Tea on the verandah & the garden

It rained again last night and the garden looked so fresh, I just had to sit and have a cup of tea [in my vintage American Beauty teacup] on the front verandah. Of course I couldn't resist getting out the mobile phone and taking some photos [I find it so easy to use and it automatically downloads when plugged into computer].

I started with the teaset on table, then the view of garden from where I was sitting, then I walked around the garden again 'snapping' roses and started pulling weeds out while the ground was soft from the rain.

new buds
new pelargonium cuttings planted in the old wheelbarrow
it used to have pansies each year
but now needs something that will survive on rainfall
and last from year to year

along the fence line




A close up of a double flowering geranium

some of those weeds...why do they grow so well?

The next 3 show the rose that climbs over the front gate



Have a beautiful day! See you again soon!

Lemon Meringue Pie

The last piece at a recent picnic
SO SORRY its sideways - I forgot to edit before upload!

Lemon Meringue Pie

Shortcrust Pastry [fits about a 20cm 8inch pie plate] My dish is in back of photo.
1 cup flour (plain or all purpose) [I use Orgran Gluten Free]
1-2 Tblspoons icing (powdered) sugar
60grams (2 oz) cold butter
5-6 Tblspoons chilled water or lemon juice [you may need more or less]

Filling
1/2 cup lemon juice, freshly squeezed
1x400g can (almost a pound?) Condensed Milk
4 egg yolks

Meringue
4 egg whites
pinch Cream of Tartar
1/2 cup fine sugar

Method
Process all Pastry ingredients in the food processor (or rub in traditional method)
***Put flour in first, then add cut up cold butter,
PROCESS 1-2 minutes then while machine is running
SLOWLY add water 1 tablespoon at a time, stop when it starts to clump together in a ball.
Turn out onto a piece of foil large enough for your pie plate, cover with a piece of cling-wrap and roll out.
Sit in fridge 1/2 hour
Then discard cling-wrap and gently lower foil (with pastry) into your pie dish.
Bake for 10 - 15 minutes THIS IS FOR GLUTEN FREE not sure about other flour
Cool a little and then add Filling and top with Meringue.

Filling
Mix all ingredients with beaters. (Kenwood, Sunbeam etc)
Pour into partly cooked pie shell

Meringue
Beat egg whites [with clean beaters] until soft peaks form
add pinch of Cream of Tartar and gradually add sugar while still beating.
Scoop out of bowl and onto top of pie

Bake 15 minutes at 180c [375F]

ENJOY hot or cold! Meringue doesn't keep very well - best eaten 1-2 days
I think you could freeze the crust and filling separately & thaw and assemble then make meringue and put on top - I haven't tried this.

Walk around my garden

A beautiful painted watering can I bought on ebay recently
A former 'cutting' doing well!

Another Pelargonium

White Iceberg Floribunda rosebuds

with the front verandah (porch) in the background

Pink rosebuds - isn't Spring glorious?

A beautiful rose!

'Break of Day' or 'Swan River Daisy'

A spray of climbing cottage rose!

one type of lavender - loaded with rain

one of the other lavenders

The Hydraenger (sorry about the spelling) starting to bloom

The fuscia buds - not dancing yet!

one strawberry flower!

One tomato pot that we need to protect from the possums

Unfortunately we have planted them about 6 weeks too late for Christmas lunch!

My pot of native violets - they are purple and white and very petite!

The Cuttings

Its Spring here in Australia. I rained over night and I went for a walk in the morning, stopped and talked to one of the neighbours. He was sanding something and I asked for a cutting of one of his Pelergoniums - I didn't have that colour. I also got some trailing Geranium for my old wheelbarrow that was growing weeds. I usually have pansies in it, but thought the trailing geranium would last longer and survive on rainfall. I have taken some photos, mainly close-ups of things grwing and flowering. The poor lavender bush was laden with water from the rain - it actually looked better last week when it was dry. I have 3 different varieties of lavender.

It is so exciting and encouraging to see your comments on my last blog -with photo of us and our home. THANK YOU. welcome Caroline to following my blog.

Now for the photos. Hopefully I will learn how to place the photos amidst the writing. Of course they are at the top of the blog now because thats the way they load! See you soon!

Weekend gardening

Sorry I forgot to take photos, but both my husband, got stuck into weeding our cottage garden on the weekend, the weather was sunny, but mild and together we achieved a fair bit. We went for a walk afterward, just on sunset and admired other gardens in the neighbourhood.

Inspiration from other bloggers!

Hello to the world of blogging! I first stumbled across a blogsite when I was looking for crinoline lady cups and saucers on google several months ago and came across 'country cottage chic'. I had a look at Jayne's blogg and website and omline shop. I was so inspired and thought, here is a lady on the other side of the world who loves the same things as me - vintage china, sewing, country charm, charity shops.

The first two photos are from a recent visit to the beach. The tea cups are currently for sale on ebay. Look for tea4friends.

Well its taken me a while to sign up - and I will have to improve my photographic skills - but there's no time like the present to get started.