Wednesday, June 30, 2010

It's Cold!

As I am typing this my fingers are numb and it only 4 in the afternoon! Brrrrr! We have had some thick frosts over the last few days......

Cold enougth to freeze the water in the wheelbarrow! I broke the ice so you could see it better.

The Canna lillies are not liking the frosts at all - they look very sad.

I am really looking forward to spring so I can start planting all the summer vege!

Saturday, June 26, 2010

Updates

Firstly I bought my first loaf of bread today since the four week challenge I set for myself. I made it to six weeks before buying one and then I bought one from a bakery! Back to baking bread tomorrow! I am going to try a fruit loaf over the next few weeks.

And Dad did make me a spool holder and it looks great, see for yourself - Thanks Dad!

A little bit of this and that!

Today Mum and Dad went home, I asked them to stay for another four weeks but they didn't go for it! Lol! It was really nice to see them and makes me wish we lived a lot closer. By the way, I know you are going to tell me to take off your picture!


THIS IS WHERE THE PICTURE OF MUM AND DAD WAS BEFORE SHE TOLD ME TO TAKE IT OFF CAUSE IT WASNT FLATTERING ENOUGH!

Yesterday Mum showed me how to make soap and it was really really fun and a bit exciting! We made some purple soap with a blend of lavender, May chang and rose geranium. Looks great and smells lovely. Ive got it curing in the lounge room and bought some more ingredients to make more soap. Mum Left me some colours and showed me a bunch of websites, on one a lady had made this yummy looking chocolate cake all out of soap - it was really incredible.

Before they left we went garage saling this morning. The first one was really good and I got some jelly moulds to use in soap making, Mum bought me some craft magazines and Dad bought something for his beer making. The next couple were pretty ordinary but the one at St Vinnies was good with me scoring a bread maker and a 1960's picnic basket which is really cute.


When you look at this picnic case you just think Gidget and you even might start singing "we're all going on a summer holiday"!

Monday, June 21, 2010

Gardening Happenings

I nearly wet my pants with excitement when I found that all 13 of my garlic cloves had sprouted! They look so good, I'm impressed.
Dave had cemented in the posts for my new veggie patch too. So I think we are only a week away from that all happening. I have seedling ready to plant so the bed want be vacant long. Here are some pics of it. And a Purple rose from the front garden - How gorgeous is that?

Bottled!

The ginger beer is bottled. I hope it has a bit of fizz, as now I am worried I should have left it a few extra days as the kitchen is so cold. Ah well the proof will be in the tasting. It made about 5 1/2 to 6 litres or 4 and a half drink bottles. I am starting another plant today in case these are duds!I also have finished my stitchery, its not perfect by a long shot but I love it! Dave's going to hang it in the kitchen/dining room. The frame cost me $2.50 from Crazy Clarkes and it really suits it.

Monday, June 14, 2010

Seed Bonanza!

Well Dave and I finally started cleaning out the garage, there was a heap of crap but there was also a couple of good finds. I found some curtain rings, a bunch of new rags for cleaning and a tin of old seeds.Some of these seeds, actually all of them, are old. Really old. Some have their best before date in 1996! However, in the spirit of frugality I have put some in the seed raising mix I had and am giving them a go. You never know and all its costing me is a bit of time. The seeds must of come from the people before the ones we bought the house from. In the tin there are also seeds they have obviously saved themselves which is really nice.Also to keep you up to date on the ginger beer plant - here it is on day 7. Tomorrow I will make the mix up and but it into bottle and let it ferment for another couple of days then into the fridge it will go. Should make 5 - 6 bottles I am guessing.

Sunday, June 13, 2010

Fun in the Backyard!

Today has been a good day. I took Dads advice and transplanted the seedlings in the propagation tray into a bed just under the clothes line. I made sure they all had three leaves. I then thinned the rest out in the tray and am going to let those get a little bigger before I plant those, just to give me time to get more beds ready!

I took some of the year round lettuce and planted them into two of the styrofoam boxes that I got the vacola bottles in. I have actually earmaked them for herbs but will have to wait till I get some to put into them. I dont really like geraniums but waste not want not, I put some pieces that survived when I pulled a stack of them from the side of the house into the pot plants that Amelia and I painted.
So we can have some colour if we want to sit on the new seats I got Dave to put along the fence. Its a real suntrap and today when it was a bit cool, we got a cuppa each and sat in the sun, the fences block out the breeze so it was toasty!
And this is how the new plants that Mum gave me are looking - pretty good I think! Other gardening things today involved raking leaves, weeding and Dave did the edges on the vegie patch. It has been a good day.

Wednesday, June 9, 2010

Fermenting has Begun!

I fed the ginger beer plant this afternoon and am very happy to report that bubbles have appeared so fermentation has begun! I need to feed it for another 5 days. It is looking good!

Mum and Dad gave me the heads up re the seedlings. If it has three leaves its ready to replant. Also Mum said Dad's primulas were a bit slow to flower too so its all good!

Monday, June 7, 2010

Ginger Beer!!

Right, I have now officially started my ginger beer plant! I mixed a dessertspoon of sugar and another of ground ginger and a pich of dried yeast into my water that has stood since yesterday. So it is on its way.
I forgot to tell you about a freebie I scored yesterday. I went to the salvage yard to price some 2nd hand galvanised iron (cause if you think I am paying $60 a sheet your dreaming) for what will be my new veggie patch and the fellow gave me two off cuts for free. It should be nearly enough for the two long sides - cheering!!!

Sunday, June 6, 2010

Productivity

Today was one of those great days where I got heaps of those little jobs done. I tidied the spare room, which is now sporting a new doona cover, of the wool I had all over it. I really like the green and white, I think it looks fresh. I went to the markets this morning and managed to get all my fruit and vegies there AND found out where it all came from. The oranges were the furthest from home, they came from Narromine. Its great know where it comes from, the potatoes I got for 80c a kg and they came out of the ground yesterday. I also picked up an apple custard for the kids to try 'cause I dont think theyve ever had one! I started the ginger beer plant today - or rather my very first step, leaving 300ml of tap water to stand for 24 hours, I will take pictures to show you the updates. By the way it does actually have a fine cotton cloth over it to keep out any icky things.Out in the garden I finally put up my moths. It is going on the principle of "oh this one is already taken I might fly away somewhere else and plant my caterpillers there". I am hoping it works. If not the worst thing is that they look really cute!
I also collected some of the fallen leaves and put them as mulch on the fairy garden and some around the roses out the front. I really love the falling leaves 'cause it gives the seasons distinction. Now for a couple of gardening questions -
1. When should seedlings be transplanted? How big should they be? and should I thin these ones out now????
These are a mixture of broccoli, cabbage and pansy, I just dont know how long to wait to transplant.
These are lettuce and spring onion.
2. I planted a stack of primulas a while ago and they have all grown fabulously as you can see, lovely and healthy, but they havent flowered yet. Is that becasue they are under shadecloth??
Finally, here is a pic of the kids having afternoon tea on Thursday. Dave and I have made a no screen until 6.30pm rule. Thats for all of us, parents included. So far so good, without the tv or xbox its much easier to get the kids to do homework and to have a chat with them. I am really liking it!

Tuesday, June 1, 2010

Four Week Challenge Update

Well I am just over the two week mark in the challenge not to buy any cakes, biscuits or bread and I havent bought any! I have baked bread every day (even twice on Sunday!) and have even tried a homemade version of a SAO. I got an excellent recipe of a forum for muesli bars and they have gone down a treat with Dave asking could I make another batch when these run out.
The recipe is this:

2 cups of rolled oats
1 cup plain flour
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup choc chip
1/2 cup honey
1 egg
2 teaspoons vanilla
1/4 cup peanut butter
Combine oats, flour, brown sugar, salt & Choc chips. Stir together. Combine egg, honey, vanilla & mix together. Then mix wet & dry ingrediants together and then add peanut butter. Place in a greased 9x13 inch dish. Spread with a greased spatula. Bake for 15-18 mins or until edges turn brown. Let cool for 10 mins and then cut.