Blue Today

A Blue Monday.  But its all good.  Joining in with Sister Sun with a Blue Theme. 

Loads of photo's of blue.  From artwork my son has created to handmade goodies.  Then the amazing photo's from my trip to Tasmania.

Enjoy the photo's.

Sue X

Some Green Fun

You know I follow quite a few blogs but recently came across sister sun which this week is featuring the colour green.  I thought I would join in the fun and go through my photo's for inspiration.

Happy plant in my garden

Rain forest in Tassie

Fresh Apples  off the tree

Permaculture Garden in Brisbane

Lime cupcake anyone!

Handmade Goatsmilk soap with spearmint

Lettuce I am growing

Have a great week everyone!

Sue x

Abundance of Pears

I really love Winter in Queensland.  I love that crisp cool air in the morning.  I love the warmth of the sun during the day.  I love cuddling up on the lounge under the blanket with my grandchildren.  Of course I love cuddling up with hubby.  I love homemade soup.  (Had this last weekend).  I love all those warm winter foods. 

I was really happy while shopping last night to notice Pears were a plenty and on special at my local supermarket for $1.70 a kilo.  Plus they were Bosc Pears which are great for preserving. 

A couple of years ago when I joined the Handmade Revolution which is silently growing bigger and bigger around the world I met this wonderful lady who made Preserved Pears with Honey and Vanilla and Prunes in Port.  Love my winter foods so knew I needed to purchase these.  This winter I decided to make my own with a twist. 

At the beginning of May at work we hosted a Mothers Day High Tea.  A great success.  I was introduced to an amazing leaf tea by one of my work colleagues.  French Earl Grey Tea.  None of this tea bag stuff.  Real tea.  Now I am hooked.  Anyway I decided last night while shopping I needed to buy Pears, Pears and more Pears to make some Pears in French Earl Grey Tea with Honey and Vanilla as well as Pears in Honey and Vanilla.

Preserved Pears

This is what you need to make your Preserved Pears.

Pears ( Peel your pears and cut out the seed and stem bit.) 

You will also need a bowl of water with some lemon juice squeezed into it.  This is to place the peeled pears in as you go so your pears don't go brown.

I haven't put an amount of pears but I had just over 2 kgs and I did one batch with the tea and the other batch with water.

Anyway.......................

2 cups of water or Tea

1 cup of sugar

1 teaspoon of Vanilla

1 heaped tablespoon of honey

Place all these in a saucepan and on low heat disolve the sugar then bring to the boil.  By the time it is boiling take some pears out of the lemon water and add to your sugar syrup.  Let it boil for about 5 minutes.

Add the pears to your sterilised jars then add the syrup. 

Once they have cooled place in your fridge and then serve with homemade Rice Pudding or what ever you desire.



Enjoy

Gardening< Knitting, Sewing

Bright handmade scarves

Over the last 2 months hubby and I have been busy starting a new vegie patch, getting ready to get some chickens.  I have been sewing and knitting.  We have even managed to do a Herb and Vegetable Workshop as well as celebrating birthdays and Mothers Day.  Each weekend has been full of activities and will be like this for at least a few more weeks.

Those of you who have been following my blog may of remembered the fresh vegies I grew and harvest at my old house.

Home grown

Well the new garden is in and the vegies are growing nicely.  We have corn, peas, tomatoes, lettuce, carrots, eggplant, garlic and potatoes and strawberries..  I have even managed to pick 6 beautiful ripe lemons from our very small lemon tree.  

Our yard consists of Paw Paw Trees, Tropical Apple, Mulberry, Lime, raspberry, ginger,  and Lemon tree plus an Olive tree.  Many different types of herbs and spices including the classics like Parsley, basil, coriander, sage, rosemary, lavender, aniseed, chamonile, aloe vera, plus a few not so common ones like Patchouli, arrowroot and tumeric.

So my afternoons after work can consist of gardening or knitting or sewing.  Depending what sort of mood I am in.

I really can't wait until the new vegie patch starts producing some vegies for the table. 

Newly planted corn

This year I have a few different varieties of tomatoes growing.

Lettuce Pot.  I won this at the workshop last week.







Another garden which is full of aromatic plants.




This weekend I am off to the city Friday Night for a market then over the weekend I intend to do some sewing.  I have entered a Pot Holder Swap.  A few months ago I entered a Apron Swap and received a beautiful apron all the way from Canada thank you Sheila.  and I made one for Sheila.  I am only a novice at sewing and this was the first apron I ever made.  So this weekend I will be busy making a couple of Pot Holders.

What plans do you all have for the weekend?  What every you do I hope you enjoy.

Sue x

And thereby Hangs a Tale

We had the privelege of being invited to attend the opening of an Art Exhibition by the artists from ROPE at the Redcliffe Cultural Centre this afternoon.  It has been 2 years since ROPE (Redcliffe Opportunities for Peoples Enhancement) had their last exhibition and the artworks were worth the wait.  ROPE in a non- for profit organisation who support people in the local area who have various disabilities.  This exhibition shows the talents of many people who access this amazing service.  Like normal our son   William had a few pieces in the show this year.  Last year I purchased him a camera and as you can tell by his photos his love for motorcycles is shown in the photos.  Like father like son.   We are very proud of him.   The artworks of his friends are also amazing including the pencil drawings that Wayne has done of many places he has visited including Laidley.  These sketches are done by memory.  David with his wood art of colourful sticks to the beautiful bride.  Then there is the centrepiece of the exhibition from Amy.   An amazing colourful mobile.  I hope you enjoy the photos below and if you live in the Redcliffe/Caboolture/ Pine Rivers Area please stop in at the Cultural Centre to see all this beautiful work.

Sue x

Long Weekend love them

I really love the first half of the year.  Who doesn't with all those long weekends.  This weekend is no exception here in Queensland being Labour Day on Monday.  Even though I love my fulltime job it is great to have an extra day on the weekend.  I have lots planned.  At the moment I am busy cooking up meals I can put in the freezer and take out when needed.  Curried Sausages has been completed, chicken marinating for butter chicken, mince to be turned into Spagehtti and some steak which will be turned into Beef Stroganoff.

Romance Soap

This afternoon I cut up all the new soap I made the other day.  The house smells amazing with the aroma of Lavender, English Rose and Patchouli.  Three of my favourite scents turned into a beautiful soap that I called romance.  This will be ready in a couple of weeks.


This weekend I have plenty planned.  Tomorrow we are heading up to Yandina to the Permaculture Community Garden.

Yandina community Garden

With us we will have Callum our Grandson who loves spending time outside.  I have to admit that even though I love all my grandchildren to bits and would do anything for any of them Callum and I just have this bond.  I don't know whether it is because the bond started right at birth or is it because my grandson Callum has Autism.  Disability or not we just bonded.  For those of you who don't know I have been around people with disabilities for over 25 years and would not swap my job for the world.  I have been taught so much over the years.  I am sure Callum will love tomorrow plus I have some bread to go duck feeding.   Tomorrow afternoon we are invited to a BBQ at Sarah's. 

Sunday we are heading off to the Caboolture Markets then I am sure I will find some gardening to do.  Monday I am not sure but there will be something to do I am sure of that.  Whether it is heading down to the beach to have fish and chips or relaxing at home this weekend won't be boring.

Anyway I hope your weekend is enjoyable.

Sue x



The Real food Companion.

The Real Food Companion

One of my most treasured books in my collection.  I couldn't wait to receive this book for christmas.  Yes I know it is now May.  I have read it front to back and have ignited the passion of cooking again.

This book is a must for all who love good wholesome food.

Have a great day everyone!

Sue x