Pink beans

We harvested lots of scarlet runner beans last week - before they are cooked they are hot pink with purple spots.  I'm not a big bean fan, but how can you say no to pink vegetables?!

Knit 2, Wear 1

I've been quite busy the past week - there has been a big change in my life, which I won't go into now, but I promise I will elaborate on in another post soon!

But so you don't think I've completely forgotten about you all here are a couple of completed knitting projects.

The turtleneck jumper I based on Stephanie Japel's 'Cosy V-Neck Pullover'.  This used 2.5 balls of BWM Rustic in Damson on 6.5mm needles.

My own design.  This knit up in a week and I wore it today.  This used about 1.1 balls of BWM Rustic in Radiant on 6.5mm needles.  You may have noticed a theme of BWM Rustic?!  I like that it knits up on bigger needles and I also like the feel - a warm, and yes, rustic wool. 

By the front door

We came home a few days ago and this parcel was waiting by the front door for me.

I finished the turtleneck jumper on the weekend, so I've started a new project.  The new project is something I'm knitting without a pattern, so I won't tell you what it is yet - just in case it doesn't turn into what I'm expecting!  But watch this space...

One hour in the world of a puppy

Fun is making new friends...

Happiness is running and running...

Joy is going to the dog park...

Leeks in the kitchen

Today we picked some leeks from the garden and made our Leek, Rice and Gruyere Tart for dinner.  Yum!

We tried something different today and topped half the tart with sliced Black Russian tomato.  A side salad with everything homegrown (except the dressing!) - green beans, rocket, four different types of tomatoes, cucumber, capsicum, basil and zucchini.

Something special

My husband had to travel interstate for work last week.  He brought me back this lovely brooch from Adelaide.

ps: He bought some crocodile jerky in Darwin for Tansy - it smells horrible, but she loves it!

Weekend work

What a wild week of weather it has been - Cyclone Yasi in Northern Queensland and the icy conditions across North America, even our blazing hot days have been interspersed with rain storms.  Late on Thursday afternoon when we were going home a storm suddenly blew in.  As we were driving along a road not far from home we saw branches ripped off trees and the rain was so heavy the traffic slowed to a crawl.  The next morning when we drove back along that road we saw several trees had been pulled up.  Today the heat has been replaced by a pleasant (and welcome!) cool change.

Yesterday afternoon we made more tomato sauce.  We only used Sunny Boy tomatoes, which are yellow when ripe, so we were somewhat flummoxed when the sauce turned red...

Six jars of sauce this time (we used more tomatoes than last time).  But why is it red??

  

  Yesterday morning we went blackberry picking again - blackberry season is in full swing and for the first time we filled all of our containers, and it only took a little over an hour to do it.  2.05kg

Today we used 1kg of the blackberries to make blackberry and apple jam.  My husband was busy with other chores, so I was left in charge - sadly baking is the only thing I can successfully do in the kitchen and I overcooked this jam (like I have done with the other jam I've made).  It is VERY thick.  I'm not sure what bread or scone will be sturdy enough not to crumble if we try to spread this.  It tastes great though!