Baking Frenzy

 Saturday was a day of baking frenzy for me . I spent all day in the kitchen. I really enjoy baking much more than cooking meals. So my first effort was Bagels I got the recipe from a show called Poh's Kitchen and you get it here. This is the second time I have made them and I am super happy with how they turn out. These ones are a bit overloaded with seeds because Isabella was helping me.

 Then I had to make a cheesecake for the next day. It was a mint choc one that you put in the fridge. The recipe was from an eighties Women's Weekly cookbook and there was a couple of ingredients I had to substitute as they are no longer produced. It turned out great and not too sweet.

Finally I made some Banana bread - this is yet to be tried as it went straight in the freezer for an afterschool snack for this week. I got the recipe from a website that is quickly becoming like a cooking bible as it has different versions of the same recipe. So if you want to make something and you do not have a recipe I will bet you it will be on taste.com.au - this banana bread recipe can be found here. Anyway hope this inspires you get out there and do some baking.

Bags of Love

 I have been enjoying lately making bags for friends and family as birthday gifts - though they often turn up quite a few months after the event. This one is my latest effort and I have never made it before. It is from the book One Yard Wonders by Rebecca Yaker and Patricia Hoskins. All patterns only use around a metre of Fabric. This was my first go at this one and I am reasonably happy with it but I know a few tricks I need to do next time I make it.

This one I made for a friend whose birthday was at the end of the year and she only got it a few weeks ago. This is showing the lovely lining as it has a plain yet rugged exterior. It is a pattern from Heather Ross' Weekend Sewing, I have used it a few times and am very happy with the result. I think I will have to make one for myself next - make my own bag of love.

Herbal Hair

What am I cooking you may say? But it is not cooking but my new shampoo and conditioner. I have been reading a bit about people going no shampoo and it got me interested. I have had dermatitis  on my scalp for years, the only time I have not had it was when I was pregnant. It manifests itself in a sore, itchy and flaky scalp. So my thought is what do I have to lose. I am not as worried about if my hair is too oily as many of my fellow no -pooers are online. For me oil is good. So let the journey begin.

My recipe that I tried was 1 tabsp Bicarb soda to 1 cup of water and for the rinse 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar (don't ask me why apple cider Vinegar but that is what all I read used) to 1 cup Water. I added a handful of rosemary (because I know that is soothing and good for scalps) in the vinegar/water mix and warmed it up and steeped it like a tea.

Oscar Starts School

I have finally reached a milestone, my youngest went to school this week. I did not know how he was feeling about this momentous occasion as he had not expressed excitement or displeasure at going to school. Monday morning he woke up got dressed and proceeded to ask are we going yet - at 7am. So I knew my answer. I Was not at all sad as I have been waiting for him to go to school so I could start a new phase in my life - I am going to University to study teaching. He is enjoying school but is still wondering why he has to go to school every day-

Happy 2012

So why am I only writing Happy new Year now well I have been travelling for the past 5 weeks. We travelled overland to Adelaide via the outback. It was one amazing experience and I just wanted to share some of my highlights.Pelicans at Coorong National Park, South Australia. I have wanted to go here since studying the book Storm boy as a child at school. We stood watching older birds teach the younger ones how to land on water and how to fly in formation.
Emus on a salt pan at Coorong National Park. I love these birds and it was stunning to see them in the wild.
Long endless roads. Not as boring or as lifeless as I thought they would be.
Isabella in a field of Lavender in the Barossa Valley. She was so taken with these lovely scented rows.
Desert Sunset - What more can I say.
The Flinders Ranges in South Australia was Anthony's highlight it made him want to paint again. The ancient rocks and the vistas just are too stunning for words.
The kids at Maggie Beer's farm in the Barossa Valley. The are just all standing there taking in all the birdlife on the lake.
Isn't this the most gorgeous sunset - I could not help but grab my camera. It is on the Murray River
That was one long drive! And that is Kilometres!

Hope you have enjoyed just a snapshot of our 5 weeks.

Family

I have just spent a lovely afternoon with my mother -in- law's family. I had not seen many of them for years, but it was lovely to spend time with them getting reantiquated. It was lovely for the kids to work out how all these people fit into the scheme of things , that Grandma actually has brothers and sisters. I am slowly beginning to realise that I need to see past all the blemishes that families have and enjoy them for who they are - FAMILY!

The Advent of Summer

I sit and write and marvel how summer is almost upon us. It is now November and we are just starting to put away the jumpers and the blankets. Normally they are long put away by now but for some reason the coolness has been hanging around. Don't get me wrong I am not complaining but I am wondering. Wondering if we will have a summer that is as wet and as destructive as the last or will it be too hot to do anything but hang out at the local pool any chance we get. I feel that summer makes you feel alive, as in the heat you feel every limb, every breath you take and your skin becomes so sensitive to another's touch (basically don't touch me as I am too hot).

This series of photo's were taken at Bribie Island, an hour north of Brisbane. We had a lovely day there playing, swimming, eating fish and chips, eating ice cream and chillin. It was perfect except for the dog getting a paralysis tick from the bush and having to go the vet the following week. I think our dog enjoys the beach as much as we do and you can see her spirit lift in the open outdoors.

Anyway I had better stop writing and go and do some gardening there are weeds needing my attention