The turmeric project

I have to say this could be the proudest achievement for me. A friend had been posting articles on growing vegetables from leftover kitchen scraps and I've tried a few such as rooting spring onions and various salad leaves to some success. The one ingredient which is virtually impossible to find here is turmeric leaves. Fresh turmeric roots can be bought from the Asian shops but never the leaves. I have friends who actually hand carried the leaves from home (via a 12-14 hour flight) and freeze them for use throughout the year. So when someone said to me, why don't you try to grow the turmeric from the roots bought in the Asian shop it was light bulb moment. Could it really be that easy?? So I tried it and to my delight, out of the 3 pieces of root, two of them sprouted!! So now it's lovingly looked after, awaiting the day the plants get established enough for me to start plucking the leaves for consumption....hmmmm, can't wait to make authentic beef rendang which has always been missing that one ingredient!

The moment that had me jumping for joy,

Getting more exciting after potting!

 

 

Posted with Blogsy

Bottle cosy crochet

Lately there's been a lot of posts on FB on crochet patterns and that of course got my fingers itching. It's been some time since I did any crochet work, so I started work on a bag for myself, halfway through mini me requested for a holder for her water bottle. So my bag was put on hold and the holder was started, it was to be an overnight job with mini me checking on progress every so often, holding her bottle up against the work...talk about slave drivers! But I love it when she's excited about things handmade! This is another one of those things that bring back memories from the past. Making one of these bottle holders was the very first time I learned to crochet. Taught by one of my aunts, it was a gift I treasure for years after and still do.

Up close, using a self patterned yarn

 

 

Posted with Blogsy

Anticipating the burst of colours

The plants in the garden are all busy making buds and I'm eagerly awaiting for it all to burst into colour. On the top is the clematis which is now just under 2 years but is growing well to cover the climbing frame or rather one side of the frame. Try as I might to encourage it to climb the other way, this plant has a mind of its own.

New to bloom this year are the chives, this is a £1 pot of chives which I bought 2 years ago for cooking and then I decided to plonk it into a pot outside because I saw a roundabout in town filled with chives that were blooming and I loved the look of the flowers. At least I thought they were chives! But was sorely disappointed last year when I didn't get any flowers and proceeded to chop the tops off and ate them! This year though, I'm glad I didn't yank the whole lot out, it started to grow again and I'm seeing buds ..YESSS!!

Chives, see the tiny purple buds?

Ok, I will ramble on about one more, the giant oriental poppy is also 2 this year. I have two plants, they didn't look like they were going to survive but produced one flower each. Hmmm..maybe that's what you get with the giant variety. This year though I'm seeing at least 5 buds each, growing fatter and fatter..so again YESSS!!

Giant oriental poppy

 

 

Posted with Blogsy

The fruity ones

It's time to start working on the garden again. But first an inspection of new growth, these are the fruity ones. The good old raspberries are coming along and I think I've got these ones in hand, the canes have been going on for almost five years now. The gooseberries are showing some flower buds too, it fruited for the first time last year so this year will be proof that I've pruned it correctly if we get fruit again. The one on the left is the one to watch this year, these are black currants, they are now 2years old and so hopefully will start to fruit...fingers crossed for lots of delicious fruitiness this year!

 

Posted with Blogsy

Casserole holder or carrier

I have been busy on the machine again. This time it's making casserole carriers for two friends. As pot lucks are a thing with us Malaysians away from home, these lovely carriers are really handy for carrying food around in casseroles that are cooked it and also keeps them nice and warm.

Rather flying saucer like when flat

 

The other on..

 

 

 

Posted with Blogsy

Buttercup 2 and 3

Here's buttercup 2 and 3! I made one for myself a while ago and my sis said she wanted one so out pops two more! Made with the same fat quarter of the first which came in a set. The original pattern didn't come with a zipper to close the bag but it's best to be safe than sorry. I put one in when I made the first but didn't take measurements or not ..duh! I did figure it out in the end and took measurements and notes. Hope you enjoy the bag sis!

Ready to get sewing

All together now

 

 

 

 

Posted with Blogsy

Year 4 1/2 of the garden

This morning after we finally got some snow laying, I went to check the garden and realised I missed doing a post on the garden year 4! So here is the garden 4 1/2 to make up for it. To be honest the garden was not too productive last year and I didn't spend as much time as I normally would in it. So on that realisation, there an itch in my fingers to work the garden well this year. Time to break out the magazine collection and start planning I think!

Some of the newbies from last year...the long looked for miniature rose and much used bay

 

 

Posted with Blogsy