Monday, May 21, 2012

Whilst I Was Gardening

I was gardening at a good friends house today.  Kim always greets me with a lovely cup of tea and a chat, served from a fancy dressed teapot. Check out the amazing Roger Rampant tea cosy she recently made, he is kooky wonderful and I'm sure he will be loved. Gardening at Kim's is such good fun, I get thoroughly spoilt with her beautiful cooking - lunch was a caramelised onion and goats cheese tart, served with a pear and pine nut salad, and a glass of wine.  Doing it tough. And I haven't even got to afternoon tea.

Whilst I was away Mr Bowerbird was working on a project of his own.  The three little Bowerbirds joined in, drawing string lines, digging holes and erecting poles.





I'll leave what they are making as a mysterious "to be continued", as the project has just begun. You may be able to guess what they are up to without too much trouble.
There was eating the last of the Autumn raspberries and some photography by the biggest Bowerbird (all her photos).



I came home to a dinner of mushrooms with pasta. Not any old mushrooms, Saffron Milk Caps that the big Bowerbird had foraged. She had also been busy preserving apples for me, all chopped, dipped in lemon and placed in the food dehydrator.  She actually made a batch last weekend but they are already all gone, sweet tangy deliciousness.









Finally there was cake, courtesy of Kim and the generous wedge she sent home with us.  Giant smiles all round. "That was the best cake, the best", harked the middle Bowerbird, hoping there would be seconds. I will have to get that recipe from you Kim, very popular with everyone. Thankyou for all your spoiling and kind comments. It's going to be hard coming back to finish the job.
The picture doesn't do it justice, there wasn't much time before it was greedily devoured.

12 comments:

  1. Hmmm, digging holes, string lines and sinking posts..nope, I'm still completely stumped!!

    How lucky are you to go out for the day and come back to foraged mushies ..cooked no less, preserving plus piccies for the blog?! What a star she is!

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    1. So lucky, very proud, and when she was good she was very very good....!

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  2. What a clever & productive family you all are!

    Love the header photos too!

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  3. What a lovely day for you...i so wish i could have a little pot of tea and lunch with adults again lol!
    that project looks like ahrd work, can't wait to see the finished product! What gorgeous girls you have helping and preserving and taking pics for the blog....i think they must have a superb role model mum!

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    1. Aw Jode, thanks for the kind comments, hope you find a moment for an adult cup of tea, sooo restorative.

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  4. Wow, they were busy whilst you were away! What a clever girl taking all of those beautiful photos and organising dinner! I will have to invest in one of those dryers - those apples look good. Thanks again for the amazing job you did. I had a lovely day x

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    1. you can borrow ours any time, a fire brigade sale bargain.

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  5. Sounds like a lovely day all around. Lode the sound of that food. What was the cake?

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  6. hmm, raspberry chocolate maybe? I'll have to find out from Kim, seriously good.

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  7. wow ... you guys have been busy! so great seeing the dehydrator in operation, i think that is the appliance next on my hit list of must haves :)

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  8. They are a pretty cool kirsty, you can always use the oven or just some dowel to hang the rings on, or the sun when it's around. You do find them second hand quite often, a bit like a mini hair dryer

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In the spring, at the end of the day, you should smell like dirt.
Margaret Atwood

“She turned to the sunlight
And shook her yellow head,
And whispered to her neighbour:
"Winter is dead.”
― A.A. Milne, When We Were Very Young