Tibouchina in Bloom

A vivid purple-pink tibouchina, festooned with blooms, frames the garage at the manor.
It seems these flowers are native to south-east Brazil, where people use the massed purple blooms to decorate the churches at Easter time. Here they make quite an autumn statement, with their prolific blooms and velvety petals.There's another small tibouchina in our garden which sports a sparse bouquet of shocking pink flowers: together in a bunch the pink and purple look stunning.
When my parents bought the manor, the garage had been rather inexpertly clad, so our handyman, Sven the Norwegian sailor, set out to strip it. His deafening cry, somewhere between a shriek and a bellow, brought us running to the garage, in time to see a retreating 6-foot diamond python, who had been living in the garage roof cavity and had fallen down onto Sven when he removed the ceiling paneling!
We haven't seen it since, which is a shame, since pythons are beautiful, essentially harmless and keep the rats away.

Little Fish

Just last week Boo suddenly decided to try swimming without his floats. He wiggles through the water like a little fish, and can swim quickly across the width of the pool without any help.
Although we did take him to swimming lessons last year, Boo was anything but co-operative. He squealed and shrieked at full volume, and clung to Jumps like a limpet whenever the instructor came near.
So we decided to keep it informal and simply concentrate on water confidence, which is pretty much all the babies do at lessons anyway. All summer long then, Boo and Jumps splashed about in the pool at the manor, simply having fun.
Then, on this own, Boo started to put his head under water and blow bubbles. Next he began jumping into the shallow end, kicking his legs and dog paddling. And then, last week, swimming so alone!
I am so proud of his achievement and water confidence. I'm also very relieved, as this means that now he has a good chance of making it to the side if he ever falls into the pool.
Clever little fish!

Intimations of Autumn

Here, Easter often marks a change in the weather, and this year it's true to form. Today there's a distinct autumn chill in the air, and the leaves have begun to colour and fall to the ground in crackling heaps. And although I welcome the coolness, we've had such an enchanted summer this year that I am a little wistful to see it leave.
But soon there will be golden skies, piles of rosy apples, open fires and toasty warm beds with hot waterbottles in them to enjoy.
Every season has its wonders.

Big River

Big River is one of the most magical places I know.

The stately, wide river meanders through pretty meadows, then creates its own labyrinth of mangrove swamps, before expanding and emptying into the sea just here.

In the summer (if you pick your tides right) it's an easy swim down the current to the deserted beach on the other side, and then to 'Treasure Island', where you even find the rusty anchor of a long-gone ship.

Instead of a swim, this evening we took a walk through the 'Tiger Forest' ...

... gazed down into the 'Endless Abyss' ...

... chased Boo all the way down green headland hills ...

... played in the park, and examined the 'Treasures of the Deep'.

Who says life isn't as exciting as a storybook?

Daffodil Bulbs

Two hundred mixed daff bulbs bought from the nursery last week. Over the next few weekends they'll be planted in hidden corners and borders around the Manor's garden, to emerge in misty golden drifts when spring arrives.

Brrr! Beach Babies

As always seems to happen, the weather turned cold and grey just after Easter.

But the clouds seemed to have emptied in a wild storm overnight, so a trip to the beach was still on the cards.

Boo and his cousins, Rory and Cordelia, lost no time before stripping off trousers to paddle and run in the little river which ran down to Toytown's beach.

Finally, with three exhausted and shivering babies, we set off home for hot baths, tea and chocolate icecreams!

Our Easter Sunday

Guess who visited our garden?
Margaret (my sister-in-law) and I were earnestly discussing when and where to stash the chocolate eggs, when the children came rushing in excitedly, each carrying an enormous egg. We were as surprised and delighted as they were, until we remembered that Aunty Catherine had been for an early morning 'walk' in the garden.

After the bustle of making and eating blueberry pancakes for breakfast, we trooped off to Granny and Papa's house where our lovely Easter tree set the scene ...

... and the table was set for 21 guests...

... was soon bearing an Easter feast, of plates stacked high with roasted meats, chicken, salads, cheesy potato gratin and filo spinach triangles. Dessert was a highlight, with fresh fruit salad and pavlova on offer.

Then after all this abundance it was time for the children's Easter Egg hunt.

Boo didn't put very many eggs into his basket ...

... but Cordelia was thrilled by hunt ...

... and delightedly shouted "It's magic! It's just magic!" each time she found an egg and stashed it in her soon overflowing basket ...

Then after a swim for some and a walk for others, the babies jumped rope in the garden while the older boys played touch football on the field (and the adults drank tea and lazed on comfy sofas, nearly asleep) ...

... then the visitors departed, all agreeing that it had been an enchanted Easter.

Happy Easter!

May you and your family have a happy and blessed Easter.

(This quirky little replica of an Easter Island Moai basks contentedly in the sun of my mother's front flower garden. Just out of sight is one of the seven dwarves, and several shepardesses, a turtle, frog and cat are scattered throughout the garden!)

Easter Basket

A delighfully busy, mixed basket of Easter festivities today.

Jumps' sisters and brothers are staying for a few days with their families, and today was a flurry of arrivals and catching up over cups of tea, hot cross buns, banana blueberry cake and impossible pie. In the afternoon part of the party went kayaking on the big river, while others stayed at home to welcome a host of visitors.

In the evening my parents joined us for a barbecue, while the children rode bikes inexhaustibly up and down and around the verandah, jumped on the trampoline, and scoffed sausages.

Tomorrow my nephews will arrive, along with still more visitors, in anticipation of the Easter egg hunt and a family luncheon at the Manor.

Hot Cross Buns

360 ml warm water
2 1/2T butter
2t salt
2T brown sugar
4 1/2 c bread flour
2 T milk powder
2 eggs
1 T ground mixed spice
2t nutmeg
2 t cinnamon
2 1/2 t dried instant yeast
200g chopped sultanas
2 T plain flour, extra
2 T caster sugar, extra

Makes about 24 buns

1. Place all ingredients except sultanas in a large bowl.
2. Knead with a dough hook for 6 minutes, or until the dough is supple and springy.
3. Let rise in a warm place for 1 hour, or until doubled in size.
4. Add sultanas; knead 5 minutes.
5. Shape int0 24 small balls and place just touching on a baking sheet.
6. Cut crosses into the top of each bun.
7. Place in a warm place to rise for about 45 minutes.
8. Preheat oven to 220C. Mix 3T plain flour with enough water to make a paste. Pipe mixture onto crosses.
9. Bake 20 mins or until browned and sound hollow when tapped.
10. Meanwhile, place 2T caster sugar in a small saucepan with 1/2 c water. Stir over medium heat until sugar has dissolved. Boil until a thin syrup forms.
11. Brush buns with hot syrup.
12. Cool on a wire rack or scoff greedily warm, with lashings of butter.

Easter Birthday Party

An Easter party with Mother's group was wonderful opportunity to bake a table laden with treats ...

... then dash into the garden in a mad scramble to hunt for chocolate eggs ...

... and to admire the Sesame Street Easter birthday cake ...

... before blowing out the candles and singing "Happy Birthday" to our almost three-year-old darling.

My Day

Little Jenny Wren has proposed "A Day In My Life" project, and has invited each of us to post a daily diary on the 14th of each month. So here is my day (yesterday) for this month.
Boo and I slept late curled up in bed together (so late that Jumps left for work without bringing my usual a cup of tea in bed!), since we'd been up at 4am to strip the bed that poor Boo wet during the night. I take all the blame: the poor sausage had been put to sleep without a nappy!
After a cuddle and play in bed, it was time to get up, put on the (very full) washing machine and spend a few minutes making beds and putting away last night's clean dishes stacked on the sink.
Next we dressed and breakfasted, then wandered through the long green grass of the field to let the chickens into their daytime pen. Only three eggs today: one of our chickenswas traumatised by a visit to the vet and won't lay (I'm still in shock fromthe bill ... and by the fact that I took a $13 chicken to the vet because we were all too squeamish to use the chopping block and axe!).


Then it was time for Boo to transform into Buzz Lightyear and turn the garden swing into a spaceship, while I hung out the washing in the beautiful summer morning.

Back in to vacuum and mop the floors while Boo watched Playschool, then we dressed and left for a morning at the village Playgroup. Here Boo spent two happy hours rushing about with his small friends, while I ate far too much homemade chocolate cake and drank tea while chatting to the other mothers.
Home to sandwiches for lunch and an episode of Blinky Bill for Boo while I finished up yesterday's ironing and put onion, carrot, garlic, celery, potatos, chickpeas and ham bones into a pot for tonight's dinner.
Then into the garden for afternoon tea and a chance for the chickens to roam while we watched them, and Boo sunbathed (nude!) in the garden.

Next, we brought the washing in and I spent a few minutes tidying up. Finally a trip to the local shops to pick up a few bits and pieces (including a fragrant wedge of half-price camembert, and a sale-priced block of marinated tofu), and to enjoy a view of our emerald countryside glowing in the evening light.

Chickpea and smoked ham soup for dinner, then it was time for Boo to be put to bed. Once he was asleep I set the breakfast table, tidied up in the kitchen and picked up toys from the floors, then a flick through the horrible television programs before deciding on an early bedtime to read borrowed copies of Martha Stewart 'Kids' before sleep.

So a happy, homey day -- just the way I like it!

Whites in Wedgewood

Evening Has Broken

The evening sun breaks through the clouds which lie over the Valley.

Michelle

Last week at a friend's house, Boo took a shine to a rag doll, named Michelle. At home he has several baby dolls, a stroller and a doll's house, but he has never shown an inclination to play with them.

Kindly Michelle's mother allowed her to holiday at our house, and for the past week she and Boo have been inseparable.

Michelle chats to him constantly (it's quite funny to hear Boo put on a high little voice), tries to ride on Frodo's back, and shares Boo's food. I'm not sure she's a good influence, however, as she's really quite naughty: according to Boo she has already smacked the other dolls, spilled Boo's milk, and messed sand all over the verandah!

Plum Sauce

Step 1: Visit a friend who lives in a pretty house.

Step 2: Stone and chop 3 kg of ripe plums (no need to remove the skin).

Step 3: Add 1 kg diced onions, then cook over a medium heat until pulpy.

Step 4: Add 1/2 cup Ezy Sauce mix, 1 t ginger, 2t crushed garlic, 1 T salt and stir.

Step 5: Bottle and seal.

Step 5: Walk to the village shops, enjoying views of the misty mountains, and sniff the air to smell a waft of plummy fragrance!

Banana Blueberry Loaf

This is a delicious recipe for banana blueberry loaf.
The quantities given below make two loaves, and they freeze beautifully, so I'm keeping one in the freezer for Easter afternoon tea. I might even make another batch soon as I know we'll be having plenty of visitors.

Ingredients
1 cup butter, softened(or 1/2 cup butter and 1/2 cup margarine)
2 cups sugar
4 eggs
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
3 cups mashed (with a fork) ripe bananas (about 6)
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon (optional)
1 1/2 cups blueberries (fresh or frozen)

Directions

1. Set oven to 180C.
2. Grease two 8x4-inch loaf pans.
3. In a bowl, cream the butter and sugar until fluffy and the sugar granules have dissolved.
4. Add in eggs, and beat well.
5. Add in the vanilla and mashed bananas; mix with a wooden spoon to combine.
6. Sift together the flour, baking soda, salt, nutmeg and cinnamon (if using).
7. Add in the flour mixture to the creamed mixture; mix only to combine (be sure not to over mix or your cake will be tough!).
8. Fold in the blueberries, then mix to combine.
9. Divide the mixture between the two prepare baking pans.
10. Bake for 50-60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.

Our Weekend

There's nothing nicer than having friends and family stay, and this weekend we had a houseful!

On Saturday the local little airport hosted a magnificent open day, featuring a host of aircraft, including DC10s, a Constellation and huge old Catalina (don't ask me for details -- I simply gasp with wonder and leave the technical terminology to the lads). An aerial acrobat and several helicopters also flew over, and there were plenty of food stalls and souvenirs to browse.

Mark and Rach were down from the city, my two youngest nephews stayed over, and we met Sue and Courtney at the airshow. We were all thoroughly impressed with the show, though a little fazed by the heat rising from the hot tarmac. Unfortunately none of us remembered cameras (I had three little boys to organise, and that was all I could handle!), so no photos of the show.
Once home we alternated between swimming, lazing and cooking. Rach and I turned out a magnificent lasagne for dinner, with Impossible Pie to follow.

Boo divided his time between helping Rach and I chop a mound of strawberries for jam ...

... with a slightly sloppy but still delicious result ...

... and joining in the boys' varied games (this is a balloon-powered helicopter on its test flight) ..

... and Sunday brunch was an all-you-can eat sausage and bacon extravaganza, before a trip back via Seaside Village to take the boys home.