Tuesday, July 29, 2008

Jammin'


The first of many batches of jam this season!

I've made strawberry and strawberry banana freezer jam so far. Though it's already starting to dwindle as I use it on my oatmeal and the Fella loves pb&j for lunches. Mum and I are having a pickling day on Monday- got to discover the secret to her Dills.. and apricot and peach are not too far off. The summer sure does sneak up you doesn't it? One minute you're eying the seedlings and saying "Hurry up, grow!" and the next you're buried in weeds and wondering where the strawberry season went to. I've got a big long list of things I'd like to 'put up' this year, if I get even half of it done I'll be happy as a clam. I've got to fill up those dusty shelves in the root cellar quick as can be. I'd rather be the ant than the grasshopper!

Friday, July 25, 2008

Sensibility Hat Fair


When in Doubt - Wear a Hat!

As part of this month's Hat Fair, started by the ladies over at S&S and run by Janel over at Pearls, we're all blogging our best about hats! Yes indeedy, those wonderful accessories that have been in decline since the beehive hairdo buzzed by. It's a shame that after centuries of never being seen out of doors without a chapeau, that they disappeared so quickly. However, they pop up now and then, in summer you might see a big broad brimmed straw, or in winter a saucy beret in an eye popping colour. It's no surprise to any of my blog readers, I've a little bit of a thing for hats. Oh, all right, a lot of a thing for hats, and I've been blessed with a head that can wear a great deal of them (though not those very large affairs; they just about swallow me up!) You may remember my custom-welded wall-mounted hat rack that featured in a post ages ago. My hats have been accumulating since then, and I'm afraid I've lost count. My favourite styles are cloche hats, though they can be hard to find and very dear to the pocketbook I'm afraid.

Goodness! I need to run off and start supper, so I hope you like my favourite hat picture posted above. It was taken in Williamsburg where one can almost reach historical hat heaven. I walked away with two that day- a lovely shallow crown fine straw hat that is still aching for decoration, and a felt tricorn that is one of the most fun hats I own!

"The right hat may also enliven our imagination of the past....an old-fashioned cloche, a picture hat, or a toque trimmed with a pouf of polka-dotted veiling is just enough to make us feel as if we were living in another, romantic age."


Thursday, July 03, 2008