Things in common

I spent a wonderful few hours at one of Kate's favourite places in this city, the other day.
Chicago Botanic Gardens.
From my short visit, I got the impression they were doing some pretty interesting things.

I was reminded of another Kate and her soil fella. I live with a soil fella too.  I saw these things at the garden and they made me smile and think fondly of my soil fella and home.

Bee boxes in the apple orchard area.

Some things are the same the world over, people are growing vegies and caring for their soil.

Some things are very, very different though...

I didn't come to Chicago to blog but...

I really have been doing some crafting lately, I just haven't blogged about it because it was a surprise for Kate.

 

This is my god daughter, Angie sitting on the quilt I made for Kate and gave to her when I arrived last night- the beginnings did feature on this blog a long while ago.
Hooray for a finished project!

This is Angie and her twin sister, Grace in the pj bottoms I made for them. I don't always understand what the girls and their brother, Dante are saying just yet- getting my head around the accent and excitedly fast kid speak but they thought it was pretty cool that I made them some pj's and Gracie said 'can you teach me to sew?'. It was nice- so I am thinking of quick beginner hand sewing project for a 7 year old. Any ideas are welcome. I thought maybe a little bag.

I tell you, 28 hours in transit may have been fun when I was 19 but I am not as young as I used to be! My trip involved a run at LA airport to catch my connecting flight and an injured calf muscle, which may have looked amusing to any onlookers but didn't feel amusing to me. I am not really having a big whinge, I am really thankful to have travelled safe and appreciate the priveldge of being here.
Look at this very cute little dude I saw on my walk this morning

Apparently, even the skip bins are patriotic over here...

I found out today that some people deep fry their Thanksgiving turkey.
That cracks me up- pretty massive thing to be deep frying, don't you reckon?

Up and coming Kitchen King

I came home from work today and found this

Highly impressive. Mr. A explained to me that is wasn't just any chocolate cake/ brownie recipe- it involved two different types of flour, several bowls, whipping egg whites, melting chocolate- and he adapted a non gluten free recipe to be gluten free. I was very surprised!

He's practicing for being Head Chef when I am away in Chicago (I leave next week).
I think they will be well feed...

I also think he will be very popular...

Hooray for that time of the year again.

That time of the year when my trips to the supermarket are reduced, I don't have to spend too much time thinking about what the kids can have for 'fruit break' because I can just send them out to the garden.

These are the early cherries and the ladder is a permanent fixture there at the moment.

The strawberries have just started and are loaded this year.

Mulberry time as well.
And the apricots, peaches and apples are coming along nicely- still abit of a way off.
The veggie department isn't too bad either:

The rows are: potatoes, quince trees (for next years fruit tree season), onions, cherry trees (likewise) and broccoli. 
That's the paddock where business and pleasure meet!

I love artichokes to eat, and think they are beautiful ornamentals in the garden. Preparing them though, still is a major challenge for me- seems like a lot of faffing around needed- I sit outside with a bucket with either lemon juice or vinegar and cut them and trim them- put them straight in the bucket (because that's what I read to do- I think it must stop them going black), then steam them and serve with olive oil, balsamic and salt. I don't do it very often and am open to suggestions about artichoke preparation.
Asparagus, on the other hand, which I don't have a photo of- well, it doesn't get much simpler- minimal effort- big result. I am biased- asparagus is my favourite veggie.
I should add- Mr. Apple has full credit for all this amazing produce we are now enjoying. I do nothing except herbs, and 'leafy greens', the occasional pick and a lot of food preparation.
We really do appreciate it.

Decison made, oven installed, food prepared.

Awhile ago our oven died.
As a result, we have been using this

and this

for about 3 months.
That's nuts.
If only I knew it would take about an hour to choose a new one and (the next day) 10 minutes for an electrician (friendly neighbour- who really is an electrician) to install- we would have done it 3 months ago!
We didn't and this arrived out our house on Saturday

It has been running hot since then.
I do love a bit of a bake off.
An oven and stove, combined with garden fresh produce-  it's amazing what great food can be cooked.
Take our dinner tonight. A two pot dish.

I made pasta, I used a recipe from Stephanie Alexander's Kitchen Garden cookbook-
it was sort of like gnocchi

Pasta
250 grams plain flour (I used gluten free)
100grams ricottoa
1 teaspoon salt
1 egg (mine happened to be a double yolker- thanks clever chook)
2 tablespoons water.
Knead it together, let it rest for about 10 minutes, roll it into the shape of a snake, cut small pieces and then press your thumb in so it's the shape of a turtles shell (without the turtle in it).
Cook it in salted boiling water until it floats and serve immediately with your favourite sauce.

Broccoli and Asparagus  'sauce' (not very saucey...)
I made up a 'sauce' based on the vegies available in our garden, this is vaguely what I used
2 quite small heads of broccoli (first of the season)
About 8 spears asparagus
Steam both these vegies and set aside for a tick!
Dice two rashers bacon and fry, add about half a cup of chicken stock or white wine and using a wooden spoon stir any 'cooked on' bits of bacon so the bottom of the pan is cleaner than it was. Add it broccoli and asparagus, 2 cloves chopped garlic, about 2 tablespoons sour cream, handful of sage and parsley.
I then added the pasta into the pot with about 1/2 tablespoon of excellent olive oil and mixed through.
Yuu could serve it with parmesan. Or include fetta. Pancetta instead of bacon. Then world is your oyster.
If only I had a photo. Or better, if only I could give you a taste through the screen- in true Jetson style!
It was fantastic and everyone was pretty happy with it.
Hooray for fresh veggies and the new stove.

My 4 things

4 Things I always carry
Nothing. No hand bag- and I have tried. I hate carrying things.

so the 4 Things I often carry are

1. Keys- but they are put down at the earliest possible opportunity. There are 2 keys on my keyring, my car and my work. Our house doesn't lock...
2. Mobile phone- I do have one, but like the keys it tends to get put down (and forgotten about, much to the frustration of anyone trying to ring me. Of the, about 3 people who have the number). I think it's in the car at the moment.
3. Handcream- I love hand cream, and lip balm
4. My wallet- because well, you want to be prepared don't you?

4 Things that are in my bedroom

1. A jolly big mess including rotary cutter and a pile of fabric (why in the bedroom? Because I was 'tidying' the lounge room, obviously...)
2. Far too many odd socks
3. A suitcase waiting to go to Chicago with me!
4. A Himalayan Salt lamp. I am not sure whether or not it enhances my wellbeing but it does look nice.

4 Things I would like to do but haven't done yet

1. Get fit! Really, I would like to.
2. Get a scooter- the vespa type. Mr A seems to think I am joking and that this may be slightly impractical (my work is 50 km's away). I probably am dreaming abit.
3. Go on the Indian Pacific- train from Sydney to Perth. I used to work at V/Line and got quite into train travel but never took full advantage of the annual 'free rail' pass I was offered because my health wasn't really up to it at the time.
4. I'm with Sal, be a grandma. I think it seems like an excellent gig.

4 Things that you don't know about me

1. I camped out for tickets to see Bryon Adams during study week (SWOTVAC) at Uni. I wasn't a big fan but some (like my old teachers) might say I am 'easily distracted' and hey, my friends 'needed' company. We got third row seats and I caught the drummers drumstick. No, I don't still have it.
2. I was a bridesmaid 3 times in the course of 7 weeks one Summer many years ago. It was the mid nineties and the photos reflect that. I had curly hair (the bride has apologised), a french roll (including a million bobby pins and 3 cans of hair spray) and straight hair with 'rollettes' and flowers (that was the best option, that was for Kate's wedding. She's the one that I am taking the abovementioned suitcase to see)
3. I hate waiting. I don't like that I am no good at waiting. I think and hope I am getting a bit better.
4. I was in Germany in 1989 when the Berlin Wall came down. I walked in to the lounge room and my host father (I was an exchange student) was weeping in front of the teli saying 'We never thought this would happen'. I went to Berlin and have souveniered a piece of that very wall. It was amazing and so much fun.

4 Things I often wonder

1. Whether organisational skills can be learnt (or if I should just sigh in resignation and give up now)
2. Where is 'X' (my keys, wallet, phone...etc). About those organisational skills, hmmm.
3. What I am going to be when I grow up
4. Why didn't I go on the Indian Pacific for free when I had the chance
5. Where does the sky end?
6. Why aren't the choices that are best for me the ones that come naturally? It would be much easier.
7. What time is it?
8. Where did the time go?
9. When did my ability to count to 4 go missing?

Thanks for the questions Cath  you'll find more people answering these very same question over at Cath's place.

A bit of a shir never hurt anyone.

Some Sunday sewing happened at my place today. Along with a million visitors and crazy children who decided it was warm enough for a swim in the channel.
This is what got produced:

Here's a close up of the 'skirt' fabric.

And this one:

The red is 'Hello Kitty' fabric, that, along with the 'Love is' fabric was a good find in an op shop.

They are both going to pretty 'cheery' girls, so I hope they like them. I really like this patten. It's called 'Claire' by Sandi Henderson and I have made it repeatedly. This style is a tunic top which sadly isn't big enough for my girl anymore (despite her modelling it for me)- I could alter it abit but I think she is ready for a different style! It could be a great dress which becomes a top, because the shirring is so stretchy and would fit say, a 3 year old as a dress and a 7 year old as a top, I reckon.
I love shirring. My favourite bit is at the end, after I have sewn the rows of elastic in, when I steam it to death and it all shrivels up and becomes beautifully elastic-y.
Isn't sewing great?

Purple is the new black...

In my world, anyway.
I bought some thermals to take to Chicago with me- in 5 weeks (I know, Kate, you told me I wouldn't need them- but I am keen to at least try and go outside!).
Pure wool, made in Australia. Lovely. Creamy colour. Not lovely. I know- it's underwear so who cares, but I am thinking, leggings poking out beneath my black pants (rather than my cream underwear).
So I thought I would dye them black. I didn't want to make the water too hot though, weary of felting my new (rather expensive) long johns! It did cross my mind that it might be tricky to try and dye wool black and I was interested to see what I got.

Purple. It doesn't look like it in the photo but it is actually a nice even dye.
I did have a rather odd conversation with Mr. A about it though.
"I tried to dye my thermals black and they went purple"
"Oh. Cool"
"Yeesss. I am happy with that"
I am just not sure how he knew it would be "cool"!

Spring springing and bees (hopefully not stinging!)

It's really nice to see these when I look out the back door.

There are loads more on their way, along with heap of poppies. I can't remember what colour they are going to be, so that will be a fun surprise! Heaps  of calendula flowers too- the strong orange really looks striking with the cornflowers. I love flowers.
So do these guys...

A swarm of bees (not from our hives, don't know where they are from) are making themselves at home on one of our peach trees.

Ahh, the wonders of nature!

Prairie Girl

Maybe I just bought this pattern for the name- Prairie Girl. Sounds fun and carefree to me! No really, I liked the content as well. This was some of my school holiday sewing and she loves it. The pattern was pretty easy to follow and I am happy with the dress.
Although my friend suggested that she's too young for this style because it has a high waistline and it sort of gathered under the bust and she is 8 (and has no 'bust'). I didn't have a problem with it until she said that but now I am abit doubtful. Miss A loves it -she picked the fabric (I was happy to get a bit of Sandi Henderson's 'Henna Garden' in for the sleeves, tie and that middle bit- okay, in the pattern it's called a 'dickie'- who knew?!).

The way she is standing  posing in this photo does make the bodice look abit ill fitting...hmmm, maybe it's just abit big. I am open to suggestions.

I really love it when my children love wearing clothes I have made them.
I remember hating being dressed in 'home made clothes'. And, (embarrassing confession) once insisted that my mother embroider two little 'Hang Ten' (cool brand at the time) feet on a jumper she made when I was in Grade 5. In retrospect, they were so wonky, obviously a home made rip off, but I was pretty chuffed!

With love and fondness

A grandfather gone.
Mr Robust and Healthy 96 year old grandfather in law died last week, surrounded by people he loved and who loved him, including us. Very sad but also very special. He went down hill quite quickly, hadn't really been sick and had spoken briefly  to us the day before he died.
That suited him, I think. He would have hated to be 'frail, aged'.

Some things that made him very special, certainly one out of the box!

• He was a fantastic baker and was known for his sponges, shortbread, scones, preserves (he has answered talkback callers on ABC radio on the topic of preserves, and been interviewed by Matt Preston for the Age Epicure). And he was very generous with it, I think someone at the funeral said they recieved some shortbread two weeks ago.
• Up until the last few years he picked his own fruit at 'pick your own' places, to preserve.
• He barracked for the Hawks before they were the Hawks- apparently they started out as the 'May Flowers' or something equally amusing in the 1920's or so
• At 96 he saw his 9 year old great grandson play footy at the MCG (Auskick) and was proud!
• This year he had about 156 daffodils bloom in his garden and a very healthy crop of silverbeet- in the inner-ish suburbs of Melbourne.
• He cut articles of interest out of papers and sent them to us, accompanied by a letter in his fine handwriting on his personalised stationery
• He was always immaculately groomed, often with a tie and suit jacket.
• He was really involved in certain aspects of his community and was interested in people.

I think he was an inspiring, kind, funny and interesting man.
Grandpa, you will be missed and I am glad to have had you in my life.

Mother guilt?

Several months ago my very dear friend sent me an email that said something like "I don't know if and when we will come back to live in Australia and I want you to come and visit me in May 2011 for two weeks".
That got me thinking.
Kate has lived in Chicago for a few years now and has suggested I visit on more than one occasion, but I have always brushed it off assuming it was not really do-able for many reasons. When she got specific, a little 'why not' thought entered my head. Kate's question coincided with a friend of mine getting told her cancer can't be cured- so I was in a bit of a different 'head space' and willing to entertain possibilities that I hadn't before. When confronted with the possibility of the death of a friend (who is going okay, I should mention) the question of 'what is important' comes up regularly.
My family is really important to me (for some lovely reading about family read Kate's blog post). Why would I leave them to go half way round the world?

That has been the question that's been really hard to answer in the the decision process- amongst many others- hmm, do you get the sense I am not a swift decision maker? Well. I have been too-ing and fro-ing since Kate asked me and guess what- I have decided to go. As I was thinking about it I got offered an extra day a week work for 12 weeks, so that will pay for my ticket so that's the financial bit largely sorted.

But, oh, the questions raised- besides the 'should I be contributing to polluting the world by participating in the airline industry' ethical ones, the personal ones.

Do I 'deserve' this? Would this mean I am a 'bad mother'? Should I feel guilty? And all of that marlarky- not all of it helpful but really interesting to see what feelings and thoughts it has bought up for me.

Gee, and guess what I have remembered? I like travelling, I like planes, I love my friend Kate (not that I had forgotten that Kate!) and I can't wait to visit her and her family and I will also get to visit my cousin (in law)  Natasha who has promised to take me to her 'locals' (fabric stores of course, not pubs- priorites!). I am enjoying thinking about my trip and planning it. Dare I say, getting a tad excited! It's a shift in thinking for me- rather than thinking about myself in terms of my home roles or work roles (which I pride myself on)  I am thinking about just, well, me. Slightly uncomfortable because I am possibly not used to putting my needs and wants high on the priority list. But, I am really looking forward to remembering that, hey, I can negotiate an international airport- I do have skills other than those that have been regularly practiced over the past 10 years.

And my family? They will be alright. I am vey lucky that Mr. Apple works on the farm so he often walks down to the bus stop with the children and gets them aften school- gosh, he's the preferred parent for afternoon tea preparation because he makes the best milkshakes. So the day to day running of the place wont change that much. I will really miss them and they will miss me, but we'll all be okay. They will become abit more resilient, I will become abit less of a control freak (!) and hopefully we'll all be the richer for it upon my return.