Summer Harvest: Purple Basil

Soon to be married to the aforementioned tomatoes ;)

I haven't had much luck with basil this year. It seemed that the garden was something of a 'real estate heaven' for bugs in the early summer, so anything that I planted was quickly demolished by the hungry little blighters. I finally managed to get a few plants going in a pot out the front door. It's strange, because basil normally grows like a weed for me. Indi and I planted some more mixed seeds down in the main vegie patch early this week so hopefully they'll get up and going before the cooler weather kicks in.

Water Sprite

Summer Harvest: Tomatoes

Well, the 'silly season' is behind us for another year and I'm slowly finding a bit of time to sit down at the computer. There's been lots of fun stuff happening around here but let's start with the garden ...

I've had great luck with the tomatoes this year. I've been harvesting at least one or two everyday for the last few weeks. Not enough to be pushing them onto friends but enough to keep our bellies full :) And there's still heaps more ripening. These ones are 'Rouge de Marmande'.

I only planted eight plants this year but I keep finding 'volunteer' seedlings popping up from the half-rotted compost that I've spread around everywhere. This one crept it's way up through the corn and pumpkin vine and is looking very promising;

I was a little bit worried about them; soon after planting we got a LOT of rain. The plants out the back didn't seem too affected by it, but the couple out the front shot up nearly as high as my head (which isn't really all that high lol!) with soft, lush green growth. They looked lovely but in my experience tomato plants that take off so quickly and put all their energy into green growth seem to be the first ones that get attacked by the bugs! They didn't though, and apart from being bullied by some howling winds, they came through with plenty of fruit.
Next year I'll plant twice as many so I have some to give away :)

Forehead slap moment

Picture this scene, if you will ...

End of the week, food running low. Pay day just a few more sleeps and, more to the point, just can't be arsed going to the shops because I have to go Christmas Eve anyway so may as well stretch it out until then.

So what's for dinner?

Quiche? Nope, ran out of cheese with the avocado toasties for lunch.

Pasta? Again, no cheese :(

Brown rice salad? Yeah! Grab a handful of beans from the garden and a few shallots; if only I had some corn ...

'Whatcha doin mum?'

(Rummaging through the pantry muttering to myself) 'Looking for a tin of corn. I'm sure I had one in here.'

'What for?'

'For dinner.' More muttering ...

'Why? What's for dinner?'

'Bloody rice salad! Now help me find some corn or bugger off!'

'FINE I WILL!'

At this point I turn around to see my spectacularly serendipitous daughter stomp out of the kitchen; but not before she threw this completely ravaged corn cob on to the bench. This corn cob that she picked from the garden. Which is one of a shitload floating about the garden at the moment. And here I am, tearing the pantry apart to find corn.

Rainy Day Sewing Project

I found an old pair of jeans whilst rummaging around the laundry the other day that I'd shoved them in the material pile months ago after they'd ripped across the knee. I couldn't repair the rip, but they were too good to just chuck out so faced with a rainy (read: no gardening)weekend and a sick partner willing to laze about and amuse the kids, I turned them into a skirt for me and used the legs to make a pair of shorts for the little fella.

Making skirts out of jeans is so easy and quick. I've done a couple of them now. I added a floral border to this one.

I'm getting quite an old hand at whipping up these kiddie shorts too. I've made quite a few pairs now out of old pants and t-shirts. I had my first go at applique on this pair. The star is made from the leftovers of an old polar fleece jumper that I made into tracksuit pants a few months ago.

Two new wardrobe pieces out of what most people would chuck away; not bad for a days work by a total novice sewer! 

Beltane

The Sun is strong now

His light lingers late into the afternoon

Warming the Earth

Vines twist and twirl with rampant creativity

The Lord and Lady unite as lovers

Buds swell and burst into flower

As the Goddess swells with the promise of abundance and new life

Blessed be xo

A New Camera ...

... And the blog mojo returns :)
Although I would be nice if I could have a turn at it.
May I present Indi's first photographic exhibition, entitled 'The Claw'.

And, in reference to the last post, I've decided to keep the blog going.