tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-80779113909219733902012-02-19T17:04:14.253+11:00Slow Living EssentialsChristinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18204291906401193716noreply@blogger.comBlogger3511100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8077911390921973390.post-27524888155466681692012-02-16T21:16:00.000+11:002012-02-16T21:41:25.017+11:00Fowlers whole peeled bottled tomatoesLast week while scouring my favourite fruit shop for seasonal delights, I happened to come across some boxes of saucing tomatoes. BIG boxes of saucing tomatoes. 16 kilo boxes to be precise!
Of course, as you can imagine I just had to bring one of those big boxes home. Jumping in and turning 10 kilos or so into passata, I left the remaining tomatoes in a couple of bowls on the bench with Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18204291906401193716noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8077911390921973390.post-9473833907496941592012-02-12T21:41:00.000+11:002012-02-12T22:26:42.703+11:00Weekend glimpses and 11 things
{greenhouse}
{courtyard}
{after the rain - the collection from this morning}
{'special breakfast', a regular Sunday feature, cooked by hubby}
{at last!}
{knitting is calling and how satisfying it is to pull out a ball of homespun! The wheel is calling too...soon I hope to get there..soon}
{late afternoon foraging}
{Yum!}
Wendy at Urban Homestead South Africa has 'Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18204291906401193716noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8077911390921973390.post-86774580197398684862012-02-08T13:38:00.001+11:002012-02-12T21:49:58.543+11:00Eats of the WeekAt our place we've been eating eggs! The first hen has started laying...one egg like clockwork each morning. It felt like an enormous wait with hubby even thinking we'd bought some strange hybrid variety of sterile, non-egg laying chooks! Phew, I'm so glad this wasn't the case! We will patiently wait for the others to follow her lead..
Sometimes one falls off the sourdough wagon. Or the Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18204291906401193716noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8077911390921973390.post-4765471278668304392012-02-04T08:19:00.000+11:002012-02-04T13:56:53.112+11:00Around here..I did something yesterday I've been wanting to do for ages..I pulled out our chook dome tractor and dusted the cobwebs from it to put it to use again. It' had been sitting there for months, abandoned after the fox visit of '11. Even though we had re-stocked with new birds, I just wasn't ready to go back there again. But yesterday I was!
The six circular beds that I use it on are looking a Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18204291906401193716noreply@blogger.com31tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8077911390921973390.post-23152084547456193852012-02-01T09:41:00.000+11:002012-02-09T13:07:55.530+11:00Slow Living 2012 - Month 1Welcome to Month 1 of Slow Living 2012 - a diary to help keep track of my goals and progress for the year. If you would like to do a similar post on your blog using these categories, leave a link in the comments section and I'll include your link in my sidebar. For more information on this journal and a run down of each category, click here.
NOURISH: We've been eating garden fresh nori rolls, Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18204291906401193716noreply@blogger.com38tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8077911390921973390.post-39910262323387290072012-02-01T09:19:00.001+11:002012-02-07T22:47:38.495+11:00Slow Living- Month By Month 2012The past few weeks I've been tossing around a few goals in my head that I want to work on this year. I'm not a big fan of New Year's Resolutions, having observed way too many failed attempts. No, I'm thinking something different here. What I've been mulling over is the keeping of a journal of sorts, specifically for these goals, incorporated into this blog - which is already half way there but Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18204291906401193716noreply@blogger.com27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8077911390921973390.post-79068832017120170642012-01-30T21:39:00.005+11:002012-01-30T21:55:24.127+11:00More bottled fruit - Pear & plum dessert fillingLast week I came across some red skinned pears for a price I couldn't refuse. Never having tried red-skinned pears before I bought some, mainly out of curiosity - I really wanted to see what the flesh looked like! Crazy, huh? For some bizarre reason, I thought it would be red, or at the very least, tinged pink, hah! Really crazy, wouldn't you say?!!
Anyway, they came home, sat in the fruit Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18204291906401193716noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8077911390921973390.post-50696145629148561082012-01-27T22:46:00.001+11:002012-01-28T14:32:26.517+11:00ethic. What if every town had a shop like this?"It's a fantastic new shop. Full of organic dry goods, body care and cleaning products. There is even a cafe where you can sit and have a coffee, with a kids play area. The best bit is that you take your old empty containers and fill them up!"
This is what my friend told me when I ran into her while out getting milk the other day. Just a short drive away in the next town, I had to go! And so, anChristinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18204291906401193716noreply@blogger.com37tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8077911390921973390.post-79798133314998125382012-01-26T23:36:00.000+11:002012-01-26T23:36:31.899+11:00This day..
This day:
- "Dad's home!" Kind of, sort of, well really he is, but not this one!
- 'Lucy'. Lucy used to live with my mum and dad. She used to gleefully prick her claws into my dad's feet while he slept in his chair. She has come to live with us as her home now belongs to someone else.
-BBQ-ing and bike riding
-eating bottled peaches and ice-cream
-the eldest breaking inChristinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18204291906401193716noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8077911390921973390.post-31082625761408084832012-01-24T15:01:00.001+11:002012-01-24T15:01:58.004+11:00Stovetop Tomato PassataLast week after our trip to the 'pick your own' orchard, I called in at a market stand on the side of the road on the way home and picked up a 9kg box of roma saucing tomatoes. I'd been wanting to make some passata and our homegrown tomatoes are still a way off so was pretty excited to come across these juicy offerings!
They were cored and cut in half and then the pulpy seeds were squeezed Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18204291906401193716noreply@blogger.com36tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8077911390921973390.post-15664154601085008472012-01-19T19:58:00.000+11:002012-01-19T20:23:16.454+11:00'Pick Your Own'We used to live in a fertile growing valley not all that far from where we are now. Although we used to visit the market stands along the roadside regularly, taking advantage of buying direct from the farmers, it took moving away and then a trip to collect the eldest's school uniform for us to actually call in and enjoy the fun of 'picking our own'! It was always on our list of things to do and Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18204291906401193716noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8077911390921973390.post-47309351977955894772012-01-13T17:23:00.000+11:002012-01-19T20:30:03.407+11:00Fowlers bottled peaches (plus a severe case of preserving addiction)It's true, I have a very severe case, I'm infatuated with my Fowlers Vacola. I daydream about what to put into jars next. I wander around the fruit market getting sidetracked from what I should be buying, instead veering off towards whatever fruit is on special this particular visit. Earlier in the week it was peaches. At $2.57/kilo I just couldn't walk on by! Glorious, glorious stone fruit, howChristinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18204291906401193716noreply@blogger.com30tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8077911390921973390.post-82466394223491722162012-01-11T11:26:00.000+11:002012-01-11T11:26:44.353+11:00Summering around here..
In the greenhouse - volunteer tomatoes
corn - a late planting!
apricots - moorpark
pumpkin - golden nugget
the curtain of garlic!
Notes to oneself
bottling apricots in sugar syrup
older sisters doing younger sister's hair..
I can't stop admiring this mutato potato! Are they eyes or ears on the side? Either way, I'm smitten with the 'nose' in the center!!
You Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18204291906401193716noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8077911390921973390.post-38036438562049044162012-01-05T18:12:00.001+11:002012-01-05T18:55:10.120+11:00Old fashioned orange squash
Real orange squash!
The mysterious man in a red suit gifted our household a soda stream machine this Christmas. It's a big hit with the tweens as you might well imagine and they are very much enjoying making up fizzy drinks flavoured with sickly sweet concoctions that would be enough to turn any health conscious person's stomach to queasiness.
Not generally a household that consumes fizzy Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18204291906401193716noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8077911390921973390.post-77018230958004042972012-01-01T22:16:00.001+11:002012-01-01T22:16:24.940+11:00A New Year's toast
It's here. At last! The New Year.
Never before have I felt like I've been so ready to see in a new year.
Wishing you a wondrous 2012 with many exciting adventures and happy moments along the way!
Cheers to you, good people!! Happy New Year. xx
{pizza @ front: basil pesto, homemade marinated capsicum, feta and bocconcini}.Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18204291906401193716noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8077911390921973390.post-67643101106584430422011-12-29T22:13:00.000+11:002011-12-29T22:52:38.884+11:00GarlicA couple of days before the Summer Solstice I pulled up our garlic. Most of it had flopped over and the leaves were starting to yellow. I would've liked to have left it in for another few days but as we had heavy rain forecast, I seized the moment and yanked those babies...or would they be mamas?!
They basked in the sun for the afternoon and were then placed under our verandah on an old work Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18204291906401193716noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8077911390921973390.post-33868034642040755592011-12-25T21:40:00.001+11:002011-12-25T21:52:19.288+11:00Season's Greetings
Handmade elves made by the tweens. Local pine clippings and holly from the garden (very prickly - ouch!).
Hubby's offering to the lunch table..prawn cocktails.
Salmon hors d'oeuvres put together by my brother..
The Table. Brother, uncle, cousin, nieces, daughter, sister-in-laws and Oma.
Home brewed beer also brought to the table by the same clever brother. This batch he dedicated Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18204291906401193716noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8077911390921973390.post-74030510676699949402011-12-23T21:17:00.000+11:002011-12-24T06:33:39.880+11:00Breathing the momentBreathing it in.
Breathing through it.
Breathing to get past it.
The daughter who is growing up way too fast, before our very eyes.
Choked up.
Farewells to people who have made a positive impact, both to myself and my daughters.
Teared up.
Rapidly approaching our first Christmas without my dad.
A blubbering mess.
Breathe.
Soon it will be here, soon it will be over.
Just breathe.
Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18204291906401193716noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8077911390921973390.post-2175097154109130692011-12-18T17:07:00.003+11:002011-12-18T20:36:44.770+11:00Gone Elvin'
El-vin/g: (verb) Not uncommon behaviour surfacing this time of year in which people spend a considerable amount of their time putting together parcels of homemade goodness for others.
Happy elving out there! I'm looking forward to catching up on your blogs over the coming days..
**P.S. There were a few questions/comments in my last post about the homemade pectin stock I was Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18204291906401193716noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8077911390921973390.post-86874386991042322882011-12-13T19:51:00.004+11:002011-12-28T00:00:03.486+11:00Raspberry Jam & Raspberry ClafoutisOur raspberry canes are being extremely generous at the moment..would you believe that we are picking 2-3 punnets a day? A day! Added up over a week this is a LOT of berries, for us at least! One day over the weekend I picked close to 500g..I nearly knocked over the whole bowl in surprise once it hit the scales!!
We've been eating them fresh from the garden, picking off the odd grub..I'd much Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18204291906401193716noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8077911390921973390.post-785535085871531802011-12-10T06:08:00.000+11:002011-12-13T20:02:36.962+11:00A Festive Wishing TreeThe youngest tween was home with a cough and sniffle yesterday. It's hard to know if it was hayfever, a cold, or an evil combination of both. My hayfever was out of this world yesterday, even the local honey we've been swearing by made little impact. The poor thing if she felt anything like I did.
To cheer her up a little we spent the morning checking the hens, watering the fruit trees and Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18204291906401193716noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8077911390921973390.post-34982376819773753172011-12-08T21:52:00.001+11:002011-12-08T22:44:42.313+11:00Meet the GirlsSome of you may have caught a glimpse of a hen in my last post. Such eagle-eyed individuals. You are on the ball, that's what you are!
After months of not having any chook activity here, grieving the loss of our last flock after the devastating fox invasion and missing the sounds of the friendly clucking, we have taken a leap of faith and re-stocked the pen. The time felt right, we were ready Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18204291906401193716noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8077911390921973390.post-72381674240080102892011-12-06T10:39:00.000+11:002011-12-06T10:39:11.964+11:00Butterflies, bandicooting and friands.
Butterfly stalking..
..and a little netting action..
Cherries are ripening (Sunburst)....
..under a thrifted net curtain that reminds me of a bride's veil.
It's a potato jungle out there...
...and so a little 'bandicooting' is in order....
Ban-di-coot-ing (verb): Bandicooting is the act of digging up potatoes or other root crops, leaving the top of the plants in place in Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18204291906401193716noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8077911390921973390.post-43499050498618507902011-12-03T06:15:00.001+11:002011-12-03T17:26:53.545+11:00Primary School FeteIt was time, once again for our girls' primary school biennial fete. This is the first fete post on my blog as the last fete was held before the blog was started. It is a fun affair with something on offer for the whole family. Attractions and rides are always popular as is the baking stall. There is a trash'n'treasure stall for the bargain hunters and secondhand book sale for people like myself Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18204291906401193716noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8077911390921973390.post-66943381160137651742011-11-28T21:52:00.001+11:002011-11-28T23:49:04.703+11:00Substantial raspberries?I had a conversation with a friend a few weeks ago where we were commenting on the likelihood of a reasonable raspberry harvest this year. This particular friend I remember, came to a summer party a couple of years ago bearing a huge bowl of her homegrown raspberries with another bowl of softly whipped cream alongside her harvest offering. I'll never forget the simple delight I experienced that Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18204291906401193716noreply@blogger.com28tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8077911390921973390.post-27533016487725358952011-11-22T22:10:00.001+11:002011-11-22T23:53:06.209+11:00Claiming the spaceOur house is in a state of disarray. This is not at all unusual however this week the state of it really does take the cake. A huge room re-shuffle, with more in the pipelines. My tiny little sewing room became a bedroom for the eldest who had been pining for her own space for months (years?) now. It's small but it's all hers. She loves it. This space has well and truly been claimed by her.
ButChristinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18204291906401193716noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8077911390921973390.post-72906143781205691962011-11-18T21:22:00.000+11:002011-11-18T21:22:07.002+11:00Senses plus threeTouching: soft merino 4 ply, the youngest's hair, cherry leaves to check for aphids, emerging seedlings, damp earth and leaky hoses, goat bellies for barrel hugs.
Smelling: eucalyptus soap as it cures, beeswax from a thoughtful friend, a hearty stew pie base, lavender oil.
Tasting: sweet local honey to keep hayfever at bay (hubby is a convert now too!), Jamie's steak and Guinness pie Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18204291906401193716noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8077911390921973390.post-69999626405482722272011-11-15T09:12:00.001+11:002011-11-15T10:20:47.624+11:00me-do-dats: analogue givingGood morning!
I have something exciting to share with you today. Earlier in the week I had an email from Jeannet Leendertse, the creator of a unique new gift giving concept. After having a look at her website I just knew I had to share it here! I'll let Jeannet explain as she will do a much better job at it than I:
me-do-dats: analog giving
When I stumbled on Christine's lovely Slow Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18204291906401193716noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8077911390921973390.post-85030717048763090212011-11-12T21:23:00.001+11:002011-11-12T21:44:22.076+11:00This week..
1. Homemade chocolate donuts baked and decorated by the 10yo
2. Friday veggie group kindly 'yanked' my seeding greenhouse plants. Thank goodness too, because it
cleared the space to put in some tomatoes!
3. The orange tree is in blossom and it smells D.I.V.I.N.E.
4. Ever generous calendulas still being picked and air dried
5. The latest crochet project..for someone Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18204291906401193716noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8077911390921973390.post-91381723900821626412011-11-10T06:55:00.000+11:002011-11-10T07:30:50.512+11:00Homemade Laundry LiquidYesterday I did something I've been putting off for so long now. I finally got around to making some homemade laundry liquid! After originally reading about it over at Rhonda's and then sighting the recipe again in last month's issue of The Australian Women's Weekly (which I bought for a selfish reason - I was mentioned in the frugal living article that featured Rhonda!), and then seeing it againChristinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18204291906401193716noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8077911390921973390.post-65936740140013741782011-11-06T19:12:00.000+11:002011-11-06T21:38:24.493+11:00Sunday, cloudy and warmHello! Have you had a good Sunday?
It was cloudy and warm here today..just right for being outside and not getting sunburnt to smithereens!
I've been on a bit of a sewing binge lately and thought I'd share a few pictures..
First up were a few new pattern purchases that I just couldn't resist. Talking with a friend last week about spending 'leaks'..those little outlets in one's life where Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18204291906401193716noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8077911390921973390.post-63348355284637170082011-11-04T21:40:00.000+11:002011-11-04T21:40:43.202+11:00The late afternoon garden..Late afternoon would have to be one of my favourite times to take a wander through the garden.
It's right up there with early morning and after a rain shower. The wind from the day has usually calmed down, if it's been cloudy often the sun will peep out and the bees are still humming, busy to their tune even after a full days work.
Columbines in front of calendulas and potatoes
The Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18204291906401193716noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8077911390921973390.post-18657911968615129362011-11-02T00:58:00.001+11:002011-11-02T01:05:36.550+11:00Halloween(fest)It felt like a Halloweenfest.
I guess it was!
Two nights of celebrations
First up, a creepy night at Oma's for favourite games and spooky activities. The following night it was trick or treating around town followed by an amazing party! Much fun to see all the costumes, both kids and adults, be spooked by the local gardening celebrity, stand close to a bonfire with good company and live music Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18204291906401193716noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8077911390921973390.post-64790890250678480932011-10-29T16:57:00.001+11:002011-10-29T17:19:33.137+11:00Craftings..Hello! I hope you're enjoying your Saturday. I thought I'd do a quick update of some of the craftings that have been happening here this week..
Sunshine Soap! Made with homegrown calendula petals. Every time I look at them, I think of sunshine - yes it's corny but so true.
I also noticed that our comfrey had shot into a burst of spring growth. After harvesting a good bunch from various Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18204291906401193716noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8077911390921973390.post-39504381746954103202011-10-26T22:34:00.000+11:002011-10-30T03:04:54.111+11:00Calendula Soap"Final boarding call for the Christmas Soap Train...final call."
That's what it felt like while making soap this week. Putting it off until the very last minute, I figured if I didn't get cracking, those hotly fantasised about soaps won't be ready to give as gifts in just a few short weeks time. Needing a good 6+ weeks to cure, the time for soapmaking was now. This was the moment!
Are you in? Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18204291906401193716noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8077911390921973390.post-4559546594632872402011-10-23T20:41:00.000+11:002011-10-23T20:42:02.200+11:00Sunday @ home..
{kite flying attempts}
..and success! It's up! Just.
{sage}
a brief siesta in between slug gathering shifts
{water fun}
mobile brushcutters and Spring growth = a winning combination
..although the tastiest treats always come from the oak tree
{raspberries}
Sundays at home are my favourite kind of Sundays!Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18204291906401193716noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8077911390921973390.post-85870347433091745982011-10-19T14:52:00.001+11:002011-10-26T23:50:31.876+11:00Glimpses of the week..
Lemons from Oma's backyard..
Lemon butter or a cake or two...I can't decide!
A salad which included some homegrown mung bean sprouts and some mozzarella from the cheesemaking workshop.
Along with avocado, beans, tomatoes and fresh herbs it was a complete lunch, drizzled with an olive oil/white balsamic dressing.
Fresh mozzarella calls for pizzas...and so they were made..
...theChristinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18204291906401193716noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8077911390921973390.post-25893132973452770092011-10-16T11:41:00.000+11:002011-10-18T19:42:59.718+11:00A Mozzarella Cheese Making WorkshopYesterday, 6 ladies from Friday Vegie Group and myself, were lucky enough to attend a cheesemaking session run by Gavin, of The Greening of Gavin blog. Amongst many other sustainable activities, Gavin makes his own cheeses at home and keeps a record of them at his cheesemaking blog, The Little Green Cheese.
It turns out Gavin is just a stone's throw away from us (in the scheme of the Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18204291906401193716noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8077911390921973390.post-48289436178278839072011-10-14T21:40:00.000+11:002011-10-14T23:07:19.118+11:00Hand rolled beeswax candles
Several months ago during a morning of op-shopping, I came across an interesting looking kit for candlemaking. Thinking it would be a fun present for one of the tweens, I put it aside and thought no more about it. With birthdays creeping up recently, I remembered this interesting kit and with a bug themed party for the youngest on the cards, thought a spot of candle making with actual beeswax Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18204291906401193716noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8077911390921973390.post-32496283262077108932011-10-12T15:09:00.000+11:002011-10-12T18:09:25.166+11:00Moments captured..
The seven year old is now an eight year old whilst the nine year old is just shy of being a ten year old.
Time keeps on moving on..
Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18204291906401193716noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8077911390921973390.post-87204654204833740922011-10-08T22:44:00.003+11:002011-10-08T22:44:59.475+11:00Garden wanderings..Taking a walk around the garden recently offered so much more than weed spotting and bug sightings. I find that when needed, it offers a comfort that soothes and calms, especially so when taking just such a walk after some rain. Rain brings a garden alive and it is often a thrill to see what new discovery I'll find after a rainshower or two..
Blueberries flowering
Garlic
Cabbages, Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18204291906401193716noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8077911390921973390.post-79117847229119109012011-10-06T10:30:00.000+11:002011-10-08T22:45:16.480+11:00You were my FatherA little girl walking on her Dad's feet as he held her hands.
You were my father.
Strict at times, yet always caring,
You were my father.
Meticulous in everything you did, never skimping on time or effort at the compromise of the finished project,
You were my father.
Knowledgeable, kind, generous and funny. So very funny.
You were my father. For 34 years.
You left us three days after Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18204291906401193716noreply@blogger.com35tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8077911390921973390.post-31449191715386045302011-10-02T00:13:00.000+10:002011-10-02T00:14:31.796+10:00Homemade Ricotta(From the archives: August 2010)
After making some homemade pasta with raviolamp and using ricotta for a filling, I was suddenly intrigued as to how to go about making my own ricotta at home. It is a simple exercise with no specialty equipment needed. According to my Food Lover's Companion, ricotta means "re-cooked". Traditionally it is made with whey left over from making another cooked Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18204291906401193716noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8077911390921973390.post-38516454754275617702011-09-30T17:36:00.001+10:002011-09-30T17:36:32.830+10:00Sticky cinnamon scrolls(From the archives: April 2010)
Everytime I make these scrolls (and they are quite a favourite in our house), I remember hearing someone say: "They are called sticky buns, because they stick to your buns!"
Now, I have that image in my head when I even think about making them...but it doesn't stop me. I'll do extra laps around the garden for the slightest taste of these sticky, gooey, meltingly Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18204291906401193716noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8077911390921973390.post-69191690457498511682011-09-29T23:00:00.000+10:002011-09-29T22:57:07.994+10:00A good trade...(From the archives: May 2010)
I made a good trade today. We have such an enormous amount of bark that has fallen from the gum trees on our property, we usually pile it all up and burn it over winter but today it had another use. It also happens to make great mulch for the person who (has access to and), is prepared to take the time to feed it through a large mulching machine. I bundled a trailorChristinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18204291906401193716noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8077911390921973390.post-86372479822551575272011-09-29T04:52:00.000+10:002011-09-29T05:18:08.133+10:00IntermissionIt seems to be nearly a week since my last post. It seems I can't be in two places at once. It seems, as much as I push the idea away, an intermission is in order.
My focus is on my family at the moment as we pull together and watch over my dad, who as you may know, is not a well man. Cancer is a nasty life-robbing illness.
While I love to bring you tales of antics by the 'tweens, the odd Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18204291906401193716noreply@blogger.com28tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8077911390921973390.post-52326595099029292232011-09-23T20:26:00.000+10:002011-09-23T20:31:14.798+10:00Primary School Show Day 2011As the term came to an end, it was once again time for our childrens' school annual 'show day'. For a peek at last years' show day and a rundown of the event take a look here.
This year competition was heightened with the introduction of an official 'CWA' judge! (Country Womens' Association). It would seem the pressure was on for our eager young participants and I have to say I think they rose Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18204291906401193716noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8077911390921973390.post-35274733968571780942011-09-22T22:15:00.000+10:002011-09-22T23:30:44.279+10:00Thursday-ingsHello! I hope you've had a good Thursday?
I thought I'd share a little of mine...
A few weeks ago during a productive op shop crawl, I came across a package of crocheted pentagons in all sorts of colours. This crocheted shape was quite unlike anything I'd seen before and I quickly found myself adding them to my purchases..
They sat in the bookcase for weeks as their fate was pondered over. Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18204291906401193716noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8077911390921973390.post-23852667238849191972011-09-20T20:06:00.000+10:002011-09-20T20:06:46.119+10:00Today at Oma's..
Today at Oma's, the silverbeet grows...
It won't be long until her potatoes are in flower..
..and perhaps she can harvest a few for some warming soups..
It's cold while we wait. It's also very windy and a little rainy. We're unsettled..
Inside her delicious soup simmers on the stove...
..more soul food and childhood dinnertable memories..
(chicken soup Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18204291906401193716noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8077911390921973390.post-27819662532381129402011-09-18T21:48:00.000+10:002011-09-18T21:48:49.507+10:00Sunday @ home:A touch of mind bending origami. I am very appreciative for the great selection of library books the 9yo has been borrowing from school lately..
Although, I don't exactly agree with the title: Easy Origami. My little brain was ticking over..a LOT!
(It also pays to check instructions on the previous page..ahem)
A stint of insect craft..
..by the hands of the 7yo. Birthday celebrations will Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18204291906401193716noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8077911390921973390.post-40221428500564264762011-09-14T18:24:00.001+10:002011-09-14T19:54:06.620+10:00Pricking out seedlingsDo you know what 'pricking out' is?
If I wasn't a gardener, I really don't know what I would think of this term meant if someone mentioned it to me!
To prick out is to gently remove seedlings that have been sown together closely in order to give them more room to grow. If germinated seeds are left to crowd each other, none of them will grow to their full potential and they will strangle each Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18204291906401193716noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8077911390921973390.post-78810849351959302612011-09-11T17:16:00.001+10:002011-09-11T17:46:25.552+10:00The Week's Eats..It's been a bit of a crazy ol'e week. Family commitments, hospital trips, bickering kids, rainy gusty weather, the windup of Junior Landcare for this term, a veggie group day that saw no veggie patch action due to the weather (one of only about 3 cases in ALL time!) but still plenty of morning tea and chats plus 'Oma' coming to stay.
The kids love it when my mum, 'Oma', comes to stay. They Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18204291906401193716noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8077911390921973390.post-52288601814280022412011-09-07T19:39:00.000+10:002011-09-07T22:23:54.460+10:00Courtyard revival and a touch of the ladybird..
It's not the before shot - I'm about half way through here.
I'll even look away as you click on the image
to enlarge.. *gulp*.
In the middle of our house lies a courtyard.
It is a fantastic space although over winter it is rarely used. By the time spring comes around it looks very neglected, sad and tired - every year, without fail.
Today was time for the courtyard's spring clean. I startedChristinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18204291906401193716noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8077911390921973390.post-24620817747767303202011-09-05T13:44:00.001+10:002011-09-05T13:55:14.148+10:00Crafty weekendOver the weekend, between visiting my dad in hospital, catching up with family and celebrating our own Father's Day here at home, I found snippets of time here and there to indulge in some craftiness, which I feel is sometimes like feeding the soul, as corny as that may sound...
kerchiefs - finished size 52cm x 52cm
I finally set aside an hour or so to sew up some kerchiefs which Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18204291906401193716noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8077911390921973390.post-21140123717434226852011-09-02T16:15:00.000+10:002011-09-02T18:27:08.483+10:00Sharing*Boil the kettle, it's a long one*
Blogs are a funny thing. We get to choose how much or how little of our lives we want to share. Often, the nature of the blogger is to opt to share just the best and leave the rest. Is this right? Should we share more? What about the bloggers out there that share everything? Is it too much?
I am finding it a little hard to know just how much is enough lately.Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18204291906401193716noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8077911390921973390.post-71664876782730041112011-08-31T17:23:00.001+10:002011-08-31T17:23:28.883+10:00Mid-week greetings..A big Wednesday hello to you!
It's up, baby, it's up! The new/old/refurbished gate, that is...
After much digging with my dad's auger, the holes were ready and the posts could go in. They weren't concreted in, instead I chose to ram the earth clay back in around them with his crowbar. A little 'fudging' had to take place when it came time for the hinges but we now have a fully functioning Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18204291906401193716noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8077911390921973390.post-72620608438764102652011-08-27T15:36:00.000+10:002011-08-27T20:44:26.662+10:00Saturday SmilesI'm feeling in the mood for some Saturday Smiles. As always there is plenty to get done here but sometimes it's nice to just focus on the good stuff...the stuff that makes us do our jobs a little quicker so we can get back to those things that make us smile!
My second gate that I can add to my name - this one is out of scrounged pickets and lattice off-cuts.
I think I'm getting the hang of Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18204291906401193716noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8077911390921973390.post-88520724640100148142011-08-23T21:42:00.000+10:002011-08-23T21:42:04.392+10:00UnderstandingDo you ever get the feeling that while you're plugging away for a better life, you are considered a puzzlement to the rest of your community?
Your life revolves around making the lives of those around you better, yet still you feel sadly misunderstood by the majority of people who's paths you happen to cross each day.
Why is that?
Your eyes are always peeled to see what exciting, new, life Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18204291906401193716noreply@blogger.com34tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8077911390921973390.post-32843424821558002862011-08-20T19:03:00.001+10:002011-08-20T19:05:55.948+10:00This day...
...we had no need to rush..
Hubby cleaned the fireplace flu - this was desperately needed!
Windows were flung open and fresh air drifted throughout the house..
{breakfast}
Brownies were baked for 'The Cafe' - an afternoon where neighbourhood kids sold homebaked goods in a school friend's front yard.. The Cafe made $40 (for charity).
My turn for Friday Veggie Group Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18204291906401193716noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8077911390921973390.post-58697124366439842002011-08-18T13:17:00.007+10:002011-08-18T13:26:23.008+10:00SproutsThe tip-scrounged book I picked up recently on sprouting has proven to be a most valuable addition to the bookcase. Written in my opinion before it's time (1986), it details the use of living foods (sprouts and wheatgrass) in our diets, their benefits and how to go about growing them at home.
The health benefits of consuming 'live food', that is, food that has the ability to give life (what Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18204291906401193716noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8077911390921973390.post-75174997898864951382011-08-15T19:31:00.004+10:002011-08-15T19:39:42.706+10:00In my kitchen, August '11...In my kitchen are some fresh eggs! Now before we go getting all excited, these eggs are not from new chooks..no, we are looking after a neighbours girls for a week and are LOVING collecting the eggs. I am yearning to get some girls of our own again, (soon!)...
In my kitchen sits a bag of mung beans and a book on sprouting. The beans I went hunting for after having a scrumptious salad out and Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18204291906401193716noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8077911390921973390.post-8987180177122703942011-08-11T17:06:00.004+10:002011-08-11T21:20:05.882+10:00This week..Spring is imminent..
Cherry plum blossom on the round-a-bout. This tree makes good jam!
After seeing some delicious looking brownies over at Tania's blog (Ivy Nest) I simply had to try the recipe. Follow the links - she's right, you really must try it, they're divine! Thanks for sharing, Tania!
Squidgy and gooey while crispy on the outside. My favourite kind of brownie.
Remembering to Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18204291906401193716noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8077911390921973390.post-27030587799239497902011-08-09T19:58:00.004+10:002011-08-09T20:27:57.406+10:00Spring planning and a little inspirationI took a drive over to St Erth in Blackwood (supplier of Diggers Seeds), last week while the weather was fine and the sun was shining. With the vegie garden lying fallow this winter, I needed a right good kick up the behind in regards to spring inspiration.
It's always a joy to make the pleasant drive. I had planned on buying just what I needed and getting back on my way however the lovely womanChristinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18204291906401193716noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8077911390921973390.post-36853230995320560222011-08-07T17:55:00.002+10:002011-08-07T18:20:45.862+10:00Small amusementsThe 11yo's plant stall is in desperate need of another Love Injection. Over winter sales have been slow, along with growth. The homemade bunting however, is an endless source of amusement either as we are coming or going.
The wind being strong here lately, flaps the flags into all sorts of crazy combinations, making it a much anticipated event to find out 'what' that stall is selling today..
Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18204291906401193716noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8077911390921973390.post-66267649096500894512011-08-04T09:57:00.001+10:002011-08-04T09:57:35.153+10:00Nana cushions and a handspun hugMaybe they should be called 'Granny Cushions', considering they're made up of granny squares?
No, I like Nana Cushions. My nana used to crochet A LOT and I'm sure I remember seeing a few of these type of squishy lounge offerings strategically placed in her tiny flat. These cushions remind me of her, so Nana (or Nanna if this is your way of spelling) cushions they are!
If we get tiredChristinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18204291906401193716noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8077911390921973390.post-30776903424408926682011-08-03T09:19:00.001+10:002011-08-03T09:39:37.007+10:00Winter Wednesdays #10I'm joining in with Hazel today with her salute to all things good in Winter. Hope on over to her blog for more Winter Wednesdays or to join in with your own contribution.
One of the things I'm loving about winter is staying inside and pottering in the kitchen while outside it's howling with wind and rain.
Lemons are so gorgeously fresh and in season right now, who can resist a jar or two Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18204291906401193716noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8077911390921973390.post-88802419171193590002011-07-31T16:50:00.000+10:002011-07-31T16:50:39.376+10:00Weekend-ness...
Tip scrounging - back at it again. I'm thinking strawberry containment..
Crochet wrap, pattern here, raveled here
Party breads
The garlic is plodding along nicely...
...between it and the parsley, the garden in pretty much covered. With the odd rhubarb stalk shooting out making it's presence known..
Washed skeins from the op-shopped jumper, 550g total. The Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18204291906401193716noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8077911390921973390.post-3776621515184341202011-07-27T10:51:00.000+10:002011-07-27T10:51:53.190+10:00Homemade Sour CreamSour Cream. I had thought about making it from time to time but kept putting it off because it's not something our household goes through a lot of..although lately I've been finding myself buying the little plastic tubs more often than usual. Surely there was a better way?
To make sour cream at home is quite similar to making yoghurt, the only difference being that cream is used instead of Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18204291906401193716noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8077911390921973390.post-91749464998229873752011-07-24T14:52:00.001+10:002011-07-24T16:10:24.749+10:00Potato Bread
Have you ever eaten potato bread? Bread made with potato included in the dough somehow..? I have taken delight in making a potato and rosmeary bread in the past which includes a high percentage of mashed potatoes in the dough. This day however, I didn't want to play with big quantities of mashed potatoes, just a small amount that was leftover from dinner the night before...along with the half Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18204291906401193716noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8077911390921973390.post-21095440343578071342011-07-21T12:39:00.001+10:002011-07-21T12:39:14.811+10:00At our place......on this cold wintery day, sits an op-shopped jumper. After careful inspection I discovered it was a handknit worked in thick yarn in what I suspect is a wool/soybean mix (Prism).
Of course the jumper had to make it's way home with us (along with the waffle maker and the coffee plunger), to be unravelled and niddy-noddied/skeined before washing. This is one sleeve. I'm not really sure on Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18204291906401193716noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8077911390921973390.post-18428953805914301402011-07-19T18:41:00.002+10:002011-07-20T09:41:42.454+10:00Waffles*The fast and easy kind. Plus a little of the rambling kind, too.*
Over the holidays, during a long awaited op-shop crawl with 'tweens in tow, I happened to come across a little treasure hidden deep within the cluttered kitchen goods section at my favourite 'oppy'. Beyond the tupperware and aluminium pots, just behind a coffee plunger (which I confess happened to make it's way home with us), Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18204291906401193716noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8077911390921973390.post-85871695453697188072011-07-17T10:55:00.004+10:002011-07-17T22:25:15.558+10:00A holiday excursion..Before the holidays, the 11yo came home from school with a free pass to the Central Deborah Gold Mine in Bendigo in recognition of her efforts in the 'Gold' topic they had been studying! She was excited to go and with sports activities and school starting back up again next week, this was going to be our last chance for a while. Here are a few pics of our excursion...
Did you Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18204291906401193716noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8077911390921973390.post-16153039684429457072011-07-15T17:48:00.004+10:002011-07-17T22:24:43.816+10:00Chia - an experimental loafChia. Just what is all the fuss about? Superfood? Ancient Grain? You may have heard these words tossed around in the same sentence as Chia. Is this seed a passing phase or is it here to stay?
I couldn't resist my curiosity this week when I found myself in a baking shop and came across these seeds. I came home with a precious little package containing 250g chia seeds for which I paid $5.00. NotChristinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18204291906401193716noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8077911390921973390.post-73583233488813802442011-07-14T16:11:00.000+10:002011-07-14T19:51:36.411+10:00Primping and Preening..
The fascinating display that was put on for us while eating lunch. I think they could've gone on like this all day!Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18204291906401193716noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8077911390921973390.post-6559525575775920832011-07-12T17:14:00.006+10:002011-07-12T17:52:04.250+10:00Date and Nut Sourdough Loaves
After baking a couple of naturally leavened fruit loaves recently, I had been tossing around ideas for different fruit combinations which proved to be quite a task for a person who rejects sultanas, raisins and currants in all their cooked forms!
Dates had been calling to me though and while I think pecans would go wonderfully in this bread, walnuts were used instead as that is what we had atChristinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18204291906401193716noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8077911390921973390.post-59926720025624556432011-07-11T15:32:00.005+10:002011-07-11T17:06:47.206+10:00Adventures of the sneakiest kind...Scheming and plotting, a dash of adrenaline and a stealth manoeuvre or two...this is what I was anticipating after being introduced to Sow.Give.Grow by a good vegie group friend last week.
I was not disappointed and neither were the tweens.
In case this is as new to you as it was to me; Sow. Give. Grow. is a project devoted to sharing the wonders of growing your own food. The aim is to Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18204291906401193716noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8077911390921973390.post-30553088669090923882011-07-09T15:27:00.001+10:002011-07-09T15:28:13.616+10:00Inside and OutsideInside it is cosy and snug. The fire beckons.
Inside, there is a new table runner on our kitchen table - a lovely gift from Oma who recently took up patchwork and has been stitching away madly since!
Quote: A cup of tea a laugh or two, special times shared with you
Isn't she a star? We love it on our table top Oma, ThankYOU!!
Inside, I have been using our homemade citrus cleaner. The kitchenChristinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18204291906401193716noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8077911390921973390.post-16342962993938166302011-07-08T08:51:00.001+10:002011-07-09T15:28:50.627+10:00On my mind...On my mind today is the large pile of wood in our front yard. After being out yesterday over lunchtime, this is what caught our sight upon returning home. A couple of large gum trees had been taken down by our local tree-lopper as they were leaning precariously over the house - directly over where we sit and the kids play!.
As these trees were within the 10 metre allowance for house bushfire Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18204291906401193716noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8077911390921973390.post-61127945161650382292011-07-06T17:40:00.004+10:002011-07-06T19:43:59.678+10:00Lavender and Sage Infused SoapTalking about herbal hair rinses last week got me to thinking about how much soap we have on hand at the moment. To tell you the truth, we are still using up the small array of homemade soaps from last year, botched attempts or otherwise. We haven't bought soap in this time at all, which I find amazing considering it is such a popular commodity in our home!
Homemade soaps are not hard at all toChristinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18204291906401193716noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8077911390921973390.post-60068349833793107572011-07-03T11:07:00.003+10:002011-07-03T11:52:33.665+10:00Winter weekends...
Can sometimes look a little like this...
Furry pom-pom creatures, made by the 7yo. The penguin (right) and mouse (front) would have to be my favourites. Although the yellow lion is pretty darn cute...
Our sourdough starter is
truly alive and
frothing! It is like having another pet in the house...albeit a very quiet, low maintenance pet!! At feeding time, our small pet here recieves Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18204291906401193716noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8077911390921973390.post-53037273359954564002011-07-01T15:57:00.002+10:002011-07-01T16:18:48.748+10:00Mixed Grain SourdoughOur sourdough starter has really grown in the last week or so. By that, I mean that it has begun to show signs of vigour...bubbling virtually immediately upon the addition of flour and water and frothing to an admirable foam overnight. It also produces a 'cidery smell' the riper it gets, the strength of the aroma increasing with age.
The odd time I've had a few days rest from feeding it, the Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18204291906401193716noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8077911390921973390.post-41581454097316872632011-06-30T15:18:00.003+10:002011-06-30T18:13:25.197+10:00Holly Hobbie and some very warm handsRemember the Holly Hobbie/Laura Ingalls inspired hat from a while ago? Well! We were finally able to put it to use today when the 11yo went off for her "Goldfields Day" at school.
She was a trifle shy about the whole hat wearing thing and stuffed it into her bag as we were heading out the door. I like it! I think it is very Holly Hobbie-esque and I make absolutely no apologies for sewing it, Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18204291906401193716noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8077911390921973390.post-58152072150837036202011-06-28T12:53:00.004+10:002011-06-30T14:20:14.779+10:00Rosemary hair rinseHello!
Today I have something exciting and easy for you to make at home.
First of all, do you shampoo? And then condition?
Maybe not?
Great!!
I'll let you in on a little secret...........
.............................................................
I haven't shampood my hair for over a year.
Now I know that suddenly you are getting visions of a greasy haired lout but this is not the Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18204291906401193716noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8077911390921973390.post-83369812294912729972011-06-26T21:38:00.002+10:002011-06-26T23:18:50.540+10:00June garden round-upDo you ever think there is absolutely nothing happening in your vegie patch, only to take a walk outside and find that in amongst the neglect things are still ticking over at their own pace?
Isn't it wonderful?
Plants really are so resiliant (usually!) and many tolerate oodles of neglect, at least in our garden, anyway...
The lemon tree I transplanted from a pot to the ground last year has aChristinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18204291906401193716noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8077911390921973390.post-20145356575411489482011-06-24T17:12:00.001+10:002011-06-24T18:24:52.419+10:00Reflections and focacciaReflections.
Thanks again for your comments this week on the loss of our chooks. Your kind words meant so much to me, I really appreciate each and every one of them :)
I think we may have a spell from keeping hens, at least for the winter and perhaps look at starting another flock again in spring. I'm just not feeling up to jumping back in straight away and the foxes are not going to go away nowChristinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18204291906401193716noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8077911390921973390.post-85639364956908948812011-06-22T23:00:00.000+10:002011-06-22T23:00:02.787+10:00All that remains.....are a few feathers. From eight birds.
The gate was locked
although the fence had a weak spot
I don't know how many there were or if it was the work of a lone fox. I am devastated to have lost every single one of my chooks. The chook pen was silent when I went out to feed them and there were feathers scattered everywhere. The only consolation was that the attack had obviously been Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18204291906401193716noreply@blogger.com43tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8077911390921973390.post-1304681275577807172011-06-21T19:59:00.004+10:002011-06-21T20:28:47.308+10:00Woolly updatesIt feels like I've totally jumped into the deep end in regards to fibre for spinning. There is a drum carder on loan in our home at the moment from spinning group and I've been excited to see if I can create my very own batts. My main aim is to blend some of the alpaca fiber with a portion of wool as this apparently helps to keep the 'memory' in the alpaca (which is notorious for dropping, Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18204291906401193716noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8077911390921973390.post-70222606081730252302011-06-19T17:44:00.004+10:002011-06-19T21:15:18.370+10:00At our place...
..it's cold! Wintery weather makes for gloomy pictures but I thought I'd share what's happening around the place lately...
There must be slim bug pickings at the moment because our ducks are staaaarrvvviingg!! They follow me about the place constantly voicing their disapproval. I'm feeding them twice daily, but you know, this stiiiilll isn't enough for them!
There are odd little piles of Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18204291906401193716noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8077911390921973390.post-78201149443477897762011-06-15T20:25:00.004+10:002011-06-15T23:23:32.562+10:00Fruit LoavesEager to put my new starter to use even if a little on the sluggish side, I decided to bake a couple of fruit loaves. A cinnamon and raisin bread similar to the one in the Handmade Loaf for the 11yo who can go through a whole loaf on her own in a few days! For me, non-consumer of raisins, sultanas and anything that resembles such fruit, an apple and cinnamon loaf made in the same style although Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18204291906401193716noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8077911390921973390.post-17922987340952135202011-06-12T18:01:00.004+10:002011-06-12T19:30:50.782+10:00'Real' bread, revisited - a sourdough tale.There has been a bit of bread action in our house over the last week or so. The reason? A young sourdough starter, eager to make it's way in our kitchen.
I have to start this tale by saying that sourdough is not new to us. Indeed, I had quite a fulfilling affair with it some two years ago. I was smitten.
But
Somewhere along the line a series of events caused me to stop baking my beloved Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18204291906401193716noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8077911390921973390.post-8215818669152587722011-06-10T11:10:00.087+10:002011-06-10T17:42:52.025+10:00This week..I have to share this pic of what I saw when I looked out the kitchen window yesterday! There was a whole family of kangaroos and this fellow was sooooo huge, I attempted to quietly sneak up on him but in the process stood on a whole pile of tools/buckets that we had at the back of the house and they quickly bounded away.
Big Daddy-O
They were in the neighbours place, grazing and I did wonder Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18204291906401193716noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8077911390921973390.post-5575241539076339632011-06-08T19:34:00.057+10:002011-06-08T20:10:18.755+10:00Saffron Milk CapsI was lucky enough to find some saffron milk caps (lactarius deliciosus) near our home this week. Remembering them fondly from my brief mushroom foray last year, I was excited to pick a few - the first and most likely the last for this year, due to the cold weather. Many had already been found by bugs, so the pickings were scarce, although still enough for a small basket for dinner.
Young, Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18204291906401193716noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8077911390921973390.post-2065176127619747892011-06-05T21:02:00.000+10:002011-06-05T21:02:25.980+10:00Crochet A-line top. Completed.Finito. A little A-line top to keep her warm over her 'normal' clothes, it was fairly quick to crochet up, the pattern coming from one of my op-shop scrounged pattern books published in the 70's.
Handspun variegated wool crocheted in shells and trebles.
Pink banding to lift the colour to match a vibrant personality.
Patch pocket in wagon wheel design with press stud closure.
Re-purposed Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18204291906401193716noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8077911390921973390.post-75258185820458259962011-06-02T16:51:00.003+10:002011-06-02T17:01:37.758+10:00'speriments...Do you ever have a house full of ex-'speriments'?
The clutter in our home is creeping out of control..there seem to be 'speriments everywhere I look!
For example, did you know that feathers being a protein 'fibre', dye just as easily as wool? Yes, indeedy, they do! I couldn't resist my curiosity and after a chilly scrounge outside at dusk earlier this week, came back to the house with a Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18204291906401193716noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8077911390921973390.post-77452033211174969672011-06-01T10:17:00.001+10:002011-06-01T10:18:47.315+10:00Icy, icy, oh so nicey!A glimpse at what greeted us early this morning...
A happy first of Winter to you!Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18204291906401193716noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8077911390921973390.post-66485003983106679072011-05-29T14:41:00.007+10:002011-05-30T14:11:49.099+10:00Spicy Green Tomato PickleAfter staring at our green tomatoes for the better part of a week, I finally got cracking with them this weekend and made them into chutney...although I have a complex about the word 'chutney' so have taken to calling it a pickle!
Several of the tomatoes had started to ripen in the basket which had been sitting in our warm kitchen/living area...
The tomatoes were washed and sorted - red/greenChristinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18204291906401193716noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8077911390921973390.post-56471635139808156052011-05-27T18:38:00.005+10:002011-05-28T08:11:45.677+10:00Baskets, a banneton, balls of wool and bulbs of garlic!So...carrying on from yesterday, this is the youngest's 'nest' from the weaving demonstration at school:
She just loves it! She wanted me to write that she wove the dried grass through the nest and then lined it with the fleecy wool to keep her birds nice and snug :)
At the end of the session, there was quite a supply of plant material left over, some of which I took home and played with...
Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18204291906401193716noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8077911390921973390.post-1990754788475086392011-05-26T20:29:00.003+10:002011-05-26T20:47:24.902+10:00Basket-ingI don't often post about it but each Thursday I go off to my children's school to help out with Junior Landcare, an environmental program that engages kids in growing vegetebles, preparing food with fresh produce and crafting from nature. This week a visitor came to do an exciting talk on basket making and I just couldn't resist racing back home to grab the camera so I could take a few snaps... (Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18204291906401193716noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8077911390921973390.post-64037144969795006642011-05-24T10:42:00.004+10:002011-05-24T10:57:01.441+10:00Slow Living, defined.I was browsing aimlessly online the other night and happened to come across a definition for Slow Living!
When I first started this blog I knew what it was going to be about and how I was choosing to live, which (in my mind) was 'slow living' but when it came to finding the words to actually explain my thoughts I admit I found it a challenge.
Of course there are no doubt a gazillion other Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18204291906401193716noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8077911390921973390.post-42953281523865709902011-05-22T15:04:00.005+10:002011-05-22T19:36:25.352+10:00Sunday, wild and windyWe had a freak thunderstorm this morning, followed by a loud hammering of hail on the roof. The pyjama-clad tweens raced outside to try and catch some of the icy deliveries but of course it had virtually stopped by then!
Still, there were a few pickings to be had from the ground.... the seven year old asked if she could rinse the hail off and eat it? Sure, why not? (Wouldn't it melt under the Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18204291906401193716noreply@blogger.com14