getting my hands dirty

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It was so lovely and sunny this afternoon so I decided to get to work on my garden for the spring/summer season. Yesterday at the market I bought some raspberry plants, they are now in the ground and the patient wait begins to see how they will go. I've never grown raspberries before so this will be an experiment!

I also planted a rosemary bush, some peppermint, and gave some love to my poor neglected herbs from last season. Later this week I will put in sunflower seeds, and hopefully my marigolds will be sprouting...

Only a few more days until Spring : )

sunday afternoon in the kitchen

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I've just emerged from the kitchen with a delicious bowl of homemade pumpkin soup. I think this time I've finally figured it out. Previous attempts have been too bland, too watery, too spicy (from the time I accidentally put too much curry paste in the pot, oops). So I thought you might like to make some too, while we still have a few weeks of pumpkin soup weather left (though you wouldn't know it, the sun is shining today and it's actually warm outside, spring is coming!).

Here's what you need (these are rough estimates, since I never think to write these things down as I go):

1/2 pumpkin

1 medium sweet potato

2 carrots

Fresh or dried red chilli

400 ml tin coconut milk

1 bunch coriander

Dash of tamari sauce

Salt and pepper to taste

Here's what you do:

Peel and chop your veggies into cubes about 2cm square. I ended up with the same amount of pumpkin as the potato and carrots combined, as a guide.

Heat a good lug of olive oil in a large pot. Add your veggies and chilli and cook for a couple of minutes. I used dried chilli flakes (about 1/2 teaspoon) but if I'd had fresh chilli I would have used that instead.

Add the coconut milk and a couple of cups of cold water. Bring to the boil then reduce heat and simmer with the lid off until the veggies are cooked.

Remove from heat and allow to cool slightly. Then add your coriander (roughly chopped) and a dash of tamari sauce. Using a blender or a stab mixer puree the soup until smooth. Season with salt and pepper and then eat with some crunchy toast. Yum!

dreaming of summer

Now that things are semi back to normal here I'm starting to think of the Summer ahead and all the things I would love to do now that I have a back garden. Things such as plant a veggie patch. And sprawl out under the trees on a comfy blanket with a book and glass of iced tea.

Another idea that has popped into my head is to host a Summer Yard Sale. I'm imagining handmade stalls, vintage wares, general secondhand bits and pieces and of course a baked treats stand : ) With lots of bunting in the trees and lovely music playing.

Just an idea at this stage, but I've already started searching for inspiration...

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Happy weekend xo

moving house, part 1

Oops, it's been 2 weeks since my last post, time goes so quickly!

After the excitement of Life InStyle, I then had the less than exciting task of packing up the house and studio for the big move. These things always take longer than you think they will.

On Saturday morning I woke up in the new house surrounded by furniture, boxes, and random bags of stuff. A little bit overwhelming but also quite fun getting to set up a new place to live and work.

These are a couple of shots of the new Rabbit & the Duck studio before I started organising things.... I am loving the floor to ceiling glass windows, and somewhere behind all that stuff is an open fire place. Yay!

Of course, one of the first things I did was to put a few cute touches in the kitchen. The owl potholder is a thrifted find - I think it matches my new tea towel from Elly Oak perfectly : )

I'm almost done setting up the studio and will snap some 'after' shots for you soon : )

xo

life instyle

In amongst the packing of boxes there has been sewing, list writing, catalogue printing and lots and lots of other little things in preparation for our first trade show appearance at Life Instyle this week. We are super excited to be attending this event as an exhibitor - I've been planning the display for our stand for weeks : ) There will be lots of red and white polka dots....

Life Instyle is a trade only event, and you can register to attend via the Life Instyle website.