The best days

Today is turning into my favourite kind of day. A little rainy and cool with some dry periods to let me spend some time outdoors too. I have been running around a little too much for my liking and there is still another week of it but this weekend is free from to-ing and fro-ing.

 

 Last night we had a wonderful dinner with fresh picked vegetables. The girls wouldn't be happy if it was just vegies on the menu so I made a creamy chicken and tomato dish to go with some pasta along with a vegetable tian. The tian is a delicious way to serve different vegetables and easily adapted to include whatever is in season or in the crisper. I didn't take a picture of the finished product (too busy eating) so I won't put a recipe up until I make it again. I always like to see a picture of what I am cooking.

Grace, the musican, spent the morning in the kitchen making panna cotta for dessert tonight. Dessert isn't often on our menu but it will be nice for a change. Unfortunately her cooking involvement ends before clean up. SHe does assure me though that when she cooks at school she washes up.

The basket in the picture above, is loaded with tomatoes which this morning became sauce. This is an easy sauce which can be used straight away or frozen for later. It doesn't have any preservatives like sugar or vinegar so it isn't suited to beng bottled. But, it is delicious nonetheless.

I used about 1kg of tomatoes which I sliced up and placed in a baking tin along with four cloves of garlic, salt and pepper and some herbs (thyme and oregano today). Drizzled with olive oil and baked in a 180 degree C oven for 45 minutes. We enjoyed some straight away with bread and the rest was strained and frozen. This amount of tomatoes gave me two containers for the freezer which can be used in pasta sauces or soups/stews when there are no fresh tomatoes available.

The other reason I like days which are cool and moist is because I can get a bit of sewing done. I have a few things to make and send away so today is just right. Well it would be if it wasn't so windy.

Tracy

Smelling Roses

I have a busy week nay fortnight ahead. There is the usual work and the housework as well but on top of it all, I am Grace's roadie/ driver for rehearsals and performances for a musical she is in. Our schedule is usually quite simple but for the next two weeks, I have written where I have to be and when because I'm a little afraid I just might forget. I'm not one of those people who enjoys driving or even being a passenger much, it's just a means to an end. That's not to say that I don't make the best of the driving time with a bit of thinking and music listening but I'd still rather just not. Tim on the other hand, loves driving. A perfect match maybe. I hope so.

 

Hope

Because I am going to be busy I thought I should take a few moments this morning to literally and figuratively smell the roses. They have been poor performers this season because of the heat and dry but now that we are cooling down for autumn and have had some rain, they are having a flush of blooms. Not too many yet, but enough to allow for some whiling away of minutes if not hours conferring with them.

Seduction

 Unfortunately all of the roses which are offering up precious blooms, are of the low scent variety. Never mind stopping to smell the roses still felt good.

And I'm always on the lookout for bees when I'm out and about. The buddleia seems to be full of nectar if the buzzing is anything to go by. When we first thought about getting bees, I wasn't that interested. I wanted them but it was really Tim's baby. Now I'm just about as keen as him maybe moreso sometimes. He is more responsible for the heavy side of things like lifting supers and the like whereas I tend to the indoor activities like the wax processing. I think my biggest interest though is in their behaviour. Observing which flowers are favourites and which they don't bother with, the differences between the hives. I can easily see why some scientists dedicate their working lives to a creature which although tiny, has an important role in the wellbeing of the planet.
Tracy

Sunday



 

The asparagus flowers are the place to be right now if you are a bee that is. The flowers are nondescript individually but on mass they are quite nice. The humble little bee though appreciates every tiny flower. I heard them amongst the flowers before I saw them. The plants are bushy and as the bee flies between each flower it visits, you can hear it buzz and buzzing they were. They appear to be taking in some nectar but it's those pollen bags that are impressive. Bright orange and full.

 It looks like a pumpkin but in fact it is a Ronde de nice zucchini which I left for seeds. It is huge but weighs hardly anything at all given its size. It is just all hollow and seedy. I didn't leave it on purpose but by the time I found it, it was too late for anything else. There are still a few zucchini coming on but it won't be long and they will have to be pulled up. There are definitely touches of autumn in the air. You can feel it best when it is early morning. I love those chilly starts to the day.

 

At long last ( I thought it would never happen) the bhut jolokia chilli is bearing fruit. I was drawn in by the claim that it is the hottest chilli in the world right now. I'm sure there will be another to take its place but for the moment, this one will do me. Now it is a waiting game for the fruits to ripen in to the orange/red that they become. Tonight however, I will be picking one or two for the curry I am making for dinner.

Over the years, I have developed less of a tolerance for chillies but I'll still give it a go. I have habaneros too to compare it to so we shall see if it is indeed hotter. Tim and Tom are rather fond of chillies so I will let them be the judges in the end. If looks are anything to go by, it should be super hot because it really is one of the ugliest chilli fruits I have seen.

 

 

 

And just for good measure with the weather which has been all over the place this week, we are having a sunshower. Perfect opportunity to spend the rest of a relaxing Sunday indoors making and baking.

Tracy

Back to the routine

I'm so happy that Tim is well again. He returned to work today after twelve days at home and already I miss having him about. It has meant that my day is settling back into its normal routine. I have a bit of a plan of what's to be done each day and I'm back on track. Of course there are always things that crop up to create a diversion but today so far has been smooth sailing.

 

I even had a few spare minutes after I put the kitchen to rights to make these lotion bars. Fiona suggested them and the tutorial is here.

 

They are a perfect  for someone like me with beeswax on hand . They are emolient,easy to make and the few drops of lavender oil I added to the mix made them smell simply lovely. Now I hope they work wonders on my goat-like gardener's knees but that might be just too much to expect.

But those gardener's knees are worth it because I get to spend time amongst the flowers. The marigolds are simply stunning right now. I no longer have to sow seeds for marigolds, they pop up here and there when they are ready. The place they grow most readily here is the vegetable garden which is a boon because they are such good companions to many plants.

I picked up this lovely plant from BigW on Wednesday. I had to be in town for my regular blood donation (that didn't end up happening) and decided to treat myself to a plant or two. I actually only ended up with one because nothing else really caught my eye. I know what type of plant it is but I can not get the name to come to mind. I must be trying too hard to remember.

Today is gusty and cool, It's nice to have to rug up a little to go outside for a change.
Tracy

My new additions

This is what I have been so excited about. My new additions to the farm ... Scottish Highlands. They are my all time favourite bovines.

 

It's the horns and hair I think. It also helps that they aren't as big and daunting as some other breeds. Though I will admit those horns could be daunting.

I now have a cow and calf and a heifer. The calf arrived as a bull calf but is now a steer and is destined for the plate in a year or so.

They are very quiet animals and are settling in well. The sheep aren't quite sure what to make of them and vice versa. I'm not sure three will be enough, they push all of my buttons and I would have a huge herd if I had the space.

Tracy

Hello Possums

I really want to be showing off my newest (ad)venture because I am excited about it but photographic opportunties have been elusive. A few poor photos aren't worthy so I will wait until (hopefully) tomorrow.

 

In the mean time, flowers are blooming and the gladioli have been glorious. My green gladiolus hasn't come to the party yet but I'm sure it will soon.

 

These ones are all in the vegetable garden for a bit of colour. They are real troopers and take the heat and dry very well. They also multiply readily which is always welcome... free plants.

And this is a pretty which is in the front garden. It's quite delicate and could easily be lost amongst other plantings but I think up close like this it really looks great. It's only drawback, no perfume that I can tell anyway.

Another perfumeless flower, the zinnia. This one is from my Diggers originally. I fell in love with idea of green and white zinnias because they were different to the more common colours and Diggers used to sell them. I haven't seen them in their catalogues recently so I'm glad I saved seeds from the originals. They are another toughy that doesn't disappoint and seed collection is a cinch.

In very happy news, my Tim is feeling much better. He is almost at full strength with possible side-effects of arachniphobia.

thanks for stopping by,
Tracy

Greening up

 

I am so glad to say that things are greening up in the area generally and here in particular. I must admit that a little more rain falling on the tin roof this afternoon was enough to lull me into a nap. I didn't realise I was so tired but I have been working extra hard this week.

 

 

The sheep really can't keep on top of the feed right now. BUt they will be having some help come tomorrow and I am very excited. I won't say anymore now but it is something I have daydreamed about many atime.

And just because I was in an extra generous mood today, the poultry got some watermelon. I have always had an aversion to watermelon but today something tempted me and I tried some. I was pleasantly surprised and i think I am a convert. My Mum always told me that my tastes would change when I grew up. I hope this isn't a sign that I might be growing up.
Tracy