Mushroom omlettes

Todays pickings, looks like mushroom omlettes today!

Designer Clothes - made at home

Montana-Rose had a shirt which I originally bought for her at Pumpkin Patch when she was 5 years old.  She would not wear it for several years, and it's only in the past year that she has worn and worn it.  In fact not only did she wear it out, but it got way too small.

On an expedition to Quilters Quarters in Rangiora we chose a fabric to make a new, bigger version out of.

It's certainly not cheaper to make your own clothes, the fabric,buttons and elastic came to $44.20, but you get a one off piece, made to fit you.  It certainly is something that no-one else will have, and I hope she gets lots of use out of it.

Amongst the many advantages of making your own clothes is the fact that you can make a quality garment, the buttons will be properly sewn on and not fall off, you can select a long lasting fabric.

 First I cut up the original, it was pink, taking note of how the elastic was fitted into the bodice and sleeves, and the gathering around the neckline.

I used the pieces to lay out the new fabric, blue, and cut them bigger, especially at the armholes where Miss Rose had been finding her old top very tight.

After a couple of try-ons it was done!

The back.

It's come out so like the original,but better and bigger in size.

Clafoutis...similar

Having spotted this recipe online today i thought id give it a go. A bit like a clafoutis on a cooked base.  Looks delicious, ill let you know how the taste test goes. Blueberries, boysenberrirs and raspberries all picked about 5 mins before assembling

Bounty after the rain

Miracles of all miracles, it has rained...and rained...and rained (till the ceiling hung with vines and the walls became the world all around)....

Garlic: I was late putting in the garlic this year, usually we plant on the shortest day and harvest on the longest day, or as close to them as possible.  This year I was about 3 weeks late, but the harvest is still good.  I only planted about a third of the amount, for we had so much garlic I gave bunches and bunches away.  This year, there is only enough for us, about 60 heads.

 Onions:  I tried to plant a whole bed full this year, but ran out of seed only a few rows in.  The seed packets just don't have as many seeds in as I am sure they used to (in the good, ole days).  I never got around to putting in any more.  But the quality of these, though their number is not great, is fabulous.  Great round, well formed onions, some about the size of a coffee mug!

Raspberries: This is the 3rd pick, and there is probably only one left.  This would be the smallest weight for a pick so far, the best being 2.5kg

  

 Camomile: my hankering after a Camomile lawn is well known in our family.  Finallly, I almost have one.  Pix of that to come later.  For the moment I have harvest and dried some flowers.  Unfortunately, I tried Camomile tea - BLERK - where have I gone wrong? a great camomile smell, but a bitter aftertaste!  not even the addition of honey made that any better.  Still, nice for rinsing hair, and for putting in the bath.




Mushrooms: Unexpectedly, we have mushrooms in our paddocks.  The rain has brought them out early, usually I would start looking about the middle of March!

We have filled our rain tanks with water, and our paddocks have greened up, what a  great summer!

Boysenberry pick....

1.6kg!

Raspberry season

1.3kg...this is the second pick of the year.

Mr Chaffinch and Update on the Secret Garden

Our Chaffinch

This little guy thinks he owns our property.  He has been Peep-Peeping around our lawn, driveway, veranda and fences for about 2 weeks now.  Every day and all day his cheerful wee peep can be heard chirping away.  He pecks at the dogfood, and their bones, he sits in the trees and he collects bits of straw.

His mate, who is very drab by comparison, has only come down once or twice, so I think they must be making eggs in a nest close to here, perhaps in our hedge.

Fearlessly he struts about on the lawn, just metres from the cat.  The dogs have taken to guarding their bones, by lying beside them, thwarting his foraging efforts sometimes, but not often!

Last night we sat in our lounge, with all the doors open and he spent the whole evening carrying on, it was so funny watching him.  He is a real delight!

Update on the Secret Garden
I have been working hard to make my Secret Garden a sanctuary, and here are some photos showing the results of my efforts.

Still trying to grow that Camomile Lawn

 

Fountain is looking good

Topiary

My 84yr old Dad made me a China Pagoda and installed it on Thursday, thanks Dad

Visits by lots of bumblebees