Garden Update: Winter Lemon Buds

My citrus "orchard" has been decidedly lacklustre since this photo back in March.  

The dwarf Meyer lemon has made a few attempts since then at popping out a flower - but I kept removing it since I thought the plant's energy would be best spent growing sturdier instead of trying to make a lemon. Eventually I decided to let nature take its course and look at it now..

It's covered in little buds! There are far too many for the little tree to bear but I'm tempted to leave it alone and see what happens.

Slow Cooker Poached Pears

I had a moment of brilliance at the West End markets on the weekend.

I was at the nice apple man's stand (deemed so because my friend had a not so nice shopping experience with another apple man) gazing at the mountains of pears - and it struck me - could I poach a pear in our slow cooker?

As is turns out - yes I could!

Me? A Cosmo Bride?

I came across something a little exciting this week - our wedding was featured in the current edition of Cosmo Bride.

It was part of a piece on photography, and this little section was on using props (check out my homemade bunting!). I was glad to be able to give a shout out to our fantastic Wonderwall photobooth photographers Feather & Stone- be sure to check out their awesome blog here.

Kale: Coming Soon To A Veggie Patch Near You! (Or Me)

A few weeks ago I embarked on a short lived Clean detox (inspired by reading this book). Although I couldn't stick with the fruit smoothies for dinner (in winter!) for more than four days - I did take a few things on board.

One of key ingredients in a few of the suggested meals and smoothies was kale. I'd never seen kale at our local supermarkets but knew that the West End markets stalls would surely have some. They did - however this lovely bunch with its vivid purple and green tipped curly leaves set me back $5.

Apparently kale is one of the most nutritious vegetables like, ever.

Which is great - but at $5 a pop for a few leaves it won't exactly be on high rotation at dinnertime.

Found: The Perfect Outdoor Rug

Hooray! I've been hunting for a lovely outdoor rug since the deck was completed without any joy. Everything I've found was either a) hideous or b) ridiculously expensive.

So when My Secret Garden in Teneriffe posted some pics of their new eco rugs on their facebook page - I knew I had to go in and check them out.

As you can see one made its way home with me, and is now living happily on our deck.

Sourced Grocer, Teneriffe

We were driving through Teneriffe looking for a car park on the weekend and were lured into Sourced Grocer by the crowd lined up for coffees.

They've combined a gorgeous cafe and small grocer (complete with cold room) in a refurbed warehouse space.

Chippendale Chairs ala The Golden Girls

Sophia: You know what Rose?

Rose: What?

via Matters of Style

Sophia: I think we're the pioneers of Miami chic.

I couldn't believe my eyes when I spotted these bamboo chippendale chairs on an ep of The Golden Girls this week.

Vive la France: Brisbane French Festival 2011

Oh those Frenchies are a good lot aren't they?

My First Foray with Roses Begins

So I've taken the plunge and ordered some roses!

image via Rose Notes

I've put in an order for three Brindabella Bouquet's to make a little rose border along the end of the veggie garden, and one David Austen - Jude the Obscure to pop in the front garden bed. The Jude the Obscure are the lovely peachy ones in the above arrangement.

I chose the Brindabella's because apparently they're more suited to Brisbane conditions and are resistant to blackspot. I've never grown any rose bushes before so figured I'd try and make it as easy as possible for myself - when I was growing up my Mum had a lovely rose garden but I remember them being a lot of work.

And since I was already paying for shipping I couldn't resist throwing some hydrangeas into the order too - one Hydrangea Goliath and one Hydrangea Le Cygne.

I don't expect to have as many gorgeous blooms as the above bouquet - but if they could each pop out a few blossoms come spring I'll be a happy girl...

CWA Cookbook Treats

Look at my newest cookbook acquisition...

I think Mr Tchotchke is gunning for some pumpkin scones.

Masterchef Recapped.. With What We're Really Thinking

I'm so loving Max Lavergne's Masterchef recap blog It Lacks Acidity

image via It Lacks Acidity

It's definitely the best way to catch up if you've missed an episode, or if you just can't get enough of his dry writing style.

My personal picks for top three? Hayden, Michael and... Hayden? Okay Ellie? Kate? The juries out on  number three. I can't wait to see what they're up to in New York this week though!

Hanging Chicken Feeder and Tres Chic Tomatoes

I spotted an extra little friend in the chicken coop last week (let me give you a hint - it rhymes with house..) and realised that we needed to re think our hanging feeder set up.

Mr Tchotchke knocked up a great little hanger from the mesh roof of the coop - and when I queried how it would go in the rain - he repurposed an old light fitting to act as shield. Not bad hey? 

Charlotte likes it.

When TV and Design Collide: The Block & Top Design

I feel a little like George Costanza in that Seinfeld episode when Relationship George and Independent George's "worlds collide."

Over the past fortnight my work life and design obsessions have collided - hello The Block! It's been going great guns so far - the houses are a wreck, the couples are a great mix and rooms have been diverse.

My favourite couple have been Katrina and Amie - you can follow Katrina's blog here for plenty of inside dirt.

Katrina & Amie's Guest Room - image via ninemsn

But my favourite room last week was probably Jenna and Josh's - I'd love that window seat in my front room, and I was looking for a mid-century style bedside table for months last year with no luck.

Jenna & Josh's Room - image via ninemsn

But the design fest doesn't end here - Top Design is just around the corner - and today I discovered that the writer of a fave blog - Snoop, Amanda Talbot, is going to be one of the judges.

Worlds collide! I promise I won't implode...

Today's Harvest

Hooray! Our veggie patch continues to put out..

..beans that is. These are from the dwarf non climbing bushes I'd inadvertently planted - so they've redeemed themselves in my eyes now. I'd barely even noticed them growing and now all of a sudden they're almost falling over under the weight of their beans.

Like my cute op shop blue willow plate?