8...An October week with giant puffballs

October view from studio window

A first frost this week but the garden is still very green. It doesn't look like it is going to be a particulaly colourful autumn this year. I would normally spend most of the day in the studio, but there is so much produce in the garden this year that I am having to spend the afternoons bottling and stirring jams. The garden also needs clearing and mulching.

Hamish shovelling free compost

 Luckily in France, there is usually a huge pile of free compost at the local tip. This particular pile was steaming hot and smelling like a ripe fruit cake (sort of). We filled every sack we could find and the garden is slowly going to bed under a blanket of this lovely black stuff.

Sean with giant puffballs

The garden is also producing more than just fruit and veg. We have found nine of these so far this year, and they don't keep. I could fry up a meal for the whole village!

Poppy centre, pom poms and cornflowers

In the studio I have made a start on a few new things. The poppy centre will be filled with black monofilament once is has been glazed fired. But mainly I am thinking and designing.

Sloe vodka, Quince jelly, Contignac and Membrillo

In the kitchen the preserving goes on, albeit slowly as I can't get the membrillo to set. Only another two crates of quince to go. For the moment though, I just need to clear up as every surface, even the wall clock, seem to be covered in sticky jam!