A Gift :: punchbowl

I never used to really appreciated the bowl of punch.  But now, I feel a summer's party is not complete without a bowl of icy, fruity, juiciness . . . I just don't think about who may have sneezed in it!

Back in January we had a party for my baby Dean to celebrate his turning a whole digit - 1!  I had all the ingredients for punch but no punch bowl.  In steps my gorgeous friend, who whipped home and grabbed hers (60+ min round trip).

And again, only a couple of weeks ago, whilst tripping in Orange, Her Gorgeouness found this in a little op shop for $10!  Complete with cups and a proper punch ladle (not like the soup ladle I used previously)

I am indeed a blessed woman to have such a wonderful friend.

Here was my list punch ingredients:

grape juice

tinned fruit salad

lemon slices

mineral water

ice

I vary it depending on what's in the cupboard. 

What's your favourite combo?  A bit of dry ginger ale or gallons of lemonade?

xxx

I've Got Knits :: a beret for Niamh

I made a beanie for Niamh's little brother recently and thought that I would like to make one for her too.  Having never met Niamh, I asked her Mummy what her favourite colours are.  Yellow!  But I only had a small amount so I worked what I had in as best as I could (I'm still a beginner!).

My husband doesn't look at my blog, when asked he said: "I don't have to, you tell me everything".  Which is sad but true!  I told him that I can't speak in pictures so he will have to venture into my blog at some point!  And therefore, he doesn't know that I made our son model a girl's beret! Robyn-doll also wanted in on the action so she insisted on posing with it too.

I was recently told by a lovely lady who is teaching me sewing that a sign of a great seamstress is unpicking.  I hope this translates to knitting too. I knitted this beret Friday afternoon, then packed the kids up for a weekend in Forster.  When I came home Sunday afternoon I looked at the beret and wasn't happy with it so I unravelled about one third and reworked.  Now I feel much better.  This project was not on my list so I better stop deviating and get focused!

xxx

One of My Favourites: Plum Clafoutis

I haven't shared a favourite recipe with you in a while.  I love this baked dessert as it is very easy, yummy and quick!

Plum Clafoutis - from Super Food Ideas Aug/Sep 1998


500g plums, halved and stoned or 440g tin plums, well drained (pictured with fresh plums)
1 cup SR flour
3 eggs
1/2 cup caster sugar
1/2 cup milk
1 Tbl icing sugar, sifted (optional)

1. Preheat oven 180C.

2. Arrange plums, cut side down, in a lightly greased 25cm flan dish

3. Sift flour into a bowl and make a well in the centre.  Break eggs into well, add caster sugar and milk and mix to form a smooth batter.

4.  Pour over plums.  Bake for 45 mins or until firm and golden (don't over cook as it may go a little dry in places).  Serve hot or cold, sprinkled with icing sugar.

I use the tinned plums in winter so this can be an all-year-round dessert!  Yummy with icecream or with custard and sometimes, I use greek yoghurt.

Let me know if you make it and what you thought.

Have a lovely weekend friends!  I'm off to a most exciting wedding up in Forster and a much anticipated family renunion.  Weekend forecast is happiness!

xxx

book loving :: book cracking

A few years ago, whilst travelling through USA, I bought my first bible.  I was travelling with some like minded friends who showed me how to crack my bible.  I am not talking about cracking codes or anything like that but about cracking the spine of a new book to avoid damaging it.

Yesterday, my new book from here arrived (and it is still on special!). Because it has a large spine, I thought I should apply my book cracking skills to it!

First, you open the book to the middle and gently press it open.

Then open to the first quarter of the book and press it open gently.

And again with the last quarter.  Depending on the book, you may need to keep dividing and opening and pressing until you have 'cracked' all of your book's spine.

I have to say that in the case of this book, it's spine is very good and probably didn't need a good cracking afterall!

Now I can't wait to dive into this gem.

xxx

I've Got Knits : a beanie for a birthday boy



modelled by Liam


I knitted up this little beanie for friend's 3rd Birthday.  Such a quick knit and fun to do.  I have never done an i-cord and was delighted that it was very easy (don't you just love how it curls over at the top- makes a good loop to hang on a hook!).  And yes, like my other beanies, I got the pattern from this book.

Happy Birthday Ezra!  (Your party was heaps of fun too!)

xxx

Winners & Losers

image

I watched Winners & Losers on the 7 network last night.  Did you?

When the girls all gathered in the toilets, exactly where they were 10 years earlier and remarking that it is like nothing has changed despite all the changes in their lives, I totally related.

How is it that experiences at school, or for childhood that matter, can stick with you and rear its sometimes often ugly head with the correct triggers?  These four girls felt like losers again, why?  All because they saw their highschool bully and it was like 10 years on had not changed them at all, for a moment anyway.

I was bullied at school and who knows, maybe someone will list me as their bully (although, I don't believe I was).  And I still carry the scars that really hurt at seemingly random times.  For instance, I find it hard to trust and easily make friends with women who I think are stunningly beautiful.  They can be really nice but I find myself wondering what their true motivation is in talking to me.  I have recently met two ladies who I think I very pretty, always dressed nicely and are very nice but it has taken me a while to not feel like an ugly troll around them.  They make me feel this way by just being caste from the same apparent mold as some of the girls that used to bully me.  And then, let's face it, I began bullying myself internally and guess what?! I still do!!  These ladies are truly very nice and I am finding myself becoming less neurotic around them.  I would even bet that if they knew that they are who I am referring to, they would be shocked.  All reason tells me that but long ago deep scarring just doesn't seem to be ignored/healed easily. 

But I am a work in progress!  Praise God that "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come:^[a] The old has gone, the new is here!" (NIV) 2 Corinthians 5:17

I have been healed many times over by falling in love with Jesus.  I am so grateful that I have answered his knocking on my heart's door because he is my strength and my shield (Mathew 7:8 and Psalm 28:7) I am healed and can turn to Him in my weakness (Romans 8:26, 1 Cor 2:3, 2 Cor 12:9-10).

Do you have triggers that can bring you back to that moment you were made to feel very small?

I hope you have found healing too.

xxx

My Creative Space . . .

I've been trying to put this post up all day - what a day!  I won't bore you with the details as I pledged to never whinge here.  Better late than never!

I never used to be such a sucker for sales, but this week I was!  I went to Spotlight - need I say more?

I have that many knitting projects on the go that I don't know where to start!

Little Boy's Beanie

My darling step-daughter's beanie

My nephew's beanie

A little Lady's Capelet

A Little Boy's Hooded Vest

Another Little Boy's Hooded Vest

Here they all are in their 'before' state.  I'll share with you the 'afters' as each is finished.  And yes, they are all gifts - my little kids lucked out!

Oh, I have finished one - please excuse it's 'pre-blocked' state.  I hope it fits the little princess it is destined for!

Ooo, and I couldn't go past these little gems, seeing that they are my favourite colour combo and named after me!

Now to see what everyone else is creating . . . .