Baking and Remembering

Today I baked Gran's 'Raw Peanut Biscuits'.

These are the biscuits I remember eating at her house,

something we looked forward to when we visited.
I'm sure she baked other biscuits, but I don't remember them.

As a peanut-lover I couldn't get enough of the nutty flavour

and the dark crisp texture of the biscuits, 

and the peanut skins fascinated me.

Gran would send us out to the garden to eat them

and we would walk on the hard mown grass,

collecting jacaranda pods, 

imagining they were the soles off ladies' high-heeled shoes;

and spotting eggshells in the compost pile

and identifying carrot tops in the garden beds.

A few years back my aunt lent me Gran's old recipe book, 

full of handwritten recipes and recipes cut out from 

magazines and newspapers.

After some searching I found the recipe for my beloved biscuits,

and some raw peanuts still in their skins,

and recently I've converted them to fit my current diet better.

There are all sorts of recipes in here, older and newer.

The recipe above is for Pigs Cheeks Brawn.

How tastes have changed.

And just below it, another biscuit recipe.

This much-loved recipe book is barely holding together.

I always loved my Gran's handwriting,

though as a child it was hard for me to read.

I think I will have to try these Apple Orchard Cookies,

they sound delicious.

And I love this advertisement folded inside the book.

Laura baked today, also,

and did a brilliant job piping meringues.

 So afternoon tea was pretty good, here,

and full of memories.

By the waterside

Yesterday we had another picnic, this time at the lovely

Mortlock Reserve at Tunks Park, Cammeray.

We couldn't take our eyes off the blue of the sky and the bay,

and the green of foliage.

And there was plenty of animal life too, 

with pelicans, and plenty of dogs being walked

(I've never seen so many professional dog-walkers, or been 

surprised by so many dogs running under my park bench before).

It wasn't a perfect picnic, despite the stunning location.

Some of us were a bit cranky (ok, that was me)

and Laura's and my GF pizzas had to be abandoned as

the bases (from a packet) were off, leaving us somewhat hungry,

despite munching on chips and peanuts, and later, afternoon tea.

A barge was being unloaded of rubbish 

into a noisy truck at the wharf for hours.

Laura's foot still hurts from her friction burn over two weeks ago,

limiting her willingness to take long walks.

No, not perfect.

But, it was good to get out, to see more of our beautiful city,

and enjoy the (sometime) serenity. 

I'm loving looking at the photos today,

and the tense, not-so-perfect moments can be forgotten

in looking at the still water, the sunshine and the reflections.

Besides, that's what family life is like, isn't it?
Taking the good and the not-so-good,

in beautiful surroundings and not-so-pretty,

but sticking together, being patient and loving and forgiving,

no matter what.

Babycakes, and knitted love

 

Baby-sized cupcakes for my cousin's baby shower today.

Pink and blue, to cover all outcomes.

We girls got stamping and punching and icing after lunch

and were finished just in time.
(And time for a quick photo, too!)

It was a good afternoon, no games, just lots of food,

chatting and presents for the mother-to-be.

Everyone is so happy she is having a baby,

she got married last year, just before her 40th birthday.

My aunt gave my cousin today 

some baby items our Nanna had knitted and crocheted,

years before, for her great-grandchildren.

It was special to see the booties and bonnet knitted so lovingly

and packed away so many years ago for a hoped-for child.

My girls each have a crocheted granny rug from Nanna,

who died just after Laura's first birthday, over thirteen years ago.

This will be the tenth great-grandchild in the family,

but Nanna only lived to meet the first three of them.

Here is my Nanna, and my father and aunt,

babies both welcomed with much love,

and likely much knitting too.

I'm hoping to crochet something for the baby,

who is due in a month.

I'd better get started!

Laura has begun a rug,

but got sidetracked crocheting squares for Wrap with Love.

Babies + celebrations + good food + items handmade with love 

It's all good.

Winter Picnic

 

 

With a forecast for strong winds this afternoon

we decided to head out early for a picnic this morning.

Today might be the only day of the holidays we are all free,

and picnics are few and far between these days.

I whipped up some muffins

and we drove just about 10 minutes, 

along the ridge and down into the valley,

where it was sheltered and warm.

There was time for some duck-watching

some strolling with a camera,

some donkey

some laughter

some portrait-taking

 

... eventually...

  (can you believe this beauty avoids the camera?)

and some physical activity of one sort

 (this one is also a beauty, but oh, she does clown around for a camera!)

... or another.

After lunch (leftover risotto) we headed home

for a quiet afternoon.

The wind did start blowing in the late afternoon

and there was another amazing sunset.

Tonight Emily has been to a surprise party,

and Laura has been iceskating at the Darling Harbour Winter Festival

(fulfilling one of her dreams to skate outdoors).

The wind is still blowing hard out there.

Brr! 

She won't mind, though.

All in all, it's been a very good start to the winter holidays.

Poncho Perfection

Through the autumn I crocheted and crocheted,

at home and by the lake, and after my surgery,

and finally my poncho 

was ready for wearing 

late at night

as I sit in bed, reading.

It's perfect for the job, as it warms me up,

but I can poke a few fingers through the holes to 

hold my book

as opposed to freezing two whole hands.

I added a rose to the front,

just to make it pretty.

I had grand plans of a dark blue shell edging,

but I ran out of the dark blue yarn.

I love the way the colours go with

the cushion on our bed,

the grey is rich with a little brown in it,

a good warm colour.

This might just be the most practical and appreciated

 item I ever crocheted.

Today I love ...

instagram

(even on a windows phone)

... new craft supplies,

particularly this brushstroke stamp in the new 

Work of Art Stampin' Up! set,

which I used to make this rainbow card for a friend

... and this set of Memory Box dies
which I will no doubt use again and again

... that I found some jonquils in the garden

when I thought we had no flowers anywhere

... and that I had a clear table to enjoy them on.

our church;

on Sunday we gathered at a backyard pool for a baptism,

(a lovely grandmother who lately came to know the Lord)

and once again I was thankful for this group of families

who love and accept and grow together,

we are truly a family

... and being home, snug (enough) inside today

while the wind howls outside and the house is pelted
with small branches from the tall trees around.