Three Things To Do For Fun

Share this post

In many countries people are able to go back to many of their pre CV-19 activities but other places still have lock downs or restrictions. So what can you do for fun if your movements are still limited?

IMPROMPTU PICNIC

bread and sliced fruits on brown woven basket

At the table, on a rug or outdoors a picnic is always fun. Platters of cut up food are the best for picnics and don’t require much preparation. Put any cheese you have on a platter, add cut up fruit from the fruit bowl, crackers or corn chips, even fingers of toast. Add sticks of carrots and celery plus any hommus or dip you have already. Little bowls of cashews, almonds or any other nut can be added along with dried apricots, dates and dried figs. Just use whatever is in the pantry. This list is just bare basics, you probably have plenty of delicious little snacks you can add to the picnic.

sliced cheese on brown tray

Now add a jug of mint or lemon flavoured water or cordial, or if it’s cold, a jug of hot chocolate. Call everyone to the picnic and enjoy an impromptu feast.

play a board game

person playing white and brown lego blocks

Dig out a long forgotten board game. So if you know you have a mahjong set, a Scrabble board, a backgammon box or anything else you haven’t used for years, get it out! Taking the time to teach others how to play or even teaching yourself at the same time can result in great games around the table. There’s lots of information such as history, rules and strategies online.

Or play HANG THE MAN. All you need is a piece of paper and a pen or pencil. Lots of fun guessing the word. Rules are online.

watch a classic film

Look up a list of classics films and find one you’ve heard about but never watched. Search on demand movie channels or subscriber providers. Put on the popcorn and settle on the sofa or set up a screen outside when it’s dark. In Western Australia we are at the end of the wettest October for 28 years, so indoor film nights for us!

Other activities are all about food. My Mother has been convalescing with us following eye surgery. She prefers a salt free diet and actually eats very plain food. Very challenging at times. A friend suggested I try poached chicken. She only poaches chicken now as it remains moist and is full of flavour.

I used chicken breasts as I had them in the fridge. More often, people cook whole chickens. I prefer free range chicken. I cut the breasts in half longways and gently lowered them into a large pot of boiling water, then turned off the heat. Put the pot with the lid still on onto the draining board for about an hour then removed the lid. The breasts were white. I drained them and sliced one to check if it was cooked. It was white all the way through and very moist. I added some of the cooled, sliced chicken to a salad. It was moist and well cooked. Drizzled a dressing made an olive oil, vinegar and lemon zest plus lemon juice dressing over the salad and chicken. Lovely and light.

The next day I added the poached breasts to some sweated onions and a jar of tomato (pasta) sauce. Stirred through cauliflower, broccoli and beans and put it in the oven for 40 minutes. Easy dinner. When I do this again I’ll poach the chicken in water with ginger and garlic in it, or lemongrass as I actually found the chicken very bland. I’d make a spicier sauce, too.

Family and friends came to visit while my Mother was recuperating at our house. Lots of lovely conversations and snacks. These tiny macarons were very good.

gardening news

The roses have recovered from chilli thrip. These iceberg roses have a flower in the middle surrounded by three or five other buds. The middle one blooms first, so I dead head it and let the surrounding flowers bloom. So, a trug full of central blooms!

Cut some of the icebergs plus some Pierre de Ronsard roses for this old Willow pattern teapot. Looks pretty on the table. It’s such a relief that the roses are healthy now.

As usual, so many gorgeous hippiastras.

It has been suggested I cut the flowers and put them in a vase inside. I’ve never done this but like the idea. Do you cut hippiastra and put them inside?

UPDATE ON NON TOXIC WEED KILLER The vinegar, salt and detergent weed killer is very effective but I only use it on the weeds in the path, not in garden beds. The problem is the salt will change the acidity/ alkalinity of your soil.

Share this post

You Know It’s Spring When…

Share this post

I really enjoy looking at all the articles published in the northern hemisphere about decorating for each new season. There’s a plethora of leaves as swags, in vases and on mantels, there’s seasonally colour framed quotes, buckets full of flowers, wreaths and especially decorated front porches. And now, all the American articles are about pumpkins and Halloween. Apart from flowers, most of my changes for spring seem to revolve around food!

SMALL, SWEET STRAWBERRIES

Spring means strawberries! They are small, aromatic and very sweet. Tart Greek sheeps’ yoghurt dolloped on dark red, sweet strawberries is a wonderful way to start the day!

CUT FLOWERS IN THE HOUSE

So many vases of fresh flowers in the house, just as I like it!

The roses have recovered from last seasons chilli thrip.

I collected the roses off the tables at Mum’s birthday lunch and reused them. Such pretty colours.

FLOWERS, FLoWERS, FLOWERS!

The garden is full of colour from tiny wood violets to blowsy roses, red and white hippiastras, Big Red geraniums, pelagoniums, nasturtiums and lavenders. The long lasting alstromerias are blooming, too.

Nothing says spring like flowers! There’s masses of flowers. After a dreadful season battling chilli thrip attacks on the roses all the bushes have all bounced back and are covered in gorgeous blooms. The garden is loud with busy bees.

FLORALS EVERYWHERE

Walk through the shopping centre and the displays of floral clothing are everywhere. Open any decorator magazine and the fabrics and wallpapers are all botanical themes. Everything from toile to eye poppingly bright florals. Pretty, fresh and such a change after the dark colours of winter.

Wallpaper with botanical prints.

Floral bed linen.

Pretty floral dresses.

Bedlinen, dresses, cushions, flowers on everything this year.

CONSTANTLY CONTROLLING WEEDS

Metropolitan Perth, where we live, has had the second wettest July on record. The weeds are thriving! I’ve experimented with a few non-toxic weed killers and have found this one works (here) Weed killing is an ongoing process. August and September were unseasonally wet, too, and we continue to have some rainy days and warm, sunny spring days in October. The weeds love this weather

THE WILLY WAG TAILS ARE NESTING OUT THE BACK

For years the willy wag tails have built nests in the back garden. Sometimes we know where they are and other years we can’t see them. If we get too near their nest they swoop close to your face. A sudden stripe of black and white and the flap of little wings and you know to move away!

I was digging in the garden a few years ago and something bit me on the heel. Looked down to see a defiant willy wag tail furiously wagging his tail at me. I think he hoped for worms as he began pecking at the newly dug soil when I stepped back.

We know when the nest are under construction as we see the willy wag tails tearing coir from the mat at the French doors. They pluck parts bare! I’ve found discarded nests in an olive tree and in roses over an arch and the coir is carefully integrated with small twigs. The tiny nests are lined with softer materials like leaves and hair from our dog

there’s fresh local asparagus

Suddenly the green grocers have bundles of fresh, locally grown asparagus. It is a perennial, so it comes up again every year. Traditionally harvested by a hand held knife some European countries are experimenting with harvesting machinery. To maintain peak freshness, asparagus is harvested at night. Asparagus is best eaten soon after picking.

I try to buy the thin ones as thicker asparagus can be a bit tough. Our favourite way to eat them is trim the ends, steam the asparagus, place it on the plate, drizzle with butter or Hollandaise sauce and top with a poached egg, parsley, salt and ground pepper. Quick lunch or dinner.

I microwave the asparagus now! I know, I took a while to try it, too, but now it’s the only way to go. Trim the spears, moisten a length of four sheets of paper towel folded in half, lay the spears in a single layer and roll the paper up to make a cylinder. Microwave for 2 minutes, check, you may have to do a minute more for thicker spears. I poach the egg in the microwave, too. (here) Actually, I made the Hollandaise sauce there, as well, but that’s a bit trickier.

other spring things

I’ve taken out the rye sourdough starter/mother and fed it. Left it in a warm place for a day. It bubbled and smelt yeasty, so I’ve made the sponge to start two loaves of sourdough rye bread. I’ve been buying bread as it’s been very wet and cold, but now it’s warmer. It takes two days to make the bread. Why do I bother? This dense loaf is very filling and has only natural ingredients. It also tastes wonderful although it may be an acquired taste!

The starter is added to flour, water, molasses and a pinch of salt to make dense, richly flavoured and very filling bread.

I make two loaves at a time. I slice the loaves and store them in the freezer, just removing what I need each day. Two loaves last 16 days.

A hot sunny day and our thoughts turned to icecreams on sticks! This is a Connoisseur Blood Orange Chocolate Icecream and it was wonderful.

What special things do you do for spring?

Share this post

Pressing and Preserving Flowers

Share this post

history

People have been drying and preserving flowers since ancient times. The Egyptians made fragrance from them and placed dried flowers in tombs. During the Middle Ages dried flowers were used as medicines and to mask bad odours. The Victorians created pictures from them, as did the Japanese. Dried flower pictures are still a recognised art form in Japan.

Picking and gathering

Picking and pressing flowers is a way to preserve them without chemicals. Pick the flowers mid morning when they are dry and open. Have what you need to press the flowers ready as you want to capture the bloom at its best.

Although perfect flowers are very pretty sometimes imperfections add interest. I like to add some foliage, too.

A hat full of late winter blooms picked on a warm day.

pressing the flowers

All you need is a flower press or some heavy books, scissors or garden shears, paper and the flowers.

I used lithograph paper as modern inks on newspapers can seep through and stain the flowers as they are drying. The imprint on paper towel can also transfer to the petals when it is under pressure.

Arrange the flowers on the paper. Trim to suit how you intend using the dried flowers.

Place another three or four layers of paper over the flowers being careful not to disturb your arrangement.

Place the top on the press and screw down as hard as possible or place the flowers within paper under some heavy books or actually within the books.

I have always left the flowers for about three weeks to dry. Some people leave them for less time but three weeks has always worked for me.

Remove the top of the press and the top layer of paper. The flowers will be fragile, especially the petals, so handle carefully.

using dried flowers

The flowers I dried have short stems as I knew I was going to make gift tags and cards from them. Firstly, I made gift tags. For this gift I made a box covered in photocopied musical scores because it was meaningful to the recipient. Then I made the gift tag.

I cut the luggage tags from water colour paper as I wanted the texture and whiteness. You can cut your own tags from any paper you like or buy tags.

I use a UHU Glue Stick to secure the flowers to the tag. Traditionally the flowers were secured with paper or tape tabs but I prefer using glue. Apply it carefully to the raised surfaces on the back of the flower, then the petals and then position it on the card or tag and weight it down for a few minutes while it dries. Use a punch to create a hole for the tie or ribbon, add a ring reinforcement sticker, write a message and it’s done.

The cards are made from some strips of water colour paper (300gm cold press) I had left over from another project. I like the texture and its whiteness. I write inside the card but you could add an insert of plain paper glued to the fold. Just cut it slightly smaller than the card, run UHU stick along the fold then press in into the fold of the card. Add your message.

Today, October 14th, is World Standards Day. It is observed globally to create awareness about the importance of standardization to the global economy among the consumers,regulators and industry. The theme for this year’s World Standards Day is ‘ Standards for sustainable development goals , a shared vision for a better world’.

Share this post

A 90th Birthday, Making Greek Salad and Effective Non Toxic Weed Killer

Share this post

MY MOTHER’S 90TH BIRTHDAY

My mother has always said she’s going to live to be 100 and she’s well on the way! Last week she celebrated her 9oth Birthday Lunch in Australind. She really enjoyed being surrounded by her family and friends who helped to commemorate this special occasion. All the guest were important to her, from family members, to friends from her many interests such a local government (she was on the Harvey Shire for 18 years, many as the Deputy President), service clubs, the Church, her gym, history, genealogy and her lovely neighbours.

Local wildflowers. After heavy, consistent rain, we having a bumper season for wild flowers.

One of my sisters in law organised the catering, I organised the flowers! The day before my husband and I visited two florists as I had a specific list. Shopping for beautiful fresh flowers is a very nice way to spend the morning. This resulted in one big vase of flowers for her to take home after the event and also small vases on each table.

Our own roses have recovered from chili thrip and are lush and healthy. I used a combination of our roses and bought roses with some white ranunculus, rosemary and small leaf ivy to make table decorations.

Individual table decorations re-used in a single pot and now on my table. So pretty.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MUM!

GREEK SALAD

Smelt fresh tomatoes at the green grocer and knew it was time for Greek salad. All you need is tomatoes, cucumbers, a red onion, olives, a clove of garlic and feta cheese plus Extra Virgin Olive Oil and vinegar. I squeeze lemon juice into the dressing and sometimes add some mustard, too, but it depends on what you like and what is available! I like a classic Greek feta made from sheep and goat milk but most feta will taste good in this salad.

Usually a Greek Salad has oregano in it and I added some to the dressing but I also had masses of parsley and I wanted to use some of that, too, Tasted fresh and clean.

Lunch of Greek salad and smoked salmon. Just add half a lemon or lime on the side and it’s all done!

Leave the salad for several hours for the taste to develop. I make a large dish full, adding the chopped feta as I serve the salad. The large dish has a tightly fitted lid and I keep it for two or three day in the fridge. The flavours just get better.

NON TOXIC WEED KILLER

A long wet winter and we are inundated by weeds, just like everyone else! I don’t like to use commercial weed killing sprays in the garden as I’m sure the residual toxins permeate the soil. My main concern is for our dog’s well being; he’s often in the garden and I don’t want him exposed to the toxins in weed sprays.

There’s many non toxic weed killing methods online. Of course, pulling out weeds by hand is the best way but we have so many! I’d seen this recipe on different sites for a few years and finally made it. Trialed it on brick paving and was pleased with the outcome. I have tried using just vinegar in the past and it wasn’t very effective.

NON TOXIC, EFFECTIVE WEED KILLER

1 litre white vinegar

3 tablespoons of salt

3 tablespoons washing up detergent

( This increases the wetability and viscosity of the spray, meaning it sticks to the weed and doesn’t just run off)

Shake the vinegar and salt in a plastic bottle until the salt is dissolved. Add the detergent and shake to mix. Leave it until the foam subsides. Decant some to fill a spray bottle.

Before

After

Before

Choose a warm day when the weeds are in the sun and will be for at least an hour, then spray. I will wait for hotter weather then do it again. It took two days for the weeds to really die and I still had to pull them out. It was very easy to remove the weeds when they were dead. I will keep using this spray Shake the bottle occasionally to make sure your spray is well mixed.

WORLD TEACHERS DAY

World Teachers Day, created in 1965 by UNESCO is celebrated on 5th October each year. The theme this year is “Teachers at the heart of recovery”, recognising the many ways teachers have made determined and diligent efforts to maintain educational programs during the CV-19 pandemic.

Share this post