Almost there!

Dear mum and dad

So.... I think you must be stuck, somewhere very remote - possibly even snowed in somewhere. With a cell phone that has a dead battery. For all the day. And evening. Because..... I think you've forgotten to call me for my birthday!!!!!! Lucky for you.... I am aware that you adore me. (hehe) - and lucky for you that I am still so excited about The Red Mixer..... oh you are so so lucky!
I have had a great day. I've been so spoilt and have had numerous occasion to wonder just how I got such a great husband and kids. Didn't I just leave school? Wasn't it only yesterday that I cried my eyes out as you dropped me at uni?? If that's true... then how come my girls told me "Happy 35 birthday mama!" this morning?? 35?! *gasp*
Anyway, I just wanted to say I still love The Red Mixer. And you. Very much. You are such great parents (even if you do forget to call your only daughter on her birthday...) 35 years ago today mum, you had a little girl placed in your arms. She wants you to know (and you too dad) that she loves you both. Talk to you tomorrow. I will call. :)
xx

That's my mum! Isn't she pretty!! xx

Kitchen Garden ... stage 1

I think I have mentioned that tomorrow is my birthday..(tee hee) - well for my birthday what I had asked for was a vege garden. But not just any vege garden. I want a kitchen garden complete with white picket fence,  roses growing up against the fence and some cottage flowers just for fun too! Don't get me wrong - it's not all about looks. Not all. But some. :)

Isn't that a beautiful photo. I saw this on the net (I am not sure where sorry!) but I love that look. It would be such a delight to pull weeds and harvest produce in that garden! This is what I am aiming for.... on a smaller scale. :)

Below is the first 'before' photo. This is a corner of our wee backyard. It won't be a big garden - but it will be my very own kitchen garden.

So.... today was stage one. Removal of very large pittesporum (sp?) and smaller one too, removal of compost bin, weed mat and some plants. Right now it is all looking horribly messy. Ugh. Come summer however, we will have beautiful fresh vege from the garden to the plate. Watch this space!

My Handsome Honey with his willing team of uh ... 'helpers'!

Stage one successfully completed. Well done team! Watch this space for stage two...... x

Destitute Gourmet

Tomorrow is my birthday.... so today my sweet and handsome honey told me about one of my gifts. 

*squeal*

3 of my lovelies and I are booked to attend an evening in September with Sophie Gray!! *another squeal*
When we lived in the UK I really wanted to attend one of those cool cookery class weekends. But they were about 500 pounds.... a little teensy weensy bit (BIG BIT) out of our budget! So I can't even begin to tell you how exciting this is for me. I love to cook. Love to serve my family.... and love to learn from others.
Thank you honey!!!! * kiss kiss *

Sophie is the author of a number of great cookbooks - which I use all the time. She is all about providing delicious meals for the family on a small budget. I love that!

Of course Sophie may well have heard of me now that I am a baker - I may even take a few of my fav recipes for her ;)  ..... (Sophie if you are reading this you know I am kidding right....)

If you don't have any of Sophie's books you are missing out! Get to the library today and grab one.

Just thinking

It's coming up five years since our sweet Lucy joined our family. Which also means that it's almost five years since my sweet brother Kylie passed away. 

I have hope.

When sorrow and pain

Cause tears and grief

When memories that smart

Dim the flame of life

Hold on, there is hope

When the darkness threatens 

To steal light and joy

When loneliness comes 

And brings with it silence

Hold on, there is peace

When the questions and doubts

Are painful and real

When the answers are missing

From the pages of life

Hold on, there is love

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast

It is not proud. It is not rude or self seeking. 

It is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.

Love is here. 

Hold on, love is here

x

Wardrobe Wednesday.

So I am joining in Wardrobe Wednesday. I am still not sure whether I really want to because I am no style queen... but I will. That's just how reckless I am ladies! In fact I am joining in twice. Why twice you might ask? Well.... today is an at home day. I am in my comfy jeans and a cotton on cardi. I have a friend who regularly tells me how shocking my comfy jeans are... but until I just saw the photo, I had NO IDEA how shocking they really are!! So I changed. And being an honest miss, I had to put a photo of the non shocking (or least shocking) jeans on. That's all. And yes, that is my laundry basket in my room. It's raining so in the basket it will stay! 

Another rainy old day

School is finished, the fire is toasty warm and we are in 'rainy day mode' - things will change shortly when Master J wakes and wants to play.... 

Making a card for Grandma

A quilt for neice-to-be Tinkerbell

                                                

Cosy on the couch with Hairy Maclary

Hairy Maclary himself....