Decorating Pecker Palace

I know what you are thinking..... "What is she thinking?"  Well owning chickens can be yet another chance to decorate.  I'm telling you - you should never let a chance go by.  I happen to know that my chickens, Peony, Petunia and Primrose love their home.  Especially the egg wreath.  Stay tuned there will be more......

Are your chickens as happy?

Keeping Chickens

I have been a Chicken Herder for one week now and I am obsessed.  They are so interesting and the whole family is talking about them.
In goes kitchen scraps out comes the best eggs ever.  I don't know why it took me so long.

Do you have chickens?

Quick Chicken Pie

I often have leftover chicken from doing a roast or even a store bought BBQ chicken.  Don't leave it in the fridge for a week and then throw it out as waste.

Take the meat off the bones and add to a couple of eggs and cheese.  You can add veges, (even frozen veges) and seasoning.

Line a muffin tin with puff pastry and pour in chicken and egg mix.  Cook in hot oven for about 20 mins.

Excellent afternoon tea snack for the kids.

Do you waste a lot of food in your home?

Getting Your "Me" Time

Next time you take the family to the beach, (or anywhere in nature) try to get away on your own.  Tell them you are going for a walk.  Just get out of view and sit and watch what comes into view.  Take time to listen, smell and feel your surroundings.  Even ten minutes will make all the difference to your day.

Do you get enough "Me" time?

Quick Choc Pastries

Need a quick and easy snack for coffee?

Just spread a sheet of puff pastry with a thin layer of Nutella and roll up.  Slice the roll at 1cm intervals and place on a lined  biscuit tray.
If you want to be adventurous... roll in from both sides and create heart shapes
Cook in preheated oven at 180 degrees for about 15 minutes.  Keep checking after that.  They need to be golden.
Allow to cool and dust with icing sugar just before serving.  These are perfect for picnics too.

Enjoy with friends or not!

Tomato Harvest

My husband and I  decided to start a vege patch this year and these are our first haul.  He has done all of the work and as usual I am the designer.
Not bad hey?
In the words of my sister Rosemary "Eat your Heart out!"  She knows what that is about.
They are a lot of work as we haven't sprayed and have been keeping the bugs and caterpillars off by hand.  It is rewarding and the taste is amazing.

Do you grow veges in your garden?

Autumn Gardening

My herb garden is looking quite ratty so before everything goes to seed or dies, I have made some cuttings and placed them in water.  The idea is to get them to grow some roots and be able to replant them into prepared soil.  Basil works really well with this method of propagation.
Not every piece will grow roots so make sure you start with more plants than what you will need.  You can always pass extras on to family and friends.
This is an excellent way to save money and you will get a real kick out of it.

Do you love to get plants for free?

Kookaburra .. King of the bush is he.

Sometimes I sit on my back deck and just wait to see what comes into my garden to share the oasis we have created.  My husband and I play a game where we count to ten and within that time something always seems to pass through the pool garden.  It may be a butterfly, a skink, a dragonfly, a bird, a waterdragon or even a leaf but there is always something.   I sometimes wonder where they visit next.  This is very relaxing.  A meditation of sorts. 

Do you meditate?

She's so cute

This is our pooch... "202".   She was named after our first dog..."102".  (If that helps)  She is a very lovely, loyal and lazy dog.  My children just love her (so do I .. don't tell anyone) and I find photos on my camera all of the time.  

This is one of them. She is an outside dog and she understandably hates the approaching colder months.  We spend less time out in the yard with her in winter and when we get home, we shut the doors behind us.  Make allowance for your outdoor pets at this time and try to be outdoors on weekends and maybe let them sneak inside on those colder nights.  

Do you let your pets inside?  



Angels

My home is full of art, sculpture, curios and junk.  My husband says...."WHY"  and you know, I don't have an answer other than, I LIKE IT, I WANT IT, I'LL TAKE IT.  This is my mantra.  I am over forty and if I can't have what I want now...... when.  These wings make me smile and that is enough.  I have them sitting on the piano with a collection of family photos in gilded frames.  They remind me how blessed I am. AND of my mantra.

Do you get what you want?