Happy New Year, Resolutions and Gardening News

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HAPPY NEW YEAR

We spent a lovely Christmas Day with our extended family. Enjoyed catching up with all the news. Not so lovely was the 43°C top temperature. Really hot nights, too, so I’m watering the garden every night. Then Boxing Day was hot at 44° (111°F) but we’d already planned to take my Mother shopping for a new television. Despite the shop being air conditioned it was very hot and crowded and this week we have to wear masks. Not complaining, as we’ve only had to wear masks twice in two years.

We have had 9 deaths from Covid in Western Australia and I realise we are really lucky. We will need to wear masks at any New Year parties and the numbers able to attend will be limited. Why? Because 86 close contacts of a French unvaccinated back packer who arrived in WA and was diagnosed with CV-19 haven’t fronted up to be tested.

The best post Christmas thing is settling to the books we received as presents. We are a family of keen readers and enjoy this slower time after the festivities to read and stay cool. There’s always lots of leftovers to eat for two or three days so it’s a relaxing time. One night we wanted variety and had a curry feast! Unfortunately, the garden is wilting. It is also too hot to set up our new worm farm.

Luscious curry dinner, not cooked by me!

I was really interested when a friend told me her family only exchanged gifts they could eat, drink or read. Probably because we’re all in a similar age group we don’t need other things but still enjoy reading, eating or drinking! In fact, most of our gifts already fit into these categories but now is the time to formalise the plan

resolutions

woman stretching This is definitively not me!

Do you set New Year goals? I know lots of people see the new year as a fresh start and therefore the ideal time to make changes for the better. I’m not big on coming up with goals for the new year, despite being aware of some changes I’d benefit from making, but I’m always interested in what other people are planning. Popular goals mentioned amongst friends regarded diets, exercising, drinking less alcohol, spending more time with family and friends, decluttering and organising expenditure. In fact, losing weight or just eating a healthier diet are the most popular resolutions in the Western World. Do you make resolutions? I’d love to know if you keep them!

happy birthday greeting card on brown wooden table

decluttering

We spent a day decluttering. It wasn’t a New Year Resolution but really a necessity. The large cupboard under the stairs was overly stuffed with things. We couldn’t get to the back! About four years ago when I decided to retire I brought home and stored work things in case I ever wanted to go back. Of course, I’ve never looked at any of those things since. Our son moved home after a couple of years in another state and many of his things were stored and forgotten in the cupboard, too, when he returned. Years of me painting, drawing and printing have resulted in an overflow of art works. I have no idea what to do with them.

It took a day, many difficult decisions and two trips to the tip plus a large box of things to donate to sort out the cupboard. It is at risk of being filled with the overflow of our lives again as it is on the way into the main part of the house and we can just shut the door on the things we can’t decide about and there are many. But for now we’re just enjoying standing at the door and admiring how organised and tidy it all is, however briefly.

gardening

purple flower in macro lens photography

In gardening news, the agapanthus are loving the scorching sun and blooming with great gusto, the alstomerias have given up, the roses are managing but not enthusiastically and I am picking passionfruit, blueberries, a few tomatoes, coriander, perpetual spinach, mint, parsley and basil.

Wishing You All A

Happy And Healthy New Year!

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T’was The Day Before Christmas

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It might be the day before Christmas but all is not still in this house! My Mother and our son are staying and I am still running around taking care of Christmas preparations. The Christmas carols CD is on, the oven is on and the heat is high. The cards are mailed and the gifts are wrapped. The fridge is bulging but I know all the food will get eaten.

Lots of last minute jobs finally done before the Big Day. Cherries were bought, drinks enjoyed with neighbours, all the plants were watered as it is very hot (42C/108F) and the table is set for tomorrow. No crackers this year as I left it too late to order empty crackers to fill myself with chocolates, scratch and win cards and jokes. I wont be buying crackers with plastic novelties which end up in the bin after lunch!

last minute treats

Thinking about a really fast, last minute classic Christmas treat? Me too, so I made Rumballs. All you need is a 250gm packet of plain sweet biscuits crushed using a rolling pin. You can put them in a food processor to crush them but it will result in very fine crumbs and I like a few bigger, crunchy, biscuity pieces in my Rumballs.

Add a tin of condensed milk, a teaspoon of vanilla and 3 tablespoons of rum to the crushed biscuits. I add half a cup of unsweetened cocoa, too, to make the mixture firm and not too sweet. Mix with a knife. It will feel quite stiff but that means it will roll easily into small balls. I roll them in my hands but there is no way I’m including a photo of that bit as I was covered in Rumball mess!

Drop the balls into a bowl of coconut or another bowl of unsweetened cocoa. It took two of us to do this part, one rolling the sticky balls and one dropping them in the coconut or cocoa and then putting them on a lined tray to chill in the fridge. Leave for a few hours then they’re ready to serve. Delicious!

shopping and silicone covers

Wandering around while we were in Kalgoorlie, looking for stocking fillers, I spotted these silicone sheets. The packet said they stretch to cover bowls securely. I’ve tried bee wax covers. I tried bought ones and ones I made myself and they just don’t stay on in the fridge! So I bought these. I currently use silicone bowl covers. Eventually, with constant use, the covers snap and break but they do seal well for freshness.

I use these silicone covers all the time. When I saw this packet of three different sized flat covers I bought them. Back to Perth and tried them. They’re useless, they don’t seal at all! They don’t even partially seal.

So what was I going to do with three sheets of useless silicone? Well, I cut them into strips and used them as shelf liners in the fridge door where they do a good job!

New, useful fridge door shelf liners.

two great books

Very little spare time but I’ve squeezed in two books found on my son’s bookshelves.

The first was Under The Wig. A Lawyer’s Stories of Murder, Guilt and Innocence by William Clegg QC. This case book and part memoir follows the progression of the son of provincial florists who achieved mediocre success at school and went on to be a “squatter” in a London law practice and eventually, became the head of a large London firm.

Clegg write clearly and concisely. He believes everyone should have access to fair representation in court, despite their crime and outlines the consequences to the deep cuts in Legal Aid funding in the UK.

He writes about appealing to the jury and winning the trust of the judge. He seems to have a almost forensic skill for disseminating information and evidence. These are intriguing stories, well written. A good read.

The second book, Hitler’s Horses also relied on collecting, analyzing and acting on evidence. In this case, the Dutch art detective, Arthur Brand had heard a whisper that two bronzes by Josef Thorak made for Hitler had not been melted down and destroyed at the end of the war, but where held by a private collector of Third Reich memorabilia who wanted to sell them.

The Standing Horses are 4.9m (16 feet) high and 10m (33 feet) long but had been carefully concealed since they were spirited away from a secret location in East Germany before the wall fell. Originally they had stood at the front of Hitler’s New Reich Chancellery in Berlin. Brand eventually located the statues and the police retrieved them and other artworks.

This book is translated from Dutch to English and parts of the discovery and retrieval remain secret. At times the story feels awkward but it was a compelling read.

Merry Christmas and

Happy Holidays

to you all!

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How To Microwave Delicious Asparagus, Electric Cars and Planning For Christmas

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microwaving asparagus

We love asparagus! It’s asparagus season in Western Australia. This year I have been cooking it in the microwave, maintaining the clean, crisp flavour. No soggy asparagus for us. I’ve had a couple of requests to explain how I do it so I’ve photographed the process and hope it’s easy to follow them.

Tear off four sheets of paper towel. Fold in half then dampen under running water. Squeeze so the paper is damp, not dripping. Lay flat.

Wash and the trim the spears. Lay along the short edge of the dampened paper in a single layer.

Then begin rolling the paper to create a cylinder. Microwave for 2 minutes.

The first time you cook asparagus this way, take a piece out and test it to decide if it’s cooked to your taste.

Unwrap, cut in half if you need to and serve with butter and black pepper or however you like!

Asparagus with mushrooms, cauliflower and steak. Delicious.

electric cars

During the week three protesters locked themselves to concrete filled barrels and by parking across a bridge used to access the Burrup Peninsula near Karratha, Western Australia, prevented workers from leaving the LNG hub at the end of their shift. Over 600 cars were unable to pass.( The frustrated workers eventually thwarted the blockade by driving along the beach)

The protesters claim the development of Woodside’s LNG project will produce 1.6 billion tonnes of emissions over its 30 year projected life time. A consultant analyst, quoted in the Financial Review, noted this project will process gas with higher thermal efficiency and lower greenhouse emissions. Woodside claims by exporting gas to India, China and Japan those countries will reduce their dependence on coal.

Our discussion about this news item and the use of energy resulted in my husband writing this brief essay.

The Law of Unintended Consequences

Everything we do, every choice we make, has a consequence or a cost.

Sometimes we consider the cost, sometimes, carried along by feelings and emotion we don’t and sometimes we are just uninformed and unaware of what the real consequences of our actions are.

It feels morally correct to buy an electric car. We feel good about it, righteous. We never think of the energy and CO2 cost of making the car and its battery.

Battery chemicals start out as rock which is mined, crushed, separated, smelted and transported across the world before being put into a new car made from steel which has been created in a similar way. It takes about 68% more energy and produces 68% more CO2 to make an electric car with a battery range of 400km than a conventional car.

Then, if the electric car I buy is fueled with electricity which is not produced by solar energy or wind power it too is responsible for creating more CO2.

By trying to do the right thing I am adding to the problem and increasing the burden. Perhaps it would be better if everyone made their existing car last as long as possible before replacing it with a new electric one. That would produce far, far less CO2 and pollution and require much less energy and be better for the planet.

preparing for christmas

As we near the end of our second year with CV-19 I still feel our celebrations need to be quieter, smaller and less like Christmas celebrations before the pandemic. Western Australia has been closed off for nearly two years with no community transfer, so we feel safe but this cannot continue with pressure to open the borders to other states and the identification of another strain of CV-19, the Omicron strain. We have a few cases in Sydney already.

I’ve reduced our gift giving, our decorating and will even reduce the amount of cooking I’ll be doing, too. There will be the extended family to lunch but I’m planning a simpler menu. I’m still making little gifts for friends and baking two Christmas cakes and a ham, but turkey has gone from the list. Are you doing less, too?

Our son and my Mother will be here for a week or so and we look forward to the lunches and parties already on the calendar but also look forward to the hot days after Christmas Day when we can relax with our usual haul of books ( we are a family of keen readers) and leftovers.

I hope your preparations are going well!

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Fast, Delicious Dinner, Reading and When Do You Decorate The Christmas Tree?

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fast squid, asparagus and potato dinner

Do you need a quickly prepared dinner tonight and don’t want to order take away? Gather about 250gm of thawed squid rings, 180gm asparagus, two small potatoes, two limes or lemons and about half a preserved lemon, plus oil to fry the squid. Always cook squid quickly or else it gets tough.

Preserved lemons chopped finely and lemon juice add great flavour to the squid.

Heat a heavy pan then add the oil, flash fry the squid, adding the juice and finely chopped preserved lemon twice during the process. ( Make sure you rinse the piece of preserved lemon to reduce the pickling brine on it. Also, scrape off any remaining pulp.) Meanwhile, prick the two potatoes and microwave them for three minutes, then cut them in half and brown them in with the squid.

Keeping an eye on the squid, dampen four sheets of paper towel, fold in half and place the asparagus along the shorter edge and roll up to make a cylinder. Microwave for two minutes, turn off the squid and serve. Add a little butter on the asparagus, season and enjoy!

These quantities fed two people. We followed up with a punnet of strawberries and thought it was a delicious, fast and easy dinner.

reading

Modern farmers often lead the way towards more sustainable and diverse food production. Heida , A Shepherd At The Edge Of The World, is the story of an Icelandic farmer. It immediately attracted my attention with its combination of a successful New York model returning to the family farm in Iceland in an area known as the ‘edge of the world’ and century old farming methods combined with a political career resulting from a plan to dam her farm for a power station. Old and new meet on her farm!

Heida Asgeirsdôttir’s story is told in four parts based on the four seasons. She reveals the intensity of farming five hundred Icelandic sheep close to Iceland’s most notorious volcano, Katla, which has frequently driven the inhabitants of Ljôtarstadir, her farm, away since farming began there in the twelfth century. Her life is one of earthquakes, glaciers and deadly snowfalls but also wonderful friends, adored animals, a beautiful environment and her close family. And hard work.

Icelandic sheep are a pure breed admired for their meat, wool and milk. They have not been cross bred as in other countries. The modern Icelandic sheep is a direct descendant of the sheep taken to the island by the Viking settlers in the ninth and tenth century. The ewes can raise twins and often triplets without complications.The sheep form a major part of Asgeirsdôttir’s farming responsibilities.

Asgeirsdôttir is from a family of poets and enjoys ‘poetry slams’ in the local bars. She often makes up poems when she in the tractor or shearing sheep. She is a champion shearer. Some poems are published in the book. Off season, she and her business partner travel Iceland pregnancy scanning up to 1200 ewes a day.

When a major power supply company proposed damming Asgeirsdôttir’s farm as part of a massive power station development she became active in politics, eventually blocking the development. She remains in local politics, but not at the same level, as farm work has first priority.

This is a book about a satisfying, healthy, productive life. The farmer works every day of the year and considers what is best for her animals, the land and her people. It is interesting, sometimes amusing but also thought provoking. It showed the impact one determined person can have on a huge company but also how one woman is living the life of her choice, happily and successfully.

Christmas preparations

I have two jars of dried fruit macerating in port for the Christmas fruit cakes I will make soon. I went to a huge shopping centre yesterday and did some present shopping. I’m off to a Turkish shop this afternoon to get trays of Turkish Delight to give as gifts. So I thought I had Christmas planning well considered and under control. Then I read on the UK Country Living site that there’s a day when you should put up and decorate the Christmas tree! It’s the 28th of November, the beginning of Advent, which is four weeks before the big day.

Did you know that? I asked my Mother what date we decorated the tree as children. Ever pragmatic, she told me we decorated the tree when she had time! She hadn’t heard of the four week rule, either.

Although I decorate the front gate, the entrance and the front door and put out various decorations inside the house, we don’t put up a tree anymore. According to the same article, 6% of Brits don’t put up a tree and 24% of people spend over A$200 on new decorations every year.

A note about wrapping paper. If you’re buying paper, crush it in your hand to check it doesn’t contain plastic. Paper based (can be composted and recycled) will remain crushed, those with plastic will resists crushing. Also, research the plastic contents in crackers, as the novelties all end up in the bin within days. Please avoid as much plastic as possible.

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TV for Dogs, Great Vinaigrette, Jacarandas and Dyeing a Shirt

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Streaming channel for dogs

A television channel was launched in the UK last week for dogs. Yes, pay TV for dogs. This streaming service has been designed to alleviate stress, loneliness and anxiety for dogs during the day according to the research completed over three years. The researchers considered the physiological and psychological needs of dogs to determine what made them feel stimulated or relaxed. The dog channel features colours, audio frequency and music and camera alignment to suit dog senses.

white long coated small dog on floor

A vet interviewed about dogs watching television says ‘…only some dogs will sit and watch TV.’ Apparently dogs get bored very quickly and wander off. My dog barks at cats and other dogs on TV otherwise he ignores it. So, will your dog be watching The Dog Chef, Road Dogs, Paws For Love, The Adoption Show or Things We Woof About?

black and white border collie lying on black and white bed linen

vinaigrette

Salad season has arrived in Western Australia so I’m back making traditional vinaigrette. There’s so many salad dressings on the market but often the ingredients listed on the labels are off putting. Fresh, raw, just picked veggies need clean, home made dressings. This is the recipe for a plain dressing using ingredients you already have to hand. Varying the vinegar you use, such as balsamic, red wine or apple cider vinegar will change the colour and the flavour.

I’ve used plain white vinegar and the basic ingredients. Once you have mastered the ratios you can add shallots, garlic or lemon zest. You can replace some of the acid, the vinegar, with lemon or lime juice. I use virgin olive oil which has a very strong flavour. You may prefer to use a lighter olive oil.

This vinaigrette will last a week in the fridge and can be added to salads, drizzled over small boiled potatoes or any other vegetable. I mix it in an old jam jar and store it in the fridge in the same jar. I like things to be easy!

To make VINAIGRETTE you need

1/2 cup olive oil

4 tablespoons vinegar

1 teaspoon Dijon mustard

1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper

Put all the ingredients in the jar or a bowl and whisk. Sometimes I just shake the jar vigorously with the lid screwed on tightly. Drizzle on your salad leaves and enjoy.

jacarandas

Jacaranda trees are a sub tropical tree native to central South America. Jacarandas thrive in Western Australia and other states of Australia. It has been cultivated in almost every country in the world where there is no risk of frost.

Jacarandas are considered an invasive species in Queensland and parts of South America. The blue flowers appear in spring and summer and can last up to two months. During this time the spent flowers will create a beautiful carpet under the tree as they fall.

Tricky to see on an overcast day but the purple haze continues down the street. Beautiful.

I love jacaranda trees! At this time every year we go across the river to an area where my mother grew up to see the jacarandas. They were planted as street trees on Arbor Day when she was at primary school. They have mostly continued to flourish and bloom. They are celebrated each year during the Jacaranda Festival.

dyeing a shirt

Last summer I bought a linen shirt online and was rather surprised when it arrived; what I thought was a pink shirt was actually a very orange, slightly pink shirt. Wore it once and put it back in the robe, never to be worn again. The colour made me look sick! And it was a bit big.

Shirt, 500gm salt (mordent to set the dye) and the packet of black dye.

Suddenly it is quite warm in Western Australia so I gathered all my summer shirts, washed them and ironed them and hung them ready for summer. That’s when I discovered the hidden orange/pink shirt. Wore it yesterday, still really dislike it! Inspiration struck. I could dye it and take the side seams in a little bit without altering the style of the shirt, but improving the fit.

Set off for a packet of dye. Thought I’d get grey but the shop only had black. Bought it. Dyed the shirt in the washing machine and then hung it in the shade to dry, as directed on the packet. I now have a NAVY blue shirt, which I really like. I have pinned the sides to make it fit better and will sew it tomorrow. Strangely, the thread used to sew the shirt didn’t take the dye and is still an odd colour but looks fine on the navy linen. Pleased with the outcome and know I will wear it now.

Looks grey in the photo, which I like but it’s actually navy blue, which I also like, so now I will wear it!

Did you know Wednesday was make Your Own Bread Day? You can bake some homemade bread to meet your “kneads”. I began making sourdough bread about four years ago but now I make rye sourdough. Rye flour has very little gluten so I add some strong white flour to help it rise. There’s so much information online, especially since the pandemic, if you’d like to try making your own bread.

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A Day Sightseeing In Bunbury and Scam Awareness Week

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A DAY IN BUNBURY

Bunbury is a city in the south west of Western Australia with a population of over 170 000 people. It is the third largest city in WA. Founded in 1873, Bunbury was established as a port for imports and exports and continues to support a thriving economy. Although I grew up near Bunbury and my school life began there, it is a long time since I have lived there so when I had the opportunity recently to explore the town, I gathered some information and set off!

The timber industry has played an important role in the region since settlement.

There’s so much to see in Bunbury. If you’ve only got a day to wander, start with street art. There’s really interesting street art both in the main streets and in surrounding streets and laneways,too. In two and a half hours I saw many works on buildings and also had a lovely look around the Bunbury Regional Art Gallery. There is an enormous amount of street art in Bunbury. I only covered three blocks in the town centre but intend to return and look at more works in the near future.

To plan your day drop into the Bunbury Information Centre for this brochure:’ OUTSIDE THE BOX, Rediscover A Walking Urban Art Trail’ or click below for more suggestions.

15 Must Dos in Bunbury

Now the Bunbury Regional Art Gallery, this building was formally the Sisters of Mercy Convent School. Built in 1897, the Chapel was added in 1923. The City of Bunbury bought the convent in 1981.

A reminder of the original purpose of the building, a nun’s cell. Very small and simple but the cells opened onto a wide verandah and had beautiful views across the town to Koombana Bay.

One of the exhibitions was a large table set with works by local potters. I really liked this one!

So many coffee opportunities in Victoria Street but the most impressive feature was the many, many cafes offering lunch menus. There’s Korean, Thai, Japanese, Chinese and Italian and more. There’s also several hotels/pubs advertising lunch and dinner. I had the ‘lunch special’ with a pot of tea at a Chinese restaurant for $13! Good food, good service.

The Rose Hotel, built in 1865.

Wandering around I also took a couple of photographs of interesting buildings. The other noticeable thing was the number of new, big office buildings beginning to dominate the skyline. For more information on older buildings go to the Bunbury Information Centre and collect the brochure Bunbury Heritage Building Trail full of notable buildings and lots of interesting history.

I knew this building well as my Uncle Eddie had his law firm here.

There’s masses of free two hour parking all around Bunbury on the streets and in car parks. You display a ticket on the dashboard. You can pay at the same machines if you’re planning on staying for longer than two hours.

The other ‘don’t miss’ thing if you have limited time is the Dolphin Discovery Centre on Koombana Bay, a beautiful stretch of beach close to the town. Here you will find everything you ever wanted to know about Bottlenose Dolphins! The centre offers eco cruises, swimming experiences, 24/7 livecam of the beach and offshore reef tank, plus a cafe and bar.

The research done here informs universities, government departments and other partnerships as they monitor the marine environment.

Pexels

scam awareness week

Unfortunately, the stigma attached to being scammed prevents many people from talking about their experiences. In some cases, those conned are even reluctant to seek help in recovering their stolen money. Data released by Bankwest shows more than $18 million dollars was stolen by scammers in the past year. Three quarters of the reported cases involved people over 45, while a third involved people over 65. Just 15% of cases involved 18-34 year olds.

Pexels

So what can you about it?

*To avoid the most common scams, never allow remote access to your computer, such as tech support, unless you made the contact and requested help.

*Also, be very, very cautious around cryptocurrencies. Many show you are increasing your wealth until you want to withdraw money and then they disappear! If you’re interested in investing in cryptocurrencies deal through a local bank.

*Keep your software up to date and use strong passwords.

*Keep your personal information private. Don’t share this information with anyone.

*Make sure any online shopping sites you use offer secure technology. Take the time to read the small print so that you know how your shared information will be used.

*Don’t engage with cold call marketing.

*If you get a phone call or text saying you owe money and you’re told to log on to an address to check or pay your account, don’t do it! Check your own records if you are at all worried you may owe money or else ignore it.

This is SCAM AWARENESS WEEK, so seek more detailed information online from government sources about avoiding scams.

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Ten Days in Australind.

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My Mother is recovering from eye surgery. Initially she stayed with us in Perth for just over a fortnight for pre- surgery appointments, then the eye surgery, then recuperation and some post surgical appointments. Now I have been down here in Australind with her for about ten days. She is doing very well.

My first task was making her special muesli, a combination of oatmeal, dried apricots, dates, raisins and sunflower seeds.

Also picked some lettuce, broad beans, parsley and sage when we arrived and were given the lemons, all used to make salad.

I grew up on a farm about 7 kilometres from where my Mother now lives. This area was a small settlement with a service station which also sold some groceries and had enticing jars of lollies (candy). Now it’s a township of many suburbs, a number of primary and two secondary schools, two shopping centres and all the support services which come with these developments.

This area, like most of Western Australia, has experienced heavy winter rainfall. The rainfall has been recorded on our farm since 1914 and my Mother still has a rain gauge in the front garden here. She sends the rainfall records to the Bureau of Meteorology every month.

Record of local rainfall for this area 1914 -2007.

Right at the front, in the middle, is the rain gauge in suburban Australind.

Heavy rain means her garden is gorgeous. The front garden is ornamental, the back garden has both vegetables and exotics. She has amazing roses this year, like everyone else! She always has fresh flowers in the house.

Harry Wheatcroft

Chicago Peace

My great grandparents are buried in a nearby town, so we set off to visit them! They are keeping other relatives company, too. I took lots of photos and read lots of gravestones before we went to a coffee shop nearby in a restored house overlooking the river.

My Great Grandfather, born in Norway as Christian Jensen.

My Great Grandmother, born in South Australia. They were married in Adelaide in 1883. They had seven children.

Wandered through the beautiful garden winding around the river. We had coffee and cake then visited the information centre intended to inform visitors about the attractions of the area. The government has decided to close this as all the information can be found online. What a shame!

Pretty, well kept gardens at Stirling Cottage.

Throughout the garden there are illustrated excerpts from the very beautiful book, Tales of Snugglepot and Cuddle Pie, written and illustrated by May Gibbs, who once lived nearby. This book was regularly read to me when I was a child and remains a favourite. When we came back here, Mum showed me another May Gibbs book she has, Two Little Gum-Nuts. Published in 1929. It was a Christmas gift from a cousin to my Father.

Other things to happen this week:

* Four year old Cleo Smith, who was abducted from the family tent at a remote camp site on the coast of Western Australia, was found after being missing for 18 days. Such a relief.

*Aldi are using 84% recyclable, reusable or compostable packaging. This is a move in the right direction, but the actual cost of recycling plastics is so high it is still cheaper to used virgin plastics. They have also transitioned from plastic yoghurt tubs to paperboard tubs, saving 15.3 tonnes of plastic a year. Before you buy yoghurt, check if there is a paperboard tub alternative to plastic.

* World Diabetes Day is on the 14th intended to increase awareness about diabetes. Millions of people around the world live with diabetes. There are two types of diabetes and both types require careful management. The International Diabetes Federation predicts by 2025 there will be 422 million people living with diabetes.

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Three Things To Do For Fun

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In many countries people are able to go back to many of their pre CV-19 activities but other places still have lock downs or restrictions. So what can you do for fun if your movements are still limited?

IMPROMPTU PICNIC

bread and sliced fruits on brown woven basket

At the table, on a rug or outdoors a picnic is always fun. Platters of cut up food are the best for picnics and don’t require much preparation. Put any cheese you have on a platter, add cut up fruit from the fruit bowl, crackers or corn chips, even fingers of toast. Add sticks of carrots and celery plus any hommus or dip you have already. Little bowls of cashews, almonds or any other nut can be added along with dried apricots, dates and dried figs. Just use whatever is in the pantry. This list is just bare basics, you probably have plenty of delicious little snacks you can add to the picnic.

sliced cheese on brown tray

Now add a jug of mint or lemon flavoured water or cordial, or if it’s cold, a jug of hot chocolate. Call everyone to the picnic and enjoy an impromptu feast.

play a board game

person playing white and brown lego blocks

Dig out a long forgotten board game. So if you know you have a mahjong set, a Scrabble board, a backgammon box or anything else you haven’t used for years, get it out! Taking the time to teach others how to play or even teaching yourself at the same time can result in great games around the table. There’s lots of information such as history, rules and strategies online.

Or play HANG THE MAN. All you need is a piece of paper and a pen or pencil. Lots of fun guessing the word. Rules are online.

watch a classic film

Look up a list of classics films and find one you’ve heard about but never watched. Search on demand movie channels or subscriber providers. Put on the popcorn and settle on the sofa or set up a screen outside when it’s dark. In Western Australia we are at the end of the wettest October for 28 years, so indoor film nights for us!

Other activities are all about food. My Mother has been convalescing with us following eye surgery. She prefers a salt free diet and actually eats very plain food. Very challenging at times. A friend suggested I try poached chicken. She only poaches chicken now as it remains moist and is full of flavour.

I used chicken breasts as I had them in the fridge. More often, people cook whole chickens. I prefer free range chicken. I cut the breasts in half longways and gently lowered them into a large pot of boiling water, then turned off the heat. Put the pot with the lid still on onto the draining board for about an hour then removed the lid. The breasts were white. I drained them and sliced one to check if it was cooked. It was white all the way through and very moist. I added some of the cooled, sliced chicken to a salad. It was moist and well cooked. Drizzled a dressing made an olive oil, vinegar and lemon zest plus lemon juice dressing over the salad and chicken. Lovely and light.

The next day I added the poached breasts to some sweated onions and a jar of tomato (pasta) sauce. Stirred through cauliflower, broccoli and beans and put it in the oven for 40 minutes. Easy dinner. When I do this again I’ll poach the chicken in water with ginger and garlic in it, or lemongrass as I actually found the chicken very bland. I’d make a spicier sauce, too.

Family and friends came to visit while my Mother was recuperating at our house. Lots of lovely conversations and snacks. These tiny macarons were very good.

gardening news

The roses have recovered from chilli thrip. These iceberg roses have a flower in the middle surrounded by three or five other buds. The middle one blooms first, so I dead head it and let the surrounding flowers bloom. So, a trug full of central blooms!

Cut some of the icebergs plus some Pierre de Ronsard roses for this old Willow pattern teapot. Looks pretty on the table. It’s such a relief that the roses are healthy now.

As usual, so many gorgeous hippiastras.

It has been suggested I cut the flowers and put them in a vase inside. I’ve never done this but like the idea. Do you cut hippiastra and put them inside?

UPDATE ON NON TOXIC WEED KILLER The vinegar, salt and detergent weed killer is very effective but I only use it on the weeds in the path, not in garden beds. The problem is the salt will change the acidity/ alkalinity of your soil.

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You Know It’s Spring When…

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I really enjoy looking at all the articles published in the northern hemisphere about decorating for each new season. There’s a plethora of leaves as swags, in vases and on mantels, there’s seasonally colour framed quotes, buckets full of flowers, wreaths and especially decorated front porches. And now, all the American articles are about pumpkins and Halloween. Apart from flowers, most of my changes for spring seem to revolve around food!

SMALL, SWEET STRAWBERRIES

Spring means strawberries! They are small, aromatic and very sweet. Tart Greek sheeps’ yoghurt dolloped on dark red, sweet strawberries is a wonderful way to start the day!

CUT FLOWERS IN THE HOUSE

So many vases of fresh flowers in the house, just as I like it!

The roses have recovered from last seasons chilli thrip.

I collected the roses off the tables at Mum’s birthday lunch and reused them. Such pretty colours.

FLOWERS, FLoWERS, FLOWERS!

The garden is full of colour from tiny wood violets to blowsy roses, red and white hippiastras, Big Red geraniums, pelagoniums, nasturtiums and lavenders. The long lasting alstromerias are blooming, too.

Nothing says spring like flowers! There’s masses of flowers. After a dreadful season battling chilli thrip attacks on the roses all the bushes have all bounced back and are covered in gorgeous blooms. The garden is loud with busy bees.

FLORALS EVERYWHERE

Walk through the shopping centre and the displays of floral clothing are everywhere. Open any decorator magazine and the fabrics and wallpapers are all botanical themes. Everything from toile to eye poppingly bright florals. Pretty, fresh and such a change after the dark colours of winter.

Wallpaper with botanical prints.

Floral bed linen.

Pretty floral dresses.

Bedlinen, dresses, cushions, flowers on everything this year.

CONSTANTLY CONTROLLING WEEDS

Metropolitan Perth, where we live, has had the second wettest July on record. The weeds are thriving! I’ve experimented with a few non-toxic weed killers and have found this one works (here) Weed killing is an ongoing process. August and September were unseasonally wet, too, and we continue to have some rainy days and warm, sunny spring days in October. The weeds love this weather

THE WILLY WAG TAILS ARE NESTING OUT THE BACK

For years the willy wag tails have built nests in the back garden. Sometimes we know where they are and other years we can’t see them. If we get too near their nest they swoop close to your face. A sudden stripe of black and white and the flap of little wings and you know to move away!

I was digging in the garden a few years ago and something bit me on the heel. Looked down to see a defiant willy wag tail furiously wagging his tail at me. I think he hoped for worms as he began pecking at the newly dug soil when I stepped back.

We know when the nest are under construction as we see the willy wag tails tearing coir from the mat at the French doors. They pluck parts bare! I’ve found discarded nests in an olive tree and in roses over an arch and the coir is carefully integrated with small twigs. The tiny nests are lined with softer materials like leaves and hair from our dog

there’s fresh local asparagus

Suddenly the green grocers have bundles of fresh, locally grown asparagus. It is a perennial, so it comes up again every year. Traditionally harvested by a hand held knife some European countries are experimenting with harvesting machinery. To maintain peak freshness, asparagus is harvested at night. Asparagus is best eaten soon after picking.

I try to buy the thin ones as thicker asparagus can be a bit tough. Our favourite way to eat them is trim the ends, steam the asparagus, place it on the plate, drizzle with butter or Hollandaise sauce and top with a poached egg, parsley, salt and ground pepper. Quick lunch or dinner.

I microwave the asparagus now! I know, I took a while to try it, too, but now it’s the only way to go. Trim the spears, moisten a length of four sheets of paper towel folded in half, lay the spears in a single layer and roll the paper up to make a cylinder. Microwave for 2 minutes, check, you may have to do a minute more for thicker spears. I poach the egg in the microwave, too. (here) Actually, I made the Hollandaise sauce there, as well, but that’s a bit trickier.

other spring things

I’ve taken out the rye sourdough starter/mother and fed it. Left it in a warm place for a day. It bubbled and smelt yeasty, so I’ve made the sponge to start two loaves of sourdough rye bread. I’ve been buying bread as it’s been very wet and cold, but now it’s warmer. It takes two days to make the bread. Why do I bother? This dense loaf is very filling and has only natural ingredients. It also tastes wonderful although it may be an acquired taste!

The starter is added to flour, water, molasses and a pinch of salt to make dense, richly flavoured and very filling bread.

I make two loaves at a time. I slice the loaves and store them in the freezer, just removing what I need each day. Two loaves last 16 days.

A hot sunny day and our thoughts turned to icecreams on sticks! This is a Connoisseur Blood Orange Chocolate Icecream and it was wonderful.

What special things do you do for spring?

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Pressing and Preserving Flowers

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history

People have been drying and preserving flowers since ancient times. The Egyptians made fragrance from them and placed dried flowers in tombs. During the Middle Ages dried flowers were used as medicines and to mask bad odours. The Victorians created pictures from them, as did the Japanese. Dried flower pictures are still a recognised art form in Japan.

Picking and gathering

Picking and pressing flowers is a way to preserve them without chemicals. Pick the flowers mid morning when they are dry and open. Have what you need to press the flowers ready as you want to capture the bloom at its best.

Although perfect flowers are very pretty sometimes imperfections add interest. I like to add some foliage, too.

A hat full of late winter blooms picked on a warm day.

pressing the flowers

All you need is a flower press or some heavy books, scissors or garden shears, paper and the flowers.

I used lithograph paper as modern inks on newspapers can seep through and stain the flowers as they are drying. The imprint on paper towel can also transfer to the petals when it is under pressure.

Arrange the flowers on the paper. Trim to suit how you intend using the dried flowers.

Place another three or four layers of paper over the flowers being careful not to disturb your arrangement.

Place the top on the press and screw down as hard as possible or place the flowers within paper under some heavy books or actually within the books.

I have always left the flowers for about three weeks to dry. Some people leave them for less time but three weeks has always worked for me.

Remove the top of the press and the top layer of paper. The flowers will be fragile, especially the petals, so handle carefully.

using dried flowers

The flowers I dried have short stems as I knew I was going to make gift tags and cards from them. Firstly, I made gift tags. For this gift I made a box covered in photocopied musical scores because it was meaningful to the recipient. Then I made the gift tag.

I cut the luggage tags from water colour paper as I wanted the texture and whiteness. You can cut your own tags from any paper you like or buy tags.

I use a UHU Glue Stick to secure the flowers to the tag. Traditionally the flowers were secured with paper or tape tabs but I prefer using glue. Apply it carefully to the raised surfaces on the back of the flower, then the petals and then position it on the card or tag and weight it down for a few minutes while it dries. Use a punch to create a hole for the tie or ribbon, add a ring reinforcement sticker, write a message and it’s done.

The cards are made from some strips of water colour paper (300gm cold press) I had left over from another project. I like the texture and its whiteness. I write inside the card but you could add an insert of plain paper glued to the fold. Just cut it slightly smaller than the card, run UHU stick along the fold then press in into the fold of the card. Add your message.

Today, October 14th, is World Standards Day. It is observed globally to create awareness about the importance of standardization to the global economy among the consumers,regulators and industry. The theme for this year’s World Standards Day is ‘ Standards for sustainable development goals , a shared vision for a better world’.

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