Comic relief before Christmas

What's this? I'll just try it as a head piece.....

It has built in ear rings too.....

Oooooohh, what do you think? 

What?!? The ear rings are too big!!! 

Is this better? 

Aaaawww,  come on, don't you think this is a good look? 

Oh boy, I feel so silly...... 

I wonder if I could find another use for this bit of bling.....

My youngest son. 

He's a clown with a great sense of humour.

He keeps me on my toes (understatement).

He provides us with some hilarious moments.

Thanks son - I needed that.

Thank you also, to all of you that pop by my little part of the world - starting this blog has given me an outlet for my thoughts and my very unprofessional photography skills and it's been lovely to share.
I feel honoured that any one comes to visit here and I feel blessed when you leave your thoughts behind for me to read and reflect on.

I'll be away from this space for the next few days but I'll leave you all with my very best wishes for a Christmas filled with peace, joy and happiness.
Namaste. 

Christmas past....

Fabric embroidered stars and trees - 2008

Styrofoam beaded 'sputniks' - 2009

Cardboard stars - 2010

Felt angels - 2008

Felt bird - 2008, and floral styrofoam ball - 2011

 The kids were putting up the tree last Sunday and it got me thinking about the little handmade decorations we have made over the years. There has been a direct correlation between how busy/distracted/focused we I have been - some years we were quite prolific, although the amounts and variety seem to be less as the kids are getting older.  This year we haven't made any!! 

But we have two days to go and I am determined to get some new pretties on the tree.  So I'm off to round up the three youngest for a quick making session....... wish me luck!!!   

Marinating olives

More biscuits today. But I'm here to write about olives.
We love them and would eat loads if they were a bit cheaper, so when a friend showed me where I could purchase 1.7kg of plain Kalamata olives for quite a reasonable price, I was inspired to marinate my own for Christmas.

1.7kg unpitted Kalamata olives
 Fresh rosemary, sage, thyme and basil, finely chopped
1 tblspn mixed dried herbs
1tblspn fennel seeds
A few bay leaves
3 or 4 garlic cloves, finely sliced
Juice of one lemon
Enough olive oil to cover olives

Drain, rinse and dry the olives as best you can.
Combine herbs, garlic, lemon juice and 1 cup of olive oil in a bowl.
Layer olives and marinade in a suitable sized sterilised jar, adding extra olive oil to cover olives.
Seal and leave to marinate for at least a week before trying..... if you can wait that long!!

You could also use fresh oregano, marjoram and mint if you had some growing, which I didn't. I added extra garlic because we LOVE garlic. Next time I might try adding some chunks of lemon peel.

I made four of these large jars - two were a mix of kalamata and stuffed green olives - and I will give two of them as gifts. Of course, you could make several small jars instead of my one large one and add them to a small hamper of foody things or picnic goodies.

I'll have to tell the recipients that I was late with the making and they must wait for a few weeks before they eat their gift. Oh well, better luck next year!! 

Biscuit time

I spent all day in a biscuit factory. Hard at work. 

Well, it felt like it was a biscuit factory. 

Many years ago, with complete lack of foresight, I set my self one of those Impossible Tasks that we mama's sometimes make for ourselves. I can't think of any others right now - my brain is filled with butter, flour and egg measurements - but I know I've set myself a few I wish I hadn't. 

This particular Impossible Task? Make mountains and mountains of sweet, delectable biscuits, all in time for Christmas. Not just Anzacs or shortbread or anything so mundane...no, no, I chose to entice them with spicy Pfeffernuss and melt in the mouth Vanillakipferl and chocolate coated Lebkuchen Herze. All the more-ish Austrian biscuits I could think of, have been incorporated into my yearly repertoire. 

And now this whole family biscuit tradition has become a monster dough ball that's threatening to smother me in it's sticky path.    

I actually like making these biscuits but this year I've left it a bit late (I'm blaming it on our 5 week holiday) and therefore I feel a little overwhelmed. And then I kind of had a little moment (insert complete frustration) when I told them all that this was the last year of biscuits and they were having shop bought ones next year. The kids looked at me with disbelief on their faces and I know it isn't true - I'll make them again next year .....

...but I do need to get it all together a little earlier in Dec. 

Doing things so late means that some things just won't get done. Like more handmade gifts and cards for family and friends far away. I'd like to do both those things and I've been thinking a bit about Christmas in Australia.
I love reading the blogs of our lovely northern friends and it struck me the other day that we have it all wrong Down Under. Just when it's our busy time in the garden, when the weather warms up and we want to spend more of it outside, then we have to stop and 'create' for Christmas. Winter is the time for 'drawing in', hibernating and feasting while Summer is freedom and the great outdoors - who has time to spend making and decorating for a 'winter festival' in Summer?
I still manage it each year as I'm sure most do, but it just somehow seems all wrong trying to sew, craft and crochet when the weather is beckoning us outside and the sun doesn't set until nearly 10pm!!
  

I'd like to do more of my crafting in the Winter months and maybe have Christmas/Yule at Winter Solstice but I know it would seem a bit weird. And sadly, I do work better with a bit of pressure - at least, I'm more prolific when there is a purpose to creating something. Sewing near the fire on a windy Winter day is so much nicer than when you feel you should really go out to water the garden or the animals before they die in the heat!! 

So, I'm wondering if there is anyone else that feels like I do. Am I just worn out and tired and having a whinge? Or is my European background causing me to long for a cold Christmas?

Maybe we could start some sort of Southern Hemisphere 'blogger craft accountability group' next Autumn just to keep me accountable with my gift making for Christmas.  And maybe you too!!! 

Sorry, I've just realised that I'm rambling here.......sign of a tired mind!   

Happy Birthday to me!!

Really this post is just for the record. I'm not very photogenic and neither is the Best Man - truly, he's not really that chubby in the face! - but I did want to record the fun!! 

1. Family shot - three of mine and a ring-in

2. The boys hamming it up

3. Miss Elli and her darling daddy

4. Something yummy - Mozart Kugeln - an Austrian delight; and a carved wooden spoon made by my talented Elli. I'm honoured - I received her first finished spoon! 

And, uumm, I must confess...... except Fairy Girls top, all the purple clothes and scarves belong to me. Yeah yeah I know, thats an awful lot of one colour in the wardrobe but I've loved that colour in any shade for a very long time and I'm happy to share on my birthday!! 

So there you have it. Simple meal (Greek salad and pesto cheese bruschetta and a homemade pavlova for a cake/dessert), improvised clothing, some fun loving kids and the Best Man and you end up with one Happy Mama and a Good Time for all. 

 Yes, thank you, I had a lovely birthday!! 

Tiny crystal pouch tutorial

I have been doing a bit of crochet these last few days. Nothing big. In fact only small things. Small useful things like dishcloths. And as I was fiddling around with crochet hooks and cottons I came across a couple of these tiny crystal bags that I'd made earlier in the year. 

I thought it would be nice to do a quick tutorial in time for Christmas and today I managed to string 15 minutes together to finish another one and take a few pics! As usual with my tutes you will need to add any instructions that I miss. If you can crochet you'll have no trouble. Just remember that it's tiny!!  

I have used a fine crochet cotton - Perle 8 by DMC - and a 2.5mm hook. I rarely follow patterns and just use whatever hook looks like it might fit the yarn! Mostly I make do with op shop yarn but I did lash out and purchase some pretty colours for these little gifts. 

Make 5 chain and join in a ring with a slip stitch. 

1st round - 2 chain then 10 treble crochets in the ring. 

2nd round - 2 chain, then 17 trebles spaced evenly until the end. Join with a slip stitch through first 2 chains. 

3rd round - 2 chain, then 19 treble, finish as before

4th round - 2 chain, then 21 treble, finish as before

5th round - 2 chain, then 21 treble   "

6th round - 2 chain, then 21 treble   "

7th round - 2 chain, then 19 treble   "

8th round - 2 chain, then 19 treble   " 

9th round - 2 chain, then 19 double crochet and finish off. 

Now would be a good time to sew in the two loose ends ! 

I then crocheted about 120 chains using two strands of yarn so that it would be a bit thicker and not cut into delicate necks! Thread the chain through the top row of trebles, bringing both ends out at the same side of the bag and knot together at the ends. See? Easy peasy!!   

I'm not sure what terminology I'm using (US or UK) but I'm sure you can see from the closeup's what to do. And anyway, if you do them in another type of stitch, it will be all your invention!! 

We use ours to keep special crystals in but I'm sure there are many other tiny treats that could be stored and admired in these little pouches. 

Sorry, but I couldn't resist putting in all the photos of the Fairy Girl modelling my creations........ she's my baby and I do think she's rather cute all dressed up in purple! 

If you make any of these super fast fairy pretties, please leave a link so I can have a look at your creations too!!  

I'm also linking this to Creative Friday on Natural Suburbia - thanks Linda!! 

Busy times

Lately, I've been as busy as the bees that are foraging in my garden. The weeding, planting and watering seems to have overtaken my entire existence and I am just functioning enough by evening to make or supervise a meal and then fall into bed! 

No, thats not strictly true, although it feels like it. I do get the washing done, the cleaning done (sort of), and sometimes I even have an intelligent conversation with a family member but those personal sort of soul soothing activities just seem to slip from my grasp. 

I would love to be thinking about what dress ups I will wear to my birthday dinner on Saturday - it's a purple party because thats my favourite colour. 

I need to be thinking and making some secret people gifts for Christmas.

I really must start on the biscuit baking or else there will be mutiny in the ranks!

I really, really wanted to share a quick tutorial for a little crochet gift (that I haven't made yet)! 

But as Toad is so fond of saying, "I'll do it tomorrow......"

*Days with Frog and Toad by Arnold Lobel, one of my favourite children's books 

Cot-tage garden

The Best Man and I are old hands at repurposing. We are also old hands at hoarding. Any trip to our local tip often see's some useful items return home with us.  

And thats how we ended up with two old wooden cots. One with painted slats and the other with small round dowels for the sides. They just hung around here for a while being used for kids cubby's and make-believe animal pens. When I needed something to show me which potatoes were in which row in our new garden, I rummaged through our pile of "useful items" (a bit like the 'useful box' from Playschool only bigger!) and re-discovered them! 

Worked really well and I've since used them for other rows of veggies too. 

The cot with the dowels was deconstructed to give me some thin poles so I could fit the smaller size poly pipe onto it and cover our first crop of currants from the birds. There's also the beginning of another net tunnel over the strawberries - we ran out of poly pipe and I just can't bring myself to buy some more when I could just go to the tip and....!  

And then today as I was wondering what to grow the new cucumber plants over, I had the idea of using the leftover cot frame with some wire mesh over it. All in all I'm quite pleased with the results. 

I love re-using things in a creative way and always feel excited when I can come up with a new and funky idea for something that has served it's purpose in it's previous life but would now be considered useless. I'm sure there are a lot of folks out there that feel the same? 

Making movies

What is it with children and army anything? We don't watch any movies like that and we are a peace loving family and still they have a fascination with war and guns and stalking things. 

This weekend, our youngest two and two friends spent both days dressed in layers of army gear, toting an array of weapons and all the while filming their first blockbuster movie. Yeah, yeah, I know it will set them up for a life of crime with killer instincts ........ but then again it might also set them on a path of acting or directing or filming or........ 

I think the plot revolves around some thugs, a robbery and a feisty heroine but I'm not too sure - there's a lot of falling down, yelling and something happens in the underground bunker. Thats the large rabbit hole you see in the pic. 

Angelina J popped in a little later but was in a very surly mood and couldn't be coaxed into smiling for the camera no matter what we threatened her with!! She'd had it with all the takes and re-takes and made sure we all knew of her displeasure! 

The result is four very happy, tired, dirty children and one happy mama who spent all day in the garden. 

Hoping you all had a wonderful weekend too! 

All about being inspired (and a recipe)

Linda who's living the good life over at Greenhaven asked me here what I wrote on the little notes in the Advent bags that I whipped out of the box thoughtfully provided for the Season. She mentioned that I have 'such good ideas' and I had to laugh!! I have only four children left at home ranging in age from 9 to 16 - this year I also have very little spare time and energy to give to making all the special extras they have come to expect. So when I sat down, rather late at night, to add something useful to the solo lolly in the bag, my brain wasn't really functioning all that well. 

What to put in that all the children would like? And would it have any meaning for the older kids anyway? Or should I just cater for the youngest who would get most enjoyment from it all and let the older ones have a laugh? Well - I opted for the last one because that was about all the inspiration I had at that time of night....... so far we've had - 

Have a hot chocolate with mum (I thought that one was especially inspired) Fairy Girl got that one

Bake a batch of Christmas bikkies (another very useful, to me, 'treat') for Master 11  

Make dad a nice morning tea cuppa (see how inspired tricky I am?) Elli who is 14 did give me a funny look about that one 

And the most interesting one was picked by our Dreamer ...... Bake some jammy tarts.... now, he's sweet 16 and a family treasure, but he did mention that actually I owed him a batch of jammy tarts from last Christmas - which is true - and would I kindly make them soon?  

Yes, we have only had four because as I said the other day I was running late and Advent snuck up on me while I was enjoying a weekend with my Lover. I mean the Best Man.

So as you see, there's nothing very inspirational there although I'm getting a bit of a laugh at the expense of the children every day! What more could I ask? 

What I particularly wanted to tell you about was this easy kid friendly biscuit recipe that the Fairy Girl dreamed up a while ago. She made them today because the The Dj wasn't in the mood to make them on his designated day and she very kindly helped him out. Quite easy and she can make them herself although I do help with the melted ingredients. 

Oaty Fairy Biscuits

2 cups SR flour

1 cup desiccated coconut

1 cup rolled oats

1 tblspn powdered ginger

1/2 cup sugar or more if you like it sweet

125 gm butter

3/4 cup golden syrup

1/2 cup milk

Mix dry ingredients in large bowl.

Melt butter and golden syrup together. Pour into flour mixture and add milk (which is only added because the butter and GS didn't provide enough moisture). 

Stir until it looks mixed. 

Press spoonfuls onto greased tray and bake in medium oven till done. 15mins?? 

Remove onto wire racks to cool - if you can wait that long - and enjoy with a glass of fresh milk. 

Really they are nothing very flash but I love them because she gets to make them mostly all by herself, she feels kind of special because she made up the recipe and I get the bonus of a little something sweet to give the Best Man for morning tea - which I didn't have to bake myself. 

Definitely a win win for me!!