Friday, December 30, 2011

Nearly back to normal...

The older I get the longer it takes to clear up after Boxing Day-usually-but this year we seem to have been much quicker than last year for instance. And i will make that pate again-it was yummo. Only next time I will only use 500gms chicken livers-a kilo was just too much. I will have to throw some away-such a shame . I wish the kids had taken some with them-along with some cheesecake and black forest cake and a whole load of things that we could never have finished eating. It was a very enjoyable day even though some of the grandchildren were missing-now that they are grown up they have to work on Boxing Day. Be mad if they didn't as the pay is always good on Boxing Day.










A selection of photos from the day. Note my jazzy shoes-I just love them. Missing on the day were-Rachel, Kate, Ben, Georgia, Daniel, Jaye, Brad, Tyler, Riley, Koby and Emma. So you can see we were quite a small group this year. And of course Bob and Elaine were absent too.

Sunday, December 25, 2011

Happy Christmas to Everyone:)

Well I think we are ready now. Went to see Elaine and Bob yesterday and Bob was awake and we had a talk although I am still not sure he knows me. But at least he spoke to me. Elaine also looked a little more at ease. I couldn't stay long because I had a shopping list the length of my arm and parking was hard to find.
But the stroll to the shops would do me good.
The Gazebo is up and the backyard all ready for tomorrow so I will post a few photos of our readiness..



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We don't have a large tree these days just a baby one.

Friday, December 23, 2011

Maggie's pastry

Thank you Nancy http://www.blogger.com/profile/12867768046703596688 for the comments
Maggie Beer is just the best cook here in Australia and her recipe for pastry is outstanding.
Ingredients: 250gms plain flour
                  200 gms butter
                  120 ml sour cream.
Blitz butter and flour to breadcrumb stage and then add the sour cream to make a soft dough refrigerate for a little while then use in the old fashioned way. Left overs can be frozen and ready for next time. It really is the simplest pastry.
Have to make the shortbread now-being a Scot I cannae do without it!
And I will never make chicken pate ever again... I even put some on the ceiling!!!LOL

Thursday, December 22, 2011

December 22nd 2011

Hurtling along! I have made the pastry for my mince pies - it is resting at present. I am using Maggie Beer's recipe this year it is by far the best pastry ever.
I will attempt the chicken pate later in the day then tomorrow it is the shortbread. Then one last shop and I am done. Can you believe it?
Last night we forgot to put the bins out. The timing could not be worse.
At least we remembered in time to get the re-cyclables bin emptied so there will be room for all that waste paper and bottles.
I bought a $5.00 bunch of lilies on Monday have a look at how beautiful they turned out to be. Real Christmas colour!

Does one's heart the world of good.

Monday, December 19, 2011

Not long now:):):)

Christmas is coming with a ruddy blush methinks. Love your latest Angelahttp://www.angelasargeant.com/blog/?p=2345 and you do become more observant as you get into that right brain don't you. I will upload a couple of things I have been doing. I haven't been doing much as my sister in law is in a nursing home as is her husband and I have been trying to visit as often as possible. My brother doesn't recognise me anymore and that is so sad'cause he was the best brother a girl could have had. Anyway I have to make some rum balls and shortbread and some mince tarts and I am going to have a go at making Jamie Oliver's chicken liver pate- Wish me luck:) Now for some photos:-





The dictionary was my husband's handy work not mine. Isn't it great? He does crosswords and the poor dictionary suffered from all that thumbing through it got... I am not sure if I have uploaded some of these snaps     already but allow me some leeway as I really have been busy:)

Friday, December 2, 2011

Santas complete!

Well I have managed to complete the two santas but I did over-fire them so not so happy but they look OK.

Cute eh? Happy that I have been able to add a little colour to my blog but that is going to have to do for the present. I am off to check out Angela's December bargains.

Thursday, December 1, 2011

24 Days to Christmas!!!

Help! I feel like I am in a revolving door... Anyone else feel like this? Painting Santas and making cards, housework, hospital visits, shopping-I am quite exhausted. I keep looking at all the books I have to read but so far have been unable to pick one up. And Good Reads keeps telling me 'it is 68 days since you started reading...' GRRRRRR. Now that I have all that off my chest-I wish I had left my blog alone. I need to sit and work out what to do about it but-guess what-I don't have the time. I am going to upload some cards as I intend-get that-intend, to join Oh My Crafts blog ohmycrafts.blogspot.com/ on Wednesday. So wish me luck with that.
ohmycrafts.blogspot.com/





the true cost of handmade | somer sherwood

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