It seems a bit silly calling this week thirteen, considering my week twelve post was here, way back in September 2015. But just for the sake of it, I will keep adding on from there!
I mentioned a few posts ago that I would show you my embarrassing garden. I can make all the excuses in the world, but the truth is I just gave up. After the chickens managed to get in on numerous occasions and dig up all the seedlings and the weather became so darn hot (I am definitely a winter person!), it just all seemed to be not worth it. I am determined not to give up again!
Sharon Astyk's book spells out all the reasons to continue, and this time I will! Not that I haven't been doing anything at all, but nowhere near what I had hoped to achieve. Onwards and upwards!
There have been some successes - and I could just show you these photos and say it all looks great, but that would be cheating!
Sunflowers, zucchini, sweet corn and potatoes, as well as herbs and eggs, have all been growing well.
BUT, and here it is - the rest of the garden, well!
Remember my lovely paths? All buried by the chickens' scratching. And those weeds! All I can say is at least they are all dead from the hot summer.
This week I will not do a list, but will definitely get back to that next week. And I will be hoping to show some progress as well!
I hope everyone else's gardens and preserving and cooking have been coming along slightly better than mine!
Joining in today with Ginny for Yarn Along.
I have started reading my first book from my Classics Club list, Gone With The Wind. Thanks Therese, for the suggestion!
This is my mum's copy of the book, which I first read when I was about 13. I think this would be about my third or fourth re-reading. I am really looking forward to enjoying it all over again.
Work on the Amy Pinafore is coming along steadily. At the moment, it is great TV knitting - just round and round and round! I love the ruffles, although next time I may space them out a bit more so you can see some of the pink between each ruffle. I am happy with the way the yarn colours are working as well, especially the tonal pink.
And here is my little (or not so little any more!) Whirlwind. First week back at school and he was awarded the first Emmett Award for the year. So proud of him. The Emmett Award is for academic achievement - he really loves learning!
When you are awarded Emmett, you are able to sign the bear, so he was super excited to be the first signature for the year.
Linking today with At Home With Mrs M for Meal Planning Monday and I'm An Organising Junkie for Menu Plan Monday.
I will be really trying to stick to a strict budget with groceries, and meal planning is a huge part of succeeding with budgeting.
Monday
Cottage pie made with last night's leftover roast beef. I am making it with mashed sweet potato topping, just for something different.
Jelly and ice cream
Tuesday
Roast chicken, potatoes with butter and chives, honey carrots, minted peas.
Chocolate self-saucing pudding
Wednesday
Pork chop, parsnip and maple tray bake
Fruit salad
Thursday
Tacos
Trifle
Friday
Stir fried chicken and noodles
Lemon polenta cake with lemon syrup
Saturday
Crispy salmon with salad
Sticky date pudding
Sunday
Roast beef, roast veggies and steamed greens
Vanilla panna cotta
Passionfruit Melting Moments
Seed-studded Anzac biscuits
Choc chip biscuits
Hedgehog slice
Banana muffins
Hope you have a delicious week!
I need to get on top of lots of work around the house, so I have a really long list! I am trying to space it out though - if I list it all in one week, it would be far too daunting.
Gardening and Homestead
- Dead head rose bushes to hopefully get an autumn flush of flowers.
- Veggie garden - don't even look in there! I will post some photos but I have really let it go as the chickens keep getting in there with no proper fencing. And I admit that I have given up a bit. So need to get the weeding done again and clear it all out again.
Knitting, sewing and crafting
- Winding skeins ready for dyeing and plan some dyeing colour schemes.
- Finish Amy Pinafore.
- Finish Ugly Yarn Monster.
- Three hours of hand quilting on Miss Ballerina's quilt - yes, this is still not finished!
Household
- Freezer inventory - I let this lapse over the summer holidays and now I am not sure what could be in there!
- Sort out two boxes from shed.
- Start organising recipe folder.
As I have been away (and a lovely time was had by all!), I missed the January recap and tag questions for the Period Drama Challenge at Miss Laurie's.
I completed two reviews in January - Banished and The Water Diviner. Head on over to the January recap post above to see other reviews in the Challenge.
Now for the tag questions!
1. What period dramas did you view in January?
Banished and The Water Diviner.
2. What is your favourite Charles Dickens film adaptation?
It depends on whether we are talking about movie length adaptations or series.
For a movie, I would definitely say the 1946 adaptation of Great Expectations.
For a series, I would find it difficult to decide between Little Dorrit and Bleak House.
3. Would you rather visit Pemberley or Downton Abbey? Why?
It would have to be Pemberley, simply because Pemberley, Elizabeth and Mr Darcy have been a part of my life for so many years. I have re-read P&P so many times and watched so many adaptations, whereas I have not watched very much of Downton Abbey. That being said, I do love the historical era of Downton Abbey and am sure I will love the show once I am able to view all the series.
4. If you could be any character in a Jane Austen novel for a whole day who would you be and why would you want to be that character?
I would have to say Elinor Dashwood on the day she discovers Edward is not married. I have always related to Elinor as I am a similar personality. Mariannne always just annoyed me - I felt like I wanted to slap her sometimes and tell her to just get over herself! I always admired Elinor's self-control.
I have definitely been influenced in this by the movie version. Emma Thompson plays a wonderful Elinor. The moment in the movie where Elinor finds out Edward is not married has to be one of my favourite movie moments ever. That little noise she makes and then finally the dam breaks!
5. What period dramas are you looking forward to viewing in February 2016?
I have collected Picnic at Hanging Rock and My Brilliant Career from the library. I haven't seen either of these for probably 20 years, so we will see if they live up to my memories.
