Three Good Things

Daloni I am inspired. I have raspberries from the garden in the freezer I just need the sugar. My son loves Raspberry Jam too and he's home for a holiday from New Zealand on the 18th. What better reason do I need. A weekend task. 

Hope you are feeling ok

Loving catching up with all your good things! Hope you're all ok. I've just got back from a holiday in Greece - it was so lovely and warm! 

1. Fab holiday watching the children play for hours in the pool and the sea. So lovely to read and chill out with them and just be in the warmth. 

2. Had an amazing birthday - felt very loved with all the well wishes. Enjoying the moment and not thinking about what's ahead. I am now free of all 'death dates from the medics" as I've passed all their expiry date predictions. No more death dates spinning in my head. 

3. Very grateful to a neighbour who helped me with the school run (but didn't exclude me and take over) today as I'm exhausted from travelling home yesterday. The small kindnesses are really humbling. 

Right, time to research how to make jam - I am lacking this skill in my domestic goddess repertoire! Sounds delicious! 

Good day all... 

x

Daloni

Home made jam, divine. You seem to make it so easily, maybe I'll give it a go. I have a good choice of berries and currants either growing in my garden or traversing the hedgerows.

Tvman xx

Daloni

Home made jam, oh so divine. You seem to make it so easily, maybe I'll give it a go. I have a good choice of berries and currants either growing in my garden or traversing the hedgerows.

Tvman xx

Hi! 

Seriously, it is. This is what I do. 

1. Two clean jam jars, lids by their side, on a baking tray in the oven at 100 degrees. Thermometer to hand

2. 500g berries in a big pan with 500g jam sugar (it has pectin and citric acid in the sugar).  Low heat and stirring to dissolve the sugar then high heat to boil it up 

3. Some foam will come to the surface - either scoop it off with a serving spoon or don’t 

4. Keep it boiling, stirring from time to time,  until it hits 105 degrees and not a second longer. It takes a good 10-15 minutes  

5. Pour carefully into the warm jam jars, lids on. 

That’s it. You can, of course, muck about with wrinkle tests on cold plates, topping with wax paper seals, stirring in knobs of butter at the end (to keep fruit suspended), adding spirits and lemon juice. Cassis is grand in blackcurrant jam, for example. 

It is so easy. Also slightly addictive. I’ve found myself with an unreasonable number of jars of delicious jam in the past when I’ve got carried away. Rhubarb with stem ginger and pineapple with lime zest and vanilla are particular favourites. 

Have fun! 

Xx

Once I'm home I'll be trying this 

Daloni

You really are an amazingly talented lady not only because of what you can do but because you pass on your instructions in such an easy and tempting way. I have taken a copy of your ‘recipe’ to give to my girls. I used to help my mother make marmalade but it was so long winded I never attempted it on my own.

I have been a bit quiet as had quite a draining sofa only week after my last cycle and didn’t want to pass on my depression but Wednesday I picked up a bit and here are my three good things from yesterday:

1. Had a lovely ‘no children to interrupt’ day with my youngest who drove me to hospital for my 8th day of cycle check up.

2. Managed a lovely walk around my garden in evening sunshine and to dead head all the roses. The scent was amazing.

3. Went to bed with a smile on my face as doctors have almost certainly agreed I can carry on with the trial despite concerns as I have reacted to the carboplatin on each of the last 3 cycles. Final decision next week but have been told either way I will then just be monitored and won’t go straight onto more drugs which means I can hopefully look forward to a holiday of some kind in September. I have been very jealous of all your stories! My turn soon!

XX

If anyone is worried about the sugar content of jam, I saw an interesting idea yesterday for jam. 

You blitz the fruit up into a puree, no cooking or extra ingredients, then add in a couple of tablespoons of chia seeds. Stir it up, then leave for 30 mins in the fridge. Chia seeds have an outer shell that soaks up moisture and becomes jelly like. So they thicken the puree into a jam type consistency.

Haven't tried it myself yet, but I've some strawberries in my garden and some raspberry canes. So might try it once they ripen and produce! 

Lass

Xx

I am completely shattered after a day at the Macmillan volunteer conference and my three good things are from the event. 

1. The keynote speaker was one of the community champs Thehighlander who gave a fabulous talk that was by turns funny, shocking, sad and heartwarming. He talked about the community (which is sometimes called Macmillan’s best kept secret as even some of the staff don’t know we are here) and how many people it helps. 

2. I felt a mixture of embarrassment and pride to see my face everywhere. A few years ago I did a photo shoot with Macmillan for a campaign about the community and they keep using them. I was on a poster in the exhibition hall, on the online community stand and on the big screen during the chief executive’s speech. Mind you, I look different now. I had hair back then and weighed a couple of extra stone. These days I have cheek bones. 

3. I met lots of great people 

I am done in though. I was so hoping I’d make it for the second day but no chance. Hey ho. 

Xx

Hi all, Haven't been here in awhile. My three:

1) Reading your posts and imagining jam (rhubarb with ginger sounds yummy and jam with chia seeds sounds intriguing,)imagining Sussex-Ovarian's roses (too early  for roses here,) and Daloni seeing her face everywhere.

2) Have siblings, nieces, nephews, grandniececs and nephews and cousins and children plus grandchildren here ,at the house, at the inn and at aunt's. All are here for Mother's memorial and interment. The occasion a bit  sad, of course, but Mother just short of ninety years, was admitting she was tired and was longing for those who had gone before her. It is wonderful to all be together, and it seems as though she is present.

3)We are minding the neighbours's garden for a week whilst they are off to the seaside for a holiday with their children and grandchildren. One highlight is seeing Mr.and Mrs. Duck everyday. We have been informed their names are Fred and Ethel Mallard and were hatchlings a year ago.