Day 50 Rose Petal Jelly

Notes for new readers - as this is a diary the first entry is the last, so you get to know 'who done it' before the crime is committed! This is a pain but can't be helped. After a week of entries the scrolling will stop and if you want to venture further click on 'OLDER POSTS' and read until you get to the first entry 'The Day Before Day 1

            David Austins  'A Shropshire Lad'  climber in front garden

Busy morning on the phone and Facetime with Matthew and family. All well with everyone. Matthew has built a pergola at the back of their house. Very impressive. 
Otherwise, a very lazy day. After lunch Jasper and I walked up to Peter and Jennifers' house with the prezzie and card. We talked from a distance. Then I sat and knitted the incubator cover. I should finish it this evening.  Watched some old 'Waking the Dead'. I must stop shouting instructions to the characters on screen when they do stupid things like turning their backs on suspects.
I should have gone down to the allotment and done some watering but I was tired and after yesterday I found the thought of the allotment a bit depressing. However, the beetroot seeds are coming along nicely and I might visit a garden centre after Wednesday when they are being allowed to open again.
A quick mention about Jasper, my whippet. For the last five weeks he has been my constant companion and I don't think he can understand why. When I went out on Friday to Waitrose I couldn't take him because it was too hot to leave him in the car. Apparently he howled during my absence. I can see that when this crisis is over I am going to have a problem getting him used to being home alone on occasion.

Snippet from the News

Chinese authorities have reported what could be the beginning of a new wave of coronavirus cases in the northeast of the country,.

Jilin officials raised the risk level of the city of Shulan to high from medium, having raised it to medium from low just the day before after one woman tested positive on Thursday.

Eleven new cases in Shulan were confirmed on Saturday, all of them members of her family or people who came into contact with her or family members, Reuters reported.

Shulan has increased virus-control measures, including a lockdown of residential compounds, a ban on non-essential transportation and school closures, the Jilin government said.

The new cases pushed the overall number of new confirmed cases in mainland China on Saturday to 14, according to the National Health Commission on Sunday – the highest number since April 28.

Snippet from Facebook

Snippet from Twitter

Quote - “When you see contention amongst your enemies, go and sit at ease with your friends; but when you see them of one mind, string your bow, and place stones upon the ramparts.”

- Saadi

Random Photo

Another activity I took up in our time in France was jam making. My favourite was Rose Petal Jelly. It is easy and quite delicious. You need scented roses and we had two wild ones on the domaine a deep pink and a pale pink.

Steep 500ml of petals in 500ml of boiling water and leave overnight.

Then boil for about 15mins and strain into a bowl. Add the juice of a lemon which will turn the liquid a bright colour.

Add 500gms preserving sugar and some pectin if you have it and boil until setting point. From these quantities you should get four small jars.

TOT ZIENS! Make jam! Grow roses! Stay Alert!