On Making Grapfruit Juice

Yes okay, so it's another post about fruit. I know, I know! I can't help it!

The other day we were driving around looking at some houses (yes! you heard right!). While we were driving around we saw so many neglected fruit trees. The fruit trees were laden and there was fruit all over the ground. Sadness! We shook our proverbial fists at them and wished for fruit trees of our own. We really wanted some grapefruit. So we did what any normal people would do. We bought them! We stopped by our friends house and begged to grab some grapefruit off their trees. They gladly obliged and gave us some plastic bags to bring our bounty home in. Boy did we ever! We came home with two bags full of the juiciest sweetest grapefruit I ever did taste! Actually, to me the flesh looked more like oranges but Phil assured me they were grapefruit. Well, all right then.

We squeezed out the juice, added a bit of water and gave it a try. Ahhh! Incredible! I could really get used to this. I think we're onto something.













Today we juiced up a lot of them and put the juice in containers to freeze for later. It will be a delicious treat for any time of year! Fresh fruit juice is the way to go.

Seriously. Yum.

xoxo
Talia Christine

Our things have arrived

We got the finally email on Thursday night telling us our shipment was officially ready for pickup in Auckland. I was beyond excited! Oh, to have my spinning wheel again! We made the arrangements to borrow a work van and to drive up the next day to Auckland. We also made plans to have KFC for lunch (MY FAVE!) and to stop for ice cream in Pokeno. It was a celebration after all.

We hit the road around 9 and right out of the gate we had van troubles. Ah! Of all times! We drove it to Dad-In-Law's work to have the boys investigate what was going on. While we're there and walking about I couldn't help but snap a few photos of Phil.

Sigh.



After half an hour and a cup of hot chocolate we were on our way!



After a good long drive, we were finally there! We had arrived at the shipping gate. We paid our dues and made our way towards the terminal where our stuff was being stored. We were told to wait a few minutes and that our stuff would be right out. We waited and I considered snapping a few photos and whether or not I would be told not to take photos. Hmm, ...
There were security cameras.
I had only just decided against it and there it was. A forklift was bringing our pallet of goods! Everything looked pretty good! At last! The only thing that was slightly worse for wear was a plastic tub that held alot of my yarn stash. It was smashed up pretty good, actually. Don't worry though, all the yarn inside was safe and sound.



After a few minutes of dumb grinning, we started packing it all into the van for the haul home. It didn't take long and we were on our way! We did it!





Shipping all my things from Texas to New Zealand safely seems like a small miracle. I am overjoyed to have my things and now I'm slightly overwhelmed to unpack it all. At the moment, everything is scattered in our small rooms in boxes with small paths to and from the door but for now I am happy and glad it got here safe.

What an adventure it is.

xoxo
Talia Christine

Our Shipment

(Cute cat not included.)

Remember this? It's here! We packed up all my belongings my favorite belongings in Texas and prepared them to ship overseas back in June/July. The shipment arrived in Auckland last week and I'm so excited! We had to wait for the shipment to go through all the paperwork and clear customs. We received an email last night that it cleared customs yesterday and we can go pick it up!!!

Then plan is to drive up to Auckland on Friday and get all our stuffs! EEEE!!! I can't wait to have all my craft stuff again. And my shoes. Oh and my banjo. Oh and my sewing machine. Oh and my vinyl.

I'm very very excited.

xoxo
Talia Christine

Daffodil Farm

This morning I received a call from Jess to go along with her and the kids to meet Paula at a daffodil farm. Of course I said yes! We took a gorgeous drive out to the farm, and after a few wrong turns we made it!




The drive was worth it. There were sooo many tulips and daffodils. Some were in bloom and others were not far off. The place was gorgeous.







Tulips are actually my favorite flowers. Tulips and hydrangeas are the best.






No one was there at the time, but you could still purchase bulbs, pots of tulips and daffodils, or buy them buy the bunch! There was a little self serve shack with a bucket for the money. How cute is that?? I'll take one please!



I chose a small bundle of white daffodils. They look so fresh and bright!

It was a perfect little outing. I really enjoyed our little adventure! I'll definitely be going back sometime for more fresh flowers. You can't beat it!

xoxo
Talia Christine

Job hunting

I've been on the hunt for a job for a few weeks now. I have had my first interview this morning. It has been a few years since I've interviewed for anything and I had forgotten how exhausting it is! The interview went really well and I get great vibes from the owner of the company and from all the staff. We'll see how things go!





It feels good but strange to be entering into the professional work force again. I really miss Rackspace (my previous employer) sometimes. I realize what a great company I was working for. Hats off to you Rackers. You work really hard, but you have it pretty good. I learned a lot during my time there and my time there was invaluable to me.
Also I miss working with my sister. That was pretty fun too.


Me and Phil are going to a young adults church retreat this weekend so we will be gone a few days. Hopefully sometime next week we will be able to pick up our belongings from shipping! They have arrived in Auckland and are currently going through customs. It's kind of a headache, but I am so excited to have the rest of my shoes, clothes, and ALLL my crafting stuff! It has been too long since I have been without my craft supplies. Ahhh it won't be long now!

In the meantime... cross your fingers for the job hunt!

xoxo
Talia Christine

P.S. - Thinking about cutting my bangs fringe shorter. What do you think? Opinions?

An Early Birthday Present

This morning Husband gave me an early birthday present! I know right?! I am now registered for the online Home Ec class that I really wanted to be a part of.

I am so excited!!

I can't wait to get started on the projects. They range from easy to a little more advanced and there's a few things I don't yet know how to do for some of the projects. I think it's going to be a fun learning experience!

Man oh man. Pinch me.

xoxo
Talia Christine

Dream Boots

I love shoes. I can't help it. I daydream about new shoes. It's silly. I know.

Even though I have no plans to buy new shoes any time soon, a girl can dream. Here are my current loves in the shoe department. Boots and oxfords.


1. Time Bomb Vintage
2. Little Veggie Vintage 3. Old Baltimore Vintage
4. Urban Outfitters


1. Bohemiam Bisoux
2. Lexi Monster's Vintage 3. Learn To Read
4. Old Baltimore Vintage

Aaahhhh, aren't they so gorgeous?? What are your favorite shoes?

xoxo
Talia Christine

Note: Oh! And our stuff in shipping has arrived in Auckland! It still has to go through customs but we should be able to pick it up next week. I can't WAIT!! I'm so excited to have all my craft stuff again.

A Busy Bee and Rotten Apples

This Saturday was rainy. Really really rainy. So we did what any sane people would do. We went out into the rain to pick mostly rotten apples from an orchard that is going to be torn down soon.

We put on our raincoats and gumboots and made our way into the orchard to find half decent apples to salvage. Literally, they were only half decent as they were mostly half frost bitten and rotting. The parts that were good though, are really reeaaaally good. Since they have been on the tree this whole time, they are wonderfully incredibly sweet.



We brought back pounds and pounds of apples. We have been chopping, and peeling, and cutting away, and salvaging apples since then.




Ta-Da! Clean apples!

We have preserved apples, stewed them, made apple sauce out of them, and plan to make apple jam. It's amazing! We have gained and made so much out of something that was left to rot and be thrown away! Oh and it was all free. That's incredible too.




Aside from dealing with literal small mountains of apples... we have been up to a number of other things! Me and the Mister made homemade whole wheat pasta for a lasagna. Oh man. Talk about yum.




Oh. And I'm knitting work socks for my Mr. van der Wel. I only have one done right now. I'll hopefully begin the second one today.




This busy bee seriously needs a nap.

xoxo
Talia Christine

On Making Kiwifruit Jam

Before you freak out, I have to get this off my chest:

I don't really care for kiwifruit.

It's too acidic. It hurts my tongue. For that matter, I don't really care for pineapple either, but what do I know? However, what I do love are jams and preserves. Mmmm! Nothing beats a warm piece of buttered toast with homemade jam. C'mon. Give me a break, that's soooo good!




A few days ago, Phil brought home an entire gigantic boxful of kiwifruit that he gathered from around the orchard. It's a big box. I can't lift it; but that's not saying much either. We all know it, I'm puny when it comes to lifting. Either way, it IS a ton of kiwifruit that we wouldn't be able to consume any time soon.

The way I see it, there's only one solution:
Homemade jam. Yummy, gooey, tart, and sweet... homemade jam.


I set off peeling a small mountain of kiwifruit armed with determination and a small, not-the-sharpest hand knife. As I stood there, peeling 3 lbs of kiwifruit, I learned a few things...

1. Not all kiwifruit are equal. Some are harder to peel than others. Some, in fact, were very very hard. Whether they were on the vine too long or not ripe enough, I'm not sure. I'm no kiwifruit expert, but I was certain I would lose a finger at some point.

Rest assured. I have all my digits intact.



2. Peeling 3 lbs of kiwifruit is not as fun or romantic as you might imagine. Sure it seemed like a genius idea at the time, but after awhile of tearing away at the kiwifruit mini-mountain and you see little progress you might begin to get disheartened. But, I prevailed with sheer determination (or madness) and made it through. It took ages, I won't lie.



3.Did I mention that kiwifruit are very acidic? Kiwifruit can work as a meat tenderizer. It also worked very well tenderizing my hands. I'm still not sure whether this was a good or bad thing.


Sure, there are easier ways of acquiring jam for your pantry, like the local grocery store for instance, but if you are willing to go the extra mile making your own cannot be beat!!



It turned out pretty good! Amazing in fact. I love this jam. I don't think this will stick around long, and after that I will just have to make some more. Believe me, it's worth it.

xoxo
Talia Christine

Happy Birthday, Doodie!!!

Happy 20th Birthday to my beautiful sister, Jaime Lynn!!









Dear Jaime,

You are so brave and beautiful! You are my best friend. I love your laugh! It is the richest, warmest laugh that is so sweet and meaningful to me (I love to make you laugh)! You can sufficiently embarrass me more than anyone else I know! I don't know how you do it.

Thanks for being my "Doodie". Thanks for always being there for me. I wish I could be there for your big day! Let's get pad thai and our nails done soon.

Love,
Tal