Muffins

We went to a beautiful native, low water garden on Saturday. A very restful garden too. Mostly local species with some absolute show stoppers thrown in, like this Blue Leschenaultia. Many of the plants have been propagated by the owner either from seed or cutting.

The muffins pictured are a recipe that comes from my friend Maxine. Very easy to make and eat.

FRUIT MUFFINS

Mix makes 12 large HEALTHY moist muffins with chunks of fruit.

Preheat oven to 180 C or 170 C fan forced

In a bowl place

2 cups SR flour

1/2 cup sugar (scant)

2 eggs

1/3 cup oil

1 cup yoghurt

1 cup fruit

Mix until combined and then stir in the fruit (if tinned, strain) of your choice. Spoon the mix into 12 large muffin tins with paper insert for serving and washing ease.

Bake for 20-25 minutes until cooked through. It is very easy to double or quadruple the mix and then divide and make an assortment of muffins by simply adding different fruits.

Serve warm.

Spring is Springing

The acorns that we found in Bridgetown are turning into oak trees

This year, for some unknown reason, I am fascinated by the canola crops. Normally I find the yellow of the canola sickly, however this year I am mesmerised by it. So here are photos of the same windmill from different angles

Self Portrait of a Boy

A picture of my oldest boy taking a picture of what one day he would like to ride. All I want to do is tie him to the bed, and keep him safe until he is about 80.

Another Thing That I Wanted to Know How to Do

For a long time I have always wanted to know how to 'prick out' seedlings. These little tackers above are Dianthus sp. (carnations). In the past I have hastily planted out seeds in situ, had masses come up and been too soft hearted to thin then so then all of them die. Now, with my new found skill I can plant x number of seeds in a tray, of seed raising mix, and then a week to a fortnight later prick them out and pot them in their final pot before they go in the ground or wherever.

This is the size of them. It was a great thing to do and transplanting them took no time at all.

Here they are in the final pot. They have just been transplanted and are a bit weepy, however once the roots get a grip they will be standing tall. I've already lined up some willing recipients for most of them. That day I did 112 Dianthus and 16 Bonnet Chillies. 2/3s of the sweeties here LOVE chilli so those plants are staying at home.

Yesterday I learnt how to prune roses using the sock method. All will be revealed at the end of the weekend as I still have two roses to go and much weeding. The rose pruning pile at this stage is at my shoulder. I can't remember when I last pruned the roses, 2 maybe 3 years ago so something needed to be done. All the roses smell and some were given to us after Nina died. I won't be buying anymore roses, just a small collection is great.

Yesterday was also the day when we learnt to care for our pruning tools. I realised also yesterday that my secateurs are good for cutting lavender stems and that is it. However I came home and cleaned and sharpened the loppers, hedge trimmers and the oiled and tarted up the pruning saw. They work much better now and so they should as they have never been looked after.

This course has been great for me and subsequently for my family, as they are getting a happy wife and mother and a garden that they like. I find that it works best for me if I quilt Monday through to Wednesday and Friday as well, with all day doing gardening things on Thursday. I go to Tech. in the morning and then hit the ground running after lunch at home and practice what I learnt that morning. Saturday and Sunday is for Family and more gardening. The gardening will ease off as it gets hotter. No planting takes place in summer, it's too hot, it is a matter of mulching and keep the plants moist.

Some Quilts

Before I start - sorry about the shadows across the quilts. Margaret W makes lovely quilts and mostly for her grandchildren. Lucky grandchildren.


This first one is quilted with Starflower. Very pretty quilting pattern and patchwork pattern. Quilting pattern is by Lorien Quilting (see side bar) and patchwork pattern is called 'He Loves Me He Loves Me not' by Material Possessions http://www.materialpossessions.com.au/. i was thinking of doing this pattern myself only larger and I just happen to have several metres of damask which is needed for the flowers. I think that I would do mine in pink, orange and lime green. I'll see.

This second quilt, also by Margaret, is called.......I seem to have forgotten however (Chelsea Bloom Lap Quilt), http://www.hotpossum.com/ make it and I have the pattern for this too. One day I will make it. I quilted with Lorien Quilting's Fanciful Feathers I think.

Those Moments

Why am I photographing a sock and it isn't a hand knitted one? Hmmm. In our family there are three males and a lone female (me). Life is always good, much laughter and a glossing over of the finer details. All they need is food, love, food and did I mention food? We all wear the same type and size of socks because the sock fairy nicks socks and we end up with the odd green, red or white sock. So I buy 20 pairs of All Day Socks in size 7-10 and the sock department is covered. This allows for those that get caught on bike chains, fences and get eaten by the sock fairy. Well my oldest son, who shall remain nameless, however he knows who he is, has those kind of feet that I know when he gets in the car, said to me the other day "Oh I thought that because they were all day socks that the 7-10 meant that you could wear them for 7-10 days'. Point taken.