House by the Sea

Every day I walk the beach always keeping an eye out for something unusual. It can be anything from driftwood treasures to a lone jandal/flipflop.










After all the rain at the weekend we had a cold sharp sunny day, irresistible to go exploring and see what inspiration had washed up.  I couldn't believe my luck, I found a paua shell, I almost missed it as it was half hidden under some seaweed.



It had to be displayed unadorned in it's full glory, next to a fabulous gift Daisy gave me on our last "non-birthday" (more about that in another blog as the next non birthday is coming up).

She made me three blocks covered with shells and starfish all the same but different, they are light enough to blu tak on to the wall which makes moving them about on a whim spectacularly easy. Thanks Daisy :-)

It is a long weekend in New Zealand as it is Queen's Birthday Weekend, enjoy your extra day! Love Blue x

Lemons every which way

My wee lemon tree has gone above and beyond the call of duty this autumn - out laying a huge bounty of large juicy lemons.

Lemons are so versatile. Sweet, savoury, in drinks, in desserts. One of my favourite (and so very very easy) concoctions is preserving lemons for use in savoury dishes. The culinary gurus (in this case Annabel Langbein) are right - they do add something special to stews, roasts, rissottos and the like.

Try this for yourself...

Cut 2 lemons cut into six segments and freeze overnight. Place in sterilised jar and add 2 teaspoons salt, the juice of 1 lemon and a bay leaf. Top up jar with a neutral oil (grapeseed, light olive oil).

They can be used after one week but definitely improve over several months. To use, scoop out and discard the flesh and thinly slice the rinds.

Personalise the jars to make a great gift for foodie friends.

Lost

The calm before the storm

Beautiful sunshine so photo clearly taken a different day!

Today it rained and I got lost. Not metaphorically but actually and totally lost in the bush. I took a detour while walking Big Dog in massive rains watching the thundering sea and it seemed a good idea to dive into the bush and see where it went. An hour later struggling through thick gorse (ouch) and wonderful native trees and scrub I came to a narrow river in a gorge, which was actually a series of descending pools carved out of the rock by water, all mysterious and damply green with strange flora and fauna which looked a lot like a cross between lichen and seaweed; perhaps I have discovered a new species!

I haven't been lost on foot for a good dozen years and that would have been when I was living in Tokyo where I got lost so regularly that I factored in extra time for getting lost. It was always extremely exciting though, as was today and I was extremely relieved to finally break out and through onto the beach like a cork popping out of a bottle. Bit battered and bruised, soaking wet and hair plastered to my face and full of twigs and prickles, but with a feeling of wild rejuvenation I sang all the way home.....

Happy adventuring, Blue x

Autumn Magic

I'm sure there is a hidden doorway to a secret world through there!

In Japan the changing of the autumn leaves is given a word all of its own, "koyo" and it is a national pastime following the wave of leaves changing as it sweeps the country. Here in Ripple Bay, where the climate is totally different, teetering on tropical, the koyo is like a game of hide and seek, with the added bonus that when you find a tree or a small gathering of trees in full flight of change then the effect is spectacular and heart warming. Each time I walk our Big Dog I watch to see the changes to a particular tree and by the time it has completed its circle and dropped all its leaves it feels like an old friend.

With winter on its way, I looked out my massive woollen blanket handknitted by my Great Grandmother and a quilt that I have made in Japanese blues, with the added twist of crimson embroidery.









The flowers and spirals were designed by Miss Blue and both Small People drew round their hands and added the date so that I have an embroidered record of their hand prints. I feel muchly pleased with myself about this small feature which means such a lot to me.


Happy Koyo, Blue x

Intrepid Journeys

After a light downpour this morning the outside world looked so clean and shiny. Perfect for a walk through the nearby gum trees and bush. I wasn't the only one venturing out.

I met two hens taking their clutch of new chicks down to the river. I stopped to chat with the mums and admire their offspring. They came very close hoping I had something tasty for them (sorry girls - next time). 

 

Further into my journey I watched the Tuis calling to each other from the tree tops, the Wax Eyes dining on monkey apples and the Fantails hunting mosquitos.

I thought I had left the noise behind in the school playground - instead I found a whole symphony of noisy birds, rushing water and the sound of me huffing and puffing up the hills. But I loved it.

I must remember some bird seed tomorrow!

Black Forest Cupcakes

Alas, no photo of black forest cupcakes; we ate them too fast!

We definitely go through fazes and fads in our house at Ripple Bay. This month's craze is cup cakes, all types with the main requirement being the amount of icing it is possible to lusciously cram on them. But top of the cupcake wish list are these decadent sugary treats which are from a recipe from Waitrose supermarkets sent with love in the post from England. Shame it's so difficult to post the actual cupcakes!








How To Make Black Forest Butterfly Cupcakes

Makes 12 prepare 20 mins | cook 20 mins

Ingredients
                                    Method                                 
150g golden caster sugar                 1. Heat the oven to 180 degrees gas mark 4. Place
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::               the sugar, butter, flour, cocoa powder, eggs and                    
150g butter, softened                           vanilla extract in a large bowl. Using an electric
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::                hand whisk, beat for 5 minutes until light and
125g Leckford Estate                           fluffy.
plain white flour                                 ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::             2. Sit paper muffin cases in a 12-hole muffin tin
25g cocoa powder                                and divide the mixture between them. Bake for
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::                 15-20 minutes until firm. Transfer to a wire rack
1 tbsp baking powder                            and leave to cool.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::                ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
3 medium eggs                                 3. With a small serrated knife, carefully slice the
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::                  top off each cake. Using the star nozzle, pipe a
1 tsp Dr. Oetker vanilla                          large swirl of chocolate flavour icing onto each
extract                                                   cake. Cut each top in half and position the
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::                   wings back in place. Sit i cherry in the centre
180g Dr. Oetker easy swirl                      of each cake then spray lightly with shimmer
chocolate flavour                                    spray before serving.
cupcake icing                                        ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
12 cook`s ingredients
glace cherries

Add caption

Square Foot Gardening

Square foot gardening

 I have decided to try "square foot gardening" in my winter garden this year. The idea is that if you plant your garden in small sections you get healthier plants and a greater yield for less effort and you can read about it here and here.
The summer drought meant I couldn't plant anything for a while and I pretty much pulled everything out of the garden and have a big bare patch to experiment with. So having spread out the results of my composting endeavours the other week, I spent yesterday measuring and diving my plot into square feet. Well to be honest there was no measuring just a kind of eyeing up and wading in with string and ties just to get the job done. But I am operating on the home spun Ripple Bay philosophy that sometimes it is better to get on with things or I never get off the starting blocks if I plan for too long!
I have been reading a wonderful book called "Sweet Peas for Summer" which endorses this way of thinking and it has inspiring photos too, even better.

Fingers crossed, Blue x

Frozen and fruity

I can't begin to tell you how much I love feijoas. I think it started when I was a kid and my folks had several feijoa trees that would shed a season of fruit in 6 weeks. We made feijoa crumble, feijoa muffins and feijoa ice cream floats (with my dad's homemade ginger beer which would occasionally explode much to mum's horror).

I recently discovered frozen feijoa ice blocks - along with tinned mango ice blocks, banana and berry ice blocks. Once pureed the fruit can be sweetened with icing sugar or honey or made creamy with yoghurt. You can even layer different flavours to make them look really cool.

So get fruity and frozen - it's heaps of fun.

Mother's Day Wish List

Handmade card with love

Mother's Day Wish List:
Watercolour painting
sewing
sowing seeds 
knitting
cuddles with small people
long walk with big dog by sea
hot cup of tea

Happy Mother's Day, Blue x

A breath of fresh air

Sometimes you need a breath of fresh air ... a break from small people (and not-so-small people), work or the crazy stuff that life dishes up.

Today the local woods tucked away at the edge of Ripple Bay provided just that.

 

My friend and I traipsed the tree-lined paths under the watchful eye of a cheeky fantail. A smiley dog came over to approve our collection of autumn leaves and sniff our sandwiches.

At home the colourful leaves and some watercolour pencils inspired handmade wrapping paper and gift card. Just perfect for a mothers day gift of sweet red tamarillos nestled in an egg carton.
















Of course I still need to get the gifts in the post, but tomorrow is another day.

 



 

Juicy!

Finally I have cottoned on to juicing. How did this pass me by you might well ask? Obviously all the massive benefits of juicing had slipped past me whilst I had my eye on that bottle of chardonnay....

Anyway here we are day 3 of a new term complete with new resolution for healthy eating for the whole term, which will include some juicing. Will we manage it? Will we fall at the first post, well half the fun is in trying and at the moment it all seems new and exciting. Even the small people drank the following concoction and even the small people asked for more! Miracles do happen..

Boy's Fantastic Juice Recipe
1 frozen lemon zapped in microwave
2 fejoas
1 slice pineapple
4 apples
1 banana
1 pear
Method
Smash through juicer, gulp happily.

Happy juicing, Blue x

Grey Sunday

Taking Shelter

We got caught in the rain today on a walk, rock hopping along the adjoining Bays. Luckily there was a massive pohutekawa to shelter under and we watched the rain and the white horses driving into the beach. What is it about the mix of ocean and weather that makes it so addictive? 

After that I felt no compunction at staying indoors for a big chunk of the afternoon and planning Autumn projects. I was given these chestnuts and when the rain lets up I am going to have a go at seeing if I can roast them outside without them exploding.....!!

planning with coffee, crochet and chestnuts

Last day of school holidays, Blue x