DAY IN THE GARDEN

The weather forcast for today was wet, blustery, cold

Buuuut, no rain, no cold,no wind, hmmmm, well luuuucky

We had a lovely day out there planting broccoli, cauliflower, shallots. and

Heaps carrots, capsicum, more lettuce and lots of pansies.

The veggies I planted a few months ago are doing well and keeping us well supplied.

With the awful news lately of people dying from imported veg I think we have to grow what we can

I spend hours shopping reading labels to see where the product comes from, it's a real worry.

Our little garden is not much bigger than a postage stamp but still grow lot's.

So everyone get behind the drive to grow your own and boycot awful imports.Pleeeeese

Happy gardening x

I got inspired

After following Meg and Mums blog for quite a while, I wanted desperately to do up some furniture like Meg does.  The only problem was that my hubby and I both like our timber furniture and didn't really want to risk ruining it.  Buuuut I did have a half moon hall table that wasn't exactly pretty.  After looking at Megs blog again and going on about it to hubby, I announced that maybe I could pretty up our hall table.  He said " sounds good"  so I got to it and this is the result of which I am very happy.

Vintage find

I found this gorgeous apron in an op shop recently.  I just can't believe how lovely the crocheted crinoline ladies are.  They must have taken someone ages to do and then put the whole thing together.

Although I would dearly love to keep it, I needed some new stuff for my online shop so I have it for sale for $9.95.  Someone will love it as much as me I'm sure.

Beautiful doors and windows

While on holidays I seem to see things I don't normally notice, like these doors and windows which I thought are quite beautiful.  It must be when we are quite relaxed and unrushed that the world seems different.  Sorry that the pics are the wrong way round, I did rotate them on Picassa but somehow they arrived here sideways.  Oh well we can't be perfect all the time.  Have a nice day

Amazing rock formation

We have just had 5 lovely relaxing days at Victor Harbour, the south coast of South Australia only 50ks from where we live.  The area is so beautiful and these pictures are of Granite Island which is accessable by a bridge which only is  used for the horse and carriage or walkers.  

The rock formations are amazing, they  are covered with Lichen which is an organism that will eventually reduce the granite to soil. Hopefully not in our lifetime.  

Now after all that intelligent stuff,( I did sound intelligent didn't I?) I did cheat though as I read it from the many notices around the island.he he 

Holiday break

At last we have finally got to fit in a beach holiday break.  Off to Victor Harbour for 6 lovely long lazy days.

Nothing like a short holiday with no computors, phones or work. See you next week.  xx

Market Day

My daughter and I have been busy this week baking biscuits for her market stall, she has also made soy candles in vintage teacups.  The market is in the Masonic Hall Semaphore Rd Semaphore, one of our Adelaide Beach suburbs, 10am-4pm 2nd and 4th Sat of each month, this is our first one here on 14th May, should be a good day.  I am really looking forward to it.  She also goes to  the Fullarton Market on the 4th Saturday of the month,9am-1pm

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY

I hope you all have a lovely family day on Sunday xx

THE WEDDING

I sat glued to the TV watching and waiting to see the dress and it didn't dissapoint.  Wasn't it just so simply beautiful and I loved Kates headress too.  The boys looked so handsome in their uniforms, wouldn't their mother have been proud. 

I think Kates bouquet will be going to Diana which will be a lovely gesture.

MOTHERS DAY FLOWERS

I got a lovely surprise yesterday, one of my afternoon tea friends gave me the biggest bowl of chrysanthemums from her garden.  I filled all the vintage jugs I could find.  I think my daughter and daughter in law will get an early mothers day gift when I share them around. They just seem so summery even though it's Autumn.

BEAUTIFUL LACE

I love lace, especially vintage. 

 I was lucky enough recently to be given this beautiful vintage bridal train.  It was suggested I make something nice from it.  After much thought and touching and admiring it, I still cannot bring myself to cut it.  I originally thought of making a Christening gown from it, but ended up hanging it on my sewing room wall.  At least I can look at it every day until I have the courage to do otherwise.

HAPPY EASTER EVERYONE

After a lovely walk to the beach I made easter biscuits.  I hope everyone is enjoying the lovely break.

easter biscuits ready for the oven and after my attempt at icing them (not one of my strong points)

Easter Baking

I had a spurt of energy this afternoon so I decided to do some homemade bread for my lunch friends tomorrow but I got carried away as always when I am in the kitchen.  I figure if I am going to turn the kitchen into a huge mess of dishes and bits all over the floor like what usually happens when I cook, I may as well make it worthwhile, soooo the result, bread, hot cross buns, scones, biscuits, slice and muesli cake.  Not a bad afternoons play which is what it is to me because I get so lost in cooking that I forget the time.  Who needs to sit still to meditate? just do what you enjoy most, just as good a result.

In the pink

I love Sunday lunches especially when they are shared with friends, I decided to make this Sunday lunch table setting all pink and as the roses were still in bloom (my favourite flower) I made them the centre piece along with some of the beautifully fragrant petals in a pink depression glass bowl and of cause I had to include my little birdie basket filled with nougat.

Lactose free tea loaf

I made this Lactose free tea loaf and it is absolutely delicious and so easy.  It has a texture of the malt loaf my mother used to make.  I might add that most of it dissapeared before I got a chance to photograph it.
Recipe
3/4cup sultanas and the same of currants
1 cup strong black tea
13/4cups SR flour
1/4tsp salt
3/4cup brown sugar firmly packed
1 egg
2tbls marmalade

Method
Put sultanas and currants in a bowl and pour the tea over, stand overnight
Add sifted flour and salt to fruit,mix well, stir in brown sugar.  Beat the marmalade and egg together, add to fruit mixture, mix well.  Pour into a lined and greased loaf tin and bake in a moderate oven for about 1 hour until cooked when tested.  Turn out onto a rack when cool.  If you are not lactose intolerent then it can be spread with butter.

THE SUNFLOWER

Well the sunflower that I planted from a seed from a packet I bought to put in my muesli has finally flowered but I have never seen a sunflower that looks quite like this.  The centres are I think much bigger, but it is still lovely.

Simple but beautiful

I just love this photo I took last year on holidays.  It is so simple and yet beautiful

ITALIAN MELAMINE FLORAL SET 3 SERVING PLATTERS VG CON 27cms diameter

For sale $6 in my online shop

A couple of my favourite things

I was in my favourite place sewing away today and had my pretty soy candle burning (from http://www.astaraboutique.bigcartel.com/) and my pretty pink basket beside it, from(http://www.vintagebyloulou.bigcartel.com/)

UNUSUAL SPUDS

Bought these unusual potatoes at the farmers market, got even more purple as I steamed them but tasted very nice.