The berry patch, living a simple life in the city.

I'm back!

I have been missing, because I was having technical problems with homesteadblogger, for some reason I just couldn't see anything from them, including my own blog. However, Shawn from General Support fixed it for me.

My second year at university started at the beginning of the month and is now in full swing. I'm studying Middlewelsh at the moment since this is a Welsh year (alternates with Irish), but also the introductory course Celtic, which I missed last year, because I was taking two English courses besides Old Irish. I still have an Old Irish class for one hour each week during the whole year, so that we don't loose our touch with the language. Did you know that Old Irish is one of the three most difficult languages in the world.  I found this out recently, but I could have told you last year around this time.  I was groping around the house like a grumpy old bear, because I couldn't get a grip on the language, but eventually I succeeded. I won't be taking any English classes this year, so I'm able to fully concentrate on Celtic.

The garden is almost over, there are a few things left, like Brussels sprouts, kale, cabbages, endive and some lettuces. I've started clearing some of the patches, but it's a lot of work. Because of all the rain in August I didn't do much and it is showing.

My canning isn't finished yet, I still have applesauce, berry lemonade, cooking pears and split pea soup to do. Oh and maybe something with pumpkin, since I have over a hundred kilos of pumpkin. So far I've canned: (my jars are somewhere in between a pint and a quart) 7 jars of french beans, 7 jars of runner beans, 3 jars of runner bean relish, 6 jars brown beans, 5 jars baked beans, 4 quarts bread and butter pickles, 5 jars salsa, 14 jars tomato sauce, 17 small jars jam (blackberry, raspberry/strawberry, strawberry), and 4 jars peaches. I'm very happy with my pressure canner, the first time I used it was time consuming and nerve-wrecking , but now I just do it.

We are still enjoying our beautiful kitchen every day. The counters have been in place for almost a month now and there are still some things not finished yet, but we'll get there.

I hope you all have been well! Talk to you soon.

blessings, Ellen

Untitled Comment

{ 09:22, Saturday, October 4, 2008 } { Posted by hipchick }

Wow! Learning Old Irish and Celtic! I've always wanted to know how to speak those languages. You have inspired me. If you can do it then I can do it as well someday.