15.9.09

Finally...

It's SUNNY!! I know it sounds crazy... but it's true! Two days in a row now.... TWO DAYS!!!
Now, in the interest of honesty, I have to say that it DID rain yesterday, twice, and the wind was rather... gusty, but all the same, there was a fair bit of sun in there too.
Unfortunately for me, this means lots & lots of washing - we don't have a dryer so the never ending rain has taken us perilously close to wearing paper bags a few times... ;)
I have some cute company at the clothes line though - I don't know why, but Punky is obsessed with it - right now there are 6 or so of her toys strewn around it, and she heads straight there first whenever we go outside... odd child.
Chookies like the sun too... and pecking about on the overgrown lawn....!

Might it be too much to hope that Spring is finally here?!

14.9.09

Things I Keep Forgetting....

...the very first thing being that I forgot to even blog yesterday - I was immersed in a blasted WIP that is taking much longer than I anticipated, which is annoying me because I am ALL about the instant craft gratification. All I am going to say is that it as close as I am ever going to get to quilting, and the fingers that hold the needle feel both numb and as though I should expect horrible callouses at any moment. Sounds like a fun project, no?



Anywho, I actually started this catch up post the day before yesterday, or the evening before yesterday, but as I was typing *zloop*, everything shut down. It was super windy & the power was out.

We sat around looking at each other for a while, considering our predicament, and then decided to go for a drive & see if it was just our side of town temporarily plunged into darkness. Turned out that not only was the entire town power-less (it is both strange and satisfying to see those 'golden arches' and 'bucket in the sky' unlit in the night), but most people had the same idea - driving around sticky beaking... probably, upon reflection, not the greatest idea we've ever had, since the traffic lights were also out of business.

On the way home, I saw one of those cool (weird) bright plastic toy boxes in the shape of a round frog on the side of the road, with some other random stuff & a "FREE!" sign - I practically jumped out the window and scared The Boy half to death; "STOP THE CAR!!! I NEED THAT....!" he was like "....what the...?" having seen the stuff earlier on the way home and totally ignoring it (*sigh*), he had no idea what it was. "It's a toy box!" I breathed excitedly, having seen one at the Mill Markets on my birthday for $50... "And I NEED IT!!!".

So he had to turn around and drive back, then I jumped out to get it... but it was much heavier than an empty plastic tub should be... it was full of toys! I almost had heart palpitations, that's how excited I was.... luckily, as we turned into our street, we say street & porch lights turn back on - hurrah!

We (Punk & I) rushed inside to peruse our free loot - and loot it most assuredly was - the first thing I picked up was a little Miss Piggy Muppet baby figurine that I recalled from my childhood, a Mickey D's toy from 1986 no less - and then her car.... score! ;)


The other stuff that went into 'Mummy's" pile; a matching gonzo on a rocking horse, a fozie bear sans whatever he was supposed to be on (or perhaps he went on the rocking horse... I can't remember), and ALF clip on with tag still attached from 1989, a carebear, a smurf, 2 teenage mutant ninja turtles in cars that I also recall from road trips, a beagle boy, Rodger rabbit, Donald duck & Fred flintstone.
Punky was thrilled with about a gazillion cars & trucks (she loves them as she only had like 2 Fischer price cars before), Donkey from Shrek with the tag still on, and various other little figurines.

Even The Boy had something to get excited about; an unused Michael Jordan shrinky dink from 1996!!!

I don't think Mr Frog and his stomach full of goodies could have found a better, more appreciative home! I hope all free stuff people put out because they can't be bothered to take them to the oppy have such a fate... ;) We think he must have been a "Grandma's House" toy box, considering what was inside.

Anyway... I digress! All that had nothing to do with my actual post, which is about stuff I keep forgetting to post, starting with;

Lemon Meringue Update;


It WAS delicious. The Boy was very happy with it - pleasantly surprised you might say, and that means I don't have to put up with the hopeful "I bet you can't make a lemon meringue as good as my Mum's..." ever again. I also forgot to mention that the lovely Lisa from Crafty Mamas pointed me in the direction of the (obviously foolproof) recipe for Mile-High Lemon Meringue Pie, I had to sign up for the free trial to get the recipe, but it was SO worth it; http://www.cookscountry.com/pwlogin....ecipe&iseason=


Punky Update;

She has a big girl bed! She loves it, even though the sight of my little Punk in a big bed made me a tad weepy to start with. The very first thing she did after it was put together was to bOuNcE....



Drawing A Day Update;

*shuffles feet* There isn't one. I've not been doing it. I have no excuses.


Flylady Update;

See above. *sigh* The house really looks like a bomb site today, since I've been working like a maniac on my afore mention WIP and hence ignoring everything else, including Punky's rampaging destruction.


Mail Update;



I fully intend to try my hand at a review for the book, I have had a thorough look through already, of course, and can say that it is a pleasure to look at, at the very least.
Right'o, that's everything updated... now I have to go get my house in order.

12.9.09

Cheese Bread

A little afternoon baking - just the thing when you're hankering for a quiet cup of tea and something to nibble and there just ain't a thing in the house...!
Cheese Bread (From Better Cooking; A year in the kitchen)
2 cups plain flour
1 tablespoon caster sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground white pepper
60g (2 1/4 oz) butter, cut into cubes
2 cups grated cheddar cheese
2 spring onions, thinly sliced
1 cup milk
  1. Preheat the oven to 200 degrees, lightly grease a large loaf tin and line the base and sides with baking paper. Put the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt and pepper into a food processor. Add the cubes of butter to the dry ingredients and process until the mixture is like fine breadcrumbs. Transfer the mixture to a large bowl, add the cheese and spring onion and stir until combined.
  2. Whisk together the egg and milk. Make a well in the centre of the dry ingredients. Add the combined milk and egg and mix with a table knife to form a soft dough. Do not over mix.
  3. Scoop the mixture evenly into the prepared loaf tin. Bake for 30 - 40 minutes or until the bread is golden and sounds hollow when tapped. Remove from the oven and stand on a wire rack in the tin for 5 minutes before turning out. Cut into slices before serving.

What I did differently;

Tasty cheese instead of Cheddar, a handful of garlic tops (from the garlic growing in the garden - you could use garlic chives), chives & parsley instead of the spring onions & since I don't have a food processor I just mixed all the stuff in step 1 & mushed the butter into the flour with my fingers until it got all crumbly like breadcrumbs. Next time I think I might use Parmesan too - for some extra cheesy bite.

Punky and I had a slice each, not long from the oven, for afternoons'es.

Scrumptious.

11.9.09

A Very Happy Birthday... In Pictures.

...so this is what 28 looks like?


I love this place. It is AWESOME. I could live there quite happily for the rest of my life....



Gorgeous vintage kiddie pattern goodness.




Old School Tupperware Galore!


Happy Birthday to me!!! *Mwahahahahahaha....!!!*











Seriously, going to that place is like Disneyland for me - it has everything you could ever want to do with vintage greatness... one thing I particularly like is seeing things I already own & discovering that they are actual worth something, ie; not the $2 I paid at the oppy for them... ;)
The greatness continued - before we went to lunch I found somewhere that sold DR PEPPER! I spent a mega $3 on a can... crazy I know but it was my birthday & I haven't had Dr Pepper in sooooooooooo long.....





Flowers from my Mummy. xoxoxo


Not pictured: Many birthday cuddles from an adorable little Punk, an extended trip to Spotlight that yielded crafty necessities, a glorious swap package that was awaiting my return, Thai dinner yummyness, BEER, retro dessert memories in the form of a Streets Vienetta.... ;)

A VERY happy birthday.

10.9.09

Happy Birthday To Meeeeeeeeeeeee...........


....I look like a monkey, and I smell like one toooooooooooooooooooooooo.
*sigh* Another year older....!
The occasion shall be marked by my wheedling a trip to the city for sushi, craft supplies and a spree around one of the best vintage emporiums I've ever seen.
Marvelous.

8.9.09

I've been naughty....

...I gave Le Punk one of her birthday presents. For no good reason, her birthday isn't for another 5 months...
Well... there was sort of a good reason.... I wanted to play with it.

A few months ago, we got an adorable little wooden dolls house from Aldi for $25... bargain, no? I thought "I'll just put it away until she's ready for it....".

Or not.

So, I broke it out yesterday (it was calling to me I tell you!) & realised that we didn't have any dolls suitable for dollhouse play! No!!!


While Punky made do with an old Patty O'Green (from rainbow brite) figurine I found, I decided to make her some gnomies.

I am pretty happy with them - I fully intend to make her a couple more, and perhaps one for myself, as I accidentally discovered while making the second that they make quite cute & spiffy pin cushions... ;)

I wonder, would anyone like a little tute on how to make them....? (I've not put a tute together as yet... it will be a learning experience for all...)

Also, when I got home earlier after a brief spot of opshopping, I was thrilled to find my gorgeous skully tote waiting for me!


It is even better than I thought it would be, beautifully made, gorgeous fabric, bonus little bookmarks that you can write in (brilliant idea)... I am in love & it is now my favourite & my best. ;) Thanks again to Tara @ Tarabu!

Drawings - Week In Review...


1. Don't" Leave, 2. Pretty In Punk, 3. Maria, 4. Moon Grrrl, 5. Dot, 6. Brautigan

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