If you could find a place where you were welcomed with open arms, ushered to the kitchen table like an old friend and offered cake & coffee ( or tea), where you were never judged and could delve the depths of knowledge and wisdom...would you go there?
Such a place doesn't exist I hear you say..... ah ,but it does my friend!
In this place you will always find a friendly shoulder and a willing ear-in this place you can unburden your troubles or offer the hand of friendship yourself. You can laugh and cry, share and seek solace.
Where is this Nirvana, this Fabled Land I hear you ask?
Here my friends, it is here:
http://simplelivingforums.com/forum.php
Come visit, I'll put the kettle on.
Friday, May 10, 2013
Thursday, May 9, 2013
Cupboard love.....
At times in my life there has been an aching emptiness...something is missing and I cannot rest until the gaping hole is filled...dramatic, no?
Let's tone down the histrionics a tad-the reality is that I was looking for "something" to finish off our dining area. That something needed to fit with the vision I had; of being sturdy and useful, preferably with some age about it.....plus it needed to be cheap affordable!
One day whilstwandering aimlessly actively sourcing such a " something" my eye fell upon this:
Let's tone down the histrionics a tad-the reality is that I was looking for "something" to finish off our dining area. That something needed to fit with the vision I had; of being sturdy and useful, preferably with some age about it.....plus it needed to be c
One day whilst
I held my breath as I tried to locate a price tag-nothing! After seeing similar cupboards priced at $200+ I wasn't optimistic...... I hunted down a staff member and hopefully asked how much. " That old thing" she says... " if you really want it, you can have it for $75". SOLD!
I couldn't back the car up quick enough to load my new baby in- I was terrified that she would realise that it was actually $175!
Home we came, lovingly I unloaded this beautiful ( what -can't you see it's gorgeousness? Must be my photographic skills! ;) ) old piece of furniture. It's an old cupboard and appears to be locally made ( by the label on the back). I think it's either a gentleman's cupboard or a children's wardrobe by the hanging rail inside. At some point someone has cobbled together a shelf from recycled wood and installed it on the inside.
My plans for this baby did not include leaving it in it's original state-oh no. A bit of homemade chalk paint in a custom mix ( bits & bobs from our garage!) and two hours later we have this:
It's not weird to want to caress a cupboard is it?
Wednesday, May 8, 2013
Autumn activity.....
Today...........is a dreamy Autumn day. Sun is streaming through our windows, warming the inside of our home. Lightly blows the breeze and I have a morning at home to utilise.
The freezer yields 1.5kg of strawberries, frozen at the height of summer's bounty-strawberry jam is made...5 jars now sit glowing on my kitchen bench. Alongside the ruby hue is my sourdough starter ( Edie), newly fed in anticipation of sourdough bread and English muffins and keeping company is the cooling beef casserole base which has been pressure cooked into succulent tenderness......3 or 4 meals worth for us.
The freezer yields 1.5kg of strawberries, frozen at the height of summer's bounty-strawberry jam is made...5 jars now sit glowing on my kitchen bench. Alongside the ruby hue is my sourdough starter ( Edie), newly fed in anticipation of sourdough bread and English muffins and keeping company is the cooling beef casserole base which has been pressure cooked into succulent tenderness......3 or 4 meals worth for us.
Mine is a working kitchen- it has the capability to look "pretty" but is rarely so....it is clean but not magazine feature worthy! There is always something from the garden hanging around-at the moment there is a plate of pumpkin seeds drying in anticipation of next season's planting; a bowl of the last tomatoes and a large pumpkin.
Later this week we will have most of our children, their partners & children here for dinner and my hard working kitchen will provide plenty for all.
What is your kitchen like?
Linking up at:
Monday, May 6, 2013
Vege out.....
This weekend was a productive one for His Lordship and I-we finally managed to finish laying out and edging the vegetable garden beds as we have been planning for waaayyyy too long. In recent times we have been too busy on weekends to get anything done-so this was a satisfying couple of days!
The centre section of beds gives us 10 large beds with pathways to access all. We also have deep beds running along the boundary fences-these hold the blueberry bushes, asparagus crowns ( more to be planted this year), rhubarb and will also have raspberry canes ( I have to replace the ones we had after they were drowned due to water flooding from next door last year-our neighbours have done some drainage work so hopefully that issue is resolved!).
His Lordship and I also took the opportunity to head across to Port Fairy and walk around Griffith Island and stop at the lighthouse there. The walk is a comfortable hour long trek-and this time we spotted 6 wallabies, a number of raptors-plus a lot of shearwaters ( mainly the dead ones!).
The centre section of beds gives us 10 large beds with pathways to access all. We also have deep beds running along the boundary fences-these hold the blueberry bushes, asparagus crowns ( more to be planted this year), rhubarb and will also have raspberry canes ( I have to replace the ones we had after they were drowned due to water flooding from next door last year-our neighbours have done some drainage work so hopefully that issue is resolved!).
Above: Standing in the Eastern corner with our home just showing on the left. The covered bed in the bottom right of the photo is one of our 3 raised strawberry beds.
Above: Looking to the left ( North) as you walk through the gate. Chicken shed in the background, with chickens wandering through the orchard.
His Lordship and I also took the opportunity to head across to Port Fairy and walk around Griffith Island and stop at the lighthouse there. The walk is a comfortable hour long trek-and this time we spotted 6 wallabies, a number of raptors-plus a lot of shearwaters ( mainly the dead ones!).
We live in a gorgeous area and taking the time to act like "tourists" in our local towns is not only a refreshing recreational activity, but is also nice and frugal too!
How about you-what thrifty activities do you have in your area?
Tuesday, April 30, 2013
Reporting for duty....
Yes,yes...I AM still alive! Thanks for those of you who wondered!
I have just been having a season ofblogging laziness self-reflection and busyness-as you do at times.
Much has been happening-of our darling chickens we collected back in January only one ended up being a hen...so once they started with their juvenile crowing the boys went back! 3 Welsummer pullets took their places though.
We have been reconfiguring the vegetable garden and edging the beds-after the dry Spring and Summer we had a little Autumn rain has us enthusiastic again! I promise photos in the future....just as soon as I find the camera!
The interior of the house continues to be "tweaked"- His Lordship asked last night why I was rearranging the house when it wasn't Spring! See previous comment about photos.....
Our family continues to grow-with our middle child and her husband expecting their second baby in early November. Grandchild number 6 on the way!
I have just been having a season of
Much has been happening-of our darling chickens we collected back in January only one ended up being a hen...so once they started with their juvenile crowing the boys went back! 3 Welsummer pullets took their places though.
We have been reconfiguring the vegetable garden and edging the beds-after the dry Spring and Summer we had a little Autumn rain has us enthusiastic again! I promise photos in the future....just as soon as I find the camera!
The interior of the house continues to be "tweaked"- His Lordship asked last night why I was rearranging the house when it wasn't Spring! See previous comment about photos.....
Our family continues to grow-with our middle child and her husband expecting their second baby in early November. Grandchild number 6 on the way!
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
Chicken-little.
We are pleased to announce the arrival of our new additions.....our 6 week old chickens collected tonight. 3 of araucana descent, 1 australorp and 1 of *ahem* disputed origin! Hopefully all ladies......
Below- It didn't take them long to locate the bar...they were all thrilled when they were not asked for ID.
The buffet proved popular.....
Sir Bebe Le Pew is most impressed by our new family members-just quietly, he had been whispering that a couple of our "girls" were using the term loosely and just didn't have the *ahem* drive that they used to! Bebe-be a gentleman please!
He's hoping that they are all ladies too....
Sunday, January 6, 2013
Just jammin'.......
I cannot believe that a full month has gone by since I last posted! What can I say-it has been an incredibly busy time with us hosting more than 40 different people over the Christmas season!
I hope that you and yours have enjoyed exactly the kind of Holiday Season that has made you happy- I know that we have.
Now- to resume normal transmission!
Yesterday saw a top temperature of 45c here and after surviving that we were relieved to wake up to a much cooler day today. It had also been incredibly windy and when I was watering and pottering in the garden this morning I decided to use some of the winddamaged edibles and make jam.
During myneverending infrequent bloghopping I remembered seeing a recipe for Vanilla Rhubarb Jam and wondered if I could come up with something similiar with what I had on hand.
Ipainstakingly chopped up in the food processor some rhubarb stalks and 4 small apples-which gave me 8 cups of fruit.
To that I added 3 cups white sugar, a few vanilla pods ( leftover from my homemade vanilla essence), 1 lemon-juice squeezed and added together with the skins and 3/4cup black chai tea.
I let that come to a boil stirring over a medium high heat-then let it bubble for 10 mins or so-until the fruit was soft.
I fished out the lemon peel, vanilla pods and apple cores then tossed in another 3/4 cup sugar mixed with 1/3 packet Jamsetta, stirred until it dissolved and let it slow bubble until I was happy with the consistency.
Into hot jars and voila! Vanilla Chai & Rhubarb Jam. :) This jam has a nice tang to balance out the sweetness and just a hint of the Chai spice...mmmmm.
His Lordship heartily approved-partaking of the fresh jam on homemade sourdough English Muffins.
I do have photos BUT blogger isn't playing nice at the moment!
I hope that you and yours have enjoyed exactly the kind of Holiday Season that has made you happy- I know that we have.
Now- to resume normal transmission!
Yesterday saw a top temperature of 45c here and after surviving that we were relieved to wake up to a much cooler day today. It had also been incredibly windy and when I was watering and pottering in the garden this morning I decided to use some of the winddamaged edibles and make jam.
During my
I
To that I added 3 cups white sugar, a few vanilla pods ( leftover from my homemade vanilla essence), 1 lemon-juice squeezed and added together with the skins and 3/4cup black chai tea.
I let that come to a boil stirring over a medium high heat-then let it bubble for 10 mins or so-until the fruit was soft.
I fished out the lemon peel, vanilla pods and apple cores then tossed in another 3/4 cup sugar mixed with 1/3 packet Jamsetta, stirred until it dissolved and let it slow bubble until I was happy with the consistency.
Into hot jars and voila! Vanilla Chai & Rhubarb Jam. :) This jam has a nice tang to balance out the sweetness and just a hint of the Chai spice...mmmmm.
His Lordship heartily approved-partaking of the fresh jam on homemade sourdough English Muffins.
I do have photos BUT blogger isn't playing nice at the moment!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
