Even though Stoke Abbott (the starting point for this walk) is only a few miles away, it seemed wrong to park up in the middle of someone else’s village during total lockdown. Now that restrictions have eased a bit it’s time to venture about and about just a little further from home. And, as Greta…
DetailsWe are living in strange times. Thank God the weather has been glorious for weeks. Thank God! The garden here is separate from the cottage, past the little row of cottages and up a path bisecting a neighbour’s garden. Sometimes this is a disadvantage, not being able to just pop outside the back door can…
DetailsThis is by way of a follow on from the previous post on No Knead Bread. Basically it’s the same recipe, just adapted for a sourdough starter rather than yeast. Sourdough is ideally suited to long, slow proving method. You don’t need a banneton or any other fancy equipment. If you don’t already have a…
DetailsAfter quite a few years of bread making, (and not buying a single loaf) sometimes there’s a danger of it becoming a chore. So it’s time to shake things up a little. And no knead bread might be the way to go. Basically it seems that the process is the same, except for the kneading…
DetailsThe biscuit tins were empty – time to make treats. First off, something for people: Devon Flats A little known traditional recipe. These are delicious crunchy biscuits with a creamy test. Quick and easy to make with simple ingredients. This recipe makes about 36. Ingredients: 250g/8oz plain flour 125g/4oz caster sugar 1/4 pint…
DetailsZokin are traditional Japanese dust rags which are hand stitched from leftover or re-purposed cotton cloth. They stem from a time in Japan when textiles were expensive, precious and scarce. Garments and bed coverings were patched and patched and patched again – becoming Boro textiles – antique examples of which are highly sort after today. …
DetailsIn Norway and Sweden Saffron Buns – or Lussekatter are traditionally baked to celebrate the St Lucia’s or St Lucy’s Day on 13th December. The Scandinavians have appropriated this Italian saint for a festival of lights at this darkest (especially up in Scandinavia) time of year. Processions of girls dress in white with a red…
DetailsLast weekend there was a little Fibre Fest at All Saint’s Church in Castle Cary. It was a chance to take along the sock knitting machine and some socks to sell, plus the spindle wheel to demonstrate. And it was a really sweet and lovely event. There was a real mixed bag of textile…
DetailsMake do & mend is a way of life around here. This jumper, a particular winter favourite, was a classic case. It was hand knitted several years ago and has been through a quite a few winters. It had already been repaired more than once – some darning on the elbows and the cuffs re-worked.…
DetailsTurning flax fibre into linen cloth was this summer’s project. The last post dealt with the spinning – now comes the weaving. Unlike wool, linen has no elasticity or stretch. This makes it unforgiving when it comes to warping on the loom (even without somewhat haphazard and impatient warping methods). Creating and maintaining a firm…
Details
