Some Making, Some Cooking and Some Growing

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Making.

Making Herb Pot Markers. I use wooden Tongue Depressors from the $2 Shop to make markers for herb pots. Using non-toxic paint, I colour most of the depressor as shown and when it’s dry I do the other side, making sure the edges are also painted. I use a waterproof marker to write the name on the stick ( I used a Sharpie) and  a non-toxic paint, in this case a sample pot, for any food growing pot. Also, when Louis, our dog was a puppy, he chewed most of the labels one afternoon so I was glad they were non-toxic.

I usually paint ten sticks at a time.

Most paints only require one coat so this is a quick and easy job.

Cooking.

Cold Weather Cooking. I make several trays of pasties and freeze most of them for work lunches or weekend lunches.

Lots of nice spinach at the moment, so I made an egg, sheeps’ fetta, onion and spinach slice. Tastes best when cold, if you can wait that long.

Quick Apple, Almond and Coconut Slice. Didn’t add the coconut and it was still very good. Below is Ginger Caramel Slice. Irresistible. The recipe for both these slices comes from www.taste.com.au

Growing.

The Sweetpeas have begun blooming.

They look pretty and smell gorgeous.

The first tulip is blooming but there are lots more about to come. This is Tulip Leen van Mark.

August 21st is World Fashion Day. Thinking about the amount of clothing in good condition that ends up in landfill, maybe it’s time to re-fashion something you already have?

 

 

 

 

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Growing Microgreens

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Microgreens are edible, immature germinated seeds and usually less than 5cm/2″ tall. These little nutrient powerhouses are simple to grow, packed with flavour and beneficial enzymes and they look pretty, too.

Within a few weeks of planting they’ll be at the cotyledon, or true leaf stage. Snip and enjoy scattered on your food! Some will regrow, otherwise tip the soil onto the compost heap and start again.

Common microgreens are lettuce, kale, spinach, beetroot and  land/watercress. I’m growing lettuce, coriander (cilantro), spinach and beetroot. I grow mine outside, but they will grow well on a sunny window ledge indoors.

To add a little balance to all this healthy eating here’s the coffee cake, with coffee icing and chocolate dipped coffee beans, we devoured later!

Did you know today is Fresh Veggie Day? Get crunchy now!

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Some Gardening, Some Cooking

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These hippeastra have bloomed for months.

Clivias are blooming, too.

Bought a worm composting farm and dug it into a garden bed in dappled light.

It’s citrus time in Western Australia, so I made a Lime Cake. This recipe has olive oil instead of butter and was very moist.

Neighbours put out a basket of oranges at their gate so I made an Orange Cake. It was very good.

Another neighbour gave me some lemons, so we had Lemon Delicious Puddings.

These Brussels Sprouts were oven roasted in olive oil. I stirred through sweet chilli sauce and put them back in the oven for 15 minutes. They tasted wonderful!

Cooler weather means our son uses the slow cooker to make delicious ragu. He serves it with pasta or couscous. The smell wafts enticingly throughout the house for hours before we eat it!

A recent article in delicious.com.au (A Wasted Opportunity) talks about the cultural, environmental and economic problem of food waste in Australia. I have redoubled my efforts to not throw out food, so more Bread and Butter pudding.

How did you celebrate International Nurses Day?

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PERTH GARDEN FESTIVAL

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The Perth Garden Festival features garden displays, landscaping, floral displays, garden related products for sale and sustainable living ideas. I went with my Mother and niece and we had a lovely day. We looked at the displays, talked to lots of experts, enjoyed cooking demonstrations, talks about controlling pests naturally and also a talk about roses.

These grass trees thrive in the poor Western Australian soil and look great in the bush and in suburban gardens.

This hybrid tea rose is called Grandma’s Rose. It is very pretty and very fragrant.

Gorgeous vase of banksia and eucalypts. These plants are native to Australia.

Inspiring displays.

The Festival was held at McCallum Park which has many mature trees for shade, including this Moreton Bay Fig Tree.

Today is International Jazz Day. Did you celebrate?

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Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show

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My mother and I flew to Melbourne for the Flower and Garden Show. So many beautiful displays and plenty of expert advice.

The floral displays indoors and outdoors were inspirational.

Lovely outdoor ideas for year round use.

We also enjoyed catching up with friends and relatives.

Look at this stunning new chrysanthemum! Amazing variety of colours.

Did you know last Sunday was World Autistic Day?
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Oh Sweetpea!

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Time to plant my sweetpeas. My mother and I collect the seeds at the end of each season.

I store the collected seeds in paper bags in a tin box, then soak the ones I’m going to plant on wet paper towel overnight. They germinate very quickly.

Meanwhile, the gardenias continue to bloom and bloom in the heat.


The three larger miniature birdcages are new. All of them have doors that open. Normally they’re scattered in a silver bowl amongst decorative balls and pebbles I collected all over the world.

I hope you did something wonderful yesterday on World Theatre Day!
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St Patrick’s Day and Visiting Australind

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Soup

Celebrated St Patrick’s Day with Pea and Ham Soup served with Irish Potato Scones. I froze the ham bone in January and made the soup on Friday because it needs to be boiled for several hours and it’s becoming a bit cooler. My parents married on St Patrick’s Day 67 years ago.

Lavender

Visited my mother for the day in Australind, a town on the Leschenault Inlet. Her swathes of lavender are full of bees, smell beautiful and look lovely.

Chinese Gooseberry

Her Cape Gooseberries (physalis peruviana) known as Goldenberry and the French name amour en cage, (love in a cage), are so pretty and she loves eating them.

Roses

I helped myself to some of her wonderful roses. They smell divine!

Chillies

Our chillies love this hot weather. Delicious curries coming soon.

Enjoy International Read To Me Day where ever you are in the world.

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Edible Garden Workshop

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Spent the morning at an Edible Garden Workshop. Such a lot of great information.

Qunice

Passionfruit

We have three small courtyard gardens and what grows well is determined by the sun. I have espaliered an apricot tree and would like more fruit trees.

Espaliered Fruit Trees

Trying not to throw away food so bread and butter pudding has become a regular in this house.

Bread and butter pudding

And baked apples for variety.

Baked apples

The roses bravely bloom in this constant heat. This red Pierre de Ronsard is like a tree. The stems can be a metre long.

Roses

Wherever you are in the world Happy Grammar Day!

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