Like my blogging friend Perpetua who lives a bit higher up Mid Wales, we took time out and went for a walk after dinner too. You just couldn't live around here and waste the glitches of November sunshine - we don't get too many days like this at the end of the year.
There's a sloe tree, dripping with sloes in the hedge along the lane. I made some sloe gin one year. You collect the sloes, wash them and then prick each one a couple of times with a sterilised darning needle. Sterilise a few clean coffee jars with lids. A few sloes in the bottom (about a quarter of a jar) Equal amount of sugar. I don't usually bother measuring, though if you want to, there are some good recipes on the internet. Top the jar up with gin and screw the lid down tightly. Keep turning the jar end to end every day for two weeks. As the juice turns to alcohol it takes on a deep rich ruby colour. Strain the juice into a sterilised bottle. Need to keep it for at least three months before using. The longer you keep it, the better it is ........
There are masses of rose hips and berries in the hedge - should keep the birds happy through the winter.
Another little bit of joy, finding mushrooms in the hedgerows near the gate. Not knowing much about identifying fungi, I looked them up. The nearest description I could find was 'Parasol' which are supposed to be a delicacy.I would never eat any mushroom I wasn't sure about, so for me it was just nice to see them growing.
There's the view across the field
Trees on the 'Moely -y'
The Long Mountain on the southern side.
Pampas Grass swishing in the wind, in our neighbour's garden
Then the trot back home, down the Mill Bank.
'How much for all that?'
'Nothing - it was all for free.'
