tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61329798192341546132024-03-13T19:43:30.998+11:00Brave New VintageLiving Faith | Being Creative | Growing BoysUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger195125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6132979819234154613.post-89675697535123788342013-01-22T09:21:00.000+11:002013-01-22T09:21:07.700+11:00That's MY little boy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Grandparents bring such a richness into the childhood.<br />
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I remember many many things my Granny taught me. The stories she told me of her childhood, at how different her time was but how much the same she was in other ways.<br />
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Last week Rick's parents came to stay with us. They live 13 hours' drive north (but they flew) so we don't get to see them much apart from magic Skype! And despite them having 15 grandchildren aged 30+ down to Dean at 3 and greatgrandchildren a plenty, they have an ever growing, endless supply of love and affection for each of them. My boys adore their Nan & Pop.<br />
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My MIL is a treasure and I love her deeply. She has taken me in as her own and fills me with pride when she compliments my parenting or the love I have for her son. I want to make her and Dad proud. And to top it off, she loves my cooking. She is a great culinary magician and yet, she kept asking me for the recipes of my smoothies, pasta and cakes. We are kindred spirits for sure.<br />
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In the picture above, she sat down at the boys' little table to play with them, early one morning. She may have a funny spanish/yorkshire/aussie accent but that doesn't stop the boys from being mesmerised when she speaks. Here she is showing Dean the photos in her locket. He looked intently as Nanny told him that she has photos of her 5 children in there and that one of them was their Daddy.<br />
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"That's my little boy there- your Daddy" she would say. <br />
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My boys didn't quite get the concept. They agreed that the other children were their aunties and uncles but the little boy that was their Daddy was in fact one of them. And then it was a little too much and off they pottered with another thought that 'flew into their funnels'.<br />
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This week I sorely miss my Mam & Dad, (Nan & Pop). It is hard to be so far away from family.<br />
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xxx<br />
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6132979819234154613.post-9456448753156346902013-01-20T20:08:00.000+11:002013-01-20T20:08:18.913+11:003/52<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMQTHX1b6r2kSkYsUetBGflYSiY_NQ7WBrbZL4e9yYp0WgFIvkdjnjzbaMzR9WxurDhWNqPU4PrXuix7CBimRCwI7_knlQQjnk28IOeM2-XmdlVD5isWfIVHlwskb440A_BU4rpxBiJSs/s1600/Liam+3+of+52.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMQTHX1b6r2kSkYsUetBGflYSiY_NQ7WBrbZL4e9yYp0WgFIvkdjnjzbaMzR9WxurDhWNqPU4PrXuix7CBimRCwI7_knlQQjnk28IOeM2-XmdlVD5isWfIVHlwskb440A_BU4rpxBiJSs/s640/Liam+3+of+52.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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A portrait a week of my kiddies for 2013<br />
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Liam - cheeky mite being photographed by his bestie gal <a href="http://www.creativeshell.com.au/" target="_blank">Shelley</a>. She gets expressions that seem to be reserved for her only, it comes from their mutual crush! (thanks Shell, and thanks for trying to decode my camera to me!!)<br />
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Dean - "I the tunnel" then the car comes whooshing along, and through the archway<br />
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Finn McMissile - the car in question. A birthday gift from Shelley and her mummy Auntie Lesley (you two always pick winners albeit loud ones!!).<br /><br />
Yep, I'm <a href="http://www.cheandfidel.blogspot.com/2013/01/352.html" target="_blank">linking</a>!<br />
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xxx<br />
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6132979819234154613.post-75476076641564199842013-01-14T06:35:00.002+11:002013-01-14T06:35:48.606+11:003<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9-S1JmCRzPiYSsy_0xpALatvUgdn_oZ5pylaYVv1W7VWgDI7kOCcymf3xwe_fia3enzkXx1k4KbhOSegd4vhKtmDHj534ORnoNR20A3k1nH9_yS4OGC6YKx61vM2zBNO7u7hosBKDTss/s1600/Dean+3+birthday+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9-S1JmCRzPiYSsy_0xpALatvUgdn_oZ5pylaYVv1W7VWgDI7kOCcymf3xwe_fia3enzkXx1k4KbhOSegd4vhKtmDHj534ORnoNR20A3k1nH9_yS4OGC6YKx61vM2zBNO7u7hosBKDTss/s640/Dean+3+birthday+2.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Dean waited all day, til after dinner for his birthday cake, so naturally only 2 spoons would do !</i></td></tr>
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This is what a newly turned 3 year old looks like, who has forgone every meal that day waiting for birthday cake.<br />
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While Rick took Liam for a 5 hour return trip to the airport to collect his parents, Dean and I baked a cake for his and his grandfather's birthday. They share their birthday, separated by 75 odd years, but otherwise twins no?<br />
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In fact, when I announced that my baby was due in January 2010, my father-in-law immediately piped up and said "hold on til 13th". I said alright, pretty much knowing it was a done deal as the same thing happened when Liam was due. Dad said "hold on til 2 August" and I said "alright", and so it was (this date is my parents-in-law wedding anniversary and their twin daughters' birthday). I'm a good obedient daughter-in-law I've decided.<br />
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The cake is Nigella Lawson's victoria sponge as seen on this <a href="http://www.bravenewvintage.com/2012/10/out.html" target="_blank">blog</a> before. I iced it in a cream cheese frosting. The colours of the layers were chosen by Dean himself and inspiration for the cake top was <a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/16607092347870506/" target="_blank">Pinterest</a> (of course!!). It not quite the creation Rick made the <a href="http://www.bravenewvintage.com/2012/04/lego-birthday-cake.html" target="_blank">year before</a>, but I am still pleased with it.<br />
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And so it is with birthdays and gatherings, I was hot and sweaty and running here there and everywhere. Thankfully, my gorgeous friend <a href="http://www.creativeshell.com.au/" target="_blank">Shelley</a> was on board and grabbed my camera and snapped this pics. <br />
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The birthday boys and us. I wasn't going to include this pic here as the state of my kitchen was woeful and I was just a tad sweaty and frazzled. But I included it because this is my family and I love them so crazily.<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6132979819234154613.post-56601980424801309772013-01-14T06:11:00.002+11:002013-01-14T06:11:33.530+11:002/52<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">A portrait of my children each week for 2013</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Liam - pouting over his vegetables. He has been quite a fussy eater but this week we turned a corner. He ate carrots! He ate beans! He ate a zucchini & ricotta pie (recipe is in this months Woolworths Magazine). And you wouldn't believe who I have to thank for it. . . . Yo Gabba Gabba!</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Dean - the vegie eating corner also was turned by Dean this week. Both boys watched, by chance, Yo Gabba Gabba. The stripey green furry thing was having a party in his tummy. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Me: "Hey Dean the carrots are crying! Aww, they want to go to the party in your tummy, can they come?"</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Dean: "Alright"</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">That is how the entire meal was consumed, but consumed it was!</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Joining in <a href="http://cheandfidel.blogspot.com/2013/01/252.html" target="_blank">here</a>.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">xxx </span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6132979819234154613.post-58871568259641979522013-01-06T20:44:00.000+11:002013-01-06T20:44:39.130+11:001/52<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje3TpHlDq80LVUUgBbs_yuINqMjDmSIHjtWztVPVMled_I1b40Xim7tM05jvj4_skVtDk3m1AHqh8QEEgPV0q3HxOMtHBdULVX2T4lgXC4f_qqcfYN-aJIHRrrxLdJaQSHn34GDPi3Bqs/s1600/Liam+1+of+52.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje3TpHlDq80LVUUgBbs_yuINqMjDmSIHjtWztVPVMled_I1b40Xim7tM05jvj4_skVtDk3m1AHqh8QEEgPV0q3HxOMtHBdULVX2T4lgXC4f_qqcfYN-aJIHRrrxLdJaQSHn34GDPi3Bqs/s640/Liam+1+of+52.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkegwCVWkq5koxDF2PwC9F_Ln-OEWmEliR2zkBbo-iAov8UfgAdx7m8o7lFIGBiFcMPSwf_SfKKRANiib1D1orPycH_Jce7t2jpEv0146w7XLYE38ud0ksEJDi6UN8bfIXe4s1VGxIB28/s1600/Dean+1+of+52.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkegwCVWkq5koxDF2PwC9F_Ln-OEWmEliR2zkBbo-iAov8UfgAdx7m8o7lFIGBiFcMPSwf_SfKKRANiib1D1orPycH_Jce7t2jpEv0146w7XLYE38ud0ksEJDi6UN8bfIXe4s1VGxIB28/s640/Dean+1+of+52.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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A portrait of my children each week for 2013<br />
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1. Liam - first time on a slip and slide. The only time he didn't grin this big was when he was impatiently waiting for his turn.<br />
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2. Dean - in his happy place. He absolutely loves the bath and requires much bribing to get him out before he prunes. <br />
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Joining in with <a href="http://cheandfidel.blogspot.com/2013/01/152.html" target="_blank">Jodi</a><br />
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I do look forward to looking at my children grow this year and to improving my anaemic photography skills.<br />
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xxx<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6132979819234154613.post-34239146777789431352013-01-03T14:10:00.000+11:002013-01-03T14:10:00.516+11:00Shocked in Translation<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHQ1-ONuNvLYLWsHm4F93Dk0x_m-Kj4u1-hgtmbSnUGacNCzLV_V579SUrOjc3f56DER0wGU13KonUBVNMJiQ0lCu-fobdQOQJolSUymVlYD_lHEA6Ho53SA-9K4DzLVXCPpgRDecJR2g/s1600/3017286268_fb682e0622_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHQ1-ONuNvLYLWsHm4F93Dk0x_m-Kj4u1-hgtmbSnUGacNCzLV_V579SUrOjc3f56DER0wGU13KonUBVNMJiQ0lCu-fobdQOQJolSUymVlYD_lHEA6Ho53SA-9K4DzLVXCPpgRDecJR2g/s640/3017286268_fb682e0622_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My Dar and Granny with my Mum, their daughter-in-law, in the middle<br /><i>(With thanks to my brother Jeremy for uploading our old family pics on Flickr!)</i></td></tr>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Warning: This post contains a naughty word expression for those living in Australia and presumably New Zealand. Bear with me as there is a wholesome point to it all!</span></i><br />
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I had a delightful Granny. She passed away a few years back at the ripe age of 97. I loved her dearly but boy could she crack me up! It was the generational-gap-lost-in-translation thing. You know what I am talking about, words that have changed their meaning or gained another meaning like <i>gay, sick, bad </i>etc<br />
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As kids we used to laugh at Granny calling our youngest brother a little faggot. Obviously she meant a bundle of sticks because he was always wriggly and hard to hold. <br />
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But the one that got us all in fits of muffled giggles, <i>probably because we had naughty little minds</i>, was her story of how she coped with our grandfather's snoring. Like many elderly couples, they slept in separate beds although they shared a bedroom. It was more comfortable for their aged bodies I guess. But Granny used to complain that her sleep was being disrupted by Dar's chronic snoring. <br />
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With a cheeky grin she would say "everytime he snores, I just get up and give him a root*!"<br />
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After our shock, and a little disgust at the thought of it, we would then realise her meaning and laugh at hearing her say something so '<i>naughty</i>' without knowing. What she meant was she would grab her walking stick that was next to her bed, lean over and poke Dar in the ribs to get him to roll over and stop snoring. We knew that, but our little corrupted minds would laugh at the other thought, of our grandparents doing-it (<i>eeeewww</i>!). <br />
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I grew up in a household that tolerated swearing. Each of us, my siblings and parents alike, have hot tempers. The rude words would fly around frequently. It has taken me a long time to get to the point where I don't swear. It is a do-not, a deliberate decision to not swear and raise my children with the same amount of dislike for swear words. But every now and then, the 'old woman' in me, the former person before I made a decision to love Jesus, would rear her ugly tongue and let the f-bomb or s-bomb out. I have to be mighty angry, but with my temper, well, I am a work in progress.<br />
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But only the other day, my boys, 3 and 4 years, began saying the f-bomb. After questioning, they told me a boy at kindy says it. It broke my heart (<i>and relieved they didn't hear it from me!</i>). It is crushing to hear such young boys say such an ugly word. I know that they don't know its meaning, and is said innocently but it reminded me that there is a big world out there that will continue to shock me in translation. <br />
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Many of my friends swear and I don't take offense. They don't swear at me, it has just become so intertwined into our language that for most, there is no longer a 'naughty word' attachment to it. In one of my former workplaces, I had a colleague who would apologise to me after each time she used the f-bomb in conversation with me. In the end I simply told her I take more offense to her using Jesus Christ as a swear word. Different standards. She couldn't see the offense. That's ok, I was just trying to let her know what I found offensive, if she really wanted to not offend me.<br />
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So my wholesome point? Not to judge any person for the language they use.<br />
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<strong style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+14:13&version=KJV" style="color: #b37162; text-decoration: initial;">Romans 14:13</a></strong><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Then let us no more criticize </span><i style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">and</i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> blame </span><i style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">and</i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> pass judgment on one another, but rather decide </span><i style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">and</i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> endeavor never to put a stumbling block </span><i style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">or</i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> an obstacle or a hindrance in the way of a brother <i>(or sister or neighbour or stranger)**</i>.</span><br />
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My new reflective, is to say nice things, to be nice, to think nice, and show love through kindness and gentleness.<br />
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xxx<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">*for those in the northern hemisphere, the word root has a double meaning down under. . . are you getting my drift?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">**my own emphasis</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">By the way, I am totally digging my Mum's Suzi Q hair-do and that dress! Think I might get myself a hair cut!!</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6132979819234154613.post-73496622269339372582013-01-02T13:23:00.001+11:002013-01-02T13:23:45.165+11:00How I will pray for my children<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH0fUzP3ZQN9m48mKR8KPoEbEW6oDkRssVjsxwzmb60ojXyHLgn7tsSpPScPt9qW7eH7OzqxXchrPi-Vv79x1dKoHptGoOreKRSwthaSYzQY1bZlrSY-so5kTrIhGXKLGNNuS96Ex6k0E/s1600/how+to+pray+for+my+kids.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH0fUzP3ZQN9m48mKR8KPoEbEW6oDkRssVjsxwzmb60ojXyHLgn7tsSpPScPt9qW7eH7OzqxXchrPi-Vv79x1dKoHptGoOreKRSwthaSYzQY1bZlrSY-so5kTrIhGXKLGNNuS96Ex6k0E/s1600/how+to+pray+for+my+kids.jpg" /></a></div>
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I saw this on <a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/16607092347877376/" target="_blank">Pinterest</a> originally from <a href="http://kidsinministry.org/resources/" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
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I love it. I have been praying generic prayers for my kids. For them to have good health, to be good people and to look always to Jesus. But I have always thought that I should be more specific and claim promises from the bible. And then I find this gem, pinned by a delightful pinner and friend, <a href="http://pinterest.com/craftynesi/" target="_blank">Vanessa</a>.<br />
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I'm not one for new year resolutions as they seem to be in of themselves set up for failure. Instead, I am going to 'purpose in my heart' (Daniel 1:8) to uphold Christ and all that He taught. To be the mother He needs me to be. And to remember that my first mission field is here in my home.<br />
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Happy New Year! 2013. *sigh*<br />
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When I was little, I used to wonder what I would be like in 2000. And that being 23 was so old and mature. Well, we are now 13 years passed and I am into my 36th year and I have two boys and a husband and many many things that I never imagined could have happen have happened. Reflection is mind blowing. Today I think it is better for me to focus on the future and to grab hold of my Saviour's hand.<br />
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I hope your new year is filled with many blessings and crafty exploits. I'm currently working on a stashed UFO that needn't remain unfinished for another year.<br />
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<b>What do you want for your children?</b><br />
<b>Are you working on any UFOs?</b><br />
<b>Have you made any resolutions?</b><br />
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See you round like a fruit loop.<br />
<br />
xxx<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6132979819234154613.post-43433992401783623362012-12-24T11:23:00.000+11:002012-12-24T11:23:33.251+11:00Christmas Presence<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmVMyC_o8YYcHUKpL93BN56v6I9bpmqn3BDxNCbYI1lFF53cMQSPzRjB6H59harze5372VEg_mYRwdwPjxswTLdSwZAcXpgGPWRwFBA8zaE5YlMzaJ1rENQg4H7KJ9-HrxDz5EhxbsIWE/s1600/merry+christmas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmVMyC_o8YYcHUKpL93BN56v6I9bpmqn3BDxNCbYI1lFF53cMQSPzRjB6H59harze5372VEg_mYRwdwPjxswTLdSwZAcXpgGPWRwFBA8zaE5YlMzaJ1rENQg4H7KJ9-HrxDz5EhxbsIWE/s640/merry+christmas.jpg" width="436" /></a></div>
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At this time of year, it is so easy to think presents presents presents. What am I going to make or buy for whom? Have I got enough? What if second cousin Joe turns up? Should I have some extra chocolates? <br />
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I try every year to not be dictated by this giving - receiving frenzy. Really, it is a consumerism thing in the end. That is why I tried to go as handmade as possible so that I could inject as much love as I could into each gift. But I also know that my sons love Lego, and I wasn't about to fashion Lego bricks out of Fimo. My boys would be horrified! So giving something that you know the recipient would love is still giving in love.<br />
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These verses have been playing over in my mind lately and I thought I would share them with you.<br />
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<span class="text John-3-16"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><sup class="versenum" style="font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;"><br /></sup></span></span></div>
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<span class="text John-3-16"><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">~ John 3:16 ~</span></span></div>
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<span class="text John-3-16"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">For God so loved the world that he gave his only and unique Son, so that everyone who trusts in him may have eternal life, instead of being utterly destroyed. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: 16.363636016845703px;">~James 1:17 ~</span></div>
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<span class="text Jas-1-17" id="en-CJB-30297"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Every good act of giving and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father who made the heavenly lights; with him there is neither variation nor darkness caused by turning. </span></span></div>
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I want to remember that the gift of Christmas is not what Baby Jesus received from the wise men. The giving and receiving of gifts is actually representative of Gift that God gave this world, our world, His Son Jesus Christ. And any gift from God is perfect.<br />
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I hope you have a wonderful Christmas day and enjoy His presence at your table and in your home or out in nature.<br />
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Love and blessings,<br />
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Fi xxx<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6132979819234154613.post-77992891457983129222012-12-23T08:25:00.000+11:002012-12-23T08:25:00.231+11:00Our Christmas Came Early<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Warning: lots of photos!</i></span><br />
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We hosted our family christmas lunch last Sunday. It was just easier that way. Here's the wrap up (excuse the pun!)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVp5Ix8SVDw2_FYiYqImcpTU9-iGGkvLeerk-8k2UvS8GIYYN7T0SNAx3gJUb564PV2JNVFvsz8CVOiYUHh14jqu7wYiIda2LB2GM3caP111x4HRiEgvOEBnTBhj-JkP1jNIEEBS4zYJU/s1600/xmas+bbq+8+kids.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVp5Ix8SVDw2_FYiYqImcpTU9-iGGkvLeerk-8k2UvS8GIYYN7T0SNAx3gJUb564PV2JNVFvsz8CVOiYUHh14jqu7wYiIda2LB2GM3caP111x4HRiEgvOEBnTBhj-JkP1jNIEEBS4zYJU/s640/xmas+bbq+8+kids.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">The Guests</span></b><br />
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My husband's gorgeous children and their families. We didn't get to see one of my steppies but he and his girl have promised to visit Boxing Day. Joy!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgal91l-E4_K8CqM4wiLSkJPMEDHhAw8FBWdWIB-MNcF7MUJQn1LO08DeWLjgUP5JkJBfUVDK9GjDf0auigBZYQHf5PXaH9EcGbg3a4lrWMjSUBj7jYLQBLzfd9BjhyJ4W_H2YBRQjlcuQ/s1600/xmas+bbq+15+presents.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgal91l-E4_K8CqM4wiLSkJPMEDHhAw8FBWdWIB-MNcF7MUJQn1LO08DeWLjgUP5JkJBfUVDK9GjDf0auigBZYQHf5PXaH9EcGbg3a4lrWMjSUBj7jYLQBLzfd9BjhyJ4W_H2YBRQjlcuQ/s640/xmas+bbq+15+presents.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRFFrmoTAYJD6R3ajRpylWkp5SFg8uZIM0grb9hph53cPmgT78DERQbAHZyllrZZzMBoqyrKV37AKAbUYcfRR0A742egqIE5MctI1lV8qGO-E105WrMsLiZSSjuKBpmTFcyB-LTBNna94/s1600/xmas+bbq+11+presents.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRFFrmoTAYJD6R3ajRpylWkp5SFg8uZIM0grb9hph53cPmgT78DERQbAHZyllrZZzMBoqyrKV37AKAbUYcfRR0A742egqIE5MctI1lV8qGO-E105WrMsLiZSSjuKBpmTFcyB-LTBNna94/s640/xmas+bbq+11+presents.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">The Food</span></b><br />
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We had a BBQ. Easy peasy. Makes everyone happy. Plenty of vegetables though to eat alongside the mandatory steak and sausages for our meatlovers. And dessert was the quintessential aussie/kiwi christmas pudding, pavlova. I covered it in mangoes, strawberries and passionfruit with chocolate to sprinkle to personal measure.<br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUaP8qmFBEORvytthwvWBPzemrirWicTTH_mmiE4qsvhAgHQmhKGwT2whUpxE3yQzVPRcBoCHYPx43dfBrYJwx6X4eZqtW9sqTRTd5fh2JisK4n90GCNNVizZDkH6YLVlmZ5gbQll2rPA/s1600/christmas+lunch+veggies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUaP8qmFBEORvytthwvWBPzemrirWicTTH_mmiE4qsvhAgHQmhKGwT2whUpxE3yQzVPRcBoCHYPx43dfBrYJwx6X4eZqtW9sqTRTd5fh2JisK4n90GCNNVizZDkH6YLVlmZ5gbQll2rPA/s640/christmas+lunch+veggies.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.727272033691406px;">Oops, only got instagram pics of these sides and salads<br />veggies for chargrilling | Spanish potato salad | tomato basil & boconccini salad with avocado</td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRQQIbv_8rHfOImqJwAqui9bxrzG4mOb55paSphQzZ9kRcdafnQk9rPH-7oruvVGFK0ST6SHAHsKLWJRP2r2yZ5FcZu-bEt1VOk6QFwE9VF0IDU6K_dbk54EejQ2ND-Oob18kbqLHfq34/s1600/squeaky+cheese+kebabs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRQQIbv_8rHfOImqJwAqui9bxrzG4mOb55paSphQzZ9kRcdafnQk9rPH-7oruvVGFK0ST6SHAHsKLWJRP2r2yZ5FcZu-bEt1VOk6QFwE9VF0IDU6K_dbk54EejQ2ND-Oob18kbqLHfq34/s640/squeaky+cheese+kebabs.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.727272033691406px;">squeaky cheese (haloumi) kebabs</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0V1prHtWgfU_3V4dZZh9sB1dcSjcj1mWODWdcntN_t6IMy03fcHc9RzRYQugGq8EL0mp5fe0_KSJ2NAr1SZN0nzYmoD12AG27n7VqefPcecgho_6k8p08P5DMtMrDV4rPiKEBr7xOgnI/s1600/chargrilled+eggplant.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0V1prHtWgfU_3V4dZZh9sB1dcSjcj1mWODWdcntN_t6IMy03fcHc9RzRYQugGq8EL0mp5fe0_KSJ2NAr1SZN0nzYmoD12AG27n7VqefPcecgho_6k8p08P5DMtMrDV4rPiKEBr7xOgnI/s640/chargrilled+eggplant.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.727272033691406px;">chargrilled eggplant with paprika served with a garlic feta sauce (not pictured)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifs8C3dIaPuA6yER2D8PqAmvRJp-cufV6gTwaZhHfHvwGrgYJbcxANNpkrsWKZzdUh5jQOjx_tK4a_R9UXTpRexK-LAf6sYUuzbbiU1adXuxvkJdTrhVKuHb_LNdkpa_bbUlEoEkldYuM/s1600/pavlova+collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifs8C3dIaPuA6yER2D8PqAmvRJp-cufV6gTwaZhHfHvwGrgYJbcxANNpkrsWKZzdUh5jQOjx_tK4a_R9UXTpRexK-LAf6sYUuzbbiU1adXuxvkJdTrhVKuHb_LNdkpa_bbUlEoEkldYuM/s640/pavlova+collage.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.727272033691406px;">Pavlova for dessert of course with extra strawberries and generous dustings of chocolate shavings</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIX8GodNmlyheDKfYpkLLuNVi0Ww7rvLu2UUkiBFvTuoUJST2hq9xfxYO3-_4dlTJe33A9whTMyRpo72C4wk6j7cj1MLRG9KMkwTkqWzKlV9nrmw8vJFMhD-xXdrhDo5A2Xicol48Wzg8/s1600/xmas+bbq+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIX8GodNmlyheDKfYpkLLuNVi0Ww7rvLu2UUkiBFvTuoUJST2hq9xfxYO3-_4dlTJe33A9whTMyRpo72C4wk6j7cj1MLRG9KMkwTkqWzKlV9nrmw8vJFMhD-xXdrhDo5A2Xicol48Wzg8/s640/xmas+bbq+2.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">The Pressies</span></b><br />
<br />
I made presents for everyone this year. Unfortunately I didn't get a pic of the lemon butter but you can grab my recipe <a href="http://www.bravenewvintage.com/2010/12/relaxed-dinner-parties-are-so-much-fun.html" target="_blank">here</a>. It is the lemoniest lemon butter so it is definitely for lemon loving fans.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipZdf1_1hzunND3x5nKkI2m3vcjOBoMotzmr74sJNYnYrKEC_waqpkUkVRL8Eb1pVoYZnAvJsYbMdp-smbNcQ89YtraU_YpQVA6OkpPU20r5ijRKx73u0M2jTWN-3tJXPI8XMtqeer5SM/s1600/slippers+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipZdf1_1hzunND3x5nKkI2m3vcjOBoMotzmr74sJNYnYrKEC_waqpkUkVRL8Eb1pVoYZnAvJsYbMdp-smbNcQ89YtraU_YpQVA6OkpPU20r5ijRKx73u0M2jTWN-3tJXPI8XMtqeer5SM/s640/slippers+1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnMm487bNF31rCoiLRTF-78LBaAbAp0GRJJcvKvnFfiDmjx2t8UWTxn7VMPC6Bei2KM6mkhvDnKjiaBdSS6eZqVo9HfYh_B_gZiK5A9H2CFPdpY_1LgdhYMHh8jUGt9CyRND6gF0SyO4A/s1600/jacob+pj+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnMm487bNF31rCoiLRTF-78LBaAbAp0GRJJcvKvnFfiDmjx2t8UWTxn7VMPC6Bei2KM6mkhvDnKjiaBdSS6eZqVo9HfYh_B_gZiK5A9H2CFPdpY_1LgdhYMHh8jUGt9CyRND6gF0SyO4A/s640/jacob+pj+2.jpg" width="544" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-mZWVUGJWFMYy8KgGKpGMs3eAMKHbHsaITqyWoodc__nCuFbRsxxclYyg_n1cyWQ2KplPay4Xvjd1wCaNWbgoNz7szOU7Oj0ralnp97wEzCur3IgOBqAJzaB4IIm4Unl3DgQvpnPvNNQ/s1600/jacob+pj+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-mZWVUGJWFMYy8KgGKpGMs3eAMKHbHsaITqyWoodc__nCuFbRsxxclYyg_n1cyWQ2KplPay4Xvjd1wCaNWbgoNz7szOU7Oj0ralnp97wEzCur3IgOBqAJzaB4IIm4Unl3DgQvpnPvNNQ/s640/jacob+pj+1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO8qPzwE1WcxCbptQj9uJJHReYzWnFpRg0gN8WijbdpCceEm3XN76AlkKDi8qdZNpCyOdzKrBcph02hbHhwhXqaRxOjndITyBREug7isj6VGtNol2UkEHF9QSKhAO3WFHOsQdr4QMnULw/s1600/beads.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO8qPzwE1WcxCbptQj9uJJHReYzWnFpRg0gN8WijbdpCceEm3XN76AlkKDi8qdZNpCyOdzKrBcph02hbHhwhXqaRxOjndITyBREug7isj6VGtNol2UkEHF9QSKhAO3WFHOsQdr4QMnULw/s640/beads.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDVVFbPnlHf5O6ZeCp1RvjdBp6q7g4Y9lagJxqncM5eF7fj3lMSM9HQZZKjwq-tUV9r8dMKW62RDT6Peh-MnSo6EtaLVIjwPQhXKXWgaBEA57dkBMhtmZtv2-JNZY68baIsvo22Vsk3kM/s1600/presents+wrapped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDVVFbPnlHf5O6ZeCp1RvjdBp6q7g4Y9lagJxqncM5eF7fj3lMSM9HQZZKjwq-tUV9r8dMKW62RDT6Peh-MnSo6EtaLVIjwPQhXKXWgaBEA57dkBMhtmZtv2-JNZY68baIsvo22Vsk3kM/s640/presents+wrapped.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<br />
1. <a href="http://www.bravenewvintage.com/2012/11/spoil.html" target="_blank">Slippers</a><br />
2. & 3. Pyjamas for my step grandson. Using my favourite pattern, well my only patter for pj's! Oliver&S Sleepover Pyjamas as seen on <a href="http://www.bravenewvintage.com/2012/05/pyjamas-of-artist.html" target="_blank">this</a> <a href="http://www.bravenewvintage.com/2012/09/sew-lately.html" target="_blank">blog</a> <a href="http://www.bravenewvintage.com/2012/06/more-pjs-sick-kidlets-and-holiday.html" target="_blank">before</a><br />
4. And my attempt at the much-done-for-christmas-presents-in-blogland beads (I would have to put a dozen or so links here for where I've seen it before; can I just trust that you have been around here too for a while and know all the places you've seen them?)<br />
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My shortbread didn't turn out as I liked so it didn't get gifted. And to add a bit more value to the presents, gift cards and chocolates were also thrown in for good measure.<br />
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We received awesome reading material and yummy-yums, while the boys got toys, toys and more toys.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbyBgfts6uSszQ9v1Eh66_NimcLuxqLAIYMXLae9rxqI68JEKG-JIrJ2Vzv1IUvQz65fkRL-fqsyuFQivLwZXzW19O0PcRPGc6lZXA1CcsWLU-NbNcGYkW1AYsM2eg3lmrOyfiRe388wY/s1600/xmas+bbq+collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="376" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbyBgfts6uSszQ9v1Eh66_NimcLuxqLAIYMXLae9rxqI68JEKG-JIrJ2Vzv1IUvQz65fkRL-fqsyuFQivLwZXzW19O0PcRPGc6lZXA1CcsWLU-NbNcGYkW1AYsM2eg3lmrOyfiRe388wY/s640/xmas+bbq+collage.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Getting the kids to sit still and face the camera was next to impossible! I took dozens but the others are all blurry or not faces!</i></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6x3YyFg1EUstAnO1iyuGJ0s5BvjURgFvYT47SQbk350-EUlaQCyjOp-9q1cMQnPQDpbp5yzHKq_cDtelvTGiwPrQ5AsTuzUcpYiHfUqW-9eXbV0SbfCJbZWkKiFvGD507j23gAeuK6rc/s1600/xmas+bbq+10+presents.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6x3YyFg1EUstAnO1iyuGJ0s5BvjURgFvYT47SQbk350-EUlaQCyjOp-9q1cMQnPQDpbp5yzHKq_cDtelvTGiwPrQ5AsTuzUcpYiHfUqW-9eXbV0SbfCJbZWkKiFvGD507j23gAeuK6rc/s640/xmas+bbq+10+presents.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYEi2-tmnADoGbvnJM37VuTqjho9jnNzi0podzQhzQn1QztcdRt8DVd02FZFNvN2YdLBHHLnIDTTKWmi9BkV88DbJrPDqLuO8e_-F21Qu9CfHVrWPQUf6vgkPbkHTU0ZO3w2B1zDjXfhQ/s1600/xmas+bbq+9+presents.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYEi2-tmnADoGbvnJM37VuTqjho9jnNzi0podzQhzQn1QztcdRt8DVd02FZFNvN2YdLBHHLnIDTTKWmi9BkV88DbJrPDqLuO8e_-F21Qu9CfHVrWPQUf6vgkPbkHTU0ZO3w2B1zDjXfhQ/s640/xmas+bbq+9+presents.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUk2uPXT_2LiKSak80zfJZ772HuIpkRx_AswrIjuVjBZ4qv4Js8XdxcsGQKgVr4y1TLu2dHlIv2D2GdMO9OUqasdXvqUoiZzf2ipQ4L-KzMHcsNMS8jXSkdCn8e6WSdbUf-3FhmgLhKZw/s1600/xmas+bbq+3+tree.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUk2uPXT_2LiKSak80zfJZ772HuIpkRx_AswrIjuVjBZ4qv4Js8XdxcsGQKgVr4y1TLu2dHlIv2D2GdMO9OUqasdXvqUoiZzf2ipQ4L-KzMHcsNMS8jXSkdCn8e6WSdbUf-3FhmgLhKZw/s640/xmas+bbq+3+tree.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Yes, this is my tree. At least it wasn't raided of its baubles or knocked over!</i></td></tr>
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<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">What about the big day?</span></b><br />
<br />
Well, admittedly Christmas has lost its thunder but it would have been more disappointing on Christmas day to not have had an early celebration. Rick's older kids have their Mum's christmas breakfast then their partners family commitments. They live 90 mins from us, it was just easier to grab them early than to not see them at all.<br />
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We will enjoy our little family's company. I love my husband and children to pieces, so to have a lazy morning with pancakes and eggs and tomatoes from the garden, then perhaps a picnic at the beach will be more than christmassy enough for me.<br />
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I will bake some special slice no doubt and we will probably eat something from the freezer that night.<br />
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Tonight we are off to our cul-de-sac neighbourhood party. Such fun times!<br />
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I hope your Christmas day is full of happiness, of laughter, of special happy memory making. Wear loose clothing!<br />
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Love and blessings from mine to yours<br />
<br />
Fi xxxxUnknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6132979819234154613.post-64439224210061500062012-12-21T09:09:00.000+11:002012-12-21T09:09:40.553+11:00The Evolution of Our Green Smoothie<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaVyPEyUc7yS2S_fbwZSu8UQLdAoEHgMVWeTtdsGOTZKs4ZekB_6sYJNlysQvWlcJJWqgIRmelSBATlFThH0OGgM4JMzhU7J_7Uowho0oB2MqltdQDO9bP9bupgPOekOcw_k7wSqGkwMI/s1600/banana+green+smoothie+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaVyPEyUc7yS2S_fbwZSu8UQLdAoEHgMVWeTtdsGOTZKs4ZekB_6sYJNlysQvWlcJJWqgIRmelSBATlFThH0OGgM4JMzhU7J_7Uowho0oB2MqltdQDO9bP9bupgPOekOcw_k7wSqGkwMI/s640/banana+green+smoothie+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnwcJ4lh8Czk1mpTyx26DCVrfw1F3KfNtJtMNxGUHIEgQC4RjWXIFW4syGJhb_K_MLpWSAMnzOH_6xN1p4fUtPlaAXFxK-Yp9SWBp7MEOzV6B4ByeDaPzrX4YuGAdGVR9YeiT7SEvv-TI/s1600/banana+green+smoothie+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnwcJ4lh8Czk1mpTyx26DCVrfw1F3KfNtJtMNxGUHIEgQC4RjWXIFW4syGJhb_K_MLpWSAMnzOH_6xN1p4fUtPlaAXFxK-Yp9SWBp7MEOzV6B4ByeDaPzrX4YuGAdGVR9YeiT7SEvv-TI/s640/banana+green+smoothie+3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQeikQa3yn0AA6c68M6ZabRzbRabrmKKcoR1YsMlFtPnw2w_VXFYftVbB9KltI_fB68sM_maugadhzKYrc1E06Euo44z7Zsq2T0FwgcyzvOX3JHt0FVmqnu8_jsbYjGOGlRZDPErbxGZI/s1600/banana+green+smoothie+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQeikQa3yn0AA6c68M6ZabRzbRabrmKKcoR1YsMlFtPnw2w_VXFYftVbB9KltI_fB68sM_maugadhzKYrc1E06Euo44z7Zsq2T0FwgcyzvOX3JHt0FVmqnu8_jsbYjGOGlRZDPErbxGZI/s640/banana+green+smoothie+1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My boys loved this smoothie so much that I had to scrap out every last bit from the Vitamix jug and Liam upon seeing the spatula squealed<i> "I lick it please Mumma!"</i></td></tr>
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<br />
I have learnt a lot since I <a href="http://www.bravenewvintage.com/2012/08/the-vitamix-diaries-going-cold-turkey.html" target="_blank">introduced smoothies</a> into our diet.<br />
<br />
I have learnt that ::<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>it is important to consider the <a href="http://www.foodmatters.tv/articles-1/acid-alkaline-tips-for-balancing-your-diet" target="_blank">acid-alkaline balance</a> of our diet. That means, some foods such as meat and cheeses can be highly acidic for the body once digested, leading to such problems as weaker bones (yes, cheese can weaken your bones!) and that alkaline foods, such as most vegetables and some fruits and nuts can improve bone health and general well-being and longevity. You might find this <a href="http://amazingdiscoveries.org/H-deception-health_acid_alkaline_food" target="_blank">table</a> helpful in discerning acid and alkaline foods. Basically, eat more fruit and vegetables and less meat and dairy.</li>
</ul>
<div>
<ul>
<li>combining fruits and vegetables in the one juice, or meal, can lead to bad digestion. It takes different enzymes to break down fruits than it does with vegetables. You can listen to your body on this one too. Even though it isn't bad to let one go (flatulence, fluff or <i>fart - I can barely write that word as it is a rude word in our house, boys!</i>), it isn't good if they are quite stinky. That means that your digestion isn't great and possibly caused by a wrong combination of foods last eaten. <i>But</i> if you are like me and struggle to listen to your body (in my case, I think I am that toxic that it's hard to tell), it is good to do some research. I did, and it was a little conflicting.</li>
</ul>
<div>
<ul>
<li>after some internet searching, there is a general consensus that mixing fruits and vegetables together isn't that great for your health. And even though many manufacturers of juicers promote combining fruits and vegetables in their recipes, this may be to make the juicer more appealing for sale rather than what is good for you. I liked this <a href="http://www.prevention.com/community/forums/nutrition-recipes/healthy-eating/food-combining-green-smoothies" target="_blank">woman's view</a> on the topic because it sat well with me. Doesn't mean it is conclusively correct though. And I would like to believe <a href="http://www.all-about-juicing.com/mixing-vegetables-and-fruits.html" target="_blank">this guy</a> as it is convenient. So it brings me back to listening to my body.</li>
</ul>
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<div>
<ul>
<li>the <a href="http://amazingdiscoveries.org/H-deception-health_laws_nutrition_exercise" target="_blank">Eight Laws of Health</a> make sense and I should consider abiding by them. Not only will it benefit my health but also the example set before my sons will help them to make healthy nutritional choices. And right now, I just want them to eat the healthy food I set before them and not pester for <i>pizza-from-a-shop</i>, chippies and ice-cream! In a nutshell they are, <a href="http://amazingdiscoveries.org/H-deception-health-nutrition_diet_food_vegetarian" target="_blank">Nutrition</a>, <a href="http://amazingdiscoveries.org/H-deception-exercise_benefits_energy" target="_blank">Exercise</a>, <a href="http://amazingdiscoveries.org/H-deception-water_clean_drink_body" target="_blank">Water</a>, <a href="http://amazingdiscoveries.org/H-deception-health_sun_energy_light" target="_blank">Sunlight</a>, <a href="http://amazingdiscoveries.org/H-deception-health_temperance_moderation_abstinence" target="_blank">Temperance</a>, <a href="http://amazingdiscoveries.org/H-deception-healing_fresh_air_blood_oxygen" target="_blank">Air</a>, <a href="http://amazingdiscoveries.org/H-deception-health_rest_sleep_body_grow" target="_blank">Rest</a> and <a href="http://amazingdiscoveries.org/H-deception-health_trust_Bible_God" target="_blank">Trust</a>.</li>
</ul>
<div>
<ul>
<li>variety and making it fun is essential to keeping my little boys interested. We make up names for our dishes, like Pirate-Treasure-Porridge, Snakes In Red Sauce and Monster Green Smoothies (well we didn't make that one up of course!). And this morning we discovered Banana Green Smoothie (highly imaginative we are in this house!). I have found that my boys like a smoothie combination for a couple of weeks before we have to reinvent it. And new ways in presenting it to them.</li>
</ul>
<div>
That brings me to today's new smoothie. </div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Banana Green Smoothie</b></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
5 leaves of silverbeet, stalks removed or leafy green of choice</div>
<div>
2 bananas </div>
<div>
rice milk (I measure the milk using their little drinking cups x 2)</div>
<div>
2/3 cup quick oats</div>
<div>
1 Tbl chia seeds</div>
<div>
2 Tbl coconut oil</div>
<div>
pinch of celtic salt (must be celtic or himalayan pink salt otherwise omit)</div>
<div>
tiny dribble of maple syrup, optional</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Place all ingredients in given order into your blender (most blenders will blend better if spinach is in first, soft to hard rule).</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
To serve, we pour it into a cereal bowl and top with a small handful of cornflakes. Cornflakes are high in salt and really are not good for you. My boys just love the stuff but it dawned on me that if I were to make a thick smoothie and top it with only a fraction of the cornflakes they would otherwise be having I have reduced their bad salt intake and increased their good food intake. </div>
<div>
<b><br /></b></div>
<div>
<b>Do you make smoothies? What are your favourite combos?</b></div>
<div>
<b>Can you give me tips to get my boys eating more fruit and veg in its whole form?</b> Chewing is always a good thing.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Four more sleeps to you-know-when, hope you are ready. By the way, can't go without a mention to the obvious- the world has not ended today.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Blessings,</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Fi </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
xxx</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6132979819234154613.post-16389194336945545142012-12-14T17:48:00.000+11:002012-12-14T17:48:46.284+11:00Beetroot Chocolate Cake :: A recipe<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVHIqZKovrZSvg-IRwIwKXqG0WXF1qu-0OoIR94uxmQegkx2nhYsUcs_RTQ07sXXOvfXYltbhgH5gODJWApmh9dAt_-LA30mBLFP8KLKoF5OHUPCtSvnxrTzwM8ATxusROcggQan-qhFk/s1600/Beetroot+Chocolate+Cake+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVHIqZKovrZSvg-IRwIwKXqG0WXF1qu-0OoIR94uxmQegkx2nhYsUcs_RTQ07sXXOvfXYltbhgH5gODJWApmh9dAt_-LA30mBLFP8KLKoF5OHUPCtSvnxrTzwM8ATxusROcggQan-qhFk/s640/Beetroot+Chocolate+Cake+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Hello!<br />
<br />
I instagrammed this cake today and was asked to post the recipe. I'm not one to keep yummy recipes to myself so I offer it up here with pleasure.<br />
<br />
Now, if you have never had a beetroot chocolate cake, you can be forgiven for thinking EErrrrkkk. I did, and never thought I would be baking one myself. But as it turns out, I had a bunch of beetroot leftover in the fridge from a sad abandoned juice diet. I really dislike feeding my bin dead vegetables (no worm farm or compost presently) and couldn't bear the idea of throwing the beets away.<br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>A side note, I had every intention of seeing the <a href="http://www.jointhereboot.com/plans/" target="_blank">Reboot Your Life</a> juice diet through to the end but I don't actually have a juicer. Mmmm, bit of a problem. But I do have a Vitamix (high powered blender) and thought I could get away with it. </i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0vykJbN2DKGMQo96TtXb7pkKloeTM_1u9wB1O5LAAaznlWLhzgwlCLGIlGXh9IGzdNvSpgX56BLz09zVSLx3u-O2Nyh6Tsn1S5J-JRoCLXqLiVaLPE8cZz6EYALHkI60CtU2SEXnDffI/s1600/Reboot+Your+Life+collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0vykJbN2DKGMQo96TtXb7pkKloeTM_1u9wB1O5LAAaznlWLhzgwlCLGIlGXh9IGzdNvSpgX56BLz09zVSLx3u-O2Nyh6Tsn1S5J-JRoCLXqLiVaLPE8cZz6EYALHkI60CtU2SEXnDffI/s640/Reboot+Your+Life+collage.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Apple Cherry bake and Green Juice from Reboot Your Life</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<i>All was good until I made a veg juice, using the very beetroots in question and found that all the fibre in the juice too much to bear and promptly turned the juice into a pasta sauce and shelved the diet for another day.</i><br />
<br />
Ok, back to the cake recipe! I found the recipe in a Family Circle booklet "50 of the Best Cakes & Tarts". The recipe is by Jill Dupleix. But this is how I made it. I had 3 beets to use but the cake takes only one large one, so the extra cooked beets were drizzled with oil, sprinkled with salt and pepper and a spike of apple cider vinegar- nom nom nom.<br />
<br />
<b>Beetroot Chocolate Cake</b><br />
serves 8<br />
cooking time: 35 mins (fan force oven)<br />
<br />
70g cocoa powder<br />
180g plain flour<br />
2 tsp baking powder<br />
250g caster sugar<br />
250g cooked beetroot (see note at start of method)<br />
3 large eggs<br />
200ml sunflower oil<br />
1 tsp vanilla extract<br />
<br />
<i>Note: I had 3 beets. I washed and trimmed them then cut them into quarters and placed them in a steamer until tender. I then weighed out 250g of cooked beets which ended up being 4 quarters. So perhaps one large beetroot will do the job!</i><br />
<br />
Preheat over 165C fan force (original recipe is 180C conventional).<br />
Line base of 20cm springform tin. Mine is old pre dates non-stick so I lightly greased sides and floured.<br />
<br />
Sift all the dry ingredients, except sugar, into a mixing bowl, then stir in the sugar til well combined.<br />
<br />
Using a blender or food processor (I used my trusty Vitamix), blitz the beetroot. Then add the eggs, oil and vanilla til smooth. The colour is amazing at this point, and it gets even better.<br />
<br />
Pour the wet bright purple ingredients into the dry, using a balloon whisk to lightly combine. At this point, I wished a took a photo. The wet ingredients awakened the cocoa into a deep brown and the bright purple created an awesome swirl against the chocolatey batter. But keep mixing till all is combined.<br />
<br />
Pour batter into prepared tin and bake for 30 mins. Check to see if cooked. If the testing skewer comes out wet, cover the cake with a bit of foil to stop further browning while you give it another 10 mins or so. The original recipe says to cook for an hour but a max of 45 mins was enough for my cake.<br />
<br />
Let the cake cool a bit before removing the sides. We ate it hot with a scoop of vanilla ice cream to salve our mouths.<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUdcoi-jX7ByewZFwzp-TP_mVBACdd4J7vvCZcUkBAjAi_e7tSl2wGjk3VoGUE8e89gBSipIRdqLdjElzHFgsNO1sd1O2EtGdqs5zZQLMgQlHaA_2MT1HGtZRI5NOvxplBTUqTLUKMIqs/s1600/Beetroot+Chocolate+Cake+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUdcoi-jX7ByewZFwzp-TP_mVBACdd4J7vvCZcUkBAjAi_e7tSl2wGjk3VoGUE8e89gBSipIRdqLdjElzHFgsNO1sd1O2EtGdqs5zZQLMgQlHaA_2MT1HGtZRI5NOvxplBTUqTLUKMIqs/s640/Beetroot+Chocolate+Cake+1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<br />
The question is, how did it taste?! Well, it did taste chocolatey without being too rich and the beetroot gave it an earthy flavour, but only mildly. In fact, I reckon if I didn't know there was beetroot was in there, I mayn't have noticed. And it was moist, so goodly moist.<br />
<br />
I would like to make this cake again but reduce the sugar. Perhaps dates or maple? I'm yet to bake with stevia but I will no doubt venture there too one day.<br />
<br />
Have you ever baked a beetroot cake?<br />
Or any other vegetable (besides carrot cake!)?<br />
What do you use to cut back sugar? Or even to replace it altogether?<br />
<br />
xxx<br />
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6132979819234154613.post-25901437878518258852012-12-10T08:59:00.000+11:002012-12-10T08:59:00.159+11:00Bunting<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI_zNGmSqg-kRgIQJanyb90qOO_ryU1pBnXCicpwB10FCz6CxX_B4_JLlhPExO1qMtcHFpScHHYpnzTgv_rWRxCs838FkD_cePNT0fdHvp5wM41mYogmet9klQdiM2rKKHInlXZ9SVIn0/s1600/bunting+jakob+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI_zNGmSqg-kRgIQJanyb90qOO_ryU1pBnXCicpwB10FCz6CxX_B4_JLlhPExO1qMtcHFpScHHYpnzTgv_rWRxCs838FkD_cePNT0fdHvp5wM41mYogmet9klQdiM2rKKHInlXZ9SVIn0/s640/bunting+jakob+4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Hello lovely people. There are 50 of you now! Do you know that actually freaks me out?! Welcome, I am so chuffed that you are interested in the comings and goings of a nanna-craft-loving mumma of 2 little boys.<br />
<br />
I write this little blog for two reasons. Firstly, as an outlet to record stuff that I am happy to share with complete strangers and friends alike. And to have a profile beyond just a name so that you can know who it is that leaves random comments on your blog- its nice to click to a person and not just a name isn't it? <br />
<br />
As you may know, I am quite late to this sewing caper. I have been sewing since late 2010, actually since blogging. And when I say sewing, its an every-so-often thing, not a daily jaunt much like my blogging!! So it is no surprise that I have never made bunting before despite loving it to bits. Yes, if a mag has bunting on the cover you can pretty much guarantee that I will buy it. Sucker.<br />
<br />
Remember the <a href="http://www.bravenewvintage.com/2012/11/december-baby-quilt.html" target="_blank">December Baby Quilt</a>? He came early! And now that he is here, I thought the quilt was not quite macho enough. Little baby Jakob needed more diggers and less flowers!<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkAr8dmLkSFE-hIfY-bmTHDqR3HhQ4aoNd5x2nNrh66MBWNllZNVz5R7XvtvOZwCsCVLvzDzHAysGNSgwvOEY5YE6YldSqOZaCqa1hvOl9egQZpVGsCJZMHob27M8ekmHEKHA-iU7hJrY/s1600/bunting+jakob+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkAr8dmLkSFE-hIfY-bmTHDqR3HhQ4aoNd5x2nNrh66MBWNllZNVz5R7XvtvOZwCsCVLvzDzHAysGNSgwvOEY5YE6YldSqOZaCqa1hvOl9egQZpVGsCJZMHob27M8ekmHEKHA-iU7hJrY/s640/bunting+jakob+1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBHBxkX82bfAXKLOnN8SlU5QaVKlkMBJU-tpZrr57Js1LAvfOcO3gko7qSEeH69YzHoSbE1zai9vZ2S_c0YRSckk4PsMRS7rA-pq1GjWo0v_PoUG8akxvfnUBPC8SE2lO-7y5Il7qzWBA/s1600/bunting+jakob+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBHBxkX82bfAXKLOnN8SlU5QaVKlkMBJU-tpZrr57Js1LAvfOcO3gko7qSEeH69YzHoSbE1zai9vZ2S_c0YRSckk4PsMRS7rA-pq1GjWo0v_PoUG8akxvfnUBPC8SE2lO-7y5Il7qzWBA/s640/bunting+jakob+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-ZcqZteLJysFPd2pJHV7wwXBkVOyLzCHji7ZqNsa7A40Oha93aGDrPHkk3SE85WByKjwPDDmVD8JLMYck6LrasovSq-sokO0a3YrvGJCc0YR-_wbcQuZFrXVqJhyZy0eB3AtNWBAKOPc/s1600/bunting+jakob+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-ZcqZteLJysFPd2pJHV7wwXBkVOyLzCHji7ZqNsa7A40Oha93aGDrPHkk3SE85WByKjwPDDmVD8JLMYck6LrasovSq-sokO0a3YrvGJCc0YR-_wbcQuZFrXVqJhyZy0eB3AtNWBAKOPc/s640/bunting+jakob+3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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The fabric is from Spotlight and the binding was a premade. I bought the fabric to make some pjs for my step grandson, also named Jacob, which I am halfway through making. And bunting is the perfect solution for large scraps!</div>
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I used the same red fabric as I used on the quilt's binding for the letters. I have to thank <a href="http://pollysdollycraft.blogspot.com.au/" target="_blank">Rachel</a> for this idea of personalised bunting as her's was the first time I saw this idea. </div>
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No one warned me that bunting making is addictive! I then whipped up a lovely girly one for my dear little friend Ella whom you may know from <a href="http://www.iwastoldtogetahobby.com/2012/07/ella-in-pyjamas.html" target="_blank">here</a>. I've known Ella's mum since I was 7. I can hardly believe that Ella is 5 already.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7RhQDmLByhB3jFFCK3bXTCUdTAiGE8MUzDr-EVxBy2OBrPDdAneW8L_0_CW5mS_-SAeGeG6d9ghFuQM8yZ8Vwl3RN_XkCqqPXr7jXh7Igmcr7pabb-GpjRK8BY1kbg1qRd2qQBrUrg7I/s1600/bunting+ella+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7RhQDmLByhB3jFFCK3bXTCUdTAiGE8MUzDr-EVxBy2OBrPDdAneW8L_0_CW5mS_-SAeGeG6d9ghFuQM8yZ8Vwl3RN_XkCqqPXr7jXh7Igmcr7pabb-GpjRK8BY1kbg1qRd2qQBrUrg7I/s640/bunting+ella+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<br />
I used fat quarters from Spotlight. A purchase I made back when I started sewing as I was determined to sew something girly. But because I have sons, no girly excuse came until I figured out bunting that is!!<br />
<br />
This time I backed each flag with the same fabric as its front and the letters are actually the back of a printed fabric because I didn't have a pink solid!<br />
<br />
Now that I have these two projects done and dusted, I can concentrate on getting the rest of my christmas crafting done. You see, our family christmas is this Sunday!! Yikes. Still have 4 gifts to make. I don't want to bring it down to the wire just in case they flop and a quick run in to DJ's is required.<br />
<br />
What are you making for christmas presents or is time running out for you too?<br />
<br />
xxx<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6132979819234154613.post-76975250706972698132012-12-07T10:11:00.000+11:002012-12-07T10:11:00.724+11:00Six years<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
We got married 6 years ago in November.<br />
<br />
And we are still crazy about eachother, emphasis on <i>crazy.</i><br />
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And he bought me yellow roses as they are my favourite, even though traditionally yellow roses symbolise friendship! But that's ok. We are friends too. I love him, nuff said.<br />
<br />
xxx<br />
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6132979819234154613.post-1449678604490779872012-12-04T10:00:00.000+11:002012-12-04T10:00:00.292+11:00Oh My Stars<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I had so much fun making these stars! And I am delighted in them. I know you want to make them too for your tree or as a garland like I have done. The free pattern is from <a href="http://jellywares.blogspot.com.au/2012/11/jelly-xmas-star-tutorial-revisited.html" target="_blank">Jodie at Jellywares</a>. Aren't we blessed to have such clever generous people here in the blogosphere?! I'm blessed for sure. I have had numerous requests for the pattern and for me to gift them. I'll be crocheting around the clock I think! <br />
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I made these from 4ply cotton thread in true yellow, soft yellow, peach and sky blue. I used the tiniest hook I had and then joined them with a single crochet to a chain.<br />
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I have plans to make more in a thicker yarn as individual ornaments with ribbon and a button like Jodie's, for the tree we may or may not get. But they will definitely adorn my annual jars of lemon butter!<br />
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Blessings,<br />
<br />
Fi<br />
<br />
xxx <br />
<br />
<a href="http://ravel.me/bravenewfiona/jcs" target="_blank">Ravelry</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6132979819234154613.post-18334473326108831402012-11-21T20:08:00.001+11:002012-11-22T08:04:33.805+11:00Necklace<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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So I knitted a necklace! I found inspiration from <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/91606331/color-block-cord-necklace" target="_blank">here </a>via <a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/16607092347492550/" target="_blank">Pinterest</a><br />
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I'm not chuffed with my colour joins and has me debating whether it is good enough to give away or not.<br />
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Do people wear knitted jewellery? Do you?<br />
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I haven't worn jewellery for almost 10 years. I just find things hanging off me irritating. But I like the look of this coloured cord. It feels like a scarf on. I used 100% wool. The coloured wool is Bendigo Woollen Mills and the white is Moda Vera. I am thinking of trying Bendigo Woollen Mills' cotton next to see how that looks. It may also be a bit cooler to wear in the warmer weather.<br />
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I took a bunch of pics wearing it but then deleted almost all of them because it kinda looked like I was taking pics of my boobs.<br />
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And clickety-clacking an i-cord on my DPNs had me wishing I owned a french knitting thingy.<br />
<br />
xxx<br />
<br />
<a href="http://ravel.me/bravenewfiona/n1" target="_blank">Ravelry</a><br />
Click :: <a href="http://blogs.kidspot.com.au/villagevoices/just-like-riding-a-bike/" target="_blank">My Creative Space</a> for inspiration for your next project!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6132979819234154613.post-4652954577859589192012-11-19T14:48:00.001+11:002012-11-19T14:48:26.851+11:00SpoilHello<br />
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Firstly, I need to say a big sorry to you each of you who have left comments for me these past few months. I am sorry for not replying. I can't blame it on a large volume of comments, as I don't get many. But I have been under the weather for a few months now and have neglected you. I have really appreciated every comment. I have been thrilled to read your encouragements and advice. Sorry for the silence in return!<br />
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So today's post is titled Spoil. <br />
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These are the first fruits of our tiny crop of butter beans. I think we have a delightful and surprising early spoil. They were going to be eaten last night, but we were invited to a lovely Thanksgiving lunch which filled us up nicely. But tonight, their fate is consumption!<br />
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And at the risk of spoiling the surprise of a christmas gift, here are the slippers I have knitted for my beautiful step-daughter. I am worried they are going to be too small, but they are easy enough to knit up so I can always whip up another pair.<br />
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I used the pattern from this <a href="http://www.amazon.com/My-Grandmothers-Knitting-Inspired-Designers/dp/1584799390/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1353295819&sr=8-1&keywords=my+grandmothers+knitting" target="_blank">book</a> and then <a href="http://ravel.me/bravenewfiona/ws" target="_blank">ravelled it</a>.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg16hdRLVsTxPihTuZpss113C7yFjhTCgpxDEkEnGAnHfqjD4EYhF9Btte-QEkVhKg2c1CvwswE6dFG4NmS-HzzXmmM6UJTDcrXb1XJKF3TZbmzpVXqGVdZwFOw_3crP3H4r1ZQIEP_UXM/s1600/Tay+slipper+collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg16hdRLVsTxPihTuZpss113C7yFjhTCgpxDEkEnGAnHfqjD4EYhF9Btte-QEkVhKg2c1CvwswE6dFG4NmS-HzzXmmM6UJTDcrXb1XJKF3TZbmzpVXqGVdZwFOw_3crP3H4r1ZQIEP_UXM/s640/Tay+slipper+collage.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
And for my step-daughter's step-daughter, (my step-step-granddaughter?!), I knitted up a smaller pair topped with a crocheted flower. Poor Liam is modelling them for me, but I have saved him the shame of photographing his face in the pic! <a href="http://ravel.me/bravenewfiona/ws2" target="_blank">Ravelled here</a>.<br />
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I seem to be starting more projects than finishing! I really am not one to like having too many WIPs/UFOs, but right now I do.<br />
<br />
This <a href="http://ravel.me/bravenewfiona/b2" target="_blank">blankie</a><br />
This <a href="http://ravel.me/bravenewfiona/b1" target="_blank">dress</a><br />
This <a href="http://ravel.me/bravenewfiona/d1" target="_blank">jumper </a><br />
This <a href="http://ravel.me/bravenewfiona/tnej" target="_blank">jumper</a><br />
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Then add to that a knitted necklace, more pj's and another baby's jumpsuit. Oh yeah, and christmas decorations. Star garlands! I'm also seeking inspiration for an advent calender.<br />
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And I have a head spinning with plans for more quilts, sewing tops for me and zippered bags. When I review my boards on <a href="http://pinterest.com/fildonia/" target="_blank">Pinterest</a>, I am giddy with excitement at all the crafty plans waiting to be hatched. But where is the time for it all? I'm starting to think that these so-called Nanna-crafts are done by Nanna's because they are retired and have more time on their hands. Pah!</div>
<div>
<br />
As I type my boys are quietly watching a spot of telly. I think I will seize this opportunity to finish some projects! <br />
<br />
xxx<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6132979819234154613.post-78677285049906212982012-11-08T15:59:00.000+11:002012-11-08T16:24:25.593+11:00December Baby Quilt<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJlS1S3DriiQcYIgQ8V7cnE-JsYEsFA5a0jflac91xNPNCi_dI0c4JV0iIwmrFDzondeGfENLl_esAwOz1lxAEBcjwp_sIjVGgx12NLDp2SlQqd2GtZmOeqLnNbCKIM5x2LdJ4Jo8EYzY/s1600/quilt+11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJlS1S3DriiQcYIgQ8V7cnE-JsYEsFA5a0jflac91xNPNCi_dI0c4JV0iIwmrFDzondeGfENLl_esAwOz1lxAEBcjwp_sIjVGgx12NLDp2SlQqd2GtZmOeqLnNbCKIM5x2LdJ4Jo8EYzY/s640/quilt+11.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Seeing that this whole hand-making thing is new to me, I am now finding out just how good-planning is necessary for a predominately handmade Christmas. There are 6 and a bit weeks to Christmas and I have not made any decorations. <br />
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I have made one gift. . . with another 4 to go. That does not include my yearly batching of lemon butter and my hopefully new tradition of shortbreads. Then packaging them and the trimmings. I. should. have. planned. Oh well.<br />
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Another slightly annoying thing is I can't show you what I am making as to not spoil the surprise.<br />
<br />
But I can show you this little quilt, now that it has been gifted.<br />
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I made it for a friend from church who is expecting her second baby early December. She has opted not to find out the gender which I think is great from my perspective. Making something for a girl immediately has my brain heading for pink and blue for a boy and I mayn't have ventured into this happy bright combo! <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggNyaiQstGNtrNrWmCIkyvy8jNlkChAIUg5FMt1fKZnw_g3FLMxj7wj7ZQP2uvzHk1w5QE73UzrYM3jazjuXaLlaWVkJSLiaRlbYPa0shWtXfklKZ601R3vxTFdYPyYtWhOWP5YJtjiTI/s1600/quilt+collage+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggNyaiQstGNtrNrWmCIkyvy8jNlkChAIUg5FMt1fKZnw_g3FLMxj7wj7ZQP2uvzHk1w5QE73UzrYM3jazjuXaLlaWVkJSLiaRlbYPa0shWtXfklKZ601R3vxTFdYPyYtWhOWP5YJtjiTI/s640/quilt+collage+1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiplfMmgE0acLa1A3hi-T43RDeAjy5Mv0MZj4u30VOMmlvOYLIaOqTdCKD-cII_2EP2WEkoNvYCcbeVPQIELpJCN1cpe2KyzE3Ap6-KmtAg7lQi4poHbg4Zn41Q6Tj8nxLJ62KSEblA0Ag/s1600/quilt+collage+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiplfMmgE0acLa1A3hi-T43RDeAjy5Mv0MZj4u30VOMmlvOYLIaOqTdCKD-cII_2EP2WEkoNvYCcbeVPQIELpJCN1cpe2KyzE3Ap6-KmtAg7lQi4poHbg4Zn41Q6Tj8nxLJ62KSEblA0Ag/s640/quilt+collage+2.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
I chose bright colours that I think can go for either type of baby and besides, I made it for what I think my friend would like, not her offspring.<br />
<br />
I used some fat quarters from my local quilting shop, leftovers from another quilt and a vintage sheet from my ever increasing stash. There are 6 x 7, 6" squares and quilting along either side of seams. Basic. But I am loving basic as this type of quilting helps me improve my accuracy without getting overwhelmed by bigger challenges. I will get there one day. I forgot to measure the quilt but I think that would make it 33" x 38.5".<br />
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This is my fifth quilt in little over a year and I am quite pleased with my progression on the binding with particular effort put into the mitres using <a href="http://mysweetprairie.blogspot.com.au/2011/01/tips-on-tuesdays-binding.html" target="_blank">this tutorial</a>. Still a ways to go but happy nonetheless. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMizFJbC69_ObTCn7uZmVXa0GBi8ij5pmqKcVCLU_sq6mYLDW1HMC3CaEAYneP0LQ6vfCnuBvyDGlpe58coJA4Sc58byolxWDi13F4dJjcgS_QKKyB18ILfFYc53SZROZE8Sm3-YbGExM/s1600/quilt+10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMizFJbC69_ObTCn7uZmVXa0GBi8ij5pmqKcVCLU_sq6mYLDW1HMC3CaEAYneP0LQ6vfCnuBvyDGlpe58coJA4Sc58byolxWDi13F4dJjcgS_QKKyB18ILfFYc53SZROZE8Sm3-YbGExM/s640/quilt+10.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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I'm always at a loss when it comes to wrapping. So being inspired by all the bloggy, instagrammy, internetpurchasey pictures I see out there everyday, I did my own take on the brown paper, string and doily thing. The blue part of the gift-tag is one of Dean's paintings that I paper-chain-style cut. Then I did the same with plain paper in order to have a clear backing for my uninspired message!<br />
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Do you get more creative by being creative? I hope so. I hope also to get a bit quicker and more enthused. Perhaps it is just the silly-season pressure. On a brighter note, I have finished all my christmas shopping already unless of course, I miss my hand-making deadline!!<br />
<br />
How is your Christmas planning tracking? Got any tips?<br />
<br />
xx<br />
<br />
BTW I'm jumping in <a href="http://blogs.kidspot.com.au/villagevoices/things-ive-learnt-from-you/" target="_blank">here</a> for the first time in aaaaaaaages! Hi creative spacers!! xx And sorry for the doubling-up in your google reader as I forgot to add the link before publishing.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6132979819234154613.post-77342764506998682032012-10-24T14:28:00.000+11:002012-10-24T14:28:14.113+11:00Who Is This?<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://distilleryimage4.s3.amazonaws.com/329813b01a7311e2ac3022000a1e868a_6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://distilleryimage4.s3.amazonaws.com/329813b01a7311e2ac3022000a1e868a_6.jpg" /></a></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Who is this who calls me lovely</span></i></div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Who has saved a wretch like me</i></div>
<i><div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Giving beauty for ashes</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>To be His crown of glory</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Who has bought me with His own blood</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>To clothe me as His bride</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>The fervent love of my redeemer</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Wants me forever by His side</i></div>
</i></span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
Have you listened to <a href="http://melissaotto.com/" target="_blank">Melissa Otto's</a>* music? You will find her lyrics beautiful and honest like this verse from <a href="http://melissaotto.com/melissa-ottos-music/blue-sky-album.html" target="_blank">Who Is This</a>. I think her voice is gentle and earthy and sweet. I think her youth is no obstacle in her music ministry.<br />
<br />
I have been listening to her inspired music. I have been yearning to grow closer to my Saviour.<br />
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I know my heart has strayed, and with baby-steps and His help I am getting reacquainted and unshackled.<br />
<br />
Listen to Melissa's tracks. Watch her video clips. But grab a tissue box if you find your heart breaking.<br />
<br />
A special thanks to Jenny and Sandy who have been praying for me and shouldering a little of my pain of late. <br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i>Proverbs 18:24 ~ There is a friend who sticks closer than a {sister} brother</i></b></span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">*I am not paid to promote Melissa Otto, I simply feel compelled to introduce you to her if you aren't already familiar with her music.</span></i><br />
<i><br /></i>
xxxUnknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6132979819234154613.post-20217564514319693102012-10-17T10:28:00.001+11:002012-10-17T10:28:51.319+11:00Out!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihTh3AQlJG5NHXio1U_e1shixJdn93cT-yk5_ArO2oopC3j7JBvWSwQ5377sTH8Blpy0BRsMbhtRtXBonrciSHm1bEE2J8k1_qyFMkOG2am3fnNn2Ez2He-dnHxuUre5PArUBl2m_8Oqs/s1600/hospital+collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihTh3AQlJG5NHXio1U_e1shixJdn93cT-yk5_ArO2oopC3j7JBvWSwQ5377sTH8Blpy0BRsMbhtRtXBonrciSHm1bEE2J8k1_qyFMkOG2am3fnNn2Ez2He-dnHxuUre5PArUBl2m_8Oqs/s640/hospital+collage.jpg" width="580" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>clockwise from top: Liam sporting his smart shower cap for surgery; my hospital essentials; me looking tres tired and just as spiffy in the shower cap; Liam eating his umpteenth icecream before breakfast; Liam quite happy to have eaten so much icecream; Liam's hospital essentials.</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Tonsils are out!</div>
<br />
Adenoids are out!<br />
<br />
Middle-ear gunk is oooozing out!<br />
<br />
I have a bright, brave and now <i>hearing</i> little boy. He was so remarkable at the hospital. I did expect the worst, and was pleasantly surprised by how well it all went.<br />
<br />
Thank you for all the well-wishes and prayers.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFjT7QZKP1FNZu2vsMk5E628hmi38Nc8JHZzJeEbj7ZvoSX0yVw8OH4_v_-JuJgVI5-Py_REs48Co0W9voqOqhbnduGOARh949pgCnWE8OHbq4jgHnmcr6BFvktWoAicbIVEzM2RMJweU/s1600/bday+collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFjT7QZKP1FNZu2vsMk5E628hmi38Nc8JHZzJeEbj7ZvoSX0yVw8OH4_v_-JuJgVI5-Py_REs48Co0W9voqOqhbnduGOARh949pgCnWE8OHbq4jgHnmcr6BFvktWoAicbIVEzM2RMJweU/s640/bday+collage.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Rick wanted to bake a cake but I had a hankering to bake a Victoria Sponge with Raspberry jam, so I did.</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
And for those who were not following along on Instagram, it was my birthday the same day. So the day before was cake and family time. Then on the day, I totally forgot it was my birthday . . . even my hubby and kids needed reminding . . . but the song <i>was</i> sung the day before!<br />
<br />
I feel so excited for Liam. There's a whole world out there for him to experience more fully. He can hear his ABC Reading Eggs, he is snoring less and hopefully his sleep apnoea is gone. <br />
<br />
But what I am praying for most is for Liam to get well enough to go off his seizure medication. I guess all will be revealed in the days and weeks ahead.<br />
<br />
xxxUnknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6132979819234154613.post-39182544903207903132012-10-04T16:25:00.000+10:002012-10-04T16:25:59.703+10:00In the quiet . . .<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
. . . I took photos. <br />
I reacquainted myself with Instagram (ahem . . joined 12 months ago, and like ravelry, it has taken me a while to actually get going with it).<br />
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I played with the different filters. I feel like I am so 2 years ago . . .<br />
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I captured the things around me today that make me feel happy<br />
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I couldn't include my kids as they are at daycare today<br />
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I couldn't include Rick as he has hurt his back and is in quite a bit of pain- that does not make me happy<br />
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You can find me on Instagram :: BraveNewVintage<br />
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Wait a few days as I think I have put almost all my pics up here today!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6132979819234154613.post-48763871536580449082012-09-28T10:13:00.000+10:002012-09-28T10:13:19.689+10:00Blocking blockNo, I'm not swearing! I really have blocking block. I don't know how to block properly.<br />
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Look at this latest effort for example:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAFjnfZcRojRedMUP3i5ne2HxZxqTJX8r3WdrdkEsl-_h4ubWXq-aewlOYIMBVDcRRoaTbKEhhAhdBz5M_2G1lXIIM3auMmAc1xvglQvQ2x1Pn_LMl0rD_nXpqYPnak23zacXj3-yDs_k/s1600/beret+butterfly+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="334" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAFjnfZcRojRedMUP3i5ne2HxZxqTJX8r3WdrdkEsl-_h4ubWXq-aewlOYIMBVDcRRoaTbKEhhAhdBz5M_2G1lXIIM3auMmAc1xvglQvQ2x1Pn_LMl0rD_nXpqYPnak23zacXj3-yDs_k/s640/beret+butterfly+1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Doesn't look much like the pattern creator's <a href="http://racheliufer.blogspot.com.au/" target="_blank">wonderful version</a><br />
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Doesn't help that whilst under the pump to make a gift for my Mum I thoughtlessly did not marry the yarn weight to the appropriate needle size. Nor did it help that I did the classic blunder of not testing my gauge (I'm too lazy . . . I think I must rethink my ways here!!). <br />
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I soaked it in water then towel dried it before placing it over a dinner plate, leaving it to the magic of evaporation. Definitely gives it that beret look but not what I was really looking for.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNp-h49LOvdKRi2mQ7uf9pq5Wt8vg2GJfjOso65HqoDQVUzHMd-0tSAObeWs9kRyJcuQBCEjBK280PgCfuTemsMXyFvvj-Ny_ots01TLu8x06qiugXZ6_EVc3meFEmRu0-NvOm5rnFkn8/s1600/beret+butterfly+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="564" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNp-h49LOvdKRi2mQ7uf9pq5Wt8vg2GJfjOso65HqoDQVUzHMd-0tSAObeWs9kRyJcuQBCEjBK280PgCfuTemsMXyFvvj-Ny_ots01TLu8x06qiugXZ6_EVc3meFEmRu0-NvOm5rnFkn8/s640/beret+butterfly+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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It is for my Mum. She is a forgiving kinda lady. I could draw her a picture in crayon and she would love it and probably put it on the fridge.<br />
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I popped it into the <a href="http://www.bravenewvintage.com/2012/09/sew-lately.html" target="_blank">hexagon bag</a> I made her and handed it over to the perils of Australia Post.<br />
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Ok, so it will arrive a week after her birthday. I figure it will be a nice little surprise and an extension of her birthday blessings.<br />
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<b>How do you block your hats?</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Do you do a gauge test before starting a project?</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
Ravelled <a href="http://ravel.me/bravenewfiona/bb3">here.</a><br />
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xx<br />
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6132979819234154613.post-53805391383887940242012-09-27T15:52:00.000+10:002012-09-27T15:52:00.330+10:00Junk Knitting<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXX_FvKc3kULxPVcZXqI3V6gb6bgWRPI1hGSUkrluB9DASOaNeFRAPX3hXL53wUvoV3nSgiF7j-PcFkJmbMqC_8FekL6bhsznEvsC4Kt0mQBUCzf-WCmwrd3yHHKjQw98KjDeU71_QSBw/s1600/yarn+dishcloth3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="436" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXX_FvKc3kULxPVcZXqI3V6gb6bgWRPI1hGSUkrluB9DASOaNeFRAPX3hXL53wUvoV3nSgiF7j-PcFkJmbMqC_8FekL6bhsznEvsC4Kt0mQBUCzf-WCmwrd3yHHKjQw98KjDeU71_QSBw/s640/yarn+dishcloth3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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While clickety-clacking big knits, I do so enjoy a dabble in a quick knit. I call quick knits, junk knitting. Like a snack between meals I suppose. <br />
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My junk knit of choice used to be beanies. But now it is dishcloths!<br />
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I haven't ventured very far in my yarn purchasing journey, going mainly to <a href="http://www.bendigowoollenmills.com.au/" target="_blank">Bendigo Woollen Mill</a>s or old mega store Spotlight. But after knitting up this <a href="http://www.bravenewvintage.com/2012/07/shelleys-watermelon-dishcloth.html" target="_blank">delightful dish</a>, I realised that Bendigo's cotton is far too lovely for dishes, or bench wiping in my case. And I am not chuffed at the selection at Spotlight. That left me with an internet search and I found <a href="http://www.yarnover.com.au/" target="_blank">Yarn Over</a>. I still have some yarn on back order, but that's ok, these four balls have gotten me started. <br />
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The yarn is Creme de la Creme 100% cotton. I quite like to knit with it, but not ever for a garment. Most definitely has a nice feel for it's intended use.<br />
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These are not staying. I am on a mission to save the world, one dishcloth at a time, so these are off to family members with my husband's endorsement "once you use these, you will never go back to supermarket sponges and wipes".<br />
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xx<br />
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PS I have recently discovered that I had some issues with my email :: fiona{at}bravenewvintage{dot}com but it should all be sorted now. So if you have emailed me and I have not responded it may have been while my emails were shooting off into cyberspace. I am still finding them (it went on for a few months!). Please accept my apology if I have not responded and feel free to resend. xxxUnknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6132979819234154613.post-47978894493675414332012-09-26T15:45:00.000+10:002012-09-26T15:45:36.437+10:00Sew lately ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZEJfXWF0Di9oG3uU_RNvMYkAE7ITmnK7O4E9WsCflyod9DoWkVgfs84dZzJkTdnHgdraDJ2diN4KCG254-5u98_qPxagnaCO8sIJf_3SUONdkb0H7f0OpPgmGO4G4RY8HDo8we_LqLCA/s1600/pj+robot+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZEJfXWF0Di9oG3uU_RNvMYkAE7ITmnK7O4E9WsCflyod9DoWkVgfs84dZzJkTdnHgdraDJ2diN4KCG254-5u98_qPxagnaCO8sIJf_3SUONdkb0H7f0OpPgmGO4G4RY8HDo8we_LqLCA/s640/pj+robot+2.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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Still in the land of the living! Yes . . . but barely some days. It seems our family just have one bug after the other despite the weather getting warmer.<br />
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This is the last week of daycare for the kids for a whole month! Yeek! I better get my funky crafty mum hat on or there is going to be trouble. The quarantine is for Liam. His tonsils and adenoids are to come out and grommets to go in. He can't be sick the week before or no surgery! And must stay healthy for two weeks while recovering.<br />
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I am nervous for him. Who wouldn't be? But I am anxious to get it over with as my little boy needs a decent sleep. The tonsils are causing sleep apnoea which in turn may be the cause of the seizures. Not to mention that his hearing is getting a little worse due to all the gunk in there. We can then all stop shouting!<br />
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I have been whacked with gastro. Yes, whacked! Its a flipping violent bug and to say anything softer than a whack would be a lie. Good grief. Rick found me unconscious on the toilet floor Saturday morning. Our toilet room is tiny and my slumped body was blocking the door. I was apparently lying there with my eyes open so my poor hubby thought I had a seizure! I don't know how he managed it, but he got in there and pulled me up.<br />
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Rick also hurt his back last week. Which makes the lifting of me up off the floor next to a miracle!<br />
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Ok, so enough about that.<br />
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I thought I would show you what I have been doing behind the machine between icks.<br />
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I made another pair of Oliver & S Sleepover Pyjamas. Liam chose the fabric. Both from Spotlight. I followed the pattern myself, with no help. I worked out how to machine baste and to make the pockets! I was rather pleased with myself as I didn't do either for the first pair. These jammies are for the hospital but have had a road test already.<br />
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A friend of mine in Melbourne (Hi Beki!), put out a call on facebook for anyone who could sew her a zip bag for her stethoscope. She's a nursing student and wanted to have something original and different to house her steth so it wouldn't get damaged en route to uni. Even though I had no idea how to make one, I said that I would give it a go. After a quick lesson from Jen, we whipped up two and one was sent down only a week after the call out. I was rather chuffed with myself again because the me of 2 years ago would have never thought to even try. And look at that! A zipper! Yippeeee! This one keeps my sewing bits and pieces and reminds me to give it a go.<br />
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My neighbour is a retired diversional therapist. She used to teach hand crafts to handicapped people. Recently, I was invited over by her and her daughter for morning tea where they had prepared a little sewing lesson for me. You can tell that she has taught some challenging students as her patience is saintly! That morning, I was formally introduced to the world of hexagons. I have done a little quilt-as-you-go-hexagons before but not the ones you make with paper templates.<br />
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It was my Mum's birthday yesterday. The promised quilt fell by the wayside due to all the plagues so I put this little purse together and appliquéd the hexagon flower to one side. I also knitted up a beret and put it in. Mum is yet to receive her gift- waiting until we are germ-free!!<br />
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I had some fun with hand sewing and reacquainted myself with blanket stitch. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYj0aLN9udxE-vWJ_9FSxTL-MdzeKrSOKadaFWc10ZKfccv2RF_Qfm_J_WQzJxLz8jA063Oq7R0O_9G2vBgcGfDgyO1ekUuMupZ1j4m-4SRNKo1ZMtks0rKdbku9tsgoo2oFeIiY8pGTE/s1600/jumpsuit+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYj0aLN9udxE-vWJ_9FSxTL-MdzeKrSOKadaFWc10ZKfccv2RF_Qfm_J_WQzJxLz8jA063Oq7R0O_9G2vBgcGfDgyO1ekUuMupZ1j4m-4SRNKo1ZMtks0rKdbku9tsgoo2oFeIiY8pGTE/s640/jumpsuit+2.jpg" width="376" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirN2rdT5ZweLl_nh8h6ET3GEmNeMHXKrwXmFWOo9FyQRnPb86Rm30beeCiCF8QDzHBoi-riomQ6Jah4GDdYvB-5yB3shn8GCf4rGmiIrGDd8xsNFVeN2zkMMHyHCLVXdfQKwDovoc7FCk/s1600/jumpsuit+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirN2rdT5ZweLl_nh8h6ET3GEmNeMHXKrwXmFWOo9FyQRnPb86Rm30beeCiCF8QDzHBoi-riomQ6Jah4GDdYvB-5yB3shn8GCf4rGmiIrGDd8xsNFVeN2zkMMHyHCLVXdfQKwDovoc7FCk/s640/jumpsuit+1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Now this one I am most proud of. It is the first pattern I have traced, cut, followed and completed all on my own- yay! It is the Oliver & S Tea Party Playsuit. I used fabric from Spotlight but the snap tape I had to grab of Etsy. There are some little errors. There are some lessons learnt. But I am still awfully proud and have plans to make more. I think they are a great little gift and have darling friends who wouldn't mind my clumsy sewing. Babies grow so quickly so it isn't like they are in them for long anyway hahahaha.<br />
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On the knitting front it is still dishcloths and hats. What can I say?<br />
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xxxUnknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6132979819234154613.post-40511872182205074202012-08-29T14:34:00.002+10:002012-08-29T14:34:41.777+10:00Aloe Driftwood :: WIP<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil8aenB1IHlAItpiqKiPbTSZHgb9bKJSwkfq5e2jvhuvy4Y3Kwrb5vKSr7QFbu2sh2gdtXD_ELLotjaUu7Rwb7-TFB5Dr9FkSWFXzsWr-dEWngSHUdP1EnTH43gifp-nkF-asRNxiXq7Q/s1600/driftwood+wip1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil8aenB1IHlAItpiqKiPbTSZHgb9bKJSwkfq5e2jvhuvy4Y3Kwrb5vKSr7QFbu2sh2gdtXD_ELLotjaUu7Rwb7-TFB5Dr9FkSWFXzsWr-dEWngSHUdP1EnTH43gifp-nkF-asRNxiXq7Q/s640/driftwood+wip1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>I am just loving knitting top-down and in the round. Check out these sleeves - so clever</i></td></tr>
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<br />
Yes, I am still around!<br />
<br />
My menfolk have fallen sick one after the other, over and over again these last 5 weeks. Liam has become so bad that when it was time for the long-awaited ENT appointment he was sufficiently infected, swollen and pus-oozy that the ENT surgeon declared "grommets! tonsils out! adenoids out!". <br />
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Surgery has been booked for 6 week's time, right on my birthday. So I have a hot date with my gorgeous little 4 year old, in overnight accommodation with lashings of ice cream. And you know, with the lack of sleep I have had lately, it sounds delightful. But seriously, I am thrilled about the surgery. You see, Liam has <a href="http://pediatrics.about.com/cs/sleep/a/sleep_apnea.htm" target="_blank">sleep apnoea</a> which finally a medical professional has admitted could be causing his seizures (<i>I knew it was something to do with his ears, nose and throat issues!!!)</i>. There are no promises but I can't help thinking that it will relieve the situation. <br />
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Sleep apnoea in little children can cause learning difficulties and behavioural issues. His deafness caused by glue ear is causing poor speech development. His tonsils and adenoids are causing the sleep apnoea and excessive dribbling. And. so. on. I am scared to pieces about a surgeon cutting into my little boy but I am praying praying praying!<br />
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Right now I wish I could have my tonsils removed. I have shared my bed for the past few weeks with sick little boys, breathing their germs and being drooled on so it was only a matter of time and sleep deprivation before I succumbed!<br />
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This is supposed to be a craft blog too. So enough talk of sickness. This is what I have been up to in between playing nurse-maid. With the weather getting warmer, I fear it won't be worn this season. Nevermind. I'll give you all the details when I finish.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH7Z9-JEr_mczg1fNi5RnsyDaIONG47IwFrd43TZ9Ymwg2L7V4RpVMus4_RNEMZsdi7_R4lVh4nnwbO8t_TGk6WE2ocd9Ygdpc-aGcz6DWfD494h1uyKEvFbOkSSBCv0__PqkZFA_leBs/s1600/driftwood+wip3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH7Z9-JEr_mczg1fNi5RnsyDaIONG47IwFrd43TZ9Ymwg2L7V4RpVMus4_RNEMZsdi7_R4lVh4nnwbO8t_TGk6WE2ocd9Ygdpc-aGcz6DWfD494h1uyKEvFbOkSSBCv0__PqkZFA_leBs/s640/driftwood+wip3.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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<b>Do you have something on the needles that won't make it before spring?</b><br />
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xxxUnknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6132979819234154613.post-59297965428249126912012-08-09T19:17:00.002+10:002012-08-09T19:17:46.200+10:00The Vitamix Diaries :: going cold turkey<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtfzACumS1jcx_BxPtPGPfk_UdXvw9VxKlIbbY3UJKy62QVLCkEn6pMCFXicVMbNHcbfMPwDwCUBkA67U5_EO5ACqhDNvCBUiwdHSeKmDtILHF9k8SELAHotsXcxj8o6nkX7TUxqiNFYM/s1600/vitamix+12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtfzACumS1jcx_BxPtPGPfk_UdXvw9VxKlIbbY3UJKy62QVLCkEn6pMCFXicVMbNHcbfMPwDwCUBkA67U5_EO5ACqhDNvCBUiwdHSeKmDtILHF9k8SELAHotsXcxj8o6nkX7TUxqiNFYM/s640/vitamix+12.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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My boys liked:<br />
carrot, raspberry, apple, orange and kiwi juice<br />
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My boys didn't like:<br />
carrot, ginger, beetroot leaves, apple, orange, mixed berries and parsley juice (it was brown!)<br />
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But then my boys liked:<br />
green grapes, apple, spinach and orange juice<br />
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Do you get my point? I'm just chucking in whatever fresh fruit and veggies are available and seeing what happens. I then follow up a dodgy disaster juice with a combo sure to please, so that the boys keep getting on the proverbial horse, so to speak.<br />
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But I will ease up a bit now because I remember learning once that we shouldn't mix too many different foods together. Best to keep it simple.<br />
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I have been a grumpy girl today. I decided that after spending a pretty penny on my Vitamix, I should follow through with some other healthy lifestyle changes. <br />
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Almost 10 years ago I went cold turkey on alcohol, cigarettes, coffee AND meat. But then 4 years ago, when I was expecting my first baby, two of those little vices started sneaking back. First it was the meat. In my 3rd trimester I was getting mighty tired and I simply couldn't be stuffed to cook two meals so on Rick's meaty night, I succumbed. It made me feel sick but I got over that. And now I am eating meat probably once or twice a fortnight on average. I know it is not a lot, but I was happy being a vegetarian (oops, I should say I was a vegaquarian as I did enjoy some fish).<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSwbxNsyFKD1FjSVhcRjMwKV9pEM8dqwMWJJyQykqd3ySyMEQRClC10yZ7F-Com-jJI7-aKrt6k1HYqniU62pcShiqlyszpAfLzAwod22Z3Igtlwekx2DwTA6JHlk_DOf_QFDmOFg-Jmk/s1600/IMG_0948.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSwbxNsyFKD1FjSVhcRjMwKV9pEM8dqwMWJJyQykqd3ySyMEQRClC10yZ7F-Com-jJI7-aKrt6k1HYqniU62pcShiqlyszpAfLzAwod22Z3Igtlwekx2DwTA6JHlk_DOf_QFDmOFg-Jmk/s640/IMG_0948.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>I'm holding my glass next to my head to show you scale. That glass should be called a vase! <br />That is how big my coffee was last week!! </i></td></tr>
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The second vice has stealthily returned. You see, I hadn't drunk caffeinated coffee in years so on the odd occasion that the local cafe gave me a fully leaded coffee instead of my decaf order, I would be buzzing up walls and having palpitations. Hence, I avoided coffee altogether. But about a year ago, having recommenced on decaf coffee because we were brewing our own rather nicely, I began having the real thing. First it started with weak coffee, then to normal then to double-shots!<br />
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So today, being rather foolish, I have gone cold turkey again off full strength coffee. I'm not even having a black tea. Peppermint please. <br />
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But boyoboy! I have a screaming headache! Blleeerrrk! And then I thought I shouldn't take any headache tablets as I need to remember how rotten this is making me feel so that perhaps I will keep myself in better check in future. <br />
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I'm sipping water and eating nuts. In fact, the nuts are helping me not eat sugar which is my other nasty vice that I have never been able to shake off.<br />
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Yes, I am hoping that because I have told you, I will keep myself accountable and not fall off the wagon! <br />
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Definitely heading off to <a href="http://www.newcastlecityfarmersmarket.com.au/page16376/Home.aspx" target="_blank">Newcastle City Famers' Market</a> this Sunday to stock up on organic produce.<br />
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Do you go to market?<br />
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xx<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4