Only two more sleeps until SPRING

I took these beautiful pictures this morning.

I love the promise of spring!!

I have had a wonderful weekend with no set plans, reading, relaxing, baking and gardening.

A friend came over today with a little treat for the girls

I cleaned out the coop

 took pictures of this weekends bounty

baked another loaf (so much better than yesterday)

And my Husband caught plenty of fish for this weeks menu

FISH BREAD AND EGGS HOW MUCH BETTER CAN IT GET!!!

Getting back into the swing of things

Today I started baking bread again. It has been quite some time since I baked, I had a few disasters and gave up. I have been buying a fresh loaf every morning from the local bakery. After spending some time with a friend of mine who bakes bread I was inspired.

I researched some new recipes and today gave it a go. I decided to have an experiment and bake one loaf in the bread maker and one in the oven. Well I can tell you the oven version was far superior and the crust was spectacular! I am not sure why but the bread maker version never seems to get that beautiful brown crust and is often a little doughy inside.

I must admit I did cheat with the oven version, by mixing, kneading and rising in the bread maker before baking in the oven.

I am planning to start a sour dough mother tomorrow, and next weekend I will have another experiment using the pizza oven.

Eggs Abundance

A few weeks ago I lost 2 of my girls to a nasty fox. I was was devastating, but luckily 4 of my girls survived.

I placed an ad on FB asking if anyone had some point of lay chooks for sale. I had a response from a lovely family with a real passion for chooks on the outskirts of canberra, so the next day I went for a drive to collect 2 new additions for my flock. I am not sure how it happened but I came home with 4 new additions.

I now have 8 lovely ladies, 2 youngsters not yet laying. Each day without fail I have been collecting 6  eggs. I can honestly say we have had many delicious egg recipes, and my neighbours love me!!!

Nothing beats the taste of a fresh egg and knowing they are truly free range, make it so much more rewarding.

Why it's been so long

We have alway been in love with the south coast, Bermagui in particular.  We enjoying fishing kayaking and the general relaxed atmosphere of the coast.

 


Just before christmas we made a little purchase, a cute little 2 bedroom cabin on the shores of Wallaga Lake.

This has been our little home away from home almost every second weekend since christmas.
We have made some wonderful new friends and have enjoyed every minute we have spent there.

Wallaga Lake has an abundance of Flat Head, Tailor, Brim and Blue Swimmer Crabs YUM!!!

It's been so long

Almost a year has passed ! I had a bumper harvest last summer. I've made so many preserves and given so many gift baskets of fresh produce.

As Canberra got colder I have been spending my days warm and cozy by the fire, reading and making plans for my little food Forrest in Flynn.

Since the cold weather has settled in I have planted a small winter crop, snow peas, carrots, onions, cabbages, spinach, silver beet and broccoli.

I have been cooking and baking ( today a banana cake) and trying out some new recipes. I have made some fabulous pasta and yummy hearty chicken and vegetable soup.

I am so longing for the day our debts are paid off and I can retire to a self sufficient life somewhere on the south coast. I dream of a small parcel of land to build a sustainable home and go crazy with fruit, veg and some live stock.

Liliums

I have been growing lilies for the past couple of years now, and have developed a real love for them.

This year I have planted a few more varieties, to try to extend the flowering season.

I have Oriental, Asiatic, Trumpet, La Hybrid varieties.

I have some that have multiplied in the ground from last year and some new bulbs. I purchased a lot of bulbs from Garden Express, for a bargain price this year.

These are some bulbs just poking through, getting ready for a magical display over summer.

Rococo Tulip

This is my first year growing Rococo Tulip, I am so in love with its unusual beauty.

The outer leaves are ruffled and embellished with shades of blue, green and yellow.