Monday, May 30, 2011

on the farm ...


quick trip to the back of the farm today to deliver some chemical, got a little lost (well in the wrong paddock!!) and took this with the iPhone as the sun was going down!!

Friday, May 27, 2011

5 MINUTE CHOCOLATE CAKE

I have heard this is a great recipe ... via Amanda Hall ;-)


 5 MINUTE CHOCOLATE CAKE


 4 tbsp SR Flour 
4 tbsp sugar 
2 tbsp cocoa
1 egg
6 tbsp milk
2 tbsp water (in place of oil in original recipe) 
a splash of vanilla. 


Mix dry ingredients, then add egg and wet ingredients place directly into a large mug. 
Whisk until smooth. place mug into microwave and cook for 3 minutes on high. Enjoy. xx

Saturday, May 21, 2011

Today ...

Inspired by Her Library Adventures ...

Reading: Real Living ... I think I am meant to have the pendant lights that I found in Home Beautiful because now they are in Real Living too!!

Writing: scrapbook layout journalling

Drinking: Red wine ... lovely

Listening: to the rain on the roof ... wonderful!!

Buying: the ingredients to make Jamie Oliver's Chicken Tikka from his cookbook Jamie's Ministry of Food

Enjoying: a quiet evening at home

Loving: exercising more often ... makes me feel great!!

Thursday, May 19, 2011

Scrapbooking ...

After seeing this on Tatum's blog I had to find it over on Ali Edward's twitter account ...


"Don't waste your time making pages that don't tell a story that is absolutely meaningful to you."


When I am scrapbooking I think so much about when the photo was taken and  what the moment was about.


At times it is hard to find a photo when you want to scrap a comment that your child has made and you just don't have a photo for that moment ... I find that tricky but they are things I want to record too.


But probably I love the photos that aren't perfect the most because they record the story more than anything ... like the photos I was trying to take yesterday of the 3 boys kicking the football after school on our new piece of lawn ...





  1. John doesn't really want them to kick the footy there
  2. they kick the footy with their socks on & retrieve it from the dirt
  3. once they have finished kicking the footy they walk inside with the dry lawn on their socks .... ggggrrrrrr
  4. the footy gets kicked onto the roof which means waiting for John to get it down OR trying to get the ladder to get it down because Mum (me!!) is afraid of heights and can't climb the ladder!!
  5. they end up fighting or someone gets hurt
  6. Many of my lovely glass candle holders have been broken
  7. the 2 planter boxes of violas probably don't stand a chance
These are our stories ... about the photo that isn't that good ... but I so want to scrap it soon!!




Saturday, May 14, 2011

Right now ...

Outside my window … very dark and quiet! I love living on a farm!

I am thinking … that I would like to do some scrapbooking tomorrow 

I am thankful for … a wonderful family

I am wearing… my pj's ... Sussan's!!

I am going to … get our car detailed soon ... it needs it :-)

I am currently reading … Cleaving by Julie Powell ... about butchering and relationships so far!!

I am hoping … the kids will become more helpful soon ;-)
  
On my mind … work stuff 

From the kitchen … trying lots of new recipes, ate at the footy club tonight, not sure what tomorrow night will bring LOL
 
Around the house … a lot of mess ... so over the mess ... need built in robes soon, need to get another quote because we need more storage!!

One of my favorite things … enjoying a little piece of chocolate with a little glass of red !!

A few plans for the rest of the week … kindy duty Monday lunchtime, maybe a trip to Shabby Chic Shack ;-), work Wednesday & Friday and canteen time on Saturday for the 100 Years of Great Flinders Football on Saturday!! 

Sunday, May 8, 2011

great times ...


For the Colour challenge over at Escape2Create!

T2 tea ...


Finally finished this one I started at the E2C retreat!!

handy man ...


For Amanda's side ways challenge over at Escape2Create!!

oh yeah ...

Mother's Day ... so far!!

  • 3 children out of 4 awake so far
  • dropped John off to his ute so he can start spraying
  • decided to cook myself bacon and eggs ... chidren caught wind of the idea so after cooking 2 eggs, 4 pieces of toast and several rashers of bacon for them ... I cooked mine ... except I was left with one very small piece of bacon and 2 crusts for my toast!!  Luckily it was yummy!!
  • About to sit down to eat breakfast and darling daughter says ... "I need a poo"!!
  • Now about to have second cup of coffee!!
  • have received 3 out of 4 home made (at school) cards ... beautiful :-)
  • love them all so much!! XXXX

Thursday, May 5, 2011

Dinner tonight ... beef ragu

Copied from Home 


Really excited to find this recipe now that the Notebook magazine is no longer pulished and I can't remember which copy it was in!!

This is really yummy!!


Bolognese ragu with rag pasta

 click image to enlarge
Bolognese ragu with rag pasta accompanying image
Bolognese ragu with rag pasta
Serves 4-6
Preparation time: 15 minutes
Cooking time: 2 hours


1 tbs olive oil
500g beef chuck steak
1 brown onion, finely chopped
1 carrot, peeled, finely chopped
1 celery stick, finely chopped
100g pancetta, finely chopped
2 garlic cloves, crushed
2 x 400g cans Italian-style diced tomatoes
1 cup (250ml) dry red wine
2 dried bay leaves
1/4 cup (55g) tomato paste
375g fresh lasagne sheets, coarsely torn
Shaved parmesan, to serve
Mixed salad leaves, to serve
  1. Heat half the oil in a large flameproof casserole pan over high heat. Add the steak and cook for 2 minutes each side or until browned. Transfer to a plate. Reduce heat to medium. Add the remaining oil, onion, carrot, celery, pancetta and garlic and cook, stirring, for 5 minutes or until onion softens.
  2. Add tomatoes, wine, bay leaves, tomato paste and beef and bring to a simmer. Reduce heat to low and cook, covered, stirring occasionally, for 1 1/2 hours or until beef is tender. Use a slotted spoon to transfer the beef to a plate. Use 2 forks to shred beef. Return to the tomato mixture. Taste and season with salt and pepper.
  3. Cook pasta in a saucepan of boiling salted water until al dente. Drain well.
  4. Divide pasta among serving bowls. Top with ragu and sprinkle with parmesan. Serve with mixed salad leaves, if desired.
Photography: Scott Hawkins  Styling: Kristen Wilson