Saturday Morning Chatter for Saturday, 19th September - a Great Week for Anniversaries, Crab Apples and Damsons...

Saturday Morning Chatter…..and here’s one I wrote earlier, like last night because….I just knew by early Saturday morning my hands would be full of washed crab apples, perhaps like yours, for it's a compelling autumnal chore, this annual preservation of veggies and wild fruit into delicious larder goodies, which simply must be done right now…for those of a squirrelling nature, like me.  Our freezer is already happily packed with runner beans, ratatouille, soup and vegetable ragout, and shelf-stored jars of chutney next to those filled with the harvest of 2014 product.

elderberries and damsons...

my ratatouille mix bubbling away.....

crab apples and red currants cooking last weekend for jelly

In fact, they should have been washed, prep’ed and cooked on Thursday afternoon, dripped overnight thru’ a piece of butter muslin and suspended from an upturned stool, just like your Granny or Auntie used to do?  Or perhaps they might have used a jelly bag hung by three material straps connected to a ring holding onto a stout hook from the ceiling. I used to own one but it became lost in a house move somewhere along the line.  It had enjoyed a useful life of jelly making with crab apples, japonica and an array of other berries so I’m not too upset by its mysterious disappearance.

jelly-making equipment and...

dripping the jelly thru' the butter muslin using an upturned chair

Of much greater disappointment is the ending of the garden bean season with prize-winning runner beans, still hanging about but long-past their good-eating pot status, like those he cooked for supper last night….still tough and sharp after a long spell in the microwave…!

my runner beans are not allowed to get too big!!

And cooking….did you see Matt win last night’s round of TV’s Great British Menu for the North West round against fellow-competitor Eva whose dish “Twinset and Pearls” had me wondering what those ‘lemon pearls’ were.  Apparently, they are balls of flaked agar-agar plus flavouring and colouring, squeezed into still partially frozen oil, forming tiny ball-shaped pieces as they sink to the bottom of the pan; and as we all know, agar-agar is a thickening agent from seaweed!   I’m sure we shall meet up with Eva in the future.

I’ve not yet seen this week’s Great British Bake-Off episode but I’m looking forward to watching their game pie, Tennis Cake and Charlotte Russe challenge, while my crab apple mixture still drips out.

It’s been a big week for anniversaries with the Women‘s Institute Centenary celebrations happening everywhere.  Our local group were part of the massed gathering of about 750 members of the Oxford Federation at their special Christ Church Cathedral Service on Tuesday, with Banner-bearing Ladies processing about the Quadrangle and into the cathedral to rapturous applause, which was simply amazing.

processing outside Christ Church Cathedral on Tuesday...

Battle of Britain 75^th anniversary flight of Spitfires and Hurricanes, a Tribute to the Few from Biggin Hill in commemoration of their brilliant performance in 1940 when Britain’s young pilots were up against Germany’s air power and won, putting an end to Hitler’s invasion plan.   

Also for last week, the anniversary to mark the beginning of The Blitz of 1940, when many of our towns and cities suffered Luftwaffe bombing by Heinkel bombers, with London under constant air attack for a period of 57 consecutive nights of bombing plus daylight raids too.  We had a family garden shelter which my grandparents and elder sister used, but hiding under the kitchen table when they simply weren‘t fast enough to make the shelter.

A busy week with a little gardening thrown-in for good measure, cooking plus damson and crab apple gathering, my week ending on a high note with our WI celebratory Centenary party on Thursday evening, which was brilliant.  And Reflexology, we’ve been enjoying the effects of this wonderful treatment this week with hands-on usage for gardening self-inflicted aches and pains – ah well, on with life’s show!  See you next week...

Toodle Loo…

Daisy xxx

Oxford for Vintage Shopping & A Family Birthday Party - Saturday, 29th August 2015

Vintage Shopping in Oxford and 50^th Birthday Bash at Browns on Saturday, 28^th August 2015, and we had gone by car and bus from Pear Tree Park and Ride, riding on the upper deck for the inner man who drove us there; he simply cannot resist the impetus to watch everything going on around him and smile at what he views.

First of all a Latte at the coffee vendor in Cornmarket Street, just past St. Michael at The North Gate, on the corner of Ship Street, which was so handy when I realised that’s just where I needed to be.  Ship Street that is, for that’s where shop Unicorn - find them at - 5 Ship Street, Oxford OX1 3DE or via online at vintageoxford.com - I can find no telephone number presently;  full of vintage clothes and run by Eva, which is situated towards the end of the street and just past another handy coffee and food establishment.  I stood in the doorway of Unicorn and gazed in amazement for it was absolutely packed-out with clothes with customer standing room down to a minimum, for about two people, plus its owner and maybe one other.  That’s why I remained in the doorway, looking about me, quite dazed!  Well I was out of luck for 1940’s to 1950’s style items as Eva told me they were presently stocking 1960’s – 1970 style so that was rather disappointing.  However, imagine my delight at finding this rather good looking handbag in the window, squashed against several others of lesser quality.  Eva kindly took it out for me to check it out and yes, I thought, that just might do!  Well, I decided to leave it there for now  while we went on with my search for something suitable to wear, with the oddest of thoughts making themselves felt; perhaps I could make a vintage-style something to wear???  Here's my photos of Unicorn..

Thinking thus, we made our way to Darn It and Stitch in Blue Boar Street, off St. Aldates – find them via ‘phone – 01865 242779  and via online – www.darnitandstitch.com and at – Blue Boar Street, 6 St. Aldates, Oxford OX1 1DL - which was only open-closed because they were having their frontage newly painted a nice blue colour.  One of their team members was on hand and she very kindly showed me their Vogue Catalogue of patterns for vintage style items, of send-away-for-patterns.  Now I’ve used their patterns before and they are not made for overnight sew-ups which was another disappointment to deal with yet this kind lady made another brilliant suggestion that I go to the Covered Market and look for charity shop Katharine House Hospice who just might have some suitable vintage item of clothing in store for me to buy.  Well, that sounded a good idea, so off we went again with the dear SO wondering aloud how soon it might be before we could find some interesting lunch venue!!!

We also visited Crabtree and Evelyn, another fave. shop, for photos, their Blackberry Green Tea and a cup of their Chamomile Tea with a crunchy biscuit.....

The Covered Market was bustling and busy with other seekers of that 'something special category' who always seem to congregate in this fascinating market place.  We made our way past a few gatherings, that good corner china gift store, a nice-looking coffee place where I suggested He might pause awhile and then, turning another corner, I came face to face with a bright looking Fresh Clothing Shop, which is, reputedly, one of Oxford’s best independent vintage clothing stores and – wow – I now find myself agreeing with this statement.  Fresh is owned and managed by Angela, who with her team of enthusiastic staff, provides an excellent customer experience, giving helpful advice on her wonderful array of both vintage and contemporary stock, with shoes to match, and enjoyment from start to finish.  I can’t wait to visit Angela again in Oxford but, of course, there is her online site to view and buy from, for when one is just too busy to go a’visiting!   Well, Angela found me several lovely frocks to trial and of course I definitely came away with one, although I could easily have bought two or three but…..that would have been rather naughty of me to buy so many.  I mean, a girl can only wear one frock on any occasion and, it’s always good to leave knowing a future visit is a certainty!

Here’s a few of my photos of Angela’s smashing shop which you may find at – 3&4 Avenue One, The Covered Market, Oxford OX1 3DX – on ‘phone 01865 243242 or via their email at – freshoxford@yahoo.co.uk or via – www.freshoxford.com....

Leaving Angela at Fresh we finally walked off for lunch, finding it at Morton’s of New Inn Hall Street, where he had a savoury Panini and I plumped for their polenta orange cake – Mmm. Delicious – plus two Lattes, watching the world saunter by from their open windows…find them at - 22, New Inn Hall Street, Oxford OX1 2DW …'phone 01865 721673 and online via - www.mortonsatwork.co.uk.....

Departing Morton’s we walked down to St. Michael’s Street to Arcadia for the prettiest of greeting cards, books, gifts, photo-frames etc. which they stock and display with great style.......

Find them at – 4 St. Michael’s Street, City Centre, Oxford OX1 2DU – on ‘phone 01865 241757 and via online at – www.yelp.co.uk/biz/arcadia-oxford.  I absolutely adore visiting Arcadia and once, long ago, found a pink chintz jug which I coveted and which my dear, late departed, sister gave me as a Christmas present that year.  Its presence now graces my grandmother’s Welsh Dresser alongside other precious bits and pieces…….

Well, we had now walked full-circle, finding ourselves once again by Ship Street, close by Unicorn’s jam-packed premises.  OK coffee time again for him while I fly down Ship Street to claim my super handbag.  Luckily, he’d finished his coffee in good time to rescue from me the embarrassment of no cash and no signature on my card, preventing cheque payment, which he solved by offering cash.  Phew…the handbag was mine and it was just about time to dash off to Brown’s for our family party’s birthday bash for my 50-year-young niece who arrived fashionably late but ready to party.

The party was great, we had some good eating and a lively atmosphere to enjoy and Annette enjoyed opening her many presents and…… suddenly it was time to come home.

We’d had a great day, enjoyed great shopping, great food and great photographic opportunities but after all that, it was jolly good to get home and watch TV for a while!

I shall be wearing my Fresh vintage frock this week for our WI Centenary Anniversary celebrations at Oxford and at our own Adderbury WI Centenary social evening for is very exciting for all members.  It's going to be a splendid week...

Daisy xxx