Hot Chocolate Log Mug

It is getting to be the weather for it. We had a picnic in the gardens on Saturday, and after hours outdoors, this was just what I needed. I made this mug awhile ago, but it is perfect for this. I believe there is another one or two like it at Mr Kitly. Hope you've had a lovely easter break.

Chutney Club

Some people pictures from Chutney Club last weekend. What a lovely bunch.
Thanks to our gracious host, Donald, for providing rope swings and records.

Baking and preserving

We had our Autumn meeting at Don's warehouse. It was such a good day.

I made a brioche plait, all soft and sweet. I also made watermelon rind pickle, the recipe is from the Time Life Good Cook Preserving book. It's a weird consistency, but tastes good! I also offloaded a couple of jars of Bread and Butter Pickles, as I wasn't sure how well received the watermelon rind would be – and there's no room left in the cupboard – I have been making pickles and jam all summer. I also took a few jars of fig and vanilla jam for tasting, the neighbour's tree has been very abundant, and still has fat figs ripening. They aren't so good to eat fresh, but make very nice jam. I have been having it with my porridge most mornings.

It was a bit celebratory as Chutney Club has a few buns in the oven. Some more lifetime memberships are on the cards.

Harvest

Autumn is a perfect time to be at Harvest. (Speaking of harvest, I am currently planning our Autumn chutney club meeting, quinces and figs are weighing down trees all across town). Riding my bike on a perfect crisp sunny autumn day is one of my favourite things. There are days though, like Wednesday where I arrived at work utterly drenched, and relieved Pen was there with a towel and a Harvest Smock for me to wear while my sad clothes were chucked in the dryer.

It's been a really big week, as much time at the studio as possible, a real estate inspection, a spider bite, decomposing flesh, visits to the doctors, visits to the foundry, drenching rain and perfect sunshine, and more kilometres on my bike than ever. I will be doing a few posts over on the harvest textiles blog, if you'd like to see how it's going.

We've had two home grown cucumbers this week. So delicious! And look, Wizard cat is back!

Curlew

There hasn't been much going on here, except a little too much work. Which is sad, cause this, right here and now, is my very favourite time of the year, and I wish I could just bunk off and do nearly nothing.



Here is an unrelated picture of the Curlew pair who live in my Parents yard. Just hanging about. In the night they make the best spooky sounds. This reminds me, I should post more pictures from home. When I have a moment.

While it's still warm.

Here is a picture of some rocks and rockpools. And the necklace rope version of my knitted flouro bracelets (much brighter in real life). The official forecast of my autumn colours. Rusty browns, steely blues and greys and a bit of flouro pink.