Birthdays, Chocolate Strawberry Meringue and Onions

For my birthday Betsie prepared a double layered meringue covered in dark chocolate and fresh strawberries - the meringue contained crushed almonds  and was delicious, crispy and crunchy :

Thanks for all the birthday wishes !

I had a great day ! Thanx Betsie !

We planted a little maize just for our own use , and also onions :

and I have to finish off with a couple of sunsets !

Until next time !

Cats and dogs and strawberries @ Pepper Plot

Cats are able to find any place to sleep - if there isn't any space they will make space especially Stompie :

Three in a row :

It is strawberry season here. We have this rule at Pepper Plot that we first eat our fill of strawberries and make all the jams and preserves that we require before we start selling strawberries. We used to supply strawberries to a few local supermarkets and greengrocers but their greed was too much as they expect us to supply vast quantities at minimalistic prices and then they charge an arm and a leg for it. We have decided that this is not the route to follow and now we rather sell it at below market price to locals. So from next week I think we will start selling strawberries - we sell 1kg unwashed freshly picked for R30 and punnets of 250g at R10 each ! 

 Strawberry and Port Jam :

 Fresh strawberries and mascarpone cheese - Deeevine !

 

And now to our latest addition - the terrible twins Boela and Lucy :  peaceful at last and a chance to take a photo that's not blurred - Geez I also know now how that feels Tracy

And here are the peppers - as can be seen they are healthy and growing nicely :

Yesterday we experienced a typical highveld storm - 3 mm rain and gale force winds that tried to remove the roof from our humble little abode :

So until next time - Keep well !

Cats, Rocket and Sunsets

The cats all are very playful at night when we go to close the tunnels for the night as some of them run with us and fall down periodically for us to scratch their tummies and backs. Liefie doing the roll :

and Curly doing the roll :

Mr Survivor thought sleeping was a much better option as he is a night prowler  :

We planted rocket (Eruca sativa) years ago in the one greenhouse and we've never been without fresh rocket for salads and other dishes since. The flowers are tiny but actually beautiful : 

 Other weeds : 

 Borage (Borago officinalis) or in Afrikaans komkommerkruid :

Other plants that we grow include Echinacea :

Artichokes :

Strawberries :

 

And now the sunset for sunday : 

and for last night :

Until later !

Update

Here are some photos to start off the blog - not in any specific order!

Stompie :

Carrots and peas :

Young basil in the greenhouse 1 October  :

Yellow pepper - Kato Variety 2 days after transplanting  1 October:

Young basil plants for distribution in the greenhouses on 1 October  - these act as a natural deterrent for whitefly :

Tomato seedlings 1 October :

Greenhouse 1 October :

One of the first green figs of the season :

Strepies - The mother and grandmother of  the other 5 cats on the plot :

Stompie posing to show me how he attacked the rat :

Stompie asking "What rat ? Where ?" :

Highveld sunsets :

Pepper seedlings : at 3 weeks from sowing 6 September :

Peppers one week after transplanting 9 October :

Basil plants one week later 9 October  :

Tomato seedlings one week later - 9 October :

Pepper seedlings 18 September : 

18 September 

18 September :

24 September :

Catnip :

Cabbage

24 September :