Oh Bugger Blogger you really are trying my patience today.  Here is one of the seven photos that I uploaded this morning to show the wonderful houseboat weekend that we had on the Murray River, West Australia, in early October.  I must be doing something wrong - like holding my mouth in a smile or something.  Pretty wretched stuff.

P.S.  Jeana if you are reading this, the wheelbarrow is FANTASTIC.  I used it last night for the first time to help me plant a fig tree and I was delighted with it's lightness and sturdiness.  As I am older now, the wheelbarrow that Tim bought me for Christmas, the first year that we were here, is heavy although well made, and has has some hard use transporting small boys, canoes, picnics, manure, water, cement and really the list is endless. So thank you so much Jeana.  It even has a hole in the handle were I can keep my divining rod to work out the best place to plant trees.  Nyx

This is where I work as a gardener - there is much work to be done. However, it will slowly take shape and become the lovely garden that it was.

Higher Duties

Last weekend the Hairiest Sweetie and I were called to higher duties and went with the two younger Sweeties plus another two young Sweeties, belonging to other families, on a camping expedition. We all had a ball. As one of the new Sweeties had never been camping before, he was excited to say the least. The Hairiest Sweetie and I slept very well when we finally arrived home. Where did all OUR energy go?

I promised BK this recipe - it's for savoury impossible quiche and a family favourite that's great hot or cold. I normally double the recipe and keep one for school lunches.

1/3 cup plain flour

1 1/2 cups milk

3 eggs

2 rashers bacon, chopped

3 green onions (shallots),chopped

1 cup grated cheddar cheese

130g can corn kernels, drained & rinsed (I use frozen corn-works well)

2 tabs of chopped fresh parsley (I've run out of parsley-works well without)

Oil shallow 23cm round flan dish (I use a square one as well-works well). Whisk flour and milk in medium bowl until smooth; whisk in eggs. Stir in remaining ingredients; pour mixture into prepped dish. If I'm making two quiches, I spoon the solids kind of equally between dishes and then pour over liquid. Bake in a moderately slow oven (160 C/325 F) for about 1 hour or until set. Can't freeze or microwave this one.

BK also asked for a recipe for muffins. A great one to play around with and they freeze really well and are a great lunch box addition

One of our pumpkins grown hydroponically, it weighed over two kgs.

Over 10l of tomatoes

Only 1 rockmelon.

With regard to the curcubits - next time I set up the hydroponic system, I'll put the curcubits on the corners as I think there was a problem with cross pollination. The cucumbers were all right, however there wasn't too much of anything else and I think the bees were getting confused.

This weekend the Sweeties are ill and all horizontal and have been for a while and I'm the last (wo)man standing. They'll all probably get better when I get it and go of to work/school and leave me to groan alone. Between you, me and the gate post there has been A LOT of groaning. Maybe a tad too excessive, but hey, they are Sweeties.

A picture of the Sweeties when they were feeling better. And standing up. And smiling.

Dilemma

I have a dilemma about the borders for the Super Bowl Bargello - in truth I have no idea what Super Bowl is except it is something to do with watching men play some form of sport - I am quite happy with the pieced 4" outer border. However, there is part of me saying that another border would be the right thing. Hmmmm. Any ideas?

This is the wee beastie that has been my partner in crime for almost 25 years. Also known as the 'fornicator', although I must say that we both have settled down over time and no longer give each so much angst. There were times when I thought that she was going to be the most expensive boat anchor, ever. I bought her not long after I purchased my first car, and all things being right in the universe, she was more expensive. I had my priorities right. I can count on the fingers of one hand the number of times that I have used the embroidery stitches, any embroidery that I have done I have done by hand. So if and when I have to replace her, I will invest in a machine that is a straight stitcher, needle up/down, and a reverse button.


This flower is one of my favourites off the Marri tree, Eucalyptus callophylla, they are late this year by about four weeks, when they flower the smell is quite lovely.

Bargello Project

Blogless Kathy and I met at one of the golden arches places to exchange strips for Bonnie's Bargello. This was BK's box. I threw in some light reading.

This is my box. Lovely box too. I get to keep it - it will be great to store the project in.We sat at M............. and fondled our fabric whilst drinking coffee. I remarked to Kathy that I really felt like starting sewing right there and then. A glazed look came over her face.

Things are growing in the garden - this is the same view towards the carport that I have taken all along, except you can't see it now(the carport).
I love this geranium/pelagonium althoiugh it is darker in real life.

This is the disappearing nine patch

Trimmed to 9" and cut into quarters.

Then placed with other quarters for this effect.

Happy New Year

Just to wish you all a Safe and Happy New Year, I'll share my easy to make Rhubarb Champagne recipe with you. This recipe is so easy to make you'll all probably think that it can't be so, yet it tastes delicious and is just the thing for the end of a hot day. It is alcoholic, so do the right thing and don't drink and drive, although I have seen it as declared a refreshing drink for children. Hmmm, probably refreshing for the children's parents as the children lie around asleep. We are extremely pleased as we grew this rhubarb in our hydroponic system.

Rhubarb Champagne

3.5 cups (1kg) chopped rhubarb

1 lemon, sliced

3.5 cups sugar

150ml vinegar

5l water

Mix in a bucket, cover with a cloth to keep the ferment flies and dust out, and stand for 48 hours. Strain and bottle in sterilised cool drink bottles. It makes about 5l. A note about the bottles, they will expand greatly. Do not keep for too long as it gets very gassy. Start drinking it after about a week and before about 6 weeks. It does get bitter after a length of time. It is a short lived, easily to consume drink. Chill well before opening and either open outside or over the sink just in case it spurts.

I used to make this is glass bottles and it was too dangerous with them exploding at the drop of a leaf.

Tomorrow I have to find my Elderflower Champagne recipe so I'll share that one with you as well. That is what we had at our wedding for our drink, very nice and refreshing too.

Faye Arcaro - Gardening Australia's Gardener of the Year 2007

The day started pretty quiet here on Saturday, I lay in bed and read until 9AM and then my Dad 'phoned and, really just as an aside, mentioned that there was an Open Garden, featuring Faye Arcaro's garden 'Botanic Obsession'with an aquaponic setup as part of it, and it was only open one day. Faye Arcaro is the winner of Gardening Australia's Gardener of the the Year for 2007. So after much thrashing around on the Internet and 'phoning Dad again to confirm that he wasn't mistaken, I found the information, assembled all the troops and got them in the car at 1pm so we would be in Jandakot for 2.30pm ish. Great garden and the aquaponics were inspiring. I liked all the corners that there were for sitting and hidden walkways through mini jungles. I have never been to an open garden before and it was odd to walk through another's garden that I didn't know. I felt very odd and very honoured that Faye was generous enough to open her garden to public. This is her website where there is information re domestic aquaponic setups - http://www.aquaponica.com.au/

These photos don't do Faye's garden justice. The soil is predominantly the black gutless sand that seems so prevelant in WA. One of its features is its water repellant nature and if it is anything like my soil, acidic as well.

What all the best dressed girls are wearing in the garden.

I ALWAYS forget just how big pumpkin vines grow. This one is a baby.

The very lovely, very showy West Australian Christmas Tree.

One of the nesting boxes.

Just more of the interesting spaces at Faye's.

Can you see the yabbi?

I am very interested in aquaponics - this is the reason why I am doing hydroponics as I have to start somewhere - the idea of integrating various systems ie vegetables/plants with fish/poultry/crustaceans/worms for a better outcome, appeals greatly. These systems are made up of many elements and the more elements that can contribute to a system the more chance of a better outcome and success. In fact it is an attempt to mirror nature.

Here are some more links to Australian Aquaponic sites

Backyard Aquaponics

Practical Aquaponics For Everyone

Integrated Backyard Food Production

Slight Hiccup

Well you know when I said that I had 26 quilt tops to quilt, well I miss counted and there were 28. Aaaagh. I have put it down to having the 'flu and able to only do one thing. That is breathe. So after that slight oversight, I think that there are 14 now. This week has been somewhat slower and I have done some cleaning and baked some cakes.





The first photo is of a quilt that was what I call 'overfriendly', it waved everywhere. It is so important to measure the quilt before sewing any sashings or borders and then cut them to fit. Measure, measure measure.





I cut and pressed three bindings for a friend's quilts. They were 8, 10 and 12m respectively. I really do love making bindings.



I using Deb Geissler patterns on all my friend's quilts. Very lovely patterns, however the rows take over an hour to quilt. Subsequently the donga has been tidied and I have moved my bicycle and wind trainer down there so at least I get a bit of exercise. This pattern is of motorbikes.

Last Thursday we went on an excursion to a place that grows and supplies plants for nurseries and large hardware conglomerates here in West Australia. A real eye opener. Masses of poinsettias ready for the Christmas markets and the chrysanthemums on their way for the Mother's Day Market in May. All these are grown hydroponically in their pots and then sold to the retail markets. Later that day we were at the large hardware shop, that in this family we call the 'hammer shop', and there were some of the grower's plants. Amazing. I know that I used to think of plants as kind of all soft and feel good, however it is a huge, HUGE industry that aims for certain markets, just like the supplying of spring lambs, and goes for massive production just like a crop of canola, wheat, etc. Hhhmmmmm. Very interesting.

Hydroponic Strawberry Update

The 'before' picture.

The 'now' picture and we are eating lettuce with every meal. The Hairiest Sweetie mumbles something about 'not being a %^&* rabbit'. I just smile vacantly and serve him dinner.

We have moved them from their original location to a newer better spot and all automated with their own pump as opposed to the gravity feed that I used to have to do as many times a day as had the energy for. There are tiny little strawberries. Today I'm planting tomatoes, pumpkins (or punkins if you're my friend Robyn), capsicums, cucumbers, rockmelons, watermelons, basil, mizuna, rocket, spinach. That'll do me.

When I started I was going to use as many growing mediums as I could find, however the coir blocks have many difficulties soooooo I have bisbanded with that idea and decided to use a perlite/vermiculite mix to replace the the coir in the final two dutch leach trays.

Stop Looking - I Found It

I have included some more pictures that are rather pretty.

Well after all the panic yesterday, re the quilt backings, I calmed down enough to take the washing in and there they were neatly folded and placed on the wire fence behind the washing line. As I said my last memory was of folding them up. I was pretty happy with myself after that although I was flummoxed with myself and felt that I was getting some early practice in for my dotage.

Yesterday was a day of hardly any quilting and much packing up of quilts to be sent to their owners. So the donga is looking much emptier.

The hydroponics set up is going along extremely well and we now have some strawberry flowers. The white fly moved in to the lettuce and set up their camp there and then just as they were becoming a major infestation the hover flies moved in and ate most of them. As I always say - calm down and wait, nature will take care of it. The birds are visiting the hydro as well so we might have to protect the strawberries from the birds, although I am loath to take this measure. One of the main reasons for growing strawberries hydroponically is to get them off
the ground so that the bobtail lizards don't eat them. They also like the locquats and grapes that we grow in the garden, and they are welcome to as many of those as they like, however strawberries.........well they are different. Maybe at the end of the season we might be tired of the strawberries, bring it on I say.

Field of Quilts IV

Another three quilts. Why am I doing them in little spurts? Firstly Blogger takes so long and secondly, my camera died so I'm using the backlog of photos that I took until I can buy another camera.

There was a hiccup with the operator, so now there are pictures of only two quilts. Sometimes Blogger really pushes my buttons. I really did push a button too many times and the picture went into the ether.

Poppies - I love poppies. I don't know why, I just always have. I grow them in my garden and so excited when they start to flower. The ones in the quilt look like the ones that we call Icelandic Poppies.

A close up of this one as the applique is raw edge and I thought that it made a simple star quilt into something special through complimentary colour and some creative quilting.

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

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.