.... and relax (for a while)

A quite manic day. Started with a walk into town to get a "few" last minute things for our trip to California and Socal's wedding. It turned out there were lots of things to get but we managed to fit in a few minutes respite at Pop's before walking home.

The afternoon was spent processing apples and picking blackberries. Our tree is shedding apples at a rate now and by the time we get back they will all be gone. So this afternoon Susan peeled her way through trug loads of apples for chutney and also to freeze. I sliced onions and put all the other ingredients into the big pan and set it to simmer for hours. It was ready for putting in bottles at 8.00pm. Meanwhile Susan blanched and packed 4 bags of apples for the freeze.

I went blackerrying only to find that most had been taken already so it was at great personal cost I managed to pick a couple of pounds with the aid of a walking stick and many scratches from brambles and stings from nettles. Cooked them and am straining them overnight so that I can make some jelly tomorrow.

All that was left to do was cook the dinner - vegetarian tagine - and do loads of washing up. I think tomorrow will be even more manic.