Autumn Vegetable Planting

Summer is over and now is the time to plant things for winter. So I've put in some spinach, kale, caulis and broccoli. But something has started to nibble them already.

And some coriander, because it is so yum.

How to have flowers in a small space

My sunny flower places are not developed yet, so bring out the old and cracked pots and get planting anyway!

Plus, buy some new pots as a treat.

Still not enough room? Plant some in the vege garden!

Plants that grow really well

Must be called weeds, right?

This is my thriving crop of convolvulus. Rampant. Smothering.

Annoying.

Cat TV

'Entertain the (fur) kids for hours'

Basil for Pesto

Gotta find that pesto recipe too, basil coming out my ears. This one will do, good old Jamie Oliver. I've got 2 types, the regular (to me) at the top, and these smaller roundy spicy bushes. Two types of pesto then?

New Season Carrot

More from the 'one only' department:

"Don't eat all at once".

I am grateful though, truly, to have even one. Such an improvement on the last years.

Planting kumara

What the heck do I do with these? Sprouting kumaras. I've just bunged them here for the meantime, and they've become attached to the ground. I feel they should be buried though.

This might help Stuff NZ Gardener

New season butternut

There is only one though. And I haven't figured out when to pick it yet. Also...note the dying kale in the pot in the background, didn't quite get it into the ground. But I've done it now, and they seem to have rejuvenated.

A Trip to New Plymouth

A weekend away is always a good idea. And New Plymouth is just the greatest place. Although quite out of the way, so not somewhere I've been to since I was about 12. A hidden treasure then.

Decorating with Rabbits

Fred the rabbit's room has recently been vacated by its incumbent human. And now it is getting painted. Fred has plenty to see in the process, and hops outside if the noxious substances become too much.

He's got a harness on, tied to a rope. But the rope is not tied to anything, just acts as a long tail so we can see where he is. She. Fred is a she.

Best No Sugar Muesli Recipe

When you are sick of the sweet bought stuff, try this one:

- about 6-7 cups in total of whole oats, whole rye flakes, rice flakes, bran, wheatgerm, LSA, whatever you fancy. I use 4 cups of oats, 2-3 cups of other things

- 1 cup of boiling water and 1 dessertspoon of honey, mixed together

pour the honey water over the oats in a large roasting pan. Mix it all together well, breaking up any clumps. Roast for about 30 minutes, on fan bake if you have that, or longer if you don't. I like mine super crunchy so I do longer, if you want a softer toasted muesli do less time. Till it looks about how you like it. Continue to break up the clumps part way through, and at the end.

When it is cool add things, roasted almonds, walnuts, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, coconut chips, sultanas, dried cranberries, chopped figs, dried apricots, Just remember that dried fruit is sweet too, so go lightly on this if you are aiming for a low sugar option. I think nuts and seeds and coconut is pretty good, with just a touch of fruit. 

And serve with fresh fruit too.