Sunday, 16 November 2025

Getting things done.

 We took our time yesterday and had a relaxing morning and then did umpteen little jobs in the afternoon. Really we felt we should have gone into the garden, because after the rain the day before, the sun was brilliant. 

Dh decided to make the marmalade that he's been going to do for a few weeks using the tinned prepared oranges, called Ma Made. He never used to use this till he married me! He spent hours slicing oranges and it was all delicious, but so is this!  So we have 8 jars of marmalade, 6 lbs on a shelf in our pantry.

While he was making this I did somethings I've been meaning to do too. 


I checked out the spices and herbs in a drawer.. 32 were out of date! I think we brought them us when we moved here! The kitchen smelt of spices as we emptied the little pots.. Trying to find the out of date, 'date' on the pots was unbelievable, so tiny and in different places. Some however was easy to decide as the spice was solid inside!

Then I tackled the drawer with all the kitchen rolls of paper, foil and plastic bags. Little pots of pills had spilt in there and there were some batteries. Now all tidied and the batteries in a small crate.

We both felt really good and happy that we'd actually got some little jobs done. It will be the garden next week and then it will be safe to 
start a jigsaw! Sometimes things take a lot less time than you think and the feeling of satisfaction when they are done makes you wonder, why you didn't get them done before!

Chrisxx

14 comments:

Sue in Suffolk said...

Still can't see you blog on my laptop! But can on my phone. How strange that you have a marmalade post the day after mine
Great minds!!

Cro Magnon said...

Out of date spices are not always to be thrown out. I give mine a good sniff, and if they still smell good they are used. If they are rock solid or moldy they are chucked. As with many things, the expiry date isn't always to be followed.

Joy said...

Mamade is really very good. Even my mum, who prided herself on her marmalade, used it. It's good stuff. xx

Lynn and Precious said...

Wonderful way for both of you to spend time at home and in the kitchen. The marmalade looks super tasty.

Debbie said...

I call those "5-minute jobs" and I often wonder why in the world it took me so long to get them done?!! It sure feels good to knock those pesky things off the list :)

Marie Smith said...

I need to go through our herbs and spices too. Thank you for the nudge!

KirstenM said...

Well done!

Angela said...

I too cannot read this in my desktop machine, but I can on my phone!! I need to sort out my foil/greaseproof/bags drawer as well. Saw some Very Expensive "artisanal marmalade" yesterday. I bet it was just "pimped up" MaMade...

Back2OurSmallCorner said...

That sounds like a really productive afternoon. Homemade marmalade is delicious but quite a faff. I might give Ma Made a try for a change. I will still probably make a couple of jars with Seville oranges as well.
I agree that the dates on spice jars are very hard to see but you did a great job.

Lowcarb team member said...

You both had a very good day and got lots done... always so satisfying :)
Have a good new week, they certainly come round quickly!

All the best Jan

HappyK said...

You were busy and got a lot done. :)

Granny Sue said...

I couldn't read you blog for a few months on my phone, then suddenly it worked again. Isn't technology weird...and frustrating?
I love doing those little tidy-up jobs. Feels like such an accomplishment.
Marmalade...mmmmm. I haven't had any in years.

doodles n daydreams said...

I've been out getting our front garden sorted before summer. The jonquils have all died and the leaves are still green and looking very untidy. But I got the weeding out of the way and may even get some more bulbs in before the week is out. It's good to get it done.

Sue said...

Isn't it satisfying to get little jobs like sorting through spices and drawers done. I much prefer to do things in little steps like this than go for a whole massive sort out all in one go. And you got lots of lovely marmalade too, I used to use the orange and the lemon versions of MaMade regularly.