sunflowers, small pickings, and a swap:

I like to grow sunflowers!
I love them, they are bright and cheery and put a smile on my face every time I look at their golden sunshiney-ness.

I like to keep the seeds from my sunflowers.
I keep the seeds to plant the following year and I also like to share my sunflower seeds with family and friends so they can grow their own beautiful sunflowers.
This morning I went to visit my sunflowers, I hadn't checked on their progress for a couple of days.
And this is what I found: *huge gasp*

Now I don't mind sharing some of my seeds with the native birds or nocturnal creatures, but I definitely am not sharing all of them!
After a little huffing and puffing, I cut the sunflower heads off so I can salvage the remaining seeds.

They are going inside the house and into an old pillowcase.

In the veggie garden also this morning I harvested some more small stuff;

yellow toms

the lovely large beetroot, which will be roasted up tonight Jamie Oliver style.

I am looking forward to harvesting these Golden Nugget pumpkins,

The bush cucumbers are making progress,

And I am planning on making a chilli paste with these beauties....I just need to find a recipe.
Have you ever made a chilli paste? How do you preserve your chillies?

This morning I also discovered a Swap!! I have heard of this swap before but never participated.
It is the Vintage Sheet Fat Quarter Swap hosted by Kel over at green tea and red nails

I have signed up and added a link in my sidebar.
I have a couple of vintage sheets in my material stash and I will be venturing out to the op-shops to find some more!
What are you up to on this sunny Monday?

My Softies for Mirabel

My Softies are finished and ready to be posted off to Pip @ Meet Me At Mikes.

 

This one I drew the pattern for the body and legs, it is made from a thrifted flannelette pillowcase (nice and snugly) and the arms and legs are cotton material found in my scraps.

 

I found the pattern for this knitted teddy on Ravelry; it was a bit fiddly as it is a no sew pattern!

I hope these 2 bring some comfort to the 2 kiddies that will receive them!

  

edit: go here for more information re: Softies for Mirabel.

small things

* striking red flower
*miniature garlic - very disappointing
*caterpillars by the hundred and one slug
*growing golden nugget pumpkins
*resting ladybug
*miniature lemons - not sure what has gone wrong here....
*flowering parsley
*ripening yellow tommy tomatoes
*bush cucumber flower

First Self Portrait

by our little 3 year old....

Miss Evie Shae

Summer so far......

is passing by far too quick for my liking.

We have been both busy and not so busy and I am exhausted!! 

We celebrated Christmas, New Years' and a 40th birthday - all in a big way; 

we had family stay with us for 10 days (5 adults and 7 children!); 

we have taken day trips to local attractions, parks and beaches, bike rides and walks; 

I have managed to sneak in some crafting; 

and also had plenty of time spent relaxing at home in the pool.

 

 

 

 

  

So much fun and so many memories.

Hope you all have had a terrific summer so far!