Tea in the garden

Last couple of days we started to finally feel the season of Autumn. Last summer we've had some extreme weather and some record breaking rain and heat waves.  I should not complain as I did enjoy picking our summer crops and setting outdoor tea times. 

We've harvested a bumper crop of cucumbers, tomatoes, eggplants, beans and tomatillos, we are still enjoying a lot of tomatoes and tomatillos. We've started planting Brassicas and different types of lettuces and some autumn colours. What I like best about autumn is the light, the falling leaves and the cooler weather. Which means I can cook some comforting stews, soups and bake more cakes. Hope you are enjoying the season dear friends, wherever part of the world you may be. Thank you for visiting.

Birthday to remember

This is a continuation of our trip to Norfolk Island. Though I shared a few photos in Instagram, what I shared wasn't even half of what I took.  As I mentioned before I was privileged to be able to tour the Island with the rest of HTA (History Teachers Association) and their families. I met some wonderful people and was impressed with their knowledge, passion and conviction to share  what they've learned. If I'm half  the person they are I would feel complete. 

I am sharing more photos of the island and also some of our summer harvest at home. Thank you for stopping by.

Please watch out for more Norfolk Island photos in the coming days.

Joining Stephanie for Roses of Inspiration Bernideen for BTTCG , Sherry for Home Sweet Home , Sandi for No place like home

                        At Captain Cook's lookout.

                        Mt Pitt - the highest point in the Island.

         360 degrees view of the island from Mt Pitt

                                        Just meeehh

Norfolk Pine - Captain Cook named the island after the Duchess of Norfolk 

                My sweet hubby - history buff.

This is hundred-acre reserve - home of ginormous fig trees

        Just to prove how big these trees are.

I love a good holiday but home is where my heart belongs

Mr Toad is on look out in my fairy garden

             Relishing our summer harvest

Snake beans, dwarf beans, Malabar spinach, cherry tomatoes, Black Russian tomatoes are the top performers this season. 

I picked the quince fruit a little early from fear of the sulphur-crested cockatoos eating them.

    Made a pavlova for Australia Day.

Used my Australian Pottery Robert Gordon teapot and the teacups are my thrifted finds. 

I picked these pink roses called Penthouse yesterday before the big storm hit.

The teacup is one of my market finds, Ye Olde English Grosvenor.

Meet my friend Freddo-it didnt take long for his hair to grow.

I love to drink hibiscus tea. 

Birthday getaway

A few days before my birthday, my husband and I flew to the Norfolk Island for a week's holiday. Well almost a holiday, as it was actually for my husband's History Teachers Association Conference.Norfolk Island is 1500 Kms off the Coast of New South Wales, with a population of  over 1500 and with estimated 27,000 visitors a year.  The island is packed full of history, from the time the Polynesians inhabited the island till the Pitcainers settled in, with two penal settlement in between. I sure did learn more in 7 days than my entire time at school!I am sharing some photos I took of the island and hopefully will share some more in the next few days. 

Thank you for visiting and wishing you all a happy and safe week. 

Joining Bernideen for BTTCG Blog party

Sandi for No place like home

                          In Norfolk, cows have the right of way.

                                         Lilies growing in the drainage canal

The famous Emily Bay (named after Emily Christian-one of the descendants of Fletcher Christian the mutiny).

                                 We enjoyed the blue crystal waters

                                                                 Hubby went for a swim

                                                       I will surely miss this place

                                                     The view at one of the Cafes

                            The food was impeccably yummy in the island

                                      And ofcourse I cant go without my tea

                 I suppose I should have cakes, it was my birthday after all

      Baked some madeleines for my afternoon tea. The tea for one teapot is a $5  market find and I paid $7.50 for the colclough teacup, plate and saucer also from the market.