Yesterday it was time to strain the Damson Gin that has been soaking away for the past few weeks. The heady almost liqueur like smell was wonderful as I tipped the contents of the container through the sieve.
Looking at the soft fruits swollen with gin, I decided it would have been a crime of the most serious nature to just throw them away, so rummaging about in the store cupboard I unearthed a bag of Preserving Sugar and set too making some alcoholic jam.
Lining up the three bowls, the one containing the Damsons in the centre and one on the left for the stones and one on the right for the fruit I spent an intoxicating hour squeezing the fruits to extract the stones. My fingers turned purple and the two outer bowls filled slowly but surely, a lovely way to spend a bit of time with the frost laying heavy on the ground outdoors.
The fruit was put in a pan with the sugar and a squeeze of lemon and left to boil away for a good ten minutes and then I looked at the stones, how could I waste them, knowing that the Kune Kunes loved crunching them SO much. So they were mixed with a carton of yogurt and added to the the Kunes evening meal.
Three little piggies went to bed VERY happy last night...
...and we had very alcoholic jam on our toast for supper ....hic!!Well that worked a treat, and lovely to know that nothing was wasted, something I'll repeat for sure. Six jars of jam and four bottles of Damson Gin for Christmas (and happy piggies too!).
It also gave me the idea for our New Year Challenge......and you know how much I love a challenge!! The year 2011 is going to be our Waste not Want not Year.
A year of living frugally....but well.
On our walks I marvel at the ever changing look of the farm and fields,while the dogs follow the trails of animals that have ventured out long before us.
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There is a frosty beauty in everyday items and plants, and the air is heavy and thick first thing, lightening slightly as the day gathers strength. It's always a relief to get back indoors, peel away the many layers of clothing necessary to stay out long enough to feed all the animals and clean out the henhouses, and then collapse in a thawing heap with hot coffee and porridge in front of the computer.
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So I apologise for the sparse Blogging recently, but be assured while I'm thawing out, I am reading yours.
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Sue xx 
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The warmest folk on the farm are the chicks, firmly ensconced behind the closed spare bedroom door, away from cats and a certain little Jack Russell dog, they have their very own glowing red sun to keep them nice and toasty.
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And when I turn it briefly off to get a good photo of them, the look on their little faces is very comical.
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As you can see they have just started getting their proper little wing feathers and they have learned to preen themselves and keep themselves nice and clean.
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Some of my favourite men, Dad, Jason and Lovely Hubby, posing manfully.
As soon as they have eaten all their food and drunk enough to fill and warm their tummies we have to face the mournful, sulky looks, I'm sure they blame us completely for this alien and freezing cold terrain. The pigs hate walking on frozen earth and stand still for longer than usual.
As soon as they see us head for the house they realise that there will be no more food until teatime, they somberly pick their way back to the pig arks, get comfy in the liberal amounts of straw and prepare to snooze away another day.
Tinka, Tayla and Gypsey (posing in order) show their cute little faces in the vague hope of second helpings of breakfast......
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The mop like thing you see is one of Lovely Hubbys' scarves cut into strips and bunched up. It makes a pretend 'mummy' for them to run under when they feel threatened or cold. Although they all love the heat from the infra red lamp and bask in its glow.
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So it's goodbye from Iris and Fern and it's goodbye from me.....