Friends

We've just spent a pleasant few days catching up with some friends.
We had Miss Muggins daughter stay her a few days to "hang" with my 13y old Darling. They had a good old time and I didn't even hear the dreaded "Mum, I'm bored" from Danielle!! Such a relief LoL
It was lovely to catch up and to talk craft and go op-shopping!
Now I have a few days to prepare for the Mother-in-law and nephew to arrive, which will keep my son busy too! all in all this is turning out to be a real nice holidays!
Plans are being made to renovate bathroom and laundry here! I've got a few great ideas for them! And Hubby is in agreement for once with them too! SIGH Live is good!!

Dutch Apple Turnovers

I woke up at some ungodly hour this morning couldn't sleep, so I decided to get up and bake!

One of my Fav things to bake(coz it reminds me of my Grandma's home) is Dutch Apple Turnovers. I've decided to share this recipe here:

Ingredients: (to make 20)

5 puff pastry sheets

2 large apples

1/2 cup of raisins (soaked in hot water)

lemon juice

sugar

cinnamon powder

Core and peel apples, dice them and mix with raisins, 2 tblsps of sugar, 2 tblsp of lemon juice and cinnamon powder to taste.

Divide puff pastry sheets in 4, wet the edges with some water and add 1 tblsp of the apple mixture in the centre. Fold the squares into a triangle and seal edges by pressing them down with a fork. Brush top with water and sprinkle some sugar on.

Bake in a pre-heated oven (195C) for 15 min or golden brown.

Serve hot with vanilla ice cream or cold with whipped cream.

I know that 20 sounds like a lot, but if I don't hide them they disappear very quickly!

Easy Cherry Slice

Ingredients:

125gr melted margarine

3/4 cup coconut

125gr chopped glazed cherries

1 cup Self raising flour

1 tsp vanilla

dark chocolate

Method:

Mix all dry ingredients + vanilla together and add melted margarine and mix well. Press into a greased baking paper lined tin and bake for 10-15 min at 190C

Let it cool, then drizzle some melted dark chocolate over the top and allow to set in the fridge.

Cut into squares

On my kitchenbench

Don't you hate those modern appliances?? I certainly do!

Lucky for me I have a friend (Hi Rochelle!!!) that comes up with great ideas. A while back she showed us a picture of a little fake cabinet her brother had made for her to hide her mixer.

And smart little me had a lightbulb moment and stole the idea for my UGLY coffee machine!!

I gave a local crafts man my measurements (the coffeemachines, not mine!!!) and he made it for me. I roughed it up a little and gave it 3 coats of paint (1 red and 2 black) and sanded it back a little here and there, and I have to say I LOVE it!!!!

Busy! Busy! Busy!

How is it possible that the house is such a mess after only 2 days of school holidays?

I swear the kids just drop all their stuff where ever! I've just moved the couch cushions only to find 2 empty chips packets?? Was there a memo saying the couch is now a bin??( and does that mean the bin is now the couch??)

On a quilty note, I did get some sewing in!! (Sewing before cleaning is the rule isn't it??) I made 4 more Courthouse steps blocks. Hopefully I get the top done this weekend, that will give me a chance to start quilting it during the week

Favourite Quote

outside a dog, a book is mans best friend, ....inside a dog it's too dark to read

Groucho Marx

Back to the grindstone!

After a lovely, but busy weekend, it's back to work!
Did a bit of sewing on Saturday, made some block out of some Repro fabrics I bought last weekend. I need to make 25 Courthouse Steps blocks, so far I have 7 and a half done.
Then Sunday we were off to Ballarat to an auction to buy stock for the shop. No big stuff this time (not to self: do NOT go to auctions during school holidays! Everybody seems to be going and prizes go through the roof!) Ended up with a few boxes with Depression Glass, a trinket box, some inlay pictures and some other bits and bobs

School's Out!!

Start of the School Holiday!!!
As of 2:30pm yesterday school holidays are started! (there goes my computer time!!) We've got a busy one planned: first week Danielle's friend Annabel is coming for a few days in the first week and in week2 we're having the Mother-in-Law staying with one of the nephews. That should keep the kids occupied for a bit, seeing John and I are both working during the holidays.
Megan (16y old) want to make a doll these holidays and is eying off my fabric! Oh Deary, I think I'm starting to hyperventilate just thinking of having to share my fabrics!! SIGH, I should be happy she want to make something.

What am I working on?

I've decided to take stock of my UFOs, maybe even cross a few off the list in the near future!

• 1 doll from a pattern by Chestnut Junctio
• 1 doll out of a Country Threads magazine
• black and orange quilt
• hand quilting 30's repro mini bow ties
• making a rag table runner (see pic above)
• Christmas Mitten ornie for a swap
• Xmas Bow Tie quilt
• a few stitcheries

With any luck I will be able to finishe the list before Christmas

Busy busy days!

It looks like I've gone missing in action for a few days!

For some silly reason I got really busy over the last few days! First of Danielle turned 13 on Saturday! (13 already?? I'm sure she was only born 10 min ago!!! I must have blinked and missed it!)

I took her and a friend to Bendigo, for a shopping trip. I dropped them of in town and went shopping with Lewis. That boy is a star!!! he didn't complain much at all! the only time he complained was after our stop at Attic Crafts and he got stuck among a bus load of quilters, who all felt the need to hug and kiss him because he went shopping for fabric with his mum. His words after we left: "Quilting ladies are just too friendly!!" LoL he did well for a 10y old boy there! He most definitely is my Favourite son ( ok so he's my only son! that is just besides the point LOL)

Danielle and her friend managed to spend most of her birthday money!! she had a ball! And of course the fun wasn't over yet as the friend stayed the night! I don't think they slept at all! Now Danielle is looking forward to having another friend come over for a few days in the school holidays! I'm just wondering can I handle it???

Spring has Sprung!

Ok I've discovered how to take close up photo's of flowers! So I'll be using that feature a bit from now on!!

We only had this camera for 6 years! LoL. So today I will bore you with my "wonderful" garden! Mind you the pics are only from the good bits! We're working on it at the moment! As a matter of fact hubby should be putting some mulch in as we speak (key words there is "should be", no guarantee he actually is!)

The Flowers are the result of a "hard" days work planting by hubby and son

ROAD TRIP!!!

It was time for our bi-monthly trip to the Orthodontist for Dani! Lucky for me we had time to stop off for some fabric shopping!!



Didn't spend too much, as for some reason my kids don't enjoy any shopping that doesn't get them anything (funny that!)

I ended up with 4 orange FQs for a quilt I'm working on.

Orange prints and black background.

4" finished paper pieced blocks