Give a man a chainsaw, and lockdown...

 With my husband only having one full day off work each week, he tries to do as much as he can around home that day.

This weekend he chose to chop down two-thirds of the huge pepper tree which had grown so large that most of our raised beds were in shade, something they do not need during our winter growing months. Give a man a chainsaw, and there's no stopping them! 

In fact, our tree hung way over our neighbour's side of the fence so he was happy to pull out his chainsaw too! Honest, I laughed so hard. Men and chainsaws, they're a very happy combination!

Right in the middle of the photo above is our almost 2yo Poinciana tree, hubby's pride and joy. And that was another reason for the pepper tree trim - so the Poinciana could get more sun morning and afternoon in spring and summer. 

The next day it was overcast and after I cleaned up all the bits and pieces which had landed amongst the raised beds I took these photos. It looks quite bare now with so much of the tree gone, but it's better for growing herbs and vegetables with more winter sunshine so I am not complaining. 

We have baby cucumbers on the vine, and lots and lots of ladybugs too...

There's an abundance of rocket (arugula), sorrel and lettuce for salads...

...plus about ten different herbs, pumpkin, zucchini, tomatoes, chives, spring onions, sugar snap peas, chillies, strawberries, and other things I can't think of right now. 

The flowers are pretty and doing their best to attract the bees, dragonflies, butterflies and ladybugs.

And my two new roses are ready to bloom! I'm excitedly waiting for the buds to open.

As of 6pm last night our city has gone into Covid lockdown, the first time since last year, and my husband cannot work so he's pottering around the yard today doing more jobs while I work on my magazine, write patterns and bake. 

Yesterday I made a delicious focaccia with sun dried tomatoes, rosemary and sea salt. Ready to go into the oven...

...and freshly baked! Today I thought I'd finally get to make the jam tarts which our taste buds have been longing for but they may have to wait until tomorrow. 

I find baking such a relaxing pastime, do you? This focaccia recipe will be inside The Homemakers Heart later next week, which has taken longer to put together this time as I made a few new projects to share with you, and real homemaking on a day to day basic takes time too, time it well deserves.

I was asked about my homemaker diary recently, when I showed part of the cover...

It's just a regular day-to-a-page diary that I covered, and each day I list the tasks I want to do around home. If I get to them all, that's great, but if not they just move to the next day. I find this system works really well for me.

I slipped this inside the back sleeve of the cover. My darling Blossom (Elizabeth) gave me this card for Mothers Day. Melted my heart good and proper.

If you like the "Home" stitchery pattern it's over HERE in my shop to download.

That's it for today, my friends. I must be away and water the garden before starting dinner and hopefully baking those jam tarts. Pray that I make good shortcrust pastry, will you? It's never been very successful for me. Perhaps you have some tips??

Stir up your homemaker heart, sweet friend, and may God bless you and keep you close to His heart, today and always,

Hugs