Watching, Eating and Gardening

Share this post

the tinder swindler

Image credit: Netflix

Three women meet Simon Leview (above) through the dating app, Tinder. He befriends them, claiming to be the son of the super rich diamond dealer, Lev Leview. He dazzles them with his wealth, then steals from them. He claims to be under threat from unidentified people and asks them to help by sending money for him to escape. Each woman goes into debt having borrowed money to give to him. Eventually, they doubt his story and can borrow no more money. They then connect online and realise they have each been seriously duped. One swipe right changed their lives and not in a good way. This is their story. Leview claims to be misunderstood, the women are trying to pay off massive debts.

Interestingly, while the women involved struggle to repay their debts and get on with their lives, Leview (real name Shimon Hayut) has been released from prison, has a Hollywood agent and is dating a model.

inventing anna

undefined Image credit:Netflix

Anna Sorokin, a Russian who claims to be German, arrives in New York in 2013 and works hard to become accepted by the rich and famous as a wealthy socialite. Inventing Anna is a dramatized version of how the real Anna conned an enormous amount of money from friends and the wealthy associates she sought out. She was ruthless, scamming banks, hotels and high society.

Sorokin got away with her audacious scams by claiming to be a German heiress waiting to inherit a multi- million dollar trust fund when she turned 25. Finally found guilty on a number of charges, she is sentenced to 4 years in jail. Many of her victims are too embarrassed to report their loses. She was released in 2021 but is then taken into custody by Customs and Immigration for overstaying her visa and is awaiting deportation. Meanwhile, she’s written a book and done lucrative deals, including working with Netflix on the program.

So what do we learn from Inventing Anna? Social media is a clever platform not necessarily based on fact. Proceed with caution if you’re relying on what you see on your device!

Eating

GRAPES

Chilled grapes from my mother’s garden. Despite breaking a record held for 110 years by having 13 days over 40ºC the grapes are lovely! My own garden is not doing so well.

RED CABBAGE

I cook for two people and find so many fruit and vegetables last two people more than a few days. They do not stay fresh and crisp! So, after I bought a medium sized rockmelon and realised we’d have to have a quarter each for lunch and then a quarter each for dinner, as it wouldn’t keep, I started looking for smaller pieces, especially vegetables. This is a petite red cabbage.

We enjoyed half one night braised in a pan over high heat in cider vinegar then a knob of butter and a good grind of black pepper. We had the other half the next night simply boiled. No waste. This is really a hot weather problem as leftover vegetables go into the soup pot in winter!

TOMATO, BOCCONCINI and BASIL SALAD

Gathered the ingredients for a light summer salad at lunchtime. They looked so luscious I sat down and painted them!

First I painted them, then we ate them!

This is a traditional Italian salad and features the colours of the Italian flag. So, red tomatoes, green basil and white bocconcini!

So quick and easy. Slice the tomatoes and cheese thinly and arrange on a plate. I put a sliced avocado in the middle, drizzled with a peppery olive oil then sprinkled basil over the top. Served with toasted ciabatta. Lunch done.

When I set my plate of salad, I added finely diced raw red onion for a contrasting crispness. Delicious.

SOURDOUGH RYE BREAD

Every fortnight I make two loaves of rye sourdough. Some goes in the fridge, some goes in the freezer. I’m the only one who eats it, my husband has two favourite local bakeries where he buys his white artisan loaves. No rye bread for him!

growing vegetables

Affirm press

Are you growing your own food? Whether you’re new to gardening or an old hand I think you’ll find something interesting in Jaclyn Crupi’s Gardening Like Nonno. I certainly found loads of advice and recipes for improving soil quality. This is little book packed with practical bite sized bits of information.

Crupi grew up with two Nonnos ( Italian grandfathers) who she describes as “…no-nonsense, hard working and cheeky. They know how to fix things, how to make things, how to grow things and how to care for things”. This little book is full of useful information about improving the quality of soil organically, choosing and saving seeds, seasonal plants, the tools you’ll need and how to care for them, chickens and even some recipes for preserving your crops.

Whatever size your garden I think you’ll find inspiration in this practical book. I couldn’t put it down and have gone back to find particular advice, especially on soil improvement. La dolce vita in a book!

Share this post

Growing and Propagating Lucky Bamboo

Share this post

cityscape photography during daytime

When my husband was working at his office in Hong Kong we would stay at the Excelsior Hotel which was just a block away. Sadly it has now been demolished. Closed in 2019 the site is being developed as an office block. It was quite easy for me to entertain our small son as our rooms always overlooked the Hong Kong Yacht Club where they still fired the noonday gun. This former naval military artillery piece on an enclosed piece of land near the waters edge is fired at noon and on New Year at midnight. Our small boy was also entertained for hours watching the planes landing and taking off Kowloon side across the water at Kai Tak airport.

green cactus plant during daytime

Growers turn the lucky bamboo stems to make them move towards sunlight, creating the twisted stems.

The other element I remember from the Excelsior, apart from the amazing range of cuisine available at several restaurants, was every room had stems of lucky bamboo in oriental patterned vases. These were popular in restaurants, hotels and office blocks but not common elsewhere. Some were ornate and twisted and some were just straight but they were usually decorated with red string knotted around the stems to encourage good luck.

Lucky bamboo is not actually a bamboo, but belongs to the Dracaenia family and is Dracaenia sanderiana. It is native to Africa and Southeast Asia. Lucky bamboo is thought to bring positive energy and strength. According to feng shui, the number of stalks encourage different strengths and good fortune. Twenty one stalks is a very powerful blessing for great wealth and prosperity.

This small lucky bamboo missed the constant attention of small hands at school but after a year or so when I had retired, it thrived.

Since we returned to Western Australia I’ve had lucky bamboo in two places. One was about 18 years old and very big and lush. The leaves were slowly turning yellow. I suspect I’d over fertilised it. I know now lucky bamboo only needs fertiliser every three or four months. The other lucky bamboo used to be in my classroom and began as two small stems. When I first brought it home it didn’t thrive. Maybe it missed small people breathing on it and poking the soil to see if it needed watering. Since I’ve stopped fertilising it so often it is thriving.

green-leafed plant

I decided the old, very big lucky bamboo, slowly turning yellow and already touching the ceiling, could be the source of new plants.

Birdcages on corner unit

The lucky bamboo a few years ago before it hit the ceiling and stated heading sideways. It has seven stems.

Propagating dracaenias/lucky bamboo

I gathered the materials, got down the old plant and set about making new plants.

You need:

stems of lucky bamboo

a clear jar/vase with some water*

garden scissors/secataurs

rooting/growth powder (optional)

* some people use filtered water, I used cooled boiled water

Cut stems with leaves just below a nodule. Remove any yellowed leaves, dip the stalk into rooting powder if you’re using it and put the stem in the jar of water.

Leave the jar of stems in dappled sunlight until little roots develop on the cut end. This took two weeks in the heat of summer. I left them another two weeks. One stalk grew roots despite the leaf yellowing and dying and one quite healthy looking cutting didn’t develop roots at all.

Although the single leaf on this stem died the developing root system is quite strong so I’ve left it in with the others.

I have left the stems in water for now. Lucky bamboo lives for longer in soil but it also thrives in water. In either case, use specific lucky bamboo fertiliser. Pour a capful into a jug of water to dilute it then add to the water or the soil about once a month. No more!

Why have I left the stems in water? Normally I plant my lucky bamboo in soil as they last a few years longer than in water. It is very, very hot here at the moment, has been for a few weeks and continuing hot weather is forecast. I don’t want these young and still quite small roots to dry out in soil so I’ve left them in water, which is easy to top up when necessary. When it is cooler I will plant them in loose, good quality potting mix and put the pot in one of the various holders I use ( a faux Greek antiquity vase, a stainless steel ice bucket, a chinoiserie teapot missing it’s lid) At the moment the jar of rooted stems is in an old teapot.

I trimmed the dead leaf off the flourishing stem and it is healthy so I will keep it in the pot.

If you’re growing lucky bamboo in water the roots will be easy to check. As they grow and become a tangled mass in the container they take on a red tinge. This means they are healthy!

opening the border between western australia and the rest of australia

On the 2nd of April, 2020, Western Australia closed its border to the rest of Australia in an attempt to stop the spread of the corona virus. It was very successful but also meant families, friends and people working or holidaying in the Eastern States were prevented from entering WA. Unfortunately, the hard border is still in place but the Premier says it will open on 3rd of March. The plan to open the border on 8th of February was postponed. This has been a difficult time for so many people and many businesses have suffered. We wait to see what happens!

Share this post

The Summer Garden, Reading and Treating Rust

Share this post

Daily temperatures around 40ºC suit the roses and some other plants, but not me! I’ve spent a lot of time on the settee with books, keeping cool. Tuning into the Winter Olympics not just for the action, but to gaze longingly at the snow.

in the garden

This red Pierre de Ronsard rose had 13 roses on one stem! Pretty scent and the blooms last a long time in a vase.

These flowers will last a long time, too. That’s because they’re made of Lego! A Christmas gift, they continue to amuse me. The artwork behind is the work of Spence Guerin. You can see more at www.spenceguerin.com

The clivias thrive in the garden. Interestingly, these flowers were originally bright orange with a row of cream clivias in front. Not anymore, they’re all creamy orange now!

This beautiful myrrh scented sturdy rose is Glamis Castle. It blooms most months of the year and was virtually uneffected by chili thrip last year, unlike the other roses. I cut the flowers for in the house. Within days there will be a fresh lot ready to pick. They do well in the heat.

A lunch salad from the garden. Picked the lettuce leaves, the tomatoes, the spring onion and basil leaves then added bought gherkins and red onion plus later, some goats cheese.

The lettuce bed with chives. Since this photo was taken the pick and come again lettuces have been scorched by the heat and gone to seed. Annoying.

The ever blooming hippiastra. I have red, red with white throats and white hippiastra and they seem to bloom for about eight months of the year. Big, pretty and long lasting blooms.

reading

Are you a keen reader? At the end of the year I kept seeing lists made by other bloggers recording the number of books they’d read during the year. These lists ranged from in the 30’s to over 100, so about two books each week. I decided I would keep a list for one year, too, and have made a cracking start. I must add we have had scorching hot weather since before Christmas and we are a family of very keen readers. Too hot to do many jobs outdoors!

We give each other books as gifts. My husband orders most of his books from online book sellers. I reserve many books online and pick them up at the library. I read all the book reviews! If I really like a book I will buy a copy to keep from a local bookshop.

This book, by Annie Smithers, a well known and much admired Australian restaurant owner, is in the ‘buy a copy’ category.

RECIPE FOR A KINDER LIFE

Well known for her French style bistros and restaurants, Annie Smithers has written a manifest describing how she lives a balanced life. Not many of us have hectares or the resources to grow fruit and vegetables on a commercial scale (she supplies her bistro from her farm) but her approach to juggling work, growing fresh food, caring for livestock, her family and staff makes interesting reading. She is determined to live in a sustainable way and to live well.

I enjoyed reading her recipes, too. Based on one of her recipes, this is my new favourite salad dressing. Place into a jar with a lid a dessert spoon of Dijon mustard (buy the French brand as the others are slightly sweet), and two parts extra virgin olive oil to one part vinegar. Shake until it is amalgamated then drizzle over the salad. Thick, creamy and delicious.

treating rust on metal

My week hasn’t been all cutting flowers and reading inspirational books! I’ve been attending to some home maintenance. Some of our exterior door frames are metal and some are timber depending on the protection they have from the weather. The front door is protected by a portico but this door frame is exposed to all the weather. I have had to treat rust patches in the past. During this very hot, dry season it made sense to rub it back, treat the rust and repaint the area.

Wipe the effected area of the frame clean then rub back the rust using sand paper. Wipe again with a damp cloth to remove any dust.

2. Apply the rust treatment and leave to dry.

3. Repainted the area. This was done on a very hot day and the area dried quickly. I applied two coats of paint over the previously rusted area for lasting protection. Now it looks perfect but I forgot to take a photo!

Next week on the 14th of February, is St Valentine’s day. Are you planning something special?

Share this post

Happy New Year, Resolutions and Gardening News

Share this post

HAPPY NEW YEAR

We spent a lovely Christmas Day with our extended family. Enjoyed catching up with all the news. Not so lovely was the 43°C top temperature. Really hot nights, too, so I’m watering the garden every night. Then Boxing Day was hot at 44° (111°F) but we’d already planned to take my Mother shopping for a new television. Despite the shop being air conditioned it was very hot and crowded and this week we have to wear masks. Not complaining, as we’ve only had to wear masks twice in two years.

We have had 9 deaths from Covid in Western Australia and I realise we are really lucky. We will need to wear masks at any New Year parties and the numbers able to attend will be limited. Why? Because 86 close contacts of a French unvaccinated back packer who arrived in WA and was diagnosed with CV-19 haven’t fronted up to be tested.

The best post Christmas thing is settling to the books we received as presents. We are a family of keen readers and enjoy this slower time after the festivities to read and stay cool. There’s always lots of leftovers to eat for two or three days so it’s a relaxing time. One night we wanted variety and had a curry feast! Unfortunately, the garden is wilting. It is also too hot to set up our new worm farm.

Luscious curry dinner, not cooked by me!

I was really interested when a friend told me her family only exchanged gifts they could eat, drink or read. Probably because we’re all in a similar age group we don’t need other things but still enjoy reading, eating or drinking! In fact, most of our gifts already fit into these categories but now is the time to formalise the plan

resolutions

woman stretching This is definitively not me!

Do you set New Year goals? I know lots of people see the new year as a fresh start and therefore the ideal time to make changes for the better. I’m not big on coming up with goals for the new year, despite being aware of some changes I’d benefit from making, but I’m always interested in what other people are planning. Popular goals mentioned amongst friends regarded diets, exercising, drinking less alcohol, spending more time with family and friends, decluttering and organising expenditure. In fact, losing weight or just eating a healthier diet are the most popular resolutions in the Western World. Do you make resolutions? I’d love to know if you keep them!

happy birthday greeting card on brown wooden table

decluttering

We spent a day decluttering. It wasn’t a New Year Resolution but really a necessity. The large cupboard under the stairs was overly stuffed with things. We couldn’t get to the back! About four years ago when I decided to retire I brought home and stored work things in case I ever wanted to go back. Of course, I’ve never looked at any of those things since. Our son moved home after a couple of years in another state and many of his things were stored and forgotten in the cupboard, too, when he returned. Years of me painting, drawing and printing have resulted in an overflow of art works. I have no idea what to do with them.

It took a day, many difficult decisions and two trips to the tip plus a large box of things to donate to sort out the cupboard. It is at risk of being filled with the overflow of our lives again as it is on the way into the main part of the house and we can just shut the door on the things we can’t decide about and there are many. But for now we’re just enjoying standing at the door and admiring how organised and tidy it all is, however briefly.

gardening

purple flower in macro lens photography

In gardening news, the agapanthus are loving the scorching sun and blooming with great gusto, the alstomerias have given up, the roses are managing but not enthusiastically and I am picking passionfruit, blueberries, a few tomatoes, coriander, perpetual spinach, mint, parsley and basil.

Wishing You All A

Happy And Healthy New Year!

Share this post

Chicken Roulade and Christmas Cakes

Share this post

My extended family will be coming to our house for Christmas lunch. It will probably be a very hot day, as it usually is, so I’m scrolling through recipe books and making lists for cold food to be served on platters. As we’ll have family staying I’d like some things to serve as leftovers the next day, too.

Making plans.

making chicken roulade

Planning Christmas entertaining and want a change? I’ve bought the ham but wanted a change from turkey. I decided to practice making an old fashioned chicken roulade. It can be eaten hot or cold. The filling can be altered to suit the season. The filling I chose had leeks as they looked so fresh at the greengrocers..

To make a roulade begin by brining the chicken. This ensures the meat stays moist and tasty. I laid the breasts in a container and poured the brine to completely cover the meat for 24 hours. I use free range chicken breasts so their size is not uniform.

The brining mix is 1/2 cup of cooking salt dissolved in 2 litres of water, left to cool. Then pour it over the breasts, cover and leave in the fridge.

After 24 hours, remove the breasts, pat dry and trim off any fatty bits.

Lay the breast on a length of baking paper and cut through the middle, not going all the way through. Lay the butterflied breast on one half of the paper and fold the other half over. Most cooks use plastic wrap for this step but I try to avoid using single use plastic.

Use a rolling pin, meat tenderiser or even a bottle to flatten the breast. I use this little rolling pin as it’s just the right size. It began life in a Play Dough set but I finally adopted it about thirty years ago as it’s just the right size for so many jobs!

Uncover the butterflied breast. Check the thickness. Trim off any scrappy bits.

Lay the filling down the middle and roll one end over it. Tuck the edge under the filling and roll it into a sausage shape.

I was trying two types of meat to roll around the chicken. I used prosciutto and a smoky bacon. Both retain the moisture of the roulade. I will use the bacon for the Christmas lunch roulade as the prosciutto was quite salty.

Bacon and two prosciutto roulades ready to roast. Some cooks wrap the rolls in plastic wrap and poach them in boiling water to secure the neat shape before roasting but I’m not wrapping anything in plastic and then heating it! I rolled the breast wrapped in the bacon or prosciutto, tied with kitchen string and put in the oven.

Into a 160ºF oven and cook, turning the rolls when one side is browned. Remove when both sides are browned, leave to cool. Snip off string.

Slice when it’s cool and enjoy! I also made gravy from the pan juices but the prosciutto meant it was too salty.

I browned a tablespoon of pine nuts and then a well washed, finely chopped leek. When they were cool I mixed in 200gm of cream cheese and four finely chopped chives to make the filling. Left it to mature in the fridge for 24 hours while the chicken brined. It was easy to spread on the breasts and tasted very good.

After I’d made the roulades I had five rashers of bacon left over. Quick audit of the fridge as I needed to shop that afternoon. I gathered bits and pieces left in the fridge to make a pie. Apart from the bacon I used five eggs, an onion I browned, some chopped up broccoli, some grated cheese and a tomato to make a pie. Eaten cold for two lunches, it was delicious!

christmas cakes

The next job to be done for Christmas was making the two Christmas Cakes. The fruit had been macerating for over a month. Normally I soak it for longer, but this year has not been a normal!

We each stirred the mixture and made a wish.

Hope all your holiday plans are going well. Sadly, some families will be separated by new outbreaks of CV-19. We live in very different times.

Share this post

TV for Dogs, Great Vinaigrette, Jacarandas and Dyeing a Shirt

Share this post

Streaming channel for dogs

A television channel was launched in the UK last week for dogs. Yes, pay TV for dogs. This streaming service has been designed to alleviate stress, loneliness and anxiety for dogs during the day according to the research completed over three years. The researchers considered the physiological and psychological needs of dogs to determine what made them feel stimulated or relaxed. The dog channel features colours, audio frequency and music and camera alignment to suit dog senses.

white long coated small dog on floor

A vet interviewed about dogs watching television says ‘…only some dogs will sit and watch TV.’ Apparently dogs get bored very quickly and wander off. My dog barks at cats and other dogs on TV otherwise he ignores it. So, will your dog be watching The Dog Chef, Road Dogs, Paws For Love, The Adoption Show or Things We Woof About?

black and white border collie lying on black and white bed linen

vinaigrette

Salad season has arrived in Western Australia so I’m back making traditional vinaigrette. There’s so many salad dressings on the market but often the ingredients listed on the labels are off putting. Fresh, raw, just picked veggies need clean, home made dressings. This is the recipe for a plain dressing using ingredients you already have to hand. Varying the vinegar you use, such as balsamic, red wine or apple cider vinegar will change the colour and the flavour.

I’ve used plain white vinegar and the basic ingredients. Once you have mastered the ratios you can add shallots, garlic or lemon zest. You can replace some of the acid, the vinegar, with lemon or lime juice. I use virgin olive oil which has a very strong flavour. You may prefer to use a lighter olive oil.

This vinaigrette will last a week in the fridge and can be added to salads, drizzled over small boiled potatoes or any other vegetable. I mix it in an old jam jar and store it in the fridge in the same jar. I like things to be easy!

To make VINAIGRETTE you need

1/2 cup olive oil

4 tablespoons vinegar

1 teaspoon Dijon mustard

1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper

Put all the ingredients in the jar or a bowl and whisk. Sometimes I just shake the jar vigorously with the lid screwed on tightly. Drizzle on your salad leaves and enjoy.

jacarandas

Jacaranda trees are a sub tropical tree native to central South America. Jacarandas thrive in Western Australia and other states of Australia. It has been cultivated in almost every country in the world where there is no risk of frost.

Jacarandas are considered an invasive species in Queensland and parts of South America. The blue flowers appear in spring and summer and can last up to two months. During this time the spent flowers will create a beautiful carpet under the tree as they fall.

Tricky to see on an overcast day but the purple haze continues down the street. Beautiful.

I love jacaranda trees! At this time every year we go across the river to an area where my mother grew up to see the jacarandas. They were planted as street trees on Arbor Day when she was at primary school. They have mostly continued to flourish and bloom. They are celebrated each year during the Jacaranda Festival.

dyeing a shirt

Last summer I bought a linen shirt online and was rather surprised when it arrived; what I thought was a pink shirt was actually a very orange, slightly pink shirt. Wore it once and put it back in the robe, never to be worn again. The colour made me look sick! And it was a bit big.

Shirt, 500gm salt (mordent to set the dye) and the packet of black dye.

Suddenly it is quite warm in Western Australia so I gathered all my summer shirts, washed them and ironed them and hung them ready for summer. That’s when I discovered the hidden orange/pink shirt. Wore it yesterday, still really dislike it! Inspiration struck. I could dye it and take the side seams in a little bit without altering the style of the shirt, but improving the fit.

Set off for a packet of dye. Thought I’d get grey but the shop only had black. Bought it. Dyed the shirt in the washing machine and then hung it in the shade to dry, as directed on the packet. I now have a NAVY blue shirt, which I really like. I have pinned the sides to make it fit better and will sew it tomorrow. Strangely, the thread used to sew the shirt didn’t take the dye and is still an odd colour but looks fine on the navy linen. Pleased with the outcome and know I will wear it now.

Looks grey in the photo, which I like but it’s actually navy blue, which I also like, so now I will wear it!

Did you know Wednesday was make Your Own Bread Day? You can bake some homemade bread to meet your “kneads”. I began making sourdough bread about four years ago but now I make rye sourdough. Rye flour has very little gluten so I add some strong white flour to help it rise. There’s so much information online, especially since the pandemic, if you’d like to try making your own bread.

Share this post

Ten Days in Australind.

Share this post

My Mother is recovering from eye surgery. Initially she stayed with us in Perth for just over a fortnight for pre- surgery appointments, then the eye surgery, then recuperation and some post surgical appointments. Now I have been down here in Australind with her for about ten days. She is doing very well.

My first task was making her special muesli, a combination of oatmeal, dried apricots, dates, raisins and sunflower seeds.

Also picked some lettuce, broad beans, parsley and sage when we arrived and were given the lemons, all used to make salad.

I grew up on a farm about 7 kilometres from where my Mother now lives. This area was a small settlement with a service station which also sold some groceries and had enticing jars of lollies (candy). Now it’s a township of many suburbs, a number of primary and two secondary schools, two shopping centres and all the support services which come with these developments.

This area, like most of Western Australia, has experienced heavy winter rainfall. The rainfall has been recorded on our farm since 1914 and my Mother still has a rain gauge in the front garden here. She sends the rainfall records to the Bureau of Meteorology every month.

Record of local rainfall for this area 1914 -2007.

Right at the front, in the middle, is the rain gauge in suburban Australind.

Heavy rain means her garden is gorgeous. The front garden is ornamental, the back garden has both vegetables and exotics. She has amazing roses this year, like everyone else! She always has fresh flowers in the house.

Harry Wheatcroft

Chicago Peace

My great grandparents are buried in a nearby town, so we set off to visit them! They are keeping other relatives company, too. I took lots of photos and read lots of gravestones before we went to a coffee shop nearby in a restored house overlooking the river.

My Great Grandfather, born in Norway as Christian Jensen.

My Great Grandmother, born in South Australia. They were married in Adelaide in 1883. They had seven children.

Wandered through the beautiful garden winding around the river. We had coffee and cake then visited the information centre intended to inform visitors about the attractions of the area. The government has decided to close this as all the information can be found online. What a shame!

Pretty, well kept gardens at Stirling Cottage.

Throughout the garden there are illustrated excerpts from the very beautiful book, Tales of Snugglepot and Cuddle Pie, written and illustrated by May Gibbs, who once lived nearby. This book was regularly read to me when I was a child and remains a favourite. When we came back here, Mum showed me another May Gibbs book she has, Two Little Gum-Nuts. Published in 1929. It was a Christmas gift from a cousin to my Father.

Other things to happen this week:

* Four year old Cleo Smith, who was abducted from the family tent at a remote camp site on the coast of Western Australia, was found after being missing for 18 days. Such a relief.

*Aldi are using 84% recyclable, reusable or compostable packaging. This is a move in the right direction, but the actual cost of recycling plastics is so high it is still cheaper to used virgin plastics. They have also transitioned from plastic yoghurt tubs to paperboard tubs, saving 15.3 tonnes of plastic a year. Before you buy yoghurt, check if there is a paperboard tub alternative to plastic.

* World Diabetes Day is on the 14th intended to increase awareness about diabetes. Millions of people around the world live with diabetes. There are two types of diabetes and both types require careful management. The International Diabetes Federation predicts by 2025 there will be 422 million people living with diabetes.

Share this post

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

Home Schooling, Early Spring in the Garden and Rat Proofing Tomatoes

Share this post

HOME SCHOOLING

Early one morning recently I was awake but hesitant to turn on a light and read so scrolled through some blogs. I was particularly interested in one where the mother, entering the third week of lockdown, seemed to be totally responsible for home schooling her two children as there was no reference to sharing this task with the children’s father. Why did this blog catch my attention?

This blogger was not enjoying the constant company of her children. She found their schoolwork tedious and difficult to supervise whilst attending to her own work. Understandably, she was under pressure. She wasn’t enjoying extra time with her kids. In fact, she was furious to be stuck with them. Poor children. She reminded me of the parents who’d arrive with their children the first day of the school year or at the beginning of the school term and express their joy that the holidays are over and their the kids are someone else’s problem for the next seven and a half hours.

These expressions of relief were always shared whilst the child was within hearing range. Sadly, some of these children were all too aware that they were a burden rather than a joy.

Lockdown supervision has sometimes revealed the true ability of the student to the supervising parent. The child’s attitude to learning or such close contact with the parent may also be of concern. Parents who tended to avoid advice about helping their child learn or become socially more adept can suddenly realise there is a problem.

Is this hostility of being with your own child a result of too many other pressures, of work, of housekeeping, parenting, keeping fit and having a life away from home? I don’t know but I’ve met many children whose parents don’t enjoy their company. The outcomes are usually poor for the children. I hope one of the long term outcomes of this pandemic is families look at their priorities and make changes to create happy, well adjusted lives.

SPRING IN THE GARDEN

Spring has arrived in Perth after the wettest winter in years. We live in quite an old suburb so many people have well established citrus trees which have been heavy with fruit for some months. Our own lime tree is covered in juicy fruit and yet is flowering again.

So fresh lemon or lime with everything! One of the consequences of heavy, frequent rain is a staggering amount of weeds. They’re winning at the moment!

I planted a packet of mixed coloured ranunculus corms but they’re mostly orange. Gorgeous.

Trying to tame the determined nasturtiums. Lots of them are orange, too.

RAT PROOFING THE TOMATOES

Our local council has regular verge pick-ups when they remove either our green waste ( garden waste which is too big for the green bin) or general waste and unwanted household goods. The last pickup was for general waste. I saw this aluminum frame out on the verge across the road when I went for a walk and wondered if I could make a rat proof cage for my self germinating tomatoes.

By the time I got back I knew it would work. I think it was originally the frame for a set of drawers. I liked the height and could see how I would seal it at the bottom to keep the rats out.

Carried the frame home and washed it. While it was drying I unrolled some chicken wire and flattened it out. Recycled frame, recycled chicken wire, self seeded tomatoes. All good.

Then we shaped it around the frame, making sure it reach the bottom and covered the top. We have wily rats! Attached it with gardening wire. I’ve put the tomato plant in the cage so now we’ll wait and see.

ROSY DOCK

I found this plant growing out of rubble during our recent trip to Kalgoorlie. I was delighted when a friend identified it from the photo. It is Rosy Dock (Acetosa vesicana) distinguished by its brightly coloured flowers which are pink through to ruby red. It is a perennial plant growing from underground tubers.

It is not a wild flower! It is native to northern Africa through to western Asia. It thrives in low rainfall areas so was popular with settlers moving into the outback of Australia more than 100 years ago.

Unfortunately, flash flooding spread Rosy Dock far and wide. It now threatens many indigenous plants and animals. Arum lilies, now also considered a weed, were spread the same way. They are both beautiful flowers!

Friday 17th September is CONCUSSION AWARENESS DAY. The impact of concussion may not be evident for many years. Learn the symptoms but mostly be aware of ways to protect yourself from being concussed.

Share this post