Bonjour! Well it’s been a long time since I’ve posted anything and in all honesty I’ve really been wondering if blogging has had its day now that youtube channels, stories and reels both on instagram and facebook appear to have taken over being as they’re realtively quick and easy to do to get your message across. I use to be a consistent blogger/writer but the last few years I’ve really struggled to find motivation, felt like I was trying to fit in with what others were doing (imposter syndrome much?) and didn’t really feel like I was being me one hundred percent. Also while dealing with the passing of my Dad I’ve had some pretty big personal and family issues to work through the last six months and honestly I really haven’t felt like talking to too many people at all and while there’s that part of me that wants to hop on and share how life is going, there’s also a part of me that’s not going to air my dirty laundry for all the world to see because it doesn’t involve just me, it’s my family and I’m not going to do anything that would hurt them just for the sake of a post. Do know though that for the most part life is back on track and we’re all doing well but taking things a day at a time still. And now that we seem to have found a new norm, I now feel it’s time to come back and share the goings on with you about life in the city (ugh lol), my organic garden, flipping furniture and the blogs name change.

So lets start witht he name change shall we. I loved the old blog name My Country Life In Suburbia yet I felt with everything that happened this year it, like me, needed a refresh and a makeover. I can honestly say I’m not loving life in the city except for the fact it puts me closer to family and I’m able to see them more than I could when living in the country, but for me the country will always be home and where my heart is. Also this last eighteen months I’ve started to bake more than I have in quite some time. I used to bake quite often and baking is one of those things I really enjoy in the kitchen as opposed to simply cooking three meals a day. I guess for me baking is a kind of creativity because that cake you put in the oven can be decorated any way you want it to be, those biscuits/cookies can have any flavour you want, so it opens up a whole creative side to cooking that I love.

I’ve also increased my furniture flipping and enhanced my skills and have had quite good success at finding those old/new pieces their forever homes. I absolutely love transforming furniture and seeing it come back to life and be repurposed instead of going to landfill. Don’t get me started on things going to landfill lol it’s really a big pet peeve of mine and I do my best to try and reduce how much waste we have here at home. More on that in another post though.

And then there’s my amazing veggie beds, passionfruit vine, pumpkins and all other manner of fruit, veg and herbs growing that keep me happy. I think I mentioned earlier in the year that last summer was the worst garden harvest for me as I just lost my mojo with Dad being so sick and then passing away. I just couldn’t get myself out of the funk and into the garden for quite some time but then in May my mojo returned and I put in winter crops and the gardens have been going great ever since. We’re heading into summer here in Western Australia so I’ve got most summer fruit and veg growing you can think of and I’d love to expand but it looks like we could be on the move again next May, more on that as it develops. However with the two veggie beds I do have I can manage to grow a good amount that supplements going to the supermarket and I’m keen to try my hand at canning, pickling and preserving my produce, I even picked up a Better Homes & Garden book from 1974 (American BH&G) all about it, so I thought why not give it a go. I’m a little behind the eighball as we’ve had so much going on but I think now things have settled, it’s a good time to give it a whirl.

SO while it may not make sense to you why I’ve decide to change the blogs name its what I feel it and I needed to get me going again. I’ll be sharing lots about baking, painting, gardening, homesteading (as I learn about it) organic living, health and much more including life with this family that drives me insane yet who I love. So welcome to The Baking Painting Jardinière!

And before I go, I’m also seriously thinking about starting a youtube channel as a supplement to the blog. If you’re still here and reading my posts, I’d love to know what you think about the idea of a channel. Honestly I hate being in front of a camera but then at the same time I sometimes feel I’m better with the spoken word moreso than the written. Any way, I’d love to know what you think and I’ll be back soon with an update.

À bientôt for now…..Michelle x