Look who's got Gooseberries!

Cape Gooseberries. . . 

The Gooseberry is an unusual fruit, especially here in Australia, I don't actually know a lot about it, II have some wonderful child hood memories of eating gooseberries that grew wild in my backyard and  have always been fascinated by them and their little cases.Cape gooseberries that is.  

I have never seen nor tasted an English Gooseberry. 

Go to the fact sheet here for some more info on The Cape Gooseberry and here for info on the other Gooseberry...

Flying high

The Birds  - Another finished project I can now tick off my list. 

I loved these spool design birds when I first saw them and was very surprised at just how easy they were to  cut out and sew up, it actually took me longer to get outside to find a branch and get them hung up.  They've been patiently sitting on my sewing table for a couple of months, and now finally, I have found  a lovely home for them perched way up high in the center of my Living room. 

 They're a real eye catcher !!  
I have seen these mobiles on various blogs over the years, here is another very beautiful one I found just last week.

Baby Quilting

 

I have been trying to complete a few unfinished projects this week and catch up on everything on my to do list. Now let me tell you, my to do list is going to do me until I die, sometimes it really does my head in, but if I take control and take one step at a time, complete one task at a time it's amazing how quickly the to do list can get done!

A Vintage Sheet Quilt for Little Laura  . . .   Finished  . . .  

and she loves it!

It's not really a quilt but more of a patchwork throw rug,  she loves it anyway, and so do I.

 

Drying thyme

 GROW IT

PICK IT

TIE IT

HANG IT  

 DRY IT

BAG IT

SHAKE IT

BOTTLE IT

IF YOU HAVE THE THYME !!     : )

The Garden Post

Its so nice to be able to comfortably walk out and about around the garden again.  I have been quite surprised at how much my veggie garden has contained itself over the past few months, completely neglected by it's keeper in the later stages of my pregnancy, the rain and natural elements have been kind enough to keep it in relatively good order.  These veggies have all been grown from my previous spring planting.   The eggplant were slow to grow but certainly impressed once they started producing, a lone cucumber vine appeared 3 months after my cues were picked and pickled, the capsicums just  keep coming and the tomatoes seems to have got a second lease of  life and are producing more tomatoes they did than earlier in the season. Just one problem though . . .

Anyone got any good green tomato chutney recipes, Something in the area seems to be picking these little lollies off the vine the minute they get  a tinge of colour on them, I am presuming it's birds of some kind, I must invest in a net, see if I can save me a few ripe ones.

I've been tossing a bit of capsicum and eggplant into everything lately, unfortunately the eggplant are not a   favourite with the kidlets so they're not getting eaten as quickly as I would like them too, Any suggestions on freezing Eggplant or easy peasy yummy recipes?

And for those Baby Watchers out there, here's our little Laura's latest photo...

Yes, she's smiley and she's chubby!

5 1/2 weeks old

Happy Gardening!

Enjoying ... a quick to bake bicki, a nice cup of tea and a good book.

  

Oat Cookies

1  1/2 cup plain flour

1/2 teasp bicarb soda

1  1/2 cup rolled oats

1/2 cup sultanas

1/4 cup chopped dried apricots
a handful of chopped almonds 

1/2 cup sugar

125gm melted butter

2 tabs golden syrup

1 egg

Sift flour and bi carb soda together.

Stir in oats, sultanas, apricots, almonds and sugar

than add combined melted butter, golden syrup and egg

Mix well

Drop teaspoonfuls onto a greased baking tray

Bake in moderate oven for approx 10 mins or until golden brown

Cool and serve with a nice cup of tea . . . and a good book.

I had the pleasure of meeting with Rhonda last week and finally got  my hands on her Down to Earth book. I've just managed to make myself some time to sit and have a flick through it...It's interesting, it's pretty, and it's full of the most useful information, it's a real Homemakers Bible. 

Holiday Craft

  Take one packet of Wooden Pegs, 

some felt tip pens, fabric scraps, glue, scissors, 

and some balls of wool 

 

add a little bit of imagination

and Craft up together for some very cute little Peg People . . .

Enjoying Easter ...

Last Easter I made a decision to simplify Easter gifts, there was to be no more mad rushing around the supermarkets last minute spending $ on fancy eggs, rabbits and cheap nasty chocolates for the kids. Easter became part of my Handmade challenge.

This year I continued this new tradition. Having a new born in the house meant that I was a little more restricted with my time and patience and unfortunately we didn't get to make our own chocky Easter treats that we had planned, but there was still plenty of Craft, Baking and Easter fun to be had by all. . .

and much to the kids delight, that cheeky little cadbury bunny still managed to sneak his way in and drop off a little treat as well.

I managed a few quiet moments to make up a new little bunny for our new little Laura . . .  

I'm hoping to see a few more of these make there way into our home over the next few years of Easter celebrations. This is the pattern I used.

We made and ate Jelly Bunnies for dessert. 

and we even found our very own super sized Easter Eggplants growing in the garden.

The best part is we still have a whole week of holidays ahead of us.   

I hope you're enjoying your Easter Break...