In the Garden

It is time to work in the garden, as we all know that gardening is never finished, to set it up, to maintain, to improve, and so forth.  To enjoy the flowers, the harvest and the beauty of it is as good as working on it.

Cymbidium Orchids
The orchids need tidying up and fertilising, but no repotting, however, they did take me a long time.  Now all has been done for this year, I am so pleased.  Some of the orchids are spiking, one pot has five, I counted, and I hope I will have more from the other containers.

I have to watch for the slugs now, they are very nasty and love to eat young flowers, of course, I did not forget to put some slug bite in the pots.  I must show you these flowers when they are in full blooms.


The vegetable garden
I have not a lot of vegetable plants, but I am proud to say that my capsicum plant is fruiting.  Thanks to Irene, who gave me the seedlings.  They were a lot of them, but only two have survived. One of them is growing in a pot and has fruits.

The potted capsicum is fruiting.

Beautiful red capsicums are harvested.

Another potted vegetables are long hot chillies, they are a few plants in a pot, and they are fruiting too, some of them are red and ready to pick.  I pick the green ones as well, I use them for curry and other cooking.

Potted Red Hot Chilies

Behind the Left Gate
This small space is handy to me, I keep all the delicate plants that need special care.  But often I forgot to weed or to clean the place, it was a lovely day, and I managed to tidy up a bit.

The April's Roses
I am surprised that in April the red roses give us large bloom, it is so beautiful.  I gave a light pruning for the iceberg roses, and may be they will be flowering again. They are very generous these iceberg roses, I love them, they make a beautiful show when they are in full blooms.

Seduction Iceberg Roses

Fresh cut flowers for the house is beautiful also the arrangement of the green for the kitchen.

Iceberg Roses need a light pruning

The roses after were pruned

More Potted Flowers

I could not help it when I was at Kmart and saw beautiful flowering dwarf dahlia I had to have it, so I took a pot home.  Now I have more flower potted plants.  Some of them are flowering, and they brighten up the place.  

The strawberries are so leafy, and green, some of them have flowers, and today I saw two red berries and maybe more if I look correctly.

The day when I am too busy in the garden, I like to cook for my family, and I know what I have to do.  I cook a quick dish,  that way they have my home cooking which quickly prepared.

After long hard work in the garden today, I prepared a pasta dish, and I will share the recipe with you - it is an approximation only, I am sure you know enough how to cook-boil pasta.  It is delicious, and it has a very simple garnish.

Pasta with herbs served with sliced zucchini and tuna

Pasta with Herbs

Fresh mixed herbs: chives, mints, parsley and dill (any herbs that you like)

Sliced and cook young zucchini.  (Sautéed or boiled)

Boil any pasta until cooked, add olive oil, salt to taste and toss around to mix together.

Add in the fresh herbs and zucchini to the hot cooked pasta and mix together.

Serve the pasta with grated Parmesan cheese and add extra olive oil.  You could add some tin tuna instead of the cheese.

Note: what you need is a good quality of olive oil also good Parmesan cheese.

Happy gardening and happy cooking.
You may have a go-to cook the pasta with herbs, a delicious quick hot dish and easy to prepare.


Until Next Post.

Thank you for visiting

Susy

Mt Martha

Mt Martha Holiday Weekend.
The trip to Mt Martha was enjoyable, only took us about two hours.  We were spending time with the girls and their families over the weekend.  Jane's family has been there for three days, and  Melanie's family arrived a day before us, Susan and Tris got there on the same day with us.

Everyone was so busy when we got there, we were the last people to come.  The grandkids were enjoying the outdoors,  the grown-ups were getting ready for the BBQ lunch.
A beautiful place, and a peaceful surrounding this holiday home,  where we were staying. Thanks to Georgie's family.

Snap Shots

Mary Rose and Thomas were playing with their new toys from aunt Susan.  Susan and Tris love children, they were spending time with the children, playing and communicating.

Henry loves to explore, he enjoys outdoors.

Jane organised the bedroom for us, she fixed and made our bed, everything looks so good, she made sure that we could relax and enjoy the weekend.

It is a huge holiday home, which can fit eight adults and five children who could have their own rooms easily.  Beautiful rooms inside and there is a tennis court and a spa outside.  A lovely place to escape, to rest for a retreat.  We enjoyed thoroughly spending a weekend there.

BBQ Lunch - Organised by Melanie

Generous, beautiful food, fresh and delicious.

The Dessert

Humming Bird Cake, sweet - sweet dessert for the day.

It was perfect to complete the BBQ meal.  Well done, Melanie.

The Families

Rayner with the grandkids at lunchtime.  Mary Rose, Thomas and Lily

We all enjoyed the BBQ

Fun on the Beach

A day on the beach, the grandkids had so much fun.  I was so pleased to be there with the whole family, it was perfect weather too.

Tris, Susan was with the kids and enjoyed the fresh air.

Everyone had fun playing and also relaxed on the beach.

In the evening, the grandkids had their bath, and they loved to watch the television.

Lily, Thomas, Henry and Mary Rose

Breakfast and Lunch

Breakfast was prepared by Jane, she got the table set up - done the night before, she served hot breakfasts and also cereals. She cooked pancakes served with maple syrup, raspberry jam,  and even boiled eggs, toasts and freshly brewed coffee or tea.  It was a good morning to start the day.

Breakfast time, waiting for the pancakes and having a good catch up.

Lunch Time

Garden leafy salad with Feta cheese, couscous with fresh fig and shredded preserved limes and lamb, I was pleased that they loved the food.  A hot day, Milo had no top on, but he was there and happy as always.  Lily was delighted to be sitting not too far from her mum.  The children loved the plain couscous and the meat.

We left Mt Martha around four o'clock that afternoon, the children were back to the beach to have more fun, Susan and Tris had to go to collect the dog Alfie at 6 o'clock from the sitter, so they left Mt Martha soon after us.  Mel's family drove back safely and arrived home at about 9 o'clock:  she rang us that evening.  Jane's family was staying for a few days longer.  We all had a good time together.  

The children have grown up, got married, and they live with their husbands, they don't live with us any more.  Family get together is very precious.  I am so happy that we managed to have a group photo that day.

The Group Photo

Hard ones, Van Ras, Tyers and the Main

Back Row: Tristan Main, Rayner

Mid Row: Lance with Lil, Mel, Susy, Susan, Jane with Milo and Edwin

Front Row: Mary Rose, Henry and Thomas

********

More Photos

Autumn on the Beach-Mt Martha Weekend 2013

Lil was not sure about the sands

A fantastic day on the beach

A fantastic weekend away with my children and the grandchildren in Mt Martha.  Thanks to Jane, who organised the special occasion, we all are so happy that Milo did so well.  Milo copes with hot weather, he travels excellent, he likes Australian food, especially Vegemite, he is a genuinely young Aussie.  Little lily had fun too, she loves the sand now, I am sure she will love the water also.
Thank You for a lovely weekend.

Until Next Post

Thanks for visiting my blog

Susy