The Vegie Patch

I am very excited as some of our crop is close to picking. We are talking of soon making the second - twice the size vegie patch at the front so we can have it ready to put organic seeds in for spring/summer crops. I think I should challenge the boys to make a scare crow. I am hoping this time round we can grow from organic seeds. I have all the seedling pots/ warm house stuff to do so. We have been purchasing food from The Organic Shop for a while now and I am hoping we can substitute our own organic vegetables to help the dollar go further and we can start buying organic/free range meat.

Wonder if I can talk Hubby into making a mini glass/plastic house to sit over part of the patch so I can try to grow the warmer crops like egg plant and capsicum which don't like the cooler Tasmanian weather. This will mean I will want to build a bigger patch! Wonder where we can fit these in our very small land. We live in a suburb very close to the city. We made this choice so we all live a more active lifestyle (we can walk to school and shops from here) but also Michael is in the middle of the 'spiderweb' for work.

You may be wondering why milk cartons are in the patch. Well they are 'housing' celery. They encourage celery to grow up right so you get long stalks and a cluster rather than spread out little celery bits. We all enjoy crunching on fresh celery (with humous yum yum). Hope the crop spreads it growing time so we don't go anti celery! In this patch is silverbeet (soon to start picking), celery, leeks (SLOW growing), beetroot, carrots, cauliflower (no babies yet), broccoli (soon to start picking) and Brussels sprouts (no babies showing - these are yummy young and fresh). Wonder what seeds will be at the shop to grow this summer.

Bag tease 3

I have finished my bag! REALLY pleased with it. I am going to miss her when she is gone.

I have been busy making something for someone. Once it is finished I will blog it. We are having COLD days here. Snow really low - apparently down to 100 m during the week. Lots of water for the garden.

5 Minute Chocolate Mud Cake

I received this email from my cousins wife. My son and I had a go yesterday morning before breakfast (like you do!)

You will need...

4 Tablespoons Cake Flour
4 Tablespoons Sugar
2 Tablespoons Cocoa
1 Egg
3 Tablespoons of Milk
3 Tablespoons of Oil
3 Tablespoons of Chocolate Drops (if you want)
1 Mug

Here is what you do...

Add dry ingredients to the mug and mix well.

Crack an egg and add to your mug (I pre beated it with a fork). Be sure to mix it well to avoid pockets of flour.

Pour in milk and oil then mix well.



Add chocolate drops if you desire and a splash of vanilla essence.

Pop your mug into a microwave and zap for 3 minutes on high (1000 Watt). Wait patiently.



Wait until the cake stops rising (ours did not rise) and the cake sets in the mug.



Run a knife around the mug, tip the warm cake out and sprinkle icing sugar on the top then eat eat and eat!

Variegated thread

Is this yummy or what? I just had to do something with it. I pulled out my punch needle and began another project for another swap. (Hint: when you have not done something for a while and it does not work - read the instructions before you get grumpy)

Bag Swap tease 2

(Evil Grin)

Oh I am having so much fun doing this bag!

Retreat Layouts part 2

The last and final layout from the retreat - hope to scrap a bit more often at home. This was when we went to Melbourne for a weekend. I really did not want to be doing a layout of each little event. This way I can have all the memories scrapped with out the extra work. There is journaling around the sides...

(Blushing here)

I have been awarded two blog awards - I am so new to blogging and feel humble. I knew bogging would be so good but it has been even better than I thought. BUT where do all these lovely bloggers have the time to look at so many amazing blogs! Seriously blogging has to a craft of its own LOL.

Maree from On My Verandah has nominated me for Glenice Weblog Award. Thank you Maree : )



Now I have to nominate seven blogs I enjoy reading - this was hard - I read a lot of blogs! (NOT in any order!).

1. Jo in Tas - Jo got me started in blogging
2. Hop Skip Jump - a good read when she gets time to blog!
3. Maria at Sew love to sew - a new blog friend
4. The Stitching Room - a lot of fun
5. All Stitched Up - swaps and swaps and more swaps
6. Aunties Quaint Quilts - Tassie blogger - woo hoo
7. Helena at Syverkstan - another new blogging friend


Helen from Hugs n Kisses nominated me for



Now I have to nominate seven blogs for this!!!! Again in no order : )

1. Smitten Kitchen - recepies to die for!
2. L'Atelier Perdu de Nataliejo - her work is AMAZING
3. Lynette Anderson - Just delicious work
4. Leannes House - love her style
5. Moonstitches - something different
6. A Spoonful of Sugar - yummy blog
7. Loobylu - a good read and lots of fun

Oh yes and Farmyard Crafts is having a give away if anyone wants to have a go!

Retreat Layouts Part 1

As promised I am sharing the layouts I did at Kylies Scrapgirls Retreat...

We were given a challenge. I LIKE challenges : ). We were given 45 minutes to complete a layout from start to finish. I had NO idea how long I actually spend on a layout. They would call out 30 minutes, 20, 15, 10. When they said 15 I was like OH MY GOSH. It took me by surprise. I had actually scraped a solid 45 minutes on this layout and under pressure. I don't IRL have time to spend 45 minutes doing a layout! They were judged and the winner received a $25 gift voucher from the shop. I WON!!!! I bought myself x2 clear stamp sets and an embellishment.



This one took me a LONG time to put together - I had been putting this in the to hard basket for months. I was so proud when I did finish because
1. I used what I had and did not buy anything
2. I completed it!!!!





We were also given a challenge pack of papers etc. The colour suited the colour in Oliver's hair so I gave it a go. I also submitted it into the challenge layout competition. There were only two of us using this kit and I lost (lol). BUT I felt like I had won - I used what I had and I had completed it.

What made me smile ... day seven

Ahhh the last 'What makes me smile' post.

I have no photo - I know shame!

After mumbling and moaning about walking the dogs - I did. It was early am. The sun was rising, the birds were chirping and boys riding their bikes. The scenery was beautiful. No one NO CAMERA but the dogs and us.

I hope you all found something that made you smile and thank you for reading ; )

What made me smile ... day six

I am involved in a choir for disadvantaged people. I don't sing, instead I help in the catering and social side. It is the thing I do to give back to the community. Tonight we had a social night for them all and it had an African theme. This gorgeous man came and gave us a WOW of a show with his traditional drum. You could see the delight in his face when he got really loud (lol). His muscles rippled with the energy and demand of the drum (hope my hubby does not read this!). A group of us could not help ourselves and danced to the rhythm. Good for the soul stuff.

What makes me smile.... day five

This made me giggle for a few hours. The girls (including Jo) and I went to see Mamma Mia at the Cinemas. Not any Cinemas - we went to GOLD Class Cinemas - very plush chairs (which lift your feet and go way back) and people serving you goodies any time of the movie, blankets, pillows etc etc. This is a sneak peak... I was so close to dancing in the aisle - Melo said I was not allowed to sing aloud unless I knew the song lyrics so I behaved (grin).