Wonderful weekend

A weekend full of wonderful treats - I was so spoilt by my darling friend, Leah. Gosh I am so lucky. Lots of laughter, shopping, crochet, jewellery making, cafes (Martha's Pantry was a real highlight) and of course, lots of talking!

I found some fabulous goodies on our op shop trips - including the perfect dress, and I was lucky to get a wonderful kitch tray for the caravan - made from a 70's puzzle - at a craft show (The Knack).

I also had a real treat with driving Leah's classic car - I can't believe she let me. It is the cutest bright yellow Fiat Bambina, and I must have looked a right sight grinding the gears and giggling until tears streamed down my face!

We had fun comparing our ripple blankets...

And we made some great new rings and necklaces. I've got some further supplies and have been busy making a few more goodies for Birthday and Christmas pressies. 

It's a busy time of year still, I'm not getting much time in front of the computer for fun, it's all work work work unfortunately. So I am here, but not posting much.

Roll on Christmas!!

Have a great week

Kylie xxxx

Composure

Too busy. Busy at work, busy at home, busy with school activities. Tensions are a bit wrought - the girls need a little bit of a rest, I feel like I need to get off this carousel ride for a little while.....


I need to organise life (and the children), finish the Xmas shopping, make a few pressies, and re-compose myself a little.

See you all soon xxx Kylie

Sunday sweetness

 Why am I still making hats when it's nearly summer? I just can't get enough of them. This one is from Ravelry called Autumn Slouch

I've read so many recipes over the last few years (mainly on American blogs) that use or call for Graham Crackers - even the children have been asking what Graham Crackers are (thanks to US kids shows) but they aren't something that I have ever seen on the shelves in NZ. So I found a recipe this morning to make my own.

I filled them with chocolate buttercream and they were a delight. I have no idea if they are anything close to authentic but they are pretty nice!

I don't have much more to show you on the Ripple Blanket as I have been busy making Christmas pressies, but I can't post them here as I know a few of my wonderful family read my posts ;) I can show a wee taggie blanket/playmat that I have made for a small person though.

It's been a busy day of baking, playing, housework, sewing - but I also got in a wee bit of peaceful time as we have pulled the caravan out near the house (in preparation for summer getaways) and the girls are using it as an extra playroom. Fabulous! They played schools and shops out there for a good couple of hours today before they had any tiffs ;)  I love sneaking up on them to see what they are doing - scrabble classwork with slightly interestingly spelled All Blacks names (the rugby obsession is not fading).

I also had a beautiful wee surprise in the mail this week, I sent something to a lovely reader a few weeks ago after she asked about something I'd made, and I was so touched to know that she had appreciated it - she sent me the most beautiful handcrafted items. Shirley, thank you so much - the sachet in hanging in my wardrobe, the pot mat is very handy in the kitchen and the Pin Cushion - wow I was so excited by that (it's the gorgeous apple below) was exactly what I needed.

I have dreadful hayfever at the moment - the pollen count is very high. I don't react well to OTC drugs (antihistamines) even the non-drowsy ones make me drowsy, so I used medicated eye drops, homeopathic allergy spray, inhalations of Eucalyptus and Lavender, Peppermint teas and try to stay inside when I'm really bad, but I'm still struggling. Do any of you wonderful people out there have any good suggestions???

Anyway I must get these children to bed and then get the hook out again.

Have a wonderful week all xxxx  Kylie

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

Hits and Misses

It’s been an interesting week or so. A few good things, a few more not so great things. I won’t dwell on the bad stuff (except for a heavy cold I currently have – splutter, sniff, sniff seems to be my day at the moment), but I have been enjoying this early spring weather and have made the most of it out in the garden the last few days. Spring has just blown a gentle wave over the garden and there is so much new life – really quite magical. I can sit out there for hours and enjoy the sweet smells and the prettiness (well, as long as the children let me sit!).

The Vege garden in looking in great shape, Fennel, Kale, crazy cabbages that never "cabbaged" but just grew huge, and the biggest abundance of Broccoli EVER. We are eating it with every meal (no lie). Any Broccoli recipes gladly welcomed.

 

The spring bulbs are just stunning. One I am loving in my little Peony Tulip (the Peony is my favourite flower but unfortunately I can’t grow them in this warmer part of NZ – I used to have success further South in NZ) so this is a little pretend Peony.

 

I have loads and loads of seedlings growing as well, my sweet peas and coriander are ready to harden off out, and I'm bound to have a heap more ready shortly. Better make some spaces in the garden for all of these delights!                                              

 

Baking has been definitely full of hits and misses this week. I've made some fabulous biscuits.....

And some I’d rather never try again. I didn't photograph those ones though..... Even the girls won’t eat them (chooks didn’t mind though).

I have a great recipe book from the library “The Aunt Daisy Baking Book”  which has some great old fashioned recipes. Aunt Daisy was a NZ radio host back in the 1930s, well known for her handy home hints (Aunt Daisy's home hints) and Baking secrets.  Her recipes are interesting though. Most of her techniques assumed that baking was second nature to all with instructions such as “Bake in the usual way”, and never stated oven temperatures. This book has been adapted to fit more a more modern style of baking.  The Afghan Biscuits were the best I have ever made (although the recipe only made a very small batch – obviously they were more rationed back in the 30’s than we are with baked goods now.

 Afghans
170g butter
85g Sugar
170g Flour
Pinch of salt
1 Tablespoon Cocoa
60g Cornflakes
Cream butter and sugar. Add dry ingredients. Roll into small balls (heaped teaspoon sized amounts) and cook on a cold oven tray in a moderate over (180C) for about 15 minutes.

I also have a new lush early evening weekend treat drink. “Tangelo Gin & Tonic” that I found here. Divine!!

And the blanket – it’s been decided by daughter number one that daughter number two will have it (as she wants more “blues” in her colours – is coming along nicely. And I’m sewing in the ends as I go now. Much better!

 

Have a wonderful week xxx Kylie

P.S if you are quick you can enter a fabulous giveaway on my my very dear friends blog whydidntanyonetellme