It's a windy day today

So we go to the reserve to fly the kite.

Except it turns out that Mummy is not much good at kite flying.

No matter what she does, it never gets higher than a few metres.

So we come home again.

With promises that Daddy - who might be a better kite flyer - will take Small Boy out later.

Red Bag

Red Bag

Finished the other bag that Mel knitted and felted for me. I kinda like this one even better than the last one though both designs are my own. My sister is a it of a magpie (or magenpie a la Gerald Durrell stories in our house), so I did a bit of beading.

Both the designs on this bag and the other one are my own, so if you want to use them too I'm cool with that but would like an acknowledgement in your acknowledgements. :-)

One day when I have so much more time (like when I retire, ha ha) I think I'd like to do some stumpwork on bags like these.

i want

this cool reading-in-a-bookshelf-space....

Recently read and enjoyed and recommend the following:

The Birth House by Ami Mckay

Recently read and kind of enjoyed but couldn't quite connect with:

History of love by Nicole Krauss

Zoo, zoo, zoo, how about you, you you?

It was a lovely - dare I say it - spring day and 3 scrapping bloggers ventured out with kids in tow to the zoo. It was neat to finally meet Sharon, and also Andrea along with their delightful children. (Shhhh.... one of which was a superhero!)

We almost saw the new baby giraffe Ntombi, but she turned out to be too shy for the younger members to wait for, so we pressed on.

DS tried to see if anyone was home here, but no luck.

Kashin was out and about, posing beautifully.

The flamingos however... well, they were embarrassed by the attention I think. See - they're pink, and hiding from the lens. ;-)

Eh? Another photo Dad?

I think she's over it don't you?


P.s. The Earth Gems were in my local produce store (Kumeu Produce) ... not the organic shop, so you may be able to find them locally.

Oldies and Newbies

Got out my crockpot the other day to do some corned beef. My crockpot is not one of these nice new ones with a removable pot. It's an heirloom one that belonged to my grandma! I actually don't know how old it is - she doesn't remember it so I can't check with her. Judging by the colour scheme I suspect it was a 70's purchase. But it goes just fine - an indictment on the appliances these days that are made to last for 10 (max) years. Yes. I'm talking about you Mr F&P Dishdrawer. I hope you are ashamed.

I found these at my produce shop the other day - they are called Earth Gems. At first I thought they would taste like yams, but no! They taste like potatoes, but in a crunchy sort of way. :-) Nice to add to my repertoire of veges.

Hot Chilli Chocolate fans might enjoy this. I discovered it at Naturally Organic when I did an order the other day. It's gooooood. Not for your average hot choc drinker because it's a bit different, but if you like something with a bit of spice, then this could be your new love. I notice that Phoenix have some other options in this range too, including a Hot Toddy. Sounds good.

Got Milk?

Small boy thought his sister needed some milk to help her get over some hiccups. Sister wasn't quite so sure...

4 recipes

Tara has tagged me with a 4 recipes tag.

The rules:

1. Let others know who tagged you.
2. Players start with 4 recipes they especially like.
3. Those who are tagged should post these rules and their 4 recipes.
4. Players should tag 4 other people and notify them they have been tagged.

So with no further ado I share with you!

1. Rich Dark Chocolate Puddings With Runny Centres
Serves 4

120g dark chocolate (the best you can afford)

125g unsalted butter

75g plain flour, sifted

175g caster sugar

4 eggs

Melt chocolate and butter in the top of a double saucepan or in a heatproof bowl over a saucepan of simmering water. Remove saucepan from heat and stir in remaining ingredients.

Pour mixture into 4 x greased 200ml moulds (e.g. ramekins or if you can be careful getting them out, Texas Muffin tins). Recipe can be made up to this point and kept a couple of days in the refrigerator.

Bake at 180ºC for about 12-14 minutes. Remove from oven and let stand for 2 minutes before inverting onto serving plates.

The puddings should split and the centres run out; otherwise, just slice down the sides to release. Dust the puddings with sifted icing sugar and serve with mascarpone, whipped cream or clotted cream.

2. Sesame Chicken

From The New Zealand Crockpot Cookbook / Bishop, Joan. (1992). Christchurch: Whitcoulls

1 lemon

1 x 2kg chicken

1 T soy sauce

1 T vinegar

1 T brown sugar

2 T tomato paste

¼ tsp ground ginger

3 T sesame seeds

Cut the lemon into quarters and place inside the chicken. Place chicken in the crockpot.

In a small bowl, combine the soy sauce, vinegar, brown sugar, tomato paste and ground ginger and mix until smooth.

Brush the mixture over the chicken in the crockpot and sprinkle with sesame seeds.

Cover with lid and cook on low for 7-8 hours or on high for 3 ½-4 hours.

3. Sally's Vegetarian "Sausage" Rolls with Penny's modifications

4 thick slices bread, made into crumbs
1 packet walnuts (70g), chopped (or hazelnuts)
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1 chopped onion
1 grated carrot
1/2 grated capsicum
3/4 cup grated cheese
3 eggs
herbs (e.g parsley, thyme, sage) preferably fresh
salt and pepper
puff or flakey pastry sheets

Mix all together, form into a long sausages and wrap the sheet of pastry around them. Cut into "bite" sized rolls. Brush with milk or egg if desired. Bake 180 degrees C until brown.
The filling is also good as fake meat balls with a yummy tomato sauce and spaghetti.

4. Corn Chowder *

3 oz butter
2 large onion, finely chopped
1 clove garlic, crushed
2 teaspoons cumin seeds
4 cups stock (vegetable or chicken)
2 medium potatoes, peeled and chopped
1 cup canned creamed-style corn
2 cups fresh corn kernels (frozen is fine)
3 Tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
1 cup grated cheddar cheese
salt and pepper
3 Tablespoons cream (optional)
2 Tablespoons fresh chives to garnish

Heat butter in large heavy based pan. Add onions and cook over medium heat for 5 mins or until golden. Add garlic and cumin seeds, cook 1 min stirring constantly. Add stock and bring to boil. Add potatoes and simmer, uncovered for 10 minutes. Add creamed corn, corn kernels and parsley. Bring to boil, reduce heat, simmer for 10 minutes. Stir through cheese, salt and pepper, and cream. Heat gently so the cheese melts. Serve sprinkle with chives. Serves 8. * This is a vegetarian soup, but I like to throw in some bacon bones or a bacon hock into the stock as I feel it gives it more flavour depth.

I'm not really a "tagger" as such but if you feel moved to share... feel free to use me as an excuse ;-)

Houston - we have forward movement

DD started crawling forward this week - she's been going backwards for a few weeks but she has finally worked out forward gear.

I've realised how quickly I forget what little babies do... i.e. put everything in their mouths. So far I've rescued play dough, newspaper, bits of Mobilo, and a piece of chipboard from her predations. Having DS spreading his toys from one end of the house to the other is not helping and he cannot seem to be tidy no matter what I do. So I have to be vigilante.

Time Waster

Oh boy - I just wasted an hour making a Simpson version of our family! LOL! You can do one too at the Simpsonize site.

Thanks Amy! :)

Bag No. 1

Ages ago I got Mel to make me some of her special bags so I could give them to my sister and SIL for their birthdays next month. I've finally got around to decorating them. Well the first one anyway!

Ice cream

DS likes to "sell" me ice cream when I'm making tea in the evening. The conversation goes like:
DS: Which ice cream do you want?
Me: ummm... chocolate
DS: Here you are!
Me: mmm..yum yum.mmm..mm [eat ice cream]
DS: Which ice cream do you want?
Me: oh.. er.. hokey pokey
DS: Here you are!
Me: mmm..yum yum.mmm..mm [eat ice cream]

And so on.

These are the cards I made for Lara's challenge from the cyber crop at SBO on Saturday. I had fun but man - those girls can sure scrap 'n' chat fast! I didn't have time to do any other challenges but it was fun all the same.

I managed to muck up the wedding one by spelling congratulations wrong so had to quickly re do it to get in by the deadline.

Oh and see - I used my Cuttlebug. Or Cutterbug as my dad insists on calling it.

I hope someone I know gets married so I can use the card!

7 years (I mean 8) of wedded bliss

8* years ago, DH and I vowed to love, cherish and honour each other before our God, family and friends.

Happy memories! Dh proposed to me on the top of One Tree Hill on Waitangi day 1999. I knew he was going to ask me because he'd told me he would ask some time and that I should have an answer ready. I just didn't know exactly when it would happen. I made him wait a few seconds just to be perverse but he knew what my answer would be anyway! LOL!

I was up at 6am getting ready for the big day. Wasn't nervous at all, just happy and hoping it would all go well.

DH on the other hand was not okay. Waiting to "go down the aisle" I asked the venue manager how he was... "He's a nervous wreck"! While we said our vows he was blinking back tears, and luckily his groomsman had a hanky because he'd forgotten one! It's a memory I cherish because DH isn't very good an expressing emotions in words. I didn't cry during the ceremony but I did during my Dad's speech. *sob*

7 years isn't that long really but it feels like it's always been this way... in a good way. So much has happened and we've weathered a few storms that have happened between us and around us.

I can't say I "renew" my vows each anniversary because I made that commitment once and intend to stick to my word. But it's good to reflect.

And if we can find a baby sitter we'll go out to tea tomorrow since DH had to go to Wellington today for work and has to stay the night.

And I'm such a dork because I'm timing this post to be published at the time of our ceremony!
*Edited to get the correct number of years!!! It's 8 Doh!