the green little green house

Aprons are out and gardening is in at the moment. Okay who am I kidding I have been slack on the aprons for quite some time.

I have however been up to some new projects. Nigel made us a wonderful little green house. The frame was already here stuck under some trees. He found some thick plastic and got to work.

It is so great. We pretend it is our own little conservatory and have breakfast out there together when we are both home in the mornings.

I have been doing a bit of "green" reading the last couple years. I have been inspired by Animal, Vegetable, Miracle and No Impact Man and slightly freaked out by Plastic Free (I haven't yet finished this book, I got too scared!)
So with all that green info in my back pocket we are trying to grow veggies from seed and take care that we are thinking about what is going into them right from the start.
We found a place not far from us that sells heirloom seeds, and have been getting our seedlings ready in the greenhouse to go outside when the last hint of frost has passed.
Some cool ideas we have found out and put into practice are growing our seeds in egg cartons, toilet paper rolls, and making our own newspaper "pots" for the bigger ones.
It all seems so much nicer than starting our seeds in plastic pots that may or may or be leaching who knows what into the plant!
Also nicer for the plant since at planting time they can just pop straight into the soil in what ever paper pot they are in at the moment.
 PS I am aware of the irony of trying to have a plastic free garden in a plastic green house!

the bloomin tree

Someone said to me the other day. "Bloom where you're planted."

I thought oh yeah that is a nice little saying I have heard many times.
Cute little flower in a desert somewhere.

A few days later I got a new picture in my mind. 







This tree here is out the back of the cafe I work at. It is gorgeous.
It doesn't care that it is next to a rusty ol fence and that not very many people will see it. It just blooms anyways.  It blooms with everything its got.


So I guess its about giving your best even if you are situated next to an ol rusty fence.

the kale

We got to enjoy some of the fruits....ah veggies....of our winter garden yesterday. Some very large radishes, cabbage and a colander full of kale. That kale grew all winter long and didnt really get too big, but it is enough for some veggie soup. That is Luna in the background wondering what I have done with her kale patch. I often found her sitting in the middle of it chomping on the kale, might be part of the reason it stayed so small! Our cute kale eating cat.

the caffeine

I have a problem with caffeine. The problem being that I dont usually have any, so when I do I am wired! I used to be an avid caffeine drinker. First Mountain Dew and then Diet Coke. For years I lived off my caffeine beverage of choice. I have been off it for about 5 years.
So this morning I popped a caffeine laden Excedrin to battle my headache. I now I am awake and out of bed at 7am. Partly due to the caffeine and partly due to jet-leg. I often wonder at the things I could accomplish in a day if I were to get up at such an early hour.
It is chilly in the mornings here in Woodville, NZ. A lovely 38F this morning. So first I put on my possum socks and wooly sweater and then put the jug on for a cup of hot tea. I made some Delicious Fig and Coconut Baked Oatmeal, see recipe below, got the quilt and computer and sat down to blog.
I thought blogging a better choice than waking my soundly sleeping husband up with my caffeine induced morning chatter.
So... 8am. No one up around here on a sunday morning except me and the birds. Even the cat has abandoned me for the cozy warm bed.
I will wait for the Oatmeal to bake, enjoy my cuppa and see what Catherine is up to. My first time reading Jane Austens Northanger Abbey.

Baked Oatmeal.....very loosely based on a weight watchers recipe. Feeds 4

1 1/2 C old fashioned oats
1/4C dried figs
1/4 C dried coconut
3T raw sugar
1t baking powder
1/2t cinnamon
pinch of salt

1/4 c plain yogurt
1/4 milk
2 small eggs (or one large)
1 T oil
1 t vanilla extract

Mix dry ingredients in one bowl and wet in another then mix together. Pour into a greased baking dish 8x8. Bake 30 min at 350F or until toothpick comes out clean. Cool ten min then serve with some milk pour over top.