duchess_declutter_wendy: 2/1/15

February 11, 2015

drumroll please .....

and we have a winner!

Apologies are in order.

Firstly, this is a very quick post. I am packing, we are off on holiday tomorrow. Tasmania is the destination. Nearly made it there last year.

The catchup link is here if you'd like to see what happened on the way to Tasmania last time. We didn't get there (long story short) but we are definitely flying off tomorrow for the Apple Isle.

(from our last road trip to Tasmania!)

Secondly I have drawn the random winner for the prize link to Grow Your Blog. I used Random Picker which was very easy. I had to bring the date forward on account of our holiday.

There were 36 entrants ... and the winner - Debbie1/26/2015 4:53 AM .

So Debbie could you please email your postal address and I will be mailing to you some vintage hankies and an Australia tea towel which I hope you like.

Thanks to everyone who left a comment. I hope you keep on reading!

Sue W @ Living the Good Life1/25/2015 4:42 AM

creations.11/25/2015 9:21 PM

Beth L.1/25/2015 10:57 PM

Carole @ From My Carolina Home1/26/2015 12:12 AM

Fil1/26/2015 12:41 AM

gpc1/26/2015 1:13 AM

kathyinozarks1/26/2015 1:17 AM

prettylittlethingsinabox1/26/2015 1:37 AM

Julie1/26/2015 1:50 AM

Sami1/26/2015 2:31 AM

Sandi Moran1/26/2015 3:10 AM

Jennifer Pearson Vanier1/26/2015 3:59 AM

Debbie1/26/2015 4:53 AM

Blue Jeans And Teacups1/26/2015 7:39 AM

Bleubeard and Elizabeth1/26/2015 9:12 AM

**Anne**1/26/2015 12:16 PM

Cheri, the Quilting Nanny1/26/2015 1:34 PM

Sue Kosec1/27/2015 12:07 AM

Carol Z1/27/2015 10:45 AM

Judy Cooper Textile Images1/27/2015 11:54 AM

africanaussie1/27/2015 12:32 PM

CatieAn1/27/2015 4:13 PM

Shirlee Fassell1/28/2015 12:09 AM

jeanga61/28/2015 1:05 AM

FeltByRae1/28/2015 5:28 AM

Magpie's Mumblings1/28/2015 7:31 AM

suziqu's thread works1/28/2015 3:29 PM

Laura Quaglia (Fun With This and That)1/29/2015 10:50 AM

Maria1/29/2015 9:31 PM

MartiDIY1/30/2015 10:15 PM

nicolesender1/31/2015 7:32 PM

Gill1/31/2015 10:25 PM

Alexis Borsboom2/02/2015 12:58 PM

Carol D.2/06/2015 3:37 PM

Fiona from Arbordale Farm2/06/2015 8:38 PM

AFistfulof Lemons2/10/2015 1:16 AM

Cheers for now Wendy

February 6, 2015

5/52

If you are looking for the Grow Your Blog link ...... it is here. Just leave a comment and I will draw random winner on 11 February.

===============

However - this a gratitude post.

2015 is my year with some weekly gratitude posts. Keeping it simple might be the way to go for me I think.

Today I am grateful for online friends - and sharing some links. I have been inspired by these two lovelies - Sue from Living the Good Life and Sue from You Can Call Me Sue to actually make something from all those plums.

The jaboticabas were eaten just as they came from the tree. However I really wanted to be creative with the box of plums.

I haven't really had much luck with preserves in the past. However I decided to soldier on and try it. By jove I think it worked.

Using this receipe - thanks baby-mac - it was all pretty easy.

So now that I have had success (all worked out) I will tackle some other preserves. Certainly we have gluts of fruit and veg at some times of the year. Chilli jam next I think.

cheers Wendy

February 2, 2015

and then there were lots ......

This is one jaboticaba

and a gathering of jaboticaba!

if they are not picked promptly they end up on the ground

and they have a very different growth pattern. Not a good photo as it was taken after fruit had been picked. However I have noticed they are often referred to as the grape tree, and often spelt Jabuticaba also.

It's an easy tree to grow, ours is about 6 years old I think. The main problem is remembering to pick the fruit before other critters get to them, or they fall off the tree.

We usually just eat jaboticaba raw, but I might investigate a few recipes.

They are an unusual fruit with a tough skin and an a grape like texture.

Not a lot of flesh with 2 of 3 seeds inside.

However this picking co-incided with my impulse buy at the markets!

A big box of blood plums (not sure of variety) for $7!

Another bargain.

So I'll be washing, cooking and maybe even bottling some plums. Plum Jam, Plum Jelly, Plums in port maybe? Personally I just like them lightly poached/stewed with yoghurt.

Plum Crumble could feature too.