Zero musings for a while, but I've made 4 Fair Isle beanies, 2 pairs of Fair Isle fingerless gloves, 5 Fair Isle coasters and 2 knitted pot holders.

I've bottled 2 liqueurs - Plum Brandy Liqueur and Strawberry Vodka Liqueur.

I've potted 2 jams - Hedgerow Jam and Red Berry Jam, 2 marmalades - Orange with Cointreau, and Orange & Pineapple with Coconut Rum, and jars of mincemeat - made with the brandy-soaked plums.

Outside, I've tidied the shrubs & climbers & perennials and I've planted miniature daffodils and wood anenomes.

I've walked the dogs twice daily and I've read 4 novels.

So I haven't exactly been inactive since I last posted a musing!

To be honest, the changeable weather & temperatures - ranging from a jacketless, sunny 12C to -1C has meant that all the above was achieved according to the outside temperature: ie garden stuff when it was sunny, dry & mild, and jam making & knitting when it was best to be indoors.

The upside of the stuck-inside-stormy days has been that all my handmade Christmas gifts have been made - just an Orange & Ginger Marmalade with Sherry & Molasses to go.

Of course, the downside to the stuck-inside-stormy days is that the terriers have been confined to zooming off excess energy in the livingroom, and up & down the stairs!

While Hebe-the-dog is partial to a nap in her super-cosy, plush donut bed with a blanket over her head, Hector-the-pup seems to think sleep is for softies, and something to give into, only when his legs finally collapse under him with utter fatigue. Otherwise, legs are only fun when they're running at full pelt!

However, he has discovered that patiently waiting under a worktop can reap certain benefits. Because sometimes crumbs fall off the counter and he has to hoover them up. Every last morsel. All that running about requires extra calories! A special treat is licking clean an empty spreadable butter carton.

Everyone needs a bit of extra fat in the winter, eh?

I'm no baker, but I've been browsing a few recipes and there's many that appeal - especially anything with citrus & spice. I'm hooked until I get to the end when the recipe states '8 portions', and 'keep in an airtight tin for up to 3 days' and 'do not freeze', then I realise I have problems. 

Because, unless I know I'm definitely going to have folk visiting in the following 3 days, then the only person left to finish the remaining 7 portions is ME!

I could easily force myself to eat 2 portions a day, I suppose, but 3 would floor me. And I hate waste!

AND, if I knew folk were coming, I'd have no time for advance baking 'cos I'd be tidying up the cottage - my craft table is full of a selection of wool colours & earmarked recipe books, and the mats & carpets are always stuck with clumps of dog hair. Those pesky full-pelt pups!

And the wood flooring has dog hair tumbleweed along all the edges. I just don't believe you can keep a home tidy AND be creative - something has to have priority. What use is a tidy house & nothing but cleanliness achieved?

But a few days of slightly untidy has to give way to a full deep clean when visitors are imminent. For sure they'd be thinking: she's letting things slide, or something like that. Then where's the time to bake? I rest my case.

As I said, I'm not an expert baker - I can't just add a lockie of this and a lockie of that, like my granny. No, I have to weigh everything and the amount of washing up is astounding.

And I'm not a sink person.

All in all, it's much less hassle to heat up some mincemeat pies or sausage rolls, straight from the freezer!

So, I'm afraid, my guests are not likely to sample 'St Clement's Treacle Tart', or 'Lemon & Ginger Cheesecake' or even 'Lemon & Raspberry Ricotta Flan'.

Still, a whisky-laced coffee and a homemade mincemeat pie should be okay - even if there are 2 terriers scooting about under their feet, or begging for crumbs? The logburner will be toasty and candles will be lit. And if you have food, warmth, friendship and dogs for entertainment - then life is good.

So bring it on Winter.  Do your worst.

Santa is coming!