Snuggled up at Pear Tree Farm

Oh dear me....I have been a very slack blogger of late....I just have not had the time or the motivation to get on here and write.
Most often blogging just gets put in the 'too hard' basket. I find that by the end of the day I am exhausted and just want to flop onto the couch and do nothing. Other times I look at the laptop and think about the blog...then I think...what on earth will I write about...?? I feel like I don't have much to say about what we are doing at the moment, other than just getting through another day!!

Anyway, here I am again....the sporadic blogger with not alot to say today.

What can I tell you about?

Lately we have been keeping snug here at PTF

I got inspired one week and decided I would finally paint the fireplace!! So we did! I started the ball rolling and sanded it back and then I roped Mr PTF in and he helped with the painting. The best part about it...(apart from the fact that it looks a million times better) is that it was a nice easy and quick project and we actually completed it within a week!! Woohoo!

I am a happy lady here, oh yes, yes I am.
 It blends in so much better and it makes the room look bigger which is always nice.

I have also been sewing a few different things. Some cushion covers, and also ideas for kids birthday presents.

These are balloon covers and make such a great toy for kiddies. It has been nice to do some projects and keep warm inside on these cold days.

We have also been out in the garden ripping things out with the help of our Landrover and winch (Mr PTF's kinda gardening right there in a nutshell)

So things are looking a bit bare here at Pear Tree Farm, but hopefully once the new plants take off, it will all look a bit more the way we want it. I love an English cottage garden, so I am trying to plant a few more flowering plants and ornamental trees etc. I will have to show you some pics...when I take some!

We have been enjoying slow cooked meals and warm winter stews with veg from our local market.
I have to say it was such fun to go to the market with the PTF gang the other week and buy veg and then put it in my wicker basket...made me smile.

I tried my hand at preserving lemons....was pretty easy actually. Not sure how they will turn out, but they look pretty sitting on my bench and it was definitely a fairly quick and easy way to use up lemons! Will have to let you know how they turn out.

Here is the recipe if you feel like having a go at it.

Preserved Lemons

Ingredients:
Lemons
Sea Salt
Juice of some of the lemons

Method:
Sterilise jars.
Wash lemons well, then cut the lemons lengthwise into quarters but not all the way through the lemon (leave about 1/2 inch from the base) so that it is still able to remain in one piece. (this just makes them look nice and hold together better.) You may find though if they are big lemons, that you need to cut them all the way in half so they fit in the jar, and that is fine too.

Fill lemons with salt, up to 1 tablespoon per lemon.
Push lemons into the jars and fill up as much as will fit.
Fill the jars with lemon juice till the jar is almost full to the top and the lemons are covered.
Close lid tightly and label.
Each day you need to tip the jars upside down and vice versa, for about 30 days.
Then they are ready to use.
I think from what I have read, when you want to use the preserved lemon, you should wash it and just use the rind and cut off any of the salted flesh and pith as it can be very salty and bitter. Preserved lemon can be used in many dishes such as rice dishes, tagines, couscous and salads.

One of the many projects on my ever growing list... is this sweet $5 dressing table. I want to strip it back and then paint it. Still haven't decided on what colour to go with....am definitely open to suggestions...anyone?!
One day I shall get to it and I will post some pics when I do.

Right now I have a cheeky but grumpy little man clinging onto my legs wanting some attention, so I better be off!!

So thats it from me, I have no more words left today!! Hopefully I will be back here soon with more interesting things to say!

See you soon,
xo Rachel

Owls at Pear Tree Farm

So, I have had alot of time in bed, having to rest etc blah blah blah....lots of time to think about things and get ideas for projects.....I now have an endless list of projects. I am definitely itching to get out there and at em that is for sure!

Anyway, alot of my friends have had and are still having babies around the same time as me, so I have been thinking of gifts to make for each of them. My motto whilst being stuck in bed and unwell during and after this pregnancy has been to 'keep it simple'. So I have come up with a few ideas which I have been testing.

First I worked on making a modified bunny rattle, less arms and legs to fiddle with (which has made it alot quicker than the ones pictured on the side bar of my blog)

Another project was bunting made from scrap material.

I then decided I would try making something completely different, so I stole  borrowed an owl design from my gorgeous cousin and started making owls. They are super quick and super easy and just the sort of thing one can do whilst stranded in bed for weeks!
I will write a post soon on how I made them, but I am sure if you just look at the pics you could pretty much work it out just fine!!

I have found it quite satisfying being able to 'create' something while being stuck in bed. It feels good to get something done. Some days it feels like all I do is sleep, eat and feed my little man (actually that IS all I am doing...) so to be able to make and create something, just feels good.
 I must admit, I did get a little carried away and suddenly we had a whole owl family at Pear Tree Farm...much to little O's delight.

I also worked on a quilt (that has been on the go for about 2 years!) for my little PTF kids. It was supposed to be a blanket for little O when she was a baby...mmm...
It looks and is extremely 'homemade' I am sad to admit, but under the circumstances I am just glad to have it done...well almost done. It just needs the binding sewn on....yet another project.

I once heard that the Amish people deliberately sew a mistake into their quilts as a sign of respect to God because only God is perfect....I say my quilt is VERY respectful to God....very....

And that people, is what I have been doing on Pear Tree Farm. That and admire these beautiful blossoming pear trees...just divine don't you think?!

 I often have to pinch myself and remind myself that we actually live here...HERE!! We are so blessed.

See you soon

xo Rachel