Day Twenty Three: Flea market finds

This morning we visited the Annual Fair at a local retirement village. We wandered the stalls of jams, cakes and Nana handicrafts as we listened to the old ladies choir. But most importantly, we were there for bric brac.

Admittedly, it was slim pickings, luckily we went early and acted fast. I am very happy with our finds. I also bought 2 retro aprons for a dollar each, but they are in need of a good soak in the wash. The children didn't leave empty handed either, beads, rocks, a key ring, barbie furniture and a vintage toy horse all found their way home with us.



I can't even begin to tell you how excited I am by this pair of breakfast plates and cups. I love the pattern, I love the detail, I love how fine they are, I love that there is two and I love that they only cost me $1.00.

I even love the friendly old gentleman that sold them to me.



More excitement. Fifteen souvenir, linen tea towels from Australia and around the world. Collected but not used.



Last week I vowed that I would not buy any more books (I ran out of bookshelf room long ago) But I didn't have these and I did need them, really I did.



A chamber pot for the lounge room, it's a pity I ran out of money or I could have picked up a cheap plant from the plant stall to go in it.

Go here, to see what other treasures have been found this week

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Day Twenty Two: A day in the garden

This morning, bright and early we had some soil delivered. This weekend we have plans to spend in the garden. It is well overdue for some tender love and care. Some trimming back and much weeding needs to be done. Our main goal is to extend our vegetable patch so we can produce some more food.



At the moment we have some very happy lettuces, lettuces and herbs have always been very kind to us. But we are wondering, if we actually put a little more effort into our garden, could we produce more? We are a little clueless, and usually go for the "lets plant it and see what happens" approach. Even though we have a very small suburban block. I want to do more.

Unfortunately the weather has had other plans for us today. It is pouring rain. Mr Moo has moved all of the dirt in the rain while the kids have run about getting filthy. As for me, I have put together a collection of photos and the story of our vegetable garden so far.



I will start from the beginning.

On a sunny day back in July we re-vamped our long neglected vegetable garden. It had lay dormant for almost a year, after our dreadful summer when nothing survived. The vegetable patch had been taken over by a huge patch of oregano and nine paw paw trees, that had grown up from the compost. We ripped out all of the weeds and half of the oregano. We moved all but 3 paw paw trees into another part of the garden. Next it was a trip to the market for seedlings.







We planted french beans, baby carrots, heirloom beetroot, cherry tomatoes, roma tomatoes and capsicum. And herbs: dill, parsley, rosemary, mint and thyme.

In August we bought a couple of punnets of mixed lettuce from our local market and added them to our garden.









By mid September there was at lot of new growth in the garden - things were looking promising.



We even had a stray tomato bush growing up between the concrete and the fence.



' No snails allowed' signs were made.



By late September we were, and still are, picking lettuces and herbs daily.

Two weeks ago we picked our pineapple. And last week we enjoyed a small harvest of carrots.

It's a start, however I am aspiring to bigger and better things.

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Day Twenty One: The converted

Miss Moo Moo doesn't like tomatoes.

Well she didn't yesterday.

The first of our cherry tomatoes are starting to ripen in the garden. This morning, the children came running into me in the kitchen, breathless and excited. They were talking over each other trying to get their story out.

Then clearly and loudly, Miss Moo Moo spread out her arms and pronounced: "Just ate a tomato and I LOVED IT." (eyes popping wide)

Then she put both thumbs up in the air (she likes to be dramatic) "Homegrown - AWESOME DUDE!"

It's nice to see that she can see the value in homegrown.

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Day Twenty: Every little bit helps

This is Amina, a beautiful mother of six and seller of yams

Last year I became a Kiva member, you may remember Jacqueline.

Today I have re-loaned to another small business. I find such inspiration from these entrepreneurs around the world, starting up businesses despite their circumstances. It is hard to choose just one.

Maybe you want to be a Kiva lender too? $25.00 is the minimum loan, that's not much really, and every little bit helps.

I have loaned to Amina who lives in Togo, West Africa. She requires the loan so that she is able to buy more stock to increase her sales at her market stall. Her goal is to give her children a better future.

Isn't that what we all want?

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Day Nineteen: By my bed

On my bed side table today:

Beautiful flowers from Grandma's garden.

And "A Home Companion". This morning I picked this book up from the library. I had reserved it back in May - finally, it's my turn! I can't wait to crawl into bed early tonight to start reading it.

What do you have on your bedside table?

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Day Eighteen: A sad day

Today was a sad day.

Our neighbours, little Miss M and little Miss A moved out. They are moving to Western Australia. Travelling across country by caravan. A big adventure for them, but they will be missed.

As we ate breakfast outside this morning it was a lovely surprise to see their heads pop up over the fence for a chat.

Later the girls came over and played all day while their parents did the last of the packing. We have just waved them off. Caught up in their excitement as they drove away, packed in like sardines, roof racks piled high and towing their vintage caravan. As they rounded the corner I could still hear Miss M laughing and yelling out the window "I'm so squashed, I can't breath"

Whatever will my kids do after school now?

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Day Seventeen: Missing out

Yesterday while I stayed home to bake a cake for our lunchtime barbecue. Mr Moo, Poppy, Tiya Ning and the kids went to the beach. I didn't mind staying home because today is a student free day in Queensland. I had planned a day at the beach with the kids. A yummy picnic, collecting shells and a play in the park.



But I missed out. On all the fun. I have woken today to horrible weather. Giant grey clouds, gusty winds and drizzling rain. Bummer.

Depressed about the situation, I decided to make chocolate french toast for breakfast.

Things are looking up.

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Day Sixteen: Opps!

It appears I have skipped a beat.

Our easy day at home yesterday ended up being filled with visitors. It was lovely and mostly unplanned. Grandparents and more grandparents and even great grandparents. Friends and little school friends and neighbours and neighbours children.

So after tucking my little monkeys into bed far later than usual, I went for a quick shower and straight to bed myself.....

Without another thought to Blogtoberfest. - Opps!

So today, please accept these flowers as an apology.

These flowers that I picked this morning and that are now spilling out of tall vases around our house. These flowers that have been transferred from flower bed to flower bed each time that we have moved. Theses flowers that were in the garden of our first home when we bought it 12 years ago. Each year when these flowers bloom, where ever we are, they bring great joy.

I hope you are having a great Sunday. We will having more visitors for lunch. The sun is shining, the meat is marinating and the chocolate cake is in the oven.

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Day Fourteen: making jam

Today I made strawberry jam.

Spunky Monkey was home sick from school. He helped out a little bit. But not a lot.

I haven't made this for years and I have been missing out!

Firstly, I love, love, love the sweet smell of strawberry jam as it cooks. However Spunky Monkey has a different opinion of the smell. He walked into the kitchen with his hand pitched on his nose, asking what stinks?

Secondly, the taste of fresh strawberry jam is to die for. For afternoon tea we made a batch of pikelets and lathered them with still warm strawberry jam.

Make some now. You won't regret it.

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Day Thirteen: Is it summer already?

Tonight Miss Moo Moo was the first in our family to taste this seasons mangoes.

Mr Moo and I were too full from dinner and Spunky Monkey is sick. She had begged me to buy some at the shops this afternoon. She was in heaven, her tiny face turning orange in minutes.

Mangoes to me, mean summer. Is it really that close?

Is Christmas really that close!

This photo was taken last christmas holidays, my camera is on the charger tonight. But you get the picture - delicious.

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Day Twelve: Egg mayonnaise for lunch

Miss Moo Moo's favourite lunch right now is egg mayonnaise sandwiches.

Today we even made our own mayonnaise. Although Miss Moo Moo questioned it's authenticity

"That's not mayonnaise, it's not white"

We ate our sandwiches out on the grass in the shade of the trees. The warm spring breezes playing in our hair.

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Day Eleven: Harvest time

OK, so we won't be winning any prizes at the local show.

These are the first carrots that we (I) have ever grown. Obviously we have a lot to learn. I think seeds would be a better way to go. Just clumping a punnet of seedlings willie-nillie doesn't appear to get the best results. But I for one am happy that we were able to get a meal out of our carrots, truly, I hadn't expected it.

Despite their mutated appearance they were delicious roasted with wine, thyme and cumin seeds for dinner tonight.

Any tips on growing carrots? I'd love to hear from you.

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Day Ten: My christmas wish list

The Real Food Companion



Forgotten Skills of Cooking



The Original River Cottage Cookbook



The River Cottage Meat Book



A Slice of Organic Life

Over the last couple of months I have been lucky to have these great books constantly by my side. Great tomes of information lugged everywhere from parks to play dates, from coffee shops to school pick up.

I love my local library, I really do. But sometimes you come across books you just don't want to give back.

Today I had to return the last one (The Forgotten Skills of Cooking). The others had been returned on their due dates over the last couple of weeks. It will be strange not to pick up a book with 600 odd pages, just to answer a question in my head.

So I have started my Christmas wish list: These five books and a little 5 acre farm with a cottage on a hill.

Thanks Santa xo

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Day Nine: Baking bread

You may have read on my other blog about the bread maker that mum bought me at a garage sale. Today I finally got around to using it, and it worked. Fresh bread!

I got 10 slices from the bread, that gives only five sandwiches. I will need to do a bit of costing to see if this is a good or bad thing. It would be easy to bake daily as it is foolproof, but it is cost effective? Do you bake your own bread? I would love some advice in this area.

I can see that there will be much trial and error along our journey for the perfect everyday family loaf. This is just the start.

I actually prefer multigrain bread to wholemeal, and prefer rye to multigrain. But wholemeal flour is what I had at hand and it made a nice wholemeal loaf.

There was so much excitement over our 'first ever' loaf of bread that Spunky Monkey (fresh from his bath and wearing pajamas) asked if he could take a slice of bread to the neighbours.

" Mum, don't forget to cut it into four so everyone can try a bit. They are going to love it!"

And they did!





Have have written the recipe here, as much for me as for you. My bread maker is a Panasonic (SD-200) I'm not sure how different they are.

Here is what I did:

Large Wholemeal Loaf

• 1 1/4 teaspoons dry yeast (I've kept mine in the freezer)
• 400 grams plain wholemeal flour
• 2 teaspoons table salt
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 2 tablespoons raw sugar
• 370 ml water

Put the ingredients of your bread into the bread maker in the order of the ingredients list. Yeast first and water last. There is no need to mix. Press the menu button and select wholewheat. Press the select button and select bake. When the beeper beeps to indicate that the bread is ready lift the lid immediately to remove the bread. Remember to wear oven mits and shake the pan several times to remove the bread. Place the bread on a wire rack to cool.

Et voila, fresh bread!

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Day Eight: Home alone

I have been home alone today.

No... not in a movie and hot chocolate kind of way.

I have been spring cleaning - like a mad woman.

With no interruptions and no time to eat or drink cups of tea, I have washed, wiped, scrubbed, vacuumed, dusted, rearranged and rearranged again, tidied and sorted. Walls, floors, drawers, cupboards, wardrobes, bookshelves and windows. The children's rooms and playroom look amazing. Lets hope some pocket money (bribes) will help keep it that way.

Still more spring cleaning on the list for later this week, but today has been a great start. I am happily exhausted, there is nothing like a bit of spring cleaning to put a 'spring' back into your step.

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Day Seven: Preserving beetroot

This morning I have been preserving beetroot.

My hands are pink and my kitchen smells vinegary, but I don't care. I can't seem to wipe the smile from my face. There is nothing more satisfying than home preserving.

Hmmm.... unless of course I had grown my own vegetables.



I am working on it.

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