bread and beeswax

this weekend just past I was lucky enough to attend the 3rd annual 'flour and fire day' hosted by Jane of the shady baker, at her property. I remember reading Jane's post back in 2014 and thinking how lovely the day sounded and hoping one day to be a part of it.

the day started with hot coffee made over the open fire, freshly baked sweet treats and getting to know each other. I got to meet some lovely bloggers who I have gotten to know online, Sophie and Kate. gosh I still can't get used to meeting people for the first time though we've 'known' each other for so long through our blogs.

then it was into the bread making, with Jane sharing her sourdough making skills with us.
we all enjoyed a homemade lunch of bread straight out of the woodfired oven, lamb stew and freshly made pasta and pesto.
after lunch it was candle making time. I hosted this little activity. everyone brought along a vessel or two to fill and with the beeswax melted over the wood fire we added a cotton wick and filled our teacups, jars and tins with the delicious smelling wax.
we left with full tummies, a whole lot of inspiration and baskets filled with homegrown and homemade goodies from the swap table.

I'm already looking forward to the 2016 flour and fire day.

a new home.

things have been a bit quiet here on the blog of late, but it's not been quiet in life's happenings.

we've just made the big (and exciting) leap and became first home owners. it's all gone pretty smoothly so far (thank goodness) without much trouble in our dealings with the bank, conveyancer and real estate agent. the whole house buying process was all new to us so there was a bit of stress with how to go about making an offer, building inspections, getting financial approval, the need for a conveyancer, taking out insurance.. the list goes on.

and today we got to pick up the keys and have a good look around.
the house is a simple 2 bedroom home with mostly original mint-coloured kitchen and bathroom and a quaint outdoor (part of the back verandah) laundry and second loo.
there's a mismatch of carpets, cream paint and a rather unsightly suspended ceiling but the bones are good and as I look around all I see is potential.
outside there's a pair of orange trees, a lemon, cumquat and fig tree... the startings of what I hope will become a very productive permaculture space. and chooks again... I can't wait.

I'm looking forward to updating as we go and have taken plenty of 'before' photos to share. x

simple cleaning

for the past little while I've been slowly cutting down on the purchasing of cleaning products. underneath the kitchen sink which was once full of bottles and cans (with their warning labels and expensive price tags) now instead sits dishwashing liquid, a jar of bicarb-soda, a bottle or two of vinegar, along with a some essential oils.
these staples see me through most cleaning now.

Tile and wooden floor cleaner
to a bucket of hot water add
a squirt of dishwashing liquid
1 cup vinegar
1/4 cup bicarb soda
mop floor as usual

Foaming bath and toilet cleaner
Heat 1 cup of vinegar in a 1L microwave safe jug in the microwave for 2-3 minutes until piping hot.
Stir in 1/3 cup dishwashing liquid.
Add 2 tablespoons bicarb soda and stir quickly (be sure to be close by the bath/toilet as the mixture foams up and may overflow the jug).
Pour to coat the surface of the bath/toilet bowl. Leave for a minimum of 1 hour. A little scrub may be required then rinse with clean water.

Fabric freshener
Choose a large container/jar you wish to use to hold the fabric freshener.
To a jug add the required amount of vinegar to fill the container. to this add 1-2 tablespoons bi-carb soda. You will need to do this slowly as it will foam up.
Once the bi-carb is dissolved add a couple of drops of the essential oil of your choice (i like eucalyptus, lemon myrtle or peppermint) then decant into your chosen container or jar.
Add a good half cup to the fabric softener dispenser in your washing machine and wash as usual.

do you have any simple, green cleaning recipes, tips or tricks?

for 2015

Here's a little list of my goals for 2015. I'm joining in with Sophie over at Her Library Adventures.
I hope to check back throughout the year and be able to tick at least some of these goals off the list. let me know if you share your thirty goals too.

1. sew, sew and sew some more. I want to sew more clothes for myself and also get my little shop open and stocked again
2. gardening. this will be a bit of a challenge but I at least want to have a few herbs going and also get a compost pile/worm farm happening for all the kitchen scraps
3. get cutting and pasting in my inspiration scrapbook
4. continue with the ethical clothing pledge of 2014, I shopped my wardrobe, found some beautiful pieces while op-shopping and made a few purchases from ethical businesses
5. not buy bread, instead making our own. I'd like to get my own sour dough starter happening too
6. take pottery classes, I'm pretty sure there's a group in town
7. make more cleaning and beauty products including washing liquid, facial exfoliator, shampoo and conditioner
8. say 'no' to disposable coffee cups. I invested in a 'keep cup' each so now just the challenge of remembering to bring them with us while out and about
9. learn the art of macramé
10. get to know and understand the functions of my camera better
11. Try weaving. I op-shopped a little loom a while back so now just have to find some yarn to weave
12. Try screen printing
13. Make a strap for my camera
14. upcycle some of the silver cutlery collection.. I'm thinking jewellery
15. upcycle some broken plates.. yes the move did unfortunately result in a few Johnson casualties
16. use the cookbook collection and try new recipes
17. make a timber Christmas tree for December 2015
18. make soap
19. make a terrarium
20. buy groceries from locally owned small businesses rather then the big chains
21. keep the house tidier by doing a little cleaning everyday
22. blog at least once a week, maybe twice
23. send more happy mail
24. discover the perfect museli bar recipe
25. drink more water everyday
26. make more handmade gifts
27. cull more stuff.. kitchenware and craft room
28. buy based on quality rather than price
29. print and frame some of my photos
30. organise a wedding

home life

 my latest reads. mezz and tazz's Hundreds and Thousands mag is onto it's third edition. you can purchase a copy here. I've also found this op-shopped copy all about bee keeping very interesting.

a new op-shopped Johnson plate ($1). another design to add to the collection. 

pretty Pyrex ($4) in a buttery shade.

floral sheets ($2) 

 little Mitten

banana and hazelnut cake. a couple of pieces for now and the rest packaged up in greaseproof paper and washi tape and popped in the freezer to see us through the week.

I tried this recipe for salted banana caramel mousse which was just delicious. it's refined sugar free, gluten free, dairy free and vegan.

 

a parcel filled with handmade goodies arrived in the mail this week from the lovely Tracy.

 

 

what loveliness has been filling your days of late?

happenings and a winner.

the days are flying by here.
overtime at work has seen another week go quickly by
the op-shops have been generous in their offerings
the spinach and kale that lay dormant over winter has sprung to life.
I've been busy making rough puff pastry (using this recipe) and filling it with homegrown spinach and market-purchased cheese
the sweet peas are in bloom. as is the lavender
we made a Biltong box and my love has been enjoying the dried meat. I hope to share a little DIY to make your own Biltong box if you're interested.
I've been blessed with a few parcels from blog friends filled with vintage sheets, LGBs and tea towels
a new camera lens was purchased as an early Christmas present. i'm enjoying playing with it
I also picked a winner for the little tea towel cushion cover give away. and that winner is...

Elaina of A little bit country.

if you could email me your address i'll post the cushion cover and a couple of other goodies your way.

zara-117(at)hotmail(dot)com

 

 

what have you been up to lately?

home-made shaving cream

one of my hopes for 2014 is making more beauty and cleaning products myself. so when my other half finished the last tube of shaving lotion I didn't buy a replacement. instead I made a batch and it was a success. all it requires is 5 ingredients, most of which I already had on hand.

1/4 cup coconut oil
2 tblsp cocoa butter
2 tsp bi-carb soda
1/4 cup liquid castile soap
2 drops tea tree oil

gently melt the coconut oil and coconut butter together in a large bowl, either on the stove top or the microwave.
add the bi-carb soda, castile soap and tea tree oil. whip all the ingredients together with a hand mixer/stand mixer until thick and foamy.
store in a jar or recycled container.
I decanted it into two jars. one for the bathroom and the other is in the fridge where it will last for several weeks. this shaving cream is lovely and thick with a delicious chocolate scent from the addition of the cocoa butter.

recipe based on this one from Healy Eats Real.

 

do let me know if you try this recipe. I'd love to hear what you think of it.
do you have any favourite homemade cleaning/beauty recipes?

stills: tip shop and bunting

1. bunting
2. a 'boy' pencil case for my love. with so many florals in the stash picking fabrics was hard
3. these most delicious (and simple) lime and coconut balls. 5 ingredients and a blender/food processor
4. apple and cinnamon muffins for the freezer
5. Country Style reading
6. the newly discovered tip shop. I came home with a chenille bedspread, tablecloth, zippers, an icing spatula and a vintage suitcase all for $10

weekly stills at the beetle shack.

stills: apricot shades

1. my newest dress is complete
2. the most delicious nectarine sauce
3. home grown butternut pumpkin roasted for tea tonight
4. one of the chicks is now laying. I cant believe how big they are now
5. $1 thrifted milk glass
6. coconut bars using this recipe. I used apricots in place of the dates
7. another lovely issue

 

weekly stills at the beetle shack