Thanks for the good wishes. Things are a little brighter on all fronts today. The weather has improved a little and Amy & I have dodged the intermittent showers to head off to the pick-your-own-farm.
We picked 4lbs of strawberries and then came back home for our annual jam making session. Unfortunately, I've got it into the jars a bit too soon and now it's cooling I can see it's not fully set so tomorrow it will have to go back in the pan for another 5 minutes of boiling – I find it really hard to judge when it's just right! Once we have it back in the jars again we're planning to make some bread to go with it.
In the meantime Toby has been a little happier after a good bout of swinging in the garden.
The weather is looking brighter for next week so hopefully we'll get the chance to squeeze in that overnight camp-out. Enjoy your weekend whatever the weather with you!
little cotton rabbits 
Glad things are looking up a little. I am struck by the little details in your photos today – Amy’s puffle shirt and your beautiful jam jars.
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So glad things are happier for you and that Toby is having some fun.
Really delicious looking strawberries, I’m sure your jam will be yummy.
Fingers crossed for Amy’s camp-out!
Have a great weekend. 🙂
Vivienne x
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looks like you’ve had a great day… really impressed that the strawberries are all at picking level!
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good luck with the jam , I like to eat it but have never made it . Fingers crossed the weather stays ok
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I’ve been thinking about you a lot since I read your post yesterday. Hoping that things had taken a turn for the better. Toby looks happy on his swing. How could he not be in such a lovely back garden? Best wishes for the jam…I’ve never made jam, however we’re now the proud owners of a LOT of blackberry bushes so maybe it might be on the cards for us in the coming season. Hope today is a good one for you all!
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Oh. Oh. I love your scale. It’s wonderful, and so interesting looking. I never have found a scale I could actually use. And its metal bowl full of that red, luscious fruit. It’s smile-stuff. Our storm passed over, after having sent half a mountain down on some of the homes in the next valley.
I always make freezer jam, so I don’t boil. Interesting to think of doing it another way. BUT I HAVE A MARVELOUS IDEA – my husband makes THE best bread in the universe – and it’s got everything but the kitchen sink in it. Finish your jam and come bring some over, and we’ll all sit in the back yard and watch the now swollen river and slather butter and jam over hot bread!! Whatcha think?
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I have made jam with the help of a couple of 10 year old girls, can you imagine every surface of your kitchen being sticky??
But it is so much fun!!
Glad to hear Toby is feeling better!
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We’ve made loads of jam this year after discovering a pick-your-own farm just up the road – without the luxury of eye-level planters, you lucky things, we had to grovel in the dirt! We are now awaiting the damsons to be ready in order to make some more…
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So glad to see Toby back outside in better weather. Fingers crossed for a sunny weekend, and a fun Campathon! The hedgerow brambles here aren’t really ready yet…but picked enough yesterday for a little pot of jelly, to save and eat on our toast on a certain day in December! Love to everyone for a good weekend. Jenni x
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Wow what a great idea to grow the strawberry’s at picking height, I’ve never seen that before!
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I’m glad that things are improving for you and Toby. I hope the jam re-boil produces a good set this time. It is hard to get it right but sometimes you just have to be patient, don’t you?
Janet
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lovely home made strawberry jam , my mum made some every year and it was wonderfull, so much better than shop jam . I do not manage to grow enough and the strawberries are too expensive here to buy enough , I am so envious , enjoy .
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So glad you’re having a better time – weather still pretty dire here in the Midlands. I’m sure the jam will be great.
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So happy to hear things are on the up and up. And one of these days I’ll learn to make strawberry jam. The perfect excuse for more PYO sessions! K x
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I am so glad that things are brighter for you all now. How I would love the time to make jam and do lovely homey things – unfortunately a full time job doesn’t leave you much energy for the evenings and then there are so many other jobs to be done at the weekend. Still, I can enjoy your beautiful photos of the stuff I would like to be doing! Fingers crossed for lots more sunshine for you all. Rosy x
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So glad Toby seems happier Julie. It must be hard for you all, Toby included. Hope you get some you time soon.xx
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Today is a terrific washing day – sunny, warm but windy… here’s hoping a terrific camping day arrives soon. x
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I’m so glad things are looking up a little. How could they fail to with jam (almost) in the jars. Such jars. There’s something beautiful about a kilner jar isn’t there?
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Thank you. Enjoy your weekend too. You are an inspiration to others as you never seem to complain, whatever happens. Not enough good souls about sometimes!! I really love reading your blog x x
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As a fellow small-time grower and jam maker can I tell you my trick for when it’s ready? Pop a saucer in the freezer about 20 minutes before you start the jam. When you think it might be ready take out the saucer and pop a teaspoon of the jam onto it. Leave it for a minute and then run your finger through it. If it “wrinkles” then it’s ready and will set. If not then pop the saucer back into the freezer and boil jam for another few minutes. Saves an awful lot of re-boiling and re-sterilising of pots etc. Hope this helps. Lol Lynn ♥
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I’m glad things are happier now for you and your family. I’ve made jam using the method suggested by Glitter Monkey (above) and you can’t fail. I discovered it in a Delia cookbook a few winter’s ago when making some seville orange marmelade. I find Delia unbelievably uninspiringn(probably just me on that one!) but you can always guarantee the results!!!
Pen x
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I always marvel at the fun activities that you do with Amy and Toby. You should write a children’s book offering suggestions for summer activities and you could also include some of your wonderful designs and recipes.
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Hummmm….strawberry jam is one of my favorite things!!!
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Your photos are a breath of fresh air whilst I’m in the middle of a dull patch of weather! Yummy strawberry jam, delicious!
For some reason I couldn’t post my comment so had to sign in using Facebook…how very strange….
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Hi Julie
Have missed your news just got back from 2 weeks in the Cotswolds with no internet or indeed mobile access from the village in which we were staying. Unlike you I was lucky to get some knitting done and have knitted up lots of your lovely cupcakes some of which are already ear-marked for Christmas Pressies.
We currently have a batch of bread cooking (which is smelling lovely) to have with some nice soup for lunch (yes it has got cold!!)
Glad to hear Toby is happier, not long left now until we can all get back into some sort of routine – pre-school starts up again a week tomorrow for me.
Take care
Davina x
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Wow… raised beds so that you don’t have to bend over, and sun shades?!? I love your U-pick!
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Oh I love pick-your-own strawberry farms. I have happy memories of heading out in strawberry season.
Enjoy your delicious strawberry jam.
Marie x
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I never saw strawberries grown that way. It’s an awesome idea- definitely make picking the berries so much easier.
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It is a very long time since I last blog surfed, but here I am, back again. I hope Toby is back to his old self soon, as it must be very tiring for all parties when he is out of balance. Lovely strawberry pictures. 🙂
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