The Garden

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It’s All About Perspective

Recently we hosted a couple of young travelers in our home for a labour exchange – have you heard of Helpx.net ? A great way to meet new people, learn about other cultures and get some jobs around the home done too.  This time around we say thank you Jessie and Scotty (and Adele and Kendal who also stayed briefly with us).

 

We have Scotty and Jessie to thank for this wonderful drone image of our house and garden.

 

Scott’s amazing art and photography can be viewed here: http://scottdenholm.com/

 

To learn a little more about Jessie (and see more shots of our garden/home) and read about the helpx experience first hand- check out this blog post http://theycalleditparadise.com/blog/helpx-travel-affordable-experience-culture-meet-lovely-locals/   Thanks Jessie.

 

It was lovely to meet you both.

 

 

honeytree

 

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Two Weeks in the Kitchen

The past few weeks I have been very lucky to be able to participate in a couple of cooking classes –  one provided by a local resident (who makes authentic Vietnamese cuisine) and one impromptu lesson by a visitor (Indian cuisine) and then I have been making preserves, jams and pickles.  You know what they say,  “make preserves whilst the garden provides.” And you have wondered why I haven’t posted any book reviews of late 🙂

 

Mediterranean Piccalilli

 

Chicken and Mushroom (Vietnamese style)

 

Rice Noodle Stir Fry ( Vietnamese style)

 

Beef Salad Vietnamese Style

 

Sweet Chili Tomato Sauce

 

Tomato Chuteny

 

 

Indian Food

Naan

 

Tandoori Chicken (cooked on BBQ)

 

Chicken Curry

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My Work in Progress

About twenty five years ago I started an arts course at what used to be known as TAFE  (Technical and Further Education). I was spurred to enrol after being involved in a community based learning centre – where I was learning how to make pottery  – by wheel and hand.  I wanted to learn more so I enrolled in the arts course – primarily to do more pottery but as part of the course I was require to complete other art units – I did enjoy some of the classes – especially the mixed media work, the print making, water colour etc   I enjoyed the parts of the course I completed.  The story is then put on hold for quite some time.

 

Then  last week a friend of mine who has recently started producing some amazing paintings (one she made for my office – of proteas , another she made for our sitting room –   a pink cow in a dot style – which has ow been entered in an art competition! ) wonderful work, any way I digress…my good friend suggested we have a painting day and drove 4 hours to our place and unloaded her car full of  blank canvases and painting  paraphernalia – what a great day I had.  (My good friend was very patient and enthusiastic) The flame has been reignited.  It is such good fun. I am grateful to have such a talented and passionate friend who is happy to share her creativity with me.

This is my work in progress.  🙂

 

My art WIP

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Pea and Pine Nut Salad: David Herbert’s Best Home Cooking – David Herbert

The Garden: Snow Peas and Sugar Snap Peas

What do you do when your garden has an abundance of sugar snap peas, snow peas (and broad beans very soon)? You make this spectacular yet so easy salad. I served this as a side dish to a very impressive birthday dinner I made for my husband recently – it looked and tasted fantastic. There were left overs which I converted to a filling lunch by simply adding some halved cherry tomatoes and some quartered hard boiled eggs. Fresh and delicious. (If you are vegetarian simply omit the bacon from this recipe)

David Herbert's Pea and Pine Nut Salad

 

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A Quiet Day

After the fog lifted (it was swirling around, leaving its damp trail until after 10.30am this morning) we were left with an almost spring like feel in the air.  Although a little cloudy it was actually relatively warm outside. I took the two dogs for a walk then, when home again, had a wander around the backyard.

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A prefect day for a swing .

And to admire nature at its blooming best (Protea + bees) . Pun intended. 🙂

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