Turkeys today

Vickie the mother turkey is the most patient and dedicated broody, she can rival any bantam. Last year she hatched out two clutches of eggs in the season and as it is so early in the season, I think she will this year too. So far we have six baby turkeys which she introduced to the outside world today. They only stay cute for a few weeks and I am guessing that they will be a hit with the girls at Grace's birthday party.

Tracy

Garden Love

I always love my garden, it provides me with so much. Exercise, nourishment, fun and perhaps most importantly, joy. I am however not always in love with the garden. When the jobs to do seem a little overwhelming, it can become just another chore rather than my passion. Not right now though. There is plenty that needs to be done but it is wonderful to do. The weather is right, a little rain and sunny days. The plants are zooming along and I have the weeds under control (for now).

My favourite place to be is the herb garden and I will take some pictures to post soon. I am finding that because everything in the herb garden is so lush, I am working that little bit extra to incorporate it into our meals. I have had to do some culling in the herb beds though and have been left with some empty spaces. I have used some volunteer plants- lavenders, oregano, parsley and southernwood to fill some gaps but there is so much room for new and interesting plantings. On my trip to town tomorrow morning I am going to make time for a visit to the nursery and a visit online to All Rare Herbs too.

Tracy

River Cottage Lunch

It may be quite some time before I actually have lunch at one of the River Cottage establishments but nothing stops me from having it at home. I used Hugh's recipe from the River Cottage Veg Every Day! book to make up Sunny Corner Farm version of a very satisfying baguette with broad beans and asparagus.

It was completely delicious and didn't suffer from my improvisation of home made bread rolls and cream cheese rather than goats cheese.

The chickens have been having the best time too. Their foraging is getting beyond what I am happy with, a little too free range. When they see me turning soil or weeding, they are there. It appears that I am the source of all things delicious to chooks. I am not about to lock them up (not yet) but I am seriously considering electric poultry netting as a control mechanism. I'm just trying to decide if the $300 price tag is worth it.
Tracy

Hospitality

I have posted about hospitality before or rather the lack of opportunity I have to open our home to others. Not for long though. Grace wants to have a birthday party this year and I have agreed to it. Her plan is to have a high tea style affair at the end of the month for about seven girls. I love that my girl wants to do something like that rather than something noisy or a sleepless sleepover. Hope on the other hand wants to have a Doctor Who themed party when it is her birthday in December. I'm not sure what we will do for that but she will know.

My biggest issue now is that when you don't entertain even on a small scale, you get out of practice. Although I shouldn't, I am succumbing to a little bit of the "I'm not good enough" mentality. That isn't what it is about afterall. When I go to someone's home, I don't mind what their house or gardens are like, I just enjoy the friendship they are offering.

Grace has picked out all of her favourite recipes for dainty morsels (the list grows daily) which should have us busy cooking for days. Apparently the girls are planning on being very grown up and lady-like for the afternoon tea and then they are going to go outside and be themselves. It should be fun.

Tracy

I need to toughen up

I have once again let the hearstease proliferate in the vegetable garden. It is just so pretty that I can never bear to pull it out so it pops up year after year. It is an easy plant to remove so not a problem really. I have also allowed the lettuce to grow and grow wherever they like. I figure if they self-seed in a spot then it must be the ideal place for them to grow.

I am toughening up though, cosmos are definitely coming out as soon as they show their first little leaves. I know it has a nice flower but it is weedy and a nuisance. Especially in the vegetable garden.

Another prolific seeder that I let go is borage. Yesterday I removed a heap from the paths in the vegetable garden but left these ones alone. The bees are loving them right now so they can stay for now at least. Until I need the space for tomatoes.

The bees were still happily foraging here right up to nightfall and the buzzing was LOUD.

Tracy

On My Mind- My garden

I'm joining in Rhonda's "On My Mind" posts. To read her post and those of other participants, just pop over here. My garden and in particular the vegetable garden is front and centre on my mind. I have plenty of seedlings in the little propogating/ germinating house. They are waiting for that crucial time when the weather is right and they are safe from the frost and also when there is room for them too.

These yellow podded peas are a while off being finished so that is a bed which will have to wait for spring/summer plantings.

I noticed a few globe artichokes just poking their baby heads up through the leaves today. They are gorgeous. A stunning plant that is probably best grown somewhere besides the vegetable patch because they really do take up a lot of space. I always have the urge to touch the leaves because they look so unfriendly but are in fact soft and lush.

When I think about my food garden, it is always with the kitchen in mind. If I see a recipe that intrigues me, I will grow the vegetable just for it. I am grateful that I have the room to do that. I am always collecting new ideas for cooking our produce and keeping our diet interesting, healthy and tasty.

Tracy

Cold

Cold weather and a cold in my head. For the past week or so I have been laid low with a head cold which has thankfully is now leaving my system. I think my nephew, Ted, was the culprit to thank for the cold but in all honesty, it was more likely my strong country immune system couldn't stand up to the rigours of the Sydney public transport system.

I spent Saturday in bed and even the temptation of Devonshire tea and a quilt airing in Nundle couldn't persuade me to head outdoors. The quilt airing was cancelled due to the rainy weather so the cold didn't make me miss everything.All is well now and I am back at the helm of my little home. Thankfully, energetically and excitedly.

Tracy