Baby has a name

My GKB was up and out of the house before I was out of bed today. I was wide awake at 5am and sound asleep when it was time to rise. He saw where the greengrocer had very cheap fruit today and didn't want to miss out, especially on the strawberries. It was all sitting on the bench when I went out for breakfast. I think we'll be enjoying strawberries and ice cream some time during the evening :)

It was a beautiful blue sky day last Saturday when five of us drove down to Gore for an Aglow leaders retreat. I'm no longer a leader but was invited to go, which was really nice. We had a lovely day enjoying each others company and eating lunch out on the deck. It was a bit breezy but warm and with a garden like this who cared? Not me:) During the course of the day I had some personal insights which were then affirmed on Tuesday evening by a lady who hadn't been there and knew nothing about me. Very encouraging.

This is a beautiful garden with several 'rooms', the one at the very end of the section with seats and a swing :) Good fellowship, good teaching and good food! What more could you ask for.

And as per the post title, baby has a name. 

Lucia (with a soft c) Carolitta. Very pretty I think.

This is Lucia after her first bath - which didn't happen until after the cord had fallen off! Things have certainly changed since I had my babies :)

It's been very warm and wet in the past week or so and so the growth around about has been lush. This is down the side of our driveway. The foxgloves are looking a bit shabby because of the wind, which hasn't really let up though it isn't so strong as it was. We're hoping eldest daughter's partner is going to come and cut bushes and hedges back before too long.

 I'm slowly getting what I call my garden into shape for the holidays. With the wind has come the pollen and I can only be out in it for about twenty minutes at a time then need to come in. Hayfever is a real bummer. I blame my lovely wee maternal grandmother :) she used to get it too and spent most of spring and summer indoors due to not having the access to antihistamines that we have today.

On the domestic front I have finally got cracking on my Christmas cakes. We bought the ingredients a few weeks ago but I've only just got started today. This is the GF one for Jacqui. I think I'll need to buy a new cake pan though as this is not quite as big as the normal cake so is not so deep. I think it would be a nicer cake if it was deeper.

And that is about it for now. 

Keep smiling until next time and enjoy this Advent season.

Diana

Christmas baking

 Christmas is coming and as I've been making mini Christmas cakes and will soon be starting on my own Christmas cake I thought I'd share the recipe I use.

Condensed Milk Christmas Cake

Boil together:

1 cup water

1 kilo (2lbs) mixed dried fruit

225gms (8ozs) butter

small tin pineapple ( I use crushed pineapple) 

1 Tblsp mixed spice

1 Tblsp vinegar

1 Tblsp marmalade.

Cool it. Once the mixture has cooled add 1 tsp baking soda and 1 tin of condensed milk. Mix well.

Add 2 large cups flour

1 tsp baking powder

1 Tblsp sherry.

Place in a 10 inch tin and bake at 120degs Celsius for 4 hours.

I turn the heat down once the fruit starts boiling and leave it just bubbling away for about 5 minutes. That way it doesn't get too dry and makes a nicer cake.

Take care and we'll all catch up later.

Diana

It's been busy

Just checking in so you know I'm still around. It's been a busy couple of weeks and when I look at my calendar leading up to Christmas I can get a bit overwhelmed. So I don't, I just look at what's happening tomorrow and leave it at that. 

It started a couple of  weeks ago when I volunteered to make mini Christmas cakes as gifts for people at a Christmas function. Usually I make a big cake and it's cut there and we partake with a cup of tea or coffee but someone thought it would be nice if we gave everyone a mini cake to take home. They're done and in airtight containers waiting to be packaged up. I don't mind really as I enjoy making Christmas cakes and usually make up to half a dozen each year for the family and ourselves. I'm just not sure when I'm going to get time to do the family ones. It'll have to be after the wedding in a couple of weeks.

We've been back down to the Owaka in the Catlins for a church service and it was nice to go in the morning on a lovely spring day. After another delicious lunch we went and had a look at the local museum - my friend's father was an archeologist and came from that area and there was a display  - photo's and some of his equipment along with a book that had just been released on his work. My friend's wedding dress was also on display and I should have taken a photo but didn't. :(

And we've been out to lunch with friends, some of whom were down from Auckland for a few days. I was pleased my GKB came as since he has started losing his hearing he hasn't wanted to go out so much and I think he's becoming a bit isolated. It was a nice enjoyable couple of hours.

In between times I've been tidying up the two spare bedrooms so my sister and my grandson have somewhere to sleep when they come to stay. Our middle granddaughter is getting married in a fortnight and they're arriving for that. Does anyone else tend to store things in the spare bedrooms? I had three or four bins that needed to be moved out, full of all sorts of stuff that you think you might need but have nowhere to put. I've had a good cleanout of books and they've gone to the book sale bin at the supermarket and our son took another bag that had been left here as well. They were supposed to go to the book sale too but didn't make it.

Granddaughter was told she needed a garter to wear on her wedding day and her mother and aunty thought it would be nice if she could wear mine as some of the other brides in the family had also worn it. But do you think we can find it. I thought it would be with my wedding dress but no! So I'm assuming it's with the lucky horseshoes and slippers I was given at our wedding but I can't find them either. And none of the other brides has it. A mystery. Oh well, still one or two places to look.

And that's it from me for now. 

Take it easy over the next few weeks and enjoy the season.

Diana

 

A funny sort of week & an apology

It's been a funny sort of a week in more ways than one,

but it is over so we can now get on with Christmas 'stuff'.

Some days it's been bucketing down like this...

and on those days I did stuff like this on the computer...

And then I would think that really I should have gone and dusted the bedroom, or wherever, but it was too late :) Dusting is my second most hated household chore.

Grand daughter came and decorated the tree last weekend and I showed you a picture of the work in progress - here is the finished tree. "You need more tinsel, Granma" she said, and I do so will probably get some at the post Christmas sales.

I don't know about you but I love getting Christmas cards

and I am a bit disappointed that people don't send them

any more. It's not quite the same receiving an electronic

 one - you can't prop it on your mantelpiece and enjoy

 it quite the same. Above is a picture of this years cards.

I managed to bake another cake that turned out pretty good,

even if I do say so myself. It is gluten free as my daughter has become gluten intolerant at the ripe old age of 50!

I'm hoping it will taste okay.

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An apology

I've been having trouble with putting comments on posts

so my apologies if I have made multiple comments :( 

 I think I have the problem sorted now, I hope so.

joining Deb and friends today for

Friday foto friends

Stained glass cake

or as it is also known...
Cathedral Cake

I found this recipe while looking for my Christmas cake recipe so I decided to try it. It is delicious and was a hit with everyone who tried it. It's also a great alternative to the traditional Christmas cake and a lot easier to make :) 

I hope you try it and enjoy it as much as we do.

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 Cathedral Cake

200 grams dates    

150 grams mixed peel

100 grams green cherries

100 grams raisins

200 grams walnut halves

250 grams brazil nuts

100 grams flour

1/2  teaspoon baking powder

170 grams sugar

3 eggs

Line a 6 cup loaf tin with 3 layers of paper 5cm higher than the tin.

Combine fruit and nuts in a a large bowl. 

Sift flour and baking powder and add sugar - mix with fruit.

Beat eggs until thick and creamy and pour onto fruit etc - combine thoroughly.

Spoon into tin and spread evenly. 

Bake at 150 degs C for about 2 hours.

Leave to stand for 10 minutes then turn onto cake rack.

Wrap in foil when cold and store in refrigerator. 

Cut into fingers or thin slices to serve.

Happy Christmassing

Diana

Odds and sods

Things have changed a little bit in our household over the past week.My little mother has moved in with us while she waits 

to go into hospital for heart surgery. Last week we twice ended up in ED in the middle of the night and on the second occasion she was admitted for several days. We all feel much better now she is home with us and we can keep an eye on her. Hopefully the surgery will take place before the end of the month.

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Anyway I haven't done a lot lately but here are some assorted photo's from the last week or so. 

Some of the flowers Mum has received from family in Australia.

Little mother organising her Christmas

 presents for her little great grandchildren.

Brown trout caught by my GKB, none of which

 won the competition he was taking part in.

Christmas cake ingredients and below finished product. I have a Christmas function I am supposed to be helping with so said I'd make the Christmas cake and then if anything happens with little mother I feel as if I have upheld my obligations.

A very enjoyable night out at a makeup evening with my girls, two grand daughters in front, two daughters and then me. And I was fortunate enough to win the door prize :) 

Diana