harvesting

I received an great book in the mail yesterday which inspired me to go for a hunt through my garden to see what i could harvest, I'm heading to my Nona's so I wanting something to take over this is what i came up with, the apples aren't from my garden but i brought 5 kgs the other day super cheap, so I'm passing on the love ain't they huge. The rhubarb isn't very red I'm not sure why but i picked some for me as well I used to make some rhubarb and choc muffins which were super yummy.

 Ive been trying to use homegrown veggies every day this week, and they kids love helping collect it

 as you can see they get a bit over excited, I wanted one pumpkin and anouth potatoes and sweet potato for 6 people, but they were having way too much fun digging them up I couldn't bring myself to stop them.

 I am loving the new book, while I am already frugal in many ways the book has given me motivation and new recipes to try.  My dad came over for dinner tonight and while the company and the beer was great I was more excited about the bottle the beer came in, and how great they would be for storing sauces, oils, homemade vanilla essence, thanks Dad for bringing the beer.

chicken update

They are now seven weeks old and I weighed the smallest (1.1kg) and the largest (1.8 kg) live weight so far the total cost is:
7 chickens @ $3 ea = $21
3 bags of feed 1 @ $18 and 2 @ $19 = $56
total = $77
final total = $11 per chicken
One bag of feed is yet to be opened so they still have time to grow, so far I have been really happy with this project they are super easy to look after and are growing really well. I move them daily onto fresh grass and let them out to free range in the afternoons.

its way to cold for camping

but we survived.. Lincoln wanted to got camping as his Birthday pressie and I was really proud of him asking for a camping trip instead of a toy so of we went.

dying wool with prickly pear

wasn't as easy as I thought it would be, I also didn't get the results I wanted but hey you learn from your mistakes

Cheeky Alyra couldn't stop eaten them as I was cutting them up, I didn't like the taste.

End result not the colour I was trying to achieve, and still covered in the seeds from the prickly pear.

chickweed salve

way too easy to make, and i weeded around the onions while i was at it, I know some people eat chickweed but I will admit I see it as a weed most of the time so instead of throwing it to the chooks i decided to use it. Turn out really good and the kids are using it for there scratches and even on there lips.

Happy Birthday my little man

oh how time flys, I carnt believe you are really six.... I didnt get very many photos I spent all day preparing for the party and it was over in a flash, Lincoln had lots of fun and the cake was a huge hit so Im happy.

Random photos from this week

Having a go a quilting using old pillow case scraps

 as you can see the kids decided it was a blanket for the pram

 Paint job on my brother car

 My new solar powered energiser for electric fencing

seeds from the Italian Gardener and no I'm not obsessed with onions, one packet is for me the others are for my dad and Nona.