The taste of summer

Good afternoon

It's been a mixed few days with the weather - some days it feels proper summery and others the temptation to find socks has been very strong.

Last Friday was a very mixed day - warm but thundery and at times extremely rainy and thundery. The weather almost scuppered our Friday evening plans. We'd found an abundant supply of elderflowers and our plans included turning them into cordial - well the first part.

We decided to double the recipe and picked 60 gorgeous flower heads which once de-stalked were left to soak in a sugar syrup for 24 hours.

After we'd got back from a fun day out at a Medieval Fair, it was time to strain and bottle the cordial.

We'd got a collection of bottles ready and began the process. Whoops our maths was a bit off - more cordial than bottles! A call to a nearby friend produced a bottle and she was happy to take some from us and a promise of things from her garden in a few weeks was made. A mad dash to a supermarket and we bought the last litre pop top bottle in their kitchen section!!

My share was 2 litres of cordial which tastes like summer in a bottle - mixed with fizzy water or fizzy wine its lovely;

Should last me a while - though there is a vague plan of making elderflower champagne or cordial another weekend soon when time allows.

Am off dancing tonight and taking me camera - might even this week manage to take some photos!!

See you soon

xxx Vintage Vicki xxx 

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas

Good afternoon

Just a few spare minutes to myself so time for one final look at blogland for 2013.

Those that read regularly will know 2013 has been one heck of a roller coaster ride here in the VV household - however on balance despite life seeming like a dodgy soap script at times it hasn't been all bad. There's been a new hobby, new friends, a fantastic new house, a gorgeous squishy new nephew, plenty of fun, that long hot summer, lots of camping, loads of live music and best of all, those wonderful boys of mine have grown up so much are just the best a Mum could ask for.

Here's just a few pics from the last few weeks;

The mantalpiece is becoming more cluttered with Christmas stuff - just how I love it :)

Cards from both boys of course but this one from Big Son made me laugh loudly - I think it rather sums up my new life rather well!!

I finished this stocking for my new nephew rather quickly - had completely forgotten I'd made them for the others when they were small - I expect come Christmas morning it will be full of parcels for his first Christmas.

Christmas jumper wearing - we've all got them - just need to get a photo of the 3 of us together.

 Little Son off to play in his bands Christmas concert - I went with a friend and we had a good evening singing along :)

Big Son off to the 6th forms charity dress up day - they raised over £500 in local towns for 2 charities.

Straining this years Sloe Gin - such an awful task ;)

Sampling time - with a shop bought mince pie - I know shocking!! I will get some made it just life is all rather hectic at the moment. Looking forward to closing the door on Christmas Eve after the carol service and sitting down with another glass of sloe gin.

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

See you soon

xxx Vicki xxx

Happy Stuff for November (so far)

Good morning

Well I was doing the 52 weeks of happy posts but I got side-tracked sometime in early summer - mostly connected with being ill and the house move - its not that I've not been happy, its just the whole photo taking/blog writing thing just stopped happening. I must blame Instagram too - instant blogging and so easy to do from my phone or Ipad - never worked out how to blog directly from there. So whilst I can't remember what week it is, I can share some happy pictures - here's some from the first few days of November;

 My sisters little puppy is growing up too fast - he is now big enough to walk across town to visit me and he made his first visit at the weekend. He's utterly adorable and so well behaved. He loved investigating somewhere new and after a run around in the garden with Little Son, he was tired out and snuggled up on my new rug for a long doze;

Yesterday (Monday) was gorgeous here - blue skies and sunshine. I decided to ignore the Doctors advice and take a gentle cycle ride over to the next village to visit a friend. On the journey home I stopped and loaded up a tub with sloes - so many this year;

 

All washed along with some elderberries - these got frozen and then when I buy gin later they will popped into a big jar with sugar, stirred occasionally and then strained just before Christmas. After all I can't go to the Christmas Eve carols without a hip flask full of the stuff ;)

 One last thing for today - an early Christmas pressie for me from me - new boots. I've loved these biker style ones for ages but never could wear them when (1) my ankle was still not flexible and (2) my calves were too 'wide' - well due to dancing etc etc both these barriers have gone so I treated myself to a pair in the most gorgeous green !!

Right its no good - I must go and get dressed and brave the outside world - there's gin to buy and a Grandma to visit. Plus later there's soup to make and firework displays to go and watch - all happy ;)

See you soon

xxx Vicki xxx

Bargains, Lunch & the First Strawberry

Good evening

Been warm enough for you? Its been lovely here the past few days - have spent time outside weeding and occasionally sitting in the shade with a glass or 2 of something scrummy.

A quick hunt through the strawberry bed the other day revealed the first ripe one;

It was scrummy - still warm from the sunshine - am hoping lots of its little friends will ripen over the next few days - the dilemma, whether to tell the menfolk or not?

Sometime I think myself lucky - MrVV works from home and though he's often out & about too, several days a week its just the 2 of us for lunch. Most often its just a quick sandwich for lunch, occasionally chips on the seawall @ Aldeburgh and other times I find something nice in the shops in town.  The other day was one of those days;

Sourdough bread still warm from the bakers oven with local smoked salmon pate.

Followed by local strawberries - just plain, no sugar or cream.

Washed down with my homemade elderflower cordial - this is gorgeous and definitely something that I shall be making again. Hopefully next time I'll have found some nicer bottles - had to pinch these ones from MrVV's home brewing stash.

I forgot to show you last weekend the spoils of Sunday's bootsale;

A very shabby chic little cupboard - currently holding my vintage cotton reel collection.

Another Ladybird book - thought I might learn something ;)

Just checked the weekend forecast and so far its looking good for the school fete, brass engagement and of course the meet up on Sunday. Of course if it is too warm for some (Karen ;) ) - they can always have a paddle in the North Sea - that will cool you down ;)

See you soon

xxxx Vicki xxxx

Swapsies & Natures Bounty

Good evening

Hurrah the sun came out today - I spent time in the garden this afternoon - weeding my veggies & planting out my tomatoes.

Postie has been again - actually it was the end of last week but I'm behind on my blogging at the moment.

Over on the SCC the lovely Lalabibaby asked if anyone had some spare black fabric in their stash - as it happened I did and we arrange to do swapsies :) Here's what she sent me;

Yep - you can see fabric squares towards my next patchwork project, some lovely fabric & lots of buttons too :)

I've signed up for another swap - I tried so hard to resist but in the end temptation & the lure of getting a parcel through the post proved too strong. Its the Vintage Shabby Swap organised by my friend Karen over at Tilly Rose - go on sign up - you know you want too ;)

I've entered another giveaway too - so many lovely ones about at the moment - here's hoping I get lucky somewhere.  This one is over at JuicyFig to celebrate 100 blog posts.

On lots of blogs over the past week, I've seen posts referring to making Elderflower Champagne or Cordial.  I'd noticed elderflowers growing in my neighbours garden and this morning I went and asked her if she planned to do anything with them.  The answer was no, so I asked if I could help myself to some of the creamy flowers - no problem came the reply.  Armed with 20 flower heads and a receipe (which I doubled)copied from Jayne at Country Cottage Chic I set to work;

From this

to this - bottling tomorrow - so far so good - it smells delicious & the sneaky taste I had suggests its going to be gorgeous - summer in a bottle :)

Lastly for tonight - whilst I was out in the garden, I needed to rummage in the shed for some canes. I noticed this little nest being built in the shed eaves - as much as I like nature, I don't want to share my shed with wasps - so I took it down.  Little son was very impressed with it when I showed him - I am too - now wasps aren't my favourite things but they do produce the most amazing nests;

You can see that it was so tiny - just slightly bigger than one of the dots on my oilcloth!!

See you soon - off to cut out another dress!!

xxxx Vicki xxxx

Weekend - part 1

Well weekends always start on a Friday don't they?

Had a good morning out with my friend, Country Girl, we headed over to Saxmundham, a little town that I've not been to much in recent years.  Was amazed at how much the high street has changed & the excellent mix of shops there now.

Most importantly coffee was the first stop of the morning;

(oh yes Ernest came too)

We then had a good wander round the town & shops. For once the charity shops turned up nothing for me :(  However I made up for it in the haberdashery shop, where one or two pretty buttons came home with me ;

As it was still sunny in the afternoon & I needed to buy birthday pressies for my FIL, I headed into my little town.  The call of the charity shops was great & I managed several pretty little things - 2 pieces of flowery fabric - perfect for bunting, a pretty pillowcase & an Enid Blyton book which was one of my childhood favourites - total spend £1.50!

Friday night was spent watching the start of Somewhere Over the Rainbow - looking forward to see who wins and of course singing along each week.  All this was accompanied by some birthday chocolates & some of MrVV's homebrew cider *hic*

Saturday morning dawned bright & sunny.  MrVV had a brass engagement this morning - the opening for the season of the museum in town;

(these letters were made by my grandfather who worked in this factory in its heyday).

The museum was keen to show off its latest engine - this used to work in the town 40+ years ago taking things from one factory across town to the other & also to the railway mainline.  It was brought back here about 6 years ago and needed major repairs - now almost £100,000, it looks like this;

This steam roller was made in the Garrett factory & is a familar sight around town & at steam fairs all over the place;

Ernest wanted to sit on both of these but as it was very busy it was not possible. Instead he posed in the workmans van which was also restored by the museum;

Ernest has gone on a special mission this afternoon, he accompanying little son to his grade 2 violin exam.  Little son is a tad nervous & Ernest is hoping that his presence will help him overcome his nerves.

As Mum left at home I need my own Ernest - will be glad when the call comes through to say it is all over & they are on their way home.

A quick turnaround is required as little son is off out tonight to play his baritone with the training brass band he plays with - MrVV is taking him & is picking up T (son of Country Girl) on the way.

Another busy day tomorrow - more birthday celebrations - this times its my FIL's 75th birthday & we're off out as a family for lunch :)

xxxx Vicki xxxx

Friday again

The end of another week has arrived already - at this rate it will be Christmas again before we know it! and I still won't have booked a campsite for our summer hols!

Lots of boring domestic stuff has happened this week - mainly coz its an excellent way of keeping warm. My sewing room is probably the coldest place in the house other than MrVV's office.  I did manage to spend some time up there and have made the start on a patchwork cover for a cushion;

I was wondering what to border and back it with - I'd hunted through my fabrics and not found a piece big enough. I'd nearly given in and gone to the haberdashery shop to buy some when I called into the charity shop and found a perfect offcut of Laura Ashley fabric :) So hopefully I'll get it all put together next week and I'll have 2 out 4 cushions recovered.

Little son & MrVV have been brewing again - this time cider.  In order to avoid the problems we had with the beer it moved into the aircupboard straight away - whilst it takes up space it does make it smell really nice in there;

They even pinched my fridge thermometer to make sure that it is warm enough for it - honestly it gets better treatment than me somedays!! Little son has appointed himself as chief-checker and tells me that it should be ready for bottling hopefully this weekend and then ready for drinking by the end of the month :)

I've been out today with my friend Country Girl - we headed somewhere we'd never been before but had heard good reports about.  It was a cross between a carboot sale/2nd hand shop/antique centre with an attached coffee shop.  It is run by a co-operative of sellers who all take turns in maning the shop.  There was everything in there from vintage bedding to 70's party frocks via floral china and of course books.  I was for once rather spoilt for choice for Ladybird books - there were so many that I'd have loved to bring home with me.  In the end I settled for 3 more Well-loved tales & 2 more from the nature series;

I have a feeling we shall be heading there again as the stock is constantly changing.  Today as it was raining we virtually had the shop to ourselves but it is in one of those places that come the warmer weather will be busy with daytrippers and holidaymakers.

Another busy weekend is looming - boys are hoping for sunshine so they can all go off on their bikes and I'd like to make a start on tidying the garden.  We're off out on Sunday for a meal to celebrate big son's 14th birthday (which is actually in the middle of next week but school gets in the way).

See you next week

xxxx Vicki xxxx

Happiness is......................................

For me last night it was a pint of homebrew, some knitting, a granny blanket & watching Larkrise to Candleford (though this series isn't as good as the previous ones);

For little son who came out for a walk with MrVV & I to Aldeburgh, it was;

And for both boys when they came in from school tonight it was the sight of a plate full of warm, chocolate cookies(though they weren't allowed to eat them all - evil aren't I! ;

Off for today's 20 minutes of crafting - though it probably be more like an hours knitting - might even have a picture of the work in progress later this week.

Oh btw the homebrew is good - not quite Adnams but definately better than Tom Good's peapod burgundy ;)

xxxx Vicki xxxx

Snowy Suffolk

MrVV & I  woke to the radio presenter telling us that both the boys schools were closed for the day.  As the boys woke up and came in to see us they asked about school and when told there was none, snuggled into bed with MrVV & I for a little while.

It's not been too bad here today - lots of snow flurries and about 3 inches of snow at the most.  The biggest problem is still the ice - we've areas that have been frozen over since December and until it warms up they'll remain like that.

The boys have kept themselves busy with homework, playing outside and also painting their airfix models they got at Christmas.  Little son decided to accompany me into town to do some shopping.

Our lane to the right.

View to the left - plus little son

Same view but with me in the way !!

Artistic picture of snow covered holly!

This snowfall has given me a chance to play with my camera and try & get a picture to use on cards for next Christmas!!  I'd decided not to pack Rudolph & Bambi away with the decorations - today they thought they would go and play in the snow!!

After spending time outside this morning, this afternoon was definately an indoors time.  Last night at S&B group I had my first knitting lesson - I can now cast on and do a basic knit stitch.  In a quiet moment this afternoon I sat in the front room adding more rows to my dishcloth!!

 MrVV & Little son decided to bottle the homebrew (which has been doing whatever it does in my airing cupboard for the past week as the kitchen was too cold for it!!!).

22 litres of the stuff is now in bottles and is back in the airing cupboard for a few more days till it needs to move somewhere less warm but not too cold - so probably our bedroom or the front room then! Thinking of renaming the house The VV brewery!!

Just found out that both boys schools are closed again tomorrow - cue 2 happy boys and the threat of pelting me with snowballs!  I guess that also means another day of gloves & socks drying on the raditor, rosy cheeks and mugs of hot chocolate :)

See you soon

xxxx Vicki xxxx