At my house {birds and stars...}

Playing along with Lou today....so what's going at my house?  I'm seeing lots of birds and stars at the moment.  A lot.

The lovely Jade from The Clothes Line store in picturesque Beechworth ordered sixty Christmas ornaments from me...

 so I've been having lots of fun cutting, preparing, sewing and packaging up these birds and stars to send off to her store.  Mixing great festive prints, with some neutral tones and adding some thrifted doilies to mark a bird wing, this group of birds and stars make great decorations....

Before saying goodbye to such a large stash, I wanted to get an idea of how they would look en masse as a decoration.

Armed with a tree branch and vase, I set to work decking the bare branches - I couldn't fit all 60 on, but even with a third of the amount of there, it began to look very festive.

Luckily I have made a few extras for present toppers, gifts and perhaps even a giveaway soon....

What's going on at your house??  Has the festive season bug hit you too??  Visit what others are up to here....

at my house .....

It's been a big weekend, so trying to find some time to just chill out and take it all in....and get on with some chores!

{yummy treats from Cathy}

On Saturday I got to visit a market that I have been meaning to check out for some time.  I meet some familiar faces (blog host Lou of course) and finally was able to meet Cathy and taste her delectable goodies!  The Made in Thornbury market is a cute handmade market, so be sure to check it out next time it rolls around!  I was able to purchase some lovely goodies for the official beginning of my Christmas Shopping!  I'll post more about them later!

And today is my mum's birthday, and seeing as she lives a bit far away me and the kids skyped this morning and sang Happy Birthday and there was plenty of screen kisses and clapping.  Happy Birthday Mum/Grandma (or dam-ma as the little one would say!).  I wont show you what I made her yet, as it hasn't been posted because I'm yet to do some final touches!  So more will be revealed later in the week.

Hoping to enjoy some lovely sunshine this afternoon! What is happening at yours today??  Join Lou and check out what others are up to!

at my house .....

I'm reading "Eat, Pray, Love" at the moment by Elizabeth Gilbert.  I've just finished the first part - the EAT journey and it made me think of my own culinary experiences.  In the book Liz spends time in Italy and savouring all that she can by way of experiences joy in food.  She travels to Naples and Sicily and Venice and Rome to enjoy delicacies and traditional food and often she expresses finding "the best food ever".

I remember vividly the time I was in a small village in the heart of southern Italy.  I was in a small town in Calabria and it was mid morning - nearing lunch time (which is when you enjoy your largest meal of the day - followed by a siesta of course).  We'd had a busy morning and my brioche and espresso for breakfast some four hours prior and certainly worn off.

I was getting hungry.

I remember travelling around the town visiting the village elders when we stopped by one ladies house and was invited inside (because of course she knew my husbands parents) - so we talked (ok, I listened) but I was overcome by the most amazing aroma from the kitchen.  In small villages, the houses are small too.  We were sitting in the kitchen/dining room/lounge room.  I could see the little pot bubbling away on the stove, and I could no longer sit in silence.  I commented how beautiful the smell of her sauce was cooking.  Before I knew, she had scooped up a small spoon on a plate, next to some crusty bread and put it in front of me.

I relished it and cannot describe in words how delicious this sauce was.   We couldn't communicate with words, but her expression at my enjoyment of the food that she had cooked was enough!

Before we left that town on the next leg of our journey, that same lady travelled to where we were staying and passed me this note.   The recipe to that very same sauce.  I only remembered I had it whilst reading this book!  It's been sitting idle in my cupboard for over 5 years!   Now I just need to translate it and get to making it!

What's happening at your house?  Stop by Lou's to join in the fun xx

@ my house....

Playing along with Lou today and sharing a glimpse of what is going on at my house.
This morning we did some grocery shopping - which is always a hoot with my two in tow!  They help with choosing the fruit and vegetables and putting it into the trolley.  I now give my son a "list" of things that he has to get at the shops and today he choose to have 8 items (my son has a bit of a thing with numbers - so today it was the number 8).  I tend to put things on his list that...

a) he can reach
b) interest him, ie, his favourite foods like sultana's, muesli bars, yoghurt etc
c) spread through the store so the game lasts the whole trip.

My daughter sits happily in the trolley and somehow we started a ritual that they could have a slice of wholemeal bread from one of the loaves that I buy.  I really can't believe that they still request it as soon as it goes into the trolley, but I'm not complaining as they merrily chomp on their plain piece of bread whilst I zoom past the confectionary isle.  ;-))

I'm cooking a beef steak salad tonight and couldn't resist some scrumptious root vegetables to go with it.  I am not a fan of tin beetroot, but these beets look so yummy! Some of our other trolley favourites are "triangle cheese" for my daughter and tonic water is really the only soft drink we have, the kids like it and I don't feel guilty letting them have a little bit.   Today I also bought some dill cucumbers which I haven't had for ages, but love them and ate some straight from the jar when I got home!

What's going at your house??  Stop past Lou if you would like to join in!

At my house .....

School holidays are upon us - so two weeks without much commitment or heading out the door hastily to get to places on time!  The kids and I are still recovering from what I like to call is the worst cold ever - not a flu, but a really bad cold and just hung around made us all miserable.  But with that came lots of down time, cuddling in the bed and staying in pj's all day....

Today's activity was a bit of fun - Playdough with bits and pieces around the home to make it more interesting.  My kids had fun sticking buttons and beads and pasta into the dough to make funny things.  We also have this kit that makes playdough bugs!!

Join in sharing what is going on at your house here!

at my house .....{choc creme caramel...}

It's been a while since I posted some yummy recipe's.  I made this dessert on the weekend which was recently made by Karen Martini on Better Homes and Garden's - It was really nice, but one that you can enjoy in small portions, which means there is leftovers which we'll be enjoying tonight too!  Another reason why I thought it would be good to share is that the recipe is not on their website - you have to buy the magazine - don't you hate that!

Ingredients;

Chocolate Milk
180g dark chocolate
650ml Milk

Method: heat milk in a saucepan until simmering and then pour over dark chocolate (which has been broken into bits and placed in a bowl) - stir until the chocolate melts - set aside.

Caramel:
250g caster sugar
120ml water

Method; place ingredients in a saucepan over medium heat until dissolves. stop stirring and only shift the saucepan occasionally.  You will notice the liquid bubbling away and then change from clear to a golden caramel colour - should take approximately 6-10 minutes.  Take saucepan and pour caramel in a 20cm baking dish and then swish it around so it covers the base and sides of the dish. set aside.

Custard:
4 whole eggs
2 egg yolks
75gms caster sugar

Method
Place ingredients in a bowl and whisk until combined. Add the chocolate milk that you made first and stir.  Pour into baking dish over the caramel sauce.

Place dish in a baking tray with a tea towel underneath and fill the tray with boiling water half way up the dish.  Bake for 1 hour and 15 minutes.  When you take it out of the oven it should still wobble a little bit.  let is sit for 10 minutes before transferring the dish to the fridge for at least 6 hours. When ready to serve, run a butter knife around the edge and flip onto a serving plate!

Serve with biscotti and fresh strawberries

Enjoy
xx

What is going on at your house??  To join in visit Lou....

at my house .....numbers & fever

So much going on at my house at the moment, that this post is a little late!  After a quick trip to the country on the weekend, my daughter got sick whilst we were away (again!) so have been reminded just how little she is, as my normally independent and courageous girl was bundled up on my lap or perched on my hip for the past two days, not wanting to leave my side as her temperature soared!  Turns out she has a throat infection and the antibiotics are doing the trick!

I tried to keep on top of things, but it just wasn't meant to be as I left a tissue in the wash (don't you hate that!) and as I tried to sneak some craft in last night, my stitch ripper fell off the table and landed in the paper feed of the printer on the floor!  Nice!

I am so thrilled that today is the last day of winter and I sense normality returning - my feisty daughter returns, demanding to start toilet training, and my son is constantly amazing me with his appetite for numbers (counting by 11's and addition are high on his priority at the moment!) - and whilst I'm not one to brag, my sister-in-law filmed him doing some numbers on the weekend and posted it on her school blog which you can check it out here.

to see what others are up to at their house stop past Lou's...

at my house .....

Taking it easy today at my house.....

A while back we were rearranging some furniture in the house, and this little side table wasn't really required anymore, when I got an idea to shorten the legs (plans to paint it white in the future!) and now it makes for a perfect desk area for the kids....

I've been so pre-occupied making things for markets and my shop lately, that I really wanted to make my kids something so I thought of a useful item - so I make these crayon apron rolls and filled it with chunky crayons and surprised them  - they don't really want to wear them around their waist, but they love taking the crayons out and it makes for a fun pack up!

I think the new desk area and the crayon aprons are a hit!

What's going on a your house?  To join in visit Lou ....

a mia casa {at my house}

Remember a few months ago I shared with you all that I was trying to improve my italian prior to relatives visiting from Italy??  Well they arrive on Wednesday and I am ashamed to say that my italian stinks....and not in a great smelly feet fresh parmesan cheese kind of way!

We have been skyping them regularly, and last night I even had my little translation book in my hand and flashed it before the web-cam so there was no denying my limited abilities....

I am really looking forward to meeting our newly found relatives....I have been practicing, but not as much as I should and last night was a crack up when I was so proud that I had come up with some really good things to say I demonstrated my skills to hubby....

"Andare per una camminare?"


 My husband proudly informed me, that I had just demanded they go for a walk!!

Oh dear....this will be interesting!!  I hope to get away with lots of hand movement, photo pointing, eating lots of pasta and drinking vino! Wish me luck!!!

Che cosa sta accendendo alla vosta casa??  Join Lou here....

Photos; Us at the Vatican, Rome; Colosseum, Rome; Bridge of Sigh's - Venice; Ponte Vecchio - Florence - During our 2005 Europe trip (oh those were the days....)

At my house .....

Birthday preparations are a plenty in our house right now.... the list just keeps going and I was overly delighted when I found my husband preparing our dinner at 8am this morning so that I didn't have to worry about it (adorable LOML!!)  and could focus on other pressing issues....

I worked most of last night on a little fabric, fold away carry house which will be a present for her 2nd Birthday.  I started it on the weekend when my mum was staying with us for a few days so it was great to have the advantage of an extra pair of hand cutting fabric and wadding and especially when it came to deciphering the instructions and working out how it would piece together. It's not yet finished but the hard stuff is done, I just have to stitch some walls in place!

Today we've collected a few little treasures that will make up some party favours...

And I had to share this most adorable cup-cake tier from the Robert Gordon range - a bargin addition at only $14!  My accidental carnival theme party is taking shape!

This afternoon my son and I might make some more pompoms and sneak in a game of snap!

What's up a your house??  Visit Lou to join in...

at my house..... {cause and effect}

It's a daily challenge being a mumma to two kids (adorable as they are) when it comes to keeping them amused, stimulated, happy and matching games and toys to their developmental capabilities and also their interest.  The weekend was pretty gloomy and I thought of an idea that would interest my son, but wondered if he would like it, but I was wrapped when we was so taken by it, he played for hours, and has asked to play again when he comes home from kinder....


so what is it I hear you say??

Something so simple, most of you will have these items in your kitchen....


What you will need...

 - some clear drink bottles (remove the label by soaking in some hot water)
 - another clear container with a larger opening
 - food dye (yellow, blue and red) in primary colours.

Fill the three bottles with water and add 1-2 drops of food dye in each bottle so you have a red, yellow and blue water.

Then get your child to pour one colour in the larger container and mix with another colour and watch what happens.  My son was so enthralled by the changes of colour....

So I've promised him we can play this game some more this afternoon!

(if you have smaller children, they too are excited by the changes of colour and you can always punch a hole in the lid of the water bottles to reduce the flow of the water if you think pouring will be an issue! )

What are you up to today??  Join Lou to let us know...

At my house.....

Feeling a little run down today....although I could see it coming....that inevitable cold which has now turned into something a little more sinister.  The type that makes you wish you could hide under the doona and re-surface sometime in the afternoon or bundle up on the couch with favourite musical on TV with endless camomile, but alas I have forgotten the pleasure of having a 'sick day' since children arrived.

So fittingly we've been playing doctors and I've managed to get a pot of minestrone soup on the stove.  I'm lucky that my darling husband that is coming home early so that I can head off to the doctors later in the hope that they have discovered a magic miracle potion that will bring the spring back to my step. But right now the only other miracle potion is this one here below so, it's time for a break... it's time for a...

 Here is hoping the winter chill hasn't caused iky sickyness in your house. To join in visit Lou...


xx

at my house.....

Well it's the start of term 3 and we were off to Kinder first thing this morning and I was rostered on for duty which was nice, so i dropped my daughter off a friends and took her son and mine to Kinder and was able to stay and watch them play, create, make mess and interact.  The small group of 20 kids are just delightful and it was lovely being apart of it today.

this picture is of Balloon Man and his little friend (made by my two during the holidays) which is similar to how i spent my day at Kinder.....

To join in visit Lou....

at my house.....

Well, first official day of school holidays, and although neither of my kids are at school and spend a lot of time at home anyway, it still means that there is no Kinder, Gymbaroo, or Playgroup so I'll be busy trying to schedule in some activities for them to keep them occupied (and me sane).

This morning was a bit of joint activity as I wanted to take part in this little project that Pip has running over at her blog.

So I got the craft box out and some of my supplies and the kids help me put together a little package to send off to Pip.  The kids helped me pick some fabric, an old iron transfer I've had for ages, cute paper bunting, a flower i made of scraps of silk, some fabric yo-yos, cute little pegs, thrifted doily, and an inspiration tag.  We decorated the envelope (with the kids leaving just enough room for the address!!) and I shall post it this afternoon!

If you want the link to this project, just visit Pips blog or click on the button on the left.

And if you want to see what others are doing today head over to Lou's...

(i'll sadly be without my computer for probably a few days as it's a bit sick and needs to go and get fixed!!)

at my house.....

Oh dear...i almost forgot that it was Monday, until I sat down with my cuppa and glanced over at my Blog List!  Don't you just love public holiday's and today at our house, it really feels like a Sunday!

This morning, hubby and the kids headed off in the morning whilst I got some chores done and also a bit of sewing (will post some pic's tomorrow).  I am working on a few more items for the Sugar and Spice Market and these will be for the boys also!

The rest of the day has been spent in the kitchen with hubby making a fabulous lunch of freshly sauteed sausage that his parents made last week.  It's a family tradition that each year they make salami and the first few 'fresh' sausages need to be cooked before eating.  In a few months we'll have lovely homemade salami to eat!

Then I decided to make potato gnocchi for us for dinner and since it is quite a time consuming process, a Public Holiday is the perfect excuse!

Time to grab some books, find a cosy spot on the couch and read with the little ones....

What's going on in your house?  Visit Lou to join in....

at my house.....

Gee....you would think I am planning for 100 guests they way I am running around like a chook with no head.  But no, I am preparing and planning for a small party for my son's 4th birthday in a couple of days....so whilst he was at Kinder this morning, I was able to get some things ticked off my list with a little help from his little sister....

Lolly-free party bags - Done! (thanks lou!)

Start making traffic light jelly - Green (go) Done (will do amber and red tonight and tomorrow).

Got a few more things to do - the major one being that I have actually decided to make a GIVE WAY sign!  So, I have the red felt, the letters and will have to begin piecing it all together tonight!  But on the weekend we made some wall art with the traffic light theme continuing.  It was easy peasy and if you don't know how to sew this is a perfect beginner project!

Just grab some fabric, some embroidery hoops and cut to fit (making sure you iron the fabric first, then pull taut fit the hoop and viola!  You have your own wall art! Our selection was to mimic the classic traffic light colours, so bold red, polka dot yellow and I splurged and used this gorgeous Michael Miller Traffic quilting fabric for the green... This is yet to be hung up, but I will post a picture when it is....

Have fun at your house and stop by Lou's to check out what everyone else is up to!

at my house.....

Today at my house I have one extra - child that is.  Monday mornings are busy busy as we start the week off with an early morning Kinder session, so today I picked up my son's little friend too and he came home with us for some lunch and a little play whilst his mum gets a few things done.

So the chaos has died down as the empty tummy's have been filled and my little toddler is fast asleep, so now the two boys can get on with playing.  I love listening to their little conversations about toys, families and just stuff - it's really sweet.

I just had time to snap a few pictures - first of their Kinder bags left on the deck as they ran outside towards the trampoline.

And these great action shots - coz of course boys aint boys without a bit of action! 

Playing along with Lou today - so what's happening at your house??  Lou's also asking what you like/dislike about winter (seeing as today is the last day of Autumn).

Hmmmm....stuff I like about winter are things like comfort food, red wine, snuggling up with blankets and loved ones, cups of tea, listening to the rain, warm overcoats and lovely scarves and winter hats! Me, my son and daughter are all born in winter so birthdays each winter month will be lovely. What I dislike are really just quite boring and practical like the struggle to get the washing dry (or your washing finally dry and then it rains and it's still on the line), the fact that my kids LOVE to play outside and sometime the weather is not permitting and my huge gas bill I get around September, but other than that it's all good and makes me appreciate Spring that little more!

Now I'll go see what happening at your house....