Pool

Last week it was raining, but the sun was shining on the pool. It was only finished in March, so we didnt get much time to enjoy it. Roll on Spring!

The girl

My daughter, she's 14. She's great.

Purple Haze

We have an abundance of Lavender at the moment, I trimmed it back today and wondered what to do with it all. Decided to cut it up and dry it out. It smells wonderful.

He's 1!

My little nephew turned 1 on the 13th July, this week he took his first steps. I got to see him walking around today and VERY pleased with himself he was!

More plates

some more Op Shop loveliness.

Blue plate from the Op Shop

Pretty yes?

From messy to tidy

I posted this in Facebook a while back and had a great reaction. To tidy up all my cheapie necklaces, bangles, etc I moved them from a plate on the bedroom mantle piece to this birdcage purchsed from China town. I copied the idea from a segment on "Better Homes and Gardens. It's working well.

But is it good enough?

My workplace is putting on a training course which also includes a meal. They were calling for volunteer cooks. I think they had enough people sign up, but I offered to do a dessert if required. I decided to do a test run of my baking and bring in the results for my workmates to sample first. Above is what my dessert turned out like. Baked apple shortcake from the "central cookery book" used by all Tasmanian schools for the last 80 years. The verdict - they loved it! Now all I have to do is wait until they work out if it is required, if so, I have to cook it for, wait for it, 40 people!

Sienna

Sienna is a little friend of mine. She came to play today while her Mum packed up their flat ready for a move to Qld. I shall miss her very much when they move, but look forward to visiting when we head up for a family holiday in September.

Daffy

Well I dont remember planting any bulbs this year, and this morning was the coldest morning for 2 years, but seeing this just-popped daff put a smile on my face!

Tablecloth

Years ago I made this tablecloth. It was a kit with the crosses marked on it and you cross stitch over the top of them. I think it took me a couple of years to finish and I only get it out for special afternoon teas lest someone spills tea on it. It's also a bit Chrismissy dont you think?

Mainly Music

On Monday mornings during term time, I volunteer at a kids music program called mainly music. There is an hour of singing and dancing, then half an hour of morning tea and playing. It's a low cost alternative to lots of other kids activities on the market. My role is manning the welcome desk, typing name tags, taking money, baking, serving, bring fruit and washing up. I love every minute of it!

Puzzle

I love it that this puzzle I purchased from Kindelan Op Shop in Mont Albert said 'complete' $3.00 and it WAS complete. Sometimes they are not! Bet and I enjoyed working on it together and it didnt take too long at all.

some sentences and a photo

Today I ventured into the City, I had read in the Sunday Age there was an exhibition of photos taken around Melbourne in the 1960's on display at the State Library. It was titled 'As modern as tomorrow", it was quite good, fairly small and probably left me wanting more. I love the State Library building any way and I managed to take this photo of the Reading Room.

My Gym

Daggy old runners, second hand iPod and a step in the hall way, (but $500 orthotics - worth every cent!). I step up and down whilst I listen to good music. Today it was Little Red, Kings of Leon and The Temper trap.

Op Shopping

Well the Vanilla cookies turned out lovely and didnt last long. Photo above on an Op shopped plate. Next I made lemon shortbread bikkies and they went quickly too.

I have a brand new hobby - Op Shopping for old china and books. Every Thursday on my day off I head out on a search and most days I come home with an old little plate, and old dinner plate or if Im lucky an old cereal sized bowl. Sometimes I find a book Ive been searching for and sometimes some wool to knit. Im starting to get to know what is a good price and what is a rip off. My sister is now living in Croydon and there are 2 shops near her that are quite good, 1 Vinnies and 1 Salvos. I tried quite a few in Ashburton recently when I was at the Doctors over there, but no luck at all. Near me I have a Vinnies, a Salvo's and a couple of independents. I love the trill of the chase. Here is 1 recent purchase. More to photos to come.

Saturday

Today I went to one of my favourite places in Melbourne, the Abbotsford Convent. Every 4th Saturday they have a 'slow food' market, where vendors bring their home cooked jams, relishes, home grown vegies and even farm raised beef and other meats. Today their were lots of orange based products as it's peak season. I didnt have the camera with me, but I bought 1 piece of yummy shortbread and some Dutch carrots and David bought some dips and ate a Lebanese pizza as we walked around. I love it there. Now the sun is out and my time on the computer is up as housework awaits. This pic is taken at another market the Convent has once a month on a Sunday arvo called the Makers Market. I'm very lucky to live so close.

Biscuits

My Nan, Monica, had a good friend called Ruby. I used to like to go visit Ruby. Unfortunately they have both passed on now, but on the last time I saw Ruby at her own place before she went into a home, she gave me this cook book as she knew I loved to cook. I thought I would bake my way through it a la "Julia and Julia' style, unless there was a recipe with something that I really didnt like in it!
Today it's Vanilla cookies. Next post, Ill let you know how they went and what the family thought of them.