Pot Holders,Cheesecake and a little bit more...

A visit to Ric Rac yesterday and she gave me these lovely 9inch squares and heaps of motivation to come home and get sewing. It was good to have my machine going again, but has made me acutely aware that I am fast running out of cotton thread. They were so quick and fun to make, so I am going to try a few more today to share with my extended family when I head off on holidays for a belated Christmas celebration with them.
A walk in my garden in the early morning always brings me much joy and delight. I've been pulling out barrow loads of weeds from down beside the house and feeding them to the chooks. They are pleased to have lots of goodies to forage in, and it's looking much tidier down the side. My KK from school gave me a garden arch, so I was out in the cool of the evening last night putting it together. I have always wanted a garden arch. I am going to put it at the side of the house leading down the little path, and the children are delighted, as they have a secret cubby down there, and think it will be thier new grand entrance.
A big HELLO to Hong Kong - my regular visitor that never comments. I am told she is very shy. I have addapted my settings so anyone is able to comment now, so am hoping to hear from her, and Charlotte too. Hong Kong is Barking Mad's sister who grew up in the same town as me. She was here on holidays for Christmas and generously brought presents. Look at my georgous new pin cushion (she knows I love them!) and a lovely little note book. Thank you so much Anne and I'm glad we can keep you in touch with home.
Since being on holidays I have reclaimed the kitchen. I put my little Dick and Jane apron on, and feel like a real housewife!! I cooked a "casserole" yesterday (much to Mr Flowergarden's surprise and delight -he loves them) and even baked a Marbled Cheesecake Slice. I took some over to share with Ric Rac and Mr Ric Rac for afternoon tea. If you would like to share some too, here is the recipe...
Marbled Choc Cheesecake Slice

185gm butter

1/4 cup cocoa

1 cup sugar

2 eggs

1 cup plain flour

250gm cream cheese

1/3 cup sugar extra

1 tsp vanilla

1 egg extra

Melt butter with cocoa. Remove from heat, add sugar, whisk in eggs. Stir in sifted flour beat until smooth. Pour mixture into greased lamington tin. Beat cheese, extra sugar and vanilla together, add extra egg, pour over choc mixture, swirl through with knife for marbled effect. Bake in mod oven 40 minutes. Cool in tin, cut when cold.

ENJOY!

Cherries

Beuatiful, delicious, scrumptious cherries - my neighbour went to the cherry farm and delivered to my door 1kg of these yummies!

Toys, chocolates, games and books, what more could we ask for a Merry Christmas. We are just so lucky. I am a happy happy mumma to be on school holidays and just to be at home with my family. I hope you are all enjoying some peaceful times.

Merry Christmas to you all

Isn't it so true how you give presents you would like to recieve yourself. The first cushion I made for Mr Flowergarden's Grandmother made it's way to my loungeroom and has comfortably moved in and won't be leaving. I have produced another one, more suited to a 90 year old, and when I put in on our family room couch, I just laughed to myself, as it looked so good. Mr Flowergarden said "you can't keep it!" I was pleased with how it turned out, as it was an old piece of tapestry that I rescued from the Art Room at school made with curtain samples. I just hope my mother-in-law won't be too judgemental.

I am a bit nutty about this crotcheting business. I will have to get a new TV/Car craft
I am now experimenting with a smaller version - my friend is going to use it for her daughters hair things.


Some lovely rain today again and some time inbetween for some weeding and spreading of more pea straw. Even snuck a few little plants in the damp ground.I hope you all have a lovely Christmas Day whatever you may be doing. Thanks for sharing time in my Flowergarden...

Holidays are HERE!

Somehow ... I made it to the end.

-Chicago Peace-

Looking forward to spending time in the garden and watching Chick Chick grow.

The Velveteen Rabbit

One of my all time favourite stories - I sat down with my 2 little ones in bed the other night and read this story. My youngest began to snore, but my 10 year old listenend to every word. She has a horse that I always tell her is real, as all it's fur is being "loved" off.

Some new Christmas Decs from Daylesford - a lovely trip on Sunday with a friend. I think I will post the angel to my mother and the bird to my sister who live far far away. I will keep the pear.

Look closely at the wreath ... made of puzzle pieces. A great school activity done last year by my "Preppie."

Some more cushions! I was going to give one away, but they make such a lovely pair and look great on my dark leather couch, so I'm going to keep them - I put my special Parisian Lace that my friend Katie brought back from Paris on one of them.

A new address book for 2008 - and a headband for my daughter and her friend. They will enjoy being twins at school.

It's beginning to look at bit like Christmas

...however, I am still mulching the garden, and we had some wonderful rain in the early morning. I just sat and watched it out my sewing window, and then this afternoon I have enjoyed tucking up all the plants in another garden bed with my luscious pea straw. I still have one bale to go and the back garden will be done - for summer!

I have been busy this week stippling my sister's quilt for christmas. I'm up to the binding now, so can see an end in site. I am very happy with how it has turned out. I'm sure she'll love it.

My great friend Barking Mad gave me these georgous leaves for a christmas gift. I am thrilled with them.

I've been in to the Patchwork Shop to collect my winnings for my my Apron. Some lovely fabrics to play with in the holidays. Only one week of school to go ... and counting. School sleep over last week at Soverign Hill with Grade 2's and full day walking around the following day with the Grade Ones. Exhausted Friday night!

I can't wait 'til next Friday and it will really begin to look like Christmas!

...more crotcheting amongst the flowers

So many beautiful colours in the garden. My last epaphitic cactus flower came this week. A lovely white/yellow. Each year I intend to mark them as to the colours of the flowers, and each year they come and go, and I decide to let it be a surprise the following year. The flowers are SO spectacular but very short lived. So I like to enjoy every moment.

A special friend is having a birthday this week and had promised to make her one of my special crotchet bags. They are just so addictive. Now I've done another one, I want to do yet another one. I can't help myself. I think the most exciting bit is getting it out of the washing machine at the end of the washing process.

From this big holey creation ... to...this...

I just love it!

As the weather is warming up, I am needing to mulch the garden, so have bought some pea straw at the weekend and have been busily tucking in my little plants and having a great time out there. I don't understand why some people don't like the look of pea straw. I think it looks so nice on the garden and the plants are so happy. There are big clouds about tonight so I am hoping for a shower of rain.

Chick Chick is continuing to grow each day. She had her first night outside on Sunday night, and although she was a little scared, she found the perch and was still there in the morning, so she is out of the laundry at night now, and almost all grown up. The other chooks are still getting used to someone new in thier world, but she will continue to grow, and what they don't know, is that she will be bigger, as the others are Bantams! It takes 2 hands now to pick her up now and her feet are HUGE.

Quilt for Christmas

I have been feeling a little guilty looking at all the blogs and you all getting ready for Christmas. I've just been madly writing reports and so the weeks go by. But when I stopped to think about it, I have been working on a quilt for my sister for Christmas. I spent some time on it last weekend, and am now happy with the boarder. I will fill the corners with some black. Then it will just be the wadding, the backing (which I already have) and then some stipple footing to finish it off. Even though I'm not officially doing the hand made Christmas thing, I do it anyway and have been doing so for several years in our family. It's just a great way to share our talents around. Oh ... and the chocolates have been bought for the advent calendar which I will have to hunt out maybe tomorrow after school. Watch this space.....

Chick Chick and the BIG Girls

After a day at home playing, I am feeling refreshed. Just thought I'd give you an update on our cheeky Chick Chick.

The other evening while we were having a little romp in the back yard, Chick Chick fluffed her little feathers and flew up onto Sarah's head. It gave Sarah quite a start,but she was still, and handled it well. Having Chick Chick in the family has been a good learning experience for our children....however....yesterday...
Chick Chick had a day in with the BIG GIRLS. I kept an eye on her throughout the day and she seems to know when to get out of the way. The other chooks are realising that she is little threat to them, and she is happy to take her place in the pecking order. This gives me more confidence that she IS a she and all will be well in our world.
We still brought the baby in at night, just to be safe!

Summer Time's Here

I'm so happy the weekend is here, and all my reports are done. I feel like the holidays are on their way. This flower is a little how I feel, but it is still just so beautiful.

These cactus flowers have been so long lasting and I grew this plant from just a tiny bit from mother-in-law. This has been it's best year. My budgie is no trouble!The bees are LOVING my poppies...
My neighbour was tossing out this rose in the winter time and hadn't been pruned for years. I cut it all back and gave it a lovely home with compost all around and look at my reward. Not sure what her name is, but I call her Frank as Frank is my neighbour who gave her to me.

Below is Penelope...

...and this is my very special newest poppy Papava Oriental ... I want to get some more of these.

I'm looking forward to a relaxing weekend.