Gum Valley Patchwork

Monster Spuds........plus more

Were do the days go? It seems like only yesterday that I did my last post but it was a week ago! My apologies to everyone who has been logging on and finding the same old post. Now on with the news of the week…..

My classes are filling up very fast with the Material Girls Club booked out in just 2 days. Due to the demand I have scheduled another session in the morning (9am – 11.30am), I only have 3 places left so let me know asap if you want in as it starts on Monday. Some of the other classes are also full but I have updated the class list with the details.

I have finished the top of the ‘Field of Flowers’ Quilt and it is ready to be sent off to Margaret & Wendy for quilting.

I would normally do this myself but I decided to use one of the ‘Swanky’ border prints and mitered the corners. This has made the quilt a bit big for me to tackle on my machine plus the girls would do a much better job than I would do.

I do love the border though.

On Tuesday I headed to Warrnambool on a mission to complete my ever growing shopping / job list and get home by milking time. It was a push but I did it……but not before I had visited Bunnings (I love poking around the garden section – it’s not just a guys shop) and also Pearson’s Nursery in Allansford – where they just happened to have a 20% off sale. First on the list was to replace the shrubs that Russell mowed off for me last week…….but it didn’t stop there…….a mega punnet of Poppies (I love popppies) from Bunnings for $14 what a buy!……then some hellebores to replace some woody marguerite daisies……….other assorted shrubs and perennials for the garden bed I’m currently trying to weed and revamp……and 2 grape vines – not sure where they are going but the notion of eating my own home grown grapes gets me excited!

Most of the vegie garden is looking very weedy too at the moment – except for the bed where I planted my potatoes. Although they are not quite ready I am harvesting a plant every now and then so that we have a fresh supply of potatoes. I planted 2 different types of seed potatoes but can’t remember what they were called – one is very white and they other a creamy/yellow flesh….…….but I certainly got a surprise when I dug this variety up yesterday afternoon…

They were HUGE………that’s an egg on the plate beside them.

Linda   :)

PS....Happy Birthday to my 'little' brother - Peter - for last Thursday.

A little bit of advice and the raffle winner

A couple of pieces of advice….never put off anything that you know that you should do today. On Wednesday evening after milking I decided to mow the lawns at the shop. The recent rain (on top of my watering) and the warm weather has really made the grass grow. While mowing I noticed that the crab apples were ready for picking. I love crab apple jelly …..although Russell says that it is just flavoured sugar! The variety of crab apple is ‘Gorgeous’ and makes a fantastic deep red jelly. Well today I went out to pick them and this is what I found ……

The damn crows have been in and picked most of them off the tree….just taking a peck out of them and letting them fall to the ground. I have salvaged a few but not sure that I will be able to make much jelly out of them. I do have another tree at home but the hot weather in February burnt / cooked most of them….maybe there will a few that I can pick.

The second piece of advice is not to let your hubby mow the lawn! Russell decided to give our old mower a run on Wednesday evening. He set off to mow out near the road where there was a bit of long grass. I then asked whether he could mow around the fruit trees…..showing him where I had things planted and what not to mow. Imagine my horror when I saw him heading up along the fence line straight for some trees that I planted last Spring. I tried to head him off but alas 3 trees received a rather severe pruning……

At least when I want to go to the nursery next time he can’t really say no….lol!

The raffle that I was running for the Bushfire Appeal was drawn last Sunday afternoon. A total of $340 was raised ….which was fantastic……and has been deposited with the nab into the Gippsland Emergency Relief Fund’s account.

And the winner is…….Helen Begely of Simpson. Yeah. Helen is a great lady and actively works in the community in many ways – Lions Club, Red Cross, Uniting Church, and on our Agricultural Show committee…..there’s probably even more that I don’t know about. Well done Helen….and I heard that it was her birthday on Wednesday too.

Linda   :)

A way to a man's heart....

is via homemade tomato sauce……well it is to my hubby’s. He loves it and it is very guarded – not too many people are allowed to be given a bottle. Well it is tomato time at the fruit market – a case of sauce tomatoes for $17 – so that means work for me. Last night I decided to make another double batch of my Tomato and Chilli Sauce ……. don’t worry it’s not that hot……..the chilli just adds a bit of extra flavour.

First I chopped up 3kg of tomatoes – just chunky bits as I always moulis my sauce.

To the tomatoes add 1 tablespoon coarse cooking salt; 3 cups sugar; 1 1/3 cups of white vinegar and 6 red chillies chopped (I put in seeds and all – depends on your taste)

Then into a piece of muslin / cheesecloth I put 6 cloves of garlic; 3 tablespoons of pimentos; 6 teaspoons whole cloves and 1 tablespoon of whole black peppercorns. Tie it up securely – I used a piece of old pre-made bias binding left over from my past clothes sewing life – but string will do.

 

Stir the tomatoes etc over a medium heat until the sugar is dissolved. Then add the ‘spice bag’ – I always leave one end of the bias a bit longer and tie it to the handle of the boiler…..makes for easy retrieval. Bring to the boil and simmer uncovered, stirring occasionally.

Now this is where I differ from the original recipe - I simmer my sauce for about 2 ½ hours (instead of the 45 minutes they suggest). Remove the spice bag. I then put my sauce through a moulis……..this belongs to my mother-in-law but she has given it to me….yeah…it’s great for sauce making as it removes all of the tomato skins.

Then pour your sauce into hot sterilised bottles and seal when cool/cold.

I make enough sauce to last a year and I never buy tomato sauce.

Next job Tomato Relish.

Linda    :)

Sale time

Just a quickie to remind everyone that my sale is on at the moment….finishes 4pm tomorrow afternoon….there is 20% off all stock. If you can’t make it in person and there is something that you would like just email me and I will mail it out…..less the 20% of course (but plus postage).

Linda   :)

'Aviary' has arrived.

It is always exciting when a new range of fabric arrives at the shop……..yes ‘Aviary’ by 3 Sisters has arrived!

Now the only problem was where to put it all – 40 very pretty fabrics need a special place. So it was off the bed ‘Sanctuary’ and on with ‘Aviary’.

I must admit I am getting very good at re-arranging, squishing and squeezing. But at least there are no more large lots due in until May – that’s when the Christmas fabrics arrive. I also had a bit of a count up of the bolts and there are now over 570 in stock. Ranges (or part thereof) include : Sanctuary; Peace on Earth; Posh; Butterfly Fling; Tranquility; Swanky; Aviary; plus much more. I am also gearing up for my 2^nd birthday SALE this weekend. There will be 20% off all stock (including the new ranges ‘Swanky’ and ‘Aviary’) on Saturday 14^th and Sunday 15^th March from 11am til 4pm on both days. Why not drop in and say hi.

Finally just had to let everyone know that my Country Magoo and Pirate Magoo are hitting it off and they now seem to be best of buddies.

Linda   :)

Class list revealed

Just a quick post to let those of you who have been waiting very patiently for my class list and newsletter that it has arrived…….well I have just created a photo album with the news and classes anyway. As I am typing this my printer is working overtime and I should be able to get most them posted in the next day or so.

Back to the grindstone…..

Linda   :)

It feels like Autumn

Brrrr…..I have just got inside from mowing the lawns up at the shop. It is quite chilly outside and the days are starting to get shorter. I really love Autumn – the fine days and cooler evenings – a fantastic time to get stuck into the garden…. and believe me I have a lot to get stuck into! I have noticed that the recent hot weather has taken its toll on some of my plants, so it looks like I’ll have to make a trip to the nursery for some replacements. But before I get too carried away planning my gardening exploits, I really really have to get my class list out. That’s my priority for tomorrow so that I can mail them all on Tuesday. So my apologies for the lateness.

Linda   :)

A troop of monkeys

Ever since I first set eyes on Melly & Me's wonderful ‘Magoo’ I knew that I had to make one. My first ‘Magoo’ turns 1 this month (not quite sure how old that is in monkey years) and sits near the door of the shop welcoming everyone as they enter. A handsome country boy, who is quite conservative but still quite cheeky. I have caught a few young ladies playing with him and even one toddler dragging him by the arm and heading out the door. Next on the scene was Snam Magoo (sensitive new age monkey)….a little more daring with his funky shorts and dyed hair…and he even one first prize in his class at the Heytesbury Show on the weekend.

 

He is off to live in Melbourne with my daughter Emma and said his farewells yesterday morning.

But then look who arrived in the mail today……..

Pirate Magoo!

I was a successful bidder in Melly & Rosie’s recent Bushfire Appeal auction on their blog. My custom made item couldn’t be anything else but a Magoo. Melly has done a great job and I have fallen in love with this rogue. I think that he will also turn a lot of heads …….. after all there’s just something appealing about a guy who looks tough on the outside ……but he’s just so cute – the Johnny Depp of the troop!

Linda   :)