Blue Wren

He was back yesterday!  We had a visit a few weeks ago (assuming it's the same one!)  He flitted around the front yard veggie patch again, under the potato plant leaves, the kale, then up into the bare birch tree.  We briefly saw his mate before she flew away.  I wonder if there's a nest being built nearby.  We don't usually see these birds in suburbia, I wonder what's going on in their natural habitat?

Good reading

Linda from the Witches Kitchen wrote a great blog post about supermarket catalogues (and the terrible processed food that they discount rather than food that is actually good for you), read it here.

Winter garden tour

We're trying strawberries in hanging bags this year, after not much success with them in the garden thus far.  Just have to remember to keep the water up to them!  They're the Alinta variety from Diggers.

 One of our 2 new hazelnut trees- we have a Cosford, and a Wanliss Pride next to each other, both from Diggers.

 Cherry Stella, a self fertile variety, looks like a stick at the moment.

 One of our 2 Avocado Rincon, that tolerate the cold well, and only grow to 3 metres tall.  So our driveway that used to be full of pittosporums, now has 2 avocado, an almond, 2 hazelnut, a cherry, a cox's orange pippin apple, and an apricot tree.  And there's room for one more up the end, when we get some more tree stumps out.

 Andrew's wheat crop

 Our bumper crop of yummy carrots

 Potatoes coming back after the frost knocked them back.

 Some very healthy broccoli heads- no grubs on them this year.  We had a visit from a blue wren and his little brown mate yesterday, in the broccoli patch.

And our 7 chooks having a feast on some broccoli leaves, thinned to let more light in.  One of our chooks (Louisa the little araucana) died on one of the frosty mornings about 3 weeks ago.  I don't think she was a healthy bird.  On a lighter note, I think today will be a five egg day, with both Plymouth rock's laying an egg (both chooks jammed into one lawn mower catcher!).  If so, it will be the first time we've had five eggs in one day.  Can't wait for the araucanas to start laying again.

Latest op shop finds

 Bioviva board game $5.  Retails at about $70.  This will be great when the girls are a few years older.

 100% merino wool cardigan for me $3.  Looks much nicer on.  Love fine wool knits.

 Boots $5- too big for Evie now, but will be great in a couple of years.

 Pyjamas that will fit Evie next year, with cats on them- her favourite.

These were found by my mum for Evie- a 3 piece dancing outfit for 50c a piece.  Evie and Liv are starting dancing lessons next term.  Haven't found anything for Liv to wear yet, running out of time.

We're doing pretty well on our no new clothing for a year challenge, and we've been able to stash away a fair bit for next year and the year after.

Food swap

The girls and I attended our first food swap today, at Manifold Heights Primary School.  I took a big bag of lemons, and 2 dozen eggs.  I came away with a big piece of pizza, some chillies, a lemon/lime cross, a jar of jam, and some Jerusalem artichokes.  I'll plant the artichokes so we can grow some more.  I wasn't sure what to expect in the middle of winter, but I think we did allright, and got to meet some lovely like minded people.

Shop update

 Upcycled pinafore size 2

 Echino skirt size 6-8

 Echino pants size 2

 Bunting skirts, size 2-3 and 4-5

It's been a while since I did a shop update, but I've had a few sales this week, so I thought it was time for a freshen up.  Some of this stock was made for markets, but I hadn't got around to listing them.  They're in my shop now.

Evie is 6

 Evie turned 6 on Friday, the last day of school term before the winter holidays.  Her Gran arrived that day, we had a special dinner that night, then she and Gran went to see the musical Annie on Saturday.  She was also awarded a "Terrific Kids" award at her school assembly on Friday.  She lost her first tooth this morning

 The actual birthday

 The party on Tuesday, with friends and cousins