Bin Day

“Happiness is a by-product of absorption”. T E Lawrence

I’ve just been messing around with some ghastly plastic tubs from the recycling bin

 and a few wooden slats from a rotting garden chair. 

I have been very absorbed...

...and my carrots are delighted with their Victoriana makeover.

Who’d have thought so much happiness was lingering in the bin!

The lucky damsons, that escaped the sticky spoons of jam making, found a snug home in a charity shop teacup.

My New Best Friend

There is one thing that really, really irks me about jam making... apart from standing over a spitting cauldron in the middle of August, with cobwebs in my hair because I’ve just been searching for empty jam jars (and matching lids!!) in the outhouse... 

Yes, it’s that irritating rectangle of glue left smirking at me from the side of the jar once I’ve soaked the old label off. Am I alone?

Well, now I’m the one smiling. Meet my knight in shining armour, my solvent in a gleaming tin, who goes by the name of WD-40 and not only dissolves adhesive in a trice but also promises to ‘stop squeaks, drive out moisture, clean and protect, loosen rusted parts and free sticky mechanisms’. What a thoroughly decent gentleman!

P.S. Just in case our relationship doesn’t last, I've decided to make my labels out of gumstrip which will soak off easily next time around!