Appreciate the little things......

People spend so much time grumbling about everything from the economy to the weather and rarely take time to appreciate the beauty and simplicity that everyday things can bring...... my man went to the funeral of a colleague yesterday who died suddenly at 52.....it puts your life into perspective and should help you appreciate the little things that are your life......here are some of mine from yesterday..........

Lovely breaky with eggs from my chooks and homemade organic bread

One of the babies I raised from eggs....hooray they are both hens !!

Finding a snug little bundle each morning......thanks girls !!

 

Someone cuddly decides to snuggle up on your freshly made bed ....

 

The photo I have of the anniversay flowers sent to me by my man...

Fresh herbs in the kitchen.....smell fantastic.

Learn to live in the moment, enjoy life for its simple pleasures.....we have a very good friend who is battling cancer, others who are going through very difficult times.....I send my love out to them and hope things get better......enjoy every minute of what you have......

Nature's bounty .....

Spent the morning in the garden.........two QLD Blue's looked ready and also some of the Golden Nugget pumpkins, and a butternut......picked all the corn....and almost the last of the tomatoes......I read that I should hang the almost dead tomato vines up and the remaining fruit should ripen.....see how that goes......
Have added mushroom compost to the now empty beds where I grew the tomatoes......will rest them and then replant with new goodies......The chill has certainly been in the air this weekend.....reminder of what is to come......I love the change of seasons  !!

The changing seasons........

 Growing your own food makes you appreciate the change of season and eating seasonal, local and organic food......from my own garden today I have picked the tomatoes......all small now and not many left as the arrival of autumn is causing the tomato plants to die ....making way for the next planting......corn is great....also the eggplants are ripening up......soon all of the seasonal produce will be finished......bring on the next lot......hopefully will be as successful as the previous season was.........!!

I buy organic fruit and veggies from the Kallista organic store.......great way to buy what's seasonal and usually locally sourced......obviously that pineapple didn't grow in the Dandenongs........it's a lovely scenic drive to the store....no traffic.....no lights......just a 15min country trip......I love it up here !!

What I read in Feb .....

The bookclub book for the month was Unpolished Gem by Alice Pung......need to finish the last few pages tonight before our meeting at the cafe tomorrow......not sure what I think to be honest.....haven't really enjoyed the whole thing, but there were certainly some really enjoyable passages.......it's a memoir of a young vietnamese-cambodian girl and her family once they arrive in Melbourne and live in the western suburbs.....Looking forward to the discussion !!

It's Autumn and I have corn ......

Unbelievably the corn crop has produced beautiful big ears of corn.....once shucked they are fabulous eating....cooked up the first few ripe ones last night......so sweet and juicy....
The arrival of Autumn has caused the veggie beds to begin slowly dying off....the tomato plants, while still bearing a lot of fruit, are starting to die off.......the pumpkin vines are also starting to shrivel.....I read you need to leave the pumpkins on the vine until it dies......there are a lot of pumpkins growing.....can't wait until I get to taste them.....then it will be time to clear the veggie beds......load up on organic matter and wait for the new planting to start.....will get in some beetroot, carrots, broccoli, parsnip , broad beans, more lettuce and anything else that will grow this time of year.

Natures chandelier

 There is such beauty in the garden every day.....this picture of the lady finger eggplants growing is so lovely, they look like little gems hanging like a chandelier.......the flowers are beautiful and the colour of the eggplants is so vibrant.....now I just need some recipes.....baba ganoush is a likely starter....also a vegetarian lasagne.....see how we go..

I was given loads of native plants for Christmas and have planted them all to attract birds and insects into the garden......this grevillea is so delicate and the colours are fantastic.....this garden bed will look great once they all mature and flower......it's not just about the veggies !!

Birthday weekend in Beechworth

But But Tree - Beechworth

Spent a beautiful weekend in Beechworth celebrating my birthday with my man.  Accommodation was a gift for Christmas from my 2 year old GBaby......was great, right in the heart of town, no driving, just walked around the town, eating, window shopping and relaxing.
We stayed across the road from the famous But But Tree which is 400 years old......it was the unofficial post office for Beechworth in the early days and people put missing persons notices and letters for travellers....the incredible gnarled trunk is truly amazing ......look closely and you can see faces and shapes in the bark.....if only it could speak and tell what it has seen.....I love Beechworth !!