Summer

Ever so sorry for not posting through out the summer holidays! I go back to "school" on the 23rd of September so will be post lots to make up for it!

This holiday I went to Cornwall on holiday, we had excellent weather! Also it was my birthday on the 26th of August (Whilst we were away). I got spoilt! My favourite present was my vintage typewriter! I also got some lush bath bombs, money, some lip balm, a holiday (I was aloud to take a friend), and some frames. As well as that I am doing up my bedroom in a vintage/hippie/campervan inspiration. 3 of the walls are going to be cream. I have a chimney breast in my room and that is going to wallpapered and the two alcoves either side are going to be a sort of duck egg colour. I am making anoth patchwork quilt with lovely florals, so there will be a picture of that up soon. Also I am making my own curtains. I am going to have a big wall with tons of pictures on on my family, friends and some quotes too. When all this is done I will post of picture of the end result!
     

Food swap.

Today, I went to a food swap. Its a charity based organisation and its completely free. You bring homemade, home grown, or foraged things to swap with others at the event. You taste people food and if you like it you write down your name on their item sheet. Then once evrybody has decided, you go to that person and ask if they want to swap for something of yours. Most of the time they do, but sometimes they don't. Check out Homegrown Exchange which is my aunties food swap project. http://www.homegrownexchange.org/

I made some flapjack to swap!

This was the venue!

I also made some bread rolls

And some elderflower cordial (don't worry its not alcohol!)

This is what I went home with today, YUM!

Elder flower cordial.

So today, we held an ''event'' at our house for the home ed group. Previously my mum and auntie had been foraging at the stone bridge farm centre in Nottingham and they have special events on regularly. This particularly week it was elder flowering cordial making! Mum went along and after realising how easy it was, she decided to invite some people around to do it with us. Ju, my auntie, came to help and about 8 people turned up! The people that came were different ages, from about 6 to 15. I didn't know anybody but soon got to know them. Its crazy how many elderflower tress there are around when you know what your looking for! Like I said, the proccess is quite simple, have a go at home maybe! Its delicious.

Elderflower cordial

Ingredients

10 elderflower heads

500g of sugar

1 lemon zest

1 sliced lemon/orange

1 pint of boiling water

Method

    1.    Pour the boiling water and sugar in to a big container/bowl.

    2.     Add the lemon (sliced and zested) and flower heads and stir gently.

    3.    Cover with a clean tea towel or muslin and leave to ferment overnight in a cool dry place. Stir regularly.

    4.    Strain through a fine sieve or through filter paper or a muslin .

    5.    Pour into a sterilised jar and refrigerate.

    6.    Dilute to taste.

It really is that simple and is so delicious. Unless you put a preservative in, citric acid, it will only last a few weeks in the fridge but you can freeze it for as long as you like really.