Empress Josephine’s Garden

Share this post

To the Maritime Museum in Fremantle to see the remarkable ‘Empress Joséphine’s Garden’. This project tells the story of Empress Joséphine from her life as a child in Martinique, where she was known as Rose, through to her time as the most powerful style icon in Europe and further afield.

Empress Joséphine in an empire style gown. She and Napoleon epitomized the Empire style in furniture, clothing, crockery and cutlery and interior decoration. The style was popular throughout Europe and the United Kingdom, where it was known as Regency style.

Botanical illustrations on crockery and fabrics.

Joséphine was betrothed to a French aristocrat Alexandre de Beauhamais in 1779 and after the marriage, returned with him to France. They had a son and a daughter and later separated. They never divorced. She had custody of the daughter, he had custody of the son. Her husband was beheaded in the French revolution, she escaped the same event by a change in the course in French politics. She married Napoleon Bonaparte in March 1796.

Empress Joséphine purchased the rundown estate known of Malmaison in 1799, making it her primary home. She hired a Scots gardener, Alexander Hawatson, to assist with the planning and construction of the garden. Unlike typically formal French gardens of the time, Malmaison’s garden was based on English designs. The garden featured winding paths, bridges, temples, lakes and little cottages, mimicking a grand English garden.

As an amateur botanist, Empress Joséphine sought flora and fauna from all over the World. She was especially fascinated with the newly discovered plants and animals from New Holland. She was determined and competitive about acquiring botanical specimens. She collected Australian specimens from Nicholas Baudin, who explored Australia and the Pacific as well as many other sources.

Empress Joséphine collected exotic specimens from Western Australia taken back to France by Nicholas Baudin, including melaleuca, eucalyptus, plus kangaroos, emus and black swans.

Leaders in all things fashionable, Napoleon Bonaparte and Joséphine were leading figures during the Age of Enlightenment. Along with the exotic plants and animals she coveted, she dressed in light transparent fabrics, which also immediately became fashionable. She created the Empire style of furniture, which reflected symbols of war and victory, such as golden eagles, classical palm leaves and laurels. Symbols of power linked the regime to the glory of the ancient Roman Emperors. This style was widely adopted throughout Europe and the United Kingdom.

Empress Joséphine developed Malmaison, 12 kilometres out of Paris, from a run down estate to the most fashionable destination in France.

Adept at promoting their style and influence, Bonaparte and Josephine dictated the style of everything. They dispersed paintings of themselves in Empire styled clothes and dictated what was fashionable. They entertained lavishly and shamelessly promoted their own style.

Empress Joséphine employed the then unknown botanical artist Pierre-Joseph Redouté to make a record of the plants at Malmaison. His exquisite artworks were acclaimed throughout Europe. Books of his works are still considered the epitome of flora illustration. His paintings and engravings, particularly of roses, are iconic and still appear on address book covers, note book covers and writing paper.

Unable to provide Bonaparte with children he divorced Joséphine and married a younger woman, Marie Louise, who became the second Empress of France. They had four children.

This presentation runs until January. All these images are from the audiovisual presentation.

We went back down the port to a brewery for lunch. It was lovely sitting in the gentle breeze eating squid and chips. The only problem was the Leeuwin, moored along side. Once the magnificent barquentine pictured above, it was hit by an enormous container ship entering port on a stormy night.

The hull. It will be repaired but is a very sad sight now.

Share this post

Arum Lilies, Vegan Leather and Other Things

Share this post

arum lilies

Arum lilies were originally introduced to Australia from Natal and the Cape Provinces in South Africa via UK gardens where they were very popular. They thrived in Australia and eventually ‘escaped’ from gardens. They are a declared a weed in most parts of Australia. Arum lilies thrive in wet conditions, particularly under trees in swampy areas. Many districts spray annually to eradicate them. They crowd out native vegetation, are toxic for animals and humans, they dominate wetlands and impede water flow.

Arum lilies are also very beautiful. They grew well where I grew up and even years after I’d left home my Father would bring me a bucket of lilies. I love them! I have grown a bed of arum lilies in our garden where they cannot escape. They continue to thrive and I enjoy having them indoors during their flowering season. I have never had any sort of reaction to them.

Image Pixabay

About forty years ago a visiting Dutch neighbour was aghast seeing a vase of lilies in my house! She told me Europeans considered them funeral flowers. Apparently the lily symbolises rebirth and are thought to give hope to the grieving family. Taking lilies into a hospital was also a faux pas. In contrast, they are commonly used as Easter decorations in churches. Lilies are seen in many of images of Christ’s resurrection.

vegan leather

I am not a vegetarian and like to think of all parts of animals butchered for meat being used in some way. I really like the nose to tail approach becoming more common. So I prefer leather handbags. They use by- products of meat production, they last a long time with little up keep and are usually strong.

Vegan leather is most commonly made from a polymer, polyurethane. Polyurethane is plastic. Vegan leather (pleather, faux leather, artificial leather) is usually wholly plastic but some designers only employ plastic to strengthen the plant based material being used, such as pineapple leaves, cactus, mushrooms and cork. But when the bag is no longer used, it is still a plastic bag.

Consumers avoiding ‘cruelty free’ materials, byproducts from turning animal skins into leather or have concerns about toxic waste and pollution should research the production and longevity of products made from plastic/polyurethane. Also, the alternate materials being promoted by PETA ( People For The Ethical treatment of Animals) rely heavily on fossil fuel to harvest, transport and manufacture vegan leather. Make up your own mind, but do some research first!

other things

Planted two different types of tomato seeds. One type, harvested from my Mother’s garden a few years ago, produces trusses of delicious, dark red, explode in your mouth tiny tomatoes. The bush grows quite tall and needs support.

The second lot of seeds I’ve planted were saved from a delicious tomato given to me by a lovely neighbour. She’d been given some tomatoes and kindly shared them. They were big and heavy and tasted wonderful. I think they will grow on a shorter, bushier plant. Fingers crossed I have two types during summer.

Also tidied up the remnant basil plant and added saved seeds to the pot. We use a lot of basil and I really like the scent. I bought pesto today because I’d been smelling basil. Looking forward to making it from my own plants, too.

Another blogger, sustainablemum. wrote explaining how she planned meals for her family. That was the push I needed to get organised. For months we’ve been spending a few days at a time away, returning home late in the evening. Dinner needs to be fast and easy. So often we have eggs on toast!

Beef Curry

Hungarian Goulash, looks a bit messy but smelt and tasted wonderful.

As suggested, I scrolled through a slow cooker recipe book I bought back from Australind, along with the slow cooker. Marked several recipes I knew would appeal to both of us and could be served with quickly steamed vegetables and noodles. Bulk bought the ingredients and made Beef Curry and Hungarian Goulash. The scents coming from two slow cookers was very tempting.

Will make another recipe I marked but have been online looking for a curry with more flavour. Probably do the same with the goulash because basically it was good but needed more oomph, too. I can take the precooked food from the freezer the morning we leave, put it in the fridge and it will be thawed and ready to heat when we get back. I also like the idea of not cooking every night, too!

Some for the freezer, some for the fridge.

Share this post

Triangle Families, Farmers and Menu Planning

Share this post

triangle families

Have you heard of Triangle Families? Me neither, until I read about it this morning. It was of particular interest as it turns out we are a triangle family, but I have never heard the expression before today. A triangle family is a couple with one child. Apparently Triangle Families have doubled in the past 40 years to the point where 40% of households in the EU with children are Triangle Families. ( here )

The reasons given for the growth of Triangle Families in Australia are complex and individual but include couples living in different circumstances from their parents and previous generations, couples wanting to further their careers and travel more frequently and rising infertility rates. Interestingly, 14% of couples feel they can’t afford to have any children, 9% are delaying having children and 6% have decided not to have children due to rising costs limiting their lifestyle choices.

Image Pixels

The article raises the common stigma attached to only children families. We have an only child, my Father became an only child due to the death of a young sibling, my cousin is an only child and has an only child herself, one of my brothers has one child and one of my nieces has one child, so it’s not uncommon in my family. The reasons are varied and complex and really nobody elses’ business but it was certainly of interest when I was younger with friends having their second, third and fourth babies. Close friends knew why and never commented. ( A friend with five planned children was often asked if they knew what was causing it or didn’t they have a TV!)

Although the article highlighted the apparent stigma surrounding Triangle Families, I’d like to think we are becoming more accepting of a range of situations and becoming a little kinder, too.

farmers

When you see the word ‘farmers’ did you immediately think of a male? Most people do! Can you believe until the 1990s women in agriculture couldn’t list themselves as ‘farmers’ on census forms? Change began with the creation of AWiA, Australian Women in Agriculture in 1994. This group set about changing how women on the land were perceived by the agricultural industry, government and the population generally.

Women have been an integral part of farming forever but were rarely recognised for their contribution. They did the same job as the men. Then the daughters of farmers began going to university and returning with degrees applicable to genetics, economics, diversifying farming practice and general skills used in efficient agricultural businesses.

Image Pixabay.

I frequently use ‘free to use images’ to support what I have written. I entered ‘women farms’ in the search box. There’s 555 pages of related images. I gave up after six pages as the only women in the images wore coolie hats, were up to their knees in water and obviously labouring in developing countries. Two others portrayed a woman draped over a lavender bush and another of a beautifully dressed woman standing amongst sunflowers. Finally found two acceptable images.

It has taken a long time for the work of women to be recognised. This is evident in the paucity of women representing farming on boards, in government and in the news. Women are not just labouring beside their husbands, they are running these businesses themselves. They are adept at using technology and data to make decisions and dictate change.

Image Pixabay.

This year AWiA celebrates 30 years of promoting women in agriculture. So, that’s something to consider as you eat your fruit and vegetables, add milk to your coffee, boil your egg and make your toast. Think about who might be responsible for that chicken breast you’re marinating for dinner, the steak in the fridge next to the bacon and butter. Things change slowly.

menu planning

I was reading a blog this morning I have followed for years. The author is recognised for her money management skills. Today she referred to menu planning, something I have never tried, but she runs a fortnightly list with some variations due to family celebrations or outings and what was well priced in the shops she visits.

The produce at the green grocer influences what I cook, along with time available and what I can pick from the garden. I have several perpetual spinach plants so we have spinach at least once a week, although I was away a while ago and came back to a big pot full of fresh leaves. Made a goats cheese and spinach pie. I always have herbs and lemons and there’s limes on the tree, too. I buy meat, chicken and fish depending on what looks really good.

Image Pixels

When I saw the glossy white to pale green to dark green leeks at the greengrocer I knew I was making Chicken and Leek Pie. It was very good. I often wonder how other people decide what they are making for dinner. Not only do I run out of ideas but the enthusiasm can be pretty low, too. That’s when we have oven roasted salmon in maple syrup and lime or lemon juice with boiled vegetables, because my husband makes one thing and that’s it! In warmer weather he’ll also barbecue some steak if he thinks to thaw it beforehand.

Chicken and leek pie.

Share this post

Half Way Through 2024

Share this post

CHRISTMAS IN JULY

We have great neighbours. We meet several times during the year at one another’s houses and catch up. We meet one another in the street in the street, or drop in for coffee or sometimes meet at the shops, but these planned catchups are a chance to eat and chat together. Everyone brings a plate of food to share and usually their dogs.

We’d invited everyone to a Christmas In July get together. I’d had plans to decorate and really get in the swing of things, but other events intervened. My husband made a slow cooker of glühwein and the gorgeous scent was still in the air the next morning. We had a delicious quiche, a poppy seed cake and a bowl of strawberries and raspberries, plus a grazing platter and sausage rolls. I heated and lit a plum pudding. Such a lovely evening.

The glüwhein smelt and tasted very good, especially on a cold night.

Many Christmas traditions followed in Australia originated in Europe. Winter in the Northern hemisphere is cold and there might be snow. Christmas in the Southern hemisphere in in the middle of summer and temperatures in the mid 30ºC and higher are common. Despite the heat many people continue to have a leg of ham but serve it with salads and seafood. The food served at Christmas time is changing. Summer fruits, such as watermelon, rock melon, pineapple, strawberries and stone fruit are in season and popular Christmas foods. We always have cherries!

planning

A report on the TV news the other night was urging us to get our Christmas gift shopping done. It’s still six months away! Supplies are slow to arrive. Due to the unrest in Yemen shipping routes have changed. Ships cannot use the Suez Canal and are going around the Cape of Good Hope, a much longer journey . Shipping costs have increased by at least 50%. Someone actually told me last week that she’d already bought all the gifts for her grandchildren and was giving gift cards to the adults on her list. I was very impressed! I’ll think about it soon. Maybe.

This is one wall of two walls of built in bookshelves in our upstairs sitting room. I keep suggesting an audit ( reducing the number of books) but the idea is not well received. Many of the shelves have books two layers deep. I try not to think about the dust.

Luckily we are a family of keen readers. It is wonderful to have a pile of new books to read as soon as Christmas Day is over. Usually we select our own books. I wrap them all. A few years ago I bought some pretty, printed fabric draw string bags to use instead of wrapping paper, then forgot all about them. Found them recently and have put them with other Christmas paraphernalia.

cooking

Our neighbour will be coming home from hospital tonight or tomorrow and will need to rest. Her family will be in and out, so I’ve made a lemon slice to take in when it’s cool. I actually made two because we have so many lemons this year and we really, really like this slice! Recipe (here)

Also made some Asian Fish Cakes. I tore the recipe out of the Sunday paper and assumed it would be online on their site. It’s not! I was attracted to the recipe because it used smoked salmon and we had quite a lot in the freezer. Apart from coriander (mine has gone to seed) I had everything else on hand. Strangely, the recipe stated one of the ingredients as ‘store bought mashed potato’. I’ve never actually seen mashed potato for sale, but I haven’t looked, either. I peeled and boiled some potatoes and used that instead. I hope the bought potato didn’t have some extra ingredient or flavouring, but the fishcakes I made still tasted very good.

Last week a friend expressed surprise that I used bought salad dressing on a salad I make regularly and had just written about in my blog. It set me thinking and I decided experiment with my favourite (currently) salad dressing. I grow shallots just to make this dressing! So, here it is….

DAVID LEBOVITZ VINAIGRETTE

Whisk* one tablespoon of Dijon Mustard and 2 tablespoons of red wine vinegar. Then gradually add 6 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil until emulsified. Add one tablespoon of finely minced shallot, a pinch of salt and a grind of black pepper. It doesn’t separate or split.

*After I made this for the first time, I couldn’t be faffed whisking. Now I put the mustard and vinegar in a jar, shake, add the oil a tablespoon at a time, shake, add the shallots, salt and pepper, shake. Use immediately or store in the fridge in the jar. If it becomes too thick dilute with more EVOO.

Very good dressing.

Share this post

About Bali and Back to Australia

Share this post

about bali

Sometimes the skies in Bali are a mass of kites! Apparently June to September are the best times for flying kites. The Balinese fly kites to symbolise the spiritual connection between the Earth and the Heavens. These kites are not childrens’ toys, they are part of the Island’s Hindu customs, thanking the Gods for taking care of the Island and to request good harvests.

Image Pixabay

When we first visited Bali (as a family, I first visited Bali in 1982) the kites were generally made of paper, bamboo and string. Now these family projects are often illuminated and huge, incorporating new technologies. They are very attractive.

street dogs in bali

Image Pixabay

Wandering around laneways near our villa we are often confronted by fiercely barking dogs. Dogs within or around a family compound will bark to scare off intruders. I was surprised to find about 90% of dogs wandering around in Bali actually have homes. Often the dog will have a collar but there’s no real way of knowing if the dog is a stray or a pet. Best to leave them alone!

The dogs seen everywhere are Kintamani dogs with a recorded history as far back as 1400. They have thick fur, strong muscular bodies and a curved tail. They can be any colour, but yellow or tan fur is common. They are many charities in Bali caring for homeless dogs.

offerings

In the centre of every entrance to compounds, cafes, restaurants and every other business, the Balinese place offerings.They adorn household temples and even cars and motor bikes. The small basket shapes are made of woven palm leaves. Typically these offerings contain flowers, food, incense, rice and other symbolic offerings. Daily offerings are an important part of Balinese Hinduism.

Image Pixabay

The offerings are part of the balance that exists between Balinese people and the spiritual and mortal realm of people. These beautiful offerings are made by women. It is important that you don’t step on them nor photograph them.

michelin restaurants

There are no Michelin starred restaurants in Indonesia. This doesn’t mean the food in Bali isn’t wonderful! The idea for rating cafes and restaurants originated in France. Brothers Èdouard and André Michelin came up with the idea in 1899. Producers of tyres, they wanted to encourage people to travel. At the time of conception there were only about 3000 cars in France and most people only traveled short distances.

Their plan included free travel guides with useful information such as maps, directions for changing a tyre, where to buy fuel and information on accommodation and dining. The dining information resonated with the French public as the best restaurants and cafes were awarded a rosette, or two, or three.

Image Pixabay

The popularity of the guides meant the guides were redesigned the focus on food and the rosettes became stars. The Michelin star became the gold standard for culinary excellence. Interestingly, the gold star system is not about opulence, but rather the quality of the food coming from the kitchen. Currently, the guide features over 30 000 establishments in over 30 countries.

growing

When we left Australia it hadn’t rained for months. While we were away the weather changed and we returned to cool days and rain. The garden has really perked up! So have the weeds. The shallots, chives, sweetpeas and perpetual spinach I planted have all germinated. I’ve just planted tulips, too. The roses I pruned before we left have all started to green up. Happy garden.

Image Pixabay

I cut the stems of three moth ( Phalaenopsis ) orchids back to the second node on each stem after they bloomed last year and fed them. I am so pleased to see they are sending out new stems with flower buds. The blooms last for ages.

Tomorrow is the shortest day of the year in the Southern Hemisphere. Enjoy!

Share this post

Rain, ANZAC Day and Gardening

Share this post

rain

It’s autumn in Western Australia. We have had no rain since Christmas and are still experiencing summer like maximum temperatures. Then it rained last night. Everything looks damp, it is cooler and the air smells fresh. It’s such a relief! Old trees are dying from the heat and no rain, we were still running the air conditioner some days and I am tired of summer clothes and salads. We need a lot more rain!

Some of the pleasure of rain was diminished when I opened the fridge. A fortnight ago I put a bag of frozen prawns in the fridge to thaw. The bag had a hole in it. The mess I found the next morning took a long time, a lot of hot water and detergent and masses of scrubbing to clean up. So the fridge had an infrequent but thorough clean. Yesterday I opened the fridge and was confronted with another drama. My husband had put a two litre bottle of milk on its side on a shelf. Apparently the lid wasn’t screwed on tightly, so the fridge has had another thorough clean.

anzac day

Last week on 25th of April we commemorated ANZAC (Australian and New Zealand Army Corps) Day. We remember those who have fought in all wars. Prior to Covid, we’d join the crowd at the War Memorial in our suburb for the Anzac Day service, which was followed by a community breakfast.

Resting on arms reversed.

Due to Covid it was suggested West Australians stand in their driveways before sunrise with candles and listen to the Dawn Service on the radio. We found ourselves on the driveway in the dark. Up and down the street there were neighbours also commemorating the ANZAC day. After the service our neighbour suggested she bring out her coffee machine, we all went indoors and got mugs and folding chairs, then sat on the verge, socially distanced and a very special yearly event was established.

Each year now, we gather in a neighbour’s carport or indoors if it is raining, still with our folding chairs, candles and delicious food to share, plus family dogs. We gathered there on Thursday and watched the moon disappearing over the ocean and the sun rising in the opposite direction, we listened to the service and stood silently for the Last Post and followed by one minute of silence. A group of FA18 fighters few over in formation. A beautiful way to remember those who have fought for our country and all those who have fought for other countries, too, and enjoy the company of our lovely neighbours.

This gathering of neighbours has led to another special event, too. At various times during the years we go to each other houses, with shared food, and sit and catch up with all the news. Usually we sit outside because most months of the years it is balmy and really enjoyable to sit in the garden.

plants

Now trialing 1.25ml bottle of water feeding into the terracotta spear.

While we were away recently I trialed some terracotta self watering plant spears. These are inserted into plant pots and then a plastic bottle of water is placed, quickly, into the top. The water then seeps through the terracotta and maintains moistness for the pot plant. They worked really well! I used 200ml bottles, which lasted four days and 6ooml which lasted 11 days. I am now experimenting with 1.25ml bottles

Soaked sweet pea seeds. I hoped to find seeds collected by my Mother who grew amazing crops of sweet peas but couldn’t find the seeds in her shed.

Finally it is a bit cooler so I have planted poppies, shallots, perpetual spinach and sweet peas. My Mother grew amazing sweet peas and collected the seeds every year. Her rule was they should be planted by Anzac Day. Mine were planted a day later after soaking overnight in a saucer of water. I have also finally pruned the hydrangeas. Due to the never ending summer they just kept blooming! I have potted up ‘sticks’ to share with friends when they are ready to plant.

I remember going to a plant nursery about 40 years ago to buy an indoor plant as a gift and being very surprised seeing potted hydrangeas for sale! I just assumed someone gave you a cutting from their plant. That’s how I grew my semi sun tolerant, very sturdy hydrangeas and I’ve always potted up cuttings for friends. I don’t think either of my Grandmothers or my Mother bought many plants from nurseries. All three were fans of sharing ‘cuttings’. I’d be interested to know if you share cuttings or buy new plants.

Share this post

Salsa Verde and Junk Food

Share this post

salsa verde

Do you still have an abundance of herbs? Me too. Last week we were enjoying PESTO made from fresh herbs and garlic plus extra virgin olive oil. This week I’m making SALSA VERDE. You’ll need flat leaf parsley, mint, and basil plus capers, anchovies, garlic, Dijon mustard, lemon juice and extra virgin olive oil. You’ll end up with a versatile, delicious, classic sauce.

Gather some basil, mint and parsley, add garlic, extra virgin olive oil, some capers, a lemon and some anchovies. (Don’t worry if you don’t like anchovies, the flavour is not strong once they have been amalgamated with the other ingredients.) I used curly parsley as that is what I had but I prefer flat leaf parsley for this sauce.

To make salsa verde, called green sauce by the English and sauce verte au pain ( because it was originally a bread sauce) by the French, you need 4 tbspn flat leaf parsley, 1 tbspn chopped mint, 2 tbspn chopped basil, 2 tbspn chopped capers, 2 drained anchovies, 1 peeled garlic clove, 1 tbspn Dijon mustard, juice of half a lemon and 1oo ml extra virgin olive oil. Also 25ml extra virgin olive oil if you plan on keeping it for a few days.

I mix the first six ingredients in a food processor until they’re roughly chopped then add the rest and mix until combined.

Purists and sensible people, who obviously refrain from eating all their salsa verde in a few days, store it in the fridge in a jar with a slick of olive oil (the extra olive oil in the ingredients list) We never keep it very long!

I have both pesto and sasla verde in the fridge so I planned a ‘make your own’ pasta dinner for tonight. I prefer both served close to room temperature so I put them out to warm an little. I cooked the pasta while I was setting a selection of tomato salsa, salsa verde, pesto, leftover bolognese sauce plus mozzarella di bufala and sheeps pecorino. Quick and easy and used up things I already had in the fridge.

I have used a lot of herbs from the garden recently as they are near the end of their season. Both the parsley and basil are going to seed, the mint needed tidying up, the spring onions needed sorting out and the chives are going to seed, too. Normally I snip the flowers off the basil to promote a longer picking season, but they’re getting a bit leggy, so I let the flowers dry out then rub them between my hands. Tiny black seeds fall out. It’s hard to really separate the tiny seeds from the broken up bits of dried flowers so I remove what I can and leave the rest. The seeds are put in an envelope, labeled and replanted later in the year. I keep the seeds I collect in recycled envelopes or paper bags in the garage where it is dry and cool.

the problem with junk food

A recent article on ABC online (here) outlines the problems with junk food consumption. It defines junk food as a broad range of ready to eat products, such as packaged baked goods, chips, lollies, instant noodles, some ready meals, soft drinks, sweetened cereals and packaged snacks. Junk food is food that has undergone significant chemical modification to enhance texture, taste, appearance and longevity.

Image Pixabay

Recently, junk foods were reviewed by Australian and international institutions. They considered 45 previous studies published during the last three years. Nearly 10 million participants were monitored in these studies. Analyzing this data revealed strong evidence that consuming ultra processed food can result in 32 different health problems. Junk food consumers are at a higher risk of both physical and mental poor health and death.

Image Pixabay

The risks listed from consuming junk food included cancer, major heart and lung conditions, mental health disorders and early death. The article doesn’t include specific cause and effect data, but the advice continues to recommend we avoid these foods. We all knew ultra processed foods aren’t good for us. There is probably a hint in the name ‘junk food.’

Share this post

Chinese New Year, Valentine’s Day, Food and the Garden

Share this post

gong xi fa ci

Image Pixabay

Happy Chinese New Year to you! It’s the year of the Wood Dragon. Although we no longer exchange red envelopes with friends’ children, I still remember the specialties we ate to celebrate the event and the lion dancers. Probably the most memorable part of living in China and celebrating Chinese New Year were the fireworks and the constant crackers exploding all night! Lots of drums and lots of fireworks.

Image Pixabay

Dragons are charismatic, ambitious and successful. May the Year of the Dragon bring you courage, success and prosperity!

valentine’s day

Image Pixabay

We’ve been a bit overwhelmed by advertisements for Valentine’s Day gifts and treats. Lingerie, perfume, jewellery and clothing feature for women and it seems men fancy alcohol, new clothes and camping gear. Frightening inflation hasn’t resulted in lower cost gifts, though, as some of the advertised suggestions are very expensive. And a flash dinner out seems de rigueur, too.

Normally I make a card for the occasion and bake a heart shaped cake. My mother in law gave me the heart shaped cake tin and I traditionally make a chocolate cake. We can’t eat a cake in a few days so it becomes dessert with icecream.

Searched through Michael Greger’s excerpt, referred to below, looking for the paragraph about how good chocolate is for your well being and there’s nothing!

One slice of this chocolate cake is enough!

and other food

Also made a pot of dahl after reading an excerpt from Michael Greger’s book,’ How Not To Age: The Scientific Approach to Get Healthier As you Get Older.’ Science shows that every 20% increase in intake of legumes will reduce your risk of death by about 8%. I really want to be healthy and mobile, so made dahl. We enjoyed it and I’ll make it again.

He also states that nut consumption is associated with a lower risk of dying from heart attack, stroke, respiratory disease, infections, diabetes, even cancer. All you need is around 15-20gm of walnuts, cashews, almonds a day, but says walnuts are probably the best. He says eating a small amount of these nuts every day is the equivalent in longevity terms of jogging for four hours. Easy health tip!

Really delicious but next time I’ll up the garam marsala for a bit more punch.

Luckily, coffee is good for you as are many spices but salt isn’t, and alcohol gets a bad wrap! Greger refers to the latest science from over 700 data sources, which…’unambiguously concluded “The safest alcohol level of drinking is none.”‘ Drinking chamomile tea gets a big tick. Research indicates people who drank a small cup of chamomile after their meals for a few months showed a significant improvement in long term blood sugar control. The other effect of chamomile tea mentioned is improved mood and sleep. I’ll start drinking chamomile after dinner tonight. Keen on good sleep.

Also made a jar of Easy Fruit and Nut Bliss Ball mix, a lovely Christmas present. The label says, ‘Roll me. Mix Me. Eat Me.’ So we did as we were told!

Emptied the jar into the mixer, added some oil and mixed. Rolled into ball shapes and put in the fridge to firm up. Tasty little treats.

Little treats made of almonds, walnuts, dried apricots, pistachio, coconut and dried goji berries. Easy to make and very easy to eat!

A week ago, I cooked a huge number of chicken balls and froze most of them. They have been a life saver when we have arrived back from Bunbury keen on dinner but not really keen on cooking. I leave a bowl full in the fridge to thaw while we are away. Tonight we ate eating some with a Teriyaki sauce and noodles. So good, so easy.

Made teriyaki sauce while the noodles boiled and the thawed chicken balls heated.

Also eating tomatoes still warm from the garden, with finely chopped red onion drizzled with balsamic vinegar and then a scattering of basil. Perfect.

garden things

I pick about seven tomatoes a day. They are not cherry sized nor usual sized tomatoes but somewhere in between. They taste so good. The scorching sun burns some of them as they get morning and afternoon sun and the daily temperatures are 40ºC ( 104º F ) and more. The soil bakes during the day and the mulch breaks down quickly. I have made three trugs of horse manure, potting mix and bentonite clay ( for water retention) all mixed together and will begin top dressing the entire garden in the cool of the evening.

Doesn’t look so appetizing but I think the garden will love it! Horse manure, bentonite and potting

Share this post

Making, Cooking and Growing

Share this post

making

Some time ago I made covers for some of the tissue boxes around the house. I made the covers from delivery boxes (here) then covered them to suit the area where they would be placed. The tissue box in the kitchen is in constant use and was showing a lot of grubby marks! The stains could not be removed using a wet cloth so time to recover.

The original cover was black and white zebra print paper. I was unable to remove the unidentified stains.

The black and white pattern suited where the tissues sit so I stayed with the black and white theme. I had to cover one side and the top, then the second side as I wanted the print to be the right way up. Then I cut two rectangles for either end.

I cut a cross into the piece covering the oval hole in the top. Then I trimmed it and snipped the little edges. Glued each one pressing the edge to create a perfect oval shape.

The previous zebra print cover had been sealed with Mod Podge but this certainly didn’t prevent staining. This time I used diluted PVA glue applied with a foam brush. Time will tell how effective that has been.

I chose black and white gift wrap for the new cover as this fits well with the other items nearby and I already had it. It is an Emma Bridgewater design called Black Toast. I have collected a lot of crockery in this design over the years and am making a point of using it regularly.

cooking

Poached Eggs Arriving back in Perth late in the evening after a few days visiting my Mother more than two hours away I looked in the fridge. I was hoping for something quick and easy for dinner but no such luck. Decided poached eggs on toast would have to do this time. This is how I poach eggs. Take two large mugs and half fill them with boiling water from the kettle. Add a splash of vinegar. Gently crack an egg into each mug then microwave on full for 90 seconds. Meanwhile, make two pieces of toast. (I spread pesto on mine!) Place the toast on a plate and gently remove the cooked eggs from the mugs using a slotted spoon. Slide onto the toast. Grind of pepper and some salt. A couple of tomatoes from the garden. Delicious.

Sourdough Bread. Articles about sourdough bread always show gorgeous rustic boules, but I like fairly regular slices. For years I have baked my bread in a parchment lined, rectangular glass Pyrex dish. Then I bought a double walled metal bread baking tin. Cooked at the usual temperature and for the same time, the loaf from the tin was more golden all over and beautifully cooked. So now I will use the tin to cook my bread.

KNIVES I have a rack of kitchen knives and like to keep them very sharp. One of my jobs was to soak the whet stone and then sharpen and wash the knives. Also bought a new bread knife but it has been a huge disappointment so I’m back using the semi-blunt one. Seeking a new knife. Any recommendations?

growing

I regularly apply Epsom Salts (magnesium sulphate) to my gardenia bushes. They are healthy and well established. They are covered in blooms twice a year. I mention their health and generous blooms because I just read on the packet the Epsom Salt came in that it should be diluted in 4 litres of water then poured around the base of the bushes. For about thirteen years I have scattered the salt around stems, then watered them, so not the recommended way to use Epsom Salts but no damage so far!

Other uses listed on the packet include relieving sore or tired muscles, soothe aching joints, fabric softener and general plant nutrient. For tomatoes, citrus and lettuce the recommended dose is 25 tablespoons of salt dissolved in 4 litres of water then sprayed on the plants when it is cool. If you’re applying Epsom Salt to remedy magnesium deficiency in the soil, dissolve 2 tablespoons in 4 litres of water. Make sure the salt is dissolved. Magnesium Sulphate is also used in flotation tanks instead of sodium chloride.

The gardenias have thrived on wrongly applied Epsom Salt.

A quick review of the common uses of Epsom Salt just before I posted revealed many more uses, such as a warm bath with added Epsom Salts just before bed aids sleep, it reduces the swelling of sprains and bruises and helps reduce swollen feet and draw out splinters. The list continues with using diluted ES to treat insect bites and bee stings and spray it on sunburn. Interestingly, 1 tablespoon of ES diluted in 1 litre of water poured around the base of tomato bushes results in more fruit. Have I missed anything?

Regular readers know I am growing a tomato forest. These mid-sized fruit taste so good and we often eat them before they get inside. For years I read about people who weigh every tomato and calculate their harvest at the end of the season but I’m just keeping a tally of how many tomatoes we pick.

Share this post

Post Christmas Occupations

Share this post

post christmas

The longest ever Christmas celebrations end today. Family parties, here and at my Mother’s, Christmas lunch with wonderful friends, a Boxing Day party with our lovely neighbours and some visiting in between. Enormous amounts of food prepared and eaten, thoughtful gifts and treats shared and slowly things are returning to normal. The fridge wouldn’t agree, but we’re working on it!

Our son had ordered a large ham and a turkey roast from his butcher then found he had to go away for a fortnight, only flying back late Christmas night. I’d cooked a smaller ham and turkey breast already, plus all the usual trays of star biscuits and shortbread to share and then the ham and chicken breast rolls he’d brought. So food, food, every where food, or so it seems.

The second ham, almost ready to go into the oven.

Christmas also brought each of us a haul of books, our favourite sort of present. My Christmas stocking included two luxe magazine as well (goodie). So, eating mostly out of the fridge and reading in between socialising and gardening. It has been dreadfully hot and the now rather large tomatoes need regular watering and staking.

When I planted the tomatoes in these troughs I thought I’d be able to protect them from the river rats by putting the cover over the frame but the tomatoes are way too big now.

marbling

Even as a child I really liked the marbled pages lining the front and back pages of books. They’re called endpapers. I especially liked the marbled lining papers in the family atlas despite the evidence of silverfish activity. Years ago I did some marbling using enameled paints but the paint was slow to dry, messy and awkward to clean up afterwards.

A newly covered journal with a marbled back end paper.

Then I discovered Japanese inks. The Japanese traditionally used calligraphy inks for marbling, but modern inks are easy to obtain and use. The Japanese embrace the concept of things not being perfect or unpredictable outcomes and developed techniques of floating the ink, or ‘suminagashi’ which involves dropping the inks on water. The inks naturally disperse but can also be manipulated by blowing on the water’s surface.

Recently I was reading about a professional marbler in the UK, Nat Maks. (natmaks.com Her works on her site are beautiful!) She marbles on sheets of paper 3m in length. These sheets are used as wall hangings and wall art. She has designed and had a 3m x 1.5m bath built to print these large sheets. Inspired by her beautiful papers, I assembled Japanese inks, gloves and paper.

I have always marbled on recycled A4 paper but this time I decided to print on some lithograph paper I found when I tidied the laundry cupboards. Bought when I was designing this house and doing lots of plans and drawings for the draughtsman, the large, once flat sheets had been rolled, then at some later date, squashed on a shelf in the laundry. I cut the paper to the size needed to line the front and back pages of my journals, then ironed the rectangles as the paper wasn’t flat. I experimented inking the rough and smooth sides of the paper and settled on printing the smooth side. I really like the soft, gentle colours created.

Don’t normally iron paper before I print but I cut these rectangles from large sheets of lithograph paper which had been squashed in a cupboard.

While I was ironing I gathered all the grosgrain ribbons I use year after year on our gifts. I really like large, generous bows. I bought a 50 metre spool of this ribbon years ago and recycled ever since it.

While the sheets were drying I covered some new journals. I have bought these black books with a red spine for more than 20 years but they are getting harder to find. I write every day. Sometimes I draw, too, or glue in photos or tickets or other ephemera from our travels. I list daily and long term TO DO lists and enjoy ticking jobs off as they are done. After I’d covered the journals I glued the marbled papers as front and back covers. Added a calendar. That’s my journals sorted for about a year!

I trim then smooth the photocopied images front and back, fold them in, glue then down then cover the end pages with a sheet of marbled paper.

VERY BEST WISHES FOR A

HAPPY and HEALTHY

NEW YEAR!

Share this post