Tomato preservation, frozen vs dehydrated.

Right, 6 lb of Shirley dehydrated down to 6 Oz (on left) 

1.5 lb of Cherry toms down to 3 oz in middle, 

and for comparison 3 lb of Shirley, open frozen in a bag.

The Kilner jars are 1 l capacity.

You can see the space saved by dehydrating,  and of course the dehydrated tomatoes don't need any electricity to store unlike the frozen tomatoes.

I sterilised the kilner jars (put in oven from cold to 120c , hold for 5 mins, then leave to cool) and the seals (bring to boil from cold water, then let simmer for a few minutes, drain, allow to cool)

Let the dried tomatoes cool down.

(This is NOT like jam or chutney, where everything is bottled hot.)

Conclusion, a full 1 l Kilner jar of dehydrated sliced Shirley tomatoes  equates to 2 bags( 6 lbs) of the frozen Shirley tomatoes.

Preserving Tomatoes

Spent a pleasant hour washing and slicing some of my tomato harvest for the dehydrator.

6 lbs of large tomato (Shirley) 

And 1.5 IBS of Cherry tomatoes (Sungold and Gardeners Delight)

It's such a space save compared with open freezing whole tomatos. I only do that for making chutney and soups , later in the year. For stews/casseroles the dried ones are great (just need to remember to add more liquid, or rehydrate them before adding)

RIP Fleck

Farewell today to Fleck the Serama Hen

At least 11 years old, an individual sort of hen who never wanted cuddles or strokes, but was still charming, when she wanted.

She had slowly declined over the last month, although was still keen to come inside and get treats from me

After a very slow last few days going into her hutch mid afternoon and stopping to sit down outside, she quietly just faded away over last night.

RIP Fleck, the last of my chickens.

Apple picking and other stuff

We have a yellow warning for wind here tomorrow, so we have just picked 120 lbs assorted apples (mainly Jupiter, some Fiesta and Bramley as well) 

plus  another 7 lbs of Damsons (the last ones on the tree, they are too squishy or mostly on the ground, now)

Lots of Damsons and Plums already in the freezer, plus some Damson vodka on the go.

Also, 2 Pattypans, that I didn't intend to grow (think I mixed up the seeds!)

Kitchen witchery

Open frozen a lot of whole tomatoes yesterday, plus set 3 l of Damson infused Vodka on the go.

Then made a compote of the few left over Damsons, 2 Pears from the glut in the garden and 2 eating apples (Jupiter) again from the garden.

Cooked until soft with a tbs of sugar (to taste, I like tart stuff!)

Then frozen in ice cube containers.

I now have 42 "ice cubes" to go on yoghurt, porridge, ice cream etc

or just to add to make fruity sauces for meat.

Going to do the same with the Greengages and Blaisden Red Plums still lurking in my fridge after freezing loads of them.

Bill Bailey - Thoughtifier tour, Birmingham

Just back from Birmingham Symphony Hall, having watched Bill Bailey on his Thoughtifier tour. 

Absolutely marvellous!

We've seen Bill many times, the last time being at Hay Festival in 2022, and he just gets funnier and funnier.

And such a wonderful musician!

Plums, Pears, Damsons

Plums. Lots and lots and LOTS of Plums. And Damsons.

And Pears.

I had to resort to a "smallholders trug" (aka the front of my t shirt!) just now.

To harvest a lot of pears that have gone from "not ripe, no not ripe" yesterday (which means you can't pick them), to "falling off the tree if you even look at me"

These are Beth Pears, juicy and sweet, with a picking window of about a microsecond.

And, after 10 years of being an aloof little chicken, Fleck the tiny Serama hen has decided I'm her BFF, and has taken to coming inside to find me.

Blog party at Zoë's house

 Went for a wonderful few days over in Norfolk to attend Zoë's blog party. 

Excellent train journey to Norwich, then Zoe picked me up. 

The party was fabulous, it was lovely weather and we were able to be outside. Great to catch up with other Blog friends as well.

Many thanks to Zoe and Mel for their hospitality, I had a lovely time!

Guided tour of Arthur's Stone excavation

Brilliant afternoon over at Arthur's Stone, nr Dorstone, Herefordshire, for a tour of this summer's excavation.

Thank you Pamela Thom-Rowe , for a fabulous tour and to all the archeologists involved in the digs.

Today is the last day of the dig; tomorrow the back filling starts.

They were still finding new stuff when we left at 4 pm.

Such a wonderful, magical place.

Do go there, if you can.

This is what it looks like when it's not being excavated

RIP Chancellor

Very sadly, Chancellor the Serama cockerel seems to have been taken by something last evening. His mate, Fleck, was hiding on the wall in the ivy for several hours last night, and is still obviously traumatised today.

I suspect fox/buzzard.

Just doing what they need to do, though. 

Rip Chancellor the brave.

10 years ago ...

Gosh, 10 years since I went on the #biglunchextra   training weekend at The Eden Project.

Seems a long time ago, now, and a totally different world.

I'm on the far RHS in the above photo 7 people in, I hate heights and really didn't want to raise both hands but I did, thanks to my friends around me!

It was an amazing weekend. 

There are a series of posts I made, 

starting with this one from the Fri

Happy times!

Mole pups!

 Yesterday fun here at Compost Mansions. 

Eeek!

Ian was digging bindweed out of a raised veg bed,  out near the top of the Wood, and uncovered this!

We've covered them up while I go and seek advice 

Update

I've just been on the phone to local wildlife place, The founder is a friend of mine and runs Herefordshire Wildlife Rescue, she's said if the mother hasn't returned by tomorrow morning, she'll take them.

But hopefully the mum will come back and rescue them.

Later update

Just went out to look (carefully) and there is a new tunnel at the bottom of the nest, and the mole pups are gone !

So Mum has moved them 💕