Friday Gifts in Yellow

Ripple Bay at its best this week; it rained and poured and there was a biting southerly, but inside was a different story. I seemed to be a magnet for gifts of the food variety which are of course the best type.

 Fresh eggs from the first ones laid by a friend's new hens and then lemons from a neighbours tree. Not the sort of lemon from a supermarket but the sort that you scratch the skin and the lemony smell bombards you. 

Eggs with big bright golden yolks and you practically know the name of the exact chicken who laid it (thank you Houdini!). Now I just need to squeeze in time to make this Lemon and Blueberry Cake by Julie Le Clerc and I will be the perfect mother. Failing which and more likely, it will be Gin and Tonics with lemon juice tonight and boiled eggs for breakfast tomorrow - everyone's a winner! 

View with yellow boat! 

Happy Weekend, Blue x

Eggy Ideas

With the school holidays around the corner, I've been thinking about kid-friendly projects.

I saw a great idea in a magazine (I can't remember which one - a sign of age!). I love it because it costs next to nothing, can be tailored to any age and appeals to budding chefs, artists and gardeners.

It starts in the kitchen - get the kids filling the baking tins with some of their favourite egg-based recipes (mine are currently enjoying Simon Holst's Butterscotch Slice).

Save the egg shells giving them a quick rinse under the tap and dry off on the window sill.

Once clean and dry pop them into a display dish, egg cup or egg tray. The eggs can be decorated with pens or paints or left undecorated. Then fill with potting mix and sow your favourite fast growing seeds (we are trying microgreens).

So that keeps them busy for one day... anyone have any other ideas?

Easter Eggs from the Bay

Due to the time of year, I often think of our passionfruit as a type of Easter Egg. They start ripening around late Feb and we are inundated by Easter time. The kids fill their t-shirts and then rush inside to gorge!

None left for me!

This year I've had two plants die from some random disease (perhaps I need some of Blue's fish guts?) but my remaining two plants have been prolific - actually managing to keep the kids satisfied for the first time ever.

I've put some of the excess fruit into egg containers to send to family in colder climes - it's always  nice to get an unexpected treat in the mail.

Of course there is no substitute for good chocolate and I can't wait to get my share come Easter!