Rain and more rain and then the wind

Today the weather has been just crazy. 45km/h winds were predicted and it happened. We had the odd burst of sunshine that allowed me to plant out some viola's. Then almost vertical rain would come in waves across the bay.
The constant rain is just wonderful for our recently planted garden.
I love our bromeliads, they look great around the tree and then - they flowered this week.

Lovely around the tree

Love the colours

Our storage shed has a great door ornament. Son Mark found these and put them up.

It just suits the island

Wood ready for the fireplace

We had the next door property mowed to keep the weeks down and make our garden look better. We decided to put our chairs and a table under the mango tree to enhance the scene.

An extra place to sit and enjoy the garden

Favourite garden ornaments

Aunty Billie gave Mum an allamanda many years ago. It was planted by the french doors of her apartment. It looks marvellous.

The colour is just beautiful

Jonelle repurposed a tiled table that used to be in the old kitchen as a potting table.

A great pop of colour

The new verandah cushion covers are finished but there has not been enough sunny time to photograph them. The couch and chairs have been repainted and are sitting unadorned waiting for a fine day.

February heat/rain

I had planned to write about the constant heat of February but our internet was down for over a week. Now we have wonderful rain.
It has been raining on and off for over a week - so fabulous for the new hedge and the lawn. With red dirt on Lamb Island having a good lawn is essential. That red volcanic soil that is so good to grow things colours everything. Even the white tile grout in the shower.

Our chickens are doing well - on some days we get 4 eggs from 5 chickens. One previously grew to be a rooster so we swapped him for a new hen, then all of a sudden the lovely looking red one started to crow.... He has gone. We are waiting now for a replacement.

Fun afternoon with a view

Every afternoon we let them out for a scratch and adventure for about 45 minutes.

The red door

We found this old door under the house. Mark attached it when he built the new pen and Jonnie painted it red.We love it.

Peach syrup cake

I have been doing some cooking as the kitchen here is much better suited to fun cooking. This cake was for Brie's birthday.

Lemon yoghurt cake for Jonnie's birthday

Foccacia

Bread and butter pudding

This pudding was made with brioche - just lovely.

Pommes Boulangere

Spanish frittata

Okomomiyaki

View on a sunny day

A grey day - both beautiful

Start of the new cushion covers

Our garden is coming along beautifully. As soon as it stops raining I will update photo's and do another blog.

January 2018

We have been in the Tina Avenue house for a month now. The household is really well set up with just some fine turing to do.
We have 5 new chickens and are collecting 2-3 eggs per day. A couple of the chickens are little young to lay yet. We did have 6 but a snake ate one. We now have a solar powered snake deterrent - so far so good.

Lovely November lilies

The Tina Avenue garden is very different from June Parade. We are right on the water and the plants are more tropical. These lilies were flowering before we moved in so I cut loads for the other house while we were there.

A lovely display

This is the same vase in a new setting just one month later.

All from June parade house

I made a cheese and spinach soufflé for the first time in years. It tasted wonderful.

Must do this more often

On the way back from Hawaii I picked up a new gin from Australia.

A lovely drop

The days have been hot as expected, but the breezes here are so much better. Not obstructed by the hedge and the big mango trees.

Our verandah view

Wonderful trees

New Jaccaranda tree 

I carried this tree home from Danise's house in Kedron. It is doing very well. We wanted one to replace the lovely tree on June Parade.

A lovely sunset as the ferry came in

Lovely end to the day

Baking day

I found Mum's old 1960's recipe for boiled fruit cake. Plus a very new recipe for an apple cake. Both very popular.

Afternoon reading spot

This was a lovely place to sit and read in the afternoons. Now in Tina Avenue the chaise lounge has a more conventinal Position inside.

We work each day on projects around the house and garden. When the weather is cooler we will get so much more done. Luckily this month the tides have been right for swimming during the middle of the day. Makes it so pleasant to cool off.

October

It has been unseasonably hot this month. We are not looking forward to summer at all.
We have swum in the sea pool as the moon and tides have been favourable for the middle of the day cool downs. It is so refreshing, still chilly, but because of this we have the pool to ourselves.

It is raining today and a slightly cooler breeze so we are going to eat the last of the soups in the freezer. I always make large pots of soup so we have some for freezing.
I also made 18 chicken and leek pies yesterday for the freezer - a great stand by.

Comfort food

The spring flowers are blooming.

So beautiful

Good from all sides

In the 1960's bamboo was a big fashion thing for a while. Near us in Slack's Creek was a large bamboo factory. Our Mother loved the vases etc. We had so many pieces but now only a few remain.

I love using these pieces

One of our neighbours has lovely red bottle brush trees on the fence line. We like them so much we have decided to plant some at Tina Ave. They are excellent for attracting birds.

Great in a vase also

 Last Saturday there was a sailing regatta of some sort that went through the passage. I just managed to get in a photo in time to capture the 'junk'.

There were lots of different boats

I made an Italian rice pudding last week. I have had the recipe for years and just came upon it again. The sultanas are soaked in Grappa - genius idea. The pudding looked very wet when cooked but firmed up - a little too much. Will have to make sure it has plenty of milk/cream next time.

With strawberries and blueberries

We are going to miss the view over the passage when we move to Tina Ave. The view there is great across to Stradbroke Island but there is no where near as much activity on the water.
We will be able to view the sunrise and have great views of the full moon over the water - but sunsets will be limited.

Making the most of it while we can

The curlews are back. This family have adopted us. We often find them in our garden waiting for tidbits.

So sweet

I have had many cat ornaments over the years. Surprisingly very few that I have bought myself. Some find their way to a charity shop after a reasonable space of time. Graham is the best cat ornament giver as he totally understands cat faces. This little one is a treat. He guarded books for years in the sunroom at Carramar Street and now resides on Lamb Island adding his presence to the pot plants on the verandah.

Love him

We have inhereted a cat

Son Mark inhereted a cat from a neighbour who was leaving the island. Now Mark has a new partner with an allergy to cats - so we have adopted him. It wasn't a huge upheaval for him as he spent lots of time with us when ever he felt like it.
As soon as his food and dishes were installed in our kitchen he realised that this was now home. I am sure he worked out very quickly that we are a much more interesting household. We are home most of the time - so are his beck and call for food, chats and brushing his fur.

He loves my fur rug

Sits here to be admired

I have started to go through my recipes looking for spring/summer food inspiration.

Ready for the oven

This tomato tart was fabulous and so easy to make. It has gone to the top of the list.

We ate outside for the first time. In summer the mosquitoes drive us inside - but we are really looking at ways to address that.
The candles and lights made the area look very glamorous.

Love candle light

View into the kitchen

Lamb risoni

This good old standby never dissapoints.

Even lovely at night

We created this garden in the corner of the veranda to disguise a very ugly water fountain.

Red onion and blue cheese tart

This was a new recipe for me. I used the baby spring onions from Lamb Island Farm to decorate the top.

Good old regular

Tractor Point

I now know why this area is called Tractor Point - well by the locals anyhow. I had been into the park before but only at high tide was unaware that this is the reason.

She looks lovely by candle light

Never tire of this view