Sunflowers from New Zealand

I wanted to get some large placemats to protect my dining room table from everyday use.  The older tables do not have such a durable finish as the newer ones.

I went to a couple of shops and came up with one set, but I do have such a thing about everything being made in China, so bought them, but kept on looking, and yes jackpot.  I found a set made in New Zealand and slightly longer than the ones made in China, I was so happy.  Aren't they sunny?

Christy

Friend's Pond

You might be allowed to think from these photos that we're at some public gardens, but no this is the pond at my friend's house.  Isn't it lovely?

Rob was asked to weed, I helped a bit and did some reading.  It was very peaceful.  After a busy day making wine.

Christy

Home Made Catawba Wine

Syphoning from the primary fermenter.

8 1/2 gallons from 38 lbs of Catawba grapes.

In demijohns with bungs and fermentation locks.

I planted three grape vines about six years ago.  A Catawba, Concord and Niagara grapes.  Good for our more northerly climate in the North Mid-Atlantic states.  The Niagara died and I planted instead a Montrachet.  Earlier this month I made several gallons from the Concord grapes. The Montrachet did not produce, other years it has though.

The Catawba vine yielded 38 lbs of desteemed grapes.  Isn't that amazing.  I'm thinking of turning one of my lawns into a vineyard, with that kind of yield.  But it is a lot of work and time.

It took us a while to work out how to use the hydrometer which measures sugar content and prospective alcohol content.  It probably is worth using one.  Before I've just followed old country recipes and it always seemed to work out well.

Now we just have a year to wait.

Christy

Home Made Salsa, Tomatoes and Banana Peppers

I made tomato and banana pepper salsa.  It turned out pretty good.  I added tomato paste to thicken it, onions, garlic and lemon juice. 

Next time I will try for a chunkier salsa.  But I do think if very ripe mangoes were added the day before eating and marinated together; that would make it chunkier and taste good.


Christy

From the Humble to the Hummingbird, Birds in My Garden

Birds in my yard.  Planting the different flowers has really paid off in more ways than I thought.  The hummingbird is a regular visitor and so are the finches.  Of course the sparrows always came.  They love a bath in the pond, little dears.

Christy

Vinny's Graduation Party Class 2010

My Rob

I made the four round tablecloths, quite a job.  Looked good though.

One of the long tables either side of the house.  The other table was twice as long.

Dancing

Vinny, graduation boy.

Vinny's mum and Millie cutting the cake.

Graduation cake.

Sewing Four Round Tableclothes for Banquet Tables

Sewing four round table clothes for Vinny's graduation party.  I worked out that there was four hours of work in each tablecloth.

We have a wonderful fabric store just around the corner almost.  It's a crazy store, clothes and fabric.  A lot of catalog clothes, also department store clothes; which they must buy in bulk and resell.  You can find a bargain here.

All the fabrics in the table clothes was just $1.00 per yard.  So each tablecloth cost $5.00, and they were banquet size tables.  Blue fabric top with a white chiffon skirt.

What do you think of my sewing cabinet?

A find at the Thrift a couple of years ago.  The bottom piece you pull out and the bottom shelf can be raised by pressing a button, it's electric.  It is a nice sewing cabinet.

Well that's what I worked on.

Christy

Bug on the Butterfly Bush

Is this a moth on the flower?  I don't know.

Butterflies do love this bush.  I have two in my yard, the other one is purple.

Toadstools?

After it rains a lot, this is what grows, a toadstool?

The Boy and Tink

Tink loves her boy, she's never far from him when he's sitting quietly.

This Bird Visited my Neighbours Garden

Gathering Grapes

Gathering the catawba grape harvest.  All from one vine. 


Christy

Garden Greens

Now the lettuce has come in, I use it for salad all the time.  Rob says it's too bitter, but I don't think so.

I'm thinking of getting some breeze blocks and planting a lettuce garden underneath, keeping an old window on top; to prolong the season into autumn.  What veggies should I sew for winter?  I've go to find out what I can do.

Christy

Sunday, Mum and Son

Pretty close  with my dear boy.  Oh!  Excuse the pun.

Morning Moggies