19/52

"A portrait of my son, once a week, every week, in 2014."

William, with his first dandelion seed head. I showed him how to blow it into the air, but he was more interested in pulling it apart. On one of our afternoon walks. We're loving getting rugged up for afternoon walks now that the weather is cooling off. It's nice too, at the end of the day, that William is happy to kick back in the pram and have a rest, while I get to move my body in the fresh cool air. 

Joining in with Jodi's lovely 52 Project.

New Directions and Where I Am

I might as well say it right here on the blog - there have been some big changes of late in my neck of the woods. Along with all this decluttering, or perhaps as driver for the decluttering, I find myself enrolled in a new and very different (for me) course of study. Something that is far, far removed from the heavy textbook-based courses I've previously done. And it has meant withdrawing from the course I was already doing, which was naturopathy.

Thing is, I'd barely touched my naturopathy books for months and months and months. And it dawned on me that I probably wasn't going to pick them up and start studying again. And it also became apparent what I do actually enjoy doing, and what I could potentially do to earn a living at some point in the future. So, out with naturopathy, and in with a diploma in graphic design, part time and online. 

So I'm in, and it's happening, and I'm loving it. I have never 'loved' study before, I've just done what had to be done to get through it. But this is totally different, and it's doing things I enjoy and it certainly doesn't feel like study. It's been a bit tough finding the time to myself to actually do it, and juggling things around at home to squeeze an hour or half here and there, but somehow we're managing. And a few less blog posts as well.

I'm finally allowing myself to follow a creative path. I can say I was fairly well conditioned to follow a sensible path through life, which is how I ended up doing the degree programs I did and spent ten years of my life being an accountant. A complete case of square peg round hole. And the constant job-hopping that ensued since I kept hoping that I would find a job that suited me. A lot of conditioning there, that had to be recognised and undone before I could follow this path. And this path has been on the radar for some years now.

Anyway I'm not sure exactly where it will take me. I know what I want to achieve in the end but I'm loving the new direction, and seeing new doors open up for me is just what I needed. I'm drawing. Drawing! I quit drawing when I was grown up enough to stop drawing horses all over everything (some time ago now..). And learning new tricks on the macbook that I can already apply in things I do for fun. So I'm very, very happy. 

Anyway, enough about that. What you really need to know is that today I'm guest posting on Think Big Live Simply, contributing to the series that Becs is running called 'A Meaningful Garden'. It's a beautiful series she is putting together and I'm completely honoured to be contributing. I'd love it if you would hop over and take a look! Becs writes a lovely blog that is full of beautiful images and inspiring words. Well worth lingering over with a cup of tea.

You will also find me in the kitchen making a delicious pear, walnut and coffee loaf, the perfect autumn treat. And because now that I'm back on the coffee train, any excuse is a good excuse. 

How life has looked lately (from Instagram)

It feels like it's been ages since I last posted a bunch of Instagram images. I guess it has been a few months but honestly, just looking back at some of these images, it feels like sooo long ago. I guess that's what happens when you have a 12 month old. I thought the early baby days were full on, and they were, but in a different way to now (I think I'm looking back through rose tinted glasses which aren't showing me the sleepless nights and nappies that took days to dry.. parenting is just full on, period). Now I'm busy with a little walker. Walking! My little baby is all grown into a toddler who walks. Anyway I've enjoyed this little trip down memory lane of the last few months or so of life, I hope you enjoy a little look too.

Nashi pears from the market. A lady selling six for a dollar, so we got quite a few. So delicious! And so beautiful too.

A typical summer garden harvest. Eggs, tomatoes, zucchini, rainbow chard. Summer staples.

Pretty things to add to dinner. Garlic from the market, thyme and oregano from the garden.

My boy, with a packet of biscuits that I thought he couldn't open. Yeah, he opened them, he spread them all on the floor, he crunched them all in half, and he wandered off to wreak havoc somewhere else in the house. But oh so cute.

Us, taking the dogs for a walk up the hill on a Friday morning.

Delightful yarn! I won a giveaway on Little Woollie blog and this was the prize. I'm still looking at it wondering what to do with it. Such beautiful colours, I'm looking forward to working with it.

Celery from the garden. I'm using it for making stock mostly, and in some meals too (like lentil bolognese). It needs quite a lot of cooking but the flavour is amazing.

A full house of eggs from our chookies. Good girls!

First coffee back, after almost two years off the stuff. I was a little concerned that one coffee would be all it took, and the floodgates would be open again. And I was correct. I'm loving the feeling of caffeine coursing through my veins once again. Sounds horrible, and it probably is! It's a drug, you know..

Afternoon harvest that was used to make a silverbeet and ricotta tart. So good. I'm starting to get into making tarts these days.

A little bowl of smartie goodness. 

Bubachino, for my buba. His eyes grow so wide when we make him one of these, and he has this look as if to say 'is that for me???'. And then he eats it in a little frenzy of coloured froth. We were never going to be those parents either, but it just happened.

I'm still as addicted to Instagram as ever. I'm pretty sure it's not healthy. You can find me @dustycountryroad or click here, if you like.

In The Garden… raindrops!

We've had rain! So much rain. Well not really that much, but a constant slow drizzle of rain for a couple of days. Good, solid soaking rain. The garden is loving it. I am mostly loving it, although I realise how much I took for granted the good clothes-drying weather of summer. 

I found this little red capsicum hiding in the garden too. I knew it was turning red, slowly slowly, and then all of a sudden it is vibrant red. Unfortunately it's been a little bit eaten already, but I think there's still enough for us to have a taste too.

What's happening in your garden?

I'll be doing this post weekly, on Friday's, so if you would like to join me and share something In The Garden, please do! Any and all gardens, plants in pots and balconies, the gardens at your local park, any garden at all. And anything means not just limited to plants! Leave a like to your blog in the comments so we can take a look. 

In The Garden… colour me orange

This past week has seen the most amazing display of bright orange flowers on a hedge plant, right outside our kitchen window. I have loved watching it unfurl - the flower buds starting to appear, noticing them get bigger and more abundant, then suddenly the whole plant is on fire with the most beautiful orange blossom. Bringing with it birds and bees, and watching my son notice the birds for the first time. Watching wrens and honey eaters come and have their feast, the little hands pointing at the window, and the fascination on his beautiful small face. So this week at the library we got a story book about a little bird, catching a worm to feed to the baby birds. Cheep cheep. 

And all too quickly they are wilting, and falling to the ground. Such an immense show of colour and only to be short lived. But I'm so impressed, and grateful. Such a stunning show right outside the kitchen window, which always makes me happy, and my favourite colours to boot. I think they're still pretty on the ground.

A typical afternoon scene on the outside table. A chook bucket recently emptied, egg collection for the day, a empty tea cup and a little something to go in dinner. See any colour similarities?

I have no idea what the plant is with those orange flowers either, can anyone enlighten me?

What's been happening in your garden this week?

I'll be doing this post weekly, on Friday's, so if you would like to join me and share something In The Garden, please do! Any and all gardens, plants in pots and balconies, the gardens at your local park, any garden at all. And anything means not just limited to plants! Leave a like to your blog in the comments so we can take a look. From last week, a peek into a luscious Queensland garden over at Duchess Declutter. So very luscious!

Garden Share Collective: Autumn is Here

Another month, another Garden Share Collective post. As always, hosted by Lizzie of Strayed from the Table and linking up with gardening bloggers from around the world.

So my little vegie garden has seen some big changes in the past month. Gone are many of the stars of summer, the tomatoes and potatoes making way for new plantings of peas and broad beans. The zucchini is still going, I can't believe it but this one plant which has given us so much, continues to give almost daily. Rainbow chard is looking revitalised with some milder temperatures and more rain, a few leeks remain growing in the garden and some new plantings of lettuce, silverbeet and beetroot in the front yard are doing nicely. I had planted out kale in the front garden also but every single seedling got eaten. So I'm calling that one a fail and moving right along.

Planting: I've been planting peas and broad beans all over the place recently. A few different varieties of each, hoping for some good crops. We've had amazing weather for growth with overnight rains and warm sunny days, so things are looking good. Also broccoli seedlings finally made it into the ground, they seem to be taking well. And some spring onion seeds which are happily emerging now. In April I'll be planting some more broccoli and spinach seeds, probably some more silverbeet and some cauliflower.

Harvesting: I harvested my potatoes during March! Given that I planted them so late in the season [4th January to be exact], I wasn't sure if they would do anything much. The harvest wasn't as big as it would have been had they been in the ground earlier, but still, 10kg came out of the ground so our cupboard is currently stocked with home-grown potatoes. So delicious and I'm so happy that they grew. Plus they broke up that section of clay down the back of the garden perfectly. Potatoes are such amazing plants in my book. All the tomatoes also came in, not enough to bottle for winter but enough to enjoy some beautiful tomato-based meals. A few green tomatoes were turned into green tomato chutney, which should be almost ready come to think of it. Apart from that, we're currently harvesting: rainbow chard, zucchini, leeks, capsicums, celery, basil, mint, sage, thyme, rosemary, lettuce. 

To Do List: I'm keeping a close eye on that zucchini to see when I can pull it up to make way for new plantings but it's doing such a great job, even though it takes up so much space, there's no way I can pull it up. But maybe in April… I will probably bring in most of the celery soon to make space, and the capsicums are providing very well at the moment but I'm not sure how much longer they'll keep going. So I guess I'm watching and waiting to see what space I have to clear out and replant in. I'd also like to get back into making my own organic fertiliser - weed tea - that I swear by but haven't had the time to do for many months now. A bit of a maintenance month, perhaps.

Well that's where my vegie garden is at right now. How's your patch looking at the moment, are you enjoying the quieter days of autumn of getting stuck into spring plantings? For more gardens, take a look at the Garden Share Collective page, there's plenty from around the world so bound to be something close to home.

In The Garden… autumn skies

A little light on with images this week. One of those weeks. We have had rain, quite a lot of rain really. And lots of heavy, threatening skies, with or without the rain. I love this time of year. It is still warm, but the intensity is gone, and there are rainy days and yellowing leaves. It brings my senses to life in the fullest sense. 

The plum tree has been dropping leaves for a while now, they're building up a nice carpet around my little herb garden. But to look at the tree you wouldn't really know it. Not unless you compared it to the same tree in the early summer, before the heat starts to take it's toll. I love watching the tall trees from the windows in the house, at first seeing just a few spots of yellow amongst the green, then watching as the leaves thin and the winter view starts to take hold; bare branches reaching up to grey skies. I could watch the seasons forever, I think.

What's been happening in your garden this week?

I'll be doing this post weekly, on Friday's, so if you would like to join me and share something In The Garden, please do! Any and all gardens, plants in pots and balconies, the gardens at your local park, any garden will do. And anything means not just limited to plants! Leave a like to your blog in the comments so we can take a look. From last week, Simone has sorted out a problem with powdery mildew. I'm taking notes.