Jam

Many years ago I ate some of the most delicious jam I've ever tasted. it was red currant jam and unfortunately I've never been able to find the same brand again.

Then the other day I was given some rather gorgeous, freshly picked  red, black and white berries and asked if I'd make some jam? They were currants.

Now I know this isn't the weather to be making jam, but hey, the fruit was calling

So I said yes.

Easy process, throw everything in the pot with equal amount of sugar and let it boil till it reaches its setting point. When does that happen? I'm not sure, I just boiled it till I thought it would be OK.

It looked and smelled pretty good, as jam goes. Fruity and sugary.

I'll keep the small jar and give the rest to the person who picked the fruit...

Limoncello... again

Did you make it?

How did it go?

This is how mine turned out...

Empty. Well almost

I gave the three small bottles away as gifts and kept what was left, which was almost 700ml

No, I didn't drink it all. I shared.

It was lovely!

Knowing when it's time

It turns out the hardest thing you will ever do as a pet owner, is also the kindest

Knowing when "it's time" to make that last, heartbreaking visit to the vet is one of the hardest decisions you'll ever make, but if you not only love but respect your pet, it's a decision that has to be made

That's what MONT and I had to do yesterday.

Limoncello - it really is sunshine in a bottle

It's done.

After weeks of standing in the back of a dark cupboard, the limoncello is bottled and all ready to drink on Christmas day...or sooner.

The finishing process was quite easy

Strain the lemony liquid through some gauze

Use a funnel to put it into sterilized bottles...

... and it's ready to go

Great as a Christmas drink, over ice-cream...or even as a nice gift

Christmas

To say I've been late getting things organised for Christmas this year is a wild understatement.

Until today I didn't have any Christmas decorations up...or even a tree.

Now at least the mantle is done.

I made these little doily trees and I think they look pretty cute

As for the tree...or at least my pile of sticks....well....

It's got a few crystals on it at the moment, but that's about all.

Mont has to get up in the ceiling for me to retrieve the box of decorations

Then I'll put the wreath on the front door, tidy the back deck and we'll be ready to go for next Saturday night when the "FESTIVAL OF MEAT" really kicks in.

How have you gone with your Christmas shopping this year?

Have you been a little more careful than usual...or is it business as usual?

Disappointing response

I mentioned in my last post that I'd contacted a paint manufacturer because I'd had a bad experience with their paint

But unfortunately, I've had no response from Dulux..

Maybe they're super busy because we're heading into Christmas...maybe they haven't had time to read their feedback emails...or maybe they don't really care

All of those options are possible...I hope it's not the latter though

I was really disappointed with the can of Dulux paint I purchased... it wasn't cheap and I feel like it was a waste of time because it took the entire six litres (and then some) to get a decent coverage on the walls of the new studio. I had to buy another can of a different brand to finish the job.

It's a pity because I'd heard such good things about Dulux.

Maybe I got a dud can. Who knows. I'm still looking forward to hearing from them though.

I'm in...almost

I've spent the past few days (read: week) painting my new studio...

It was a very disappointing and frustrating experience too, because the paint I bought (a popular brand) was AWFUL!! Six litres of paint just wasn't enough.

A sealer-undercoat and three top coats later and it still wasn't right. Truly AWFUL!
Not only an expensive experience, the main thing is that it was such a waste of time. Instead of it taking me two days to finish the room, it took six! I've contacted the paint manufacturer to express my disappointment with their product. It'll be interesting to see if they respond.....

Anyway... here she is...

After I purchased some more paint and applied the final coat, I started filling the cupboards

The cupboard doors still need painting but they can wait...

Also...I got this little gem at a garage sale a couple of years ago...

MONT's been using it as a bit of a work horse

But yesterday he removed the blocks of wood on top...took to it with the metal brush and gave it a spray coat of anti rust black paint.

I'm going to use it as a temporary sewing table...until I get my long table after Christmas

A little more painting to do on the arch's and skirting boards etc..but that'll be done next weekend

What do you think?

A white Christmas in Oz?

Well, it can be

You don't always need snow and a cold season for it to be a white Christmas

White is good anywhere, anytime

Storage

The cupboards are in....

We've gone from this...

To this...

With plenty of shelving for all my "stuff"

To say I'm happy with the result is an understatement.

I'm absolutely thrilled!!!!

Now onto the painting

Plaster

It's all happening here...

Plaster was delivered this morning before 7am....and the plasterer was here a few minutes later...

...and this is the end result...

All the walls and ceiling were insulated to within an inch of their lives...

The plaster was hung and then fixed off...and all that we need to do now is wait for it all to dry and then it can be sanded and then I can PAINT!!

I think the cabinet maker's here on Friday...fingers crossed.