Not snowing yet

We are told too expect snow. The boys are all settled and ready for it!!

Turning bottles into glasses

So it is school holidays and the boys are older. Now we can try some of the more dangerous activities.

Get some beer and wine bottles and try a bit of upcycling or recycling. I remembered doing this when I was a child. First we tied string which had been dipped in methylated spirits around the bottles and set it alight. Once it burnt then the bottle went under cold water. It definitely broke but it was very jagged and will take a lot of grinding.
So then we did a bit of research. Green science were great. A good explanation and Utube video and we started again. Using a glass cutter we scratched around the bottle and then poured boiling water onto the scratch only. Then under the cold tap and the crack would appear. Then one more time and boof - off comes the top of the bottle. A much smoother cut and easier to grind down.

This was all completed over a couple of days as we had to walk the dogs into town to get a glass cutter, do research, try and try again.

Great fun
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On the needles at the moment

Yes, I have started yet another project. I love knitting but the boys don't wear home knitted things now that there is merino available. Aaron had too many jerseys and I don't need any more. But I had over 1kg of my mother's home spun wool and it is light and lovely. I ransacked the local library for more Biden knitting books and find a very funky pattern.

So on my needles are two stands of wool at the same time imported on 8mm chunky needles. A textured shrug. An really enjoying sitting in front of the fire knitting in the evenings.

From Farmers Market to my plate

We went to the Riccarton House Market on Saturday morning after doing a lovely walk or run or scooter or skateboard (depending on who in our family you are!) around Hagley Park.

Oh the amazing new juice we found. Organic apple and lime made locally. 1 litre for the price of a cup of coffee. Heaven.

From these gorgeous ingredients we made dinner fit for those who are into food miles and organics and mid winter vitamin C shots. Bake Potatoes in a super hot oven until crispy outside and soft in the middle then add your toppings as you desire. Hugh "fearlessly eats it all" eat your heart out!!

This Is my favourite possie

Full of the most hideous cold I have had in a long time. Had to take days of work. Sofa bed, feather quilt, friendly dog, coffee and fire.
Wow could not have done this week without the fire or coffee! Both make me feel better!

Thankful for an abundance of lemons

At our new house we have two citrus. One had only just been identified as a Kaffir lime, taller than me, when the first frost -6 deg C hit it and it has just kept dying ever since. But the other - the lemon tree - is doing stunningly well and we have masses of fruit that make you feel healthier just looking at them.
Well I have needed that health. I have been struck by a gale force cold. It came on fast and it hit hard. I should be under the bulldozer by now. I even had to have some days off work.

Divinely restorative Lemon ginger hot drink.
Three of those lemons, a thumb of chopped fresh ginger and some honey from the hives of our friends. Added four cups of water and muddled it all with a wooden spoon. Oh the heavenly aroma (if I could smell!!), but boy I can taste. The pungent heat of the ginger cuts through my cold and I sit in front of the fire (Yes finally permitted) and sip this restorative drink.

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Mad Hair Day - "I never want to be a girl"

For Mad Hair Day at School the boys wanted hair colour and lots of tufts all over. Jakob got 11 tuft but Eli screamed the whole time. "It hurts", "I can't move my face with all the bands pulling tight" etc etc..... 

They decided that being a girl was  horrific and went to school asking all their friends how do they manage to put their hair up every day. It was a whole new outlook for them.

The day was organised by a few girls in Eli's class. Having gone through some pretty horrific experiences in our Christchurch earthquakes, the Nepalese earthquake being 8.something just resonated with everyone. We understand. The girls wanted to do something so the principal approved a mad hair day with gold coin going to Nepal. Well done to a bunch of 9 year old girls and yet again proving why we chose to put our boys into the school. 

Whipping up some Merino Kids trousers

My brother in law and all the family came over on Saturday. After a bit of discussion about how difficult it was to find trousers that fit wee Alex, I decided to jump on the sewing machine.

Only 15 minutes later he had a new pair of Merino trousers. Get an adults jersey - this was a old fashioned cardigan. Cut the arms into leg patter shape at the top. Do not cut down any other seams and make sure the cut leaves enough leg that it becomes the hemmed bottom of the trousers.

Cut a waistband and sew it on with the appropriate length of elastic. Voila. A very happy three year old.
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A couple of glimpses from Rarotonga

A very small glimpse of Rarotonga. Lots of beach dining, cocktails over looking the water and snorkelling. Did a lovely 4km walk up the beach at dusk to one of the best dining experiences we had. The Castaway at Wilsons Bar. Very unexpected to have such consistently good food from the tiny unassuming place.

Back Friday night and then on Saturday we went sledding in the snow!! What a temp shock 26 deg in the tropics to -2 deg in the snow.

Moro bar slice

Moro bars were only $1 at the supermarket so I thought I would try the craze of a few years ago. Bringing the good old honey crackle (rice bubble slice) up to modern times and make it with a Moro bar. I melted two and put them into two cups of rice bubbles. Wow it set quick but was not enough liquid to set it all so had to add 30g melted butter.

I was given a recipe a while ago but have lost it and it must be better than this. I mean this was amazingly yummy but did not make anywhere near enough for the fact that I use that many Moro bars.

So am asking for help. Who knows of a recipe? I wondered maybe if Pru from Crafty Cake Creative might know?

Your help please.

A Unique way to cook breakfast

On the hot tub fire!!!

Winter has set in and we are still without a fire in the house, thanks to the useless council who have so far taken 6 weeks to process a resource consent to replace an existing fire with a new eco emission fire. I mean how hard is that? 10 minutes work? Grrrrr

So the hot tub was lit last night and I wanted it fast so I really cranked it up. Which meant it stayed quite warm overnight and just needed the quickest of fires this morning.

We had often talked of cooking over the fire as it gets hot. Last night we roasted marshmellows while sitting in the tub. Mind kept falling into the fire as they melted quickly. This morning we tried a flatplate from the BBQ and hash browns.