Sunshine, Lollipops and Rainbows

The rain has stayed away, my anti-rain dance must have worked. It looks like it'll stay clear for another week or so at least. Finally it's Summer. So in preparation we have been packing the caravan for our upcoming holiday. Don't you love how there are little compartments for every item in the cupboards.

I got a couple of little gems at the op shop the other day. A brand new set of Cath Kidston handcreams was a must have. I don't use fragranced handcreams usually (I make my own as I react to shop brought ones) but these were to cute to pass by. Must have been discarded by someone who hasn't found the Kidston love yet.

The other gem was a vintage crochet magazine. Love it!

There are a few patterns that I would use....

And a few that I think the other half probably wouldn't appreciate too much....

Don't you love the look of this one ;)

And this one cracked me up, written in a different time with saying that it will look "gay in blue and white stripes".

I bottled the monster beetroot this weekend. We have tons and tons of jars but I'm the only one who eats it. I think I will have to take much of it into work and see if they want some.

I also need some marrow recipes if you have any - we have a few of those too!

Have a great week all. x Kylie

Rain, Rain Go Away......

We are experiencing a very unusual Summer. Since the week before Christmas it has done little but rain, and the temperatures are lower than normal. Great for the Garden (I've never seen it look so lush) but not so good for people who desperately want to be at the beach!

But the garden, oh my garden, is amazing.  It's humid and wet here so we have huge plant growth, but big weeds also.

So to keep the little and big people amused, there has been a LOT of baking. Not so great for the post-Xmas waistline mind you.

The good part of the bad weather is that I've had plenty of time with the Hooks out. Not much to show for it though as they are mostly on going projects but I love the wee cotton facecloths (Ravelry link here) I made over the New Year.

Just before I go, don't you just love these beautiful Calla Lillies that grow in my garden at this time of year?

Keep your fingers crossed for us that we get a few fine days soon so we can make the most of the school holidays.

The end of the year

Photo courtesy of one of our Christmas guests, Mascha

The lead up to Christmas was more than manic, I got a wee bit of crafty time but not nearly enough. I'm so enjoying the post-xmas relaxation. We have had little planned and we are just spending some quality family time in between shift work and catching up with friends. 

My little one enjoying the atmosphere of Christmas Eve

We had a lot of visitors over Christmas, Towbee held up well as a spare bedroom.

I made a few goodies, Rhubarb Cordial, especially nice with sparkling water and a splash of Gin!

 

Xmas gifts

 

I mad the incredibly easy Mallowpuff Xmas puddings for the creche (daycare) teachers in the week before Christmas. I did manage to make a few for myself as well....

And it's finally started being beach time again, so far summer hasn't really hit. But it's still warm enough to head out there (maybe not today though - the weather is horrid)

One great thing this summer is out passionfruit. We have never managed to grow it sucessfully before - it's never been established before the frosts hit, the new spot for it must be perfect as we have a bumper crop on there. I can't wait until they are ready.

The chickens are doing a few odd things, what's with the size difference here. I think have one chook that thinks she is a Quail - such a teeny tiny egg.

I did attempt to make Elderflower champagne for Xmas day but unfortunately it wasn't a success. I fiddled with it too much and some bacteria got in. I'll make it again shortly but this time the quality control officer (my husband) will be in charge of the actual brewing process as he's better at it. I'll show it off when it works next time.

Well I hope the end of the year treats you well, I'm reflecting on the past year and thinking of what plans to put in place for the next twelve months. See you all in 2012.

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