A new year

Already into the second month of the New Year, how time flies and no time to even write a blog post for months, maybe this year I will try harder at writing a little more often.
2012 was a good year for us a lot of changes and lots of learning to be a little more sustainable.
In June we got our solar panels after a lot of questions to people I work with about them ( mainly electricians) I got in ,in time for the rebate, and to this day Im very glad I have them I have not had one power bill.
Im fairly new to sustainability and gardening so Im learning along the way. I have learnt a lot from lots of great blogs and books and Im loving it.
2012 more fruit trees were planted and more vege gardens established. With help from family and friends, Im especially loving my loganberry bushes that my friends parents gave me and even planted for me.
2012 a chook pen was built by my Uncle so my chooks couldnt trash my gardens and I just love the girls such a friendly bunch of chookys in later posts there will be more photos as I have a early birthday present (a new camera) which my lovely partner bought me so once a master it I will taking lots of photos.
From the 1 st of December 2012 I had a break from opp shopping as Im not fussed on how busy the streets get and I take a break right through the school holidays so this week I will be back into it, my little ebay recycled and vintage clothing business is doing just nicely and I also have a facebook page.
http://www.facebook.com/MissTownMouse?ref=hl
Also on a savings note for the year, I havnt used my dryer once and I havnt bought laundry liquid at all, I allways make my own now its such a savings
Now 2013
I like to start the year of spring cleaning so every room in the house is having its turn its still in the process but I must say I cetainly have cleaned out a lot of stuff and the local buy swap and sell sites have been fantastic for selling bits and pieces that we no longer need.
The kids spent most of the holidays at the pool most days with their friends they had a ball, India has settled into her first year of secondary school nicely and Tyler is last year of grade 6.
So the last couple of weeks has been busy organizing books and uniforms.
The new year for me starts with a Reiki course that Im doing with a lovely friend of mine.
I new water saving toilet installed this week.
Looking at installing a tank asap
Some more vege gardens
A holiday on the goldcoast {cant wait all paid for}
Building my little business
and what ever comes my way.
Oh and how can I forget we have two new additions to our animal family and they are just adorable.
Kat and Nala

Above is Kat short for Katarina she is quite hypo

Below is Nala she is a sweet little girl

I could watch these kittens for hours they love each other and just play all day.

Easy shortcrust pastry

Today is the last day of the school holidays, even though I love the holidays Im welcoming the change this week.
Lunches to be organized, for a very long time my father allways said why dont you make your own pastry, I allways bought the sheet pastry {how lazy of me} today I made my own shortcrust pastry to make little egg and bacon pies for the school lunches and I was surprised how easy it was, so Im now converted I will never buy shortcrust pastry again.

With just a little help from this lovely mixer.

And this trusty old rolling pin which was my fathers and since he doesnt bake much now he gave it to me, it was his Mothers, so its had a good work out in the family.

They dont look great but they tasted scrumptious, kids loved them.

Recipe for very easy shortcrust pastry is
2 cups plain flour
1/2 teasp salt
125 g butter chopped
1/4 cup water
and mix
roll out
Very nice pastry

All in a days work

A quick trip for my opp shop fix I found this cute monopoly game from 1936 complete with money and wooden houses. I didnt plan to buy this it was just the tin I wanted but I got the lot for $8.00 so I was happy, the tin that contained the money and houses was a Macrobertsons tin which I collect so this was a bonus.

I love school holidays but I just cant get to opp shops as much as I would like to. I have a room full of treasures to list on ebay but havnt had time for that either.
Today was a busy day mowed for 3 hours, weeded {only a little} cleaned spouts, kids cleaned car, potted plants, kids moved pavers, moved guinea pigs around a little and cleaned them, cleaned chook pen. spring cleaned 2 rooms {the rest of house to go}.
Often people say to me did you see such and such a show on the tv......... I NEVER  watch tv, it bores me, I like to be busy and do constructive things, after Im to tired to do anything around the house I usually read blogs, ebay, or read books.
Although occasionaly I may watch a dvd  maybe once a week .

We have had some beautiful little guinea pigs born in the last 2 weeks , this little girl is a day old and I will be keeping her, her Mum is white sheltie and father is a himalayan sheba yak.

Guinea pigs are gorgeous little creatures they love company so its allways best to keep more than one of the same sex.

My loganberries are coming along nicely, oh how I cant wait for these to fruit.

 

Simple home cooking

                                                  Spicy Pumpkin soup
1 large butternut pumpkin { or what ever pumpkin you have}
1 large carrot
1 sweet potatoe
1 onion
chicken stock to cover
red curry paste
1 tsp cummin
1 teasp coriander
 1 tblsp sugar
1 can coconut milk
 
fry up the onion and spices in saucepan add the pumpkin, carrot and sweet potatoe, then add chicken stock ,coconut milk and sugar.
Once all cooked puree

                                                              Apricot slice
1 pkt malt biscuits crushed
1/2 can condensed milk
4 tblsp butter
Melt and mix together and press into a slice dish.
topping
1 cup sultanas
1 pkt chopped apricots 200g
1 1/2 cups coconut
1/2 tin condensed milk
Mix together and put on top of base

Zucchini Slice

This is a great recipe for a take anywhere snack the kids love it in their school lunches, you can add alsorts of things to it.

5 Eggs
1 cup of SR flour
375g zucchini grated
1 large onion chopped
200g bacon chopped
1 cup of cheese grated
1/4 cup of oil
 method
Preheat oven to 180 Grease and line a lamington tin.
Beat the eggs in a large bowl add the flour then add zucchini, onion, bacon and cheese. Pour into prepared pan and bake for 30 minutes.
Its a great quick snack , great eaten cold.

It really is worth keeping some chooks in the backyard, such entertaining creatures.

A touch of Spring

Here in Beautiful Ballarat we have had a small touch of spring, just a few days so far really.
But it was enough to mow the lawns ,weed, and just enjoy the nature outside.

The fruit trees are all blossoming in my yard.
Baby animals are being born.

This photo is of 3 baby alpaca cross mini sheba yaks. We have 7 babies at the moment and a few more due in the next few weeks. The poor Mum who is a alpaca has no fur it looks like Ive shaved her as these bubs just sit near her chewing her fur, baby guinea pigs love to chew fur and I notice its the males who do this.

Also my long awaited tri colour mini lops have been born all 7 of them. They are extremeley adorable and so friendly I dont want to part with any, they will make lovely pets I wish I could keep them all.

Eggs are in abundance all the girls are laying, the girl in the picture is my naughty girl who escapes almost every day visits the neighbours , walks across the road to the building site, I swear she just wants me to look like the crazy lady walking up the street with a chook under arm. I wont part with her though as she has so much personality ,she is just naughty.

The Ballarat Vintage clothing fair has been and gone, it was a fantastic day with so many lovely stalls and beautiful items it is held at the Brown Hill Hall. I bought this lovely coat and its a keeper, I wont be reselling this. The racks behind it are full of vintage clothing that I just havnt had time to list on ebay, I tend to get a bit of a collection hold on to it for a while then sell it off, I think I like to hoard vintage clothes. I just love them, so much nicer than the mass produced rubbish today.

Macaroons

Winter school holidays are here again , I love school holidays there is usually a bit of baking going on and we decided to tackle macaroons, I have never made them before or eaten them, I had watched a show on making them a few days ago, I think it was French food safari.
There were so many recipes on the internet , and I finally have a chance to use my new fancy red beaters, I have had the same beaters for 20 years I think they cost $20.00 so two weeks ago I decided to treat myself to Catch of the days special red beaters and Im quite loving them.

   

Macaroons with chocolate ganache

100 grams of egg whites

110 grams of almond meal

165 grams pure icing sugar

60 grams of castor sugar

Process almond meal with icing sugar sift

Beat egg white till foamy gradually add castor sugar.

Beat until stiff

Fold in the egg white mix with the almond meal and icing sugar mix in well.

Place in piping bag.

Pre heat oven 180c

the turn down to 160c

line baking trays with baking paper pipe mixture onto trays

Bake for 13 to 15 minutes

Ganache

100 grams of chocolate

100 grams of cream

20 grams of butter

Melt altogether in saucepan

refridgerate until cool

cream together macaroons.

These were a beautiful texture

Cant wait to experiment with different flavours next time