Homemade Marmalade.

The old mandarin tree in the backyard is laden with sweet and juicy fruit this year.

So best get to work to use this delicious fruit.

Mum was a fruit and vegetable preserver and a jam and marmalade maker.

Dad was the apricot jam expert extraordinaire!

Actually, they made everything when I come to think about it..

So, this is my first time making marmalade and this is basically what I did.

Washed the jam jars in preparation for sterilising them in the oven

Sliced the mandarins in half.

 Scooped out all of the seeds.

Took off all of the pith.

 Wrapped both the seeds and the pith into a small muslin bag.

Apparently the seeds contain pectin that aids the setting process.

(I chose to remove the seeds before cooking as I did not want to sieve the finished product.

I love the country chunky texture)

Julienned the rind from about half of the mandarins.

Put all of the ingredients into a saucepan (including the tightly knotted muslin bag) and let it all bubble away for about two and a half hours.

The ingredients: Mandarins, Sugar, Water and Lemon Juice.

You can find recipes  here and here.

I am a bit naughty with recipes like this - I always modify them to suit our own taste.

After thickening up and discarding the muslin bag, I then scooped the mixture to the sterilised jars and sealed them straight away.

Kept them wrapped up in towels overnight.

And it was marmalade for breakfast this morning.

Mmmm...just delicious...

 Of course, there is the obligatory gift giving ritual with a home-made product with home-grown produce.



There are many more mandarins on the tree so I guess that means more marmalade!

The best part is I don't have to pay for them, which really appeals to the thriftiness in me.

Happy Monday.

Pam

A Tea Party with a Certain Style...

If you were looking for me yesterday, this is where you would have found me.

I was invited to a Mad Tea Party on Bribie Island...

...An idyllic location Linda of Lilly Cottage chose to host her Mad Hatters Tea Party.

Just look at her style!

 On the Esplanade at Banksia Beach.

You can see the stunning backdrop of the Glasshouse Mountains in the distance.

Before we could sit on these gorgeous mis-matched chairs...

or sit at the beautifully adorned table with muffins in vintage cups, coloured vintage glassware and vintage teapots...



...and displays of vintage glass bottles...



...we had to find our own tea cup!

 The rules were simple.

We had to find a matching tea-cup and saucer that just happened to be hidden in long grass.

So much fun!

So.... passers-by were treated to a glorious vision of women frantically rummaging in the long grass on the foreshore....all in the name of tea of course!

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Pomegranate Punch anyone?

Fabulous food, friendly and very chatty company and a totally beautiful setting.

The gorgeous Linda and her very dapper husband Tim catered for our every need.

They organised a game of croquet - how posh!

Forgetting (I really don't know how) to try one of Tim's home-made heart shaped scones.. I am hoping there will be a next time!


Thanks for a fabulous Tea Party day on Bribie Island.
A Tea Party with a certain Linda style...perfect in every way.

I am sure I won't be the only one to be inspired to host my own tea party...one day!

Beechmont Surprises.

We took a drive down to the Gold Coast Hinterland today.

Friends of ours have bought 150 acres at Beechmont.

Prime real estate on top of the mountain.

After looking at their plans for their amazing new home I was really keen to see their piece of paradise.

And what a glorious paradise they have found.

This will be the view from the Eastern side of the house.

It was a bit hazy today for photos, and on a good day the views stretch  from North Stradbroke Island to Coolangatta and much more I am sure.

Depends where you are taking the photo from of course!

This will be the view from the Western side of their home.

Stunning Gold Coast Hinterland.

On the way home, we stopped off at a small park.

We came across a lovely babbling river, complete with rocks!

Gorgeous autumn foliage.

We were strolling along the pathway,

 taking in all the natural beauty feeling nice and relaxed,enjoying the serenity of it all...

... then  we came across this car that had obviously been driven off a very old wooden bridge.

Do hope no-one was injured too badly.

Vintage Postcard Inspiration

We received a postcard in the mail the other day from friends who are in Donostia - San Sebastian.

This inspired me to think about the last time I received one...I just can't remember. I assumed everyone used a form of social media these days..Facebook, Twitter or mobile phones.

As a young child, a postcard was an expected and eagerly awaited piece of communication from Mum and Dad.

'Don't forget to send a postcard!' was the last murmured words when departing on beach holidays with relatives.

I also remember spending hours choosing a postcard to incite the most modest pangs of jealousy for my sister to endure. Usually beach-side images did the trick!

Wonder what my children's reaction would be if I asked them to write a postcard, buy a stamp and post it.

 In fact, it is not something I would even think about these days 

Now-a-days it's ' don't forget your mobile, chat to you on Facebook!'

Receiving this postcard has prompted a bit of research and this confirmed how huge postcard collecting is, all over the world. There is a UK website here where there is so much information on collecting, history and up and coming post card events.

Having two vintage postcards in my collection I bought in an antique shop not long ago, I realise my meagre collection is a far cry from the thousands that I am sure some collectors have.

I thought these were particularly gorgeous because of the roses and sails.

Hand-written Birthday wishes.

I also came across these ...

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Did you know that the official name of postcard collecting is Deltiology?

Are you a Deltiologist?

Making Them Last...

Trying to make these gorgeous roses last at home as long as I can.

Using my vintage china more and more these days.

Not much is stashed away in the china cabinets any more.

A stunning winter day in Brisbane so far, a bit chilly with clear blue skies.

Pam x

Recent Floral Fabric Finds

A few of my recent vintage finds.

Vintage rose sheets on 100% cotton.

Crisp and florally (such a word??)

Retro style pinks and brown floral.

What do I have in mind for these?

Perhaps a few more cushions for the daybed on the back deck... I love to change the look out there from time to time, so I use the floral sheets to tuck in over the mattress.

I find they are brilliant and very affordable as I am a bit of a changer!!

I also found a gorgeous linen tablecloth.

Chunky crochet around the edges and chunky butterflies inserted in each corner.

Handmade and so very different.

Pam x

Rustling Leaves and Budding Camellias

Loving the winter leaves rustling in the garden as the cool winter winds stir them up.

The camellias are still budding and flowering, adding a pop of colour.

I am so grateful that the previous owner of our home planted these camellias.

I just leave them alone and they just grow and present these amazing blooms.

Don't you just love it when the neglected plants (only because you really don't know what to do with them) surprise you with their best?

Have a happy weekend.