early morning baking

A little someone in our house decided that the day should begin at 5am this morning.  After a couple of feeds and a bit of playing she went back to sleep for a few hours, but unfortunately her mama was not so lucky.  So it was into the kitchen for some early morning baking.

Easter biscuits and muesli slice.  Easter biscuits are just my basic oat choc chip recipe, with a candy coated easter egg pushed into the centre as soon as they come out of the oven.  Muesli slice is a staple around here, saves all the packaging of bought muesli bars and it works out cheaper too.

winter woollies

We have started to notice a chill in the air in the mornings round here.  So I thought it was about time to go through baby's woollens and see what we had.  I knew we had a lot, as Nan has been very busy with her needles, but look at all this!!
Singlets and baby shoes....

The rest of the baby shoes and booties...

Vests...

Hats...

Jerseys and cardigans in every colour...

And some cream and white...

My favourite kimono style cardis...

and look at the lot all together...

All this for one little baby girl!  She'll certainly be warm this winter.  Thanks to Nan for most of this, but I made some items and others were kindly given by friends and family.
Look at what her great grandma found for her at the thrift store...

Aren't they beautiful (sorry they do need blocking!).  This has to be one of the best thrifting finds ever!!
She'll be snug as a bug in vintage style this winter.

dinner

This is one of my very easy dinner ideas, very similar to this, but on pastry instead.  It looks impressive for guests but is really simple, and just requires lots of fine chopping and slicing to begin.

Cut pastry sheets into squares.  Tiny ones are good for appetisers or nibbles, and bigger ones for part of a main meal.  Score a line around the edges of the pastry about 1cm from the edge, but don't cut right through the pastry.  This allows the edges to puff up when baked, but hopefully the middle will not puff and your toppings won't slide off!  You can brush the edges with some milk or beaten egg at this stage if you want to make the pastry extra golden when cooked.

Start with some tomato paste or pesto, and spread this inside your marked square.

Add thinly sliced vegetables, whatever you have on hand.  I used courgette, red onion and red capsicum.

You can leave them vegetarian or add some meat if you wish.  I usually do a mixture of both.

I snuck on a few bits of sundried tomato, and topped with grated cheese.  Sometimes I use feta instead.

Bake until pastry is golden brown and your toppings are cooked.  Best served warm from the oven.  Try not to eat the lot before your guests arrive!

sunday night musings

Busy

Been really busy the past couple of days, just with the day to day things we all deal with.  So I'll show you a wee pic of some place mats I made a while ago.  I really like them and think they would make great gifts.

Also totally unrelated, this tea is delicious.  Seriously, you have to try it.
Hope to be back next week with some more interesting stuff to share!

black and white

I've been painting more cups!  It's very fun and quite addictive...I'm sure there will be a lot more.  Everyone will be getting these for pressies this year!  I hope to pick up some coloured pens soon.

 This cardigan is at least two years old and was looking a bit faded and sad.  I found this piece of heavy lace (don't know if there is another name for this stuff??) and hand-sewed it onto the cardi.  I love it, and my cardi now gets lots of use again!   But when it finally does wear out I'll be sure to remove the lace and add it to something else.   I love adding bits and pieces to clothes to make them more interesting.

baby's change mat

I made this change mat while I was waiting, waiting, waiting for baby to arrive.  I thought if I started doing something time consuming like a patchwork, surely I would jinx myself and she would arrive before I finished it.  Unfortunately my plan didn't work.  She was 13 days overdue.

 

I wanted something pretty, but sturdy.  Something that could go anywhere, and be used for changing nappies or laying about.  It has seen one summer so far and it is a well travelled change mat that's for sure!  It's been used up at the river, at the beach and at numerous parks, gardens and friends houses.

The top is made from scraps from my stash.  I'm happy to say I did not buy one thing to make this mat, it all came from my studio.  It has two layers of towelling inside (I just recycled old towels) and a layer of thick corduroy on the back.

the week

This past week seemed to go by in a flash.  Don't feel like much was achieved...but the dinners got cooked and the washing got done.  Sometimes that can be an achievement in itself.

I picked all the apples.  Our tree is grafted, and has three main branches which each produce a different variety of apple.  It's only the second season for our baby tree, but this was a pretty good harvest. 

Our pear tree is the same and has three different varieties.  Only two green pears this year, but lots of brown ones coming soon.

Some baby knitting on the needles for a pregnant friend.

It took a long time to get baby to sleep last night and I was doing it alone as hubby had gone to the movies with a friend.  I decided a chocolate fix was in order so made this fudge slice. Yum!

some days...

some days I just don't seem to get past here...

unless I'm on my way here...

 or here.

She keeps me motivated.

oh so lovely...

Have you seen this?  Always makes me smile.  Isn't it AMAZING what can happen from such a small idea.  Make sure you watch to the end to see how you can be involved too...

time for a cuppa

I was very excited to try a new idea Melissa talked about here.  Drawing onto plain ceramics with your own designs.  It was really easy and it's addictive!  I'm looking forward to getting some new plain cups and saucers and doing some more.  And a matching tea pot!

 I think they would make lovely gifts.

easy art for children

My version of an idea I have seen around the place quite a lot lately.  A white canvas.  Stars punched from scrapbooking paper.  Arrange as you like, I grouped the colours together.  I've seen ones made with shapes punched from magazine clippings which looked really cool.  Cheap and effective!

weekending in nature

We spent some time here in the weekend. 

Beautiful.

meringue goodness

Take your meringue nest.  Fill with a mix of lemon curd and vanilla custard.  Top with soft whipped cream and white chocolate shavings.  I would recommend filling these close to the time you want to serve them, or they will start to go soft.  This one would definately have gone soft by dessert time tonight.  So I had to eat it for lunch.  What a shame.

i love breakfast

I really do.  It's the best thing about mornings in my opinion, and often I have a hard time deciding what to have.  I just like everything that's on offer...toast, cereal, yoghurt, fruit, porridge, eggs on toast, or on those special occasions, pancakes!  Sometimes (perhaps once or twice a week) you'll find me eating a "breakfast" meal for lunch.  I cannot comprehend how so many people don't eat breakfast - I have no idea how they function without it. 

Whatever I'm munching on it MUST be accompanied by at least two cups of tea.  Then I'm ready to face the day.

baking

Its been a good morning so far...made a batch of choc oat biscuits and some meringues already during baby's morning sleep.  Feels good to get something "achieved" early in the day, then it doesn't seem to matter so much if I have to spend the rest of the day racing round after her and don't get much else done.  I'll show you these meringues again on Friday...we are having guests for tea, and they are dessert!

 

harvest

Currently ready in my garden...

 

Delicious straight off the tree, but I'm planning to stew some up for putting on my cereal, and making apple shortcake!  Yum!

  

Just a handful of these sweet treats, my favourite berry.

I think these pears need another few weeks...but I'm looking forward to them already.  Love the crunch.

 

And when I can fill a bowl with ripe cherry tomatoes I'm planning to slow roast them with oil and herbs.  They can then be frozen and are good on these in the winter.

 

I'll be finding a spot for these goodies soon...never grown or eaten kale before and I'm really curious to see what it's like.