Jacaranda Time

Here in Australia it is Jacaranda time, from around the end of September until the end of November the Jacaranda trees flower, they are the most beautiful tree, no leaves at this time of year just a mass of flowers.

 A street lined with Jacaranda trees magnificent.

A close up of the gorgeous flowers.

I absolutely love to see these trees flowering, they take many years from  planting before they flower but oh so worth the wait.

Have a great day Shirley :)

Total Eclipse of the Sun

This morning here in Australia we have been lucky enough to witness a Total Eclipse of the Sun.  Although here in Brisbane hasn't been the best vantage point at the moment there is a dimmed light as the moon passes in front of the sun.  

Many people from all over the world have gathered at Palm Cove close to Cairns in far north Qld as this was the best place in the world to view this phenomenon.

This is a rare event and will not be seen again for many years.

Have a great day Shirley :) 

In My Kitchen

In my kitchen this month is a super active batch of Spelt Sourdough Starter.

 I made a delicious loaf yesterday using this starter.

I purchased Annabel Langbein's new book Simple Pleasures and made these Brownies with a secret ingredient that makes they beautiful and moist "dates"!

A new heavy Mortar and Pestle I purchased from a local kitchen shop that was on special.

A healthy mix of grass fed beef, vegies, kale cooking away in my Emile Henry Tajine.

Lastly a beautiful pottery dish that I purchased on a recent visit to the little town of Maleny tucked away in the Sunshine Coast Hinterland.

I hope you have enjoyed a glimpse into my kitchen for November.  Why not visit Celia at http://figjamandlimecordial.com who gives us the inspiration for this series of posts, there you will find many others who give a glimpse into their kitchens every month.

Enjoy your weekend.

Shirley :)

Breakfast Oh Yum!

                A picture says a thousand words!  Breakfast Oh Yum!

Have a great day!
Shirley :)

Everything Small

We had a delightful day out today at the Small Breeds Expo here in Brisbane.

Aimed at small acreages, I think my favourite was the cattle and miniature donkeys.

Have a great day Shirley :)

Driving Over Lemons

A series of books written by Chris Stewart (former Genesis drummer).

Driving Over Lemons

"An idyllic life in a remote, sunny part of Europe is a fantasy normally punctured by harsh realities, and abandoned.  Chris is made of sterner stuff.  Driving Over Lemons is a wonderful account of his Andalucian adventure."

A Parrot in the Pepper Tree

"This follows Driving Over Lemons, three years on, on their farm as they get to grips with a misanthropic parrot who joins their home, Spanish school life, neighbours in love, journalists beating a path to their door and the shock of discovering that their beloved valley might once more be under threat of being engulfed by a dam".

The Almond Blossom Appreciatiion Society

"The sequel to Driving Over Lemons & A Parrot in the Pepper Tree, Chris Stewart's optimism and zest for life is as infectious as ever"

Three great books I picked up at my local library and haven't been able to put down.

Two books I purchased recently.  The Gourmet Farmer deli book (from the TV series) where Matthew Evans and his two best mates share their skills for making everything from cheese and butter to hams, sausages, smoked fish and pickled vegetables, as well as simple recipes using these ingredients.

Whole Larder Love , Grow, Gather, Hunt Cook, by Rohan Anderson. "Primarily concerned with how to live off the land and provide himself and his family with fresh, local food, Anderson has become an expert hunter, fisher, forager, gardener, pickler and sometimes barterer.  In this book he shares his healthy and Sustainable secrets and experiences.

Also both well worth a look at!

Have a great day, I'm off to do some mulching in the garden.

Shirley :)

Local Gardening Group Visit & Another Great Loaf

We belong to a gardening group, we meet monthly usually at one of the members gardens where we get to have a look around their garden, share ideas, chat with like minded people.  It is a food growing based club and it is growing quite rapidly in membership as prices rise and people are looking to produce more of their own fresh fruit and vegies.

Here are a few photos from our October meeting.

It was a lovely way to spend a few hours and I find one gets inspiration from visiting other peoples gardens.

Freshly baked this morning straight out of the oven, yum! 

Have a great weekend.

Shirley :)