Around The Garden Path

Oh, Summer, you got me!

I am really not coping with the heat, I feel like I am an embarrassment to Australia!

Roll on Winter!

But before Winter does get here we are making the most of the gardens' givings.

The blackberry bush is having it's first successful year.

I gave it a heavy prune up at the end of winter and it has just exploded with new growth and gifting gobs of berries!

I have learnt the hard way to be patient with them though, the longer on the bush, the sweeter and softer and nyummier they are!

The zucchini vines were looking very mildewy which made me think they might not live, but we have picked some giant zucchs!

I've been hiding them in spaghetti sauces and chocolate zucchini brownies.

I've never been a big fan of capsicum but in the spirit of trying to eat healthier and take better care of myself, I've been using them.

I've finally had some success with chives.

Who ever said they were the easiest thing to grow??

The flowers are so pretty, like fluffy pom-poms.

The tomatoes have not faired so well this season.

Some have literally stewed inside their skin on the hot days (a downright gross surprise when you don't realise and try to pick) which has attracted icky flies, and the birds have helped themselves too!

I don't mind sharing but they haven't left much for us humans.

I netted the nectarine tree to prevent loss to birds this season, and had a very small amount of fruit.

When they were soft enough to harvest I found them half eaten by ants!

Wahhhh!!

Carrots have been a reliable treat over the last few years and I hope it continues.

We rotate our crops, so don't plant root veg in the same space in consecutive seasons.

The Kangaroo Paws have flourished again and the birds love flitting about, collecting nectar.

I'm never quick enough to get pictures though.

Another big beetroot haul.

I pickled them as always, this time diced in to chunks for salads.

I need to get another crop in and will make slices as I've just used my last jar. 

I gave a basket of goodies to my sister-in-law.

I love having enough to share with friends and knowing how appreciated it is, is a great feeling.

I was sneaky enough to snap these little monkeys outside my bedroom window.

Can you see the two having a little kiss? Cute!

I could watch them for hours, playing and darting about.

These little birds are such gentle creatures.

Their voices are not so gentle, especially when the whole flock pays your garden a visit!

But it's a treat that they choose my garden along their travels.

I have two birdbaths for them to drink from and splash about in.

I hope to one day soon install a large feeding station for them too.

I made cornbread for the first time last week.

I was so nervous as I'd never made it before and the batter was runny like a cake, rather than a bread dough.

But it was delicious!

I read it's best to have honey over cornbread but this was our side to go with my first crack at jumalaya - which surprisingly turned out well too - so it was just smothered with butter, mm mm!

Holidays are almost over, one week to go, then back into the busy routine.

I am looking forward to routine again but not sure I'm ready to go back, but its been long enough I guess.

I feel like for all the time off I've actually achieved nothing.

I did specifically want downtime but I also wanted to get things done.

I painted the lounge room ceiling which seems to have given the room a new, clean feel.

And I painted the front picket fence.

I'm excited about that project.

I have a vision of a black picket fence with three non-fruiting plum trees behind it (dark purple leaves, beautiful with the sun shining through, that drop the leaves and cover in tiny pink blossoms), and small dark green shrubs underneath, I'm unsure what variety yet.

But I'm looking forward to the privacy it will give, not to mention depth and change.

Do you have a favourite garden feature?

Have you seen a really clever bird feeding station design?

What have you been cooking/baking?

What's for dinner tonight?

What's the weather like in your bit of Earth?

❤❤❤

Bits of Everything

Well I nearly missed December.

I've been flat out busy chasing my tail one day and staring at the ceiling bored the next!

I am enjoying being on holidays, who wouldn't, right?

My boys are away for a few weeks so I'm feeling a bit out of sorts which will probably reflect in this post.

We did sneak in a very quick trip to the beach the day before they left.

We were there not even an hour and got quite burnt.

I hadn't realized how hot it was.

Later in the afternoon I popped the sprinkler on to water the vege garden and the ducks took advantage of the cool spray.

That is Sniffles watching me take pictures, a very wary duck who gets her name from her regular sneezing.

Scooter is head down-bum up as always. She gets her name from the way she scoots around the back lawn chasing flies.

I had another go at wood burning.

This is just a furniture leg/foot/thingo from Bunnings that I burned the designs (found on Pinterest) onto.

I pencilled them on freehand but couldn't erase the leftover visible pencil off after, so I hope I remember that next time.

Also found on Pinterest was this cool idea for recycling toilet paper rolls.

The video showed measuring but I am not one for such formalities, so the roll was cut into strips and hot-glued into a snowflake design.

*note to self, must remember to respect carpet and not use hot-glue on it!!

 I have only made two so far.

The first I painted after assembling but it was quite tricky to get into all the little nooks so the second I spray painted.

Again a bit fiddly and seemed to waste a bit of paint trying to get all the hidey bits.

I have pre-painted a few rolls to make some more.

Add glitter at the end and voila, festiveness!

I've been working through some books in the quiet time.

I read 'Mum, I Wish I Was Dead' by Adam Schwartz. A recount of a a teenage boys battle to overcome depression. His openness gives valuable insight that has, and will continue to help families in similar situations.

I started a few pages of 'We Need To Talk About Kevin' by Lionel Shriver but couldn't get into it. It's tale is based on a fictional school shooting and is formatted in the way of letters from the shooter's mother to his father. From what I read in those few pages it seemed hard to grasp onto as there was far too much information or 'scene setting' in the memories recounted in the letters that wouldn't typically need to be described to someone who was actually there. So simply for the formatting, I didn't enjoy the read but will try again.

I am almost halfway through 'The Denniston Rose' by Jenny Pattrick. A book given to me by Elvis' mum with a good review. I am so far really enjoying it.

Yesterday I bought 'The Year Of The Farmer' by Rosalie Ham, who also wrote 'The Dressmaker'. I haven't read that but love the movie so will one day get a copy.

I also bought 'In Pieces', Sally Fields' memoir. I adore her acting so am eager to read about her life. I had only seen a few movies with her (Forrest Gump, Mrs Doubtfire..) but a few years ago was introduced to Gidget and holy guacamole she is the cutest, sassiest, and most down-to-earth person you could hope to be friends with! Haha!

The sun is shining beautifully outside and I knew I should've gone out and enjoyed it earlier, now the sea breeze has set in and is making a pain of itself as it often does to my hot little temper, blowing the curtain in my face so I can't see and making me cold.

Big problems hey??

Well I have babbled on more than enough now.

I hope you enjoyed your Christmas and were safe and happy surrounded by friends and family.

I will definitely make the most of my late Christmas when my babies get home in over a week. Until then...

Oh, I wanted to share a funny picture of my silly cat.

Ever since the first day bringing her home from the adoption shelter she has been a tongue-poker!

It's like she just forgets to put it back after cleaning or yawning!

So funny :)

Ooohh and one more thing I wanted to share..

I was recently loaned a copy of 'Walk the Line', the movie about Johnny Cash and June Carter-Cash starring Joaquin Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon.

I do wish I was warned about a sad part very early in the movie,  probably would've howled my eyes out regardless, but I LOVED it and have been youtubing clips of Johnny and June since.

Oh, to be loved like Johnny loved June ❤

It breaks my heart and mends it all at once!