Good morning, luvs! After treating myself to homemade butterscotch pudding for breakfast, I’m getting all sorts of work done! Laundry, dishes, paying bills. Man, it feels good! 🙂
Last weekend bear and I drove out to visit our dear friends Shirley and Joe at their beautiful goat farm.
I love going out there, laughing at the antics of the baby goats as they wobble and leap on their spindly legs, gazing in awe at the oh-so-pregnant mamas waddle along with their enormous bellies.
Big Mama comin' through!
We always go for long walks, wandering through the pastures and out along the creek bottom before ending back at the house for something delectable Shirley has made. This weekend was no exception. She served us up a splendid lunch of pasta with broccoli, toasted pine nuts, sundried tomatoes and Parmesan, buttery garlic bread, chilled wine, and a marvy cream cake topped with fresh mangoes and strawberries.
One day soon I’ll show you pictures of the wildflower-filled creek banks and darling baby goats, but today I want to linger awhile among Shirley’s flower beds.
Fourth of July Rose
Whenever I visit, Shirley takes me on a tour of her many gardens, pointing out what’s blooming, explaining what would grow well at my place, and introducing me to Australian native plants I’ve never even heard of.
Her gardens are such a lovely hodgepodge of old and new flowers, hardy vegetables and gifts from friends overseas, all growing vigorously in this fabulous Queensland weather that seems to make everything flourish.
This week she sent me home with a gorgeous bouquet of spinach leaves and sweet pea blossoms, and a couple of gardening magazines to inspire me.
I am not a natural gardener like Shirley, Ann, my Mum, or my brother Ryan, but I’m learning as I go and get so excited as I see seeds become seedlings and then something I can actually eat or decorate with. Amazing. 🙂
Are you a gardener? Do you have a garden? What’s the one plant you MUST have?
Shirley’s Mango Cream Cake
Ingredients:
one sponge cake (lemon or vanilla)
1 small carton heavy whipping cream
sugar to taste
1 ripe mango, peeled and sliced into long strips
3-6 strawberries, halved
Directions:
- Bake sponge cake according to directions, cool and halve.
- Whip cream and sweeten to taste.
- Frost bottom layer of cake with half of cream.
- Place top layer on cream and frost with remaining cream.
- Decorate with mango and strawberries and serve immediately.
- (If making ahead of time, wait to add fruit until just before serving.)
That cake looks beautiful, as do the flowers! So you have officially landed in Oz, where are you living/staying at the moment? Let me know and if I make it up north (which I hope I will in the next year) we can get together! Glad you are well!
I really have, Annie! I’m near Warwick in Queensland and would LOVE to meet up with you whenever you make it here! 🙂 Just let me know and you are more than welcome. 🙂 xo
Butterscotch pudding for breakfast sure beats toast and vegemite!! That’s an interesting flower under the stunning rose. Glad to see you are settling in
I’ll say it does, Jenny! 🙂 Mmm, it was a yummy choice for sure. 🙂
I can’t get past the big mama’s big belly! It’s so wide!
Isn’t it shocking, Annette?! I couldn’t believe she was still up and walking around! She looked like she might pop at any moment. 🙂
Wow isn’t nature intriguing and intricate! Also loving the mango cake Kritsa. I hope some day to have the opportunity to eat a ripe mango!
It sure is, Val! If you make it to Australia on one of your 5 week vacations I will load you down with fresh mangoes!! 🙂
Love that goat! Big mama coming through — that’s how I felt during the last month of pregnancy. 🙂
Isn’t she amazing?! Oh, I can only imagine, Amy. 🙂
that flower is gorgeous ! never seen anything like it. the cake looks really delicious….i’ll take the whole cake 😉
I would happily share with you!! 🙂
Coming here is such a challenge and it happens every time, I visit. I get caught up looking at your photos which get more and more beautiful, if that is possible. Then, I am tempted by the food. This mango cake would delight my family with the cream and mostly, the mangoes.
Those flowers are exquisite.
Thank you so much, Chaya! It makes me so happy to know you love to linger here. 🙂 xo
Those goats are fabulous. Mmmm I love mango.
Aren’t they lovely, Barbara? 🙂 They make me smile. 🙂
Wow, now that’s a pregnant goat! I love those animals.
A delightful looking cake!
Cheers,
Rosa
Isn’t she enormous, Rosa?! She is due any time now and she looks it. 🙂
Thanks for the pics…..and the mango cake looks to be out of this world good!
You’re welcome, William! 🙂 It was such a simple cake but SO good. 🙂
Oh that mango looks divine! It is my favorite fruit. It is luscious! I’m not a gardener either but I love plants! I just kill them, unfortunately. However, I love having a bushy basil on hand for cooking; I love flowers and ivy and wild jasmine and so many other things….just wish I could keep them all alive.
{{hugs}}
I adore mangoes too, Rain! I have one almost every day for breakfast. 🙂 I’m so glad I’m not the only one who struggles with plants! I’m so happy to be learning a bit more here in Australia. Things are actually growing and staying alive! HOORAY! 🙂
The cake and the pictures are lovely.. The color in the flowers is breathtaking. I hope you have a great day. Blessings…Mary
Aren’t they wonderful, Mary? I was in awe over them. 🙂
I am not a gardener at all, I get befuddled by the latin names and the varying care instructions! But I do remember potting violets as a child and they always make me happy. Otherwise, I’d love a vegetable patch to grow my own veg!
Oh, I love violets too, Katy! I would really like to pot a few of my own. Perhaps you can teach me when you come to visit, eh? 🙂
I love Queensland so much and you’ve just reminded me why…will you do more travel around the state later on? Homemade butterscotch pudding sounds absolutely delightful!
I will do some traveling soon, Andrea. 🙂 I was just so tired after my Europe travels that I’ve taken some much needed downtime. But I’m compiling a list of places to visit and will be sure to tell you all about them. 🙂
We do have a garden: a tiny community garden plot on the top of a hill overlooking the Mission Neighborhood, Twin Peaks and on clear days, the Golden Gate Bridge and the Marin Headlands. Of course the view is more grand by far than the plot at only about 10 by 10 feet. We’ve grown a lot over the summer though, and it is really wonderful watching things that we’ve planted develop and even get to the point that we can take them home and cook with them.
Your friends garden looks especially lovely. I am enchanted by all the cheery flowers. The mango strawberry dessert looks quite tasty too. I adore mangoes.
What an incredible place to garden, Stevie! I remember visiting San Francisco and being in awe of how lush everything seemed to grow there. 🙂 I adore mangoes too! Especially here – they are so juicy and flavorful. 🙂
Ahh yes this cake just says Summer in Australia! Glad to hear that you’re enjoying Queensland! And the baby goat farm is just darling 🙂
It DOES say summer, doesn’t it Lorraine? 🙂 It was so cheery looking too. 🙂
I am not a natural gardener either Krista, but like you I have quite a few family members who are. I used to love going to my grandparents’ house in country NSW, and see their hibiscus flourish. I miss the presence of Aussie wildflowers here. I really love kangaroo paw for instance. I saw a lovely white bougainvillea when I was at home in Australia a couple of years ago, and I did manage to find one of those in a market here in Italy. I hope it survives the winter, so I can see all the lovely pretty white flowers. I am looking forward to the baby goat photos you will post. I don’t think I have ever seen a pregnant mamma goat before.
Oh, bougainvillea is one of my absolute favorites, Cathy! I hope to get some soon and plant them down my driveway. 🙂 I hope yours flourishes!!
I totally approve of butterscotch pudding for breakfast. Well done.
Beautiful garden photos and even more beautiful mango cake!
Thank you, Joanne! It was awfully scrumptious. 🙂
I have never seen such a rose! EXQUISITE! Photos are drop dead gorgeous, as usual – and… I see you are BACK in Australia! With “the” one, I hope… and following your dreams? I am back from Italy and just retired from teaching, so hopefully will have more time to catch up and not miss any more of these edifying and inspirational photos! …and yummy recipes!
:L)
V
Isn’t it glorious, Valerie?! I’ve never seen anything like it either and was amazed to discover that no two blossoms are the same. Incredible. 🙂 Yes ma’am, I am with my man and so very, very happy. 🙂 So glad you’re home safe and sound! I’ve really missed you. 🙂
Gorgeous flower! Mango cream sound so good too.
I loved it too, Dewi 🙂 So beautiful.
What beautiful flowers Krista, and the Mango Cake looks divine! Anything with that much cream must be good 🙂 Have a great Sunday my dear!
The more cream the better, right, Tuula?! 🙂
Ooooh, such beauty and splendor!!
I love it too, Astra! 🙂
Wow, I have never sen a pregnant goat…Geez, they get big sideways(smile).
Your meal was absolutely lovely, the flowers too. What a wonderful day.
Velva
Aren’t they enormous, Velva?!! I couldn’t believe she could still walk. 🙂
A lovely post and a gorgeous cake, Krista! The flavors of strawberry and mago are perfect together. I’m glad to hear you’re having a wonderful time, my friend! XO
Thank you so much, Faith! It means the world to me to have you cheering me on. 🙂
So pretty! Glad you’re having fun!
Thank you, El! I sure am. 🙂
Wow, that cake and the rest of the photos look beautiful! Really amazing.
Thank you, Asmita! 🙂 Shirley is a wonderful cook and baker. 🙂