Garden Party

It seemed a wonderful idea, when it germenated, and, like all nurtured stuff, the "Let's thow Louise a surprise garden party for her 30th birthday" grew and grew bigger. Complete with making napkins and scrounging for baskets, to 'trialing' cupcakes and scones, for no particular reason...



The day arrived, quite a lovely day really, for a picnic. Colour scheme, wonderful. 'Handmade with love' presents, finished. Now it was a-waiting on the birthday girl time.










Now, when it's all over, and the work is done, the party partied and Louise sufficiently surprised, it was a success. Yeah!

Oh, and this happened to my sage last night...


Hopefully it will continue to live, it's lived through a lot this sage. Thirst, extreme neglect, dust city-style.

Saved lots of energy!

Compared to last years electricity bill for June/July/August, it's been halfed! Yeah! Guess not using the dryer tooo much and turning of lights and powerpoint when not needed is really helping.



Made this bag for Sarah, and it looks pretty damn good, I think. Felted it in the new front loader washing machine, which did a fantastic job! Next project which I am working on now, is little sheep for a mobile for Baby Girl Asta. I'm going to add a shepherd as well. So far, the sheep are oblong bundles of white, when I get more white, I'll add legs, a head and ears. Also wet felted some little balls which may turn into a planet/solar system mobile.

I made a little trip to Daisy Designs yesterday and got some black roving for the slippers that I'm going to attempt.




Made this tiramasu for Dad for Father's Day. Was/is yummy. Sarah even liked it, and she doesn't like coffee! Sarah likes it a lot I think, she keeps snacking on it, which is probably not so good...
Am going to institute a healthy regime for 14/4-6 Sperry St this week. Exercise, good healthy food and ridding the apartment of too much junk food. Summer is coming!

Fluffy gooey meringue

Last Saturday was a wonderfully warm WINTER day. Makes me wonder, I would love to live somewhere it was like this throughout winter, instead of freak occurances...
Anyway.
Went for a stroll into town, then down to the harbour and South Beach. Water was freezing! Won't be swimming for a while, at least, it would have to be a lovely warm day like last Saturday.



Getting very good at meringues. Love the little tart cases, a good idea for next morning tea. Lovly puffs & swirls courtesy of Meryl.

What I'd like to happen this weekend

I want to wear these a bit

Then go here,



Get a bit of tree climbing in


Lounge here


And one of these would be splendid


I would also love some chocolate right now.

Brushing Up My Shakespeare, forsooth

Saw Macbeth last night. Now I have Shakespeare on the brain. I'm starting on converting all the Shakespeare videos in the library to DVD, so I can take them all home and watch (all the ones taped off the TV, otherwise it doesn't fufill copyright...).

First is Henry V (Kennth Branagh's version, with a very young Christian Bale as Falstaff's boy - he only gets about 2 lines, but the rest of the cast is stellar!)

Lovely day today. I'm sitting here, with the windows open, letting in the lovely springy air. Can't wait for the warmer weather. I'm really hoping it doesn't get as cold as it's supposed to on the weekend...

Mmeringue

Making lemon meringue pie is now so in-grained into my cooking memory, I don't even need the recipie, maybe, I'm sure I'd forget something...

Going to move on, a soon as all those lemons cluttering up my tiered cake stand are goneski. Might try making some lemon butter as well as more pie... love that pie. Might try making the crust this time, I usually cheat and buy the ready made flan shell from Woolies. Only trouble is, my pie tin is quite big. I'll have to make double quantaties...

My car is tough

Well, road trips are not all that hot in winter. But, this winter had been incredibly wet, so rain and clouds are preferable to the sun being in your face.
Took two days to get to Millicent, S.A. Stopped over night in Melton, a little place about 40kms out of Melbourne. The 'innkeeper' at Melton Motor Inn thought we were dodgy, but seemed to thaw a little when I pulled out my credit card. Kept asking if it was just for two, like we were going to sneak in boys or something.

Got to Millicent around 3.30. Stuart bounded out to greet us, and took us in to meet Noah & the many visitors that seemed to be in their house.

Noah is a beautiful little boy. He's got lovely olive skin and brown eyes and a good shaped head. He's smiling, but is very confused by cameras and goes serious as soon as one is pointed into his face.

Oh, and why my car is tough? Stuart thought it would be a 'good idea' to drain my car battery and recharge it. Consequence, well, the right blinker is a bit psycho and sometimes the car won't start if it's cold. But little Alx is tough and keeps trundling on. Hopefully it will go in a minute when we go to get some dinner. Thanks Stu.