Monday 18 August 2014

Harvesting and a long searched for find!

Welcome to Julie Cooper, Countryside Tales and Lisa S. via here. Hope you enjoy the read! We visited Ramsey 1940's weekend on Sunday, you can read about it on my other blog, This Norfolk Life!

At long last our tomatoes are beginning to ripen although to be honest, they are being picked just under-ripe and getting ripened on a sunny windowsill! The almost last bowl of Cucamelons, (they seem to be shutting down now), plus 4 of our red pears which I think are Williams. They never ripen on the tree and once they start to fall, it is usually best to pick them and ripen them indoors.
Less than 50' from our home, grows a wild Damson tree. It is absolutely laden this year! We popped out with a pair of ladders and bag and picked 3.5 lbs in about 15 minutes. Don't think we shall pick many more as they are not our favourite fruit. They have been stoned and stored in the freezer for later use.
I have been looking for a 1940's dressing gown pattern for ages and at the weekend, I found one. Wasn't cheap but cheaper than most I have seen on line:
It was printed in 1943 and (being American) is the equivalent of a size 12. As it wraps around, shouldn't be a problem, although I might add a few inches to the bottom if needed. There were 4 there altogether but one was a size 10 and the other, sizes 18 and 20. I'm really looking forward to making it.

14 comments:

  1. I was given a bag of damsons yesterday, I'm making damson gin!

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    1. I prefer vodka to gin, has a slightly more mellow taste.

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  2. I was told that you should never wait until pears are ripe before you pick them as they will not keep and should be ripened off the tree. I have never had chance to test this as we have had no pears on our tree in the last five years!
    Love the pattern.
    Gill

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    1. It is a small arch trained tree so never gets more than 20 pears on it. I have one that I think has been incorrectly pruned in the last 7 years as never had a pear on that one either!

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  3. I make damson jelly and we eat it with poultry

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    1. That sounds nice. I have some apple and sage jelly left in my cupboard from 2 years back. That goes lovely with poultry and pork.

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  4. Try making Damson Brandy, if you leave it long enough the flavour deepens and it becomes darker and richer than cherry brandy.

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    1. Thanks for that Pam. I love cherry brandy so might give that a go!

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  5. Looking forward to seeing your 1940s dressing gown project progress :) I'm just about to read your post about the Ramsey 1940s weekend, I'm very jealous!

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    1. There are quite a few events like it around the country, we usually try to make one a year if we can.

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  6. Ewww! Can't bear vodka no matter how it is disguised! I find gin or brandy works very well with dark fruits. our tomatoes this year have been terrific - and my Other Half remembered to start them earlier this year! Too many experiences with green tomatoes in the past! BTW, details if the Letheringsett Craft Fair on the blog if you are free this weekend (and fancy braving the Bank Holiday traffic!!)

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    1. Think I will try some Damson Brandy. Not free this weekend unfortunately!

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  7. I like the sound of Pams Idea as I'm a big cherry brandy lover x

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    1. I love it as well. As cherries are so expensive, am giving it a go, will report later in the year!

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