First "from the garden" post !!!

So after three months I have finally bottled something from our newDaisy  Mountain. 

After not knowing what they were and discovering they were guavas - I went In search of a recipe for guava jelly. 

I found a very simple one 

Cut the guavas into one inch chunks throw into a pot and cover with water 

Cook until the fruit is very soft. 

Strain liquid through Muslin let cool and then squeeze all the liquid out of the Muslin. 

Measure the liquid and for every cup add a cup of sugar 

For every cup of sugar add the runs and juice of a quarter of a lemon - it as I did an orange. 

Then boil until it thickens and coast the back of a spoon evenly. 

Pour into sterilized warm jars. 

I froze the fruit and then cut it and the fresh fruit from today.  It worked so all good. 

  

A weekend in Melbourne

Just got back from a very cold weekend in Melbourne.

Everyone knows I am no fan of the cold but at least a Brisbane winter feels like an aberration from the norm rather than a life sentence. Bright blue skies and sunshine - if you are inside looking out you could be fooled into thinking it is a summers day.

                                              What a 14 degree day in Brisbane looks like

But not Melbourne winter settles in like a shroud - logically, historically, scientifically you know it will be warm one day but there is no promise of warmth in a Melbourne winters day - even with the sun shining!

                                                           A 12 degree day in Melbourne

So why do I go to Melbourne every year in the freezing cold? Because I love it ! I visit my very closes friend, see some amazing things, eat incredible food and soak up the very different vibe.   In Brisbane on a cold night a few people venture out - in Melbourne they go out in droves its almost as if they refuse to let the winter stop them.

The bay is always beautiful, the shopping is incredible and just an hour away is the gorgeous Yarra Valley with all the little villages, wineries and amazing views.

But it was nice to get home to a 20 degree day in Brisbane.

A long weekend

When you work in Real Estate a long weekend is a blessing. Normally I spend Sundays cramming some need to do jobs and some me time into one day shortened by club rugby games.  But a long weekend means I get a real weekend - two days "off".

So what will you be cramming into your long weekend apart from the usual school and club sport shopping, cleaning and getting organised for the following week?

I plan on gardening - I have some plants to put into the garden - hippeastrums and agapanthusand nasturtiums.  Then I plan on spending a chunk of time at my sewing machine getting some serious progress made on two UFOS.  One that needs to be in the post and in the US by Thanksgiving this year !! ( hint hint Dawn) - and is at the moment a pile of untrimmed blocks with no plan for setting - yet.  I have a book I want to spend some time with and a crocheted cape I making for an upcoming weekend in Melbourne to finish.

People ask me all the time were I find time to do things - the answer is I fit them in here and there - I will get half an hour of crocheting done on the way to and from rugby this weekend ( home game so not much time - but last weekend it was an hour and 20 minutes worth).  My books are always in the car and I read them even if only for a few minutes while I want for kids at the train station or at lunch - even if I am early for an appointment.

My sewing is always sitting next to the machine with the bobbins wound - needle threaded and fabric in a pile ready to go.  The gardening stuff is all in a bucket that I can grab when I have two minutes and just start - gloves, seeds, plants, trowel, bag for weeds etc.

I started doing things that way when the kids were little because I was so short on an time let alone time to do things I loved and it has carried through.

Enjoy your weekend -

Chat soon

Angela

Coming full circle ...

Two and a half years ago my boss at the time took us to New Zealand to visit an award winning office in Christshurch. 

That experience Was life changing for me on lots of levels - but professionally most of all. 

I loved the vibe in the office we visited. I remember telling my boss how impressive it was and enthusiastically suggesting things we could do. His response was "we will never be an office like that " and just like that I knew I had to leave. 

Today I celebrated my one year anniversary in an office that upon reflection is exactly like that amazing office I visited.

From the philosophy And business practices to the culture - it is - as I have said many times the best office I have ever worked in. 

So if  you are somewhere and you know where you want to be - keep the faith - it is worth the journey. 

Chat soon

Angela

There's a snake in my ..... Bookshelf

So this gorgeous girl came to visit yesterday. Ms20 was dusting and something moved !

With the help of a pool net and a hook she was safely relocated to a nice open cardboard box in the shed out of eyesight of the dog and not in the house !  (The dank not Ms20 - although there have been moments......)

Chat soon

Angela

A work in Progress

One thing I am most excited about in this new house is my gorgeous light filled sewing room - Well half a room. Master18 has the other half as his bedroom for the time being until the "guest" house is finished and he can move up there. 

It looks out at the Guava trees and what will be the vegetable garden. And it has a tiled floor so easy to tidy up and keep clean - and as they are white tiles to find dropped pins on ! 

The first project out of this sewing room will be a baby quilt for a work colleague - 

This is what she chose 

And this is my version - a work in progress !

Chat soon

Angela

What is outside the house yard.....

We finally got to the mower and tidied up outside the house yard.

Above is the "gate house" we aren't quite sure why the old owner decided he needed a gatehouse but we have one.

This is the driveway leading up to the guest house - this will be completed soon hopefully.

Such a pretty place to live.

Chat soon

Angela