Here are some pretty pics of the sweet peas from my garden. I love the pink colours. I made some photo blocks from the picture too and hung them in the kitchen. I think they are awesome!
Click this link to check it out and be refered by me http://www.grabone.co.nz/refer/74526
An xmas present for my friend
I recently discovered the macro function on my camera. It is a special lens that allows you to take photos of objects really close up. You can find it on your digital camera, the icon is a tulip. Once the macro function is on you need to get really close to your subject and let it fill up the whole frame (otherwise you defeat the purpose), focus and click. You may need to use a tripod, or like I do, place your little finger on something close to steady your camera so the image is sharp. You now have a masterpiece, or you may see beauty in something you have never noticed before.
I love macro picture because you actually see the real beauty of what is there. I always enjoy the colours of the sky and the water on the beach, but when I take a picture of a big landscape, I always end up with bland photos. Getting in really close to your subjects is just a really easy way to compose your photo. Happy snapping.
I love knitting, all day long I dream of coming home and knitting. That may sound sad, but it’s what gets me through my stressful days. I am knitting lots of baby stuff cause its small and easy and so cute. I like to use merino wool because it’s soft and lovely and you can find many New Zealand made merinos on Trade Me and the like. I especially like wool from Woolrae http://www.trademe.co.nz/Members/Profile.aspx?member=1415139 and Ihakara http://www.trademe.co.nz/Members/Listings.aspx?member=2644482&mcat=0341-, so nice to make something lovely out of something grown here. Check for Ihakara on Felt.co.nz as well.
Below is a silly hat I made recently and I will add the pattern soon as I get a chance. It’s too big and my first try at making an adult beret. I don’t even where hats, but I love knitting them because they are so quick and easy. I love the feel of the wool and the textures and see lots of glamorous women in magazines look fab with silly hats on. Tell me what you think, am I cool, or do I just have a silly hat on?
Is it moss? Is it algae? Who knows, but it looks good. At least I think so. Today as I gazed at my neglected garden through the laundry room window I noticed some green on a terracotta pot. The green growth, to me, looks beautiful and interesting. It says “I’m not a little garden in the middle of suburbia, I’m a country garden, a grown up garden, a garden with a story”.
Well my little garden is growing, not always in a useful way, but if you plant it, it will grow. I have heaps of celery and spinach. My winter lettuces and beetroot have been disappointing but, my succulents (which cost very little, see my earlier post) are flourishing. Even a plant we stole (well it fell off and we decided to take it) is sprouting little flowers. Succulents may not be useful for eating, but they are beautiful and they grow!
Well about 3 months ago I build and planted my first ever vege garden and it has brought me much satisfaction.
I (should say we, me and hubbie) have eaten heaps of courgettes, lettuce and spinach, a couple of tomatoes and bop choy. My Brassicas (broccoli and cauli) have been a bit disappointing and I’m, still waiting on my capsicum and eggplant.
Today I pulled out a few tired plants and made room for some new recruits. I conditioned the soil with some blood and bone and topped it off with fresh compost. Next weekend I’m going to plant some more lettuce and some beetroot and maybe a leak or two.
I’m still working on my tomatoes. They are slowing turning red in succession up the plant and they taste awesome. I’m hoping next year I can grow heaps of tomatoes and courgettes as I’m keen to start making chutneys and sauces.
Bliss in the kitchen – why I’m making Jam
If you want to be taken seriously as a domestic goddess, or you really want people to think you are clever, you have to start making Jam. Not only does it make good economical sense (since the recession, there has been a resurgence in people doing good old fashion “stuff” around the house and feeling pretty chuffed with the results), jam is yummy too (just ask my hubby).
Google making jam or check out the Edmonds book and you are good to go. Strawberry and raspberry jam are super simple. All you do is boil up fruit, sugar and lemon juice, and pour it into sterilised jars.
I had lots of fun decorating the jars with frilly lids and personalised labels for Christmas presents and I’m loving the strawberry jam on toast with butter.
I suggest making your jam in a Tefal wok (I know, what would nana say). Jars are hard to find so keep an eye out for them and buy when you see them cheap. Briscoes has nice ones (good for gifts) but raid nana’s pantry for the old agee ones. I have found the lids for sale at Countdown, but are still looking for the jars.
Have fun! Yum!
Strawberry Jam,made in my Wok.
Today I checked out one of the local Saturday markets in my fair city of Manukau. I was on the hunt for plants and was determined to get a bargain. And I was pleasantly surprised at how easy it was to get some lovely plants for my garden a lot cheaper than at the warehouse, mitre 10 or even on trademe (and usually I swear by trademe). I didn’t even have to haggle!
For the low low price of $15.50 I got a sliver beet plant, cherry tomato, an aloe, what I think is a bromeliad (and they usually go for $20 a pop) and 2 other cute little succulents.
Mission accomplished!
Now I just need a sale on pots.
Here is my vege patch, I plated it 2 weeks ago and I'm very proud.
Caroline’s kick ass Chicken Recipe
Here is a recipe that I made up one day on the cusp of a pay, when I wanted to make “chicken chasseur” but didn’t have the Mr Maggi sachet to make it.
I also love a recipe that’s cheap and easy, because that’s what domestic goddesses like me are good at.
4 chicken legs (unusually by a $10 pack from pack n sav and use half for this recipe for me and my hubbie)
1 can of chopped tomatoes
1 cup chicken stock (water and powder)
1 sachet or 2 tablespoons of tomato paste
Mushrooms
1 onion
Garlic salt or chicken seasoning
Pre heat oven to about 200°C. In a shallow dish place the chicken legs on the bottom. Sprinkle legs with some chicken seasoning then add chopped onions and chopped mushrooms. Mix tomato paste with chicken stock and pour over the chicken. Lastly pour over the can of tomatoes.
Cook for 1-1.5 hours, turning and mixing a couple of times during cooking.
This is very yummy served with mashed potatoes and green beans as there is a lot of gravy.
Yum!
Let me know how yours turns out.
The centerpiece
Today my year 13 Biology class and I are having the traditional shared lunch to celebrate the conclusion of the school year. As with all school shared lunches there will be chippies, fizzy and junk, but this shared lunch will also have a table cloth (plastic and yellow) and a centrepiece.
I was first introduced to the merits of the centrepiece when I was living in Miami. Every thing you go to is always decorated with tablecloths and scatters (confetti), flowers or props and always a relevantly themed centrepiece. I even spent an afternoon helping to make 50-odd centrepieces for a party we had at work. They were vases filled with water and greenery, and a carefully placed Siamese fighting fish (live and swimming) in every one!
The table
So for my special kids I had to make a centrepiece (I also do the nappy cakes for bridal showers), I made a stationary themed centrepiece, to top off my yellow table cloth and all the chippies and fizzy in the world.
A Nappy Cake from a bridal shower (not my year 13 lunch!)