Time For A Blooming Rest

I'm on holidayeeah! It's the first time I've had my camera out for a while and this little arrangement on my table made me happy - so I shot it :)

Elevating Macaroni

I know, I'm trying to rise above my station - but I'm inspired. I've become the unwitting victim of Masterchef Australia, so here is my visual version of "so simple but so good" and "whatever it is you're cooking, pack it with flavour".

Jou ma se macaroni!

My Garden Is Finally Paying It Forward

 

My salads look better and taste better for it. Glorious sweet and peppery greens add crunch while the radishes add colour and flavour in hot pink. It's going to be a dashing salady summer - yum.

Wintery Summer

While the rest of you are enjoying a real summer, ours is the horse designed by committee (it turned into a camel).

So this is what's happening in my house today - It's raining outside, there's a potjie on the stove for supper, fire in the hearth and a baked pudding with caramalised nectarines to be served after supper with custard.

I Know Cool People

Yarn bombing by IsaBeauPeep outside the CCIC Cape Town

I happened to drive past  this 'yarn bombing' yesterday and actually recognised the handy work of IsaBeauPeep. It left me smiling from ear to ear - you go girl!

Fees Van Die Engele

Translated it means "Festival of the Angels" and it's a small Christmas market in Somerset West.

Henriette from tjou-tjou had some of her beautiful products on display. I wish I had taken more pics because not only were the products beautiful but the way they were displayed was as well. She'll also be at "Kamers vol geskenke" next weekend so keep your eyes open if you're going.

Tjou-tjou at Fees van die Engele

I've got mine :)

They're Back...

The Greater Striped Swallow

Looking out of my kitchen window on Sunday I was met with this beautiful picture - some days are just meant to be good :)
Have a great weekend.

A Promise Made!

I doubt you will remember but this large ball of wool has finely turned into a poncho. The frill remains a mystery - it wasn't in the instructions, it wasn't on the example, but it refused to go away. So here it is just in time to pack away for next winter (who knows maybe frills will be back in by then).

Iron Maiden

Yep that's me - I'm into the 'ard stuff, wrought iron, cast iron, spinach iron bring it on! Right now I'm reaping the rewards of my spinach crop...

if only my family felt the same way about this lovely green leaf. As it is I have to surreptitiously sneak it into my cooking and play dumb when asked what the 'green stuff' is. Where's the Popeye in my kids?

Real Spring Onions

My spring onions are going to seed in the most beautiful way and the bees are just loving it!

We're loving it!

 I've been watching them burying themselves up to their little pollen knees for weeks now, with no letting up...

Herb Drying - my first try

Going home to roost has become a frequent stop-over for me - all because of this post. A simple but beautiful herb dryer caught my eye and I was hooked. So much so that I've made one for myself. I made it out of earthenware clay and the pattern is a roll-stamp I carved 2 years ago.

Herb dryer with thyme, rosemary, curry bush & bay leaves; inspired by this post.

 I didn't have anything else but her picture to go on so I kinda thumb sucked - not that it's rocket science but then again that's what makes it.

Going home to roost

This is such a simple idea, unfortunately I could find no further link or reference to it anywhere else.
I have to say I thoroughly enjoy the various sections to her blog.

Making Photostats, Porcelain and Pasta Sing.

This was an experiment in working with porcelain and transfers for me. Oh my word!

 Birdy on a Bush Brooch

It was 70/30 total disaster or recognisable outcome - favouring the first until the very last firing.
The birdy is a transfer made by using a photostat, the flowers are pasta shapes and the sweat all mine.
But I think the final result is actually quite sweet.

Wabbits In Spwingtime

 We've all been at it again - the handover was yesterday at 'Yours Truly'. See more of the bunnies and the idea behind them.

And here she finally is... my bunny faces added to Ronel and Henriette's contributions - shwe-etie (pronounced schweetie)

Think Pink :)

Thank you

Cherry blossoms as a spring gift - what more could a girl ask for. These are hogging the limelight on my desk today - quite literally.

Spring Fever

Over on sweet&soutie the bunny rabbits are already multiplying. 

This really cool project was the brainchild of Chantelle and Henriette and based on the dada and surrealist movements "Exquisite corpse" drawing process. 

Drawings by Victor Brauner, André Breton, Jacques Hérold and Yves Tanguy, 1935.

Everyone gets to add their own personal touch to a single bunny (I'm looking forward to having a hand in this too)- the results are really starting to look very interesting. The bunnies will then be sold in aid of a charity. Little things can make a big difference. Ears off to you ladies! Follow the process here.

Spring Has Sprung - At Last...

Henriette from tjou-tjou sent me this link last week - but I only feel able to post it now.

Why you may ask? Well, because I woke up to the sun shining! (Cape Town is always a few steps behind the rest of the country in reacting to official dates)

The GreenMarker

Aren't these little bookmarks posted by jokemijn and for sale at whiterabbitexpress just the thing to mark the date.

Strutting my stuff

I've painted my first small 'fynbos' bowl using the 'peacock flower' as motif. 

I love it, and I loved doing it.

Happy creating!

The sweetest mini-mugs designed by tjou-tjou

tjou-tjou: Her mugs for the kiddies are only 6cm high. they are adorable.
now, if you tweet, blog or comment on her blog, you stand a chance to win two of them in a lucky dip.

The Gardener That Never Left

On our garden morning round, my husband noticed something odd - the gardeners gloves hung up to dry - like this. You've got to admit Anold might very well have been in the bushes behind them...I'll ask him why he never left when he comes in again.

PlayDough

I recently started my pottery classes again after a looooong 2 year break. I've always found that I enjoy myself if I'm working with a project in mind and so to go with my rustic little hut that is going to go up in Bainskloof one day,


I'm making some of these

Small bowls for small yummy stuff

My old stamp rediscovered

I added this lip detail for either pouring or holding a spoon

inspired by 'cazuela' pots like these from Mexico

and these...

I have to apologise to the maker as I can't seem to find my original link - but they are beautiful

and these from Sister Creek Pottery

Happiness is a good clay session at least once a week - take my word for it :)

This Is A Poncho - I Promise

It's a long story but I think I'll start at the beginning - again. 
I'm trying to make this really cool poncho/shawl design from tjou-tjou. Perfect for keeping me warm at my desk when I'm working. My crochet master, 'Joda Henriette' has been very diplomatic about my progress and very complimentary about my colour choice. But on friday it became clear that the fit was maybe not perfect and 'Joda' in a wise voice suggested 'start at beginning end at end good for journey' or something much more practical like pulling it all out...imagine that. 
So I didn't until I added another 15cm (onto the previous 20cm) - and then I did. 

You've got to admit it has potential.

(When the student is ready to be wrong it becomes clear that the master was right all along).

Bugs Rule!

The flower thing is beautiful, but the bug thing is irresistible. 

So with the master Kari Herer as inspiration I set upon my mission. Backyard bugs. I don't normally have a problem finding any, but it's winter and the only crawlies I found to draw were 'hairy mollies' and snails...and they were not going to work. So I went back to my library and dug up one of my favourite reference books (bought when I was a student in the 80's) - The Encyclopedia of Illustration.

and viola!

common bugious grandesignius

anotherelius common westcoast waspissius

Not art I know, but a great buzz.

Have a great weekend.

I Wish I had...

thought of this...

Via fffound I stumbled upon going home to roost and this post on the work of Kari Herer who sells her prints on etsy. So beautiful! I'm going to try my own backyard version - don't hold your collective breath.

Dinner's In The Dog!

Dinner can be a time consuming affair, especially if you have to grow it first. But putting home grown food on the table has it's own kind of magic to it. The problem is my home grown mielies have been mysteriously disappearing. 

I asked the gardener and he said it was the dog - yeah right. But last night I saw it with my own two eyes. 
"PUPPY SAVES FAMILY BY SLAYING VICIOUS MIELIE"

Ooh - Comfort Me!

Winter must be on it's way...

Katie pictures Mick's mouthwatering moussaka

I find myself blogging about food more and more. Just look at 'What Katie Ate'. Not only has it got pretty pictures but you can eat them too; as she provides the recipes in an equally appealing format. This girl clearly knows what she's about and I definitely have to try this one.

Sea Urchins On The Move

I've spent the last three months weekends being a mommy spectator. Encouraging from the sidelines as my kids pit themselves against the best of the Nippers (junior life saving) world.

This is what you need to do...run this way...then that...swim...run...swim...ad infinitum...

While your parents run back and forth yelling encouragement...ad infinitum...


Life's a beach, but you could spend your time in worse places :)

JezzePrints: Bursting

One of my all time favourite bloggers featured this beautiful series of shots JezzePrints: Bursting not so long ago.

Click on the link above to see the rest.

In nature 'the end' inevitably leads to new beginnings...that's the magic of it.

I know things have been a bit sad in my space but I'll be back to my usual after this, I promise.

Contemplation

I lost a dear, dear friend and fellow gardener last week...life is short, embrace it.

Don't Leave Home Without Your Garden!

Colleen Jordan's A-Wearable-Planter

Henriette from tjou-tjou sent me this link to Colleen Jordan's lovely idea - I love it and you can order one here.

Sugar and Spice...

I've posted this after the fact because I think Valentines day is overrated. 
Not so however, love. 
It has become our little family tradition to show each other how much we love one another in small ways.


Like this from my daughter...


and this from father and daughter, a real treat.


And then there is of course, the plump, red, juicy and wild, garden variety of love...  

What a day x

First Impressions Count

And I have impressed myself no-end I'll have you know. 

This weekend hubby and I set out to try and copy my sister-in-law and my brother's fantastic recipe for homemade pizza on the weber. The results have me still wagging my tail four days later.

Perfect Pizza Topping: Basic tomato mozzarella base with 

Spanish chorizo, fresh rocket, avo, a parmesan-like cheese and pepper...yum.

QUICK PIZZA DOUGH

Makes about 5 large pizza’s

Ingredients:

1 x 10g instant dry yeast sachet

10ml salt

45ml olive oil

45ml honey or sugar

350ml lukewarm water

500g (890ml) cake flour

Method:

1. Mix yeast, salt, oil and honey or sugar together.

2. Slowly add flour and mix with a wooden spoon until a kneading dough is formed.

3. Knead for 10min on a flour-covered surface.

4. Let the dough rise for about 30min (in a warm spot)

5. Knead and roll into a circular base.

Alternatively

Do it my way – throw everything together in a mixer and continue from step 4.

Tomato base:

2 x 250g tins of plumb tomatoes

absolutely masses of garlic (and I do mean at least 5-6 cloves)

salt & pepper

Throw into a blender until smooth

Get your weber fired-up. Hint: your coals should be spread evenly.

We made these on the weber with a pizza pan from Woolies. For toppings start with your basic ‘Margerita’ add anything you can ‘cook’ to that and your fresh ingredients afterwards. I used the fabulous Col’Cacchio’s menu for inspiration.

Not bad for a first try...

Present-A-Cabbage

Every now and then (and it's more now than then) a freshly baked, delightfully fluffy home-baked milktart crosses the road my way, courtesy of the lovely lady who lives across the road from me. How to return the favour? I'm not anyone's idea off a master chef so I turned to my newly grown treasure chest.

Here's how it's done:

Pick one beautiful cabbage head

Cut off the extra leaves

Fold the others over to 'package' the contents

pull it all together with the longest leaf you can find of a Dietes Grandiflora

and hey-presto one freshly packed pressie!