I realised the other day when going through my 'Gooseberry Jam posts' that I have been blogging for over 13 years. My first blog started in January 2007 was private. I then started the first Balancing Kiwi blog in March 2009. I am not sure why I ended up with a second Balancing Kiwi blog now...perhaps because I thought the first was getting a bit too depressing, who knows. Sometimes I wonder if I should go back to the first and just amalgamate the two blogs then I have all my blog records in one place, but somehow never get round to it. Blogging has certainly changed over the years, and I looked back on my blog roll of blogs I visited regularly and also bloggers I had met and am sad to see most stopped blogging a long time ago. I wonder why that is? Did they all move over to places like IG or FB? It is a shame as you can't really get the full appreciation and enjoyment from those I don't think. They are just quick 'snapshots' that you look at then scroll past. Plus it is so much more difficult to write anything when using a silly little phone keyboard, which is why I still much prefer things that I can look at and use via the computer. Give me a full size keyboard on which I can actually type any day!
I used to enjoy the real community blogging seemed to be and had fun over a few years taking part in blog swaps of various kinds, from creative, challenges and even letter writing. Good times. I still do enjoy reading blogs, and the ones I follow who still post, even if I don't always comment - I am sorry to that, I do need to make more effort!
Anyway, back to the task in hand...today was the first batch of gooseberry jam making.
I picked over three kilos of gooseberries this morning and there are still ample left on the bushes to ripen for more jam making and also desserts later in July hopefully.
Lovely gooseberries free of blemishes on the whole.
Topped and tailed.
boiling away... I discovered jam making on an AGA is not as easy as it was on my gas stove... there are only two elements very hot and simmer.... and anyone who tells you you can just move the pan half way off to minimise heat is telling porkies! It is VERY easy for it to boil over as I discovered...and the simmer plate isn't really quite hot enough for that rolling boil you need to keep going for the jam, so it took a lot longer to make than usual, and also a far bit of cleaning up when it boiled over. Not to mention a few choice words. Perhaps I need more specialised saucepans/jam pans on the AGA. I used my heaviest based pan, but do have a slightly larger one so will use that for the second batch I make tomorrow morning.
With a hotch potch of jars I managed 11 jars of lovely looking jam.
This mornings raspberries.
Hollyhocks have started to flower along the driveway.
My trusty gumboots/wellington boots have taken a beating over the last few months.
and are looking a little worse for wear.
Holes everywhere!
What to do?
Armed with scissors and some gorilla tape that is supposed to stick to all sorts of surfaces
I patched them. I fear though it will not last as it has already started to peel.
In the evening I went for a lovely peaceful walk as the sun came out after a rather wet and dreary day.
What a treat it was.
Have a good weekend.
Blogging has changed, but present circumstances have brought quite a few back into the community. I hope they stay around.
ReplyDeleteThe difference in climate shows with your gooseberries! Being much further North, mine are far from ready. Our strawberries are only just showing the smallest touch of colour.
Yes I hope so too. I am enjoying blogging more, I have kept at it over the years, but sometimes I have wondered about giving up, but it has proved such a good record when I want to look something up.
DeleteYes I was amazed at how early they were even compared to Hertfordshire. Usually I make jam in late June/early July.
Time for new gumboots!
ReplyDeleteI'm intrigued how green gooseberries make red jam. Nobody seems to grow gooseberries here, but your jam sounds delicious :)
Yes indeed!
DeleteI really like the jam, it is not too sweet. I find a lot of store bought jams far too sweet for my liking.
Your blog is lovely to read. I quite envy you living next to the sea. We used to live in Holyhead in Anglesey, North Wales just about 500 yards from the sea. I do miss it. We now live in Norwich - have been here for 24 y rs, half of our married life. I have just started a blog - pastorswife69.com but haven't done a post for a few days as it has been raining and I haven't been doing much. Your garden looks lovely but I couldn't cope with one that big, have a job coping with ours which is approximately 30 ft by 50 ft. We are changing some of it and I will be putting more photos on my blog. Keep safe
ReplyDeleteThank you for visiting my blog and your lovely comments. I have popped over to your blog, not sure how to leave a comment. Your roses are lovely as are your little crochet cat and llama. I will look forward to seeing more of your garden.
DeleteYes, I'd say most of the missing bloggers are over on Insta these days. I ran out of blogging puff (menopause hit me!) and then later started an IG account which I still have but rarely post on. You are right - Insta is just not as friendly somehow. There are so many people on there and you can find everyone and everything but it's all a bit impersonal and very very 'small' and too fast. A lot of the bloggers I followed then have moved to Insta - like me, their children grew up and perhaps blogging wasn't needed as much any more.
ReplyDeleteWhen Corona hit and I spent more time at home again, I realised how much I had enjoyed the interaction with other women - learning and sharing. My blog reading list is mostly different to back then and thats great because I am different now too!
I was only thinking the other day about what happened to the blog swaps of old? I joined in a few and it was always so much fun sending off a handmade gift and receiving an exciting parcel in the mail!
Oh and give me a real computer over a phone any day!!! I really dislike the smallness of phone keyboards but I especially dislike the smallness of the screen!!
Ah yes, I know the menopause feeling only too well, and it does take quite a lot of the enthusiasm and puff out of you doesn't it?! You are right a lot of bloggers I followed are probably a similar age, I 'watched' their children grow up as well...and a lot seemed to 'disappear' at the same time. I
DeleteI think our interests do evolve and change somewhat, not sure I how different I might be now to then... as I have lived in this kind of 'pain bubble' for so long now I think I would have been a lot different without that, and am different because of it, if that makes sense.
Glad someone else feels the same way about phones! Have a great Sunday. Back to being grey again today.