The happiest people don't have the best of everything, they just make the best of everything.
Joining in with my friend Jen at little birdie, here are some of the little moments which have made me happy this week.
1. Finding this jelly strainer in the sale for only £3. I christened it with blackberries, rosehips and windfall apples, which became my first batch of hedgerow jelly.
2. I spent a lovely morning in Ikea this week with my friend Debora and her youngest son. After a coffee we browsed the store and I bought some bits and bobs, mainly toy storage for Angus's bedroom. As we were leaving I spied a new pick and mix sweets display and nearly did a happy dance. I love pick and mix and these were Swedish sweets which I'd not seen before and made it more exciting. I bought far too many. Lots of liquorice and really, really sour ones, the best sort.
3. Picking these tomatoes from the garden, almost two kilos altogether. I've just made a batch of cherry tomato and chilli chutney with all the red ones, and tomorrow I'll make green tomato chutney with the rest. I love chutney. It does make the house smell of vinegar though.
4. Everyone should have a bright yellow napkin holder shaped like a cloud on their table. Especially when it's only £1.50.
I wish you all a very happy weekend.
I bought a napkin holder in Ikea last week but its not nearly that cute. Stamping my feet at missing that one!
ReplyDeleteLove your napkin holder, it's real pretty! You are a clever maker of chutneys, jams and jellies. I once made chutney and Andy was almost gagging from the strong smell of vinegar, I was surprised at how much it affected him, although he loved the end product xox Penny
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ReplyDeleteIt's the only one I've used so I'm no expert. It's not as sturdy as I'd have liked although, to be fair, it didn't topple over it just looked as though it might. The tripod legs are only wide enough for a measuring jug to go underneath, rather than a bowl, but that wasn't really an issue as you want to measure the volume anyway. I was very impressed with how much fruit the straining bag could hold.
ReplyDeleteOh the cloud, the cloud and yellow ... I will be popping on in my trolley on my next visit ... thanks for the lovely welcome on IG earlier ... Bee X
ReplyDeleteOoh, I've been browsing jelly strainers on eBay. There are soooo many crab apples on my tree; if I don't make some chilli jelly with them, I simply won't be able to hold my head up high in Blogland!
ReplyDeleteHigh five to you for such a fruitful tomato harvest. Love the sound of your chutneys. xx
Lovely happy things! I'm about to erect my jelly strainer to make some hedgerow jelly myself...I've never used rosehips, as I'm worried I'd pick the wrong type - but is there a right or wrong type? Chrissie x
ReplyDeleteI very much hope not!
DeleteI could really go for a bag of candy right now, especially exotic ones! :)
ReplyDeleteThis is the most beautiful tomato photo! I was tapping over it, trying to add a "like" (forgot it's not instagram =))
ReplyDeleteOh that first photo of the steaming jelly reminded me - I must get on with my own jelly making. My neighbour has a glut of rosehips and I love rosehip jelly - maybe with added chilli. Little jealous of the IKEA trip - don't get to visit often as it's a ferry and a reasonable drive away for us. Looks like a very lovely week had by you indeed.xx
ReplyDeleteThis candy reminds me that I need to make a trip to Ikea soon, and it sounds like really yummy candy, too! Your little tomatoes are so cute, and the chili chutney sounds good. I love your yellow napkin holder... such a great find. And your floral tablecloth is so pretty!
ReplyDeleteI'm so envious of your jelly strainer bargain! With any luck I'll be using my home-grown contraption tomorrow to strain elderberries. I'll be making plum chutney too with every window and door open as you're right, it makes the house stink! x
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely post. I'm very envious of your bargain jelly strainer too. Mine involves an upturned stool and lots of precarious balancing. What a great tomato harvest, well done you. Hope you enjoy the rest of the weekend.
ReplyDeleteLovely happies Gillian! That paper bag from Ikea...! Never mind the sweets! Happy weekend chutney-making! E x
ReplyDeleteOoh, such lovely happies! I do love a good wander around Ikea too - next time you're there, try the frozen cinnamon buns - they are truly delicious. Just add a little cream cheese icing and everyone will think they're homemade! (oops, I've just given away my wee secret!)
ReplyDeleteHappy weekend,
xx
Us thrifty types are in the thick of preserving at the moment aren't we. I am doing apple wine tomorrow. All looks happy to me. JO x
ReplyDeletelove that 1st photo. I've never used a jelly strainer, just muslin over a pan but it looks like fun! cute napkin holder too :) x
ReplyDeleteYour jelly looks and sounds delicious. I also like Ikea, but stay away as it's too tempting to buy stuff and I'm trying to get rid of it now. Little tomatoes are great and I usually have some growing in the veg patch in summer. Enjoy the weekend.
ReplyDeleteMmmmmmm those tomatoes!!!! They look gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteAnd I love your table cloth!
Your photos are always making me happy too!!
Tammy
Mmmmmmm those tomatoes!!!! They look gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteAnd I love your table cloth!
Your photos are always making me happy too!!
Tammy
Wow, I have chutney envy.....I must get myself organised!! I made green tomato chutney a couple of years ago and it was yummy. I love the napkin holder, definitly makes me happy! Sarah xo
ReplyDeleteLovely happies Gillian. Having seen your pick and mix the day before we went to ikea on instagram, I brought some too as I so love them. I'm really regretting it now as no one wants to eat them and I am having them all (eek !). I need a attainder like that, what a bargain , and your tomatoes are wonderful!! There's jotting like home made chutney, I love it and tomatoes chutney is delicious. In South Africa we make tomatoes jam, and it's one of my favourite jams. Enjoy your Sunday lovely Gillian xoxo
ReplyDeleteGreat happy things! I love the sound of your chutney you will be making. I like your Ikea purchases too, the little napkin holder is very sweet. I was at Ikea this week too but I didn't notice any pick 'n ' mix...although G try's to get us in and out as quick as possible so that may be why!
ReplyDeleteMarianne x
Hi Gillian, I love the way you are so can do about your jams and chutneys and such like! Hedgerow jelly sounds lovely, Heather x
ReplyDeleteI think these are some of my favourite happies this week. Bargains galore, hedgerow jelly (def stealing that idea - is there a recipie?, Ikea and pic and mix!!! My tomatoes were eaten in salads and the rest frazzled while away on jollies.
ReplyDeleteLeanne xx
I think it's just anything that grows wild! Blackberries, apples. sloes, damsons, rosehips and elder berries seem to be what's usually used as far as I can tell. x
DeleteIt's harvest time for everyone at the moment. Time for chutneys and jams. yours looks yummy. Jacqui x
ReplyDeleteWow so many tomatoes! Love the cloud napkin holder and such a bargain too. I really need to go to Ikea soon. xx
ReplyDeleteLovely happies I will have to look out for the pick and mix next time I'm in ikea :) oh you have red tomatoes! None of mine have turned red this year, I have had some yellow. Yummy chutney on its way xx
ReplyDeleteLove the colours in your pictures. I only managed a harvest of three tomatoes from my one sad little plant (that's three actual fruit, not kilos). At least we had enough for one each.
ReplyDeleteThe jelly strainer will make things so much easier, hedgerow jelly sounds delicious, something I've never made. It's been a great year for tomatoes, I've picked pounds and pounds of them, I wish I'd weighed them all now just so I had a record of how much the plants have produced this year. They're still coming too.
ReplyDeleteLovely photos,home made jam is the best.
ReplyDeleteYum, ikea pick n mix, must try some! I really miss woollies, they had a brilliant one! Mind you growing up in a sweet shop wasn't bad.......:) x
ReplyDeleteHi Gillian! Great pictures. That is A LOT of tomatoes! I have some tomato seeds that need planting, I hope they grow as much as yours do :)
ReplyDeleteHello Gillian really enjoy reading your blog and wanted to say thanks for the link to the jelly strainer.
ReplyDeleteThat first photo is so evocative - I can almost smell it! What a bargain too, good find! A great tomato haul too - tomato chutney is on my list of tasks for this week - which recipe do you use for the cherry tomato and chilli chutney?x
ReplyDeleteI used this one, mainly as it seemed easiest and I had all the ingredients in (except the cardamom seeds, I left those out).
Deletehttp://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/2949/homemade-tomato-chutney
Beautiful pictures as always! ADORE the napkin holder. Do you think it could hold 4 material napkins?
ReplyDeleteWe don't go to ikea but if we did I would have to have one of those. just looking at it makes you happy doesn't it. utilitarian perfection in action there. its like a little bit of art. Stunning
I've checked and yes it does - just!
Deleteexcellent. That is fantastic. when we next pass one I might just have to snaffle one of those up!
DeleteI DO love candies, way too much! home made jellies and jams are the best ones. I don't go often to Ikea anymore.
ReplyDeleteI had planted cherries tomatoes, but my harvest is very poor:-( Hopefully it will be better next year.
A little yellow cloud has to be the happiest happy of the week for me!
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