Friday, July 27, 2012

Summer stitching and a distraction

First they had to be sorted
 Market season's in full swing now, and though I don't do the amount of preserving that I did at one time, I still like to "put up" some of the produce that's special.  Recently I was able to source some sour/tart cherries from my fruit supplier, and froze about 15 pounds for later use in jams, pies, or sauces (particularly with chicken or pork). 






then washed in smaller batches
Then finally pitted individually,  frozen loose on baking sheets, and later bagged. 



I think they're beautiful :)   

Now back to stitching (after scrubbing my hands really well LOL - though I did use food prep gloves for most of the pitting work! - I still use a vintage hand-held pitter)  .....  In the past few days I've pulled out another of the Derwentwater Designs kits and I'm concentrating on stitching it with the goal to have it finished before mid-August.  Here's the photo from the kit package, and my progress to date.

 It's a little finicky, with multiple colour changes and some blended threads, but so far not too stressful.

But another trip to the market today - I'm just hoping that the apricots aren't quite ready yet, as I need to do apricot jam this year, and I'd like to get more stitching completed first :)  

Till later ......

10 comments:

  1. Very pretty Di, I love the colors in that. And the cherries look good. Yummy, cherry jam! Hope you have fun with the apricots too!

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  2. Thanks, Julie - yes, cherry jam's a favorite here :) - and thankfully the best apricots aren't in yet, so I'll have another week or so of stitching before I'll need to work with those.

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  3. Your new pattern has some lovely colours and that is a great start.

    The cherries look wonderful - they are a favourite in my house.

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  4. Your new chart looks very pretty. The cherries look good too

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  5. Oh BOY those cherries look absolutely delicious! Our Evans Cherry tree gave us a small bowl full this year after only 2 cherries last year, LOL! Next year we hope for enough to preserve :) I treated myself to a pitter from Lee Valley last year to deal with a HUGE quantity of sweet organic cherries from the Okanagan.... so much easier than doing it by hand.

    Your stitching projects are simply beautiful... I have a Hummel stitchery project that I've let languish for YEARS! I hope to pick it up again soon with winter coming. Stitching is so relaxing and soothing.

    Hugs from Sherri (DTE)

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    1. Thanks for stopping in for a visit, Sherri - I know how busy you are with your family, your homemaking and your gardening. I'll look forward to seeing progress on your Hummel stitchery this winter :)

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  6. Hi Di!

    Thank you for visiting my blog and for nice comment! :)
    Winders' Keeper is a really great project, my best regards and wishes!!! Get together with strength and make it! You will be very happy with the result!
    (sorry for my 'fanny' English;)

    Anna

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    1. Your English is just fine, Anna - and much better than my Russian! I'm looking forward to starting on the Winders' Keeper this winter - thanks for the inspiration and the good example you've set!

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  7. Mmm...cherries...Thank you for looking and commenting my blog, had to take look at yours too, lol! Longdogs samplers sounds fab, you just have to love silk!

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    1. Thanks, Niina. Yes, the Long Dogs are good to stitch - I have a couple more that I haven't started yet, but they're kitted up and ready to go :)

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