Southend Jetty

My place in time #35 - The view from somewhere high up

Friday I took the kids for a drive to the beach. The weather didn't quite seem as warm as it was supposed to be, so we didn't venture to the beach.

The kids got to get out and do something different, and they needed it. They were beginning to drive me crazy at home. I got to sit and drive for some time out for the 20 minute drive from home with the stereo pumping.

We drove up around the point at Southend and looked over the ocean at Cape Buffon and the jetty lookout area. It was then off to 'Slip's Inn', the local shop/bottlo/servo for some ice cream and home.

They lobster season runs from October to the end of May. These guys must have gotten their quota already and are bringing in their pots.

Pretty paper flowers up at the lookout

Imagination

Life with these two little girls revolves around their well oiled imaginations.

There's lions in the garden. Big pink frogs are coming, as big as Izzy can stretch her arms. I imagine them too, as if reading a book, where characters and places come alive. It's like we've always known them, all it took was to start to read the words. "Orange frogs too"!, Summer exclaims, putting in her two cents worth.

Crocodiles in the bedroom, worth screaming the length of the hallway over. I sound equally as shocked that there are reptiles in the house.

I must jump onto blankets laid on the floor, to avoid the sharks, swimming in the lino, "Get in the boat Mum!".

Not to mention the shop in the loungeroom. I often drive there in my imaginary car, buy imaginary milk and bread. Izzy makes me a delicious imaginary coffee, and we lick imaginary icecreams, all paid for with imaginary money.

I love it when I am told to sush, because Izzys 'babies' are sleeping on the beanbag, I apologize profusely, as I tiptoe out of the room. She also has this thing where I have to be Kyle Sanderlands, ask how old she is, ask what her name is and what she is going to show me. I then say, "That sounds fabulous, whenever you're ready", at what point she proceeds to put on a hula hooping show, and I gush about how fabulous she is. It pleases her no end.

Life with these two girls, with their well oiled imaginations is never boring, always funny and wonderful to witness.

How does imagination roll at your house? 


Joining in with Zanni at Sunshine Sundays

Plum Applesauce

My plum tree had not one plum on it this year. I forgot to take to it with a piece of four by two around the base, stress it into fruiting. I will have to remember this year. 

Me, Mum and the girls went out to a friends farm to pick some though. It was a plum tree out in the middle of a paddick, with it's upper roots exposed out of dusty soil. It had obviously taken a beating from the sheep over the years too. The tree was stressed and it was loaded!

The girls laughed as they yelled "Hello Mrs. Sheep", and me saying, "Watch out for the sheep poo". Mum broke a small branch off each for the girls and they helped fill up the two buckets of plums. 

I hesitantly took home one of the buckets. I wasn't overjoyed with having to do something with them but at the same time, love a challenge.

I made 9 jars of plum jam, and three bottles of plum applesauce. The following is the recipe to make the plum applesauce, it's easy.


1kg peeled, seeded and quartered apples
1kg seeded plums
1/4 cup water 
1/4 cup sugar

Place all ingredients in a large saucepan. 
Bring to the boil, then simmer on low for 1 -1 and a 1/4 hours.

Blend with a stick mixer or in a blender. 

Place into hot sterilised jars.

I am sure there are many different fruit combinations that you could use instead of apples or plums.

With a basic sauce like this you could add in other flavours like ginger, chilli, onion and garlic to make a dipping sauce or add a bit of BBQ sauce for a marinade for pork or chicken.

I had it just like it is on yogurt for breakfast yesterday. You could use it with whipped cream or over ice cream too(like I did after dinner).

Snippets of a February garden

Chilli plant

Chilli flower

Double flowered feverfew

Shasta daisy

Radish flowers

Little scented geraniums

 

Cherry tomato

'Angel face' rose

Penstemon

 

Hebe