Fake it

You know you can even dress up your pool.  These are some foam waterlilies that I found at a garden centre.  You can use candles or silk flowers too.  This is a simple way to create a special occasion for your family or friends.  Don't let a chance go by to create memories.

Why not? 

Dining for a Dozen.

Do you have a large family or love entertaining large groups?  Well this is an inexpensive way to purchase furniture to enable you to seat everyone in comfort. Choose a 6 seater dining suite and buy two.  This gives you plenty of flexibility. These I can separate (to have two tables), form a big square or as you can see a big long table.  Keep in mind you will need a large room for this idea.

Party on!

Native Bees

SPRING!! The weather is beautiful and everything is coming to life. Flowers blooming and insects moving in. Australia has 1500 species of native bees and only 10 species are stingless.  These ten are the honey producing bees. The smallest native be is 2mm long and the largest is 24mm long.  They are both interesting and a vital part of our Australian bushland. I am happy to say I seem to have a lot in my garden. Do you have any native bees?

Broccoli Flowers

Check out this beautiful flower head.  It is broccoli that has gone to flower. I know I should have picked it by now but it wasn't the best specimen and the bees were having such a lovely time.  The spray is about 45cm tall. I have had it in the vase like this for nearly a week.

Spectacular!

Easy Caramel Icecream Birthday Cake

Sometimes the trick is to find out what flavours the Birthday Boy,Girl, Man or Woman really wants and make it happen.  My youngest loves caramel. So, caramel ice cream seems like a good place to start. Just buy a tub of the best quality you can get your hands on and invert on to a large platter.  I then made a Caramello Koala guard around the edge.  The smarties and sherbert sticks were added for the wow factor.... Trust me, they never get too old for the wow factor.

Too easy!

Begonias

These are great little plants although some varieties can be huge. They have interesting foliage and beautiful flowers.  They make great indoor or outdoor plants but the reason I love them is because they are tough.
They do well in pots even if you forget to water them and seem to survive out in the garden on their own quite well too.  Frost is their enemy so plant in a frost free position.  Once established, you can just snap off a piece and pop it into some moist soil and watch it grow. Why not pot some up, they can be wonderful gifts to take to a friend.
Begonias are the perfect plants to fill that spot in the garden that has filtered sunlight and stays moist.

Try these little beauties

Easy Shortcrust Pastry

This is fool proof and everyone will be raving......even the Oldies.  Let's face it some areas of everyday cooking are a dying art but take back control and try this easy melt in your mouth pastry.
2 1/2 cups of flour
1 tsp salt
2 tbsp sugar
250 g butter
150 mL cold water (approx)
Combine flour, salt and sugar.  Add butter and mix until mixture resembles coarse sand. ( I use a food processor) Add water gradually until the dough forms a ball. Place dough in a plastic bag and refrigerate for at least 30mins before using.  This will keep in the fridge for up to 5 days.

Cosmetic lift for your chest!

This is an old pine chest of drawers that still has a few good years left in it.  I just roughed up the drawer fronts with some sandpaper and wiped it clean with a damp cloth.  The colours I chose are to reflect artwork on the opposite wall.  The paint is just artist's acrylic.  It is inexpensive and you will use it again somewhere.
Apply two coats or three depending on the coverage achieved.  To get that shabby chic/ pre-loved look, take to it with the sandpaper again.  keep in mind where it would wear naturally eg. edges and handles. Finish with furniture wax.

 Done in under 2 hours.

I can hear you...

Sometimes when I am sitting in the garden enjoying a cup of tea and of course..."The Serenity", I find that I can hear all sorts of noises after a while.  Lately it has been crunching noises. Grasshopper teeth....yep teeth.
My chooks love them.

Ahh The Circle of Life!

Happy?

These make me smile.
When you lean down to smell a rose, all of your worries seem to disappear. Unless there is a bee in it.  But bees are good too.

Happy.