Oranges and Lemons

I harvested our citrus crop on Saturday. Seven oranges and five lemons!

 

The oranges yielded a similar amount to last year - the lemons were just disappointing - about fifty lemons short on last years total!

 

I thought I should put them to use.

 

 

 

A batch of Marmalade.

 

And

 

A batch of lemon butter.

 

 

 

I used the recipe from A Year in a Bottle by Sally Wise for the Marmalade.

 

And

 

The Lemon Butter was made using our tried and tested family recipe.

 

 

 

 The eggs for this beautiful Lemon Butter also came from the girls who live at the bottom of the garden.

 

I used the larger grater attachment in the food processor to chop the oranges - it's not terribly neat or even, but it certainly does the job in no time flat!

 

 

 

I made some little pastry shells to have with the Lemon Butter - I really shouldn't have - it is just too wonderful to leave at one.

Sweet Peas...

 

 

The Carnival Judges have been and gone.  Whew!

 

That was a little stressful.  I felt quite nervous this time.  Haven't felt like that before for judging.

 

I must be taking it seriously this time!!!! 

 

 

 

This afternoon, I stripped the Sweet Peas almost bare in an effort to help them to continue to flower for another couple of weeks yet.

 

The result - four beautiful large posies filling the house - two bathrooms and the living area smell wonderful.

 

 

 

 

Beautiful old fashioned Sweet Peas - just love the rewards of my Springtime garden.

Spring Decorating....

 

I've started tidying the garden and placing of lovely pieces around - not only for the judging, but to enjoy in the coming weeks as Spring gets into full swing.

 

 

I just love the beautiful vintage looking cage - purely ornamnetal.

 

I love the colour and the shape.   I will probably move it inside too - I love the little terracotta pots that are planted with white viola.

 

I can see it inside with lovely ornaments and vintage lace draped from the bottom shelf.

 

 

This beauty was purchased at a lovely shop here in Toowoomba. 

 

Teacups and Twigs is a lovely shop at 9 Russell Street, Toowoomba.  If you live locally or stop by Toowoomba sometime, please visit Jane and her lovely shop.

 

 

Jane also has a lovely blog which she updates with beautiful things available in her sweet shop.

 

Say hello and tell Jane I sent you along!!

 

 

The freesias which have been in the ground for a few years continue multiply and are stunning this year.  The perfume is divine.

 

Our sweet peas are also flowering beautifully.  The scent in our garden is just lovely at the moment with all these beauties putting on their Spring display.

 

A dear old couple who have entered the Carnival for many, many years kindly shared these seeds with us a couple of years ago.

 

 

Four years ago, I planted a Wisteria.  I have watched and waited each Spring for the first flower.

 

This year it has happened.  It is stunning - but not what I expected.  I thought I had planted a deep purple flowering one - I have a pale lavender tinged flower - I don't seem to have saved the tag - does anyone know if it will change as it gets older - or have I been duped!!

 

 

Nonetheless, it is still beautiful. 

 

It is planted in memory of my dear Nana, Eleanor for whom this blog is partly named. 

 

In around 1940 she planted a Wisteria at our family home at Iffley, Goomburra.  This is the beautiful home she was prepared to sacrifice to allow her sons to further their farming dreams on the Darling Downs.  I believe from recent information that this Wisterial lives on today.  I think I may have to take a drive!

Is Anyone There?

 

I'm back.  Well, I hope I am.  Life has certainly changed again this year. 

 

And now Spring is here - already~ 

 

 

My newest pride and joy in the garden is this weeping cherry - I must say it was worth every cent I paid.  The garden continues to grow and change and still brings constant joy to me. 

 

I hope that I will get back into the routine of blogging and bring my online journal up to date.

That is the plan...

 

 

The Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers is almost here again, with judging taking place from this Sunday.  We are busily making the last minute preparations. 

 

I am so looking forward to sharing the garden with visitors again this year.

 

 

 

What a year it has been so far, children have travelled, we've bought a business (again!!), Mitchell is apprenticed to Brendon, I'm now full time helping run the business and keeping the home running with five adults under this roof, we've made changes to our garden and I've been run up the back of (in my sweet little red Swift)  twice in five months - to say I'm tired is just a little understatement. Plus, of course, many, many other things!   But, life is settling back into a nice routine - if there is such a thing with a seven day business, and I think I am learning to like it!

 

So, if anyone is still out there who may just check in on me occasionally, please leave a comment, I would love to hear from you!!  I certainly have still been keeping up with my favourite blogs even though there has been a severe drought here. 

 

Looking forward to blogging my way through this crazy, hectic life - and sharing it along the way.

 





Polk-A-Dot

These Polk-A-Dots have been making me happy.

So happy, that I am going to keep them up until at least February. I have decided.

Put up for Christmas, I just love them.

The paper balls I have had for quite a few years now, and I just love getting them out.  I have left them up for more than Christmas before - at least until my birthday in February.  We are planning another little event in February 2012 and red polk-a-dots will fit in beautifully with that as well.

The paper chain is new this year.  I had looked longingly during Christmas shopping last year - but was a little overpriced - but come the January sales - the price was just right - so I bought several!!

Making me even happier, are some new mugs - more beautiful polk-a-dots in red.  Love, love, love......

I bought four mugs - and I smile each time I open the cupboard to make a cuppa! 

Polk-A-Dot mug on a Polk-A-Dot stool - happiness complete!

It doesn't take much!

End of Year Harvest.........

Where to begin with the happenings of the past weeks.  I haven't updated here for weeks - school finished, dance concert over for another (the 10th) year and Christmas has been and gone.

I am now on a 10 day break from work - less than a week left now unfortunately. 

 Christmas was a lovely time shared with family.  It went on for a week!  Busy but lovely - tired now!  I am so enjoying my time at home.  Not achieving anything really - but lovely nonetheless. 

Today I felt as though I am starting to surface - but not enough to have achieved any more than the drudgery of catching up and doing housework - I long for some time for me.

Today I spent a little time picking some lovely veges from my Potager - I then prepared them for the freezer.  So lovely to have some home grown back in the freezer.  My lovely trug was a gift from my Mum & Dad - I don't think anyone "got" it at all - too bad - I love it!

I cut our Christmas cake for morning tea- it was very enjoyable!

The year is almost at an end - I almost feel as though I need to do a catch up post to document some very important family occasions this year - maybe I will get that done in the next few days.

I hope my friends have all enjoyed a lovely Christmas time. 

I'm hoping for a much more enjoyable 2012 - but I somehow don't see it happening!

Christmas Cake...........

It is just so hard to believe the first week of November is almost over.  The year has flown.  I guess changing jobs a few times did not help..........all settled now - thank goodness.

Mitchell has just two weeks of school left.  I can't believe that either.  But I think after 15 years of formal education he certainly deserves to be finished.  It is exciting for him to be finishing off his Apprenticeship in a full time position next year.

Mixed fruit was on special at the supermarket, so I actually got organised and purchased the ingredients required to make some Christmas cakes.

I was going to leave it for a couple of weeks, but today was free to be at home so I decided to make a start.

I just love making rich fruit cakes.

It is just out after four hours in  the oven and the house smells wonderful.  My cake looks great. 

Looking forward to more Christmas cakes!