A Jonah Day

Source: I typed the word 'mess' into google and this was one of the images that came up....seemed appropriate for this post

Today is a Jonah Day....things are not going as I had hoped.
Mess on the floor...every floor in the house actually.
Dishes piled up in the sink.
Cranky children.
Cranky mummy.
Stuff everywhere.
Arrrrrrgggggggggggg!!!!

Sorry about that.

In my head I would have liked to ease you back into my blogworld with nice images of the lovely things we have been doing around here and all the amazing craft projects, homemade goodies and baking we have (or have not) been doing lately. To be honest though, if I made you wait that long....you could be waiting a very very long time.

No, today's post, that incidentally is breaking the extremely long postless streak I have been having, is a fairly grumpy, mundane and ordinary post.

I am just having one of those days or one of those weeks/months.
I was woken at 6:30am...not my most favourite time of day I can assure you, to crying babies who have been sick.

Breaky wasn't eaten by said babies, mess was left all over the table and I found a slug (thats right...a SLUG) on my bathroom floor (thankgoodness I had socks on and didn't step on it!) I might also add that my 3 year old told that slug in no uncertain terms to'GO AWAY SLUG!' he didn't listen to her and so she took it upon herself to try and scoop him up with the cat pooper scooper and consequently left a slimy slug trail all over the bathroom floor. Slug trails are really hard to clean up too, by the way.

There is washing all over the house (flung there by my grumpy baby) which still needs to be folded and put away.
Everything I have asked my sweet 3 year old has been met with a "NO!!!"
Everything I have tried to do to placate my grumpy 1 year old dissolved him into tears and screams.
The wind is howling around Pear Tree Farm and it is not, I repeat NOT feeling very peaceful here!!!!

Before I started writing this post I was reading a post by Em at Tea Cups Too and it reassured me, somewhat. I can totally relate to this post (minus the new paintbrushes and pleasant hour spent painting in the afternoon) and it helped me to think of breaking my day up into increments. Just a few more hours...take it one hour at a time.

In this next hour I envisage hopefully transforming my disaster zone into something that resembles a home again and putting on the kettle and maybe even folding some washing into nice neat piles while my babies sleep.

Then again maybe I won't.
Maybe my sleeping baby is actually stomping around her room like an elephant, rearranging every piece of furniture and every toy in there.
Maybe my grumpy baby is throwing books at my face and ready to dissolve into tears again if I don't read to him immediately and then when I do relent and read a book to him, he dissolves anyway....

 Breathe.
Just a Jonah Day.
As Marilla would say to Anne of Green Gables....."there there Anne girl, Jonah Days come to everyone, God knows best..."
And so, I will breathe, and I will pick myself up and start sorting things out.
Bit by bit.
One hour at a time.
I will have a pot of tea as a reward.

See you soon,

xo Rachel

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

Pitter Patter at Pear Tree Farm

We have a new addition to the PTF crew....and nooooo Mrs PTF is not expecting again. No, this one is the pitter patter of 4 little feet....Meet Gollie/Goliath! He is 11 weeks old and just as cute as cute can be.

It was all a bit spontaneous and crazy to be completely honest. I was out doing an errand when, Mr PTF reminded me on the phone that we needed eggs. I couldn't be bothered going to the supermarket to get some, so I tried to remember where they sold fresh farm eggs in this little town of mine. I knew that sometimes they sold them at the grain store, sometimes at other places. Well, I tried the grain store but no eggs. One helpful man suggested I try the pet store up the road. So I did. I saw the eggs on the counter at the pet store, and before I knew it, out of my mouth popped..."Umm...do you have any kittens or puppies at the moment?" I couldn't believe I just asked that question....what was I thinking??! The next thing I knew, I was cuddling this little guy and putting a deposit on him.....oh my.

Fortunately I did run it by Mr PTF....over the phone...that way I couldn't see any eyebrows being raised....I'm almost certain I could feel them over the phone though....ah well.
He said yes though and so that was that!!!

Miss O loves him to bits and pieces....literally. She follows him everywhere and would take him everywhere if she could too. It is a lovely house for a kitten, lots of little nooks and crannies to explore and hide in....something I am sure he will need to do....often.

 We had a talk, Gollie and I, on our trip from the pet store to PTF together. I told him all about PTF and how he would have a good life here (mostly) he would definitely be very well loved, very popular, he would certainly have lots of space, (he will need it too, from time to time) there most likely would not be much peace and quiet here, but he will soon get used to it. Most of all, we would be great friends....surely?!

Mmmmmm....hopefully. So far, he has infuriated me by climbing on the benchtops, tabletops, put claw marks on our leather couch and he cries.....all....night.....
At the moment....he seems to me to be just an additional crying baby to add to our chaotic wonderful life here. Ahh dear...the joys of spontaneous purchases....

On a more positive note, I am hopefully going to be able to be more active again and hopefully pain free soon! I am going to be starting some new medications to help with pain relief and inflammation so that will be so wonderful!

I have already got a list as long as my elbow of projects I want to get stuck into. One of which is our fireplace...or mock fireplace I should say.

It needs to be painted...in my opinion that is. Mr PTF is not convinced....but then, it is not often that he is convinced that we need to add unnecessary and time consuming paint jobs to the gigantic list of projects we already have. However, his somewhat prudent reservations rarely stop me from going ahead with my plans (crazy or not). Poor man.

Sooooo, I am thinking of painting this thing, maybe white, maybe a slate/blue-grey colour. What do you think? Any favourite colours you think would work? I am open to suggestions at this point as it is still just in the plotting and scheming phase. I had intended to do it while Mr PTF was away for a weekend, so that I wouldn't have to cop any eyebrows, or rolling of the eyeballs, but I wasn't physically in a state to be able to do any work on it. Drat.

Hopefully though in the next month or so, I shall tackle it and have it looking beautiful.
It is a rather hilarious fireplace.

It is.....

Wait for it.......

Electric...............

Disappointments galore.

It blows out hot air through a tiny electric fan heater under the grate. Then a light behind the screen highlights the rather poxy silk flame-like shapes and they flutter....a little unconvincingly I might add.

Oh for a real wood burner. I have looked into getting one, but it wouldn't work, as the flue would come up right in the middle of our bedroom upstairs where our bed is. So alas, we are stuck with this guy.

I am hoping a lick of paint to both the mantelpiece and perhaps the mirror too, should brighten it up a bit. One day I am hoping to change the carpet to a more neutral, warm-tone colour.

So, any ideas would be much appreciated. I will definitely keep you updated on how it is going!

In the meantime I am enjoying summer loveliness here at Pear Tree Farm.

We have apples and pears growing here at the moment and it is so fun to watch them ripen.

My mother in law has already picked bagfuls of apples that we have turned into sauce and a scrummy apple slice. I shall have to put the recipe up for you soon!

 Miss O can be found most days with an apple or two...or ahem...three, in those chubby little hands of hers. She absolutely delights in running around outside through the grass and picking apples off the tree...or indeed of the ground. Not a bad life here for my little O, chasing butterflies, picking apples, teasing our poor little Gollie....

I will be back here soon....hopefully. I intend to post some recipes up on this here blog of mine and also to show you some of my attempts at DIY/revamping some awesome thrift shop finds!

See you soon
 xo Rachel

Christmas party at Pear Tree Farm!

So, we had our first Christmas gathering at Pear Tree Farm and it was gorgeous!!

I absolutely loved being able to share special moments with my wonderful in-laws. Cooking together in the kitchen, watching my little PTF kiddies playing with their cousins. Yummy scrummy Christmas food, Michael Buble and Ella Fitzgerald crooning Christmas carols in the background, perfect sunny weather, swims in the pool....what more could a girl want eh?!

Lately I have been a bit of a crazy person I have to admit....poor Mr PTF is still recovering from our 2aminthemorningmarathonofpreparationsforourreallykeepingitsimpleChristmasgathering.......

Oh dear. What shall I give Mr PTF as a peace offering??!

I did enjoy organising and making some of these things for our party. We made bon bons with brown paper, green confetti (hole punched by me one night...never again) a lindt ball and a blessing for each person.

We also strung paper doilies and green glass bauballs from the outdoor market umbrella...looked so gorgeous.

It was so so special to be able to host Christmas at our place (something we have never done in all the 5 years of our marriage!) 

One thing I will say though is that it is NOT a good idea to attempt recipes one has never attempted before on the day you are hosting a Christmas party....not a good idea.

All miraculously turned out fine, but it did make things a little bit hectic! We had a beautiful chocolate pav/meringuey torte thing....half following a recipe half not. I found the recipe online...its a Nigella recipe and it has chocolate in it...how wrong could it go right?!

Chocolate Raspberry Pavlova

For the chocolate meringue base

• 6 medium egg white(s)
• 300 gram(s) caster sugar
• 3 tablespoon(s) cocoa powder (sieved)
• 1 teaspoon(s) balsamic vinegar (or red wine vinegar)
• 50 gram(s) dark chocolate (finely chopped)

For the topping (I din't follow this at all....I made up my own version...see below this recipe)

• 500 ml double cream
• 500 gram(s) raspberries
• 3 tablespoon(s) dark chocolate (grated)

Method:

1. Pre-heat the oven to 180°C/gas mark 4 and line a baking tray with baking parchment.
2. Beat the egg whites until satiny peaks form, and then beat in the sugar a spoonful at a time until the meringue is stiff and shiny. Sprinkle over the cocoa and vinegar, and the chopped chocolate. Then gently fold everything until the cocoa is thoroughly mixed in. Mound on to a baking sheet in a fat circle approximately 23cm in diameter, smoothing the sides and top. Place in the oven, then immediately turn the temperature down to 150°C/gas mark 2 and cook for about one to one and a quarter hours. When it's ready it should look crisp around the edges and on the sides and be dry on top, but when you prod the centre you should feel the promise of squidginess beneath your fingers. Turn off the oven and open the door slightly, and let the chocolate meringue disc cool completely.
3. When you're ready to serve, invert on to a big, flat-bottomed plate. Whisk the cream till thick but still soft and pile it on top of the meringue, then scatter over the raspberries. Coarsely grate the chocolate so that you get curls rather than rubble, as you don't want the raspberries' luscious colour and form to be obscured, and sprinkle haphazardly over the top, letting some fall, as it will, on the plate's rim.

For my filling (as I actually split the mixture to make two meringue discs)

1/2 block of philadelphia cream cheese
1 smallish tub marscapone
1/4 to 1/2 cup icing sugar sifted
1 vanilla bean (or vanilla extract is fine too!)
splurge of thickened cream

beat in a bowl till well combined (taste and make sure its not too sweet as you want it to cut through the sweetness of the meringue)

I then spread a layer of the filling in between the two layers of meringue, followed by raspberries and grated dark chocolate. Then I repeated this step on the top of the meringue and put some finely chopped mint on top.

So there you go!

We also had some beautifully bbqd prawns (cooked by my gorgeous hubby) and some salmon also cooked to perfection on the bbq.

Lunch was a very yummy affair that is for sure.
We also had a couple of salads. One with pommegranite....which just looks so beautiful and Christmassy don't you think?!

\

The other one was a fennel, orange, wombok and mint salad. Both so beautiful and fresh. A great way to kick off our Christmas feasting me thinks!

Despite being a little crazy with wanting to try new recipes and hand make gifts for Christmas....I did enjoy preparing for this event and planning and scheming it.

Meanwhile....there has been alot of baking and "gingerman" (as miss O calls them) making, beautiful smells of christmas trees and spices in the air.

Present making has been well underway and most things completed just in the nic of time fortunately!

This is a library book bag I made for my nephew....fortunately you can't look close enough to see all my mistakes...yet again, I attempt something I have never made before....why?! I never learn!

I do love the fact that I can make someone a present though, rather than going out and just buying more STUFF.... I just wish I was a little more organised and could have started this project in October or November....not two weeks before the party....mmm.

I hope you all enjoy your Christmas feasting, festivities, fun and whatever you do this time of year with family and friends.

I am off to spend some time with all my family now and I can relax a bit and not attempt any more foreign recipes....maybe...

See you soon,

xo Rachel

Parties at Pear Tree Farm

My little Miss O turned Two...

We had a party at Pear Tree Farm.

It was gorgeous. 

The sun was shining, the blossoms were blossoming. 

My little girl was having a blast with her cousins and her aunties and uncles and grandparents.

We had bunting

 or as little O says..."boiy-day butting!" (birthday bunting)

We had coloured feathers

We had owls and treasure hunts

We had lemonade and stripey straws

We had vintage table cloths

We had family...

My favourite.

It was just so special to be able to share our home with our family, so lovely to have everyone around us and delighting in our girl. What a privilege to have family.

I am so blessed.

We started off Miss O's party with a treasure hunt, following a trail of coloured feathers scattered around the farm.

  

The little ones (Miss O and her two cousins) absolutely loved hunting for these 'treasures' together and collecting the feathers in their little baskets.

 The trail of feathers eventually led to one of the little toy owls I have been making.

Each one was tied to a tree with their names on them. My little 3 year old nephew decided he would name his owl Beastrice (yes you read it right....Beastrice the Owl)...priceless.

                                           

We then tucked in to the delicious food that everyone else helped prepare and bring....I didn't have to do anything (aren't I lucky!)

While the family were gathered we also a had a dedication for Little O and both 'Grandpa' and 'Poppy' shared their thoughts about Little O and prayed for her and for us. It was so precious.

My sister made the most beautiful cupcake birthday cake for Little O....who promptly shoved a whole cupcake in her mouth in one big gulp...mmm.

It was a glorious day and so nice for me to be sitting outside lapping up the sun and fresh air. I couldn't help but reflect on how blessed we are to have family and to be able to celebrate such special times together.

I

Love

 Parties!!

I am scheming excuses for more...
Thanksgiving party anyone? Christmas, New Years? Australia day??! I'm so looking forward to the warmer weather and summer bbqs....mmm delicious!!

So there you have it, our party on Pear Tree Farm.

Delightful.

My gorgeous girl is "Two Old" as she likes to tell me.

It gives my heart just a little pang, as I realise she is growing up so fast, so beautifully, so fun.

I miss my little baby O, but I am loving watching her grow into my Big Little O, such a big girl now...sigh...

Thankyou God, for this most precious gift, 

 A little girl to love and cuddle and teach and grow

 together with Mr PTF. 

What a privilege. 

She is such a joy,

So full of life, 

So fun to be with.

Happy Birthday my Gorgeous Pea!

See you soon, 

xo Rachel