Jam making jam/one man and his pan

So this weekend (on the non hot day) we gathered a whole load of the redcurrants that had been adorning the back fence picked them, destalked them and the added them to a giant jam pan to let the Jam make jam. If you've never made your own jam, you are missing a treat, not only does it taste much much better but its also really easy. You start with a whole lot of fruit and 1Kg of sugar, a pan big enough and a cooker (some advocate a sugar thermometer as well but if you understand the term 'rolling boil' I think you can probably do without). Heat the fruit and sugar stirring together till the sugar dissolves into the fruit and then add 200ml of water (some add more but I like my jam fruity and also this amount doesn't upset the set of the jam). When it's coming up to the boil take the lids of your jars and put them on a baking tray and into the over at about 150c for 20 mins. After 10 mins of rolling boil take a small spoonful and pour onto a cold plate. Within 2 mins or so you should get a skin/set on it a bit like jelly. If it is still liquid boil for a few more mins and then try again with a new plate. If it does make like jelly you are ready to pour into jars (being v. careful as the jars will still be v.hot). Once divided into jars leave to cool down completely before putting the lids on and voila, like the Jam you should have jam (ours is technically jelly I believe as we strained all impurities out so it was clear and gem like, cause it is for presents and hey it looks pretty, awwww).

Stuff I have been accumulating recently

I'm on a bit of a mission to save money to buy a new violin, this mostly involves some very thrify but fun dates (ice skating and ice cream anyone? or ready steady cook from the larder/freezer (this could have turned into a 3 course banquet so well stocked are my supplies). As usual the fates are taking no notice of my money saving intentions and are putting beautiful things under my nose... This beautiful (and hopefully working) oil lamp was in our local Oxfam shop (I was in there donating my old three quarter size cello) . I've been looking for an oil lamp for ages, but all the ones I came across at antiques shops were a bit twee and or small, this one however is perfect. Behind it is a scarf that my violin teacher brought back from the Fjords (he and his wife went on a cruise, I stayed home and looked after their budgie Guy, who enjoys whistling and listening to classic FM (?!?). Jam bought me this lovely purple houseplant (it was purple, reminded me of you (awwww)) when taking the photo I tried to get witchcat to look at the camera but she remains her usual blurry self. In searching various antique stores for oil lamps we came across these very cool steampunk bracelets made from old watches. How awesome are they? I want them all and the lady who makes them is local. This could be VERY dangerous. Last but not least last weekend we were invited over to a friends for dinner, as well as taking the usual nice bottle of red I decided to make some of my barmaids rum truffles. I fogot how much I enjoyed making sweets so have ordered a new entirely sweetie based recipe book. Have you spotted any bargains lately? Any new favourite items acquired?

My Jammy lies over the ocean, my Jammy lies over the sea...

So this morning at some un-godly hour Jam left for France for an entire week of being manly and chopping wood with his dad in the depths of the French countryside (Sacrebleu!). Unfortunately as it is the actual depths they do not get internet access (booo) which means I'm on reduced rations of one very expensive text per day. You would have thought being me I'd have a detailed plan of stuff to do to fill the time, but alas with the impending exam I seem to be doing a lot of staring at music theory books and trying to aviod most serious revision. All is not lost however as on Sunday I've arranged to go to one of the very special Oxford coffee concerts with a friend to see the Carducci String Quartet (plus by Sunday my exam will be over and it will be a mere 4 days till Jam gets back). What about you my lovelies? What are you up to this weekend?

Stessed out woman at desk

Hello lovely readers, one of my friends has just sent me the above image and post caption with a very sweet email to ask how I'm doing. It's a good point, this weekend comes complete with the horror of my latest music theory resit, the latest rung on the ladder to becoming a fully qualified and certified music teacher (hurrah). I've been doing all I can, practicing past papers, having some intesive tuition and doing as much cramming as I can stand, but I'm still pretty worried. This exam is the one I have to pass before I can go any further, the nice 'take it as many times as you like, it doesn't really matter its an extra to your school/work exams' are over & I need to get this one before I can go any further. Eeek! I guess this is the problem when a hobby mutates slightly into a possible career (Thoughts?). Trying to not panic, get lots of sleep and not forget to eat as well as not neglecting any of the other areas of awesomeness in my life (generally in the region of Jam, the band or wood school). I've got to say I'm finding moderation quite hard at the moment. Do any of you have any tips in the week leading up to an exam? Anything that I should/shouldn't be doing? When was the last time you were stressed at a desk?

A list for summer

Lovely Elsie over at a beautiful mess (here) has put together a list of things she will be doing this summer (here). I love lists at the best of times so what better time to write some goals and have something to aim for (whilst still allowing copious time for lounging in the sun and eating ice cream obviously :-). This summer I will:

*Finish decorating the hall – this has been going on for ages and probably should have been finished ages ago, however the project seemed to double in size when we started stripping the wall paper, it’s anaglypta and boy is it thick/still pretty stuck) that’s off now though so it’s sugar soap washing the walls & then painting in a nice neutral (all the better for hanging my many masks on...).

*Buy a new hen house for Alice & Bella plus increase the flock – Alice wasn’t very well a couple of weeks ago, and should she have gone to the great chicken coop in the sky (which thankfully she didn’t, she’s much better now yey) Bells woul have been all alone, so I’m keeping my eyes open to acquire two more vampire chickens/arucanas (and yes I do intend calling them Esme and Rosalie) and upgrading their chicken residence.

*Pass my theory exam – it’s a music theory one, but I need to pass it in order to move onto the next stage of my diploma, being held on the 18^th June if you lovely readers could keep your appendages crossed that would be awesome.

*Have friends round for dinner – since the invasion of the moths (I have been asking about and apparently lots of local houses have them because of the warmth/dampness, this makes me feel slightly better), the social side of casa Rosa seems to have adopted quarantine measures (only authorised personnel in or out) before the end of summer I plan to exterminate the little blighters and have many more local friends round for a bite.

*finish the garden – this is well underway (see this post ) and with the addition of the awesome vine that Jam bought me, plus the ton of rain we’ve been having recently things are growing right to plan. Just a few little areas to tidy (got very excited as my *new* I’ve always wanted one but but now have one, passion flower has just come into bloom).

Bohemian Wednesday here again

Bohemian Wednesday is here again! (the weeks seem to be going very quickly at the moment, not sure if it’s because my exam is looming). Anyway after a strong start last week, I decided to try and work in more work staples to this week’s look while retaining the bohemian spirit, the result of this experiment can be seen below, mostly the outfit was based around purples due to my fantastic new purple patterned tights (got to love them right? M&S but not cheap so am making major efforts not to ladder them).

I should (but hopefully don’t) look hung-over in this pic as we had our first extended writing is on the wall rehearsal last night (unfortunately Emily and her cello didn’t make it as in a dramatic moment her bridge split in two!). One and half hours of practicing and then another two hours down the pub of mainly chin stroking/trying to work out a group of songs to start arranging and practicing. I think Kevin’s homemade book cover sheet sums it up the current spirit quite well, it says the Tentative and almost Certainly to be replaced with Something Better TUNE AND SONG BOOK (how well he knows Sreeves and I :-)

The other reason for a little bit of celebration was that both bands (Stranger things happen at sea and the duo arrangement of writings on the wall) now have ep’s out & I got my first bit of fanmail this morning! Which I was pretty pleased about (I know I’m one of those people who likes feedback on everything so getting such nice comments was lovely). What about you readers? How is your week going?

X in Ox

I have been waiting patiently for the new x-men film to come out for a while. When I was little I was a HUGE fan of the cartoons (& while I will acknowledge the films aren't quite as good) they tap in to fond memories of childhood of drawing a lot of characters and hoping to develop some superpower as I grew up. I REALLY wanted to go and see the new x-men: First Class film as it features quite heavily the beautiful James McAvoy. What I wasn't aware of however was that it also features my home, my one, my true, my Oxford (UK). Thanks to the roaming Paparrazi of the Daily Mail whose images are 'borrowed' here (thanks guys) we can see exactly what went down. Here is the aforementioned lovely JM standing beneath the bearded heads of the sheldonian with perfectly haired female companions (I'm not bitter it's just my hair would never do that, especially not in the rain...). Thanks to the equally awesome bleeding cool we can also see what the sheldonian set actually looked like). Unfortunately only the first part of the film is set in Oxford (I think the large country house which later becomes the home for the gifted is also supposed to be somewhere in the Oxfordshire countryside, in the later films it's def stateside). The main Oxford scene (which is rather awesome) is set in a (sadly fictional) pub called the Eagle (did the set people get confused with the Eagle and child one wonders?) JM is trying out a genetic chat up line on his fellow Oxford Students. Here is the pub in another bleeding cool photo (it should be on the corner of New bridge street by the copy of the bridge of sighs, alas it hath been CGI'd or it would have definitely had another regular (having said that my favourite Oxford pub is just around the corner). The film itself was very enjoyable, one of the 'new' x-men/woman I found really really cool (although Rogue remains top of my affections in those stakes). Charles Xaivier and Magneto were both played superbly my JM and the awesomely named Michael Fassbender (who is rumoured to be the new bond and is quite easy on the eye). Definitely a great addition to the fantasy cannon and well worth a watch.

Bohemian Wednesday's

I feel I can type the terrible truth out here, I mean we are amongst friends... For work I am a conservative dresser. There I've said it! I think there are probably a couple of reasons for this, 1. Temperature - I work in a modernish, glass fronted box with air conditioning. You would have though this made it easier right? But no, your brain goes 'sunshine, wear a dress' then when you have got to work in said dress you remeber about the air con and spend the day freezing. 2. Practicality - even though I now don't have to survive the outside elements and the bus (many strange children trying to kill each other) my choice of clothes still has to allow for me to do my quite hands on editing job with the minimal amount of fuss (for comparison here I cite my marketing colleagues who although they work in the same building/floor as me always look polished and would be ready at any moment to hop up onto the catwalk if Kate Moss was having a bad hair day (I think maybe this is helped by the fact they don't lie awake at night worrying about their authors, but this fact has yet to be proved)). 3. Dress code - we have visiting editors to the office quite a bit. The boys have to wear a shirt and tie at all times and no one is allowed to wear jeans. I always try to look smart as being a bit more senior tends to mean you could be dragged into a meeting about anything at any moment but this tends to also mean my clothes are mostly drawn from the black/grey end of the colour spectrum.

SO because work is not that fun at the mo and because our boss is out of the office on Wednesdays I have decided to declare the day Bohemian Wednesday. My rules to myself (and anyone else who wants to join in (ohh go on)) are the following. Wear something that you wouldn't normally wear whilst still being work appropriate, extra points will be awarded for accessories and primary/bright colours. My first outfit is above (one of my other sillier resolutions was to wear more scarves and more of my own jewerly, both done in this outfit so a good start). The bohemian element of this challenge is also reflected in something else that I've been working on but all should be revealed shortly in the meantime it would be awesome if you would join me in raiding your closets and bring a bit of boho to the mid week mix!