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

Kiss me over the garden gate

My girls are in love with the name of this gorgeous Heirloom annual, so the seeds are in the fridge chilling for a couple of weeks before I plant them.
http://www.about-garden.com/a/en/2455-polygonum-orientale-kiss-me-over-the-garden-gate/

I've had some seeds arrive that I ordered online to get my Spring seed planting a kick start. I'd saved a fair few seeds from the garden last summer as well so I should be pretty set.

I've planted some in seedling trays but I really need just slightly warmer evenings before I tackle the rest of the seeds.

I've gone for a very electic mix of seeds - from Vegetables (Celeriac, Rainbow Carrots), to medicinal herbs (Motherwort), flowers and and Bee attracting plants (Bergamot), and many more that I haven't listed.




I was reading littlewoollie's  blog yesterday and she was talking about her chickens laying very odd sized eggs - I'm having the same thing with ours. One of out older hens laid an egg the size of a quail's the other day. It was very odd inside (possibly she's getting a bit old to lay now??) The girls thought it was pretty funny though. We've had a couple of bigger than usual ones as well.

Mmmmm the Chicken, Leek and Mushroom pies I made for lunch earlier this week were divine - will be making those again for sure. Amazing what you can throw together when you think you have nothing left in the cupboard or fridge.

Anyway, a certain Rugby World Cup has been taking over our wee nation this last week or so. The hubby is a huge rugby fan so my girls have been right into it as well. I made them All Black cupcakes to kick off the action last week - they were a bit of a rushed job but the girls loved them.

We went to a game here in our little city the other night - Canada vs Tonga. We have no affiliation to either team but everyone was loving supporting both teams and we were all dressed in red. My lovely friend Leah (from whydidntanyonetellme ) sent me a photo that she had taken of us on TV and I was actually sending her a text message at the very time I was on TV.  Here is another photo of just me that shows how crazy I looked that day!!  Such fun!


Must go and get dinner on for the kidlets and us now - yay it's the weekend. Time to get some baking done (it's the little ones 4th birthday on Sunday, I really need to get the party food organised) and I'll try and get the crochet hook back out!

Bye for now  Kylie x

Madness

We have a tap dancing lamb. Seriously she likes nothing better than to come a dance on the deck. It's pretty funny! (I tried to upload a video but it seems the file is too large, so you will have to imagine her dancing and jumping around- pretty cute!)

The last two weekends have been really busy with a family birthday party complete with a South African Potje (first time I'd tried that - yum!!), playdates, garden work and refereeing bickering children ;) I've been busy making some yummy recipes the last few days too.  We have a fair few Avocados so I've busy creating new recipes for using them up.

My latest one,Creamy Avocado Mousse with Sweet Chilli Syrup is pretty yummy!

Another thing I've been making a fair bit of is Chocolate dipped Macadamia Nuts (oh so divine!!)

I have a new household cleaner recipe as well. It is amazing! It's from one of my favourite household books "A Home Companion" by Wendyl Nissen.


Peppermint Paste

1 cup baking soda

1 tbsp cream of tartar

10 ml liquid castile soap (She recommends Dr Bonners Castile Soap which you can buy directly from her website or places like Bin Inn)

5 ml water

1ml peppermint essential oil

1. In a bowl mix together baking soda with the cream of tartar.

2. In a small jug mix liquid castile soap and water. Slowly pour into the powders and mix with a fork until you have a paste. Add more water if you need to. (I actually left out the castile soap as I had none and it worked perfectly well, in fact I don't know if I would add it as it's great without it!)

3.  Add peppermint essential oil and stir to combine.

4. Store in an airtight container and use to clean kitchen and bathroom sinks, baths and toilets.

Do you remember the tea towels I bought the other day? Well here's the first cushion I made out of one - that will look so cute in the caravan.

Busy too doing a little hooky goodness (a giant Granny blanket for one of the girls - which one hmmmm they both have their eyes on it - think I will need to make two).

I'm not sure why these colours look screwy - the peach is actually a pink and the grey/brown below it is really lilac! Odd..

Night all, I'm off to watch a little trash TV since hubby is working - I have the remote all to myself!

K xxx