Daisy, 2 Scarves & Scones.

Warm welcome to everyone,

Hope you are all doing well. Time seems to be flying, the first school term is more than half way through, we are planning a trip to Queensland on the holidays. It will be nice to get away for a break, just a change of scenery will do me. I have included a picture of Daisy here, she is getting bigger, and has even grown since this pic was taken. She has the sweetest face and has charmed us all, even Jock. Hold on.. I forgot ..not all of us, the cat has a love hate relationship with Daisy. The cat hates her and Daisy loves him. Well, you can't win them all..

I visited the Stitches and Craft show in Melbourne on Wednesday, with my crafty friends. We all were a little disappointed with the show, but had a great time none the less.

I have included a pic of a scarf I was knitting. I posted the pic some time ago of it half finished, here is the finished article.

Also another one I knitted for my mother-in-law, the pics don't really do the colours and texture justice. It just looks like a mass of small pom poms.

This is a great recipe for scones, very quick,easy and most important successful!!!!!!!

Lemonade Scones

3 Cups of Self Raising Flour

Half a teaspoon of Baking Powder

+Sift together 3 times

Add 300 mls Cream

Half a Cup of Lemonade
Stir with a blunt edge Knife

Knead for a minute or so, then pat down or roll

to about 1and a half cm thickness. Cut into rounds.

Brush with a little milk.
Bake in a preheated 170C. oven for about 10 mins.

I sometime add some sultanas or dates to half the mixture for a bit of variation.

P.S.:-You may need to add a little more or less lemonade.
P.S.S.:- You must eat a least two, with Jam and Lashings of Cream to appreciate the taste.

N.B. Half batch is shown in pics.

Well thats all for now.

With Smiles

Kathryn x

.

Long Summer

Hello Everyone,

Hope all is well with everyone in blogland. So much has been going on here, and unfortunately I haven't had time to post.

Thankyou to everyone who has asked after me, it's nice to know people care.

We had a lovely Christmas and spent New Year's Eve with some dear friends.

We had a few trips up the coast and Miss L. had a lovely time, she always has been a real water baby. My mother-in-law was unwell and is still not 100%, she has moved closer to us now, which makes things easier for us, when she needs us.

When school went back about 3 weeks ago, I was asked to help out at my last workplace, just for a few weeks. That has now finished, but I have been

offered a casual position with a local company, too good to pass up, so I have been busy with that a couple of days a week.

I don't know where the time goes..

It was Mr. M's birthday on the 19th he turned 49, so I made him a cake.

I love how the eggwhites beat up.

It was my birthday on the 21st, I turned 48. I don't feel that age. I remember when I thought people that were 30, were old. Funny how your ideas change as you get older. My girlfriend told me that 50 is the new 30. Ha, Ha.... My wise elderly aunt who was 90 at the time, once told me that she "still felt 25 inside". She was a marvel.

I have had a few messages from overseas, because of the recent and still burning bushfires, I live in a suburb of Melbourne, but on the other side of Melbourne and closer to the city. We were not in the area. It has been a terrible tragedy and I know people that were affected, but I don't wish to discuss this matter here.

I want to introduce you to and old hardworking friend of mine. Mixy..(sad isn't it that I call an electric appliance a friend). This is my sunbeam mixmaster, I think it dates back from the 60's. A neighbour gave it to me some 24 years ago, when she was leaving to go to a nursing home. She was a great cook, and I know Mixy did a great deal of work for her. Mr.M. did a little cosmetic surgery on her years ago, he put on a new cord and plug . Does anyone else out there have a hardworking friend like Mixy??? Let me know.

Goodbye and God Bless till next time.

With Smiles

Kathryn x

Merry Christmas- May you find Peace & Joy xx

Merry Christmas to You...

Warm welcome,

Christmas is upon us once again, where did the year go?? Time seems to go faster every year. I remember as a child, waiting for Christmas seemed like an eternity.. Such fond memories, my family would all go to Midnight Mass, (we had to walk a mile to get there) but we had to be early or you wouldn't get a seat, and the Christmas Hymns started at 11.30pm.

These days, we attend the 7.00pm Mass Christmas Eve, which is a childrens Mass. (Must be early as seats still sparse.) The nativity story is re-enacted by children, it is just delightful. Hymns are still sung during Mass, but at the end, the priest gets all the children up front to sing jingle bells.

I don't get terribly caught up in the commercialism of Christmas. The most important thing to me is to be with my family, I don't just mean my immediate family, I am talking about my 4 older siblings who I have spent every Christmas for the last 47 years with. (With exception of 1 or 2 with some, as they were overseas.) We all say Christmas Day is not the same unless we are together!!

We surround ourselves with all our children as well, and even though most of them are now adults themselves, they still want to be with us (their parents) on Christmas Day.

We always have a traditional lunch together, swap some pressies then comes a game of backyard cricket, a water fight(weather permitting) and the championship basketball game. As the evening closes in, some of us will leave to visit their in-laws . Some old family friends usually drop in around this time, and we may pick at some left over turkey etc.. together, sing a few songs.

Fatigue usually starts to creep in about 9.00pm, and although I always wish for the day to never end(yes even at my age). it inevitably does. We say grace together every Christmas lunch, and I Thank God every year, that we are all still here together, to see another one in.

I wish you Peace, Joy & a Holy & Happy Christmas with all your loved ones.

With Smiles

Kathryn

Getting Christmassy..

Warm Welcome,

Have been keeping busy this last week, been decorating as you can see.

This little fellow in the red & white stripe, looked so sweet in the shop I had to buy him. (We, don't need anymore tree ornaments, so he is sitting on my dressing table). Looking quite out of place. He makes me smile everytime I see him.

This angel made of cardboard and plastic, with nylon hair is 25 years old this year. We tried to replace her one year with a beautiful porcelain face angel. Mysteriously, she fell off the top of the tree, and smashed. Have a close look at the eyes , they look a bit devilish to me. Ha Ha..

Made this advent calendar a few years ago, the goodies were a little fat this year, so it doesn't sit too well against the wall. The photo makes it look more wonky than it is..Miss L. doesn't mind. She has managed to eat the chocolate treats, even though she is feeling poorly.
Miss L. has been home ill, so I have had time to potter a little more than usual. Made these mince pies, used hazlenut meal instead of the usual almond meal, the switch made a decided difference. (Just haven't decided for better or worse.)

Also made this apron out of two tea towels, it has 3 pockets at the front. ( I saw this on a blogg some months back, I can't remember the name, but if anyone knows please do tell.) Mr. M. modelled it for me in his P.J.s, he does have to put up with alot sometimes. Ha Ha..

My Wednesday group gets together for the last time this year, on Wednesday. We will meet up for the full day. Which reminds me I will have to organise myself to make some scones and finger sandwiches. Better be off. Hope all your Christmas plans are coming together nicely.

With Smiles

Kathryn x

A Wedding, a Scarf & Prawns

Warm welcome,
Hope is is well with you & yours.

We attended a wedding on the weekend, a friend who is divorced with 4 young children, married a widower with 3 young children. I was a friend of the grooms wife, who died 2 years ago of that insidious disease, breast cancer. I am also the friend of the bride. I am so happy for them both. Strange how things turn out. Wish I could tell you the whole story but I would be here all day.

I took lots of photos, but wont show them here, as I don't think they would approve....

But here is a picture of Mr. M. & I before we left. albeit not a good one.

Gosh.... it really is a bad one. "Where did those jowls come from?" Must be a fault with the camera!! Yes that must be it...

Miss L. had a new outfit, and looked so grown up, but as you know she doesn't want her face on the internet.

This is a scarf I am knitting, yes I know you are all saying, "Is she Daft?" Yes it is Summer in Australia, but I like to do something with my hands, in the evening.

It is an odd looking shape, but it works out quite nifty. I love the colour of the wool, as you can see it has all tiny pieces of different colours weaved through it.

Miss L. finished her 1 st year at Secondary School, I can't believe how quickly the year has flown by. It only seems like yesterday, we were fitting her out for her new uniform. She is growing up so quickly, and I am very proud of her. I don't mean scholastically, I mean for the kind, caring, respectful young lady she is.

We have been slowly, putting up the Christmas decorations up , I will admit that I love decorating the tree, we play Christmas Carols then sit back with a cup of tea and Christmas cake and look at the Tree lights in the dark, funny how traditions keep on keeping on. Will show some pics on a future post.

Tonight for dinner, we are having prawns with this yummy marinade, some salt & pepper octopus and salad. And we may eat outside..

Til' next time, take care

With Smiles

Kathryn