Windy Weekend

Woke Saturday morning to nice rain which was not predicted, and there was not sign of it when I looked at the weather site on Friday.   I was checking  for storms, which we have had a couple of lately,  but no sign of them either for our area.   So dont know where the rain came from, and was appreciated by the gardeners.

Still haven't found my incentive to sew but that could be because I have been doing a fair bit of reading. I have just started Angels and Demons by Dan Brown but it is heavy going so far.

When I was at the farm I was able to buy quite a few second hand books for 50c each at the local markets. I just wish I had had a bigger bag with me to buy more at that price.

On Friday it was a bit windy out so I decided to make some of these rum balls. They are a surprise for a friend.  The ingredients are:

1 can of condensed milk

2 cups crushed Marie or Arrowroot biscuits

1 cup coconut

2 Tabsp. cocoa powder

vanilla essence or rum essence

1 cup sultanas

extra coconut for rolling.

Mix all together, roll into balls and in coconut.   Freeze .  Allow to thaw slightly and enjoy.

At the farm the mango tree was loaded so I bought some home with me to ripen and have been freezing the flesh for the off season.   This is just a sample.  I may have to buy another freezer if this keeps up, or just keep eating.   Frozen mango....yum on a hot day.

A week or so ago I was online and found this tv on sale new from one of the big stores.  It is just the right size for my bedroom so I "bit the bullet" and bought it.  Collected it from the store and proceeded to put the stand on, and ...you would not believe it......no go.

The screws that hold  the base and top together just would not screw in they were too tight.   After much exasperation and then  some enquiries I am told that I need a man with a screw drill.....huh!....do men designs things on purpose in order to keep women out of their sheds.

 
It is going to be wonderful in winter to lie in my warm comfy bed and watch my favourite programmes.   Although there have been comments that I may never get out of bed again. Lol....by the way it also has an inbuilt DVD player so I can watch movies if there is nothing good on tv.

I can hardly wait.

New header

DONT FAINT!  PLEASE!....I know two posts in two days is a miracle from me, but please keep control.

I have had a compliment and enquiry on my new header photo so thought I would do a quick post on how this came about.

A couple of years ago I had the urge to play with something different so gathered together the makings for cards.  I did post about this on my old blog, so it may be familiar to some.

This is one way  I achieved a  design.   First I added rough sketches by dribbling  on the large piece of card with aquadhere and  adding some Gesso to form raised designs

Paper tape was added  to allow for blank areas before I added paint.  i used both thick and thin Atelier brand acrylic artists paint.

Different colours of the paint  was added roughly over the different areas .  If I didn't like the effect I rubbed it off before it dried and added another colour.  Even this gave some pleasing effects.

When I was satisfied I cut the sheet up into smaller sizes for the cards.

Here is a collage of some other designs I made.

I finished off the cards with embellishments and you can see some of them at the top of the post.  It was amazing to see the different effects on the individual pieces after the sheets where cut into the smaller sizes.  It was one of these that I have used for my new Header.  Can you see the shapes of what looks like people on the header picture......that was not intended it was just one of those magic things that happens in some painting.

It was a fun Sunday, and I spent the whole day in my pyjamas "playing".  Will have to do it again one day.

2014 A New Year Begins

Here is is half way through January of the New Year.   I hope everyone enjoyed their Xmas, and the new year is showing promise.

For all those friends suffering from the extremes of climate, extreme cold, heat, fires and floods, I trust that there will be good changes ahead soon.

Xmas for me was very quiet.  Himself came to visit, and I also had an elderly 89 year old neighbour in for Xmas Lunch.  Because it was hot, I  kept to leg ham and  salads, but forgot to take photos of the dishes.   I made my old family favourite potato salad, as well as a mango salsa to go with the garden salad. 

I was fortunate to receive some lovely gifts and among them was a plum pudding from my friend Dianne.....which was yum.  That is it all wrapped up in xmaswrapping.

Dianne also made me the lovely collage box which is going to be another of her treasures.  In the box was a memory stick in the shape of a reel of thread, and a little journal. Isn't that just too cute.

Instructions on making the box can be found on Annelliese's blog http://anaslua2.blogspot.com.au/  hop over for a visit she is so talented.  There is also an interesting  tutorial here:  here

Another gift I received and will treasure was from my eldest son and his wife. It is the loveliest calf length dressing gown which will be so nice to wear when I next go to hospital.....I feel like lady muck in it.  The fabric is so soft and fine.

They and of course the puppies, also gave me a gift set and some perfume.

The cream and crystals are to beautify my feet, and came with the softest pair of booties to wear to bed to protect the sheets from the creams.

My DIL is always helping me to care for my skin with gorgeous gifts of lotions and potions.

The perfume is old fashioned lavender which I love combined with green tea. It  will be good to spray on before I go  to bed to help me sleep.

 Himself shouted us a bottle of Baileys Irish Cream to indulge in of an evening.  i can tell you it did not last long it is one of my favourites.....not that I should be drinking anything that rich and creamy.  But I figure the special occasion warranted it.

I must say it did help me to go off to sleep of a night.

 I just adore hand made decorations for my xmas tree, and these two above were made for me by my friend Sue from Suztats,  Thank you Sue, they looked so nice  on the tree.

 Another no no, and another love of mine  is chocolate, and I must admit to being naughty and  eating a couple of these which were a gift for himself and I from an old neighbour at the farm.

Its ok I am back to my normal diet and made sure all the chockies were left in the fridge at the farm so I couldn't get to them.

On Boxing Day I went back to the "farm" with himself.  It was so relaxing over there, all I did was rest and sleep after a year of worry and stress.   I have come back all refreshed and ready for a happier  year.  Well one can always live in  hope eh. So long as my family allow me to that is.

 

No sewing was done, even though I did pack some, but the weather turned so hot with up to 40deg C days it was easier to just get into the recliner under the aircon and nana nap.

However, I did have a day with an old neighbour who I taught to embroider when I lived there.  We had a marvellous day catching up, and going through her sewing boxes. 

Jann has had a gruelling year, with serious operations, but as you can see she never stops smiling.  She is such fun to be with and her husband is a gem.

Should I be now at the stage of making a New Year resolution to do more sewing.....At the moment mine is to finish the fabric book......

Bye for now, till next time.........Happy New Year to All.