Tuesday 15 July 2014

Tootling about!

The other day, I picked all the odds and ends of fruit and managed to pick just enough to make a crumble:
I found the last of the gooseberries, 3 Autumn raspberries, about 4 blackcurrants (infested and rubbish this year) and some more blueberries.

I made up around 1/2 quantity of crumble mix, using margarine as the butter was too soft.Some oats were added for good measure:
We ate half with some custard, the other half was finished off last night.

Yesterday, we both trundled off to our local woods with 2 bags, ready to pick more pine cones. We use these as emergency fire lighters only. Would make too much of a mess in the wood burner chimney to use them routinely. However, if a log is added that refuses to go for some reason, around 6 - 8 pine cones tucked underneath it, usually does the job.

We have already got one quantity and this will probably be the last, though don't hold me to it! They had obviously fallen open then closed in the rain, as loads of pine needles are stuck inside. We will put them out in the garden on a garden tray for a few days, and as they open, will pick off the needles and pack the cones into storage.

Here was the amount collected tipped out of DB's bag:
Then my bag added on top:
It was so warm out there, they opened nicely. The needles were added to the soil around the blueberries.




8 comments:

  1. I bet they smell lovely when they burn xxx

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    1. I should imagine so but being in a wood burner, we can't smell them!x

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  2. Mmm crumble - my favourite - has to be with ice cream tho! I've heard of pine cones being used as firelighters before. What a great idea - there are hundreds falling around here at the moment. I may pick some up for the chiminea :)

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    1. Should work well, need paper or something underneath though. Store them somewhere dry and they burn re-markedly well.

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  3. What a good idea with the pine cones, something for free, thats what I like, the fruits in the crumble look lovely.

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  4. Thank you. Free is always good, especially harvesting from the wild!

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  5. I would use empty toilet rolls stuffed with paper/rags with a little drop of melted wax and wrapped with newspaper like a christmas cracker..... make them up over the year and keep them in a box ready for the winter.........maybe leave the pine cones where they are.

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    Replies
    1. True, but I am pretty sure we are about the only ones picking and there are literally thousands of them. Don't think the wood minds.

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