Tuesday.

It's been a rather hectic four or so weeks. So much has taken place it takes our breath away sometimes.

Our kids have returned safely from Europe with amazing stories and adventures that have given them such a taste for more travel. It was lovely to see them come through the gates at arrivals, tired but happy.




The weather continues to be unpredictable. Thankfully the fires have abated; that photo is sunrise on a rather smoky morning. We've had some crazy heavy rain storms and the tank is now full again; for now! It's pouring at the moment and thunder is rolling around the mountains. Morning storms somehow always sound threatening.

All the vegies survived a hectic hail storm and we're harvesting some gorgeous tomatoes, lettuce and beans already.

We've been getting a lot of work done about the place. My wonderful bird tree is no more. It was dangerously close to the house; a big no-no in the wild winds we've had and also a fire threat. We had an arborist take a look and he found two Bracket Fungi. Given that the tree was huge and they can drop limbs in dry times; this could be doubly dangerous. The fungi eats the tree and makes the inside sort of like polystyrene. We felt  sad to see it go but really had no choice. That afternoon the birds came circling around looking for it and screeched their own dissatisfaction with the situation.

The ground here is very rocky and the former owners seemed to delight in piling up rocks all over the place. Some of them are as large as a mini minor and as gorgeous as they are we don't need all of them here. We had a wonderful man named Clive come the other day. Clive brought his little backhoe thing and moved tonnes of rock to the front of the property to be picked up and trucked away. We picked well as Clive is also an artist and came up with some great landscaping ideas for around the septic system and down the back corner where the secret garden will (one day) be built.

I've been thinking hard about the direction of this blog. I've enjoyed recording the first few years of our tree change. It's a lot of fun to go back over it myself and remember the beginnings of our adventure. However I'm feeling I want it to go in another direction now. The adventure will continue of course; living here has stretched us and taught us heaps - and not just about growing veggies either :) We're not going anywhere; we love where we are and what we do.

I'm sure I'll pop in occasionally though. For me this blog is like a dear friend whose company is best enjoyed with feet up and a cuppa in the sun. :))

Our Wednesday.

What a mad morning. I heard a heck of a commotion in the entry and went to investigate. As most of you would know we have a swallow family that tries hard to come back to the portico and nest each year. We usually send them on their way by installing a fake plastic owl above the door for a few weeks. Well, I think they brought their extended family for a visit because when I had a look out the window there must have been at least 15 of them diving and swooping into the entry area. They took off when I opened the door and swooped around the yard for another 10 minutes, probably waiting for me to go back inside. It was a sight to see; they're so cute. Shame they're such dirty beggars!

Its been a busy but enjoyable few days. I've been in the kitchen for the most part which is something I really enjoy. I've been making a few meals for Mark to take to work; I know what goes into them at least. :)

 4 spaghetti bolagnaise, 3 Curried sausages and veggies, 4 Apricot Chicken and rice, 3 Salmon Mornay.
Banana muffins, muesli bars, pear cake, yoghurt and jellies all ready to go. They'll last for ages as he doesn't take a hot meal every day; salads are so easy to make and stay fresh in the fridge at work.With just a little bit of planning the next month is taken care of.

The veggies are doing well despite the crazy temps. It was 39c the other day and wind gusts up to 95 kmph. Its bushfire weather and I must be honest I get a little reluctant to stray too far from home when there are fires in the vicinity.

My daughter-in-law rang yesterday and mentioned it is only 10 weeks until Christmas. What!!!!! How did that happen? At least the gardens may be in a better position this year to provide something for our plate. We'll see how the temps go as summer makes its presence felt.

I've put a small tomato plant in a pot on the deck and it already has fruit on it. Love them!

Australian Grown.

The weather is all over the place at the moment here. Unusually hot weather at the end of winter and beginning of spring and now the days are milder and nights quite chilly again.

The gardens are loving the warm weather and are thriving. It's shaping up to be a great season for tomatoes especially this time - the last season was dreadful and a lot of people in the area were complaining about poor harvests.

With just our little patch it's hard to comprehend the heartache that the seasons can bring to farmers who depend on the land for their livelihood. With floods in one area, heatwave in another and snow all at the same time in another part of the country; not to mention economic downturns due to cheap and shoddy imports, its a tribute to their tenacity that they stay on the land as long as they do. This country use to be pretty well self sufficient and now our farmers are tossed scraps for their superior quality harvest because of the greedy multi-nationals. Not only do the men and women on the land battle with the elements, their determination and hard-slog is rewarded by a slap in the face.

We have a choice you know - we can fight this sell-out by growing what we can and buying local - refusing to eat crap from other countries that, by the way, do not have the checks and balances that we do concerning chemicals used in the production of food. Buy direct from the farmer if you can or get along to markets in your area. I was so impressed with the amount of farm shops on the North Coast when I visited my sister and brother-in-law recently. Among other things, on the way home I bought the most gorgeous avocados (4 for $5) and a fresh pineapple for $3 (with its top on - guess who's going to have a go at growing her own?!) The health of our families as well as our country depends on the choices we make. Don't think for one minute that you as an individual can't make a difference. A lot of " just one person" makes a whole lot of people! There is groundswell to support our farmers and protect our food production - do what you can in your little corner. Most of us who have gardens can't grow all that we want so we need to source the rest from ethical sources.

Our farmlands are already being sold to overseas interests who I can assure you, don't have our best interests at heart. If you want to grow your own but don't have a lot of room use pots. Stick some garlic in a pot, or a tomato plant; grow some herbs in your kitchen, swap what you grow with a neighbour who grows something else. Join a community garden. Buy Australian - as long as the company is Australian!!!! Become involved in what you bring into your household and put on your plate. Most people do more research into what TV to buy than what they put into their mouths.

Due to pressure and buying practises of the Australian people Woolworths has just announced they will be phasing out cage chicken eggs within 5 years. Most of us would like it to be yesterday not within 5 years.  It may be due to contractual agreements with the suppliers - I don't know - but it is a step in the right direction. All brought about because one person standing in front of the shelves in the supermarket thought about the cruelty to animals and what was healthiest for their family and chose a better product.  "Just one person"  -  did this time and time again. There must have been a lot of them because it's had the desired effect!!! Well done all you "just one person". :) It shows us all that things can change if we want them too.

Time Away.

Have just been out to turn on the sprinklers and hoses for the gardens and fruit trees. Everything is going well despite the high temps for this time of year. The tank is emptying fast so it looks like we'll be using tap water if we don't get some rain soon. It's crazy - we had a couple of years where it was almost non-stop rain and now we're all praying for it to fill our tanks. lol. I was speaking to a woman who lives about 20 k's from here who is on tank water only, and she's already anticipating having to buy water in the next month or so!

We recently had a lovely short break in Nambucca Heads on the N.S.W. north coast with my sister and brother-in-law. It's a good time to visit at the moment if, like me, you can't stand tropical humidity. It's a beautiful area and inland Dorrigo and Bellingen are well worth a visit. The two photos are taken from the look-out in Nambucca. Great views!

One of three kookaburras that pop in each day to visit my sister. A butcher bird also visits for a snack.








I'm going to include a recipe for a dessert my sister made while we were there and I can HIGHLY recommend it!!

                                    CARAMEL BREAD AND BUTTER PUDDING.  
5 slices of bread - raisin toast loaf was used.
1/2 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
470 can of evaporated milk
1 cup water
3 eggs
1/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
cinnamon

Method.

   *  Trim crusts from bread, butter bread lightly and cut into fingers.
   *  Lightly grease dish, sprinkle brown sugar over base then cover with bread, buttered side up
   *  Beat eggs, sugar, and vanilla until light and fluffy. Add milk and water, beat until combined.
   *  Carefully pour milk mixture over bread.
   *  Sprinkle with cinnamon.
   *  Place dish in a baking dish with enough water to come halfway up sides of dish.
   *  Bake in a moderate oven for 35 to 40 minutes or until custard is set.

******* Better make 2 because this won't last!!

Tuesday.

Wow the wind would blow a dog off a chain here today. The sun is shining and the temp is 31c. Already the smell of bush fires is being carried on this wind. :(

The veggies will struggle this summer I'd say, if this is what its like now at the beginning of spring. The tomatoes didn't do so well last year but we have moved beds and put in extra plants  in the hope that we will get plenty this season. I like to have extras to make pasta sauce etc.

So far we have put it tomatoes, lettuce, cucumbers, carrots, onions and spring onions, spinach, zucchini, more basil, peppermint, parsnips, beetroot and chilli.The strawberries are doing fine as are the fruit trees, with the blueberries starting to appear. The herbs are loving the sun and the grape vines are sprouting again. There is still more to plant but it can wait another week.

 




A few of our everyday visitors.

Beautiful sunset from our back deck.

Advertising!

  

Well it's Fathers Day here in Australia this Sunday. As usual we've been assailed with adverts left, right and centre. I must admit I find most advertising rather silly,and vaguely incomprehensible.

I mean really, have you ever bought coffee beans because George Clooney swans about trying to get his fix? Or cat food because Eva Longoria dances around her lounge-room? Evidently, according to the blurb, Eva is trying to make cat food "sexy". Sexy ????? Cat food ?????

Really clever ads (and yes there have been some) are few and far between. I do find the so-called ad-jocks are a little behind the times. "Sex sells" is an old adage that may have been edgy in its day but really ....sexy cat food????

So now to Father's Day. "Show your dad how much you love him". Hey I love presents as much as the next person - giving and receiving - but I didn't know that the giving of a particular gift was an accurate measure of my feelings for someone. Advertising always goes for the jugular; portraying you as lacking in some way if you don't use or buy their product. And you're not a good parent/child/friend/spouse if you don't max out the credit card on a gift. Hey that's how we all know how much you care - cause if you really care - you will buy, buy, buy! So does the kid who saved a few dollars love their dad less than the one who has a few hundred to spend on dad? Well that's the measure the ad guys use.

And that's what I find hard to understand. I know very few people who believe all that ; and yet someone must; cause these ad guys still have jobs, spending millions on meaningless nonsense that assaults our sensibilities and often tries to guilt us into buying their product.

    Will my husband get something for Fathers Day? I daresay he will. I also know the thing he will treasure the most is spending time with the kids. Something that can't be bought or measured; and no-one can make a buck out of it.

Follow Up.

Wow!! I was a little taken aback at how many people msg or rang me about the last post. Taken aback because, apart from a few close family members and friends this blog was started for, I didn't think anyone dropped in on a regular basis to have a read. I don't read stats (though I did yesterday and was quite surprised!)

It was really interesting to hear the reaction from people; and lovely to see I have so many friends who think the same way.
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I had a wonderful birthday with my family and friends; lots of laughs as usual. My eldest and his wife are overseas at the moment but will be home this week so we'll have a belated get-together then.

This photo I've included is one of my English cousins garden. They live near Norwich in Norfolk and we had the joy of spending a couple of days with Isabel and Ron when we were recently in the U.K.  They were wonderful hosts and a lot of fun; I love their zest for life. It is a lovely English garden and I thought you may enjoy a peek at one little corner of it. :)

Special People.

I took myself off to the shops today to buy clothes - a rare enough occurrence. I thought it would be rather nice to have a new outfit as its my birthday at the weekend and I'm being taken out for a meal. I have to really be in the mood for shopping and the mood doesn't strike very often. :)

Whilst out, I wandered into a gift shop and spotted some lovely things. Isn't it nice to browse around gorgeous bits and pieces? I decided to treat myself and when I took my items to the counter the lady asked if I would like them gift-wrapped. Quick as a flash I said "yes, thank you,  that would be lovely." As she was wrapping them she commented that they must be for someone special and I said yes they are............ me! Hahaha, her face was a picture. I assured her I would be very spoilt by my family for my birthday but that not enough people saw themselves as special; we often did nice things for others but not for ourselves. She had what is commonly called these days an "aha moment". She said what a wonderful idea, called the other lass over and told her and then said with a big grin on her face " You're right. I'm special too and I'm going to do this every year for myself."

How do you see yourself? Do you see yourself as special - special enough for gift-wrapping? :)  Are you uncomfortable with believing you are that special? Don't be! Oh yes, I know there will always be those, who in that lovely Australian vernacular, will rush in with the comment " oh boy that person is up themselves!" How sad! There is a big difference between appreciating yourself for the unique creation you are and being arrogant or conceited. The very sad truth is the type of person who makes that comment usually dislikes themselves and that's reflected in their negative comments. 

We're all amazingly, talented people of such promise why would we choose to see ourselves as anything else? So give yourself a gift and gift-wrap it if you want - you deserve it!!! :)

Getting Organised.

The gardens are all cleared out ready for new planting. It will be nice to get some things happening after letting everything go while we were away. We still have garlic growing as well as chillies and strawberries. Not bad for not being touched for a couple of months.

The furniture for the office is coming along beautifully so I thought I'd share some photos.

This will hold all my files, text and reference books as well as stationary etc etc. It takes the place of two smaller cupboards so will look a lot less cluttered. I just have to find some new handles. It will be moved into the house at the weekend so a huge clean out of aforementioned cupboards is required before then. Damn!

 This is the chair with its first coat. I'm thrilled with how it's coming up. Mark is a dab hand with a paintbrush. :) Now I have to decide what colour to cover the seat.

A Winters Morning?

Sitting in the 21 c sunlight having a morning cuppa it was difficult to believe we're in the middle of winter. The nights are chilly, and I do like a fire, but the days are glorious at the moment.

Sometimes I just sit; and wait; and listen. Before I know it my eyes adjust and I begin to notice all the busyness going on around me, down in the underbrush or quite close in the trees where I'm sitting.. The plovers wander about, and magpies, peewees, willy wagtails, finches, rainbow lorikeets, king parrots, corellas and cockatoos all visited this morning. If I'm lucky a kookaburra occasionally swoops in but more often than not I just hear them in the distance. Black cockatoos with their distinctive cry fly over often and sometimes grace us with their presence. It really is quite the little metropolis out there. lol.

Tomorrow is yard day. Our "get the garden back into production day." We'll finish clearing them out and fertilise ready for the next lot of seeds. Mark is off tomorrow so we should get quite a bit done. The chickens have been amazing - they haven't gone off the lay at all. I don't know how they keep going but they do.

I also want to undercoat a gorgeous old chair that I got at the weekend at a market for $10!!!! It has cabriole legs and a seat stuffed with horsehair! It is just beautiful!! It's sturdy and in perfect condition. I'm going to paint it and re-seat it and then it will go into my office. I have bought a new desk (well its antique) and a huge bookshelf cupboard thing that is in the process of being painted. The theme is french provincial. I like the shabby chic look but with a little less shabby and a lot more chic. :)) I think it will look amazing painted with a new seat.

Random Catch -up Stuff.

Its been forever since I blogged and loads of things have changed since I was last here; not the least that we spent 6 weeks tootling around overseas. What a time!
The garden fizzled whilst we were away but we weren't bothered by that - we let it go coming into winter since we knew we wouldn't be here to tend it. The kids dropped in and looked after the chickens marvellously - the girls were thriving when we got back.

I've begun to make my own almond milk; then dry and mill the meal left over to use in baking. It's an acquired taste after years of being a poddy calf and drinking gallons of cows milk for as long as I can remember, but it's growing on me. I love cows milk but it doesn't love me. lol.

Almond milk is really easy to make, or any nut milk for that matter. I use a cup of organic almonds, soaked  in spring or filtered water overnight (at least 12 hours) at room temperature. Add a dash of unrefined sea salt to the nuts and water. (this activates the nut - ie brings out all its nutrients) Next morning drain and rinse well. Add 4 cups of of spring or filtered water, blend madly until it's white and fluffy looking. Strain it into a bowl through a nut bag or muslin and squeeze out very carefully, taking care not to squish the meal back into the milk! Decant into a bottle and pop in the fridge. Dry the meal from the nut bag in the oven on about 170 c. Just spread it on an oven tray; I put oven paper on mine, and into the oven for a few hours until dry. It can then even be milled down to a flour if you wish; gluten free by the way. The milk takes all of five minutes to make and I know exactly what I'm getting. Almond milk has fewer calories and is lower in fat than cows milk which is a plus too. It can be sweetened with stevia if need be and is lovely with cinnamon or vanilla. I just use it anywhere I'd use cows milk.

I've changed my diet to boost my immune system etc since I contracted Guillain -Barre Syndrome courtesy of my first ever flu vaccine!!! For the most part I'm enjoying the changes..... well.......for the most part................! :))

Another Year in Paradise.

A new year and half way through January already. Did you make any "revolutions" for this year? lol - an old school friend and I use to call them revolutions because we figured if we actually carried them through it would revolutionise our lives! Soph passed away just before Christmas after a long illness; and  her passing made all of us who were privileged enough to have known her jump into the new year with renewed vigour and a smile of anticipation for what is around the corner. Her love for life and it's far -too-soon ending made for quiet reflection. I know that in midst of difficult times of course its very hard to see past it or believe things will get better; but you know really, it's just practise. Practising being grateful for what you have, appreciating those around you who bring you joy, acquiring knowledge and character rather than things. To live life to the fullest simply and with purpose, with joy and love, to pay forward the amazing blessings we have - that is our revolution. :)

                                                .............................................................

This heat is crazy! It's a bit all over the place here at the moment. The veggie garden has its tongue hanging out, my poor little chookies are struggling. Some horrid creature ate my lovely tomatoes and has moved onto the red chillies. He only ate the fully ripe ones. Just nibbled the top and moved on to the next one. ha - one can only hope the pain in its belly is punishment enough for him not to return!

Trying to keep the water up to the fruit trees and gardens is never-ending. Even the native birds are struggling in temps sometimes getting past 40c. I fill two birdbaths each morning to give them water but by lunch time they could probably make a cup of tea out of it. We've put shade cloth over the four main raised beds and that's saving them a bit but we just have to make the best of it. We haven't seen a fire near here so far so we have been so much more lucky than so many others in this fair land in recent weeks.

The herb garden seems to be coping ok; though my new stevia plant is looking a bit second-hand. I have some chillies (the ones that haven't been nibbled on)  drying on the back deck. Once they are fully dried I'll wizz them up and make chilli flakes for the spice rack. I was able to pick some cues, green striped tomatoes (can't remember their name), beans, capsicum, potatoes and strawberries. Even the girls gave me 3 eggs - little troopers!