Fungi on the farm

 First up the June!Photo a day for today. The topic today is "From a low angle". This is the old windmill that is situated close to one of the two creeks bordering our property. It has been some time since it was in use. At some time in the past it had been used to pump water directly from the creek(we don't have a bore). We have set the farm up now so that we don't need to rely on the creek for our water supply but it is good to know it is there need be.

A fungi in the garden(despite the resident comedian's claims of it being something else).

 I have been out and about today. Looking at nature along the way. No matter where one lives, city or country, fungi is ever present and vital. Even if it is not edible, they play an essential role in the ecosystem. The world of fungi is very interesting and I do wish now that when I studied microbiology at university, I had chosen to study environmental fungi rather than clinical mycology. At the time though it was what was necessary for my future career.

 Just more things to learn about and probably if I look through my old books, I might find the information I want. In the mean time though I have just been visiting a blog all about Australian fungi and in particular things seen not too far from where I live.

We don't get too many edible fungi or at least fungi that I would feel safe eating so I am now growing some in a mushroom growing kit in the laundry room.

Grace and Hope gave me the kit for Mother's day and it is starting to kick into high gear. The girls will join me eating these button type mushrooms but when it comes to other 'shrooms, they aren't fans. I am on my own. More for me.
Tracy

Frugal by necessity.

Every so often I go over our budget to make sure things are working as they should. I like numbers and lists so I don't mind it a bit. I have never been a spendthrift which has been a blessing to our family. As soon as I had a job after university, I saved and saved. I didn't even take a holiday for the first few years of my working life. Thankfully I loved my job so it was no hardship. Back in those days, I was frugal by choice. Nowadays we live a frugal lifestyle by necessity. I am trying ever so hard to put a stop to any small leaks which might sink our ship.

I have been having a look at the thrifty tips  that Kate has been blogging about this month and consequently thinking about money saving ideas. I think most people can relate to having to economize especially in the current financial environment. I have cut out unnecessary spending (obviously not completely, I still have Internet at home) and we do our best to reduce our costs. I menu plan right down to what I will be baking for the week, turn off appliances at the  switch. There truly is a limit to how low expenses can go though. Council rates need to be paid, utilities, insurance for cars, home and farm, animals need to be cared for. The only item on our budget that is a non-essential (besides the Internet) is gift giving and that has been reduced too. Hanging out on a farm all day doesn't require a high-end wardrobe and thankfully our tastes are fairly simple. Last years "town" clothes become this years farm clothes.

From experience I have found that it is good to have a specific goal in mind if you are saving. Throughout our marriage we have just been saving for the future without any real aim in mind. It was a good thing, it gave us the opportunity to set our son up in the city for his studies.Which is good for him now, the girls too if they decide to move to Sydney too for study or just to live. Now however I am thinking about saving with a more concrete goal in mind for mine and Tim's future. At the moment the savings dream is just that and the goal is going to have to be reached slowly but it will be worth the effort I'm sure. I'm saving only cents at a time, not big bucks but I am motivated.

Now that was serious and I would like to talk a bit more about frugallity a bit more some other time. Right now though, I have chores and must sign off.

Before signing off though here is the photo for June 11th. Topic: Door. This is a little cupboard that hangs in my dining room and the door is more interesting than my front door. I painted it a few years back when I was going through a folk art phase. I still have all of the paints but just not the inclination to use them (Grace and Hope use them so they aren't going to waste).
Tracy

The Best of Weekends

 Thankfully the June!Photo a day challenge picture for today is the "best part of the weekend". Too easy. I could have posted any number of family pictures I took.Though some did have even more ridiculous expressions than Tim's in the one above. The best part of any day for me is family. Even if I didn't stay at home this weekend, it still would have been about family because we would have travelled to Wellington for our niece's baby shower. Tim's work roster didn't allow travel this weekend and it is probably best to wait until after the baby has arrived before heading over there, it is a big trip.

 I took the girls for a play in the park with their cousins. I love the park which is dedicated to all things wool related. The uprights on the swings look like huge knitting pins and there is a playhouse which is like a shearing shed. Very cute. It was busy today too which is good for the local businesses.

Lastly a picture of our table after the light started to fade. The stylists at Country Style, Donna Hay and other gorgeous magazines have nothing to worry about from me but I liked it anyway. There is something a bit special about dining outdoors.

Sunday soup night tonight. We are having Cauliflower, potato and blue cheese soup which was in a freebie Donna Hay magazine my Mum gave me. It isn't ready yet but almost.
Tracy

Outdoorsy

The Queen's birthday long weekend always meant fireworks and bonfires even when I was small and living in the city. The fireworks are a thing of past but tonight we are going to brave the elements and have dinner outdoors with the added magic of a bonfire to keep warm by and maybe those who are inclined will toast some marshmallows. I have Tom home and my sister is coming for a visit too so if that isn't an excuse to celebrate then I don't know what is. I am loving this weekend and a bonus, Tim is not working until Monday. Simple menu tonight, pumpkin soup with homemade bread roll and steak sandwiches for the anti-soup brigade and the extra hungry diners. Warm pear and honey cake for dessert.



The photo topic of the day is "Your View Today". Both of the pictures above qualify. The lighting is off today, overcast and the sun is giving  the grass an eery look but is how it is.

Apparently there was an tremor in the region last night. I felt nothing probably because I was sound asleep but it is still scary nonetheless. I know I couldn't live in those places that face that constant known threat of disaster. I would be forever on edge. I am a worrier I believe.

Anyway I have to go and bake the dinner rolls and light the fire.
Tracy

A Little Excited

 June 8: Six o'clock. I am a bit of a clock collector but I rather like the idea of showing where I like to be at six in the morning or night (during the winter anyway). By the fire the lights out and just sitting alone ot with the family. Tomorrow night we will be outside with a campfire and that will be equally nice.

But why am I excited? My boy, Tom, is coming home tonight and will be staying for a week. It is stuvac for his first semester at university and apparently he feels he will get more study done at home with Mum looking after him than he will if he stays at the townhouse fending for himself. I'm not sure if this will be so but he will be well looked after and spoilt just a bit.

I am branching out with my farming and tomorrow I am setting up a roadside stall. It is the only thing for an excess of pumpkins and honey and no transport to sell them at the weekly organic market. I'm hoping a nearby clearing sale will increase sales. The rams are proving more difficult to sell this year, People often contact me to buy ewes but as only one ram is needed for many ewes, they are harder to sell. I have had a few inquiries but no sales as yet. Hopefully after another round of advertising tomorrow, their will be some takers.

Tracy

June 7: Drink

June!Photo a day can be found here.
This cup of lavender and mint tea was just what I needed today after a busy day outdoors. weeding, planting and working hard.
Tracy

Pumpkin Fritters

 The weather is playing along today and I managed to hang a basket of washing on the line. Having damp washing drying all over the place is messy and distracting and I don't like it so it is good to have it caught up. We do have a clothes dryer but it is a last resort and believe me I would have used it yesterday but some rubber band type of thing in it has snapped and it is out of commission. Doesn't matter now.

I'm not just grateful to have the wet washing sorted but also to be able to go outside and actually enjoy it. I never buy pumpkins and it is easy to see why. We grow enough to last most of the year and besides when there are none left, there is always something that is in season and abundant to take its place. Up until now I have been picking the pumpkins as I wanted or needed plus a few to give away. Today however I harvested two wheelbarrows full. So we have plenty to share and enough to keep us going until we are tired of them.

Last night I made pumpkin fritters for dinner. The fritters do need something with them or they border on being bland. I had left over fritters for lunch today along with a poached  egg , lettuce and a little mayonnaise. It was good.

Pumpkin Fritters

Ingredients

1/4 cup milk

1/4 cup sour cream

1 egg

1 cup grated pumpkin

1 cup grated zucchini

1 cup plain flour

1/2 teaspoon bi carb

olive oil for frying

Method

In a large bowl combine the milk, sour cream and egg.

Stir in the pumpkin and zucchini.

Mix in the flour and bi carb well.

Heat the oil in a frying pan.

Place tablespoons of the batter in the hot oil and  cook until golden then turn to cook the other side.

Allow to cook until they are cooked all the way through.

I use two forks for turning, it works for me. The zucchini I used was frozen from the summer glut. I defrosted it in the microwave and drained the excess liquid in a colander. I don't like salt at all but some might find the mixture benefits from it.

Tracy