Tasmanian Devil

Oh how I do love the old black and white Hollywood films. That is why Errol was simply irresistible when I spied him at the old Heathfield flea market last week. I've told myself to only buy essentials at the moment, trying not to 'waste' money, but a little bit of glamour in a girl's life is essential, no?
Didn't really have enough room for such a big picture either but he's managed to squeeze himself in next to Twiggy, of course he has. And he's giving her the glad eye.

Made By Hand - Lewes

If you are a lover of yarn and textiles this two day event is definitely one not to miss.

Featuring oodles of hand made wonderfully tactile items, some for sale. Plus commercial stands selling all manner of materials for your own projects.

I helped out for a short while this morning setting up the exhibits and managed to sneak a couple of pics.

If you're anywhere near Lewes tomorrow do try and pop in.

The Bare Bear

My poor ole bear is still bare. It's not that I haven't been working on his winter jumper, honestly. It's just very time consuming and I have lots on. Trying to sort out house projects and reorganising the studio, keeping on top of the garden, you know how it is.
He hasn't had a new bit of clothing for years and years so this little Fair Isle number is long overdue.
The pattern is from a 1990 nursery knitting book that one of my friends kindly gave to me a wee while ago. It's full of beautiful traditional knitwear. When I eventually have some grand children, a very long way off yet I hope, it will be be very useful. For now though the bear will be getting the benefit.







The pattern isn't difficult but you do have to concentrate as it's fiddly. I have attached a small length of the different coloured yarns to the page so that I can check more easily when I need to change colours.

I've used alternative colours to those in the book to give the garment a more vintage look and the front will be one V necked piece instead of two.

Close up of Fair isle.

This is the finished unblocked back which has taken me the longest time to complete. I'm gonna be much faster with the front, you wait and see.

Apple Harvest

This beautiful old apple tree has been in our garden for many years, long before we bought the house. Every season there is a glorious crop of apples, only we haven't always made the time to harvest them properly. Shame on us.
This year I am determined that no apple will go to waste. I HATE to see waste of any kind and now we are down to one income I am doing my best to maximise just about anything that can save us money. I have  more time now too which is a great asset when you are looking for money saving deals and bargains. Time is the Thriftanista's friend.

Last weekend I invited a lovely lass from my knitting circle to come and take some apples. Apparently she makes an amazing home brew apple wine. She filled two large sacks and took all the wind falls as well. Whilst she collected and picked I made a pot of tea and sliced up some home made cherry and almond cake to fortify her. In return she will be giving me a few bottles of the wine. I think that's a great deal, so does she.

I had it in mind to juice some of the apples as well but unfortunately we do not own a press. I'm reluctant to buy one as we will be moving from our lovely house in the next couple of years and wouldn't I'm sure get the use out of it in the meantime.

So I asked for help on Freegle and Brian and Jane who live just up the road from us, came to the rescue with their hand made press.

The Mister took our apples round to their house on Saturday and spent a couple of happy hours chatting and chopping apples with them. They very kindly helped with the whole process.

I now have 6 bottles of pure apple juice from our own tree sitting icily in our freezer. Which I'm super pleased about.

The lovely apple press folk understandably refused our offer of juice but we gave them a big box of Turkish Delight which they truly deserved.

A Little Bit of History on Sunday

The mister and I were all set to go on a nice local 5 mile walk today. I found the details of the walk in a local magazine. The walk starts in Forest Row, Sussex, goes through the local countryside down meandering lanes and past a Jacobean ruin. Which until I read the article I had never heard of.

Brambletye House was built about 1631. Sadly only part of this once magnificent building is still standing. It is listed as an 'at risk' building. I should say it is.

We didn't get to see it today because the rain put paid to any idea of venturing forth, but that hasn't stopped me already fantasizing about buying and restoring the building. Imagine how thrilling that would be? Naturally Kevin McCloud would want to be involved.

We did manage to sort out a different piece of history today though, which I'm very pleased about. The mister and I finally put up the servants bell box that we bought at Ardingly a good few months ago. Just in time for Downton tonight. I feel it brings me a little bit closer to my beloved Carson.

via 

Tearing and Sharing - Olive Fougasse.

I've been making bread again but this time from my own pantry staples, no packet mix involved. Do you know what? It's just as easy to put your own ingredients together and probably cheaper. Everything I used for this bread I already had lurking in my cupboards. 

I impressed myself with this wonderful bread. It tastes exactly like the small squares of posh bread you get in the fancy schmancy restaurants, you know the kind, that you dip into Balsamic vinegar or olive oil. My Balsamic vinegar was purchased at Lidl for under a pound. It's an absolutely pukka product though, made in Modena and has the certificato da organismo di controlla autorizzato dal Mipaaf and I.G.P. Makes me wonder why it's so expensive elsewhere? Perhaps there are different grades to it? My palate is not that sophisticated where vinegar is concerned so I'm more than happy with my Lidl version.

Anyhow, I digress.

My beast of a loaf.

The recipe was as easy as can be and the whole process took under two hours, which includes the proving time.

Ingredients.

Strong white bread flour   450g
Sugar (the recipe called for unrefined golden granulated but I used caster) 15g/1tbsp
Sea salt plus some for sprinkling  10g/2tsp ( I used less salt)
Easy Bake yeast  7g (1 sachet)
Olive oil plus additional for drizzling  80ml
Warm water  225ml
Olives chopped  15g
Rosemary chopped 15g ( I just pulled mine apart by hand)

1. Put flour, sugar, salt and yeast into a bowl.
2. Mix to a soft dough with the oil and water.
3. Turn onto a floured surface and knead for 10 mins, adding the olives and rosemary as you knead.
Cover the bowl with a damp tea towel and leave to prove in a warm spot, for 30 minutes to an hour, until double in size.

Dough after first proving.

4.Punch down the proven dough and stretch out into an oval on the baking sheet. Slash the dough and open the cuts to form a pattern.

Dough after 'punching'

Before second proving.

5. Cover with a tea towel again and prove in a warm spot for no longer than 30 minutes.
6. Preheat oven to 220C/200C Fan/425F/Gas Mark 7.
7.Drizzle a little olive oil and sprinkle a little sea salt over the dough; bake for about 15 minutes until golden.

Keeping Posted

I get an email now and then from the master of thriftiness Martin Lewis. He alerts me to any special deals that I might have missed, very kind of him methinks.

Just last week he told the tale of the mucho cheapo fabled Terry's chocolate orange, £1.00 only. In milk, white or my favourite dark chocolate.

This week he has done even better and because of his marvellous newsletter I have ventured two thrifty purchases.

The first will be a C*******s present for one of the family kinder.

This complete set is available through Sainsbury's Entertainment site, £3.00 including delivery.

I adore these stories, so I must remember that this set is NOT a present for me.












The second purchase was for a huge parcel of vegetable seeds, over 8,000. Following the success of our veg growing this season we have decided to try and grow even more.

The pack from Park Promotions Ltd includes beetroot, butternut squash, cabbage, carrots, courgettes, parsnips, peppers, radish, turnips, onions and lots more.

The 17 packets of seeds come in at around 44p a packet, £7.49 including postage and packaging. Fantastic value. They will arrive the first week in November so I'm hoping there may be some Winter cropping varieties that can be planted up lickety split.