A New Name

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Here is your opportunity to give me your thoughts.

In the 4 years that I have been writing this blog I have referred to my husband as ‘The Duke’.  It is a long story which I won’t bore your with but it came about several years ago when a friend called him this as it linked to my nickname at the time.

I feel that is important not to use our real names in order to preserve some degree of anonymity.  Regardless of whether you agree with this or not that is my decision.

2015-03-17 01Anyway, he announced the other night as I was writing that he was not happy with this title but neither of us can come up with an alternative which is acceptable and hopefully, original.

So, what name would you use?

Autumn Activities

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No, I am not buried under a stash of fabric.  In fact, I have not touched my sewing this week so there was no “Sew My Stash Sunday” post this week.  It is easy to see how I get side-tracked and the sewing languishes.  I will get back on track though.

The week was taken up with work and my weekend was spent in the garden and the kitchen.

I retrieved 6kg of cherry tomatoes from the freezer and made sauce (ketchup) as we had run out.  The recipe and details are here.

2015-03-16 01The lemon cordial was made using lemon juice that was frozen from last season.

The Duke and I continued working  on the garden beds and now have 5 completed and the sixth one well underway.

2015-03-16 02The bed in the foreground has lettuce as well as some bok choy seedlings that I transplanted.  The bottom bed has bok choy and ‘Purple King’ climbing beans.  I need to put up some trellis as the beans as almost ready to climb.  The seed is some that I had saved as I think this is one of my favourite beans.  They are purple when picked and change colour when they are cooked.

2011-05-28 01It is still mostly hot here but we do catch faint hints of autumn.  I have bought some seeds but we will also be buying some seedlings at the Yandina Market next Saturday.  We have a relatively short season for growing cool weather crops so we need to be ready and buying seedlings is one way to do it.I would love to grow all my crops from seed but it is just not practical while we are working full-time.

My other big project at the moment is sorting out the photos.  The first step is reinstating all of the photos to the old blog posts.  It is not finished but I am well on the way.  In the process I have found plenty of interesting posts which I will share on ‘Flashback Friday’ each week.  Please feel free to search the archives and see what you find.  If you discover a post which looks like it is missing photos please let me know and I will endeavour to add them.

The Duke Does Dough

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It has been a busy week at work and today has been full of activity.  I had not given a lot of thought as to what I planned to write tonight but that was solved for me earlier this evening when The Duke removed the fruit loaf from the breadmaker.

He is often quick with mock ridicule at the things that I simply have to take photos of for a potential blog post, however, his first comment was, “Quick, get the camera – this is worth a photo”.  Naturally, it was just begging to be part of a blog post.

2015-03-14 01I have to agree – it is a pretty impressive loaf of bread.  I am not sure how he is going to slice it, though.

On very rare occasions, I have made bread in the breadmaker but generally speaking that is The Duke’s domain and he does a great job.

Flasback Friday

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Today marks the beginning of a new series of old posts.  I was inspired by Julia’s comment last week in which she said how much she was enjoying the links to some of my previous posts as it gave her a reason to read some of the content I had published before she started following my blog.

I have also been enjoying re-visiting some of the earlier blog content as I continue to add back more of the photos.  So, I have decided to dedicate my Friday posts to some interesting tidbits from the archives.  It will not always be a simple link – there may be updates, comments or even additional photos to go with it.

This week, I thought I would start with a post that is mostly photographs which showcases the area where I live  – Living in Paradise.

Perhaps you would like to share a little about where you live and why?

An Anniversary

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Today is a milestone in the life of this blog.  It is exactly four years since I tapped out those first tentative words and then hit ‘Publish’.

2015-03-12 01It is a rather daunting prospect to write and not know who will read or what their reaction will be.  I have to say that the experience of the last four years of blogging has been overwhelmingly positive and that is entirely due to my readers.  Thank you from the depths of my heart.

I have been lucky enough to meet some of you from the USA and UK as well as the other side of Australia.  To develop a connection with fellow bloggers is really special and I have formed some enduring friendships.

Recently, I have been working to re-instate the photos which I inadvertently deleted from the first two years of the blog.  It has been interesting to re-read some of my posts and to see how things have changed.  A real lesson in the dynamism of life.

When I began I was not really sure how long I would or could continue blogging but it is now such a part of my life that I would feel quite lost without it.

Thank you once again for your continued support and comments.

Kitchen Appliances – Part 2

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Thank you all for your thoughtful responses yesterday.  I have read them quickly and will go back and respond once I have written this post.  As for the list from last night, here is my response.

1  Blender – I have one as part of a combination with my food processor.

2  Electric Grill – we had one which we did use but when it died I did not consider replacing it.  A bit of a fad, I guess.

3  Baby Food Maker – it is a long time since I was making food for babies but I have no idea what this would be.

4  Microwave oven – yes, I have a microwave but I use it less and less.  If it died, I would not automatically rush out and buy another one.

5  Panini Press – I expect this is like my sandwich press which I use quite a bit.

2015-03-11 01This is my food processor and all of the associated gadgets in the cupboard.  The blender is with some of the other bits in the box at the back.  Like most things, I do not use it to its full potential although the blender, citrus juicer, grater and slicer attachments are well-used.

I also have a Kitchen-Aid stand mixer and the pasta attachment for it.

Kitchen Aid mixerHere are the rest of my appliances in the convenient appliance cupboard.

2015-03-11 02Top shelf:

Kettle – used on the gas stove if we lose power.  Also on the slow-combustion heater during winter.
Slow-cooker – very well-used for soup, baked potatoes, casseroles, refried beans.

Middle shelf:

Sandwich press – toasted sandwiches and I also use it for cooking pancakes
Bread slicing guide – very useful for home-made bread
Toaster

Bottom shelf:

Juicer – rarely used – very difficult to clean
Breadmaker
Jug

I also have a stick blender in another cupboard.

I have never been seduced by the single-purpose appliances such as a pie-maker, ice-cream maker, popcorn maker or hot dog thingummy but I still have plenty of gadgets.  If I were to get rid of any it would be the juicer, I think.  It is interesting to consider how our needs change, particularly as families grow and children leave home.  Our diet and the types of food we eat has changed over the years, also.  This is how clutter can become a problem – something that was essential 10 years ago is not longer required but we are loathe to move it along.

How do my appliances compare to what you have?  Everyone has different essentials and priorities.

Kitchen Appliances to Keep – Or Not?

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I am short on time tonight but I thought I would share this link which is food for thought.  It lists 5 kitchen appliances that you may not really need.  They are:

1  Blender

2  Electric Grill

3  Baby Food Maker

4  Microwave oven

5  Panini Press

2015-03-10 01I have been giving quite a bit of thought to this exact topic recently so when a friend posted the link it caught my eye and gave my a bit more to think about.

I would love to hear your thoughts on what you have and why.  I will be back with my own detailed response tomorrow.

Keep watching for a new series beginning on Friday.

Facebook Food

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If you are on Facebook you will be familiar with the dozens of recipes that seem to hit your newsfeed every week.  Most of these barely rate a cursory glance from me.  Even the ones that look interesting never actually end up being made as they are often special occasion treats or similar to something I already make.

However, last week I saw a food post which caught my eye so I had to try it for myself.  I cannot find the original Facebook post but here is my version which I think was a pretty good replica.

2015-03-09 01The girls were here for the weekend and they were pretty pleased with their treat for morning tea.

2015-03-09 02It is a simple and fun idea for a healthy snack.

Sew My Stash Sunday – 9

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I have made steady progress this week with my sewing.

I cut out and have started sewing my next skirt.

2015-03-08 01The pockets, side seams, yoke and facing are stitched.  I had hoped to get more done today but Miss O and Izz came to stay.  It is pretty well a full-time job to keep them fed and entertained so sewing took a back seat.

The green skirt now has a zip.

2015-02-22 03I actually added to my stash early in the week when I bought this piece of fabric.

2015-03-08 02

The photograph does not really tell the full story.  It is lightweight with a variable texture and is 100% cotton.  I paid $35/metre which seems a lot but for $52 I will have a gorgeous quality blouse to wear with the green skirt.  This will be my ‘good’ outfit if we go out in the evening when we are in Singapore.  I have not made a final decision on the exact style of the blouse yet.

My other achievement was to draft the pattern for a long-sleeve shirt for my daughter.  I hope the cut it out next week.

Gluttony

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It has been really interesting to read all of your comments on my post about food being wasted.  Thanks for your input.  I know I have said it before but it is the comments and subsequent ‘conversations’ that really add value to the blog.

Tonight I want to share an old post from 2012 on a similar theme.  The thing that really strikes me about the processed food is the brightly coloured packaging – lots of red and yellow are the dominant theme.  Are we really that easily seduced by pretty packets?

Over the past couple of days I have been working hard to re-instate more photos into the old blog posts so I encourage you to do a bit of blog-surfing and see what you find.  You can always comment on old posts and I will respond.  If you choose one that still has no photos please leave a comment and I will make it a priority.

2006-01-06 004I thought I would share this photo of hang-gliders over our backyard.  We live quite close to a popular launch site and in the right conditions they often drift over our property.  I prefer to keep my feet on the ground but it is marvellous to lie on the back lawn and gaze up at them floating overhead.