Wednesday, 11 November 2009

Soft Babies

I'd been thinking of getting chicks for a long time, and with the girls now moulting (and producing only one egg a day between the four of them!), I realised that we need some new hens next year to keep us in eggs.
So we brought two soft little babies home yesterday: Reddy Red (a Rhode Island Red) and Whitey White (a White Leghorn).


They're only one week old, so we've set them up in a big box with a warm light overhead, and plenty of chick crumbles to eat. Having read all sorts of dire warnings on the net I'm terrified they'll get too cold at night, so peeked in to check on them at least three times last night.
They have such distinct personalities already -- although Reddy is smaller she's much more confident. In fact, Whitey was so nervous to be out of her home and away from Reddy that she spent the photo session hiding under my skirt (so no pictures of her yet), but Reddy chased flies and mosquitos, and seemed perfectly happy to explore.

I'm enchanted by their soft, tiny bodies, clockwork hops and continuous trills and peeps. Boo sits and watches them (pats them and picks them up, too), and even Jumps is setting up elaborate structures of lights and blankets for their night accomodation.
It's always a treat to have babies in the house!

Monday, 9 November 2009

Gardenia in Green Glass

A 35c Moroccan glass from the fete becomes a perfect vase for a single gardenia, which wafts its glorious fragrance through the bathroom.

Sunday, 8 November 2009

Important Things

We've been busy.
Bottling ...
... Maggie's lovely babyshower, a birthday bouquet, a basket to fill for a 40th anniversary picnic, a barbecue dinner at Mark and Rach's, bustling around a morning fete, and a weekend visit in the city ...

And we still found time for a walk in the rain.


Because all the little things that make up our days are important.

Tuesday, 3 November 2009

New-baked Bread

Today we baked thank you loaves for two generous friends who shared with our family: one gave us armfuls of spinach, brocolli and herbs; from the other we received a huge bag of nearly-new clothes and shoes for Boo (that's his summer wardrobe sorted out!)

Monday, 2 November 2009

Learning in the Kitchen

Now that he's four years old, Boo is a marvellous help in the kitchen. There are so many necessary tasks that he is able to do well, and does with enthusiasm.
Today he tossed steak cubes in spices for tomorrow's beef tagine, coating each side precisely.
He peeled carrots carefully, safely and (perhaps a little too) thoroughly -- with very little assistance from me.

Little hands measured ingredients for bread dough, turned on the mixer, then placed the bowl in a warm place to rise. Later he helped to grate cheese, roll and shape dough, and sprinkle the resulting savoury spirals with bacon and cheese pieces.


His proud smile of accomplishment is worth any spills and messes I need to clean up. And he's good at sharing the fruits of his labour, too!

Apple Tart

Looks fancy -- takes a moment to make.

Mix a tin of pie apple with 1/2 t cinnamon, 2T soft brown sugar and a sprinkling of lemon zest. Line a tin with ready-made shortcrust pastry, then dump in the apple mixture and top with an easy lattice of pastry.
For the finishing touch, ask a little person to fashion a pastry rope for the edge, then pop the tart in the oven for 30 mins or until brown.

Summer Sunday

We took a trip up to the highlands for an art show and open garden on this baking hot day.
Boo added his painting of "a ferocious vampire" to the children's canvas ...


We had tea in a pretty courtyard, then rambled through a garden wilderness ...

... and ate our sandwiches on a shaded bench.

Simple summer days.

Sunday, 1 November 2009

Halloween Firsts

Australians have never really celebrated Halloween, but slowly it's gaining in popularity, and this year we were invited to our first Halloween party, so decided to give all things spooky a try.
So we made our first pumpkin pie (and it was good!)...

... carved our first ever Jack-o'-lantern ...
... dressed in hideously scary Halloween costumes ...

... and trick-or-treated for the first time (at Granny and Papa's house -- but later he bravely rang a few doorbells down the road) ...


All in all, it's been a big success for this little monster.

Friday, 30 October 2009

A Trip to the Big-Town's Botanic Garden


Firemen in the Kitchen

A bright fireman's apron for a three-year-old's birthday.
Jahly loves to cook, and this 50c piece of fabric from the market fit the bill exactly!