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

Special treasure

I've been having a bit of a linen cupboard sort out today, and I came across my Nan's tablecloth. Oh the emotions that washed over me when I re-found this. Every single morning this table cloth was laid on her table and removed for each and every meal. It's only now that I appreciate why she loved it so. Even 17 years after her death I am sure I can still smell the comforting smell that was Nan and Grandads house on it. I just wish I had a table that would fit it - but mine are just too large. One day I'll have a special spot just for it, but until then it'll remain my special treasure.

I made some yummy Rice Bubble Slice the other day. Big girl and the Chief gobbled it up. Little one wasn't so sure about the idea of cereal in her baked goods (what does she think Afghans are made from then I wonder?). I thought it was pretty good, and so so easy!

We got two new chickens to join the flock the other day. We had 5 but only one laying at a time, and I resent paying for eggs, so we got some good egg producers. Brown Shavers - well known for their egg laying prowess (we've had them before but these are the best condition ones I have ever got). This is the best shot (above) of one of them - they were a bit camera shy over the first few days.  The old girls look a bit grumpy about their new pen mates don't you think?

And after a bit of a full on, at a times stressful, week I needed a little luxury... My lovely soap lady - www.justsoaps.co.nz  - dropped off some bars to keep us stocked. Her soaps are amazing! They are all natural - including the amazing fragrances. I have such super sensitive skin on my hands that I can't use anything else. These bars last well longer than the horrible chemical filled commercial ones. Don't you love how they looked all stacked in a pile? My girls certainly love smelling them when they arrive.

I've also found a terrific product for my girls who LOVE sprinkles on anything (well, what child doesn't? ) - natural colour ones! I'm not a huge fan of artificial colours so this really made me happy. Don't you just love them in all their colourful goodness.

I made a crochet pot mat this week, it was just a random design that I experimented with but it sure does the trick. Have been busy though making a whole heap of hats for friends babies now that the winter has hit us.

First little frost for the year - only a light one but it's certainly cooler in the mornings!

 Off to a musical with some friends tonight - can't wait!

Have a lovely weekend  xx Kylie

Peaceful and productive day

I've had a couple of days recently where the kids are at their respective School and daycare and I've not been at work.... and oh how much I enjoy the peace. I love my children but I really love just having a few moments to myself for the first time in years.

So today I've been busy today making cosmetics - Cold Cream and Bubble Bath from a brilliant book I have called "The make your own Cosmetic & Fragrance Book for New Zealanders" by Elizabeth Francke. It's a real retro 70's book but simple recipes and loads of different information about natural remedies make it a gem.
On my cosmetic jars I stick some of my beautiful Cath Kidston labels that my wonderful friend Leah gave me.

My favourite labels book and my favourite natural remedies book

I've also been hunting out some crochet patterns, think I may try some granny squares so I went and got some wool this morning. Please don't laugh at my beginner attempt below - it's my very first effort of single and double crochet.

My first crochet attempt

I also spent a while out in the garden, looking at some new trees that I'm nurturing (Robinia Lace Lady and my Elderberry) which look pretty healthy in this humidity. I spent a while following my silly chickens too - word of advice - never get any Silkie cross breeds as they are fickle and go broody more often than they lay. One is sneaking out of their very large fenced garden every morning and finally I found her nest today.

Sure made the most of the peace, back to reality in an hours time ;)