HAS IT REALLY BEEN A MONTH?

Gosh I can't quite believe I haven't posted for so long.  I have to say not a lot has happened during this cold winter month but now it's starting to get lighter, two of the chooks have started laying.  I'm so happy to have fresh eggs again, Chia and Cyril jnr have begun laying and keeping us stocked.

These eggs are Chia's, Cyril jnr's eggs are a lovely deep brown.

We had a very chilly day at the start of August, boy that wind was straight from the Artic!

I've cooked lot of yummy, nourishing food.

and I spent time out in the veg patch preparing for Spring planting.  Lots of weeding, mulching and adding manure and Seasol to the mix.  The worms are loving it and I can't wait to begin planting again.

Some other exciting news is that my friend Taryn (chook lady) is taking over a market garden in town at the end of September and has asked for help a day a week in exchange for a box of fresh veg.  There's so much I can't grow here due to space so I will be happily helping out and can't wait.

5 WEEKS AGO.....

4 gorgeous girls came to live with us, today one of them started crowing!  Our girl named Cyril (thanks to Lachie) is definitely not a girl.  I contacted my friend who I bought them from and she told me to bring Cyril back and get another girl.

This is Cyril last week, she flies straight up like a rocket with Chia every morning to the top of our tree and sits up there overlooking everyone.

Welcome Cyril Jnr, she is gorgeous.  Cyril Jnr is a Barnvelder x Gold Laced Wyandotte

Cyril Jnr was one of the girls I wanted the first time round but we couldn't catch her, so glad she decided to come home with us this time.

THIS WEEK IN MY KITCHEN

Capturing my love of whole foods, combined with the activity of a bustling kitchen. A weekly collection of photos from the center of my home. 

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Joining Heather at Beauty That Moves

It's school holidays here so we have been very busy with dance Eisteddfod for Sophie and with the kids social lives.

Sophie made some yummy treats, cinnamon flatbread and a lemon slice.

Lachie made pancakes.

Busy baking snacks for the holidays.

Banana choc chip muffins and pasties.

Yummy!

THIS WEEK IN MY KITCHEN

Capturing my love of whole foods, combined with the activity of a bustling kitchen. A weekly collection of photos from the center of my home. 

 * * * * * 

Joining Heather at Beauty That Moves

*  Yummy sausage rolls for after school snacks.

*  Cooking a whole chicken in the slow cooker, wow it tasted amazing.  

*  I bought my family a coffee machine.  I don't drink coffee but Darren does and the kids just love the hot chocolates.

THE CHOOK HOUSE RENO

This month I decided it was high time the chook house had a reno.  After 3 days of shoveling to get the floor dug down and level, carting dirt to the raised beds in buckets, laying the slate that has been sitting around for 15 years and making some new nesting beds, the job was done...

...and all ready to bring home some new girls to be with our old girls.  Our old girls are Isa Browns, they have been slowly dropping off the perch and we are now down to 2, they are 8 years old and we still get eggs!

Today I picked up 4 new girls from Taryn, a friend who breeds the most gorgeous birds.

Up the back is Chia, the lovely lady in the front is yet to be named by Sophie.  These two are Anconas.

Sophie named this gorgeous Rhode Island Red Rosie, she's a little shy and cute.

This is Cyril (Lachie named her) she's a fast one and is a Rhode Island Red cross.

These ladies should be ready to lay when the days get longer and warmer, around 6 -8 weeks time.

THIS WEEK IN MY KITCHEN

Capturing my love of whole foods, combined with the activity of a bustling kitchen. A weekly collection of photos from the center of my home. 

 * * * * * 

Joining Heather at Beauty That Moves

*  enjoying clean eating

*  raw fresh vegetables ready for curried sausages in the slow cooker

*  radishes picked fresh from the garden

*  making banana & blueberry bread

*  muesli slice for the kids school snacks

*  nourishing soup for dinner

After 8 weeks with no oven due to not being able to source a part, it feels really good to be able to bake again.

THE VEGAN BOX

I thought I'd give The Vegan Box a go this month and I have to say I'm a little disappointed.  The Vegan Box offers a box of sample vegan goodies to try each month but when I received mine yesterday I couldn't believe how little it was.  The goodies are nice enough, I've already eaten the yummy fruit and nut bar and couldn't help myself to some of the chocolate cranberries to really send my sugars up high, but that is a problem in itself, although everything is vegan it's not necessarily good for you.  I try not to eat any added sugar and the amount I consumed yesterday was huge!

I do like the fridge magnet "Animals are my friends and I don't eat my friends", the lip balm has a rather sickly smell to it, I'm sure Sophie will love it though and I'm yet to try any other goodies.

I really like the concept but it's really not my thing considering the amount and content of product.

Safe to say I won't be getting any more boxes from them and I'm kinda glad that I didn't subscribe.  I think I can better spend my $29.95 locally at our wonderful organic shop.

THIS WEEK IN MY KITCHEN

Capturing my love of whole foods, combined with the activity of a bustling kitchen. A weekly collection of photos from the center of my home. 

 * * * * * 

Joining Heather at Beauty That Moves

CHICKEN YIROS

FRESH WARM BREAD

SALVE JARS DRYING

ESSENTIAL OILS

HEALING SALVE

CHEST RUB

THIS WEEK IN MY KITCHEN

Capturing my love of whole foods, combined with the activity of a bustling kitchen. A weekly collection of photos from the center of my home. 

 * * * * * 

Joining Heather at Beauty That Moves 

: morning ritual

: apples from our trees

: nourishing warm meals

: last of the tomatoes drying

: apples ready for drying

: vegetable soup and a grainy roll, perfect for these chilly nights