Gooseberry Jam

There was a lot of ripe fruit on the gooseberry bush this week, which we duly harvested:

 

Since I've never really been a fan of these weird, hairy, grape-like berries, I decided to make jam, which has the advantage that it can be foisted on people as a hospitality gift. A couple of sweaty hours in the kitchen later, I had this:

Well. It is delicious. Tart and sweet. And see how those hairy green berries turned a nice rosy orange color? Yeah, that surprised me too.

Wednesday: Faulkner, Brahms

Cool and cloudy weather, combined with a sense of defeat in the war against the evil kirskål kept me away from the garden today. Instead I jarred up some strawberry-rhubarb jam, and had my mind blown by some Absalom, Absalom!

I also practiced the hell out of the piano. The allegro section of the Brahms Romance (Op. 118 No. 5) I've been working on is really coming along. It's been years since I've buckled down and learned an allegro piece, but it's bookended by some nice andante which makes it a good un to get back into the saddle with.