Potential Light At The End Of The Technology Tunnel + Harvesting Crab Apples

Hello Everyone:  Cy Bear here and hoping you're all well.

Head of One Smith Cat Toy (with ears wrongly placed).  That will be corrected later!

Isobel is definitely in a happier place on the technology front this week, although by no means out of those particular woods.   As far as I understand it, the meeting with the Media Specialists on the East Midlands Team of the UK Department of International Affairs  (DIT)  - MsSR and MrMB - were both very helpful.  On one front, MrMB believes he knows what's wrong with our Facebook sites (and they are repairable - WOW, that's a relief for Isobel!) and MsSR gave her lots of pointers regarding her current/future social media and website actions which give us a firm pathway to follow.  So - lots of work for Isobel:  but technology "daylight" is approaching!
The Smith Memorial Cat Project

The Head with Two of the Bodies ready for stuffing

On the Microsoft front, Isobel's jotted down telephone number - allegedly for their Support Team definitely wasn't a "go-er!", but she has now found a Business Support telephone number, complete with all valid international calling codes (I'm not surprised that Isobel gets befuddled:  even a Beaver Lamb Bear can understand her irritation!)  Anyway, that number is going to be used sometime on Monday (after she's watched a Webinar from the local East Midlands Office of the DIT on how to get one's website to work properly for your particular project.)  

One of the Dress Skirts for One of the Cat Toys

In between we've been working on the Shop - planning several changes there, and keeping up with the usual administrative jobs (playing Team Games, I believe it is called in the real world) - just so ColdhamCuddlies Shop doesn't disappear into the Etsy world!  Last week Isobel learned that there are now over 62 million shops on the Site - so you can see the necessity of doing everything one needs to for people to find us!
Then in the evenings, Isobel has been carrying on with the Smith Memorial Project - we've one or two photos to show you - included here, and Isobel is satisfied with progress to date.  We're keeping MsVS updated on how we're doing, but still have some way to go.

This is one of two skirts being made from MrSS's Two shirts provided for the project.

Today, Isobel is also making this year's Crab Apple harvest (picked by one of the Old Chapel Close visiting gardeners for Isobel) into something called Crab Apple Butter.  It's an old-fashioned recipe that she's made for many years, and is pleased she's been able to use some fruit this year.  Last year it was one of those years when Crab Apples don't appear (apparently it happens every two or three years), but Isobel was able to stretch her supply of the Butter until early Spring this year (last made in 2018).  The crop is abundant this time around, so when we've finished this, she will be returning to the second half of the procedure.

The first apparently is to top and tail the fruit, wash it and put it in a large saucepan.  Then Isobel adds Apple Cider and Ground Cinnamon and Ground Cloves (it smells like Christmas in the flat presently), plus the same amount of Water as the Cider until the Crab Apples are soft; then the mixture gets sieved.  The second part of the procedure (allowing Isobel to sit down for a bit) is allowing the mixture to cool, so one gets a more accurate measure of how much sugar has to be added.  Then I gather that the Sugar gets added and the mixture is gently cooked to thicken it, while being stirred - until there is a slight line visible in the mixture.  The stuff is then ladled into jam jars (which have been heated in the oven meanwhile!).  Then tops are put on the jars, and the Crab Apple Butter allowed to cool and set.  
I'll show you photos of the finished project next week - meanwhile, I'm saying good bye to you all for This Week.  Have a good one, Everyone.
Stay Safe All, as well.
Your Friend.
Cy Bear.
PS:  Please forgive the lighting in the photos - they're very much rushed, but just needed so I could use them for this post today.  (Also for showing MsVS what is happening on this side of the Atlantic for her special family project).  Hopefully, soon, I'll be familiar with my new smartphone, which has special recommendations for using its camera, which should also assist in future ColdhamCuddlies plans.