Where there is a Schulz there is smoke

You know the saying - "Where there is smoke there is fire". Well today disproved that. Smoke does not equal fire when Aaron is building it in spite of heavy rain. We were on our way back from a night in Hanmer Springs (breaking our journey home from Motueka). It rained in Hanmer but Aaron was sure it would not rain on his fire at lunch time.

When we were with my parents my Dad made me a really awesome tool. It is for cooking things over an open flame. Instead of bread or crumpets etc falling off your fork he made a square thingy that nothing falls out of. I have not taken a photo but it is very
ingenious. Anyway we were keen to try it. So at the Balmoral reserve just out of Culverden Aaron set a fire going.

I retreated as it starting pouring with rain (as I had very rightly pointed out to Aaron that it would). Smoke was everywhere. The boys were playing in a tyre swing in the trees oblivious to the rain, but they too came to my hidyhole. So we waited out the rain quite snugly whilst Aaron got soaked insisting his fire would be fine. Eventually it all cleared up and we had a great fire, wee walk and then hot toasted bread with butter and jam for lunch over the embers.

The most amazing retro inspired cafe ever

We have all been in Motueka for a few days. Aaron worked so the boys and I hitched a lift and we all stayed with my parents. We had a great time. My Mother had been keeping one surprise for us. A new cafe, coffee roastery and retro shop called Retrotonic. It is amazing. Great for men and women of all ages. Vintage cars, clothes, furniture, crockery - you name it they have it.

You order your coffee (roasted and ground on the premesis) from the caravan and then wander around while drinking. Fantastic coffee too. We thought it some of the best tasting coffee in Motueka. As much as we love Toad Hall, their food and atmosphere, their coffee isn't the greatest but this was.

So all you retro minded people, rock into this cafe.

Bedroom makeover - stage 3

Well I am now down to the fine tuning of the room. The Black curtain is up - just need a hook on the wall to hook it back during the day. The blue, with yellow and orange flecks, sofa has been recovered using a black fitted sheet. The base of the bed has also been recovered using a black fitted sheet instead of a valance. The white duvets I made from old sheets - here- look great on top of the bed.
So - hook for curtain, New quilt to match the room, and fix the storage issue - the bookcase is so shallow that everything falls out of it, and then it will be done.

Teddy enjoys the new sofa

Yes we have some bananas

I have a whole box of banana's in fact. I went down Marshland Road on Saturday to buy some white wisteria from Gayle at Country Gardens. In between that nursery and the QE11 corner there is a fruit shop (actually there are several). I stopped in at the one nearest Country Gardens and bananas were $1.79kg. Bananas are great if you have been ill as when vomiting you tend to get quite low in potassium and bananas have lots of that so it is good for replacement and getting well. ( I was once hospitalised from vomiting too much and all they did was put in a potassium drip and I felt wonderful - it was the Dr there that told me to eat bananas if sick).

Anyway I went to get about 3 kg or $5 worth and there were boxes of bananas for $8 - I kid you not - 15kg of bananas for $8, so of course I bought the box. I also bought cheap apples $0.99kg and NZ oranges yummy. So we are fruit city at the moment.

Jakob and I drove past the big sign that said "nursery" the other day when we were on the way to see Jess and baby Alex. Jakob said "Mum you just missed the turn, the hospital is down there". My reply was obviously that the hospital was in town. Then he said "But the baby one is down there, it said nursery". Don't know if you had to be there but it was very funny.


I then made a quadruple mixture of Yoyo's otherwise known as melting moments. Took a lot longer than I thought it would! So tomorrow is delivery day - a little bit of sunshine in some Yoyo's and some bananas.

Congratulation Nic - winner of Melly and Me pattern

Congratulations to Nic Mckinlay-Clark who has won the Petunia giveaway. 

Welcome to the world

This week we welcomed our newest family member to the world. Tiny little Alex Warwick Schulz 6lb, born safely by caesarean section. Mother and baby are well but have had a few hiccups. Still in hospital sorting things out.

Eli is a sports star

Yes Eli is in the local newspaper - Northern Outlook - again!! This time playing rugby on club day. They did a one page spread and he managed to get into two of the photos. The one in the top middle and then bottom right.

He loves his rugby and is in the Kaiapoi RFC under seven team. (well one of the teams!). It is a great club and they treat the kids really well. Eli is really wanting to get to tackle, which is what he will be doing next year.

On a winning streak

Wow - I just got an email from Sew Pretty - an online craft and fabric store - to say I won their competition and it is a Molly Makes magazine.
I am stoked.
Find the store by clicking on the name above or go to their facebook site.

I also follow Molly Makes on their site - here.

Spiced apple cake - dairy free

Yesterday I had my niece for the day and she loves cake. So I thought I would try to adapt a gorgeous cake by Alison Gofton into dairy free. What a fantastic success.

Please note that this is not fat free, gluten free or egg free (sorry Susannah and Kerryn)

Everyone I know loves the original recipe for this cake. It is good for dessert with some custard or cream while hot, lasts for about 4 days just in the cupboard and holds together well for lunch boxes. I have always liked it as it is great when you are a mum. All mixed in a pot and in the oven 5 minutes later, plus having grated apple makes it seem healthier somehow.

My adaption
Spiced apple cake - dairy free version
Into a bowl put - 100ml vegetable or canola oil,
2 grated apples (skin on),
1 cup sugar,
1 egg - mix it all well
Then add
1 1/2 C flour
1 tsp baking soda (this is not a typo - only B Soda is used)
2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp alspice (do not substitute for other spices)
1 tsp salt
Mix all till lump free (apart from the grated apples). Put into a lined tin.

Make topping in same bowl, don't worry about any mixture on the side it all just blends in.
3 T vegetable or canola oil
1/2 C rolled oats
1/4 C brown sugar
1 tsp cinnamon - mix it all well. It will be crumbly. Scatter on top of the cake batter.

Put in the oven at 180oC for 30-45 minutes (springs back to the touch). The time varies each time as it depends on the type of apple you use. Some apples have more juice or breakdown and make the batter more sloppy.

Breakfast in bed for the boys

I love being able to treat the boys when I can and this morning was meant to be a bit of a rush. Not the normal day to choose to give the boys breakfast in bed. But actually it worked. They ate breakfast and were quiet while I rushed around and sorted out our day.
So they had an Earl Grey Tea (always Dilmah) and toast. The lovely butlers tray that I got for $3 at the Op Shop has been constantly put to good use. We are a family that likes to breakfast in bed - I see it as a real treat.
So they relaxed while I did dishes, put on washing, folded washing, made diary free bread, got ready for a Health and Safety meeting with Fletchers EQR.
In spite of all this we got out the door at 8.30am with no screaming to hurry up, get on with it, or what are you doing????????

A cold winter picnic

the big steam engine

Yes it was a very cold day for a picnic. Only 6 degrees Celsius! But we had a great day.
Aaron has been working all weekend so after church I took the boys and Mikayla out to McLeans Island to go on the miniature railway at Steam Scene.
We took a flask of hot water and had Milo and hot apple cider to warm us up. Then we had lovely cheese toasted sandwiches on the camping stove. Gosh did we need it as it was COLD. But what a great day out.

The steam coming out of the engine

Then swamping us

A bit of larking around

Lovely hot lunch

Then more train rides