Free food at its best!

Continuing my ‘gatherer-gatherer’ theme – this is a shot of the sloe gin I’ve been making today, ready for Christmas.

To tell the truth – I didn’t really gather these sloes myself, Erica (otherwise known as santa2 and equally known as a fabulous, kind-hearted neighbour) did. She’s been out picking sloes, which in a bizarre twist of fate in a dreadful summer, are not just ripe but going over already.

Erica has picked enough to make two demi-johns of sloe wine for herself and Pete the pirate and a whole load more, which she’s frozen (having read that sloes are best after they’ve been frosted).

We were lucky enough to be in our old street today and she not only gave us a bag full of sloes but she also made us tea and let us fondle her new baby, Star, the rescued German Shepherd, who is now Max’s girlfriend.

So, all I had to do was wash, prick and bottle to make our sloe gin ready for the festive season. I've posted a recipe for sloe gin here on pbase before but this time I'm doing it with less sugar - my tastebuds prefer less sweetness now. I can think of nothing nicer than a tot of sloe gin, in front of a roaring fire, dogs at feet, after a walk on Crantock beach and with Christmas dinner in the oven.

Bring it on, I’m ready for it!!!!!!

(Please remind me of this moment when I’m fretting about not having finished the shopping or the cleaning or the cooking on Christmas day!)

Last year was a long, long day!