladly share a bunch! That alpaca wool looks delicious...very impressed with your knitting!

dottycookie said...

I once made orange toffee in an attempt to make marmalade, and completely destroyed a Le Creuset wedding present pan attempting chutney - so you're doing far better than I am!

Gina said...

I never have much luck making chutney either... and no one ever eats it! I have yarn envy for your lovely basket!

Thimbleanna said...

You are too funny -- I'm sure you'll all warm up to that burnt taste and you'll want it burned from here to eternity LOL! Love the little glued flower. It looks like you've been having a wonderful time with your family -- I'm SOOO happy you're back to record it all. I think of you often -- your little embroidered quilt (complete with cat Scruffy) sits above my sewing machine so I see it all the time!

Mrs Moog said...

I love making chutney. Haven't made any for years though as I'm the only one who eats it and there's only so much you can force on all your friends and relatives!

I love Daisy's solution to the petal problem. That's really thinking outside the box - she'll go far!

You've knitted so much of that mitten already! I love the colours you've chosen :)

xxx

Leanne said...

Home made is always wonderful. That little dress is so cute I must get knitting.

julie said...

I like Daisy's thinking - that's solution orientated that is. The caramelised chutney sounds good, perhaps you've created a new recipe, I hope you enjoy it.I'm trying to remember what I did with the alfredo thumbs - I remember it was a bit different to anything I'd come across before - I see if I made any notes x

Helen said...

Oh so lovely catching up with Locket Land,
xx

Twiggy said...

Thanks for dropping by my blog Lucy, lovely to hear from you.
Blogs are the best way of recording family moments aren't they? The chutney looks lush and the basket of yarn is too pretty to use!!
Have a lovely weekend
Twiggy x