Chitchat thread #24

[greenishfing]

Good morning all.

It is drizzling here at the moment with heavier rain forecast for later. My washing all dried really well yesterday and smells of Summer. Why do we say "bone dry"? I never think of bones as particularly dry.

I didn't sleep well last night. I could not fall asleep and was still wide awake at gone 3am. Mr GF then woke my up moaning in what I at first presumed was pain at just gone 5am. I don't think he was in any pain but was having a nightmare. He eventually dropped back to sleep after I'd convinced him that I wouldn't let anybody "get" him. We didn't get up until nearly 10am. He's now got no recollection of waking up or of his nightmare.

I need to call round to see Mr GF's brother later, check that he's okay and take him a couple of bits of shopping.

Snoop Puss, my raspberry jam is definitely a lot cheaper than Bonne Maman or similar, but supermarkets have own brand jars at about 89p. How? At least I know exactly what is in mine. Raspberries, sugar, and lemon juice.

No crumpets here, but plenty croissants in the freezer.

[Containergardener]

For blackcurrant jam do others use jam sugar ? Recipe says not needed due to pectin in the fruit.

[greenishfing]

I've never made blackcurrant jam. The only jam that I've used jam sugar in Morello cherry. I normally just use bog standard granulated sugar.

[Snoop Puss]

There you go, GF. Good justification for carrying on making your own.

I don't think beauceron is likely, CG, but possible. Jack looks like he's going to be a slimline dog and he has no dewclaws at all. And not an Australian shepherd. Nor a kelpie, as they have pricked ears.

[Nicos]

I never use jam sugar- for any jams or jellies. If they come out more runny then I call them ‘confiture’ which isn’t meant to be set solid.

A long while ago on here , people were talking about out buying the cheapest jams - especially when offer- just to use the jam jars. Cheaper than buying a dozen or so empty jars over the internet.
Personally I prefer the LeParfait / Bon Maman jars which tolerate heat better and whose lids can be replaced when getting a bit stained / rusty etc. I buy most of those empty at Vide Greniers for next to nothing.

Snoop - does Jack look like any of his siblings? Do they have similar markings etc which might indicate the other gene pool mix?

[Snoop Puss]

Snoop - does Jack look like any of his siblings? Do they have similar markings etc which might indicate the other gene pool mix?

Of the three siblings that survived (they were found before their eyes were open), there's a brother that looks just like him in markings, a sister that is completely black and another sister who has black ticking on tan. Body shape pretty much the same, though the black sister has a more delicate snout.

[Bren In Pots]

Evening

Lots of rain here so the gardens had a good soaking

I've had a quick look for Rary's courgette manure thread not come up with anything different but will have a second look tomorrow.

Snoop its looking a challenge to find Jack's breed, maybe when he's older it'll be easier.

enjoy your weekend

[Containergardener]

Morning
I use Bon Maman jars i had loads saved from a few years ago when I ate more jam. O didn't know you could get replacement lids though, that's good to know. Ah confiture that's how my marmalade turned out.
Snoop Jack may not be one breed, may be a mixture.
Sun trying to appear after another load of rain yesterday, we've had plenty now thanks.

[Florence Fennel]

Good Morning All Bacon is on. It's warm but dull - the weather, not the bacon. Have a lovely Sunday

[Bren In Pots]

Morning

More rain here, my water butts are full and the gardens looking good but I would like a break in the weather to dry laundry.

Enjoy your day

[Snoop Puss]

Snoop Jack may not be one breed, may be a mixture.

Quite likely, I reckon.

Morning all.

Another early start, courtesy of Frankie, who woke me up to feed him breakfast. Morning walk done, training session for Jack done but not very satisfactorily, iced coffee drunk. And now I'm ready for bed again!

Catch you all later.

Have a great day, meanwhile.

[greenishfing]

Good morning all.

Not a brilliant night's sleep and consequently late up again. Well, half up, I've actually brought my coffee back to bed after doing a quick tidy up.

We had pretty much non stop rain yesterday. It just varied in intensity throughout the day. It's stopped at the moment but due to set in for the day again shortly. I'd rather have warm and wet than very hot and dry.

Snoop Puss, we can see who the boss is in your house.

Mr GF is the jam connoisseur here. I remember once, stopping for breakfast at a small place, in the middle of nowhere, in rural France. Mr GF ordered coffee and croissants. They came without any extras. He asked if they had any jam. The owner fetched a big margarine carton of some kind of homemade marmalade and plonked it on the table. After eyeing it with suspicion, he tried it and said it was one of the nicest marmalades he'd ever eaten. After I had translated and passed on his compliments, she gave him some to take away as well.

Time for more coffee now.

[Snoop Puss]

^It's definitely not Frankie, poor cat. Jack thinks it's Mr Snoop, Mr Snoop thinks it's me... I suspect it's Jack but I'm determined to change that.

[mothhawk]

Morning all.

Warm and wet out, but I'm not complaining, though I expect a lot of farmers are, just as they are gearing up to harvest wheat and barley.

I saw a utoob video of a guy making a mini pond in a galvanised bucket yesterday, and as just such a bucket has been languishing in the shed for years, I may give it a go for a bit of fun.

Have a lovely Sunday, all.

[mothhawk]

Rary, in my teens I spent a happy week on Arran on a school geography field trip, during which we made a plan of Brodick, sketched the Sleeping Warrior, visited a dairy farm, and climbed Goat Fell. It was a packed week and the weather was mostly dreich but we had a great time.