Beginnings

Boston ivy making a start on the front of the house.

Starting the Ligustrum Vulgare hedge. We bought 80 small plants originally. Keith has propagated a further 150 and planted 50 so far.

Our first (and maybe only!) apple of the year.

Sunflowers in the vegetable garden, grown from seeds from the chicken feed.

I know it's now the end of January, but it really takes the start of school for it to feel like the beginning of a new year for me.

Relaxing

We've just spent a few days on the central coast, visiting my sister, niece and nephew. The weather was warm and sunny, and even better the water temperature was perfect.

On the way home we called into here. Highly recommend, especially if your children would like to own a reptile but your not so keen!

Back at home, it looks like this family has moved in for good.  (The little one is very sweet.)

Present in a jar

We're off to visit my sister for a few days in the morning, and I want to take her a small gift. Something a bit different, after all we've just had Christmas with lots of presents all round. So, I decided on this jar of White chocolate, cranberry and macadamia cookies which I saw in a recent Home Beautiful magazine.

Everything is ready to go, the flour sifted etc, and she just needs to add the butter, eggs and vanilla. They said to use a 1.25L jar, but we had some space left at the top - I think a 1L would have been perfect. I put a piece of baking paper on top of the last ingredient, the lovely macadamia nuts, and then popped the recipe in on top.

Hope she likes it - I know her children will!

Morning walk

A quick, after breakfast, walk to the top of Hat Hill (1035m).

Yesterday was almost a complete 'white out' with the fog, but today is going to be beautiful and hot, so we plan to be outside and make the most of it!

Actinotus helianthi  (Flannel Flower)