A FEW SPARE MINUTES

Yes, I know I said there wasn't going to be much blogging for the next couple of weeks. But now that my mum is here I have more time for such creativeness than I seemed to when she wasn't. That is probably becuase she is helps out so much around the house. I haven't done a scrap of washing since she arrived. She cooks, vacuums, baths the kids etc. Yes, she is the best mother in the world and no, you can't have her.

So, with a totally organised and clean house and mum off visiting some of her friends and my siblings (I have had to share her around) I find myself with a moment or two to blog.

I thought I would share some of the fabrics I have bought for the kinder quilts. The kids have done their artwork. Now for the fun part of putting it all together. No, actually buying the fabric is the really fun part.





Have a good weekend all!

MY BABY IS WALKING

Yep, my very last baby is up on his feet, sniff sniff. I've always thought once a baby starts walking they aren't a baby anymore. Well I am not ready. I still want a baby. I have so enjoyed this gorgeous boy. My husband tells me I am just besotted. And I am. It is a feeling other girlfriends share when they have their final third or forth child. That last child fills a special place in your heart. Don't think I don't adore my girls also. I love sharing their lives as they grow up. I love to watch them contributing to conversations, having their own opinions and developing their own thoughts. I am grateful to them for what they have taught me as a mother and I think Edward will benefit from that experience. I know now that it won't be too long before he is their age also. But just for now, I want to be able to wrap him in my arms and sing him our favourite lullaby. Not too much to ask is it? You know by the third you have to cherish every moment.

Speaking of cherishing moments. My mum is out from England for the next couple of weeks. My Granma is staying with us too and we are having a wonderful time. Consequently, there wont be too much blogging going on, but I will leave you with a snap of the goodies my mum brought over with her;
mags from the U.K. and U.S., gorgeous co-ordinated wrappings, a very old and very beautiful Wedgwood plate (I can never have too much blue and white china) and a new glue gun. Yes, my mum knows what makes me tick.

Oh, and thanks for the lovely comments about my wall and I hope everyone enjoys that slice as much as I do.

A WORLD WITHOUT UFOs

Just imagine our world without UFOs, or USOs (Un-Started Objects) for that matter. Imagine, girls, the amount of headspace we would free up. There are people out there you know, who don't have UFOs or USOs. That is because they don't make. For a minute I think their world is a more peaceful one, without all those creative thoughts running through their heads, then I think that it would also be a little too empty for me.

Yesterday I finished a few USOs that I had. I had bought the paint in November and the fabric a long time before that.



This wall is the first thing you see when you step in our front door. Behind it is the mayhem of our life; the family room, kitchen and playroom, sometimes tidy, sometimes not. I change this wall whenever I feel the need to redecorate. This time I repainted it in a lovely smokey brown. The runner I made in the Amy Butler's gorgeous Sunbloom . It picks up all the colours of our home; blue, green, taupe and now brown. And it is all a perfect backdrop for my new orchid.

What a pleasing site to open the door to!

V.S.L.S

Jo came for morning tea this week. I had promised her my Very Special Lemon Slice.

When I first saw the title of this slice, I wondered why this lemon slice was called Very Special Lemon Slice? As I made it, it all became clear. Read on.

Very Special Lemon Slice
250g unsalted butter, softened
85g icing sugar
2 1/2 c plain flour, sifted
4 lemons
4 eggs
400g caster sugar
1 tsp baking powder

Grease and line base of a 4cm deep 30cm x 20cm slice pan. Heat oven to 170'C
Place butter and icing sugar in a food processor and process until combined.
Add 2 cups of the flour and process until the mix comes together in a ball.
Press into the base of the pan. Bake 15 mins and then cool.
Finely grate rind from 2 of the lemons, juice all 4 (90ml)
Whisk together eggs and caster sugar in a large bowl until well combined. Add remaining flour and the baking powder, rind and juice. Whisk gently to combine. Pour mix over cooled base and return to the oven for 30 mins or until top is set and golden. Cool in pan and cut into slices. Dust with extra icing sugar to serve.


As Jo said, anything with that quantity of butter, sugar and eggs has to be special. You have no idea how good this tastes. It draws a full attendance at my sewing circle if I annouce it's intended presence. Next time your hips are looking a little too lean, this is a sure cure. Enjoy!

MOTHER'S DAY

Well I have been spoilt, very spoilt by love this weekend. Mother's Day often becomes Mother's weekend in this house so I have had dinner cooked, cups of tea, child-free sewing time and lots of kisses and cuddles. We had a beautiful breakfast this morning at my favourite cafe with smoked salmon, rocket and poached eggs served with hollandaise on sourdough and the most delicious bircher muesli with berry compote. Oh the food there, it is so so good.
We have had great plays in the park and to top it all off, hubby is cooking his great risotto for his mother and us tonight.

Just to brag, I must share some of my presents:
I got six cards (pretty good considering I only have three children) one with this special poem.

M y mama is the best
O ld
T he best mama is my mama
H appy Mothers Day
E lla
R eally good
(I do love the old bit,just as well I can laugh)

Three pieces of pottery, including this special one from Kate.


This beautiful orchid


A rain check on a thread spool organiser, the wooden kind, and lots of other goodies from the mother's day stall at school and such.

This is my first Mother's Day since my mum moved overseas, which would be very sad, if she weren't visiting us in two weeks. We can't wait to have her here. We love you and miss you mum. You are the most wonderful role model I could have ever asked for.

I feel very loved and I hope you all had as beautiful day as we did.

Tag-a-rama

My first tag is here? Thanks to the lovely marianne over at applehead. The rules:
• Start with 7 random facts/habits about yourself
• People who are tagged have to write their 7 things on their blog
• Then choose another 7 people to get tagged and list their names

Now, bear in mind that becuase they are random facts/habits about moi they may be a little boring. But here they are...
1.I have a very strong sense of smell and taste. If you name a flavour I can tell you where on your tongue you can taste it.
2. This same smelling sense becomes even more heightened during pregnancy and I can't stand the smell of my husband! Poor man. I change his deodorant for a different brand every week and if he has had any beer, wine or garlic, it's more than I can bear. I feel so horrible about it. As soon as that baby is out, it all goes away and he smell delicious again
3. I have very curly hair except for after I have my babies. Whilst I am feeding them it goes straight.
4. I love my garden. I love flowers. My favourite flower is a peony rose, followed by gorgeous Grape Hyacinths. Followed by many others.
5. I love any dessert or pastry with apple in it; apple pie, apple slice, apple cake, all of them.
6. Hmm, this is getting hard. Bored yet? I pick things up off the floor with my toes. Yes, like an ape.
7. My husband and I have green eyes but Ella and Kate have blue eyes and Edward has brown eyes. We promise they are all ours.

So, now I tag Ingrid, Megan, Toni, Eva, Jo and Jo and Jane.

And just to include some photosin this post. Here are some of my girlfriend's house that myself and my neighbour got ready for sale.

FIVE THINGS I LOVE ABOUT MY TEAPOT.

Last week I saw a post by Megan from the scent of water about how much she loves a cup oftea. This got me thinking, I really should introduce you to a very important item in my life...my teapot.

My teapot is almost a member of our family, it comes everywhere with me. It has been to hospital when I have had my children, it comes on weekends away, it has even flown to Queensland ever year for our holidays there. I have decided though, that when our family travels overseas later this year, I might just have to leave it at home...how will I cope.

Why do I love this teapot?
1. It is the perfect size for just one but can also brew enough for a couple of friends.
2. It has a built in strainer that you place your tea into and, it has never made a bad cup of tea yet
3. It has such a beautiful round shape
4. It has made about 4000 cups of tea
5. Because I love tea

So, here 'tis. With my favourite cup and saucer (nice and big but lovely fine china in my favourite colour, of course) and some homebaked apple and cinnamon muffins, fresh this morning.

And I am sitting down to read my bloglines. Hope you have been posting.