in this hot weather.....

we've been waking up early, just as the sun comes up, so we can spend as much time as possible outside. 

 

We love sitting on my old couch out on the front verandah just simply 'watching'... I've enjoyed working my way through a super special gift over the past couple of weeks 

 

And am super excited that it is finished and now gifted to its new home... YAY!!!

 

Nothing is quite as refreshing as fresh fruit for smoko on a hot Summers day and we've been enjoying plenty of it - especially these little passion fruit-y treasures..

 

Juiced and popped in to the freezer we're also enjoying fresh fruit ice blocks almost everyday as a way to escape the heat....

 

When the temps drop, late in the afternoon, but it's still too hot to eat dinner I've been baking this - 'Cheese Dip'... OMG, it's amazing!!!! It's goo-y and cheese-y and herb-y and perfect with a crisp cracker and a glass of red, how could I resist - right??! Not exactly what you'd expect to be eating on a Summers day but I just can't help myself - it's that amazing!!!

 

And while I whip up a cheese-y baked treat my littlest girl has been busily learning how to make cakes ALL BY HERSELF!!!! - it's kinda her thing at the moment, cup cakes and big cakes and icing and all...

 

And while my littlest girl makes cakes my biggest girl is crafting away at something too - her very own craft-y venture that we launched on my Facebook page last night, super exciting!!!!

 

What Summer evening would be complete without a bit of musical fun with the family before the sun goes down,

 

it gives this mumma a chance to hook away on a little something for herself - a new cushion cover in some vintage hues using gorgeous organic cotton...

 

And to finish things off - I popped this little package in to the post for a special lady this week. 

I joined in with Jewel's Australia Day swap and it has been loads of fun!!!

....

Today I enjoyed freshly picked tomatoes from the vine for brunch ---- is there really anything better... 

 

And tonight I'm enjoying spending time with yarn and a hook...

How was your day??

I finally did it --- I joined Instagram today and you can check me out here!

Are you on it yet?

feeling V E R Y spoilt

I just love getting surprises in the mail ---- don't you? 

 

This week saw the arrival of my long awaited Swap parcel from Kimberley. Kim lives in New Zealand and unfortunately they're currently experiencing some MAJOR ISSUES with their postal service (this parcel took a whopping 4 weeks to reach me so you can imagine I was pretty thrilled to see it arrive out here at the farm, safely, at the start of the week)... 

 

How adorable is this wrapping paper - reminds me of the gorgeous papercut work that Rob Ryan does, don't you think?

And look at what was inside, a perfect square of pink-y goodness - a washer made for me for the 'Xmas Washer Swap'...

And how sweet is this little card which was also attached?!!

Here's the washer laid out flat - I just love how this variegated pink cotton has worked up Kim - it's beautiful...

And here's the little ornament that she stitched for me as well...

Thanks Kim!!! All of my Swap goodies are just PERFECT!!!

 

Have you received anything special in the Post over the past couple of weeks too???

School Holidays....

(1st picture) About a week ago, with only a week left of water, I was just about ready to pull out most of the vegetables in my garden. But, thanks to some much needed rain reaching us on Xmas day I'm lucky enough to be still enjoying 'black jack' Zuchinni, fresh from the bush. Tonight we're eating them sliced in half, sprinkled with parmesan cheese, chopped rosemary, thyme,and freshly cracked pepper. Popped in the oven at 200'C for 20 mins and what can I say ----- they're P E R F E C T ! ! !

(2nd picture) In the lead up to Xmas you might remember me organising a little 'Washer Swap'... Here's a little sneak peak at some of the awesome gifts that my gorgeous Swappers sent out to their partners. Over the next week I'll be popping up links to patterns and respective Swappers blogs so be sure to check back for the details...

(3rd picture) I love Summer and am enjoying being able to let me hair down now that it's school holidays - it feels so good to just take it 'slow' for a change. We're spending many hours on the verandah at the farm, simply not doing too much at all really - and it feels so good too!!!

(4th picture) And in case you couldn't see my little cutie in the 3rd picture, this one's a close up... A gorgeous little kitten who just can't seem to leave my side at the moment and you know what? I kinda really like it... ;)

So, MERRY XMAS everyone - enjoy your next couple of days as you welcome in the New Year too... xx

my Connie wants to Swap too?

I have this girl, she's 7... Her name is Connie and she is super clever!

You know how I've been organising all of these 'washer swaps' of late?? Well, Connie was thinking, and wondering, maybe there might be another little 7(ish) year old out there that might just be interested in doing a little 'swap' with her?!

She is itching to make something for someone, put it in the mail, and send it off as a surprise! She's eager to find out what someone would actually think if they received something handmade from her in the mail and just as eager to get a little special something from someone in return too...

So... Who's up for it??? Do you have a 7(ish) year old out there who would be interested in 'swapping' with my eager 7yr old?? If so let me know and maybe we could work something our for the New Year - it would really make my Connie girls day(year!).

simply perfect...

Last Thursday night my local town held their annual 'Xmas Mardi-Gras'. It was hot and sticky that day so I bathed the kids, loaded up the car, and headed to town for the evening... It was a fabulous night! A real buzz of excitement filled the main street and it made me remember just how lucky I am to be part of such a vibrant rural community... 

Something that I try to do with my kids every year for Xmas is get a snap with the jolly ol' man. As any one with kids would know, it can be pretty hard to get a good family Xmas photo - poor lighting, bad location, feral kids, freaked-out kids, average looking Santa, the list could go on.... But, this year our photo was simply perfect! The Cobar Library had a great display set up - cosy lounge, beautifully decorated tree, awesome Santa (this one I've actually know since I was a little girl - Mr Brown you are AWESOME!!!), great elf-helpers, air-conditioning, and what a bonus an actual PHOTOGRAPHER!!! 

 

Anna Ryan Photography my pictures are beautiful. Thank you for capturing this moment for me!! - screaming child and all... 

Do you have any Xmas Photo memories (or tips)? 

Garden Share Collective : : December

I'm joining in with the 'Garden Share Collective' again....

Things have been pretty tough here on the farm this month as we continue to get dryer and dryer. We still haven't had any rain and combined with hot winds I find myself using more and more precious water in my garden than I normally would at this time of year which means my water stores are starting to get low.

Although inside my yard there is green grass and a lush(ish) vegetable garden, out in the paddocks it's dry and dusty - really dusty...

Here's what I've been up to this month in my vegetable garden;

Watching

Corn

Tomatoes

Beans

Grapes

Passion-fruit

Coloured Chard

Carrots

Propagated Grape Vines

Harvesting

Radish

Cucumber

Lettuce

Zucchini

Beetroot

Numerous Fresh Herbs

Planting

Chilli

More Mini-Muncher Cucumbers

More Basil

More Rocket

More Lettuce

To-Do

Stake new tomato bed.

Transplant Carrots

Things To Note

WE HAVE HAD NO RAIN AGAIN THIS MONTH!!!!!

Seed Swapping

Thanks to the gorgeous Emma Crameri swapping some spaghetti squash seeds with me last month - they have been planted in my garden and I am watching them daily, excited to try this new vegetable for the first time with my family...

I currently have some basil seeds to share - saved from 2013.

I am looking for some heirloom cucumber seeds to plant in my garden this month.

Email me at jellywares@bigpond.com if you'd like some basil seeds - or if you have some cucumber seeds that you'd like to share with me.

pictured below : : new tomato tee-pees

 

pictured below : : black zucchini almost ready

 

pictured below : : green zucchini bush 

 

pictured below : : corn setting fruit

 

pictured below : : a couple of this months cucumber harvest - 2kg's picked so far

 

pictured below : : some of the many beets we've harvested this month..

Check out more gardening inspiration here...

just perfect...

We have been lucky enough to celebrate the 1st b'day of our gorgeous boy, Tobie, this week...

What can I say?? This little guy has simply stolen all of our hearts and we couldn't imagine a life without him in it, not for one single minute! To celebrate we had a bit of a party out here on the farm - just the girls and I and DH, but you know what, that was more than enough and we had a super time! ~ there was cake and sparkles and all kinds of outside fun to be had by us all!!

 

After already having 2 babies grow up in my home I've learnt that they don't really want for much in the way of material processions. So, we ditched the store bought gifts this year and celebrated Tobie's special day in a different kind of way - 2 new rabbits and a few handmade treasures were all we(he) really needed...

 

By the squeals of excitement, from all 3 of my kids, when our cute little bunnies were unwrapped I can already tell that they are going to be a huge hit!

 

Connie even made Tobie a little crochet blanket to keep his new littlest critters cosy...

 

And you know what? She just kinda taught herself how to crochet this week and this is her first creation - pretty awesome, even if I am a little bias because she's my girl and all...  

She just said to me about a week ago that the thinks she has watched me do it for long enough and that she thinks she can kinda do it by herself....

 

So, I watched, and helped a little where needed, and she slowly fumbled her way through her first granny square and you know what?? It's just perfect!! Don't you think?

 

In our garden this week we are happily harvesting beetroot,

 

lots of beetroot, and loving that our depleted pickled beetroot stores will now be replenished...

How have things been at your home this week??

In Our Garden....

This week in our garden we've been harvesting loads of new things which has given our kitchen table a much needed burst of 'flavour'!!

 

We have 5 Green Lebanese Zuchinni bushes and they are steadily producing approx 3 fruit a day - we're enjoying these thinly sliced, fried with garlic and butter, then stirred though some good hand-made pasta, or roughly chopped and added to a stir-fry. But my kids favourite is simply grated and added with a few other goodies to eggs to make a delicious fritata. The next recipe on my list (when my stocks get up of-coarse) are some 'bread and butter' pickles!

My mini muncher cucumbers are ripening as well and the girls are finding at least 1 plump and ready for the picking each and every day!

 

'Mini-Muncher' is my favourite variety of cucumber and I've been growing it for 4 years now. It's a prolific fruit-er and very rarely gets disease or attacked by pests. The fruit is picked when they are approx the size of your hand, are burp-less and seedless (well the seeds are too tiny to notice anyway). The flesh is a gorgeous yellow-y green colour and they are super sweet and juicy!! In my opinion, a really gorgeous fruit (vegetable) to add to your vegetable garden!!

 

Both my girls have their own designated areas, marked out by rocks, in our family vege patch. They can plant WHATEVER they like in these little plots and a lot of trial and error goes on in here. They are both currently harvesting radish from their patches. Connie is watching an enormous 'gigantic Russian sunflower' tower up towards the sky, desperate for it to finally form a flower at the top! They also have tomatoes, pumpkin, beetroot, peas, more radish, a mixture of flowers, beans and a few other things too... 

So... What have you been harvesting this week in your garden?

Is the vegetable garden a family affair at your place? Do you get the kids in on the action too?

Xmas Themed Swap!! (sign-up's)

I'm joining in with Christina's made-by-hand 'meme' again this week and have loved putting the finishing touches on this new washer for a Swap that I've been part of...

 

I've also been whipping up a few of these super cute Xmas-y stars (kits can be found here). 

 

So, with all of the Xmas craft ideas buzzing around in my head of late it got me thinking - I'd love to do a little 'Xmas Themed Swap', what do you think?? If you'd like to join in, here are the details....

Jellywares Xmas Swap Guidelines

For this Swap you will be making 1 cotton washer and and 1 Xmas Ornament!!!

Your Washcloth: 
Each participant is required to crochet or knit 1 washcloth. 
Cloths are to measures between 6x6 and 9x9 inches square or 6 to 9 inches in diameter. 
Label each cloth with maker and care instructions - feel free to include yarn and pattern info.

Affix your label to your washer with a safety pin or tie it on.

YARNS:
- 100% Cotton or cotton blend yarn – 100% cotton yarn is awesome and is used often for dish/washcloths. Blends are great too but they need to be at least 50% cotton.
- Linen and hemp yarn – These yarns are yummy and last FOREVER. Feel free to use these yarns too.
- No boucle yarns – This stuff is awesome but not for dishcloths. It’s spun a little to loosely to take the abuse that dish/washcloths tend to take. Save this yummy stuff for hats and baby blankets!
- Worsted or DK weight yarns make very scrubalicious washcloths. They clean well and they rinse and dry well too.
- Colours – Gooooooo nuts! Solids! Variegated! Striped! Neutrals! Brights! Muted! It’s all good!!!
- Patterns – Have fun here and why not try something that you've never done before!

Your Ornament:

- this can be made from any material/medium that you choose.

- there are no restrictions with the size or dimension of your ornament, it is totally up to you!

The Actual Swapping:
- Sign-Up's close on the 1st of December.

- You have until the 15th of December to get everything all wrapped up and posted out to your partner..

- You MUST message me once your washer has been sent so that your partner can be notified.

- You also MUST message me once you have received a Washer. 
- After you have made your Washer please take a picture and share it with me via email. 

- After you receive a Washer you MUST take a picture and share it with me via email as well.

The goal of this swap is to produce and receive little pieces of fibre art. Use beautiful yarns, colour combinations, and patterns.

Don’t feel pressured to use teensy little crochet cotton. Thicker cottons like Cascade Sierra, Debbie Bliss DK Cotton, and Malabrigo Organic Cotton make great washcloths. Have fun!

Postage + Envelope: 
To keep the cost down with this Swap you will only be sending 1 washer and 1 small ornament and you will be able to fit it into a large envelope for Postage that should not exceed $3!

You are more than welcome to add a little card for your partner but that is totally up to you and not compulsory

Lastly, to join in with this Xmas Swap simply comment on this blog post and email your address to jellywares@bigpond.com

traditions?

I can't stop thinking about Xmas lately and am super excited to be introducing the 'Elf on the Shelf' tradition into our home this year.... The excitement will begin on the 1st of December and I'll be sure to fill you all in on our adventures with our little elf as they happen! 

Do you have any particular Xmas traditions that you like to do as a family? Tree up on the 1st of December? Advent Count Down? Decorating your home - inside or/and out? I'd love it if you shared them with me... :)

In the mean time I've been hooking up a treat, making little ornaments to adorn our 'stick' Xmas tree that takes pride of place in the middle of our dinning table over the Xmas period. 

 

This little pattern was super easy and each ornament took no longer than 15mins each. 

 

I'm using some gorgeous new 4ply cotton and a 3mm hook for these ornaments and if you'd like the pattern the details are complimentary with each cotton yarn purchase... 

 

So, if you'd like some of this gorgeous cotton yarn to make some Xmas-y themed ornaments of your very own you can simply send me an email to jellywares@bigpond.com or pop onto my Facebook page here! note : : stocks are limited!

I couldn't help but share this picture with you all?!! 

My eldest girl, Connie, helping out in the sheep yards this week with her favourite cat 'Foxy'.... I sure do love this girl to bits!

So..... Have you made a start on your Xmas crafting??


** red cotton now SOLD OUT!**