Sitll the frost and cold keeps us wrapped in many layers.  How cosy it was to make wonderful christmas wreaths with a group of ladies in Bisley at the weekend.Following a short demonstration the creative juices began to flow and wonderful creations were constructed whilst an icing suagr of snow cast its magic on the landscape outside. We all felt so christmassy , our spirits soared as we laughed and shared in each others inspiration. Weeach left with a beautiful decoration for our front doors but also a marvellous sense if achieveement . Well done ladies.....................you should  be very proud o your selves. I am so proud of you all.

preserving violets

A beautiful landscape outside this morning , cool, crisp and glazed with winter sunshine. Similar to my kitchen that has now been transformed into an apothecaries den, complete with spirits and frostings of sugar.
With a delivery of beautiful Cornish violets the task of crystallizing has consumed my kitchen. Blending equal parts of vodka and gum tragacanth I carefully painted the flowers  and with help from my darling friend Pam we liberally shook caster sugar over each bloom and lay them out on racks in the airing cupboard. This was rather time consuming as each bunch held twenty stems and their were 60 bunches! Some Violas were all so incarcerated in this intoxicating sugary potion. With huge success, their little faces clearly incased. Now to be used as decoration on Carolyn's delicious fudge along with the preserved violets. So delightfully pretty .