tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-55664640162329817402024-03-13T23:36:42.616+10:00Tchotchkes etc.Trinkets of design, life, this and that.Alecia @ Tchotchkes etc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16036385503352258173noreply@blogger.comBlogger174125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5566464016232981740.post-33661892390160600012012-04-17T22:12:00.000+10:002012-04-17T22:12:06.853+10:00Irish Cupcakes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Okay these aren't your average cupcakes. To be honest they're not cupcakes at all - but I'd spent too long calling them "those potato pastry bacon things" and decided they needed a better name.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-t9x-o5W_cks/T4lwjJPdyaI/AAAAAAAABKI/XvRTt7GMsOY/s1600/IMG_1434.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-t9x-o5W_cks/T4lwjJPdyaI/AAAAAAAABKI/XvRTt7GMsOY/s640/IMG_1434.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I can't claim credit for these - they were originally introduced to me from my pal Sandra - and they're amazingly simple and extraordinarily delicious.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Irish Cupcakes</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><u>Ingredients</u></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Frozen puff pastry</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">6 potatoes</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">1 tub of cream cheese</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Butter</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Chives</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">4 strips of bacon</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Okay to get started you grab some frozen puff pastry, let it thaw out a little and slice each sheet into nine squares. Push the squares into greased muffin trays.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OMkvMu6c34U/T4lwVTabssI/AAAAAAAABKI/MAr3lugjD5Q/s1600/IMG_1429.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OMkvMu6c34U/T4lwVTabssI/AAAAAAAABKI/MAr3lugjD5Q/s640/IMG_1429.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
Then, in a saucepan, make some mashed potato. Add in the cream cheese and the butter (obviously the more you add, the more delicious but less healthy they become). Add salt and pepper to taste and spoon the potato mash into the pasty cups.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ekwp_sciyjQ/T4lwVgsNTlI/AAAAAAAABKI/ddLNJxJ2mB0/s1600/IMG_1430.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ekwp_sciyjQ/T4lwVgsNTlI/AAAAAAAABKI/ddLNJxJ2mB0/s640/IMG_1430.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
Sprinkle the cups with chopped up chives and add a small strip of bacon to each one. Then pop them in a 170 degree oven until they get crispy and golden.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9jTajsXYRSk/T4lwTahOWLI/AAAAAAAABKI/2Cx9e_NRSAo/s1600/IMG_1433.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9jTajsXYRSk/T4lwTahOWLI/AAAAAAAABKI/2Cx9e_NRSAo/s640/IMG_1433.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">They're perfect for picnics or parties where you need to bring along some finger food. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oZ90uivzgGs/T4lwmPLpKdI/AAAAAAAABKI/0NUSw480zPs/s1600/IMG_1435.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oZ90uivzgGs/T4lwmPLpKdI/AAAAAAAABKI/0NUSw480zPs/s640/IMG_1435.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I guarantee that at least three people will ask you for the recipe.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div>Alecia @ Tchotchkes etc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16036385503352258173noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5566464016232981740.post-80147678734247985742012-04-11T22:35:00.000+10:002012-04-11T22:35:46.181+10:00Doing Things The Hard Way (ie Raised Veggie Garden Borders)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Do you ever feel like you end up doing everything the hard way? First you do it the quick way and <i>then</i> you do it another way and <i>then</i> you do it the right way?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In this instance I'm talking about our veggie garden. I've put in a lot of work over the past two years planting out different varieties, building up the soil, endlessly weeding and defending it all against the constant threat of possum decimation.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And it's been great - but I'm about to start it all again from scratch.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Despite always knowing that raised beds are popular for a good reason - we've ploughed on with our ground level patch. Until two weeks ago when Mr Tchotchke decided it was high time we not only properly edged but also raised our little patch, and not one to do things by halves, I decided we should probably carry the edging along my rose bushes, fruit trees, and another little garden bed too just for good measure.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7hOg5A9wYr0/T4KS62QtKzI/AAAAAAAABJU/rHZu_dgZzDk/s1600/IMG_1405.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7hOg5A9wYr0/T4KS62QtKzI/AAAAAAAABJU/rHZu_dgZzDk/s640/IMG_1405.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
So after careful measuring, plotting, planning and purchasing... Mr T went ahead and did all the hard work.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8MsYWripMSU/T4KTGqWa3nI/AAAAAAAABJU/8HdbM_F-emM/s1600/IMG_1417.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8MsYWripMSU/T4KTGqWa3nI/AAAAAAAABJU/8HdbM_F-emM/s640/IMG_1417.jpg" width="478" /></a></div><br />
Doesn't it look great?<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cy4YwqxI6Xo/T4KS90GsZJI/AAAAAAAABJU/vMJgOrCLzEg/s1600/IMG_1407.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cy4YwqxI6Xo/T4KS90GsZJI/AAAAAAAABJU/vMJgOrCLzEg/s640/IMG_1407.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
I gotta say, I'm so proud of him... for someone with zero construction experience he's done pretty damn well.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wLmEAcnUitA/T4KTA4sA5UI/AAAAAAAABJU/Gc6j4Is44xY/s1600/IMG_1410.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wLmEAcnUitA/T4KTA4sA5UI/AAAAAAAABJU/Gc6j4Is44xY/s640/IMG_1410.jpg" width="478" /></a></div><br />
After searching for soil suppliers on a few gardening websites I somehow got sidetracked into reading a debate on whether it's safe to use treated pine sleeper on veggie gardens - and of course got totally nerve-wracked on the whole issue. (the above sleepers <i>are </i>treated pine).<br />
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So my next job is to line the inside of the sleepers with builders plastic, and then shift the frangipani tree, rip out the remaining plants (maybe the banana tree too?) and then fill the whole thing up with new soil and compost.<br />
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Easy huh? (I kinda wish we'd done it this way from the start.)Alecia @ Tchotchkes etc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16036385503352258173noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5566464016232981740.post-21257370612027963032012-03-28T22:27:00.001+10:002012-03-28T22:33:06.013+10:00Mystery Succulent Flower<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I love a good mystery - don't you?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This little potted succulent was a leftover from the previous owner of the house. It's a little battler - it withers and shrinks and then comes back again, and has flowered each year with this bulbous purple lone flower.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dRCHLhmJRPA/T3MAbMqLY6I/AAAAAAAABIk/x_3_4m6QeZA/s1600/IMG_1347.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dRCHLhmJRPA/T3MAbMqLY6I/AAAAAAAABIk/x_3_4m6QeZA/s640/IMG_1347.jpg" width="476" /></a></div><br />
To be honest it kind of freaks me out - once upon a time I worked on film about flesh eating vines, and they had waxy flowers that lured people to their death...(yah not exactly an award winner)... and I think it reminds me of them...<br />
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It also kind of reminds me of a banana flower - this one's on our tiny banana tree near the chicken coop - here's hoping that the bananas get a little bigger.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OUYUwKntaoM/T3MAaPBMBiI/AAAAAAAABIk/D3mGoakYgmE/s1600/IMG_1350.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OUYUwKntaoM/T3MAaPBMBiI/AAAAAAAABIk/D3mGoakYgmE/s640/IMG_1350.jpg" width="476" /></a></div><br />
Anyway - my google searches haven't come up with anything - so if you know what my mystery succulent is please let me know!Alecia @ Tchotchkes etc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16036385503352258173noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5566464016232981740.post-54078398759083548092012-03-17T18:21:00.000+10:002012-03-17T18:21:27.423+10:00The Secret to Inner Peace Is...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">...Sorting out your tupperware cupboard.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3MNdtjL5mXc/T2Q3Eqe-_JI/AAAAAAAABII/gNzkssTH__s/s1600/IMG_1311.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3MNdtjL5mXc/T2Q3Eqe-_JI/AAAAAAAABII/gNzkssTH__s/s640/IMG_1311.jpg" width="478" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-E3xJUpNs0ss/T2Q3FSe9ckI/AAAAAAAABII/7lOqaIxPl9Y/s1600/IMG_1312.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-E3xJUpNs0ss/T2Q3FSe9ckI/AAAAAAAABII/7lOqaIxPl9Y/s640/IMG_1312.jpg" width="478" /></a></div><br />
Ahh, that's better.<br />
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Somehow getting on top of a little task like this just helps calm down my inner cranky control freak just a little. She won't mind if I just schoomze on the couch watching 30 Rock back to back now...Alecia @ Tchotchkes etc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16036385503352258173noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5566464016232981740.post-40188042684138390312012-03-03T17:46:00.000+10:002012-03-03T17:46:25.078+10:00Rot n Roll: Our New Compost Tumbler<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: left;">These days everyone has a <a href="https://www.tumblr.com/">Tumblr</a>. Well I've gone one step further and got one in my backyard. (groan!)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">We've persevered with our current compost box for over two years now with underwhelming results, so I didn't feel too guilty splashing out on a whizz bang tumbler when I spotted this one on Deals Direct (sorry for not including a link but I can't find it on their site now?) I've always read amazing claims like "compost in 6 weeks!" on tumblers like this - so I've got high hopes.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Wti4ebtNEeo/T0n5RAwf5MI/AAAAAAAABHs/P-Ua4GrPGXk/s1600/IMG_1259.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Wti4ebtNEeo/T0n5RAwf5MI/AAAAAAAABHs/P-Ua4GrPGXk/s640/IMG_1259.jpg" width="478" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It's not actually too horrible looking, which is always a plus. And it seems to be doing a good job so far. The compost is moist, but not smelly.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Here's a sneak peek...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mq9HKPwAbrk/T0n5O6Fm8gI/AAAAAAAABHs/bLnPrUiQ5Pc/s1600/IMG_1261.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mq9HKPwAbrk/T0n5O6Fm8gI/AAAAAAAABHs/bLnPrUiQ5Pc/s640/IMG_1261.jpg" width="478" /></a></div><br />
I need it to churn out a load of lovely compost quick smart - I've got a poinsettia on our fence line that needs a growth spurt of another metre to block out our new neighbours from view...Alecia @ Tchotchkes etc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16036385503352258173noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5566464016232981740.post-25546679941597934782012-02-19T21:23:00.000+10:002012-02-19T21:23:00.941+10:00Summer Deck Update<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So this is pretty much where I spent this weekend.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EYpo6b-cQjM/T0DXM518f6I/AAAAAAAABHI/Eg05YVofXVg/s1600/IMG_1223.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EYpo6b-cQjM/T0DXM518f6I/AAAAAAAABHI/Eg05YVofXVg/s640/IMG_1223.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
It's like Brisbane just suddenly realised it's February and it better turn up the temperature. It's been a real stinker of a weekend.<br />
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I've spent a bit of time peering over the deck railings and making mental lists of all the jobs that need to be done in the garden and then plopping down on the lounge totally at peace with the fact that none of them are going to get done today.<br />
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We picked up the outdoor lounge on sale at Freedom a few weeks ago - I thought it was a bit of a shame to get it at the end of the summer, but it's been brilliant and it's really encouraged us to get outside and utilise the deck a bit more. When I come home from work and stretch out on it I somehow don't feel as guilty as I would lying in front of the TV.<br />
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And although Mr Tchotchke loves it too I think he regards it as a new battleground for his ongoing war against over-cushioning..Alecia @ Tchotchkes etc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16036385503352258173noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5566464016232981740.post-91286435109991488132012-02-08T21:15:00.000+10:002012-02-08T21:15:57.689+10:00Paleo Carrot Cake: Cavemen Deserve Treats TooTo treat myself for making it through four weeks of Paleo eating I whipped up a little Paleo Carrot Cake on the weekend.<div><br />
</div><div>It really didn't hold a candle to my favourite ever carrot cake at Bourke st Bakery in Sydney, but for a Paleo interpretation it was pretty good.</div><div><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-K_ZitUy9aw8/TzJNkZ5u-BI/AAAAAAAABGk/JQBtKt8j_rQ/s1600/IMG_1178.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-K_ZitUy9aw8/TzJNkZ5u-BI/AAAAAAAABGk/JQBtKt8j_rQ/s640/IMG_1178.jpg" width="478" /></a></div><div><br />
</div><div>I started off with a recipe from <a href="http://www.makeitpaleo.com/">Make It Paleo</a>, but adapted it and reduced some of the quantities when I realised that their carrot cake probably cost $40 in ingredients... Here's my interpretation.</div><div><br />
</div><div>Alecia's Paleo Carrot Cake</div><div><br />
</div><div>3 carrots, grated</div><div>3/4 cup pure maple syrup</div><div>3/4 cup coconut flour</div><div>2 tsp cinnamon</div><div>1 tsp salt</div><div>1 tsp baking powder</div><div>15 pitted dates</div><div>5 eggs</div><div>2 tbsp vanilla essence</div><div>1/2 cup melted coconut oil</div><div>small tub of cream cheese</div><div>1 tsp ground ginger</div><div>a few walnuts to garnish</div><div><br />
</div><div>1) In a bowl, pour 1/2 cup of maple syrup and 1/4 cup water over grated carrots and pop in the fridge for an hour.</div><div>2) In a mixmaster bowl, combine sifted coconut flour cinnamon, salt and baking soda.</div><div>3) In a microwave safe bowl, add 1/4 cup water to the pitted dates and microwave for 30 seconds. Mash the mixture with a fork and then microwave for another 30 seconds and then mash again.</div><div>4) Add the mashed date mix to the flour mixture, and then add eggs, vanilla and coconut oil. Mix well.</div><div>5) Remove bowl from mixer and add the maple syrup marinated carrots. Fold through.</div><div>6) Grease a round springform pan with coconut oil and pour in the batter.</div><div>7) Bake in a 175 degree (Celsius) oven for 35 mins or until your skewer comes out clean.</div><div>8) In a small bowl, combine the cream cheese with 1/4 cup maple syrup and the ground ginger, and then when cake has cooled, frost cake with cream cheese icing and garnish with smashed walnuts.</div><div><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9b16Ri4q4s8/TzJNbhLER6I/AAAAAAAABGk/mXT0wdEr4O4/s1600/IMG_1180.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9b16Ri4q4s8/TzJNbhLER6I/AAAAAAAABGk/mXT0wdEr4O4/s640/IMG_1180.jpg" width="478" /></a></div><div><br />
</div><div>If you're used to massively sugary carrot cakes then this isn't going to cut the mustard - but if you've been living on meat, veggies and green smoothies for four weeks then this is actually pretty good.</div><div><br />
</div><div>If I was going to make it again and wasn't being so Paleo-strict, I'd add 1/2 cup self raising flour so that it would raise a little more, and a little bit of icing sugar to the cream cheese frosting because I found the paleo version borderline savoury - but otherwise it was delish. </div><div><br />
</div><div>And since it was so god-damn healthy I didn't feel guilty polishing off a few slices to celebrate nothing really particular on a Sunday afternoon.</div>Alecia @ Tchotchkes etc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16036385503352258173noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5566464016232981740.post-62665334008058397482012-02-03T23:22:00.001+10:002012-02-04T00:12:18.171+10:00A Pasta Fiend Goes PaleoSo I've been conducting a little experiment. A little food experiment - a Palaeolithic experiment to be exact.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lUUBQIWsqZE/TyvrDIXJoMI/AAAAAAAABGA/bUeJ7GFfho8/s1600/IMG_1162.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lUUBQIWsqZE/TyvrDIXJoMI/AAAAAAAABGA/bUeJ7GFfho8/s640/IMG_1162.jpg" width="498" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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I'd read a bit about eating "Paleo" - but I think it was <a href="http://www.sarahwilson.com.au/2011/12/why-the-paleo-diet-works/">this</a> post on Sarah Wilson's blog that kicked me into gear and inspired me to give it a try. I've been having a few issues with my skin and thought I'd see if it made any difference, as most anti-inflammatory diets are no dairy and no wheat.<br />
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"Paleo" eating takes things a little further - with strict followers consuming no dairy, no grains and no legumes (so no corn, no beans, no peanuts - the list goes on). So basically you just eat lots of meat, fish, fruit and veggies. The rationale is that our bodies aren't designer to easily digest dairy, grains and legumes, and we should eat like paleolithic people did.<br />
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I bought the above book "Make it Paleo" and set out to give Paleo eating a try for a month.<br />
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As an avid pasta lover I predicted I wouldn't last a week - but actually surprised myself by how relatively easy it was. I've just finished four weeks - and although I allowed myself a few little cheats on the weekend (rice at asian restaurants, doughnuts at the markets..) to keep myself sane - I reckon I've been at least 90% paleo.<br />
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And what's the result? Well, I feel more energetic, less hungry all the time, and I think its improved my skin. I think planning ahead was a big part of getting me through four weeks - and "Make It Paleo" was really great for simple mid week lunch and dinner ideas.<br />
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Am I going to stick with it? Kind of. I'm going to try and keep it up on weekdays and continue to allow myself a little more freedom on the weekends. Because god I miss pasta. And cheese. And I'm sure even Paleolithic cavewomen treated themselves once in a while.Alecia @ Tchotchkes etc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16036385503352258173noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5566464016232981740.post-5695077978045270792012-01-23T21:59:00.000+10:002012-01-23T21:59:11.833+10:00Surprise Harvest<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I've gotten a bit disheartened with our veggie patch of late. My cucumber seedlings got scratched out by naughty chicken feet. My zucchini seedlings got eaten by rogue possums. My pumpkin vine shrivelled up and died. Ditto the choke vine. Ditto the corn. My chia plant still fails to produce any seeds. My two lone passionfruit are MIA. My chillies are on strike. Sigh.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Sometimes its easy to get discouraged, when all the hard work fails to pay off. Sometimes you're too tired, too hot, too hungover - there are too many weeds to pull, too many grasshoppers to battle.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">But sometimes a veggie patch is still generous enough to offer up some treats, despite the fact you've wilfully neglected it for weeks on end.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ty_rfz8_r48/Tx08bnhyELI/AAAAAAAABFQ/WxFLRHdzPW4/s1600/IMG_1139.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ty_rfz8_r48/Tx08bnhyELI/AAAAAAAABFQ/WxFLRHdzPW4/s640/IMG_1139.jpg" width="478" /></a></div><br />
The sweet potatoes were a welcome surprise in a corner that I thought I'd harvested months ago. And the lemongrass might be a bitch to pull out but it's so low maintenance it can be forgiven. And the wee butternut pumpkin was the lone survivor of a vine that could't handle the summer heat. But it was so cute it finally motivated me to get back into the patch and sow some more seeds.Alecia @ Tchotchkes etc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16036385503352258173noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5566464016232981740.post-77255023573678475802012-01-11T22:21:00.000+10:002012-01-11T22:21:14.686+10:00Taschen's The Vegetable Garden<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Mr T hit it out of the ball park this Christmas.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WWxFoZM-9lY/Tw120n1yDMI/AAAAAAAABEc/glQoXzgr9ls/s1600/P1050133.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WWxFoZM-9lY/Tw120n1yDMI/AAAAAAAABEc/glQoXzgr9ls/s640/P1050133.JPG" width="386" /></a></div><br />
Oh yeeeah! As soon as I ripped open the wrapping and saw the Tashsen logo I squealed a little.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TTGkTQFEB50/Tw12zFA_MxI/AAAAAAAABEc/aJUp8UrkgRc/s1600/P1050134.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TTGkTQFEB50/Tw12zFA_MxI/AAAAAAAABEc/aJUp8UrkgRc/s640/P1050134.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
There's a lovely flip through pamphlet with a blurb on gardening and the key for each image..<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-d8ECC3ltnoo/Tw124YIrBaI/AAAAAAAABEc/BkI6FLuBVGo/s1600/P1050135.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-d8ECC3ltnoo/Tw124YIrBaI/AAAAAAAABEc/BkI6FLuBVGo/s640/P1050135.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
...and then 46 divine fine art prints of veggies!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-A4YcJO4PQD8/Tw13AV1j8bI/AAAAAAAABEc/1I2OhheZpxQ/s1600/P1050137.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-A4YcJO4PQD8/Tw13AV1j8bI/AAAAAAAABEc/1I2OhheZpxQ/s640/P1050137.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
They're pretty huge and did I mention there were 46 of them! I'm not exactly sure what I'm going to do with them yet - there's a wall in the kitchen that I could potentially frame 6 or 8 of them, otherwise I was thinking of maybe dotting them around our spare room so that future poppets would grow up with a love for illustrated veggies. Our veggie patch is very dry and unproductive at the moment so I think I'll just be admiring these veggies for a little while instead.Alecia @ Tchotchkes etc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16036385503352258173noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5566464016232981740.post-84690153851293082462012-01-09T21:02:00.000+10:002012-01-09T21:02:42.979+10:00Pineapple Protection<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I spotted this sign at the community garden at Davies Park whilst at the West End markets a fortnight ago.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qLClhSJSos8/TwmUoAYFOxI/AAAAAAAABDs/krIFZUYf5PE/s1600/IMG_1111.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qLClhSJSos8/TwmUoAYFOxI/AAAAAAAABDs/krIFZUYf5PE/s640/IMG_1111.jpg" width="478" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I do my fair share of complaining about losing produce to possums and chickens - so I can certainly empathise with them. I missed the markets this weekend so I'm eagerly awaiting next Saturday to see if the little piney is still holding on.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I especially love the post script - if you can't make it out, it reads "ps - please, stop stealing this sign."</div>Alecia @ Tchotchkes etc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16036385503352258173noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5566464016232981740.post-3668992360721758652011-12-20T21:55:00.000+10:002011-12-20T21:55:36.175+10:00Christmas Tchotchkes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I love Christmas. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I love the food, I love wrapping gifts, I love silly carols, I love ultra tacky house lights, I love putting up the Christmas tree and I especially love the ornaments.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">These two vintage Christmas ornaments were from a small collection passed down to me from my grandmother. I still remember hanging them on her small tree as a kid.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wKZvF22wz1I/TvBoa_NBUhI/AAAAAAAABDU/8CfH50lcXjY/s1600/IMG_1055.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wKZvF22wz1I/TvBoa_NBUhI/AAAAAAAABDU/8CfH50lcXjY/s320/IMG_1055.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3jmamLX034s/TvBoXy61IJI/AAAAAAAABDU/rJJgzWjtm-M/s1600/IMG_1054.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3jmamLX034s/TvBoXy61IJI/AAAAAAAABDU/rJJgzWjtm-M/s320/IMG_1054.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
I love buying ornaments on overseas travels (they're small souvenirs that get used at least once a year). This Mexican mama is from our Playa Del Carmen.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UX6ArQ0_rxE/TvBoN1sDyLI/AAAAAAAABDU/2tTPytQrcRw/s1600/IMG_1052.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UX6ArQ0_rxE/TvBoN1sDyLI/AAAAAAAABDU/2tTPytQrcRw/s320/IMG_1052.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
And a pinocchio from Venice!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bNU78aicZ7w/TvBoP4dz2xI/AAAAAAAABDU/vbnZUqTcMSQ/s1600/IMG_1053.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bNU78aicZ7w/TvBoP4dz2xI/AAAAAAAABDU/vbnZUqTcMSQ/s320/IMG_1053.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
And a fluffy owl from Richmond in Tasmania.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-riPnI75NuvY/TvBofgyryEI/AAAAAAAABDU/IfROabdz9b0/s1600/IMG_1056.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-riPnI75NuvY/TvBofgyryEI/AAAAAAAABDU/IfROabdz9b0/s320/IMG_1056.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
This one is a lovely new addition - a gift from Germany from a very thoughtful friend.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lzuSCeS3who/TvBoN0i4UaI/AAAAAAAABDU/dNpAceNUcCo/s1600/IMG_1051.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lzuSCeS3who/TvBoN0i4UaI/AAAAAAAABDU/dNpAceNUcCo/s320/IMG_1051.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
And a gift from last year with a favourite line.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DN1MQmryAyY/TvBohy-oR1I/AAAAAAAABDU/w5xY3RvWZ8k/s1600/IMG_1057.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DN1MQmryAyY/TvBohy-oR1I/AAAAAAAABDU/w5xY3RvWZ8k/s320/IMG_1057.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Let your heart be light -- Merry Christmas everyone!!Alecia @ Tchotchkes etc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16036385503352258173noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5566464016232981740.post-54887718251464231972011-12-06T22:00:00.000+10:002011-12-06T22:00:57.815+10:00Impatience and Hydrangeas<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I cheated. I bought the worlds biggest hydrangea bush on the weekend. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4qATJbDwNEk/Tt361Qacv6I/AAAAAAAABCM/Goj68PHWDQY/s1600/P1050109.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4qATJbDwNEk/Tt361Qacv6I/AAAAAAAABCM/Goj68PHWDQY/s640/P1050109.jpg" width="358" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">I've been watering and caring for my little mail order seedlings all autumn and they've barely grown. And my two transplants from last year are not doing so great either. So when I spotted this gigantic beauty in the nursery at <a href="http://tchotchkesetc.blogspot.com/2011/06/visit-to-capalaba-produce.html">Capalaba Produce</a> where I was meant to be fetching chicken feed - I gave in to all notions of being patient and just bit the bullet and bought it.</div><div><br />
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And I knew exactly where to put it - this ratty looking garden bed gets morning sun and afternoon shade which suits hydrangeas perfectly.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MjNAEa_vQlQ/Tt37XpHX3cI/AAAAAAAABCM/Pdb1H18VMII/s1600/P1050120.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MjNAEa_vQlQ/Tt37XpHX3cI/AAAAAAAABCM/Pdb1H18VMII/s640/P1050120.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
Mr Tchotchke loves lending a hand in the garden<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HHPy4KhRcV4/Tt36zkqCqxI/AAAAAAAABCM/2XAf0ECd0HU/s1600/P1050121.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HHPy4KhRcV4/Tt36zkqCqxI/AAAAAAAABCM/2XAf0ECd0HU/s640/P1050121.jpg" width="358" /></a></div><br />
Wa - lah! Who doesn't love a before and after shot? I topped up the bed with lots of organic sugarcane mulch to help it retain moisture.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hPqVHjWRu9U/Tt37fWmao1I/AAAAAAAABCM/hV08Tr1KczI/s1600/P1050122.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hPqVHjWRu9U/Tt37fWmao1I/AAAAAAAABCM/hV08Tr1KczI/s640/P1050122.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
It's so fluffy! I'm sorely tempted to lop off a few blooms to bring inside. I think I'll give it a few days to settle in.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZjrmvmOvCmg/Tt37Uk_bgDI/AAAAAAAABCM/4CDYy9AC4t8/s1600/P1050125.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZjrmvmOvCmg/Tt37Uk_bgDI/AAAAAAAABCM/4CDYy9AC4t8/s640/P1050125.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
At first I felt a bit guilty for giving in to temptation and not sticking it out with my seedlings - plus it was the single most expensive plant I've ever purchased. But I figured it could be an early Christmas pressie to myself - and it was just as much as a few bunches of flowers and would provide me with far more enjoyment. Let's hope I can keep it alive until next year!Alecia @ Tchotchkes etc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16036385503352258173noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5566464016232981740.post-51607371110101776902011-11-30T21:14:00.000+10:002011-11-30T21:14:01.950+10:00Ch-ch-ch-chia!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Everytime I use chia seeds I think of the chia pet ad at the beginning of Wayne's World. Ch-ch-ch-chia! Just me?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I made these yummy pink grapefruit and organic yoghurt cups for dessert last night.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-__-vchJwLJc/TtX8fJ0Uz1I/AAAAAAAABBY/F4TeQhhug-Q/s1600/P1050107.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-__-vchJwLJc/TtX8fJ0Uz1I/AAAAAAAABBY/F4TeQhhug-Q/s640/P1050107.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
And I sprinkled crunchola and chia seeds over the top for extra texture.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zmOCcj7LXB0/TtX8SeOlD7I/AAAAAAAABBY/iYOGqN5c7WE/s1600/P1050108.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zmOCcj7LXB0/TtX8SeOlD7I/AAAAAAAABBY/iYOGqN5c7WE/s640/P1050108.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
Since I've been sprinkling chia seeds on everything recently - this caught my eye in Bunnings a few weeks ago.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-V5eGZBLLBFE/TtX73aQCreI/AAAAAAAABBY/4Hqy_NHJ4vA/s1600/IMG_0929.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-V5eGZBLLBFE/TtX73aQCreI/AAAAAAAABBY/4Hqy_NHJ4vA/s640/IMG_0929.jpg" width="478" /></a></div><br />
Don't you love the tagline - Kids love them!<br />
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It's done pretty well in the veggie patch so far - it's popped out these blue flower heads which google tells me will then form into seed heads - for my first chia seed harvest!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Jfu_oRStL3U/TtX8eGwKkvI/AAAAAAAABBY/gOjUw0yKusU/s1600/P1050097.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Jfu_oRStL3U/TtX8eGwKkvI/AAAAAAAABBY/gOjUw0yKusU/s640/P1050097.jpg" width="358" /></a></div><br />
Ch-ch-ch-chia!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><object width="320" height="266" class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="http://3.gvt0.com/vi/tzY7qQFij_M/0.jpg"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/tzY7qQFij_M&fs=1&source=uds" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/tzY7qQFij_M&fs=1&source=uds" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Alecia @ Tchotchkes etc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16036385503352258173noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5566464016232981740.post-38347266444885034972011-11-21T20:40:00.000+10:002011-11-21T20:40:53.785+10:00Summer already?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We're still a few weeks early - but it feels like summer is already here.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--Sld3BIk89w/TsixMDU4yKI/AAAAAAAAA_w/xOdZ_Ta0St4/s1600/P1050098.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--Sld3BIk89w/TsixMDU4yKI/AAAAAAAAA_w/xOdZ_Ta0St4/s640/P1050098.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
What's new in the garden? We've <i>finally</i> got some passionfruit growing.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7S7zS_oFOiE/TsixNWkGwEI/AAAAAAAAA_4/g-U1SeEjqfM/s1600/P1050099.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7S7zS_oFOiE/TsixNWkGwEI/AAAAAAAAA_4/g-U1SeEjqfM/s640/P1050099.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
We planted the vine almost two years ago and its sustained a few possum attacks but it just kept bouncing back. I love the passionfruit flowers - they're so crazy looking.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BwHphAUI7y8/TsixJGlrz-I/AAAAAAAAA_g/ynpR57kAm54/s1600/P1050095.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BwHphAUI7y8/TsixJGlrz-I/AAAAAAAAA_g/ynpR57kAm54/s640/P1050095.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
I've had a runty little hydrangea on this transplant.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aACIBARsTQM/TsixKUo2zgI/AAAAAAAAA_o/JbLFG8Z65mA/s1600/P1050096.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aACIBARsTQM/TsixKUo2zgI/AAAAAAAAA_o/JbLFG8Z65mA/s640/P1050096.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
And corn! That's a first too.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WLha2SzTOS4/TsixPrSdFWI/AAAAAAAABAA/gYaPyA1Vsic/s1600/P1050103.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WLha2SzTOS4/TsixPrSdFWI/AAAAAAAABAA/gYaPyA1Vsic/s640/P1050103.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
And our cauliflower is staring to do something. I think its trying to make a cauliflower. But who really knows. Its been in the patch since the beginning of winter not doing terribly much but I've left it there because it looks pretty impressive.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k8jOqwnO9iI/TsixQ1LsxsI/AAAAAAAABAI/_8kiR35408o/s1600/P1050105.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k8jOqwnO9iI/TsixQ1LsxsI/AAAAAAAABAI/_8kiR35408o/s640/P1050105.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
I always thought it was a winter vegetable - but it seems these summer days is getting it hot under the collar.Alecia @ Tchotchkes etc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16036385503352258173noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5566464016232981740.post-41348184499424079682011-11-20T17:37:00.000+10:002011-11-20T17:37:09.116+10:00Total Besties 4 Eva<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Charlotte and Henrietta are such a funny pair. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">They're joined at the hip 24/7. If Charlotte catches a grasshopper, Henrietta is over straight away. If I'm feeding Henrietta sunflower seeds, Charlotte wants some too. Most of the time Dr Octopus is still over the other side of the yard, totally oblivious to it all.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">But this is the first time I've witnessed this.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5aqJPn8kh14/TsiqvHR1s4I/AAAAAAAAA_E/P3gVywKXTdE/s1600/P1050093.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5aqJPn8kh14/TsiqvHR1s4I/AAAAAAAAA_E/P3gVywKXTdE/s640/P1050093.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
I guess the chickens that lay together, stay together.Alecia @ Tchotchkes etc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16036385503352258173noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5566464016232981740.post-56678844692860229722011-11-10T20:33:00.000+10:002011-11-10T20:33:56.019+10:00Bunnies of the Apple Isle<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Pet bunnies are illegal in the fair state of Queensland. Mr Tchotchke once made the mistake of asking about this at a pet shop and was harshly chastised by the shopkeeper with the reasoning "they destroy infrastructure!"</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So that may have something to do with why I'm so enamoured with them. You know - you always want what you can't have. I don't know if I'd move to Tasmania just for the bunnies, but they seem to have more than enough to go around.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We saw this little guy in the side yard of a house in Swansea on the east coast. Very Peter Rabbit no?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MrD9d2GJetA/Trug7AQa_RI/AAAAAAAAA-Y/BbJq71dc7II/s1600/P1040972.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MrD9d2GJetA/Trug7AQa_RI/AAAAAAAAA-Y/BbJq71dc7II/s640/P1040972.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
Here's Mr T staring down a cooped up junior detective on the front lawn of the Swansea Police station!<br />
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Here's a city dwelling bunny back down in Hobart.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F2LRwymOCFo/Trug9E1GCfI/AAAAAAAAA-o/gtqmA62pNqY/s1600/P1050040.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F2LRwymOCFo/Trug9E1GCfI/AAAAAAAAA-o/gtqmA62pNqY/s640/P1050040.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
And me chasing after him. Yah I'm really subtle.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nBG1R4ZOjkA/Trug9-G_EhI/AAAAAAAAA-w/Qba6T8J30n0/s1600/P1050042.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nBG1R4ZOjkA/Trug9-G_EhI/AAAAAAAAA-w/Qba6T8J30n0/s640/P1050042.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
And this relaxed chap was in the gardens at Cascade Brewery. One too many pale ales I suspect.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HLvQG31b7r8/Trug-7qZi9I/AAAAAAAAA-4/Vw-RqnLEjUk/s1600/P1050072.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HLvQG31b7r8/Trug-7qZi9I/AAAAAAAAA-4/Vw-RqnLEjUk/s640/P1050072.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
Ah bunnies - the forbidden fruit.Alecia @ Tchotchkes etc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16036385503352258173noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5566464016232981740.post-86210873168431169062011-11-08T22:02:00.000+10:002011-11-08T22:02:44.285+10:00I Want a Tasmanian GardenI haven't dropped off the face of the earth - I've just been to Tasmania. But its okay - they have abundant gardens, gobsmacking galleries and bunnies-a-plenty (but more on that later).<br />
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This amazing creeping rose was at the Governors House in Hobart. We jumped a fence looking to get to the botanical gardens and realised later they were private grounds. Whoops - sorry gov.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8SmUFTwqjl0/TrkXFhMkTAI/AAAAAAAAA-A/Z-MpOI2ENsg/s1600/P1050031.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8SmUFTwqjl0/TrkXFhMkTAI/AAAAAAAAA-A/Z-MpOI2ENsg/s640/P1050031.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><br />
</div>This is from a front yard in Richmond. Not sure what the flower is - like a hydrangea but half the size?<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DiFqZX5Bsns/TrkUAzwbcSI/AAAAAAAAA9I/0uzRfhLnlZI/s1600/P1040967.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DiFqZX5Bsns/TrkUAzwbcSI/AAAAAAAAA9I/0uzRfhLnlZI/s640/P1040967.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
Here are a few pics from my travels.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kYf2ZbAROhc/TrkWvPAtJDI/AAAAAAAAA9w/gvTNPP_f-o4/s1600/P1040968.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kYf2ZbAROhc/TrkWvPAtJDI/AAAAAAAAA9w/gvTNPP_f-o4/s640/P1040968.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-q2IhJF4jt8Q/TrkWUv-T-SI/AAAAAAAAA9g/N_itqPoWMfE/s1600/P1040969.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-q2IhJF4jt8Q/TrkWUv-T-SI/AAAAAAAAA9g/N_itqPoWMfE/s640/P1040969.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-w7q5alUsz_s/TrkXmfuvJ1I/AAAAAAAAA-I/DXijSYpN5n4/s1600/P1050070.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-w7q5alUsz_s/TrkXmfuvJ1I/AAAAAAAAA-I/DXijSYpN5n4/s640/P1050070.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>These amazing houses are in Battery Point<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0Vw8daRH_XU/TrkWttAh1CI/AAAAAAAAA9o/JvkIZEw14yY/s1600/P1050047.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0Vw8daRH_XU/TrkWttAh1CI/AAAAAAAAA9o/JvkIZEw14yY/s640/P1050047.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hJ1FnyXNJtw/TrkXBpM32hI/AAAAAAAAA94/uMprVn7dgXc/s1600/P1050048.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hJ1FnyXNJtw/TrkXBpM32hI/AAAAAAAAA94/uMprVn7dgXc/s640/P1050048.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
Would you believe these gardens are at the Cascade Brewery? Beer and gardens together at last.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bDqfKO1jVF0/TrkXnmGXdwI/AAAAAAAAA-Q/gOaFpsoIvj0/s1600/P1050068.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bDqfKO1jVF0/TrkXnmGXdwI/AAAAAAAAA-Q/gOaFpsoIvj0/s640/P1050068.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Beautiful blooms aside - it's good to be home.Alecia @ Tchotchkes etc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16036385503352258173noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5566464016232981740.post-74306049421939540132011-10-28T19:18:00.001+10:002011-10-28T19:19:34.335+10:00Missoni Accomplished<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I've always loved colour - and maximalism - in both fashion and homewares, so it's no surprise I'm a big Missoni fan. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I've been slowly building a little collection of towels and scarves over the years, so I almost wet my pants when I heard about their collaboration with Target in the US.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Of course I wasn't the only one - with their <a href="http://nymag.com/daily/fashion/2011/09/missoni_for_target_closed.html">pop up store</a> during New York fashion week being cleared out in an hour, the online sale crashing their website, and items appearing on eBay for astronomical prices.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">How gorgeous is Margherita Missoni in their TV ad?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/ngXrRCqQVTA?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Anyway, despite some serious delays and a bit of a PR disaster (their social media team took a beating on twitter), my online order went through, and with the help of <a href="http://www.parceliton.com.au/">Parcel It On</a> my package arrived today! (Target US don't ship to Australia - and <a href="http://www.parceliton.com.au/">Parcel It On</a> are a package forwarding service that I've used before and can highly recommend!)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4x3XN3GoVvE/TqpsICZaOfI/AAAAAAAAA8U/r-L6SoebwZE/s1600/photo-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4x3XN3GoVvE/TqpsICZaOfI/AAAAAAAAA8U/r-L6SoebwZE/s640/photo-1.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
That's a lots of zig-zags! (ps - it's not all for me)<br />
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My verdict - the towels seem like surprisingly good quality - the cosmetic bags not so much. My favourite was a little zig zag knit dress - as soon as I put it on I had to do a little go-go dance - it's so 60's! I won't be wearing it head to toe like in the ad- mm well not outside the house at least.Alecia @ Tchotchkes etc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16036385503352258173noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5566464016232981740.post-38548065485775197292011-10-24T20:54:00.000+10:002011-10-24T20:54:18.686+10:00Oh Deery Me - Suburban Deer in Minnippi Parklands<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Yes the deer puns were flying thick and fast today.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I'd heard rumours of wild deer living in Minnippi Parklands for years but had always presumed they were urban legends, having never met anyone who had sighted them first hand. Until my London-dwelling friend was taking a stroll last week and came across one wandering aimlessly across the sports fields.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So we set out yesterday afternoon at dusk with high hopes and my superzoom camera... we were hunting for tracks and wandering through the bush for about an hour without finding so much as a gecko, but then on our way back to the carpark Mr T spotted this guy. (girl?)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kTuE-iCVeus/TqPpJ0t3g6I/AAAAAAAAA70/LjE7cQby_vo/s1600/P1040908.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kTuE-iCVeus/TqPpJ0t3g6I/AAAAAAAAA70/LjE7cQby_vo/s640/P1040908.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
Pretty amazing hey?<br />
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I even managed to get some video footage. Please excuse Mr T's narration - I suppose wild animals beg for a bit of David Attenborough.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="480" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/31013577?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="640"></iframe><br />
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Apparently there are up to 30 wild deer living in the parklands - and have even been known to roam the nearby streets! Where did they all come from? No ideer. (sorry couldn't resist).Alecia @ Tchotchkes etc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16036385503352258173noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5566464016232981740.post-74025143443264514172011-10-20T22:16:00.000+10:002011-10-20T22:16:07.161+10:00You Have Good Soil!I often find myself blaming the soil when a plant in our veggie plot doesn't do well "oh we don't have very good soil, there are big chunks of clay, the builders dumped cruddy soil there, blah blah blah."<br />
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I know - boo hoo. It's too late to dig it all up and start again so I just do my best adding compost (all that dirty straw from the chicken coop goes into the compost heap), mulching, watering with worm juice and seasol, and chucking out the big clay clods when I come across them.<br />
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But I read something encouraging this week.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2jqTkX4HZtQ/TqAJ67-OujI/AAAAAAAAA7c/w3U-H4mvsYY/s1600/P1040735.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2jqTkX4HZtQ/TqAJ67-OujI/AAAAAAAAA7c/w3U-H4mvsYY/s640/P1040735.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
I've had <a href="http://www.borders.com.au/book/organic-don-burkes-guide-to-growing-organic-food/7338632/">Organic: Don Burke's Guide to Growing Organic Food</a> for a little while, but like all good books - its seems to reveal something new with revisit.<br />
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In his chapter on soil preparation - he notes that you can't buy great soil in Australia - that soils sold by nurseries are alluvial silts (which according to old Donny fail to develop proper soil structure and won't allow roots enough oxygen to breathe).<br />
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My fave bit was:<br />
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"Your own soil is good. <b>It is the best soil that you can ever get.</b> Work that soil up with compost, manures, gypsum etc and it will be perfect. So many people say that their soil is no good because it is clay. Clay soils are amongst the best soils in the world! Never let any of your soil leave your property. It is pure gold."<br />
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Good old Don. So - no more blaming the soil. Which I guess leaves the rest up to me...Alecia @ Tchotchkes etc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16036385503352258173noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5566464016232981740.post-75020442618471133972011-10-11T21:26:00.000+10:002011-10-11T21:26:53.311+10:00A Ripe Mulberry<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I've always had a soft spot for the English luxury house <a href="http://www.mulberry.com/#">Mulberry</a> (I share my surname with one of their gorgeous satchels and often fancy it was named after me) but now I'm developing a thing for the actual berries too.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">After reading <a href="http://mudpiehomer.blogspot.com/2011/10/raiding-day.html">this</a> post over on Mud Pie I was hungry to sample the fruits of my own tree. It had been covered in berries for weeks but they were all green - so last week at the first sight of one turning red I plucked it from the tree and hungrily gobbled it up. It was tangy and bitter and not quite ripe. I hastily googled how long it takes for mulberries to ripen - and discovered than unripe berries are hallucinogenic. Great. I panicked for a second but thankfully I didn't spend the rest of the evening in a psychedelic stupor.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So I was a little more patient for this second berry and actually waited for it to turn black. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GLWqX1oFE5s/TpQd-yYhK5I/AAAAAAAAA6o/kBXiDn3MTL4/s1600/P1040718.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GLWqX1oFE5s/TpQd-yYhK5I/AAAAAAAAA6o/kBXiDn3MTL4/s640/P1040718.JPG" width="358" /></a></div><br />
Doesn't it look divine? So plump and glossy! I'm happy to report it's flavour was a huge improvement from the first under-ripe mulberry.<br />
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Apparently mulberries aren't commonly available in stores because they're so delicate and would get bruised in the packing and transportation processes. Although a part of me thinks that the farmers just never have enough to sell - the berries simply get plucked off the tree and eaten straight away!Alecia @ Tchotchkes etc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16036385503352258173noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5566464016232981740.post-8531794828530690792011-10-05T21:31:00.000+10:002011-10-05T21:31:41.503+10:00Perfect Petals<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">After the flower failure in my last post it's nice to have some more successful blooms to display. (Although I've decided that roses must be like pancakes - the first one is always a dud).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The below gerbera was a gift last year that I repotted into the below teacup saucer-pot. It promptly shrivelled up and died, and got taken over by various weeds. I'd like to think it was some innate inner gardening know-how that guided me to nurse it back to life - but I simply left it to its own devices over the past few months - and shazam! Up popped these two lovelies.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xJPBMQI586I/TowyztHuO2I/AAAAAAAAA6g/XVDZzC1tJ0E/s1600/IMG_0918.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xJPBMQI586I/TowyztHuO2I/AAAAAAAAA6g/XVDZzC1tJ0E/s640/IMG_0918.jpg" width="478" /></a></div><br />
In other garden news these amaryllis (spent a while googling red trumpet flower bulb to figure out what they were called) have sprung up again - they were quite the surprise last year.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5YufCqAiHr8/TowyyZQo3AI/AAAAAAAAA6c/AgIjC45S5E0/s1600/IMG_0916.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5YufCqAiHr8/TowyyZQo3AI/AAAAAAAAA6c/AgIjC45S5E0/s640/IMG_0916.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
Are you noticing a trend? Why is it all the neglected plants seem to flower beautifully and the ones I dote on behave like spoilt brats?Alecia @ Tchotchkes etc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16036385503352258173noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5566464016232981740.post-26599141608138602832011-09-30T19:37:00.000+10:002011-09-30T19:37:44.832+10:00Hey Jude (The Obscure) Why So Glum?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My new David Austin rose (and first attempt into the world of rose growing) - the curiously named Jude the Obscure - has been going well so far - progressing from a depressing bare rooted stick to a lovely leafy bush much faster than I expected (8 weeks!)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It's even popped out a promising bud, which has grown into a tennis ball sized bloom that I've been excitedly monitoring each day. I took this photo this morning.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ThxSa74Z_A4/ToWDV_QbGnI/AAAAAAAAA6I/3tkDCrOMXD4/s1600/IMG_0914.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ThxSa74Z_A4/ToWDV_QbGnI/AAAAAAAAA6I/3tkDCrOMXD4/s640/IMG_0914.jpg" width="478" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So when I arrived home this afternoon - a mere 10 hours later - to find the lovely bloom looking like this....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oFe87P25BZE/ToWDYMTCcfI/AAAAAAAAA6Q/FKot-DWm-c0/s1600/IMG_0915.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oFe87P25BZE/ToWDYMTCcfI/AAAAAAAAA6Q/FKot-DWm-c0/s640/IMG_0915.jpg" width="478" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">... I was a little disheartened. It was pretty warm today so I'm hoping that it was just having a little sulk. I gave it a good drink this afternoon so fingers crossed she comes good tomorrow.</div>Alecia @ Tchotchkes etc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16036385503352258173noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5566464016232981740.post-86341639380040661022011-09-27T23:01:00.000+10:002011-09-27T23:01:25.254+10:00For Sale -More Vintage GoodiesI'm having another little eBay sale - check out these vintage goodies for sale <a href="http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=150668216455#ht_500wt_1156">here</a>, <a href="http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/150668226246?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649#ht_500wt_1156">here</a>, <a href="http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/150668222759?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649#ht_500wt_1156">here</a> and <a href="http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/150668224614?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649#ht_500wt_1156">here</a>.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Iwl-S-hRSVc/ToHG6s8sJxI/AAAAAAAAA50/c65JKCQKgCY/s1600/P1040699.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Iwl-S-hRSVc/ToHG6s8sJxI/AAAAAAAAA50/c65JKCQKgCY/s640/P1040699.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yJkpi_qOHBs/ToHG5w8Xi_I/AAAAAAAAA5w/q0if4hu5dFs/s1600/P1040696.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yJkpi_qOHBs/ToHG5w8Xi_I/AAAAAAAAA5w/q0if4hu5dFs/s640/P1040696.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>Alecia @ Tchotchkes etc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16036385503352258173noreply@blogger.com1