Scaping ice off the van window on a thin Cumbrian morning we headed early up the M6 North towards Carlisle and Tarn Rd nurseries. After a minor scuffle with the sat nav we arrived to find the nursery starting its day. Fires were being lit in the wood buring stoves, and a large golden longhaired hound had already bagged the warmest spot. Nursery owner John Treeby had got my order ready so we were back on the road shortly with high quality healthy looking plants.

Victoria, Glaskins Perpetual, Invicta, Ben Lomond, Ben Tirran, Glen Ample and Autumn Bliss.  - wonderful old names for the rhubarb crowns, blackcurrant and gooseberry bushes, and raspberry canes.

Whilst the rest of the country was under driving rain and flooding, we had cold and grey but dry day and got all the plants in. A small crowd gathered to mark the development of Mother's Ruin's Cumbrian arm to loud cheers.

It's definately deep into autumn if not drifting towards winter now.. Plenty of leaf kicking opportunities all over Walthamstow! It's been a full on week bottling and labelling in preparation for busier Saturdays in the market at Wood St, and the E17Designer Fair at Orford Rd on the 1st of December. One day the gin business will be wealthy enough to buy a machine to put the lids on bottles, in the meantime I'm developing lid twisting callouses.

Heading North this weekend to plant the soft fruit orchard and allow for the coming winter and spring rains to help it settle in. Here's hoping for clement weather or at least not torrential rain!

Mother's Ruin is back from her last minute hols to the Canary Islands where she sampled some of the local liqueur Ron Miel, Honey Rum, mmm very tasy. To remind me of the Spain I have used the Seville oranges that have been soaking in rum for a year to make a spicy and delicious Christmas mincemeat. It'll be on sale from Thursday at the Gin Palace, so you can stock up your Christmas larders.

A beautiful late autumn afternoon for digging, sky blue sunshine still warm. We turned the turf, and covered the whole area up with plastic last December on Boxing day - 10months later - perfect digging, beautiful rich soil! Blackcurrant, gooseberry, raspberry and rhubarb will all be going in next month to boost stocks of delicius home grown fruit.
Once back indoors, I have been making Christmas mincemeat using the Seville oranges that have been soaking in rum for a year. Think it's going to be great, but I may need to make some test pies...

 

So near so Spar, the Spar shop on Orford Rd is stocking both my damson and sloe gin, thanks to manager James for giving it a punt!
And also hurrah for the dark and inky wonder of blackcurant and vanilla vodka! It's finally ready and I have spent the evening bottling and labelling ready to stock the shop tomorrow.

It's been a busy weekend for Mother's Ruin, after making a brief appearance to caper and skip at Vestry House Apple Day as part of Sharp Morris dancing side, she's been out to Epping in search of sloes. No it's not a scene from the Argentinian Pampas, but the open vista of the Chingford Prairies where the hunt for purple gold continues in the autumn sunshine.

Raspberries from the garden and sloes from the River Lee looking ethereal as they settle slowly into their flagons for the next year. Colour and flavour slowly staining and infusing and intensifying.