You can never have enough...

[Jan]

Freezing here - snow on the nearby range - so much for the pre Xmas weather forecast that we would have severe drought and no rain until February - we haven’t had one completely fine day since Xmas and now it’s freezing as well - you have to feel sorry for the families who have paid good money to holiday here - lot of cruise ships in hood they brought a winter layer of clothes with them - perfect weather to read and craft and eat !

Hunni your post about the typewriters caused me to have a brilliant brain wave - I had been puzzling over an engagement present for my grandaughter and decided it was a good opportunity to declutter - so have dug out from the depths of the spare room cupboard a lovely crystal bowl my grandmother gave me - my grandaughter knows it well as she has helped make many tiramisu or fresh fruit salads when I used to be the cook at family occasions in that bowl - mind you finding the bowl took hours - it’s like a memory chest in there

Beetroot still remain intact - wish the social supermarket was open would drop them off down there

[Lilith7]

Still cold here - its December & I'm wearing a cardigan! A friend down south says its much the same there & she's had to find her winter trousers to wear. I hope the cold won't be too much for the garden; there are runner beans ready (having some tonight with dinner) & tomatoes out but still green.

Still slogging away with paintings, have decided to leave the mucked up one till later & look again then as I just haven't time to waste on it especially when I may very well chuck it up the gully.

[Oh_hunnihunni]

Freezing here - snow on the nearby range - so much for the pre Xmas weather forecast that we would have severe drought and no rain until February - we haven’t had one completely fine day since Xmas and now it’s freezing as well - you have to feel sorry for the families who have paid good money to holiday here - lot of cruise ships in hood they brought a winter layer of clothes with them - perfect weather to read and craft and eat !

Hunni your post about the typewriters caused me to have a brilliant brain wave - I had been puzzling over an engagement present for my grandaughter and decided it was a good opportunity to declutter - so have dug out from the depths of the spare room cupboard a lovely crystal bowl my grandmother gave me - my grandaughter knows it well as she has helped make many tiramisu or fresh fruit salads when I used to be the cook at family occasions in that bowl - mind you finding the bowl took hours - it’s like a memory chest in there

Beetroot still remain intact - wish the social supermarket was open would drop them off down there

Ahhh, but Jan, if you had a typewriter you could include a typed recipe for tiramisu...

See? They are so useful, lol.

You definitely need to include its history though, maybe in a pretty coloured ink. Our family pieces hold such stories within them, that is what makes them so precious.

[kiwimade64]

I have my grandmother's baking bowl, one of the first Temuka pottery ones. She taught me to bake using it and it has the perfect flat bottom so sits on the bench beautifully when being used.

It's freezing here too; I also have a winter cardigan on. It has stopped raining, and the sun is out but still cold.

[Oh_hunnihunni]

I rue the day my Mum's Crown Lynn beehive bowl got dropped - it was the perfected steamed pud bowl. But, I have scored a stainless steel one with a clip seal lid and used it for the first time this past week. I think my family ladies would approve of the pud that came out of that pot, it was light and very yummy, and lasted for four days with piggy sized dessert servings, lol...

Gorgeous evening sun here in the smoke, but there is a chill in the breeze. Full duvet pulled up tonight I think if it is anything like last night when we reached 13 degrees. Not an Auckland summer temp by any measure...

[harm_less]

I rue the day my Mum's Crown Lynn beehive bowl got dropped - it was the perfected steamed pud bowl. But, I have scored a stainless steel one with a clip seal lid and used it for the first time this past week. I think my family ladies would approve of the pud that came out of that pot, it was light and very yummy, and lasted for four days with piggy sized dessert servings, lol...

Gorgeous evening sun here in the smoke, but there is a chill in the breeze. Full duvet pulled up tonight I think if it is anything like last night when we reached 13 degrees. Not an Auckland summer temp by any measure...

11 degrees here this morning as we drove out the gate mid morning and spied a fresh dusting of snow on our mountain here in the Naki.

[Olive]

Cold here; during the morning I kept adding layers of clothing, with the final touch being my ancient and decrepit Uggs.   However the lack of sun meant that I could stay out and finish weeding the rose garden, which is now free from surface oxalis, convolvulus, twitch and buttercup for the time being.   I know they are all growing away under the surface but at least it looks tidy today.   And Abraham Darby is producing lovely little sprays of pink beauty.

[Oh_hunnihunni]

I made tepache. From pineapple core and skins. And it smells very alcoholic, though I'm sure it isn't really. It is chilling in the fridge overnight ready to taste test tomorrow. I do love a little bit of experimenting in the kitchen. Now I just need a really hot day to make it the perfect afternoon cooler...

[popeye333]

We must be in the only sunny Patch.. Although I have shut the ranch slider cos the wind was cold. But Im still sitting in summer clothes and the front door is still open.

Christmas stuff put away, legs on the bed. Other room tidied.. Found my Vases and they are nice and sparkly now.. I had forgotten how heavy the Lead Crystal one was.. he better get me more flowers now I've dug them out lol.

Swapped the two sets of bookshelves over so the Old one can get up on the shorter one. Shes 11 in March going on
20-11 some days. She is happy. Swapped the meds etc over so I dont have to get up to get them.

So now I only have the lawns and the sewing room to sort. I do need to pick up the bag of MRP's little stuff that slid and emptied out in the wardrobe. Then Ill add more to my glory box. To have extra room in the pantry is going to be fun.

The sewing room will be a ruthless job. Im sick of it all.

Saw they had snow on the Desert Road too.. years ago when we were in Taranaki there was Snow on the Hill on January 21st. We had a panoramic view from the big windows in our bedroom. It was a Beautiful day.

Its been a good productive day, very little pain. And I have enjoyed it.

[Olive]

Tepache sounds great.   What kind of sugar do you use?   We give all of our pineapple rinds and cores to the neighbours' goats, who fall upon them in ecstasy, but I'm very willing to deprive the goats for the sake of a delicious drink.

[Oh_hunnihunni]

I just used raw sugar, and it is a gorgeous deep anber colour. It took longer to start to ferment than I expected. Two days on the bench and nothing, though the fruit flies were hovering so yesterday I put it in the shade on the deck and after 24 hours it started foaming and bubbles started to rise. This evening I decanted it and the compost bucket is full of perfumed pineapple rinds, the fruit flies can feast tomorrow when I toss it into the big bin. I will top a glass up with bubbly water tomorrow and report back. If it is as interesting as the strawberry shrub I made after Christmas I will be very happy.

[Olive]

I just used raw sugar, and it is a gorgeous deep anber colour. It took longer to start to ferment than I expected. Two days on the bench and nothing, though the fruit flies were hovering so yesterday I put it in the shade on the deck and after 24 hours it started foaming and bubbles started to rise. This evening I decanted it and the compost bucket is full of perfumed pineapple rinds, the fruit flies can feast tomorrow when I toss it into the big bin. I will top a glass up with bubbly water tomorrow and report back. If it is as interesting as the strawberry shrub I made after Christmas I will be very happy.

Oh please do report.  I had wondered if the pineapples we get here are so fumigated that their natural yeasts would be inactive, but it sounds as if they are still viable.   I wonder if the goats will like the fermented rinds,

[kiwimade64]

morning ladies We have a fine morning but it's still cold. Someone in the local traffic FB page posted the snow on the Desert Rd clip they had taken (and sent to TV1). No wonder it was freezing here! And I saw a pic of Mt Taranaki with snow, was a gorgeous pic with a clear blue sky.

Abraham Darby is a pretty rose, Olive. Never thought of planting that one Hmmm... goats eating fermented pineapple rinds... would love to see the results of that lol. We love our fresh pineapple as well. Although the last couple I have bought haven't been quite so nice with lots of bruising.

I have a few plants to plant today although I suspect it is going to take a few days to do it. So damed frustrating. We were at the garden center yesterday as MrK wanted more drunken woman lettuces and some more seed spuds. The seed spuds were thrown in for free and one of the plants I bought he knocked back from $18 to $3 as he said it wasn't at its best. It has been soaking in worm wee overnight and should perk up nicely. I also found a gorgeous deep red phlox and it just jumped into my trolley like magic. Nothing like supporting your local privately owned garden center.

Still tacking the embroidery design onto the fabric. it's a slow process but worth the effort.

Washing machine is on its final spin and I want to get moving.

Happy crafting

[popeye333]

Morning everyone

The sun is up but it is slightly chilly this morning.

Need to do my bloods this morning , only nearly 3 weeks over due.. not my fault they closed earlier than I expected lol..

Then Ill go up to see the ladies. No doubt the topic of discussion will be Davids leg. hes going to have to watch it closely or it could travel and get serious. And Alcohol is not something he should be partaking in with it either. Even Im not brave enough to tell him that. Unless he is actually listening.

I got the first Section of the tree painted and I, really happy with it. Made a start on the winter one. The temptation to sit and paint and no go out is big. but I do like seeing everyone.

If it stays fine I might hit the front lawn. It hasnt grown as much this week.

Have a fab day everyone

[Mica]

Morning all 
Heavy rainnovernight still stiff cold wind with ominous  black clouds

I like pineapple  too DH not so much

DS popped in yesterday afternoon  and repaired spot where nail polish remover had split  on dining table while doing DGD1 nails looks good. DH and DGS spent  the time drawing and chatting.

Been to gym needcto hit the shower  and dig out another merino  top. Got physio later this morning I am pleased with my progress so far hopefully physio  feels the same.

Might have acgo drafting a cap sleeve to use on dress I am planning to sew

Enjoy your day

[Olive]

Abraham Darby is a pretty rose, Olive.  Never thought of planting that one   

I planted it to take the place of Ali Mau, which was not at all happy - weak, covered in black spot and with bad die-back.   Abraham Darby has identical flowers, an even prettier scent, and like many Austin roses the blooms are beautifully placed on elegantly curving stems.   I do recommend it.

[Lilith7]

I've been well & truly put in my place. Decided to do a bit more painting last night...I really should have known better.
Madame Le Cat (AKA Thatbloodycat) let it be known a while back that the human is to vacate the computer chair in the evenings so that she can sit there, but I disregarded that & tried to get a bit more done. Her first move was to swipe stuff off the desk; I moved her to the couch.

She came back. She climbed up the back of the chair & onto my shoulder - I can't be sure, but I suspect she was silenty (& no doubt, scornfully) critiquing the painting & her next move was to attempt to entwine herself around my neck. She slipped down onto the desk & had to be removed. Again.

Not a cat to give up, she returned again & lay down on the desk almost on the keyboard. I moved her to the top of Madame Le Dog's crate.

She came back. And went for a little walk around the desk, just checking. And then she spotted all those cords down on the floor behind the desk..down she jumped, ready to create chaos & mayhem.
It was at that point that I admitted defeat & gave up; I'm a technoklutz & have no idea where all those cords go or what they're for so can't risk her 'accidentally' unplugging anything.

I can never sit at the desk at night again; her majesty requires her chair...

[Oh_hunnihunni]

Some of us are just harder to train than others. I am still resisting the 'breakfast at 4am' lessons.

[Jan]

Good morning from freezing Hawke’s Bay - string cold winds yuk

We had a magnificent huge Abyssinian called Asher who demanded his fresh fish was heated slightly in the microwave - he too liked to eat in the early morning - at first he tried head butting my son who was unlucky enough to have the bedroom next to the kitchen - he was a big cat and his head butts were not able to be slept through - if that didn’t work he would head out to the kitchen and stretch up and repeatedly ping the microwave door - the longer he was kept waiting the more incessant the pinging became - the staffis would start whinging as they knew there was about to be much shouting about who should get up and feed that bloody cat .The old boy shifted the microwave up higher and the evil sod worked out he could jump on the top of the fridge and still reach the microwave .
Unfortunately he developed feline aids and we really missed him .

[Oh_hunnihunni]

Aby's are very clever beasts. I have always wanted one...