Anyone for Rose Hip Jelly? Tea? A Rose Hip Oil Wrap, or a Rose Hip Facial ($89.00 for 50 minutes at an unspecified health spa).

I have the perfect source, but have to wait for the October frost to come along and soften the berries, - and I wonder how many others are doing the same thing.

An absolutely stupendous crop of rose hips this year, - as a matter of fact an absolutely stupendous crop of everything. Bud told me this morning he had 100 bins of pears compared to his usual 80, - the ditches along the roadways are overgrown with grasses, wild clematis, goldenrod and a myriad assortment of late summer wild flowers.

Even the Poison Ivy lies in abundance beside the roadside, its early fall colours inviting the unwary to pick a colourful bouquet of leaves.

Today we made a return trip to Ginty's Pond, that in July was so fresh and verdant, - we found
the pond covered with scum, and although the leaves of the water lilies were still vigorous and green the flowers that in July were so abundantly beautiful have faded away.













A couple of large, old logs are mired in the shallow water, and the green manes which have sprouted along their backs are gradually taking on the colours of fall.

Across the road, stretching to the easterly end of the pond, the scum forms a whitish grey cover over the still water, but the bull rushes which surround it are reaching a lovely, chocolate brown maturity.

We drive on along the road that is lined with Christmassy decorations, - dark green leaves, scarlet rose hips and garlands of wild clematis.













Here is the recipe for Rose Hip Jelly

4 quarts ripe rose hips
2 quarts water
1 package pectin crystals
5 cups sugar
1/2 cup lemon juice

Simmer rose hips in water until soft. Crush to mash, and strain through a jelly bag. This will produce about 4 cups of rose hip juice. Add lemon juice and pectin crystals to the rose hip juice Heat and stir until mixture comes to a hard boil. Stir sugar in at once. Bring to a full rolling boil and boil for 1 minute, stirring constantly. Remove jelly from heat and skim off foam with metal spoon. Pour into hot sterilized jars.

Crumpets and honey and rose hip jelly, - sounds delicious.