New Things.

Goodness here we are on the other side of Christmas day already. We had just the best day; lots of laughs, good food ( if I do say so myself - lol) and good company. It was lovely celebrating in our new home; a very special Christmas.

It's all quiet here today. Mark's at work; he has only two days left and then is on a few weeks holiday - both of us can't wait. My daughter has just left for work and my few chores are over. The chickens are fed and happy -they've had lots of leftovers for treats. I'm so excited they're getting their new chook yard next week, I've enlisted one our sons to help us so we can get it done quickly. :) Plants watered, washing out, and house tidied.

I made my very first batch of ginger beer this morning. I've no idea how it will go but I'm hoping it will be zingy - i love a ginger beer with bite. I made it with powdered ginger not fresh but I'm told it doesn't make any difference. Just to be sure I'm going to start another batch with fresh.

Today is the day I've set aside to re-assess my goals and aspirations for the new year. I don't call them resolutions - there is such negative connotations to that word. :) For me another year always seems to bring such promise, an excitement that anything is possible because its all new. I have a mental list of things that I want to personally achieve this year and will nut those out on paper. I like to write things down so I can refer back to them and make adjustments where and when I want to. My list is fluid - gone are the days where I was a perfectionist and so very hard on myself. Life is, by choice, much more simple and uncomplicated.

I know one thing will be setting aside time to learn; I love learning new skills and try to do something each year. One of my presents from Mark is two day courses at a farm that practices permaculture etc and has, just this year, become totally self-sufficient. I was over the moon - can't wait to go.

The road we've started on to simplifying life will be a long and very interesting one I'm sure. There are all sorts of things to learn and fascinating people to meet; but the journey, as with all journeys, starts with a decision. A decision to step back and take back the beauty of life. We have a limited time on this planet and I want to make every second of my glorious life count. Setbacks and pain are in every ones past and future but "you don't get the rainbows without the rain." (lol - not mine but its a good one!)

One More Sleep.

Merry Christmas to those who have taken the time to drop in for a little visit.  I hope you have a wonderfully fun, peaceful and above all safe time with your family and friends over the Christmas break.

We're full of plans for when the new year arrives and Mark is on a few weeks holiday. I'm looking forward to putting in the gardens and building the girls a new and improved chicken run. Mark is going to continue painting the interior and we'll get new carpet in the non-tiled areas. We've just put in some gorgeous light fittings in the lounge-room today.

For the moment though all that can wait as we sit back and enjoy Christmas.

To my dear friends and family in the Northern Hemisphere - enjoy the white Christmas and forget how much of a nuisance it can be. :)

To those in Aus - one more sleep!!!! :)

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Countdown.

We were in the car and off to the grocery store by 6.30 this morning. Not my idea of fun but when we were driving out and cars were grid-locked in the car-park trying to find a park I was more than happy we'd made the effort. It took ages to pack all the goodies away - I'm sure, like everyone, I could feed a small country out of my pantry. Tonight Kim is having some friends over for a spa party and stay-over so I doubt the house will be quiet enough for an early night. They'll all be gone by lunch-time tomorrow so I can do some early preparation. :)

 I can remember as a child my mother and Nana in the kitchen from early morn until lunchtime "slaving over a hot stove" (no air-conditioners in those days) and it seemed to me everyone had a relaxing time except them! I'm very blessed that when I asked my daughter recently about perhaps having a traditional baked dinner she said "No way, how is that family time if you spend your Christmas in the  kitchen?" Having said that I'm doing 6 different salads, 3 meats plus prawn skewers and 3 deserts. I use to put the weeks menu on the fridge to avoid that "whats for dinner" question 4 times over and have just put up the Christmas Day one. I think there's more on it than there use to be  for a whole week. :)

Tomorrow is Christmas Eve here in Australia. I'll make the ice cream pudding - vanilla ice cream, mixed peal, glace cherries, almonds, pistachios, white choccy, brandy, cranberries etc. Top with fresh berries, bit of icing sugar and away you go. I can also do the Parmesan vinaigrette for the chick-pea salad and lemon caper butter for the prawns and cook the rice. On the day we have canapes mid-morning - this year simple ones  - smoked salmon, philly and chives and roast beef with a nice mango and mint chutney on bruschetta and then just before lunch I put the salads together (there's a bit of fiddling with prosciutto, pears and mango for the various salads but I usually have a few willing hands to help.)

This year, though 2 of my 3 kids don't live here, they will be staying overnight, as well as Scott's lovely partner Raeleigh. There's the spa if it gets really hot (first Christmas in years without a pool - surprisingly not missing it at all!) as well as some new inter-active electronic thing that promises to move a few of the recently acquired kjs! Karaoke for the brave; or inebriated. A game of soccer or tether tennis or just hang about watching sat. TV. Perhaps a few calls to our O.S. rellies. Chatting over a drink and leftovers. ( can we really fit another thing in?)

I love a stress-free Christmas! I've learnt  it's a choice. I'm sure we all have obligations that we don't really enjoy around this time of year ( yep!!) but I think its up to you  how you handle them. I adore my husband and family and am really grateful to have the kids come home for Christmas. For me that's what its all about; anything else doesn't really matter.

Busy, Busy.

Isn't the lead up to Christmas a busy time?! It doesn't matter how organised you think you are there's always some last minute cards to send, gifts to buy, or socialising to be done.

We're painting at the moment. The family room, kitchen and hall up that end of the house are a particularly nasty shade of green. "Quite bilious looking" as my Nana would say. To each their own - we all have different taste - but I defy many people to be thrilled by that colour. Lol; well I guess there were a couple that actually liked it; they lived here before us! We've only undercoated and I think that's all that will be done before Christmas but I can live with that.

Mark is an excellent painter and prefers to do most of it himself. I quite like painting too but am one of those people who only has to walk past a paint-can and I'm covered in the stuff. It really is quite remarkable how messy I can get. I'm never really sure how it happens but it's a never-ending source of amusement for Mark.

Trying to pick colours is time-consuming too. We don't want to pick a colour just because a paint-chart tells me its the in -thing. That's why we're taking our time - rushing into it at Christmas would be crazy.  We definitely don't want to do it twice in quick succession.

Mark found a snake skin this morning; another reminder to be vigilant out in the yard. It was a brown and Mark had seen one only a week or two ago so I'm hoping its the same one! I have my eyes peeled for "moving sticks" every time I go to the chook yard but I'm yet to see anything. I tend to walk loudly, thumping my feet and singing at the top of my voice so if there's anything about it probably dives for cover. lol.

Now for a couple of my "favourite things".

This is in the Blue Mountains of N.S.W.  We've been there many times over the years and sill love it.

I LOVE this chair. I've always wanted one like this and when we moved here a couple of months ago Mark bought it for me so I could sit and watch the world go by.

And last but not least, our favourite place in the Southern Highlands of N.S.W. We go a couple of times every year for romantic getaways, usually in the autumn hence the gorgeous colours. Cold but stunning. :)
      

Cleaning up.

What a lovely day. After an unhurried start Mark and I took ourselves off to a nursery to browse about. We were going to have morning tea in their quirky little "plant-enclosed" cafe but it was closed due to re-building. If what I saw was the new cafe I doubt I'll frequent it much anymore. Its gone from  a gorgeous eclectic style with shawls over the chairs for the patrons to use if it gets cool, cups and plates hanging off the wall and mismatched crockery to a white modern building that could (with a change of colour) be a McDonald's take-away. I really hope that wasn't it.
Didn't matter. We went to another cafe we like and had a nice relaxing morning tea. A bit of time-out with my favourite person. :)

Home again and stuck into the over-grown corner of the property. It looks like it had at one stage been quite an interesting area with a stone "fairy circle"  and a path leading to it.

 There has been quite a bit of planting in the past but unfortunately it had become overgrown and messy. Not to mention the hundreds of rocks strewn about. We can't get in there with the ride-on so Mark used the brush cutter and the push mower and cleaned up one area beautifully. It was slow going because of the amount of rocks but we've made a dent in it. Once its cleared we'll plant a whole bunch of grevilleas and other natives for the birds to enjoy - and we in turn get to enjoy watching them. I'd still like to keep it a little secluded so its interesting to walk through but I want to get rid of anything that's not native.

Dinner has been started and the day is winding down. Pork chops and apple sauce, hassleback potatoes with sage and Parmesan, (my potatoes - yay) pumpkin, corn, asparagus, carrots and peas. Our daughter is working but our son is here for dinner; and last night we had our other son and his partner here. There's nothing better than family and thankfully they all seem to enjoy our company as much as we enjoy theirs. 

The Colour Red.

Before I get into my favourite things post for today I would ask you to take a quiet moment out of respect for my poor garlic. I lost everyone one of the little plants. I've never lost any before; perhaps the continual rain and then heat was too much for them. Anyway I'm not sure what happened  but there will be no early organic garlic from  my garden next year. :(

On to a more cheerful subject. Favourite things. I love the colour red!! Having said that I rarely wear it but I find it such a cheery colour. Its a colour for passion and I do feel passionately about so many things; maybe that's why I like it as well. This miniature rose is one my father gave me the year he died -10 years ago now - and its still doing well. Its thriving here at our new place. Dad always did like the Aussie bush. lol

I got this little plastic cup when I was 2 years old when we were on holiday in Queensland. It sits in my display hutch now but I occasionally have a cold Milo in it as I've done for most of my life. Its so thin  around the top its almost see-through. Milo has never tasted so good as when its in this little mug.


What are some of your favourite things and what memories do you treasure because of them? I really don't like clutter so I have one small area that's filled with very special things that I like to see on a daily basis. Some are expensive, one or two rare, but the majority are funny little things not worth much in a monetary sense but are irreplaceable to me. This cabinet is really a collection of memories and I took a lot of joy in setting it up here in our new home where there will be, no doubt, so many more memories made.

These are few of my favourite things.

As I got the "Whole Orange Cake" recipe out to post I started to think about a few more of my favourite things. Random things but for one reason or another they are things that're special to me. I think when you follow that train of thought you can't help but be grateful for the wonderful things in your life. Favourite things change of course, as we do, but the effect is the same no matter what the age. They bring a smile to your face, a warmth to your day or a lovely memory to mind. I thought I might take photos over the next week or so and show you some of my favourite things.
For now here's the recipe I promised. I think I may have gotten this from the down-to-earth blog (another of my favourite things!) Wherever it came from; accolades to the cook - we love it. :)

WHOLE ORANGE CAKE.

1 whole orange - washed thoroughly

3 eggs

180g melted butter

1 cup white sugar (i always use caster)

1.5 cups S.R. flour

Method.

Pre-heat oven to 180c

Put whole orange into a food processor and chop madly until its completely broken down and there are no large bits remaining. Toss in the rest of the ingredients and whizz about until nicely mixed. Into the oven for approx. 40 minutes. There you are! So easy. You can do the icing thing if you want - I don't normally bother.

** Just before I go - one of my favourite things as a child was a new exercise book at school, especially at the start of the new year. That blank page had such promise - it was almost with reverence that I put pen to paper. My best friend back then told me it filled her with horror; the blank page mocked her; another year of pressure to perform. For me it was an invite to another world where I could learn everything there was to know and I jumped in with such excitement. How funny that a single piece of paper could be so evocative.

A Busy Oven.

Can't a day just disappear before you know it?! I had a slow start this morning, usual tidying up, laundry, feeding the chooks, watering some precious garlic I've been babying along since I nearly lost it in the heat. A few things that took no time at all. Then into town for 2.5 hour visit to the hairdresser. Got home well after lunch and decided to pop on the aircon so I could comfortably do some cooking. That was at 2.30pm and I've just taken the last cakes out of the oven and its 7.30pm! I'm yet to cook hubby's dinner  - he doesn't get home until 8pm.

I've really enjoyed my busy afternoon. I had a surplus of eggs - the girls have been very good - so I've made about 60 biscuits, 4 quiches and various cakes. The quiches are in the freezer ready for a busy day when I don't feel like cooking and the cakes get sliced up and popped in there too for Mark to take to work. If unexpected guests pop round for a cuppa there's always something to have without having to run to the shops.

I let the new girls out to free-range this afternoon for the first time. I was a little worried and kept half an eye on them out the kitchen windows while bashing up the bickies. Cackles and Lala are old hands and wander about our land without a problem but Henny and Penny (yes I've named them - actually Marks suggestion) took off next door and then disappeared. I just have to rattle the bucket of grain and Cackles and Lala will wander straight back to the enclosure but I didn't know how I'd get the new girls back. I shouldn't have worried. They heard me with the bucket, saw me in the enclosure and came running to the fence in next-doors yard, squarking and cackling away. They obviously couldn't get to me so I walked up the yard and they ran up the fenceline alongside until they could get under the it. Then they just followed me back to the run!!! What lovely, clever girls!

I'll post the recipe for one of our favourite cakes tomorrow. Whole orange cake. Yum!

All tucked in.

Its been a long day today and I've just tucked everyone in for the night. Sunny the duck has a safe, new home until she's big enough to brave the chook pen; so after a feed and a last swim in her pond; she's snuggled down into the straw in her little house. Bonnie has had her dinner and is snoozing near the door catching the lovely breeze. And the "girls" have had their coop cleaned out, fresh hay laid down and their food and water topped up. The cockatoos, galahs, corellas, rosellas and grass parrots have all been in for their supper and its growing quieter and darker by the minute.

Its been very hot and humid (translation -  REALLY horrible) but now at the end of the day its cool and oh so comfy..

I have a fig tree, a mandarin, lime, 2 grape vines and 3 small tomato plants to go in tomorrow; biscuits and  peanut brittle to make. But thats tomorrow. Now its just a cold drink and then slip between nice cool sheets and off to sleep.

Goodnight. :)

A Little Harvest.

We had to go to our other house today. Its under offer now and among other things I was anxious to see how the potatoes were doing  in my little veg garden. My son and his mate are renting the house from us until its sold but neither of them are gardeners so I was pretty sure my experimental potatoes would be dead and withered up. Experimental because I've never grown them before so I'd popped some in to see if they were a difficult thing to grow. I was told they were dead easy but you don't know until you try yourself.

 We've had a small harvest when we lived there and what do you know; there was a lovely little bundle just waiting underground for me today.
There's still a lot coming on which I've left and the forecast rain should be plenty to keep them going. I don't know if the new owners are gardeners but hopefully there will be a small harvest for them when they move in. :) These are grown from organic seed potatoes in gorgeous organic soil and  I only companion plant or make my own pest sprays. Where I lived my neighbours weren't vege gardeners so there were no nasties floating over the fence. That's something to remember - you can control what you do in your garden but you can't control whats carried on the wind.

My favourite recipe for potato salad is a warm potato salad with wholegrain mustard, white wine vinegar, spring onions, garlic oil and bacon rashers (YUM) but I still have a soft-spot for the store bought gluggy with boiled eggs and ham.

Theres something rather therapeutic about grubbing about in the dirt and coming up with something edible. I really enjoy the whole process of growing, harvesting then cooking.

Who'd have thought?!                                                     

What a Day.

Well what a morning! I was to go to lunch with some friends today but had to miss out because of a mishap with the car. Its been raining cats and dogs and our driveway leaves a lot to be desired so when there was a break in the weather I thought I'd run out and put the car out of the garage and up near the road ready to go. Unfortunately I got bogged; couldn't move forward or backwards! Was not happy!!!! Muttered quite a bit under my breath but that didn't help either. One of my sons was on a day off today and has been here trying to get it out. No luck. (and he muttered a lot more than me!) We need a 4WD with a snatch strap he tells me; whatever that is. Oh well I guess the new driveway has just moved up the priority list.

 I was very disappointed not to be able to catch up with my friends but the day has since given me time to muse on a couple of things that I may not have had the chance to experience.. A friend who doesn't know the other group rang me just before lunch in the middle of all of this and when she heard the story offered to come and get me, drop me at lunch, pick me up after, then drop me back home. I live 35 minutes from this particular girl! She and I did a welfare course together years ago and her kind and giving nature was very evident back then. She really made my day. I declined though; I was feeling rather miserable until she rang - her offer was blessing enough.

And though my son was unable to get the car out I got to spend some time with him that I sorely miss because he no longer lives with us.

When all was quiet I wandered down to see how the chooks were faring in the wet weather and to collect any eggs. This was a lovely surprise!

Quite a feat for one of the little ladies, I would think.

To top it off one of the books I'd ordered arrived. Grow Your Own Drugs by James Wong. Woo hoo. Love this guys recipes.

The kindness of a friend and taking pleasure in the small things; these are the things this day has brought me. And I'm very glad I didn't miss them.

All in all what looked like a disappointing day for a number of reasons turned out quite nicely thank you.

Our New Girls.

Finally, yesterday, the new girls arrived. Cackles (my little favourite) went into a tail-spin though and hid behind behind a tree, clucking away softly to herself. Reminded me of  one of my kids when they were little; you know when they put their hands over their own eyes and say "you can't see me". Lala (a.k.a. the Mad One) strutted up to the newcomers, made an awful sound and pecked one on the head. And promptly got a peck back for her troubles. lol. There were 3 eggs this morning; not sure who the malingerer is. I wander down every now and again to see what's happening and they seem to be settling in o.k. Cackles appears to be coping as long as Lala isn't too far way but I think the new ones have the measure of the mad one. It will be interesting watching the "pecking order" emerge. I have a feeling things are going to change a little in the hen-house!

Took some time out to visit a local market with a friend yesterday morning. It was just the loveliest time with Deb who has been a friend for around 20 years. It was hot and sticky but we killed a couple of hours there without even realising. I was going to take some photos but completely forgot and maybe people wouldn't be all that happy to be snapped by a stranger. :)  I got some new DVDs still in the placcy for $5 each. They were murder mysteries from the books of one of my favourite authors, Mary Higgins Clark. Score! Some lovely cherries; (broke my own rule - I don't buy them until right on Christmas) and an ice block for the ride home. Nothing hugely exciting as far as purchases go I suppose, but it was a lovely morning.

Just popped the quiche for dinner in the oven and am thinking about my plans for tomorrow. Time to fill the cookie barrel, the Christmas gift cooking will be started, buns for the day instead of bread. Hopefully the front garden will be be dug early in the morning in case it gets too hot. I've found in the overgrown corner of the property the remainder of a garden and a whole bunch of agapanthus. I'll be liberating those and if get a chance its off to the nursery for some gardenias I think. I'm pining for my vege garden :) but one thing at a time. Every day I look around and it just makes me so happy to know that this is our home now. Everything comes at price I know, but this has been worth the cost :).

Today.

We did it ...almost. We were at the shops before they opened and gone by 11.30. I've still got a couple of pressies to buy but the majority are going to be wrapped this afternoon, ready for under the tree......which will be going up in a few days  :) I must begrudgingly admit to not minding shopping toooo much if its for Christmas or birthday presents; I really enjoy spoiling those closest. I have to shop with a list though as it gives me a place to start at least. I don't always stick to it and can be easily swayed in the right store  (Typo is a new favourite of mine at the moment) so I have to try to be focussed.

I picked up a great dvd at the ABC shop. Its called "Grow your own Drugs". No of course its not what you were thinking - its home remedies from plants. I use to watch it on pay tv and really miss those shows. I spotted it and asked Mark to pop it in my Christmas stocking but sweet-talked it from him to watch this week-end.

I bought a whole bunch of  ingredients to do some present cooking but honestly its just too hot. Yes, I could put the air-condioner on; hhhhmmm so in retrospect I guess its just I can't be bothered.

Mark is fiddling about with the spa and it will be filled ready to go later this afternoon. The cooking can wait.

Christmas planning.

 Whew warm one today. The sprinkler is working well from the new pipes; it gets a nice little wiggle up when it starts. We're still getting use to having a septic system; there's only certain products you can use. It does make you aware of what's actually going into our water systems though and that's a good thing.

Bonnie desperately needed a bath so was bathed outside in the wheelbarrow this morning as we just weren't sure if her shampoos were septic friendly.

A little embarrassed initially, but I think overall she handled being exposed to the world quite well. Such decorum. As you can see she's looking quite cheerful and relaxed! :)




A busy day planned tomorrow. A trip to the shopping centre for Christmas present shopping. I want to be there on opening and leave at lunch-time! I'm extremely focused when I shop; mainly because I dislike it so much. :) The tree is now, though still in the box, sitting in the lounge room. The numerous boxes of decorations, wrapping paper and center-pieces are waiting to be opened and the satisfying job of "choosing" begins. I am unashamedly crazy about Christmas! Working out the menu, the colour theme. Each year I do a different center-piece for the table. This year I've decided to put those mini tassels around the serviettes. If I have time I'll make them, the lovely French style ones with little beads etc; its the sort of thing you can do at night when the day is over. I'm not that keen on bling, though Christmas time is a time when a little bling can be acceptable I guess; tinsel being what it is.

Will be making some presents again this year, food ones only. I don't have the time or energy (or expertise for that matter) to make craft things but more power to those who do. I love to get home-made stuff; be it food or anything really. I love the spicy maple pecans I make and I have to be very stern with myself so I don't scoff them all when I'm making them for friends. I think I'll make them in bulk this year. :)



The Sewer Man Cometh!

Tomorrow the sewer man comes!!!! We've been waiting 3 weeks but tomorrow is the day! Why am I so excited about this? Fair question really. We are having our envirocycle hoses and sprays moved and put underground. At the present time the treated water is pumped through hoses that run across the property but laws have changed and the pipes need to be underground so we can, within reason, choose where we want it to go. That makes it so much easier to plan where our little orchard will go as well as the vege gardens. We've had to wait until he came before we could go ahead and plant. Obviously I don't want the sprays anywhere near my fruit and veges but I'm thrilled at how it greens up other areas. The sewer man tells me the treated water is perfectly safe and you could drink it in a pinch. Oh for sure; like that's going to happen!
Its interesting  - not so long ago I couldn't see myself getting excited about a visit from a gentleman with sewerage experience. 

There are so many things to do but it has to be done in a considered sequence. (my husbands words) He has a point though. (dammit) When the sewer man is done (You know I think I feel just a little bit country if I keep saying "the sewer man" lol) we'll begin to put in our fruit trees and build our raised beds. Now the weather is turning and we're actually getting some nice sunny days we'll be able to get our dirt delivered without the truck sinking up to the axles. I really miss my vege garden from my previous house, especially the herbs. Oh well Rome wasn't built in a day (that is just the most stupid saying really).

Tomorrow we also get two more chickens. We bought 2, sight unseen, delivered in a box yesterday; trusting souls that we are. Both had malformed beaks, making it extremely difficult for them to eat and forage for bugs etc. Back they went this afternoon. Not happy. Poor little blighters. We thought perhaps we should keep them; we didn't think one end would necessarily hinder the other end if you get my drift; but after much consultation with Mark and Google I decided to return them. We were assured it was a dreadful mistake and the new ones will be O.K.

So all in all tomorrow will be a big day. Between chickens and V.I.S.D. (very important sewerage decisions) I think an early night is in order. :)

A Gentler Time.

After doing heaps I curled up on the lounge this afternoon to browse through some old cookbooks and bits and pieces that belonged to my mum. The time was well-spent though some might say non-productive. I disagree. Among the recipes cut out of newspapers and magazines, and booklets that came with the new fridge and stove, is a little book with hand-written recipes she had collected from various sources. I don't remember how many she tried though I do recognise a couple of them. Some worked, some were best never to be attempted again. Lol. Looking at the oh so familiar hand-writing brings back so many memories.

Mum was, above all things, a gentle woman; and though living as she did through the not-so-gentle times of a war, the depression and some very difficult years after, she stayed that way all her life. The reminiscing makes me think of quieter times, a sweeter time, a time of linen and lace tablecloths, pretty tea-cups and sponge cakes on a fancy cake stand.. Of sitting on the verandah watching the world go by just enjoying "a lovely cup of tea". A rouge (blush) compact with flowers on the top. I  remember the stories Mum told me of her childhood, so far removed  from my own experience. A horse and cart ride to church on a Sunday, picking veges for dinner, huge Sunday roasts with all the extended family (and trying not to squirm under the baleful stare of the nasty granny.)

Am I wearing rose-coloured glasses?  :) Of course. The people of past eras worked incredibly hard but they did know the value of many things society doesn't  much value anymore. Like family, respect for others, community, time to wind down. In todays rush and tear world where so many complain about a lack of time/money/peace we can have these times again, if we want them. The world won't tilt off its axis if you don't rush about like a mad march hare or if you're five minutes late because of traffic. You can create your own gentle, sweeter time right where you are. It's a choice; simply a choice.

Sunny Days

Well who'd have thought! A tiny ball of yellow fluff by the name of Sunny just makes soooooo much noise! Kim has just become the proud surrogate mother of a 5 day old duckling. Its residing in a box in the laundry at the moment until its big enough to be housed outside. (that could be a lot quicker than first thought!) The dog wants to eat it and frankly, in the middle of the night, it didn't seem all that bad an idea. No, no just joking Kim.

Little Sunny will live with the chickens eventually and hopefully if it's a girl (we're not sure yet) we'll get some nice duck eggs to try. We pick up 2 more "girls" tomorrow. I think four will do at the moment. There seems to be an art to this chicken rearing - the new ones will be put in tomorrow night while Cackles and Lala are drowsy and dozing off. Evidently it helps the resident chooks accept the new ones. Actually I'd be pretty put out if I went to sleep and woke up to find a couple of interlopers messing about in my house and eating my food.

It seems to be a lot different to my grandfathers day- toss them in and away you go.

Good grief have just taken shortbread out of the oven. What a mess! Its my first try with the traditional unglazed mould I had sent from the U.K. Hmmm better try that one again tomorrow. :)

Bits and Pieces.

Its so hot and sticky today! I've just been out to check the chickens and give them a little pond to paddle in. Its actually the bottom of one of my seed raising containers but it was all I could find. Chickens don't sweat so pant like dogs to cool themselves and they were panting up a storm! I did find a large shell shaped sand box in the back of the shed, discarded by the previous owners, but the girls aren't exactly Olympic standard divers yet so I figured the small container would suffice. 

It was quite cool and pleasant early this morning, sitting at the window with a nice little breeze coming in and watching the birds at the feeder we've hung up. Its quite the social gathering and being a people watcher from way back, its interesting watching the birds behave in much the same way as a heap of kids at Ronny McDonnys!

Now the rain seems to have abated somewhat we can start looking at getting some soil delivered. I'm going to have the veggies in raised beds as part of our long-term plan. I don't want to be on my hands and knees gardening in 25 years time so we'll start how we mean to finish. The goals we have and the plans we've made will, I'm sure, be changed or tweaked as we go along. That's part of the fun. The general theme though hasn't changed in the 5 or so years we've been seriously discussing all of this. We want to grow our own fruit and veggies (as organically as possible) raise chickens for eggs, keep native bees and learn old skills that can have a positive impact on our lives today. I love to cook and make as much as I can because I like to know exactly what's in my food. (Elderflower champagne is just one thing on my list of "to do's and to learn.") Some of these are things that can take years to firmly establish but by the time my husband has retired we will be as self-sufficient as we want to be.

The name of this blog says it all for us; the more simple our life the richer we feel. The curse of "affluenza" in our society is hard to ignore; I often wonder when I do venture into the crowds at the shopping centre " just how much crap can people buy?"  We  enjoy  the trappings of modern life (computers etc) and we've known the benefits of a regular, good income but having "stuff" has never brought us a huge amount of joy. My family coming for dinner beats "things" any day! 

Good friends.

The company of friends is a thing to treasure, especially over a meal and perhaps a glass or two. I had a wonderful time today with two of my dearest friends, laughing, venting, sharing and laughing some more. We talked about all sorts of things  - movies and kids, travel and recipes, life in general. It was an easy day; you know the kind I mean; a feet up " i don't have to fuss" sort of a day.

The girls wanted the recipe from lunch so i thought i'd share it here. It's one of those you can do to taste. I don't remember where I originally got it and I've customised it to suit us. Thats the beauty of most recipes; you can make it yours with just a dash of something extra, or leave out what you're not fussy about. The desert was pure Nigella (well, with a little change or two.)

                                      MANGO AND CORIANDER SALAD. (with Chicken)
2 mangoes, peeled and chopped
2 large red chillies, seeded and chopped
1 bunch coriander, chopped
1 bunch spring onions ,chopped
baby spinach, shredded or chopped (no set amount)

Pour over juice of 2 limes and 3 t.spoons sugar.

The night before I crumbed chicken tenderloins. To serve put a bed of salad on a plate, thinly slice the  tenderloins and arrange artistically over the salad. :)

* Season the tenderloins anyway you want; I added some Outback Spirit Wild Herb salt to my cornflake crumbs.
I would show you a photo but theres none left. Lol.

                                           CARIBBEAN  CREAMS.
175g coconut yogurt
175ml double cream
1 x 15 ml tablespoon coconut rum, such as Malibu (optional)
1 banana
2 x 15ml tablespoons dark muscovado sugar.

Stir together yoghurt and cream with the Malibu and whisk until thickened.
Slice the banana and divide slices between 4 125 ml ramekins to form a layer at the bottom of each one.
Spoon the thickened yoghurt and cream filling into the ramekins equally.
Sprinkle the sugar over the mixture, cover ramekins with clingwrap and place in the fridge overnight or for the day.

* Now for the few changes I made. I used 2 bananas, vanilla yoghurt and extra Malibu. I couldn't find coconut yoghurt anywhere.The extra Malibu seemed a good option. :) Couldn't buy  muscovado sugar, used sprinkling of brown sugar and shredded coconut.

Enjoy!

Things that go bump in the night.

Late last night I took the intrepid Bonnie out for her last little "walk" for the night. Just as we hit the edge of the deck there was an almighty crash from down the back of my neighbours property. Bon and I nearly keeled over! We only have one light out the back at present and its VERY dark out there. All was quiet for a moment or two, then another crash, this time from the back of our property. I scooped Bonnie up and ran like heck into the house. I had a fitful nights sleep but after mentioning it to Mark when he got home from night-shift I forgot all about it  UNTIL.............. around lunch time I was outside taking photos when I heard the self-same crash behind me. There was the largest goanna I'd ever seen in my life, up a tree and staring straight at me. It must have been 5.5 feet from nose to tip of tail! I took a photo of it but I don't know that it did it justice. I was very brave and a bit chuffed to meet some local wildlife until my daughter mentioned it was no longer there. It had gone. Where I don't know.........but two things I do know.........tomorrow we are going to the hardware store so this place will be lit up like a fairground in full swing every night! And Bon better get a damn sight quicker at the "wee" walks!

First month.

Well we've done it. The long awaited dream of a few acres and a much simpler lifestyle has materialised! I  loved my other house and its wonderful memories in each and every room but we had out-grown that life and it was time to move on. The last month has bought momentous change - saying goodbye to our neighbours was very difficult. They're family and as much as we will stay in touch it's not the same as chatting at the letterbox or waving to the kids walking back from school. Another of our children has moved out as well. That was a wrench. As much as I was excited for him to be doing his own thing (I remember what it was like to be in my own place when I was young!) it's the end of an era that takes a little getting use to.

The house is lovely and the gounds are perfect for what we want. The first day we found we had inherited 2 chickens and a very large black rooster. A fine looking rooster to be sure, but whose behaviour was disturbing enough to be nick-named Adolph. A visit to the local feed store was our first introduction to the intricacies of keeping chooks. Do you know how many different types of food you can get for the little blighters??? We finally bought a bag with a picture of a chicken firing an egg into the catchers mitt of another chicken waiting behind. It appealed to our sense of humour; there was nothing scientific about our choice! A few weeks down the line and Adolph has been moved on to a lovely chook lady who is partial to loud roosters. It was a marathon effort that involved a squeegie mop, extra large welding gloves, a cargo net and a box. Suffice to say I don't miss being woken at 3.30am and the girls, Cackles and Lala, are very happy in their new digs and have produced 4 eggs in 2 days.



Apart from the chickens there have been a few adjustments. I've never lived anywhere where there wasn't street lights and I just can't believe how dark it gets!!!! The first night we were here I looked out the bedroom window and literally couldn't see a thing. Very disorientating!!


And trying to remember to pick up all that we need in one go rather than "whipping up to the shops" for every little thing. Though I've found I can drive 10 minutes to a little township that has pretty well everything I need, do my shopping, go to the bank, have a chat to the postmistress and still be on my way home in the time it would have taken me to get a car park at my old shopping centre!

We can only get two channels on the T.V. Now that does definitely have its plus side, however the technician is coming next Monday - ha! It's all to do with being tucked into the side of the mountain evidently.

So, here we are. Embarking on a journey we have been preparing for and looking forward to for a few years. A life of homemade and homegrown. A gentler simpler life with all its joys and challenges. Family, friends, a glass of decent Irish whiskey and watching the cockatoos on the lawn. Woo hoo doesn't get much better than this. :-)