Hello Monday

It's mid way through October and I am putting my head up to say I'm still alive. I know that I say this every year but how does the time go past so quickly? Seriously, when I was a kid Christmas seemed to take f-o-r-e-v-e-r, but not now, no sooner am I just about recovered from the past years festivities and it's here again. One would be mistaken if you thought that after 49 and a bit times I would be getting better at the whole planning and organising of stuff. Nup! Therefore I am trying to learn to ease up on myself and accept that things will not be change. However I can see that as we-the bloke and I age it will be our kids who will take over the running of the festivities  We can just help and roll along to the events. 
This December we will be lucky enough to celebrate with another gorgeous baby. Our eldest daughter is adding to her family and her little cherub is due early December. Number one son will have a sibling and we are all very excited. Being a grandparent is one of life's rewards. I love babies and hope for plenty more. Not for myself but grand babies.
Another great thing happening this year is that all our family will be here in one spot. This will be great. 

In August we celebrated Jacob's first birthday. He had a great little party with some of his friends. His clever mama made him a big teddy cake, which tasted yummy. 

In other news, a few weeks back the bloke came in from the garden to tell me that a funny white flower had popped its head out down the back. I can't walk that far so he took some pics for me to see it. I was happy to see it because it was a peace lily. After mum died in August 2010 we got some of her bulbs and the bloke had just bought them home, chucked them in the ground and forgotten about them. In her birth and death month three years later they emerged where they had been gathering strength to go on again. Life delivers beautiful messages like that.

Love and miss you mum

Monday Musings

Hello 

It's 8.14 am on a Monday morning and I am undecided how I will play this day. I have had one lovely coffee, via the local coffee shop as our coffee machine has thrown a wobbly and will not produce its nectar. Sigh...I really don't want to buy a new one but if things can not be resolved I will have too. It costs at the very least $5.50 for a small coffee at my preferred coffee place. Sometimes I need two a day but at that price I limit myself to one.
 I can not drink instant coffee. 
A good coffee is one of my vices that I will not give up.
I was very pleased to wake up this morning at see that it was 6 am. For quite a while now I have been waking at 2 am or 3 am and getting out of bed and sitting up until I drift off on my lounge chair. I will go back into bed but then the pain and major effort of getting up starts all over and so I avoid it if possible. 

In eighteen days three of our daughters will depart for a two month European holiday. They are very excited and months and months of planning have gone into this trip. Everything is booked and paid for and all they need to do is get on the right planes and enjoy. I have mixed emotions. On one hand I envy them for being so carefree and going to places I have dreamed about. I also worry as they will be so far from home should anything go wrong. I am also happy that they get to do follow their dreams. The house will be very quiet without them and the bloke and I will be on our own-the first time in over twenty eight years. This alone is a daunting thought. Will we cope? What will our days look like? Wont have to consider other peoples meal ideas, just do what ever we want.
I know that our little grandson will miss them greatly. He is always excited to see them when he comes here and just loves it when they play with him.

In other news I have been more involved in the household recently. I have been involved in more cooking than usual, with help from others of course and yesterday I managed to mop the floors whilst sitting in my wheelchair. I just washed backwards using my feet to propel myself backwards. My calf muscles became tired quick and I started getting cramps due to them not being used much. I was satisfied with my work and intend to tackle some work in the kitchen this week. 
I lack confidence in my abilities within the house. Being unable to stand for long I have become so used to sitting on my lounge brooding over my loss instead of exploring      other ways to accomplish tasks. Mind you I only got my wheelchair last year. As time goes on I hope to become reacquainted with many of the necessary household chores.
Well that's it for today. I will return soon. 

                                   Picture from last October, just so you can remember who is writing this blog. 

Sewing, Soup & Comfort

Hello folks, it's been a while hasn't it? Things have been trotting along in my life. A little bit of sewing, some cooking, visiting with friends and other things I have now forgotten.
So the weather is still freezing and it limits me to what I can do. This is because my body stiffens up and I can't spend much time in my craft room due this. I am working on getting a heater for the times that I do work in there. 
I made a quick mug rug for a work colleague of my youngest daughter and I like the scraps of colour. I have a few more of these simple little projects waiting to be finished too, just a matter of time.

 I have also been working on a baby quilt for a girl one of my daughters works with. She requested one made in gender neutral colours and I was happy to oblige her as I love making bright, modern quilts. It's completed up to the quilting stage and I am not waiting for the 'boost' of energy so I can quilt it. I will post a pic when it is done.

The following picture which is not the best is the first hat I ever made. It was for the little person in the family and although I made a few mistakes I am quite pleased that I worked out how to make this. I have never had confidence to do it previously and as Jacob's mum asked me nicely I had to oblige. Of course whilst Master Jacob was happy to try it on he was not keen on keeping it on.

Recently I had my cooking hat on and managed to produce some edible, tasty food. First up was some Cheese and Bacon Muffins. They turned out great, and with a slash of butter it was real comfort food. Speaking of comfort food, nothing says comfort quite like a pot of soup. I have loved soup since a child as my mum could make the yummiest pots of soup. I loved her tomato vegetable soup with plump barley and lots of tomato goodness. I have included the recipe at the bottom of page.

This soup was my version of Minestrone Soup. Now the last time I made this soup, or a version of it was when I was in first year high school (year 8). It wasn't great from memory. We had to cook it in those dreadful, scary pressure cookers and I was quite concerned because prior to the making of this soup, our teacher sat us down to watch a film (yes it was a film in those days, and not video) regarding the dangers of the pressure cooker should it be left on too long and the first aid required to deal with said explosion. No pressure of course-ha ha I think I made a joke there. 

Anyway this time I used the our trusty slow cooker. The beauty of the slow cooker is you just throw everything you want into the bowl, whack the lid on, choose the heat setting and off it goes producing a most delicious meal in 5-6 hours. The soup was very good. The Bloke even liked my cooking and gave me a compliment, which is rare, so I was a happy cooker. In out family if we make a large lot of food we send word out to those no longer living at home and they arrive the next day to grab some for their lunches.I love that I made something worthwhile and that others enjoyed. 
Since becoming immobile I have not contributed much to the family, but this way I was able too. I intend to do more cooking in the future. I have also included this recipe at the bottom of my page.

In other cooking news my eldest daughter is known as a cheesecake queen and created this lovely raspberry cheesecake to the delight of us all. Beautiful creamy, tart, and sweet slice of heaven. I am a big fan of cheesecake, most especially hers. Do you like cheesecake and if so what is your favourite?

Minestrone Soup (Jan's way)

Onion x 2 chopped-fried with bacon
Celery x 2-3 stalks chopped
Carrot x 3 chopped
Spuds x 2 chopped
Sweet potato -half of medium one chopped ( I add this for a taste of sweet)
Diced Tomatoes x 2 tins
Tomato paste small tub
Shell pasta about 2 cups (add this approx. 1/2 to 1 hour prior to serving)
Bacon rashers x 4 chopped-fried with spud
Salt & pepper
Garlic
Vegetable or beef stock- I used 4 heaped teaspoons of veggie stock in two litres of water
1 can Four bean mix ( rinsed, drained first)

Place into large crock pot-Mine is an oval 5 litre pot, I think. Turn it on low or high for 4-6 hrs
Serve with finely chopped parsley and grated cheese on top with crusty garlic or herb bread. 

Cheese & Bacon Muffins

• Cooking Time:45 minutes
• Makes:10 Muffins

Ingredients:

• 2 rashers rindless bacon, diced
• 3 eggs
• 3/4 - 1 cup milk
• 50g butter, melted
• Pinch cayenne pepper
• 2 tablespoons chives or parsley, chopped
• 2 1/2 cups self-raising flour
• 1 cup Tasty Natural Cheese, grated

Method:

1. 1
   Preheat oven to 190C.
2. 2
   Pan-fry bacon. Or to microwave bacon, place between paper towels on HIGH (100%) for 1 - 2 minutes.
3. 3
   Beat eggs in a bowl adding milk, butter, cayenne pepper and chives or parsley.
4. 4
   Into a separate bowl, sift flour, add bacon and cheese. Stir in egg mixture and mix until combined. Spoon mixture into a 10-holed, 1/2-cup non-stick muffin pans.
5. 5
   Bake in preheated oven for 25 minutes until well risen and golden brown.

[Recipe from Taste.com.au]

Well folks hope you enjoyed the read today. If you try the recipes let me know how you went.

Ciao

Pieces of Cloth

I have finished the quilt for my nephew Andrew. I had previously made one for his mum and sister and Andrew had liked them too. So much so that when his parents left on a 6 month camping holiday, he hid my sisters quilt so he could use it!  She had wanted to take it with her on the trip.

It is rough and ready and would not pass some quilters inspections but nevertheless I love it. I had asked my sister for some old winter shirts to undertake this project late last year. The bag of shirts had sat forlorn in my sewing room until about a month or so again when inspiration struck and I began with wild abandon to slice and dice the said shirts. I tried to make the pieces straight, but I wasn't concerned if they went wobbly-it added to the character. I used parts of the sleeves and the body of the shirt and then in another sudden rush of design madness, decided to attach three pockets, so he could put his mobile in or a chocolate or even the remote control.
I have read about and seen some early day Australian quilts made by people living in the bush and they made them from old jumpers, coats and any other cloth they could get their hands on. They called them Wagga's, so dare I claim to have made my version of a wagga?

I even managed to sew them all the right way up too. I gave it to him on Sunday and he liked it. I hope he enjoys it.
The Bloke took the photos and he tried hard to present it in the best light and he did a great job I think.

I did have more photos to put up on other subjects but something weird has occurred to my photo library and I need to ask one of the girls to help me sort it out.

I hope to be back soon with more chat.

A Most Fortunate Life

                                                My adorable assistant checking through the fabrics

I was able to finish the lap quilt that my best friend asked me to make for her. It took me a little while to complete it but the main thing is that she likes it. I feel a little nervous when I hand over a quilt. Hoping they don't notice any imperfections, but of course that is my own self doubt peering through.

                                                 

This very cute little owl softy was recently sent to me by a wonderfully, clever woman; a special friend of mine. I am grateful and feel privileged that I have some top notch people in my circle. Some of the most gorgeous women call me a friend. I am so fortunate.

Well just a quick post today I am a woman on a mission. I am going down into my cold craft room and putting things in their correct places and then hoping to start a quilt for one of my nephews. More about that when I get some progress on it.
Until next time keep warm and enjoy life.

Jan