Such Fun!

I've started a Ripple - and I'm loving it!!!! Using Lucys Neat Ripple Pattern I'm doing a pattern of 7 (I think) colours, and it's going to be a blanket for my big girls bed. It's such a relaxing little thing and I'm loving how fast it is growing.

I don't know how many Miranda (BBC programme)  fans there are out there but as I'm standing in the pouring rain at my elder daughters Agriculture Day at School (Lamb and Calf Club) today all I could think of was Miranda's Mum saying "Such Fun" (I know a couple of you will get that).....

Anyway, we didn't do so well in the ribbon stakes (although she did get one for Merit) but it was a good experience (including standing in the rain for hours). Cool little crafts done in class  - vegetable animals, flower arrangements, decorated biscuits and so on.

Righty-ho, back to the ripples.

Have a great weekend  xxxxx Kylie

Granny Goodness

It's finished. The Giant Granny Blanket for #2 child. She loves her snuggle rug - great for in the mornings that are still a little cooler. And of course it will be at home in the caravan as well.

It's lovely weather again, I even found two ripe tomatoes in the garden and I haven't even planted any yet! (It was a rogue self seeded plant that had survived the winter somehow).

I've started on a bit of Christmas Shopping and also Christmas Crafting. Check out the cute Tutu I'm making for a small family member (not my little one though as she won't wear skirts!)

Yummy Moro Bar Muffins (thanks Leah for the recipe x x ) They hit the spot for afternoon tea a few days ago.

My husband works shift work so I spend many evenings on my own, tonight once the girls were in bed I thought I deserved a little treat. French Vanilla Ice Cream and Homemade Caramel sauce.So divine!

Caramel Sauce

1/2 cup brown sugar
1/8 cup water
1-2 tablespoons butter
1/2 cup cream (I only had lite cream so it's a little thin)
pinch of salt if desired (makes it a yummy salted caramel sauce)

Gently heat water and sugar. Stir until sugar is dissolved. Add butter. Cook for a few mins until bubbly (but watch carefully as it can catch and burn). Add Cream - mix and then cook for another minute or two. Leave to cool (or pour hot over ice cream). It's a runny sauce that I make - not a thick one- you could thicken it as desired.



Enjoy x

In all my years of baking....

It suddenly struck me on Saturday that in all my years of baking I had never made a sponge cake. What?? I hear you cry, but it's true. So this was my very first attempt.

We have a slight oversupply of eggs right now, thanks to our 7 lovely laying ladies (well 6 - one is in retirement and we can't bear to do away with her) so anything that uses up eggs is on the menu.

I had no cream, and the youngest one can't have dairy anyway, so I made a mock cream filling but added some yummy fresh strawberries to get that summery feeling going.

 I really don't think I did too badly at all.

The garden is in full spring bloom - the Bees seem happy this year which is a great thing, somewhat helped with all the blossomy goodness around.

 

The vegetable garden is also growing nicely, if those chooks will stop escaping from the orchard!

It's school holidays so we took a quick day trip down the road to Auckland to soak up the fabulous Rugby World Cup atmosphere. And what a fabulous atmosphere it is. So many happy faces, so many nationalities. It's a really wonderful thing for the children to experience.

We did the touristy thing and headed up the Sky Tower as well. The girls loved it - and I don't think I was quite as queasy as I was last time I was up there (it is rather high and I am very afraid of heights). My girls have no fear and the eldest now wants to bungy jump. She is only seven though, so another eleven years and she may be able to ;) )

Oh I must share the wee remedy I made for my lovely husband. He had really cracked skin on his knees so I made a "Healing Salve" with Almond oil, beeswax, Calendula, St Johns Wort and Tea Tree. It's completely fixed the problem. I love making these remedies that really do work!

It's been a really busy few weeks. Crochet and watching the Rugby World Cup has occupied most of my evenings. Only a few more days and I should be able to do a big reveal of the Giant Granny Square blanket....

Have a lovely week  xxx Kylie