I have moved on a fair amount of clothing, china and books today. The local CS,s have all had a bag or two, I did cherry pick some of the best out for the children and teenagers Leukaemia and Cancer Charity.
I took a car load of Iffy things down to the local recycling centre and then brought 2 more loads back to sort. That is now done and I have filled the car ready to deliver tomorrow, then 2 loads on Friday should see the back of it.....Until the next round.
I am going to drop in at the local Police Station and ask whether there is a Refuge in the area. If so I hope that they will contact to ask if the perfumes and toiletries would be welcome. I am also going through the bedding sets, washing, drying and ironing to freshen them up. Then I will take them to the Home Start in Swansea, most of these sets are less than a year old and have probably only been used a few times
I need to barrel through this as I need my craft room back, I have lots ready to sew, Friday is looking very good to me.
I found a recipe for a tea bread loaf yesterday and have made 2 versions today and there will be another in the oven later.
So simple, 2 cups of dried mixed fruit soaked in 2 cups of strong black tea, the recipe said 10 minutes but I left it nearly an hour, then add 2 cups SR flour, mix well and put in a lined 1lb loaf tin, bake at 180c for 40 minutes.
I did that but added 2 tsp mixed spice to the flour.
As soon as it was cool I tried it, oh yes, bring it on.
The author said that she had it out and her friend had used ginger ale to soak the fruit, mmmm. I had ginger beer in the fridge so loaf mk 2 was born, I added 2 tsp ground ginger to the flour and yes, it too is yum. I now have a third batch of fruit soaking in green tea with lemon and I will add the zest of a lemon to the flour. It is so moist that I did not need butter, and I am hoping that after a couple of days it will make wonderful eggy bread.
Now I am off to get dinner started, I am making a plum crumble for pudding. The last 2 days dinners have been finished off with cheese and biscuits, that pineapple chutney goes so well with cheese.
TTFN Pam
What a great idea sending some to a refuge, I hope they can help you with that, I had a big clear out like that when I moved and havent replaced any of it, tea loaf sounds good there seems to be a tea loaf trend at the moment in blog land I may have to join in :-)
ReplyDeleteI have never hoarded perfume or cosmetics, fabric and yarn are my weakness.
DeleteOoh, now I really fancy a slice of the ginger ale version.
ReplyDeleteHappy eating!
It is so good.
DeleteHi Pam,
ReplyDeleteDon't think the police will take in the goods, they don't have much direct contact with refuges and sometimes they don't even know where the refuges are because they have to stay secure so the women and children cannot be found. Sad old world isn't it? Anyway, I'm sure the refuges would love to have some of the goodies but you will probably have to contact them via refuge.org.uk or the food bank where my mum works has a table for clothes and toiletries that you can leave stuff on for people to help themselves. You are kind to be so thoughtful. X
Thank you for the info, I will check out the website.
DeleteYou are doing very well with the clearing out! Enjoy the tea bread! xx
ReplyDeleteOh I am, it is so light. I was sceptical about a recipe with no eggs or dairy but is is delicious.
DeleteIt sounds as though you are getting very organised sorting things out. The tea bread loaf sounds delicious!
ReplyDeleteTwo more days and my house will be cleared and hopefully there will ot be too much more to come.
DeleteI wrote a comment on my mobile phone and then accidentally lost it, so I'll try again on my laptop (ignore this if you received the first comment). The various tea breads sound yummy. Does the recipe just call for flour, fruit and tea because I have a similar one that also requires milk, extra sugar and an egg. I also have a lovely one that substitues some of the flour with allbran soaked with the fruit until it goes all mushy. You are doing great with clearing out your clutter. I am doing the same but at a much slower rate, just a few bits at a time when I'm having a good mood day and feel I can cope with it. Yesterday I got rid of a few pairs of holey shoes that had been cluttering up the hallway and were past their usefulness, and also some coats and bags that were too ratty to send to the CS. I still have a surprising amount of the kids stuff here, even from my 3 daughters and the youngest moved out nearly 2 years ago. But, a lot of the clutter is mine. I hoard craft magazines, books on a host of subjects and of course fabric, wool and papercraft supplies. Keep up the good work, but take care and don't do too much and aggravate your back, Pam. Love, Helen xx
ReplyDeleteI am so happy to say that this is not my hoarding, I only have crafting materials and books. This is to help my friend who has become overwhelmed and finally seen the light. Possessions do not make you happy, they just become a millstone to carry at all times. Our council takes anything that can be recycled, even ratty stuff. There will be a small mountain out for them tomorrow.
DeleteI don't quite understand where all this came from and I have had a look back at your recent posts. If you don't hoard perfume how did you manage to have such a pile of it? Are you clearing somebody else's house maybe your friend Maggie? It feels so good to clear out clutter and help others at the same time.
ReplyDeleteIt is from a friend who has woken up to realise that her ever growing hoard was making her ill. She had backed herself into a corner and could not see how or where to start.
DeleteI have been making this tea bread recipe for over forty years now. It is best to soak the fruit overnight. When cooked and cooled, wrap it and keep for minimum of three days to mature. Serve sliced with butter.
ReplyDeleteYou are so kind Pam, your friend is lucky to have you xx
ReplyDeleteWell done with the sorting and rehoming. I left it too long and, now that I can no longer drive, it has become seriously difficult to get it from our isolated cottage to someone who can use it. Most of it is stuff I bought to use for teaching or the huge amount of glasswear, crockery, china etc my mother brought with her when she moved in - we never had many visitors when I was young, so why FOUR full twelve place etting dinner service and THIRTEEN teasets? Maybe I'm not the hoarder......
ReplyDeleteI am so happy that I could help to move this for my friend, is there nobody who would help you to move it all. I am fortunate that I grew up in a home where we had everything that we needed and a little of what we wanted. No vast cupboards full of "stuff".
DeleteI bet your friend is feeling a real sense of relief with every load you take away form her house. Well done you.
ReplyDeleteShe says that she does and indeed she looks as though it has helped, she is even standing taller now.
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