tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39318585691191316932024-03-13T11:35:07.516+11:00Rust 'n' dustA bunch of posts about making things, growing food and cooking it. I like to revive old-time skills and making do with what we've got. I love anything rusty or dusty, and rarely buy anything new. And there's lots of posts about my fur-babies too!Monicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01114309528798028168noreply@blogger.comBlogger119125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3931858569119131693.post-3289852123312958522008-10-01T21:47:00.003+10:002008-10-01T22:00:27.078+10:00Big boy!<span style="font-family:lucida grande;font-size:130%;">Mannie is doing so well. The little man is now about a month old, and has such an appetite! </span><br /><span style="font-family:lucida grande;font-size:130%;"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3134/2904661544_65ba0ce3f1.jpg" border="0" /></span><br /><span style="font-family:lucida grande;font-size:130%;">Of course it's hard to refuse this little face..... If you look closely you can even see his little horns starting to come through!<img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3025/2904646992_b6082c1d1d.jpg" border="0" /></span><br /><span style="font-family:lucida grande;font-size:130%;">When he's not downing a stubbie full of milk, he's nibbling grass.<img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3011/2903808609_c01f6f1eca.jpg" border="0" /></span><br /><span style="font-family:lucida grande;font-size:130%;">Mannie's having heaps of fun chasing the chooks and hanging out with the other sheep and goats. What a life!</span>Monicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01114309528798028168noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3931858569119131693.post-61541137747393914722008-09-23T19:18:00.008+10:002008-09-23T19:59:28.335+10:00I have competition, and new tenants.......<span style="font-family:lucida grande;font-size:130%;">My <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">darlin</span>' and I went for a leisurely stroll down to our dam on the weekend. The kids were busy up at the house, DH had finished his chores (hence the grubby clothes and beer in hand) and we finally had some "us" time to have an uninterrupted chat. Or so we thought........... until a gorgeous <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">blonde</span> muscled in on my man!!!<br /></span><br /><div><br /><div><span style="font-family:lucida grande;font-size:130%;"><embed style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 320px" name="flashticker" align="middle" src="http://widget-ad.slide.com/widgets/slideticker.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" flashvars="cy=bb&il=1&channel=216172782132105645&site=widget-ad.slide.com" wmode="transparent" salign="l" scale="noscale" quality="high"></embed> </span><br /><br /><div style="WIDTH: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><a href="http://www.slide.com/pivot?cy=bb&at=fl&id=216172782132105645&map=1" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;font-size:130%;"><img src="http://widget-ad.slide.com/p1/216172782132105645/bb_t021_v000_s0fl_f00/images/xslide1.gif" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:lucida grande;font-size:130%;"> </span><a href="http://www.slide.com/pivot?cy=bb&at=fl&id=216172782132105645&map=2" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;font-size:130%;"><img src="http://widget-ad.slide.com/p2/216172782132105645/bb_t021_v000_s0fl_f00/images/xslide2.gif" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:lucida grande;font-size:130%;"> </span><a href="http://www.slide.com/pivot?cy=bb&at=fl&id=216172782132105645&map=F" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;font-size:130%;"><img src="http://widget-ad.slide.com/p4/216172782132105645/bb_t021_v000_s0fl_f00/images/xslide42.gif" border="0" /></span></a></div></div><br /><div><br /></div><span style="font-size:130%;">She may be beautiful but she sure ain't too smart! Nothing a pair of wire clippers couldn't fix <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">lol</span>.....<img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3065/2881196187_c8fa24fac5.jpg" border="0" /></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:lucida grande;font-size:130%;">Look who's moved in....... <img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2270/2882042578_21c70e7cab.jpg" border="0" />There must be a notice board in the animal world that has our address on it ..... These lovely geese have lived over the road from us for years, and have stayed on as various people moved in and out of the property. They seem to have decided that our dam looks pretty good after it's recent clean out and a good drop of rain. I think they're gorgeous.....</span> </div>Monicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01114309528798028168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3931858569119131693.post-68349794939657381722008-09-09T13:01:00.001+10:002008-10-06T19:01:55.581+11:00My new crafty blog<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;">Yep, I've set up another blog, not to replace this one just to tidy stuff up a bit. This one was getting a bit messy so I decided to make a new one just for my crafty stuff. I have called it Clever Chook, not cause I'm vain but because that's what my darlin' calls me! I also hope it keeps me more focussed on making stuff, cause I'm thinking of setting up an etsy shop. Let me know what you think......<br /></span><br /><a href="http://cleverchook.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;">http://cleverchook.blogspot.com/</span></a>Monicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01114309528798028168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3931858569119131693.post-53116446276955924562008-08-29T09:44:00.002+10:002008-08-29T09:58:20.393+10:00A new addition to my flock.....<span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;color:#660000;">On Tuesday I was sitting outside in the lovely sunshine, sorting a fleece ready for washing, when around the side of the house came my DH. In his arms was this beautiful boy!</span><a href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3292/2806539387_e0edeee09c_b.jpg"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;color:#660000;"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3292/2806539387_e0edeee09c_b.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;color:#660000;"> I must have smelt nice and sheepie because he snuggled in to me quite happily. DH found him abandoned after a fox had killed his twin. He was less than 24 hours old.<img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3038/2807400270_e895745ed7_b.jpg" border="0" />Here he is watching DH prepare his bottle. At 4 days old he is drinking 6 bottles a day, 200 mls each. More than his own body weight almost!<img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3038/2807392844_cd3e69efe2_b.jpg" border="0" /></span><br /><p><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;color:#660000;">Nutmeg made him welcome, washing his face for him. I have called this little guy Mannie. He is my only boy sheep ( hard to call anything this small a ram lol), and will be a nice friend for Pearl and Louie. They have been mothering him all day, but he sleeps in the bathroom at night.</span></p><p><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;color:#660000;"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3200/2806548469_d4f66db802_b.jpg" border="0" />Of course he sleeps a lot as babies do. What a sweetie......</span></p>Monicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01114309528798028168noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3931858569119131693.post-79317071842422934392008-08-19T15:21:00.003+10:002008-08-19T15:41:39.777+10:00Hey, this felting thing is pretty cool!<span style="font-size:130%;">Yesterday I decided to have a go at using last year's fleece from Pearl. As we did the shearing ourselves the fleece was VERY bitsy, lots of short bits. It was also filthy with our red soil, and had loads of debris such as thistles, burrs etc. After some net surfing to find out how to do it and six washes later (next time she's having a bath!) the fleece was finally clean. I carded it to remove any remaining organic matter and then had a go at dying it. I used food colouring as it is cheap and easily available. I just wet the fleece, added the food colouring and zapped it in the micro for 2 mins at a time until the dye was all taken up. It was fun, and very messy lol.... BTW that is purple not black, I was a bit heavy handed with the first lot!<br /></span><br /><p><a href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3033/2776561125_7466420282.jpg"><span style="font-size:130%;"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3033/2776561125_7466420282.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"> This morning I pulled it into little tufts and randomly placed it on the bubble wrap to begin felting a bag. I got the pattern for the bag from </span><a href="http://www.highlandfelting.com/index.htm"><span style="font-size:130%;">here</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"> ages ago. </span></p><p><span style="font-size:130%;"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3075/2776562925_9f5e9cbb10.jpg" border="0" /> Because Pearl's fleece was so bitsy my bag was different thicknesses in places so I will make a lining to strengthen it. I haven't decided yet how to do the handles.</span></p><p><span style="font-size:130%;"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3072/2776564569_d293b5d520.jpg" border="0" />Turned out ok for a fully homegrown amateur effort. The colours are different to what I'd usually use so it was fun to try something new.</span><a href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3030/2777424570_77f5a44955.jpg"><span style="font-size:130%;"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3030/2777424570_77f5a44955.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><br /></p>Monicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01114309528798028168noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3931858569119131693.post-40714116855343276662008-08-17T17:09:00.002+10:002008-08-17T17:15:31.967+10:00Revamped felt cushion top<span style="font-size:130%;">The cushion top I made in the felting workshop wasn't quite how I wanted it to be. The raw silk moon wasn't very visable under the felting. So I snipped away the felting, removed and ironed the moon and replaced it. I used the scraps of felted wool to make clouds and needlefelted it all in place. Now it looks right! Well, to me anyway....</span><a href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3223/2769540211_f29ed21fda.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3223/2769540211_f29ed21fda.jpg" border="0" /></a>Monicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01114309528798028168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3931858569119131693.post-20936625481519283572008-08-17T12:14:00.000+10:002008-08-17T12:15:32.322+10:00Mongolian felt making, this is fantastic!<object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/gJ0uojUHYdA&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/gJ0uojUHYdA&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Monicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01114309528798028168noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3931858569119131693.post-40935451962395636592008-08-16T19:19:00.003+10:002008-10-06T19:01:37.459+11:00I learnt to felt today!<span style="font-size:130%;color:#660000;">And it felt goooooood lol...... After many moons of reading felting books and looking at people's work on the net I finally had an opportunity to attend a real live felting workshop. It was so much fun, we made a cushion top and a scarf. Such a bargain, all the needfuls were included and so was lunch and morning/afternoon tea, all for $65! Here are my attempts.<br /><br />The cushion top was inspired by my insomnia, so it is a cloudy night with a silk moon and some stars. The moon is a bit dodgy so I will probably add some embellishment to it to make it a bit more secure.<br /><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3037/2767718594_cba402a473.jpg" border="0" />The scarf was heaps of fun to design, and I was pretty chuffed with the result.<br /><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3064/2767713206_0cb49b892f.jpg" border="0" />The pic is a bit dark, it's a gorgeous rusty red with olive green vines and leaves. I am so inspired to do more felting now, thanks Cindy for teaching the workshop, and to Bron for letting me know about it.</span>Monicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01114309528798028168noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3931858569119131693.post-75798389168550146352008-08-14T09:29:00.002+10:002008-08-14T09:42:58.800+10:00And there's even more!!!<span style="font-size:130%;">I have been totally spoilt by Tan with a lovely rusty pinkeep and a sumptious melt that she made herself! It smells sooooo good....</span><a href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3022/2760542093_f2c4a055c1.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3022/2760542093_f2c4a055c1.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">I wanted to show you the gorgeous cuckoo clock I received from my parents. It was my Oma and Opa's clock which they brought from the Black Forest in Germany about the same time I was born! Mum and Dad had it restored for me and every time the little bird pops out I grin, even at 4 am lol....</span><br /><a href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3211/2751806980_8cb2abe497_b.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3211/2751806980_8cb2abe497_b.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3045/2761384986_6255bea5f5.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3045/2761384986_6255bea5f5.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">I was thoroughly spoilt by my lovely hubby, with dinner and a show on the Saturday night before my birthday. The show was fantastic, the local players put one on every year and it's all written and produced by locals. Lots of great costumes and songs with appearances by Abba, Gilligan, and the Beverly Hillbillies! The topic they chose was the development of a waste facility on prime agricultural land, one which we managed to block in the Land and Environment court! Great night! The catering is all done by community groups and the funds raised all go back into the community. My darlin' built me a new garden which am busting to plant out, and made me a rughooking frame. I also got a book on rughooking a hook and some soapmaking books. Boy am I going to be busy.....</span>Monicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01114309528798028168noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3931858569119131693.post-91177926748566041912008-08-11T15:56:00.002+10:002008-08-11T16:05:40.134+10:00But wait, there's more!!!!!!<span style="font-size:130%;">Christina and Karen's parcels arrived this afternoon, now I am really spoilt!!!! </span><br /><div><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-size:130%;">Christina made me a wonderful altered art wall hanging, with is personalised with pics of me! Love the red arrow pointing at the number 40 on the tape measure lol..... </span></div><br /><div><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3069/2752755498_2e9ec92005.jpg" border="0" /><span style="font-size:130%;">Karen sent me a divine painted box with a gorgeous stitchery lid and some rusty goodies too.<img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3016/2751925145_a859a01d18.jpg" border="0" /> This has been a fantastic swap everyone, thanks so much ladies. </span>Monicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01114309528798028168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3931858569119131693.post-85617079051273318612008-08-11T11:14:00.003+10:002008-08-11T11:24:21.438+10:00Happy Birthday to me, I'm a hundred and three!<span style="font-size:130%;">Well, not really, I turn the big 4-oh today. I have been so spoilt by my family, and also by the wonderful girls in the P4P birthday club. Here's some pics of my loot!<br /><br />From Relle, a gorgeous framed painted stitchery, two crow ornies and a lovely pumpkin scented melt which I have melting as we speak.<br /></span><a href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3241/2751786120_c5b8879a43.jpg"><span style="font-size:130%;"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3241/2751786120_c5b8879a43.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"> Lisa sent me a beautiful prim pinkeep, love the fabrics, and a cute little tape measure in a tin.<br /></span><a href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3142/2751791588_e630eb5785.jpg"><span style="font-size:130%;"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3142/2751791588_e630eb5785.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-size:130%;">From Mill I received a lovely prim angel doll, how on earth did you get time to make her with the wedding? She's lovely! <img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3251/2751771066_4a442c09fe.jpg" border="0" />Amanda made me a fantastic art journal, so much detail, it's amazing. Must have taken ages!<br /></span><a href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3294/2750941843_acca175c68.jpg"><span style="font-size:130%;"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3294/2750941843_acca175c68.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"> And last but most certainly not least was the brilliant note book Leanne made me, love the recycled paper pages, and the altered art cover is divine, the poem is so sweet.<br /></span><a href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3206/2750945337_11a3ce76d4.jpg"><span style="font-size:130%;"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3206/2750945337_11a3ce76d4.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"> Thankyou all so much, I am feeling spoilt beyond belief!</span>Monicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01114309528798028168noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3931858569119131693.post-36671663199763402892008-08-06T13:47:00.001+10:002008-08-06T13:47:54.919+10:00Bring the tissues people......<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/adYbFQFXG0U&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/adYbFQFXG0U&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Monicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01114309528798028168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3931858569119131693.post-5005262536180899782008-07-17T21:34:00.003+10:002008-07-17T22:56:55.318+10:00Fishpond<span style="font-family:lucida grande;font-size:130%;"><span style="color:#009900;">You may have noticed the cute little fish banner at the top of my blog. </span><a href="http://www.fishpond.com.au/"><span style="color:#3333ff;">Fishpond</span></a><span style="color:#009900;"> is FANTASTIC! I have bought books from Amazon many times and I've finally found an Aussie alternative. This is a quote from their site. </span></span><br /><span style="font-family:lucida grande;font-size:130%;color:#3333ff;"><strong>"We guarantee that Fishpond.com.au is Better than <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">AmazonTM</span>. If you order a book that is more expensive on Fishpond.com.au than <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">AmazonTM</span>, we will refund the difference and give you a 10% account credit." </strong></span><br /><span style="font-family:lucida grande;font-size:130%;color:#009900;">How cool is that? There's a huge selection and free shipping on orders over $50. And if you click on the banner on my blog I get a commission (now that's cool!). It's great to be able to support an Aussie business and reduce all those carbon <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">emissions</span> used to fly your parcels from overseas. Check it out!</span>Monicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01114309528798028168noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3931858569119131693.post-6920041645031876052008-07-10T20:59:00.003+10:002008-11-16T06:18:30.280+11:00Me 30 years ago.....<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:180%;color:#003300;">Finally found these pics taken around 1978-79, I've been meaning to blog these for ages. As you can see I had the same pets then as now! Check out the funky mini dress.... The first pic features Frankie the goat, the second one of many poddy lambs we cared for...</span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIt8zh0tyD-N6BAIsCcJM2CtK2Mjv9SGxbnK4p_0LvDUVebv7Z3lXFeM4R7Z68IOuPunWyYmCowvi1u92WwMPji_s815cusgMSrTeDd29rz1e5fVBcB5nl9EJqOp7lcqWlj4lHDvUFK6mL/s1600-h/Me+and+Frankie+the+goat.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:180%;color:#003300;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5221338861811051970" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIt8zh0tyD-N6BAIsCcJM2CtK2Mjv9SGxbnK4p_0LvDUVebv7Z3lXFeM4R7Z68IOuPunWyYmCowvi1u92WwMPji_s815cusgMSrTeDd29rz1e5fVBcB5nl9EJqOp7lcqWlj4lHDvUFK6mL/s320/Me+and+Frankie+the+goat.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:180%;color:#003300;"><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHuLa4Haiz7ahx29CEIvJFUbbuGr9JhrFZ85LXjaWvfu4jy-83pqdCkdhQsiFI8WazID_UxxoTt9g8FP-VEPwhqMnc3vrHVlL3jBWS1GgEM3ULx7tNPKFLv0vaMuOSm-bgU4ntvUcEcVEn/s1600-h/Me+and+lamb+1979.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:180%;color:#003300;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5221338865499316146" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHuLa4Haiz7ahx29CEIvJFUbbuGr9JhrFZ85LXjaWvfu4jy-83pqdCkdhQsiFI8WazID_UxxoTt9g8FP-VEPwhqMnc3vrHVlL3jBWS1GgEM3ULx7tNPKFLv0vaMuOSm-bgU4ntvUcEcVEn/s320/Me+and+lamb+1979.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="color:#003300;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:180%;"> Look how grubby my jeans are lol......</span><br /></span>Monicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01114309528798028168noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3931858569119131693.post-52976563686352754422008-07-08T20:01:00.003+10:002008-07-08T20:06:29.370+10:00It's cold!<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:180%;color:#663366;">Bit chilly here in the central west.... Good weather for snuggling up in front of the telly, with any thoughts of style thrown recklessly out the window - big-time! A perfect night for granny rugs, fingerless gloves, a drop of red and a daggy beanie. And of course a cat lol......</span><br /><a href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3196/2649481558_857e94eb8c_b.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3196/2649481558_857e94eb8c_b.jpg" border="0" /></a>Monicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01114309528798028168noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3931858569119131693.post-41318801937999790282008-06-25T09:00:00.003+10:002008-06-25T09:12:16.914+10:00Check out my buns lol.......<div><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;color:#333399;">I recently bought a breadmaker and I'm gradually working my way through the recipes in it's manual. These buns started life as a fruit loaf, but guess who forgot to press the button to release the fruit into the mix? So I had to quickly salvage the dough and mix the fruit in by hand. They turned out pretty well after all, Braeden (13) ate most of them. Boys are just bottomless pits! Braeden has shot up by 5 cm (2") since Christmas!</span></div><a href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3283/2607273110_b3fc5ec66d.jpg"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;color:#333399;"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3283/2607273110_b3fc5ec66d.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;color:#333399;">Note my sneaky addition of the kitchen timer to the pic in the hopes that no-one would realise a bun was missing? Guess you know now lol... Had to show it off anyway, I loooove this timer. I picked it up at the op-shop a couple of weeks ago for $2. It is a 5 hour timer, made in great Britain by Smiths. Works a treat, and nice and loud too.<br /></span>Monicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01114309528798028168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3931858569119131693.post-67955895756655948842008-06-24T11:48:00.002+10:002008-06-24T11:54:15.182+10:00Bean burgers<span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;color:#330000;">Thought I'd share this recipe with you. I keep this in the cupboard for occasions when the carnivores in the family are having meat and three veg and I want something quick and easy for me. I always double the recipe....</span><br /><strong><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;color:#330000;"></span></strong><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color:#330000;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><strong>Bean Burger Mix</strong><br /></span></span></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;color:#330000;">Ingredients:<br />½ cup chickpeas<br />½ cup soybeans<br />½ cup raw peanuts or sunflower seeds<br />¼ cup toasted sesame seeds<br />½ cup rolled oats<br />¼ cup pea flour (I used soy flour)<br />1 tbsp dried parsley<br />1tsp salt<br /><br />Method:<br />Measure first four ingredients into a bowl and mix together. Using a food processor grind ½ cup of this mixture at a time until it is the consistency of dried breadcrumbs. Be warned this is extremely noisy!!!<br />Combine ground beans with remaining ingredients. Store mix in an airtight jar until needed.<br /><br />To make 2 large burgers:<br />1 cup burger mix<br />½ cup water<br />2 tsp dark soy sauce<br />1 clove garlic<br />1-2 tbsp oil to cook<br />Mix ingredients (except oil) together and stand for 15 mins. Cook over moderate heat for 5 mins each side, covering the pan to allow the burgers to steam and speed up cooking. Very yummy, especially on a burger with sweet chilli sauce and some sour cream...... yummmm.....<br /> </span>Monicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01114309528798028168noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3931858569119131693.post-23299303636282444052008-06-11T12:52:00.002+10:002008-11-16T06:18:30.696+11:00My new chook-chooks!<span style="font-size:130%;color:#003300;">I have 7 Isa Browns left from my rescue chickens, a few died of natural causes and Angel the cattle dog (who is anything but) finished one off. So it was time to get some more. Instead of propping up the battery hen industry by purchasing their poor worn out girls we decided to buy our new chickens from a reputable breeder. Last Friday we took delivery of my gorgeous new chickens.<br /><br /></span><a href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3001/2559309107_9a017f9cf1.jpg"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#003300;"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3001/2559309107_9a017f9cf1.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-size:130%;color:#003300;"> They are White Sussex pullets. They are only babies so it will be a while before they lay. I have a rooster amongst them so hopefully we will have some chicks one day!<br /></span><a href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3103/2560141594_bdcd5b528b.jpg"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#003300;"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3103/2560141594_bdcd5b528b.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-size:130%;color:#003300;"> I rang my sister for her birthday and she told me what she'd ordered for my birthday in August. More chickens! They haven't hatched yet, so I won't get them for a while <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">lol</span>... We had chatted recently about <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Aruacana's</span> which lay a blue egg, how cool is that? So Lisa is getting me six, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">yay</span>!!!<br /></span><div><div><span style="font-size:130%;color:#003300;"></span></div><span style="font-size:130%;color:#003300;">Here's some info on the breed....<br /><br /></span><div><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color:#003300;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Aruacana</span><br />A very hardy and reliable breed, hens lay 180-200 pale blue to turquoise eggs per year<br />When the Spanish arrived in South America there was one tribe they could never subdue - the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Aruacanas</span> from northern Chile. But the local poultry crossed well with lighter Mediterranean birds. the new breed, with its unusual egg colour, earmuffs and beard, was first recognized in the mid-sixteenth century.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5210451810187423010" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0sBTE0LTRcebtBbnI3TNuwK_-hCCpCGsTwWNkcWoDTSwjfGu3F6x2Kt0iWTWVpL3aNEW2Bk7qgN0lejS98Xzojd6cDrPL_Vg_ETIxLiVRmwZYFMUE-aiGGwiFDNKjx74ogbh1LGqh1dEd/s320/AruacanaLavender.jpg" border="0" /></span></span></div><div><span style="color:#003300;"><span style="font-size:130%;">The pic is of Lavender <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Aruacanas</span> (Sydney Royal Champion progeny). Mine are supposed to be lavender too, but they come in a few colours. May have to add extensions to the hen-house!</span> </span></div></div>Monicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01114309528798028168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3931858569119131693.post-78632199700219897462008-06-01T00:25:00.002+10:002008-06-01T00:52:25.323+10:00Well at least we'll be clean lol.....<span style="font-size:130%;color:#663300;">Is it normal for one person to do so many different things? Most people seem to choose a hobby or three and concentrate on doing them well. Not me, I flit from thing to thing like a voracious honey-bee in a flower garden. I sew, embroider, spin, make soap and candles, do punch needle and rug hooking, make prim dolls, knit, crochet, make braided rag rugs, and so on. And that's not to mention the preserves, bread, pickles, jams, etc etc etc. I just love producing things with my hands. I may not be an expert at any one skill but I never get a chance to get bored! <img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3048/2511682715_d9cf5bdf19.jpg" border="0" />I am in full-on soap mode at the moment. It's becoming an obsession. First it was the olive and lavender soap with oatmeal and hemp. Now I have produced a massive 3. kg lot of canolive soap which I am in the process of hand milling, or re-batching, into different varieties. Merran (11) and I made chocolate and vanilla soap today, and tonight I made a batch of cinnamon soap. It has real cinnamon and cinnamon leaf essential oil in it. Yummo! I had no idea how long it would take to melt down the canolive soap, it took about an hour. The first batch we did in a saucepan over a low heat. I was stressed out thinking it was going to burn. So the following batch I did in the Pyrex jug over a saucepan of hot water. Took just as long but not as scary. Apparently it can be done by double bagging the grated soap and immersing it in hot water. I'll try that next time.<img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3071/2514939979_046c35654d.jpg" border="0" /></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;color:#663300;">This is the canolive soap curing so it can be hand milled. Who ate the top of the bread? Hot bread is just soooo good.......<img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2026/2534650891_e804d5944b.jpg" border="0" />If I can't get the hand milling process sped up I'll just make small batches of the gourmet soaps. I made extra of the canolive so I can use it to make my laundry liquid anyway. Hmmmm, wonder how long this phase of my creativity will last?</span>Monicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01114309528798028168noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3931858569119131693.post-759095058477472542008-05-21T16:09:00.002+10:002008-05-21T16:31:16.226+10:00Busy, busy, busy......<span style="font-size:130%;">It's been a busy couple of weeks since my last post. Of course the spinning has kept me busy as has a few weekend jaunts to my parent's place. Since then I have acquired yet another pet, this time from </span><a href="http://floodstreetfarmlet.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-size:130%;">Geoff</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"> who we met through a great site - </span><a href="http://www.aussieslivingsimply.com.au/"><span style="font-size:130%;">Aussies Living Simply</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;">. He was giving away a gorgeous Angora goat called Billie Jean, how could I resist?<img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2067/2491359387_6bab90de8b.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br /></span><div><div><span style="font-size:130%;">Her fleece is mohair and should be a delight to spin. I have also been making candles and soap, I will show you pics of the soap when I cut it into bars. I made the candles from recycled old ones, they look pretty but don't burn terribly well. After a while they "drown" in the wax. Got a lot to learn there....<img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3067/2492084038_c45e7199ec.jpg" border="0" /></span></div></div><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Off to peek at my soap, shouldn't really I know, but I can't resist!!!! Only made it today, from my parent's homegrown olive oil and lavender oil.... smells divine.</span>Monicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01114309528798028168noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3931858569119131693.post-74490177649822353012008-05-03T13:46:00.005+10:002008-10-06T19:01:06.351+11:00Wow, what a pro!<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;">Looking for spinning info on the net I came upon this, isn't it great! Something to aspire to lol......<br /><br /><object height="355" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/zEBj3zeFiPg&hl=en"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/zEBj3zeFiPg&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object><br /><br />The youtube member says this video is of Mrs Helen Maddrell (Isle of Man) demonstrating carding and spinning wool.(This was definitely filmed in 1938 - I have a letter written by her inviting my Grandfather to tea. And a letter from him in which he refers to the film of her spinning.)</span>Monicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01114309528798028168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3931858569119131693.post-77822702594368116782008-05-02T00:05:00.004+10:002008-11-16T06:18:31.072+11:00How adorable is this?????<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color:#003333;">Ok I've got the spinning bug bad now.... I was op-shopping (thrifting) today and came across a gorgeous little upright wheel. What's a girl to do??? Yup, wheel number two was soon on it's way to it's new home. After a bit of research on the net I finally found a matching wheel. Here's a pic, mine is missing the Lazy Kate on the side (where the extra bobbins go) and only has 2 bobbins. I am lucky to have a very handy hubby who will surely make me a new LK, if I ask him right lol......<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5195411339477790034" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkXu8NENka9gKLQPz_moQX5e1kBpF6Xxab4xmT_iErHici1N5OgttKFjYjeNSXnjn7nIAjYngh9E0WMbNExavMdmY5kDcKwqXCoVFLlwyKUJd_HpUNJVvY0UBPZFX7BWdQCkA6U2ElMMwo/s320/bressay.jpg" border="0" /></span></span></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;color:#003333;">Isn't it cute? The real selling point for me was that the action is just sooooo smooth. I found out a little bit of info about the wheel - Bressay wheels were made from 1971 to 1975 by Rotorua Woodcraft Ltd, makers of all kinds of small wooden items. These double drive wheels were based on a 100-year-old wheel brought from Shetland. They are made from Fijian kauri (dakua) with a veneer wheel. About 2000 were exported to the UK, Canada, Australia, and a few to the USA. Now who wants to buy my other wheel? In perfect order, Ashford traditional $175 lol....</span>Monicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01114309528798028168noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3931858569119131693.post-71541604377812516922008-04-29T00:15:00.002+10:002008-04-29T00:36:32.215+10:00I'm spinning around, get outta my way.......<a href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2369/2448448521_bb1948e923.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2369/2448448521_bb1948e923.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;color:#660000;">No it's not the Kylie Minogue song I'm referring to, I have spent this evening teaching myself to spin! Not as easy as it looks, I'm tellin' ya....... I have had my spinning wheel for about 2 years now and finally got around to having a go. Thank goodness for the internet, I found some great </span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/profile_videos?user=chicksinrubber&p=r"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;color:#cc6600;">videos</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;color:#660000;"> and </span><a href="http://www.joyofhandspinning.com/"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;color:#cc6600;">sites</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;color:#660000;"> that are so helpful. Books just don't do it for me I'm afraid, gotta see and do. Check out my results, not bad for a first go. (Ok, maybe the second go, or was that the fourteenth?) Not quite sure why it bunched up like that on the bobbin but I guess I'll work it out. </span></div><br /><a href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2384/2449283176_cece409a19.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;color:#660000;"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2384/2449283176_cece409a19.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;color:#660000;"> I also found some great tips on this </span><a href="http://forums.delphiforums.com/fiberarts/start"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;color:#cc6600;">forum</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;color:#660000;"> that has info on all sorts of fibre arts such as spinning, knitting, weaving, felting etc. Can't wait now to have some hands on instruction from a real teacher ........<br /></span><div> </div>Monicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01114309528798028168noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3931858569119131693.post-66624770713195624562008-04-28T00:24:00.002+10:002008-04-28T00:28:54.631+10:00Happy blogiversary to me!!!! My 100th post.......<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;color:#663300;">I am truly hopeless with anniversaries. My hubby and I actually forgot about our's this year until about a week later! And it was only our second lol...... how are we going to remember when it's our 20th? Anyway in keeping with my live for the moment concentration span I missed the anniversary of my blog. Yes folks it's been a year already! But I didn't miss my hundreth post, and this is it! Yay for blogging!!!!!!!</span>Monicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01114309528798028168noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3931858569119131693.post-86037729625945445652008-04-27T20:26:00.005+10:002008-04-27T20:57:33.181+10:00Crafter's toolbelt<p align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;">I<span style="color:#000066;"> saw a great tutorial for this toolbelt </span></span><a href="http://blog.betzwhite.com/2007/07/by-seat-of-my-pants.html"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;color:#990000;">here</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;color:#000066;"> and decided I just had to have one! Now I have pockets for all my tools as well as the essential mobile phone and iPod lol....I have lost my mojo with sewing lately so I decided to get organised and tidy up the craft studio as well. </span><a href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2380/2444626599_53d0414493_b.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;color:#000066;"></span></a><a href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2271/2444620183_d8304590dc_b.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;color:#000066;"></span></a></p><a href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2271/2444620183_d8304590dc.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2271/2444620183_d8304590dc.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2380/2444626599_53d0414493.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2380/2444626599_53d0414493.jpg" border="0" /></a>Monicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01114309528798028168noreply@blogger.com0