JUST ONE CAULIFLOWER - HONESTLY!!

As big as two footballs when it was whole - son #1 was unimpressed that we didn't take photos before cutting it for blanching.

This cauli was such a surprise - I truly thought they were not going to flower this year, and just when the family was away from the garden for two weeks, they exploded into creamy loveliness. I think they were waiting to be left to dress themselves in peace!

My biggest thrill was that none of the caulis had ANY bugs -not an earwig, slug, snail or caterpillar anywhere inside.

What was the secret? Not sure.. maybe one of a few things we did this year.

- we planted earlier, so that by the time bugs were up and about with warmer weather, the plants had done most of their growing.
-we covered the seedling with upturned PET bottles until the leaves filled the space, so they were quite big before having to fend for themselves.
- we took off a few lower leaves of each plant and lay them on the ground - they were eaten, but not the main plant.
- soil was very rich, so plants were strong from the beginning.

RESULT - cheesy, creamy baked cauli for boys to gormandise!

BALLARAAT QUILTERS EXHIBITION 2009 - BE THERE OR BE SQUARE (IN A SQUARE)

WOW, IS IT TWO YEARS ALREADY SINCE THE LAST
BALLARAAT QUILTERS EXHIBITION?!

Please won't you come join us this year for a celebration of stitchery love and community, and some darn impressive handy-work from the quilters here in central Victoria. There'll be quilts to see, goodies to buy, raffle to enter, sewing to watch, and some lovely ladies (and gentleman) to talk to about all things patch and quilt.

Oct 31, Nov 1 2009
10am-4pm daily

Ballarat Mining Exchange
12 Lydiard St North
(in the Arts precinct of Ballarat,
a very short walk from Ballarat train station)


$5 entry fee
there is also a raffle - $2 per ticket - prize is a large quilt made by the group
What a beauty!

For more information, please feel free to email me through my profile :o)
To see pics from the last exhibition in November 2007,
see the Ballaraat Quilters website

Stay tuned for some pics this week of my own contributions to the exhibition.
Oooooh, I can't wait to see everyone's gems

Hello. My name is Sonya. I'm a collectorholic.

Hello. My name is Sonya (sago). I'm a collectorholic. I sometimes sell things from my vintage collections on my Etsyspace before my family starts to object. That way, I can raise funds to add to my collections again, until the next purge..
It's the cycle of life/collecting. It's nature. That's my story, and I'm sticking to it!

At the moment, it's my excess vintage aprons that need to be set free.
They are so very nice, but they just have to go.


My name is Sonya, and I'm a collectorholic.
Thank you for your time.
[giggle]

SUNDAY MUFFIN SLAB

Sunday morning
Sleep in..

hungries set in
Easy, healthy, breakfast for four
Hmm, what to make..

Why not try my Sunday Muffin Slab

Take your favourite simple muffin recipe (or go super-slack and use a local, organic pre-mix, like me!), mix up in a large bowl, add local berries frozen in muffin-size portions since last season, mix roughly with a butter-knife, pour onto a tray (I use a pizza tray) covered in baking paper, and bake for 30 minutes.

Hack off a slab, hand to children, recruit a husband to make coffee,
and soak up the applause.
On cold weekends, we go fancy and use plates!
When the weather is fine, we shoo kids outside with muffin slabs in hand

No muffin trays, no washing up, no hassle

All goodness, all local, all instant family hero

Come on, you know you want to try it!

PIPPETY-POP, HERE'S A CROCHET BASKET FOR ALENKA

WOW, THIS PRESSIE SWAP was soooo much fun. We both have our surprises, and wouldn't you believe it - we both used similar colours - Doo,doo,doo, doo! [say with creepy big eyes and Twilight Zone sound effects].


Alenka's basket was crocheted from double-strand cotton onto a cane basket, and lined with fitted felt so little needles, hooks, and bitty-bobs don't fall out. She can fold the top in to use it as an open basket, or bring the strap up and button for a handle. The button is just from a Nanna-stash.



ALENKA SENT ME THIS LOVELY BAG..

I'm going to use my bag to keep my journal, phone and glasses in. The strap is adjustable, so it also fits my curly-tops toddler (who has already insisted it is for him - cheeky boy!)
~ : )




IF YOU EVER HAVE THE URGE TO SEND A GIFT TO A STRANGER, AND MAKE A NEW FRIEND IN THE PROCESS - GO WITH IT!

Thank you Alenka, I had a great time. X