Elderflower Factory and piggie update...

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 I feel like I'm working in an Elderflower processing factory at the moment.  The gorgeously scented buckets of brewing flowerheads are everywhere, scenting the house in a lovely natural way....who needs plug in air fresheners when you have Elderflowers.

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I have managed to make 17.5 litres of Elderflower Champagne and up to now I have 10 bottles of Elderflower Cordial, we've drank the other two already!  I'll put the recipe below for the Champagne as a few people have expressed an interest in it, I can't vouch for it yet though as I have to see if it gets its fizz over the next week or two.  I've been warned about exploding bottles so I'm going to put them all in a nice safe place where I can keep an eye on them and release some pressure if necessary

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Elderflower Champagne

Approx 20 heads of Elderflower

900g Sugar

Juice and zest of two Lemons

1 tablespoon of White Wine Vinegar

14 litres of Water

Dissolve the sugar in a bowl of hot water.  Add the lemon juice, zest and vinegar, stir well.  Pour contents into a large sterilized bucket that has a tight fitting lid, add the Elderflowers, give it all a good stir and then pour over the cold water.  Stir again and then leave for 3 days.

Strain the liquid through muslin and then pour into sterilised bottles.  These should be either plastic pop bottles or the strong bottles with the metal clasp tops.  And then all you have to do is be patient, check the bottles daily for excessive build up of gas, and remember.....store them in a cool, safe place (just in case they do explode!!).

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Piggy Update

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Martha our HUGE Middle White sow has had her piglets, unfortunately she is not being a very careful Mum and has managed to squish 5 of them during the night, I've been a busy girl today trying to keep the other 7 safe. It's heart stoppingly scary watching a huge mummy pig move around while tiny hours old babies try to keep out of the way, some of them have now learnt the safe parts of the farrowing ark and are keeping out of Mums way....thank goodness.

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I'll try and get some photos tomorrow, but for now I am leaving them alone to bond and for Mum to get a good sleep, judging from the snores coming from the ark last time I nipped over she's doing just that!!

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Sue xx