Back to School and Birthday Baking

After a busy two weeks of school holidays I thought I better fill the tins ready for making school lunches on Sunday night (it is usually the last thing I want to do on Sunday night and so if there is no baking then often no sweet thing for the lunch box).

This baking may look a little bizarre as it ended up experimental flavour wise. I made a coffee cake for Aaron's Birthday Cake. Very successful as usual, a batch and a half of afgans and a double batch of yoyo biscuits. (the yoyo's are yet uniced). Once all had cooled I set about icing the cake. Coffee icing - pretty standard- but I made way tooooooo much coffee icing.

That is when experimenting came in. First we tried a bit of yoyo with coffee icing, it was ok but drowned that lovely subtle custard flavour. Then the light bulb moment - coffee icing on afghans - it is a moccachino!!! Coffee and chocolate always go well. So another round of trying and we were all happy.

So all set for the birthday tomorrow and all ready for the school routine.

Ambitious Plans

The first complete purse

I still have not learnt the plan great achievements! My plan for the school holidays was to finish all the christmas presents for the females. So far I have only stitched 4, sewn the edges of three and finished one completely. I am using my book "the bag making bible" to learn to do zips and fully lined purses. So Amiria's is finished but the rest are not. Ah sigh.

Part completion of others

The shelving I have installed in Eli's cupboard

I had also planned to finish Eli and Jakob rooms by getting all the shelving done and toys sorted. I have started by getting shelving up into the top of Eli's cupboard, which took me a lot longer than I thought it would and I was super careful about where to put screws as there is plumbing behind the walls. But the rest is another unfinished item. Lots to do, Lots to do.

Baking and a busy day

Dairy, Egg and Gluten free rice bubble biscuits

Well today first thing I made rice bubble biscuit. This needed to be gluten free and dairy free, as Mieke is intolerant of both. So I adapted the recipe to suit. I have no idea when I first got this recipe or from who as it has been around since before I was a child.

Rice bubble cake
4 Cups Rice bubbles (make sure they are a brand that are gluten free - I used Kelloggs) into a big bowl.
then into a pot put
1 1/2 Tablespoons honey

I love ginger gems

3 1/2 oz diary free spread - i used Olivio as it is made from olive oil (watch out as some still have dairy in them)
4 Tablespoons sugar
melt all together and then bubble at low heat stirring until the colour darkens and the mixture thickens. Pour into rice bubbles, mix together quickly as it sets fast. Put into a lined tin, press down firmly with wet hands and cut. (it is very hard to cut it once it is set). I keep it in the fridge until eaten.

Then we went outside and Eli mowed the lawn for the first time ever! Wow at 7years old. He was dead keen and did an amazing job. So Aaron dug all the compost out and we put it all around the garden. I weeded all the strawberries and pottered like that. The weather was gorgeous but then it went very strange and blew and rained. So inside we came and I made some old fashioned Ginger Gems. I just used the recipe from the Edmonds Cookbook. After a lovely afternoon tea Mieke and Alex came to stay for the night. So all is on!!! Aaron has both the kids on his knee reading to them at the moment. I have dinner ready, Mieke has had two pieces of her rice bubble cake and the boys are watching Chip and Dale.

Aaron loves having babies in the house

The kids watching Chip and Dale

What I am stitching

Well it is that time of year again - yes 10 weeks to Christmas (or something close like that). So the Christmas present making needs to be in full force. So while I was up in Wellington with Kerryn I started the stitching for everyone's presents.

Here are the photos of where I have gotten to. I did a few error's - I did the wrong spelling for one niece so have to redo that. I also got some of the names not quite symmetrical so am having to sort that out. But not a bad result for a weekend away.

Of course my recycling ethos is working here. All the threads are ones I have hanging around, some from old projects, some given to me. The buttons are off shirts I have recycled into other objects and the material is 100% linen from two shirts I bought at the Op Shop.

 Linking to these parties.

Wow, I went to W.O.W

Outside the theatre

Yes my last blog was about leaving, this one is about how wonderful it was. The World of Wearable Arts was an amazing show. Not only did they do a two hour spectacular but they had entertainment prior to the show. An amazing Jazz band playing the whole time, various character circling and mingling. It was all I thought it would be and more. I was thrilled that Kerryn was with me.

Our front row seats

I matched the gorgeous men!!

When we got there we were shocked with our seats. I had booked the second tier back to economise a bit, But there was no first tier - we literally were the second from the front row. It made for spectacular viewing and meant we got to see all the garments really well.

We were not allowed to take photos during the show, so what you see is only the prelude.

One of the many Aliens

This Alien told me she would like to be the queen

On Friday night we went out to Dinner and it was fabulous. I forgot to take photos of other plates of food but the one of the entre tapas just gives you an idea.

Tapas on Friday night

Painting done - now the fight is on

Who will get the room?

Before

Before

After

After

 Well this is what I have been doing in my spare time - hahaha - spare time, what is that!!! Well I asked this myself but managed to juggle work so that I completed my paperwork before the kids went to school, did the practical stuff in the morning and that left two afternoons this week to paint.

Dawn had a room in her house that had a mouldy wall and the floor had sunk in the corner. So she got in Longsilver Construction to lift the floor, remove the wall, pink bat it and re gib. I said that I would paint it to save her the money. So the builders etc finished it on Tuesday morning.

Over Tuesday and Wednesday I got the undercoat/ sealer on and two coats of paint plus painted the trim. Boy I went hard out to get it done as I am leaving today for Wearable Arts Awards in Wellington (so so so thrilled as I have always wanted to go).

No, It's MY room!!

Anyway all the girls LOVE the room and they are now trying to work out who gets the room. Dawn said she should have been in the photo pushing the girls out of the room and claiming it for her. (my boys even got in the mix and said they would have the room!)

Linking to these parties

Upcycle a tray cloth

The finished bag

 A while ago I posted about some of my Opportunity Shop finds. I bought the tray cloth for $1.00 as it had lovely hand embroidery.

So this weekend I finally got around to doing something with it. I did not want to do a normal zip bag or purse as half the lovely embroidery would have been cut off. So I went from 1 tray cloth, 1 linen shirt, 1 cotton shirt, to this little bag to put things in (a bit of handcraft maybe).

The back - finished

Inside - finished

The three items I started with

Linking to these parties.

Cake for House Blessing

Yesterday we were priviledged to go to the house blessing for the new Habitat for Humanity houses in Kaiapoi. A family from our church have been working incredibly hard as they have been accepted as one family for a house.

My goodness they do work too!! Not only do they have to contend with moving all the time while waiting for  the house to be finished. The earthquakes have put such pressure on housing. They have to do 500 hours work on the house. Richard is working in his paid job as many hours as he can and then all weekend and some weeknights he is plastering and painting etc on his house. But the awesome thing is that they will never have to move again and this is their house. I am so thrilled for them. Thanks Habitat - you do an amazing job.

So they had the house dedication with the local Mayor there, the MP Kate Wilkinson was meant to be there,  lots of the volunteers were there. So all we took a plate for afternoon tea, listened to speeches and prayed blessing over their new house.

I met a few people and we talked gardening and food, the took my blog details - so if you have logged on - welcome to my blog I hope you like it. Do follow if it interests you.

The cake I took was the one that was on TV the night before on the new Annabel Langbien programme - The Free Range Cook, simple pleasures.

I made two cakes. The round one is cranberry and walnut, the square is apricot and no nuts. Well I preferred the first. Interestingly it was all the ladies that liked the cake. My boys did not and Aaron did not particularly. A great cake to have with a cup of tea. Relatively low fat, easy to make diary free by substituting oil for butter (use slightly less). It does have an old fashioned taste about it and I think that is due to using Baking Soda as the rising agent.



But here is the recipe:

Annabel Langbein - Orange lightning Cake - so called as it is quick as lightening to make.

1 whole organic orange - cut it into quarters, put into the food processor and whizz to paste.
add
1/2 Cup water with 1 teaspoon baking soda dissolved in it
2 eggs
1 Cup Sugar
2 Cups plain flour
1 teaspoon vanilla essence ( I use my homemade one)
125g softened butter - NOT melted.
Whizz together.

add - 1 Cup dried fruit, 1/2 cup walnuts and just pulse to mix in. Do not get it chopped up.

Into lined tin. Bake 1 hour 160oC

Linking to these parties

Done - 100% Eco recycled quilt

I started this a few months ago and have finally finished. I got stuck into it on Friday for the - friday night sew in- and finished it today. You can go back to this blog post to explain how it is 100% recycled - batting, backing, front etc. But the sewing thread was new.

I really like the finished product but I did not enjoy the process of this quilt at all. I have found it a chore to finish. I got in so much of a funk today trying to get it done, that once I had all the pieces quilted, I could not find the motivation to finish it and do the binding. So Morris and I went for a big walk around the Pegasus wildlife area. Lovely and sunny (but cold) great walk and had a fantastic coffee and amazing fruit slice at the cafe there. I came home reinvigorated and have just completely finished the quilt. Yipee. The boys are due home in 5 minutes so the timing is fantastic.

I have learnt that I do not like the quilt as you go technique. This quilt is done with raw edge applique, which results in quilt as you go. Icky Icky. The last one I did using that technique here - I did not enjoy either. So only pieced quilts from now on.

Another quilt to go into the slowly building stash for the orphans at Hope Homes International.

Hope you had a great Saturday like I did.

Linking to these parties

Early Morning

Well it is only 8am and we have all had breakfast and the boys have gone. They are off Tramping up Mt Oxford with one of Aaron's workmates. This is very early for us on a Saturday morning. Pancakes in their tummies to keep them going and off they went.

This tramp has many memories for Aaron and I. We met while tramping into Lake Daniels. A week later Aaron called me at work to say that he was going tramping up Mt Oxford and do I want to go. Only it all went very wrong. He asked for Karen when he got the switchboard and they put him through to a different Karen! 15 years older, no interest in tramping at all. He had a very bemusing conversation with her. Fortunately Karen realised that it could be me, as though we worked in different areas and on different floors, I had talked to her in the staff cafeteria. She rang me and asked if I knew a Aaron who was into tramping. We laughed quite a lot when she told me of the conversation. It all ended well as I rang Aaron back and explained it all. If it had not been for Karen realising it was me he wanted, we may never have gotten together, as he thought I (as in the other Karen) was putting him off and not very interested.

The tramp we did was great, though for the last 50 metres I ran out of steam and Aaron pulled me up. His story is always that he pulled me up 500 vertical metres!!!! Anyway we now know that my inability to keep the steam going up hills was due to my heart. In spite of that I have done extensive tramping and just used to take going uphill more slowly. Unfortunately now I can't even go up a flight of stairs without it getting to much. So the boys are off without me.

The second picture is all the seed sewing that I did yesterday - spring fever hit. I also put some pea seeds directly into the garden. So we will wait and see if I am just too ambitious for the weather.

How to keep everyone happy - almost

1. Walk the dog - Very happy dog :)
2. Walk the dog and get exercise - Very happy Cardiologist and husband
3. Walk the dog, get exercise, be in the cold bracing air by the river - I am happy, love being outside
4. Walk the dog, get exercise, enjoy the fresh air and find Wood - very happy husband
5. Walk the dog, get exercise, enjoy the fresh air, find wood and put the wood in the car - incredibly happy husband (as have not just told him about it but actually saved him a job), incredibly happy dog ( he got to run back and forth as I crossed the paddock retrieving wood), free weightlifting session for me!!
6. Bring the wood home but leave it in the car for someone else to unpack - unhappy boys if that are told to do that job!!!!!

Linking to these parties

Finally finished

I am still trying to finish all the half done projects I have. This is one project I started last year just after Dad's 80th birthday (His 81st is in a week!) and it has sat uncompleted all that time. I have thought about it a lot, especially when I have wanted to wear a long necklace, but not actually done anything about it.

Last night while watching TV I was not feeling really motivated, wanted to quilt but did not have the omph. So I took out my Jewelry making things and finished this. I am thrilled that it is finished and I can wear it.
My preference in jewelry has always been natural things. So I tend toward only gold and silver and when making my own I use a lot of freshwater pearls - I love love love them.

So this is very fine Stirling Silver chain (as any thicker just costs so much), small (4mm) freshwater grey and natural pearls. Even though I am not Catholic I was thinking along the lines of a rosary when I was making this. I even made the cross at the bottom. I then added another pair of natural freshwater earings. They are 10mm pearls using Stirling Silver hoops.

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A great sewing night

Kylie doing her bunting

Sheryl working on the Petal quilt

Well last night was our first get together in ages. Since the last school holidays winter has gotten on top of us and for many reasons we had not had a sewing get together for about 2 months. We have all been distracted by things, most of us had sick children at various times, Sheryl and Kylie are battling still to get consents with councils etc to start building their homes, husbands have traveled and the dark depths of winter hit us all.

But here we are - Spring has sprung (thought NOT appreciating the frosts we are now having), it is a bit lighter at night for longer and the sewing love popped it's head up.

Steff contemplating her layout

Paula's gorgeous split nine patch

It was fantastic to see what everyone is working on. Sheryl was doing an amazing petal cushion from a pattern from Cluck Cluck Sew. Paula is doing the split nine patch. Steff is finishing her double hour glass quilt and Kylie was getting on with bunting. Oh I love evenings together, it has reinvigorated me and I want to get all my half done projects finished!!!

These are the parties I link to.

The first quilt - piecing finished

A Month or so ago I started my Mother-in-law on her first ever quilt. Well I have not completed anything much since then and she has gone great guns and finished an entire quilt top for a single bed. Way to go. She is really enjoying quilting and I love the result. Another hooked quilter (I hope).

My fantastic father in law came and helped to fix a few things with the caravan today, thanks so much Warwick, you are awesome.

These are the parties I link to.

My morning in the caravan

First camping trip since winter. Just popped to spencer park for the first weekend away.
Great morning, am still in bed, morris happy on my knee, Aaron made me a coffee, reading the last bit of the paper- bliss.

Eli's Creativity

Eli has been plotting and planning his Father's Day present ever since Aunty Alison gave us two big stretched canvases for the boys. (thanks Alison they are awesome!). Eli said that he wanted to put pictures of Dad and him all over it to make a piece of artwork.

So we went through all our photos and picked out what he wanted. I got them printed. He then painted the canvas with a green, which he thought looked like DOC green (as Dad likes tramping so much).

Then he trimmed the pictures and stuck them on.

This morning Aaron was presented with his Father's Day presents. Last week on the actual day Aaron was away. So we decided we would celebrate it tomorrow. But as we are hopefully camping (weather dependant as the forecast is hideous) this was too big to take with us.

Well done Eli - I was very impressed.

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A bit of scrummy baking

After a weekend of painting I am sick of the sight of brushes, paint pots, plastic and mess. So Monday started the "get the house back into order" blitz. And being me if I can procrastinate and not finish anything then watch out. So yesterday procrastination or delaying tactics were in play big time.

So I sat and had a coffee and watched "Rachel Allen Bake" off Choice TV. I thought -surely I can do that. So I made the short pastry ( in the last few years I have been cheating and buying pastry) and then made the filling. It was the yummiest Lemon Slice I think I have had. A lot of slices are to have with a cup of tea like a biscuit - this is not so. This is more like a dessert slice. My experience of lemon slices is that they are really rich with lots of butter and cream to set it. Not this.

It is creamy but really light. Sweet but still having the tartness of the lemon shine through. Then because the oven was on and I was not sure if the kids would have this for dessert I made some chocolate brownie too.

One thing about Rachel Allen was she said to use glad wrap for the lining when blind baking. She said it would not melt. Well I tried it. It did not melt onto the pastry or the beans but it sure shrank and melted on itself. Never again!!!!

Pastry
200g flour
100g chilled butter cubed. Rub butter into flour. Add
1 T icing sugar (confectioners sugar)
break 1 egg into little bowl and whisk. Add half the egg to the pastry and with your hands just start mixing. Add the other half and bring the dough to the point where it is clumpy. Pile it onto some gladwrap and wrap it so that it is the shape of a saucer. Push the dough once wrapped and the clumps will stick together. Chill in fridge for 30 minutes.

Roll it  out and put it into your 20-25cm flan tin with loose bottom. Line the pastry with baking paper - put in your blind baking beans and bake in the oven for 20 min at 180oC. Remove from oven and brush with beaten egg to seal the pastry. Pop back in the oven for 2-3 minutes. (this stops the pastry getting wet and soggy). Remove from oven. Lower oven to 160oC and put the liquid filling in. Bake for 25-35min. It should still wobble when cooked as it will keep cooking on removal.

Filling
3 eggs and 125g castor sugar whisked together. Add the zest of 1 lemon, juice 3 lemons and juice of 1 orange. Then whisk in 150ml cream. Taste the filling and add 1 T castor sugar if you need it.

Serve when cool and sprinkle with icing sugar.

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