Phew 40 blind embossed prints = blisters!

At last, I've made a proper start on the Unicorn print exchange. The 1st state of 40 prints is now done. And not before time really, I should finish them by the weekend so as to get them off to Tennessee before the 1st of March.

Now I'm sitting down, it feels like I've had a work-out on the press today. It's pretty stiff going when the pressure is increased to make the embossing as crisp as possible on Boadicea. I'm sure my biceps will soon look like the Michelin man's plus, I'm now the proud owner of two blisters!

Anyhow, it beats going to the gym.

This means at least I've finished the blind emboss stage, and only have three stages to go.

the press in action

1st stage, this is a corner detail of the embossing

The view from the 'Shed'. 

The new girls keep me amused when I'm working and I need to keep an eye on them while they settle in because the old girls aren't too sure about these two, and keep on having a dig.

We haven't given either of them a name (yet), somehow naming them acts as a kind of sympathetic magic, which may alert Foxy to their existence. And we'd rather he didn't pay us another visit. . . . .

although of course, if he does, he'll be in for a shock - electric fencing is now in place.

Our two new hens. 

The hens are so funny, I do find watching them quite addictive.

Side by side they'll be quite happily pecking the ground. Then out of the blue, BAM a sudden and ferocious peck. These old girls are pretty dam speedy.

Through the wardrobe

This morning when I came down to breakfast and looked out of the windows I was tempted to think that somehow in my sleep I'd gone through the wardrobe and found myself in Narnia.

Our little world at Froxfield has once again been transformed into a Christmas card scene.

Henny isn't keen, she comes out to peer about, makes a few grumbling clucks and scuttles back into the coop.

Walking around the garden in my warm boots, big coat and hat I can see all the bird food is frozen (what will the poor things do) this is early snow for our part of the world, too many small brown birds will perish in this unexpected weather.

The sound of children's voices glide across the valley from where they are tobogganing, mixing with the sound of geese flying in the still thick air overhead.

It is really still and quiet here today. The pristine snow looked so perfect it seemed a shame that I would walk along the path to my shed and spoil it.

Late in the afternoon I walked around the corner to our little church, the old ladies will find it cold in there tomorrow morning. If they come out of course, the porch has been cleared of snow but no one has swept the path.

Who is lonely Joan Allen I wonder, her tiny cross the only thing to mark a life. 

I found her marooned near the back of the graveyard, behind the grand tombstones and finely carved slate, alone in the snow.

Deep and crisp and even . . . .  Happy Christmas everyone xx

Winter comes early

I know, I know, loads of people have feet of snow . . . . but it is very picture skew and it's really unusual for us to get any snow at this time of year.

The girls find it very confusing and keep fluffing up their feathers, becoming more and more spherical as the day progresses. And they're making the strangest noises, a kind of grumbling cluck - I don't think they approve of snow.

Poets and afternoon light

This mornings post brought a nice surprise. The BlueGate 2010 anthology. www.bluegatepoets.com http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/1626178

Autumn has been true to form, and a wet grey yesterday becomes a honeyed golden today. The marigolds are still giving their all despite the earlier frosts, I find myself wondering how long they'll keep going. Of course the flowers are edible so I should be harvesting them.

'The yellow leaves of the floures are dried and kept throughout Dutchland against Winter, to put into broths, in Physicall potions, and for divers other purposes, in such quantity, that in some Grocers or Spice-sellers houses are to  be found barrels filled with them, and retailed by the penny more or lesse, insomuch that no broths are well made without dried Marigolds'. John Gerard's Historie of Plants c1636 

On days like this when I'm working in the shed I can let the girls have the run of the garden, and trust that foxy won't come visiting when I'm here. They love to get out foraging and roam around happily cluck-clucking to themselves. 

Our hedgerows are festooned with berries. And when I approached the drunken hedge, flocks of small birds flew off from feasting on sloes, thankfully I've already picked plenty for sloe gin which will be ready in a few weeks time. 

  Through the garden gate to my shed . . . .

Getting ready for Manchester Book Fair and the Small Publishers Fair

Wednesday was all systems go, getting a selection of books ready to post to 'Artists Books Online' http://www.artistsbooksonline.com/index.shtm for the Fifth Manchester Artists' Book fair next weekend and for the Small Publishers Fair 12 & 13 November http://www.rgap.co.uk/  

I'll be there on Saturday 13th, please drop by and say hello.

My overworked Georgian nipping press has been busy doing its thing . . . .

A watcher at the door. Henny's curiosity kept her at the glass, possibly entranced by her own delightful reflection.

It takes me by surprise, sometimes, but I continue to underestimate how much time one needs to set aside for compiling and wrapping work for shows. It really does become an unnecessary stress if left to the last minute. 

But old habits die hard and ditching the mantle - Queen of Last Minute - will take some practice.

Preserving the bounty

Picking raspberries (again!) in sunlight with bees busy in the last of the flowers, disturbing overlarge spiders grown fat for winter. My plans for the freezer thwarted, therein lies number 2 son's stash - pizza and milk.

Raspberry Vinegar
500ml cider vinegar
1.5kg raspberries
Sugar
Put raspberries and vinegar in a bowl and leave for 3 days, stirring occasionally. Mash well and strain through a jelly bag. Allow 450g sugar to each 500ml of liquid, mix together and stir well to dissolve the sugar. Bring to the boil slowly, stirring well, then simmer for 20 minutes. Skim and leave until cold, pour into screw top bottles and seal


A teaspoon of raspberry vinegar in a glass of water, recommended as a cooling drink to sooth a cold or fever (Mary Norwak 1978 Book of home preserving)

Bonfires and picking apples, disturbing earwigs and looking out for angry wasps

All this bounty makes work. It's satisfying when everything starts growing and I gaze proudly at our garden, then reality hits, either I let the fruit rot or I preserve it . . . NOW! 


It just won't wait for me. On the other hand I could just grow flowers and get down to the supermarket and buy stuff.


Apple Chutney
2lb apples
1lb onions
*1 lg red pepper
3/4lb sugar
1/2pt vinegar
**1-2 tsp ground ginger


Slice onions finely. Peel, core and chop apples (but not too small), place in a pan with the vinegar and bring to the boil. Add sugar and spice and stir well until the sugar has dissolved. Leave to stand for 4 or 5 hours (or overnight). Bring to the boil again, keep stirring, before pouring into clean Kilner or screw top jars. Leave for two weeks before eating.


*yellow and orange are also fine
** any pickle spice can be used.

A quick scout along the drunken hedge means we'll have plenty of sloe gin for winter, ummm

The weather has been all over the place this week, rain, sun, grey skies and now bathed in sunlight. It makes the colours in the garden look spectacular.

Today I have a little shadow, she scratches about my feet searching out tasty morsels