Garden Update

Every thing around here is growing so well after the rain'

Hubby says that if we are quiet we can here the grass growing........

The hedge is just about level with the pool and is really starting to look like a hedge now' there is still a couple of gaps where it got frosted in winter but they are starting to catch up.

We had a wonderful week end, Saturday was so hot and humid that after

getting home from town, we all stayed in the cool of the house and

just enjoyed being together. It was a nice relaxing day.

On Sunday we started the day of by going to Weis for breakfast,

all 7 off us.

I don't think the place new what hit them.....It was a fantastic

smorgasbord breakfast. This was the first time

that we have ever taken the younger children to a fancy restaurant we were very proud of

them as they were really well behaved.

I believe that is is important for younger children to experience eating out.

Yes they use there manners at home, but lets face it there is nothing like getting dressed up

and eating in a fine restaurant when you are only 10.

Memory making moments

we call them.

O I didn't mention that the whole meal only cost us $46 as Hubby was given a gift

voucher for $120 for his b/day last November and we hadn't used it yet.

And yes I forgot the camera......

Look at all the different colours of green in the rain forest garden. There is just so much new growth happening there at the moment.

The snow peas and cucumbers are doing so well. This area is shaded in the after noon so doesn't get that hot afternoon sun on it.

I think that is why they are doing so well here.

I finally got around to putting up my tomato bushes, they were climbing all over the

ground and I wanted to put them up so they didn't get any fungal growth on them after the rain.

I also found some "Ox heart" tomatoes and got them planted out. I remember reading somewhere that you should have 3 tomato bushes planted

per person to have enough tomatoes. I f that is the case I have15 bushes planted so

far and I will need another 6 to make 21 as there is seven living at home. I think though that I will plant a few more, with Christmas coming up we will need extra.

Put in some more "Mignonette lettuce" a well, I can't keep the Lettuce up to us. I have only been planting a punnet a week and have now decided to plant 2 a week.

We'll see how that goes. I am getting into

a rhythm of succession planting.....yes it takes some planing but it is worth it, to always have what you need with out the gaps.

We only have two puppies left, the one on the ground getting her ear chewed is "pirate" we are keeping her. This is Hubbys dog, he chose her and named her.

The other little girl is going soon as well.

We have been so lucky getting homes for the pups, when people heard we had them

they were gone. Not one person saw them first, just said they would take one

as they all

know Molly and what a good dog she is, so I hope the live up to expectations......

The back fence is coming along nicely it should be finished this week.

Pirate hasn't ventured down to this part of the yard yet but I'm sure it won't be long....

Well being Monday there is plenty to do around the house so I had better get

back to it.

All have a great Monday.....

Mandy

My worn shoes

Little boys playing hard

Running jumping swimming

pushbikes

motorbikes

running in the rain

teasing sisters

collecting frogs

playing with puppies

lots of hugs and kisses

o to be a five year old boy

running free

living life

playing hard

Friday...Again......

I can say with absolute honesty that I have gotten nowhere this week......

Don't get me wrong the house is clean and my jobs are up to date....kinda......sorta

well mostly any way.

I haven't had a chance to even do any gardening this week and

after that wonderful rain I want to get the weeding done.

I did manage to get the Muesli Bars made yesterday..

I had the baby sitting yesterday, and then some people came to pick

up there puppies........

and stayed until 7 o'clock grrrrrrrr.

I just feel out of whack .

I know what I need to do and that is say NO more often to people that drop around

of an evening on a school night. It is happening more and more

and it's driving me craaaazyyy.....

I have decided that I will just get up and go about the things I need to do

of an evening. I won't be rude, just tell them I have jobs to do.

Do you think this will work?

There I feel much better now that I have vented.

This is the Muesli Bar Slice that I made. Not a great picture

as I haven't cut it up yet.

Here is the receipe.

MUESLI BARS

1/4 cup sesame seeds

1/4 cup sunflower seeds

1/4 cup Pepita's

1 cup muesli

3cups rice bubbles

1/2 cup coconut

Put all these dry ingredients into a bowl.

Then place in a saucepan.

125grams of butter

1/3 cup honey

1/3 cup peanut butter

1/2 cup raw sugar

Melt over slow heat until all dissolves, then simmer for 5 mins

mixture will thicken slightly.

Add to dry ingredients mix together thoroughly.

Press into a 19cm x 29cm Lamington try lined with foil or you may grease tin.

Press firmly and refrigerate until set.

Cut into slices the size of muesli

bars.

I always make a double batch up when i make these.

I also add what ever other nuts, dried fruit and even choc bits that

are open and in the pantry..

I have been to town this morning to take my Mother in-law shopping.

I only had to get a few things myself. Whops forgot to hide the chips..ha ha ha.

Their for the children really...... not my lunch.

Tomorrow I have to go shopping with a friend to help
organize table setting and centre pieces for her sons 21st. Hoping that this
won't take to long so I can come home and get the gardening done.

I hope every-one has a great week end and that we all get some rain.




Mandy

Lovely, lovely rain.......50mls of it........

Our house tank was nearly out of water so the rain last night was greatly appreciated

Hubby and I sat on the veranda with a glass of wine and watched the rain fall

and run into the tank........

It was better than any show on T.V that's for sure.

All the roses and budlias are starting to flower,

this is my back garden, the bulbs are all dying off and look a bit untidy.

But the day lillies are all starting to flower, I have lots of different colours this season as

last summer I planted alot of new ones I got

from the markets.

Below are two patterns that I found in a shop at Charters Towers.

They were only $2 each.

I can't wait to give the top nightie a go. The bottom one is winter nighties, so that will be awhile

before I try it.

I have lots of left over lace and bits and pieces that will go

on to them. I love my PJs to look pretty.

This is the material that DIL Karen picked out for her "stack and whack" quilt.

I had a busy day in the sewing room yesterday making all the squares.

They look so good all these colours together.

I may give you a sneak peak, but not much as DIL reads this blog and I don't want to

ruin the surprise for her..

O! While I was away my washing machine blew up. ......

It has been making awful noises for about 12mths and I new it was on the

way out.So of course it had to happen while I'm away.

I didn't realize how bad the other one was until I used the new one. Funny how you get used to things. All my clothes are coming out so much cleaner.

O.K I spend alot of time in my laundry but come on doesn't

Miss Kleenmaid look pretty........

I have to get to know her though, as I have been missing the grey water.

I use the grey water on my garden so I really need to learn when it is going to pump out and collect my water.

Today is a quiet day as being Thursday I am looking after my niece and nephew.

As the baby is only 8 mths old I don't get alot done with him here.

I would like to say hello to all the new ladies that have stopped by.

And thank you all for the comments that you leave, I love

reading them.

Olives......

Jacqui when we picked the olives we used little rakes

just like the ones the kiddies use in the sand pit.

You put a tarp under the tree and rake through the branches and the olives fall

onto the tarp.

I then soaked my olives in salt water for about 3 weeks.

Changing the water every 2 days.

By the end of 3 weeks they weren't bitter any more and were soft.

I then bottled then with clean salted water.

This was the first time I have done olives and they turned out great.

I hope this has given you an idea any way, come olive season I will go through it again..........

Well Baby is waking up so I must go

until tomorrow

Mandy

All My Own Produce....

This was tea last night along with some chicken.

Now this might not look much when you first look, but to those that

grow there own veges know what I'm looking at.

This is all produce from my garden.......

When I went and had a look at the vege garden yesterday I could not believe how much things had grown in four days.

The cucumbers were big and juicy,

there was snow peas every where,

and the lettuce was starting to bolt to seed.

And the tomatoes I kid you not the bushes had grown an inch.

I didn't grow the olives ....

but I did pick them and bottle them, so I think that counts.

Did it taste good? I hear you ask, of course! I grew it...It really did every-one ate it all up anyway.

Now, does any one need any cucumbers?

I will have to go to Down to Earth and find Rhonda Jeans recipe for pickled cucumbers.

I finely got that mess I made with the links fixed.

I only did that to make you all feel good that you can use a computer better than me (ha,ha,ha,)

I always learn from my mistakes though.

I am going to start on my DIL quilt to day I will show you the material she picked

out tomorrow.

I thought that I would leave you with some more photos of beautiful North Queensland.

This is at the river, see how full this gets. I would love to be there in flood I think it would be an awesome sight to behold.....

This is taken looking back towards Charters Towers.

My son reckons that he could see the blue water tank on the hill in town. Well I have to say David I have enlarged this photo, put my glasses on and I still can't see it!!!!!!!!!

The weather has turned lovely and cool here today

a wonderful day for sewing.

BLESSINGS

MANDY

Sorry.....

I am so sorry just realized none of the links work in the awards

post....I will try and fix it up.....but please

don't hold your breath waiting.I will get a glass of wine after tea and see if that helps.LOL

Mandy

ALL FIXED.........again sorry......

Hello.....I'm Back

WOW......I have been away for so long.........I managed to drop in twice while I was away, but I see I have a lot of catching up to do this evening.......................

I had a wonderfull four days with my son and DIL.......It was just so great to be there and be apart of there lives for those days.And do they live busy lives....Karen picked me up from the airport and we had to go straight to .....Spotlight........of course, we had to really. The spotlight in Townsville is enormous compared to the one in Toowoomba. There quilting section was so good.Karen picked out her material for her quilt. I am making her one for Christmas, this way she has the material she likes but it will still be a surprise....

We then had to race home as they were playing footy at 7o'clock.

After footy we went to there place for a lovely meal. David had put the crock pot on at lunch time.

The photo above is of the Burdikin River in Charters Towers.We went for a drive out to the river on Saturday.

Look at the water.........so unfair.

I didn't get that many photos of the river as I was to busy looking at it.

They all like to come out here fishing and camping. I can see why.

I feel so happy knowing that they are happy. They both love there jobs, and have a good group of friends...I think they are so busy living their lives that

they don't miss us as much and that is the way that it should be.

I'll tell you more about my trip through the week....

ISN'T HE JUST ADORABLE!!!!!!!!!!

Before I left on Thursday a package came for me in the mail.

And this is what I got....

the most adorable Christmas mouse, 4 knitted dish/washcloths and this great shopping bag.

Does the picture on the bag give you a hint as to who sent it to me?

That's right it was daisy mum what a blessing she is..

This is what blogging is about isn't it making friends and I have certainly

been blessed..Thank you my new friend daisymum.

I love the dish cloths I can now see why

you all rave about them. My little mouse sits at the computer with me keeping me company.















Look what else I come home to.

Awards.



Thank you Caroline. And

to Tania from http://outbacktania.blogspot.com/
That's right I was given this award twice. I now have to pass it on to 5 others. This is not easy to do as there are so many good blogs out there.



Suzan @http://happysheba.typepad.com/

Stewart @ http://stewarts-vg.blogspot.com/

Maree from On My Veranda @ http://maree.blogspot.com

Cee Lew @ http://ceelew.blogspot.com/

Kate @ http://ourredhouse.blogspot.com/

I also got this award from Linda at http://remotetreechanger.blogspot.com/



Thank you Linda for this award.

This award acknowledges the values that every blogger shows in his/her effort to transmit cultural, ethical, literacy and personal values every-day.



I will pass this award on to.......

Daisymum@ http://daisymountain.blogspot.com/



Tina @ http://redwelliesrainbowsandcinnamonwhirls.blogspot.com http://redwelliesrainbowsandcinnamonwhirls/



Going Green @ http://nicolestudio.blogspot.com/



Megan @ http://beforeourtime.blogspot.com/



Jenny @ http://littlejennywren.blogspot.com/

Towards Sustainability @http://crazy-mumma.blogspot.com/

I realize that I am behind on reading a lot of blogs, so you might already have
an award, well now you two.
Pass an award on to another five people who you would like to encourage with an award.



Have a great day

Mandy