Christmas Cake made.

In here we have 1kg of mixed fruit bought from supermarket in a bag. Almonds and walnuts chopped =100gms, and 1/2 cup of crushed pineapple, plus one large splosh of brandy and I mean large. Placed in fridge overnight.Pan prepared to go, usual way, springpan tin.Creamed the sugar 125gms of white and  125gms of brown with 225gms of butter, yes it was at room temperture, beat  in 4 eggs, mine were free range (Hugh is right), Then the flours, 225gms plain and strangely 50gms of self-raising, then fruit, well liquid fruit.Looking good, time for the secret ingredient.Blackcurrent jam, tbsp 1, only I might have put more in, but that's me.You can see the blackcurrent jam in there, it's looking good, sounds like I know what I'm doing but have never made this recipe before, usually make Doris Goody's recipe given to me by Judy, a friend from when we both lived a Prison Village along time ago.Yes it's looking good .In at 2pm out at 5.30pm.You beautiful cake and you smell delicious do you want another drink of brandy, yes? Well o.k. just a little. Please note I am becoming my mother who didn't drink but made the most yummy, boozy, cakes and puds.Bugger, dishes never my favourite thing to do, ask my sister Tess, and of course  the dishwasher is ill again, no not Bas, the real dishwasher, the machine. Probably will not be doing quite as many posts, my wonderful holiday is over and back to work tomorrow. Aunt Bee

The last flowers of Spring

Just a few photos from the garden, the last Rhodos, which have been late this year but that meant they looked beautiful just a bit longer.I see you have spotted the 2 soldiers from China in the garden, well it's not all about me, hard to believe but they are Basil's pride and joy and believe me if he ever found more and he does look, we would have an army. He spotted a giant one down in Orderings which thankfully is out of his price range but god forbid we ever win lotto because he would be straight down to buy it. Have planted tomatoes and parsley, going to get some more tomatoes, onions and peppers, it is lovely and warm.

A webcam photo and baskets

A photo of me by me last night with the new webcam Tom bought, took lots of photos because I was laughing so much, I might of mentioned my R and L confusion, and then make it a mirror image and I totally gone. I  enjoyed myself so much I think I've found a small amusement to entertain myself with if I'm bored. Now ain't that a scary thought.Two old cane baskets now Sky Blue, thank you AJ who painted them outside and left them to dry in the rain, I know, I know but he is mine and I love him. Went to Bunnings to buy the paint, it was spray paint so it was in a locked glass cabinet, the guy said "what do you want to paint"? I said just going to tag something not sure what, thank god they had a sense of humour or I'd been arrested. Made a pretty fabric insert for the bootom and there done.This basket sits near the phone at the corner of the kitchen, and in it I put keys, camera, recipes I've found on the net and intend to use (yeah right), important notices, well anything I want to keep, or need or want to keep safe from the rest of the family, they know not to touch this basket.This delightfully pink plastic box also bought at Bunnings, it goes so well with the notice board I think, it is another desperate attempt to keep my sewing stuff under control. I have no sewing room so my stuff is in baskets, boxes, the window seat, in 2 wooden chests in the lounge and dining area, in large plastic boxes in the room at the back of the garage and lastly in an old china cabinet sits much of my fabric.  So like arranging the deck chairs on the Titanic I move and reorganise my sewing stuff constantly trying to steal space and hoping one day in will all be together in one room. Basil said I could have a room when the one of the boys leave, I am ashamed to say I did think oh great I hope Aj goes first he does have the bigger room.Thats it for now AJ has gone to school for his first exam, English, I hope he does well, everyone else is in bed. Time for nice cup of tea and toast. Aunt Bee

The weather is terrible.

Although I have named this Post the weather is terrible I will say no more about it as it is upsetting. A woman in Bunnings said that as we have had spring and a short bit of warm weather then it is obvious we have gone straight to Autumn, she said it was her fault as she had put summer sheets on her beds, so it nice to have someone else share the blame. The crochet squares on the lounge floor, not the best place for a photo, I committed the knitters/crocheters cardinal sin didn't buy enough wool and now there is none left and I traipsed all over town looking for bright, bright,colours and found none. I have made more than these here , and I had a brain wave as what to do with them , watch this space. Birdys and christmas decorations made up during the year out of old bits of felt, sequins and buttons. Last photo is AJ on stage after receiving two awards at prize giving, he actually received 2 awards but didn't mention it till this morning. He did his entrance for the" Terries", got told he wouldn't get called up to July 2010, but they rang him yesterday to say he could go in Jan/Feb, this would mean losing 7/8 weeks of the Term 1 next year, so he's decided not to go in then as he doesn't want to miss anything of his Year 13 as it will be to hard to catchup, in fact he would miss most of Term 1, that's if the Rector  had allowed him the time off anyway. I have got him spray painting cane baskets at the moment, trying to distract from his first exam tomorrow, o.k. I'm using him as my slave but what he doesn't know wont hurt him. Aunt Bee

The Topp Twins and the beach walk.

Up close and personal with Camp Mother and Camp Leader at the Show, Camp Mother went off the stage to look for victims, goodlooking young men and unsuspecting foreigners. They said when they go overseas that they tell everyone that everyone in NZ is just like them. Nervous titters from crowd on hearing that statement.Down on the beach this morning, told AJ we would go for a run as we need the exercise, he has a entrance test for" the terries:, on Monday morning which includes a 2.4km run. I of course didn't need to run a good brisk walk is just as good or so my sister Tess says. View of return walk, light colured speck in middle of the picture is the Waimari Beach Club,  where we parked the car. You would think AJ would be pleased his mother got him up at 8.30am for exercise in the fresh air, but when I said, " we'll do this every morning I'm off this week," he said" love to Mum but I think every other day is fine."

A quick note to say why I didn't comment on last weeks Stash/Rehash, can't even tell you what it was like second hand. Got up and went to Edgeware Rd, thought there's no car parks, oh there's heaps of people here, oops. Found a park went to the hall and there was a long line of women from the door of the hall down the side, around the front, down the other side and on to the pavement. What to do, get in line, no I had no sunscreen and no hat so I decided I couldn't stand there for what would be at least 20 minutes, so I left thinking maybe God was telling I didn't need anymore stuff........abit of a joke between God and I, so can't tell you anything......but I'm hearten to see so many people there ( women ), as that's got to be a good sign for the continuation of  sewing, knitting and assorted crafts. On a different note I have taken up the hook so to speak the crochet hook, making squares with very bright wool, just a experiment as I haven't done any crochet for at least 25 years or more. I don't know if anything will come of it or if it's worthy of a photo we shall see. As I,m having a weeks holiday starting today, as tomorrow is a holiday in Canterbury, it's our anniversary day also known as Show Day, I went to the show, think Agricultural Show, animals, machinery, cars, tractors.......sheep shearing, dog trials, fun fair, farm animal competition you know whose prettiest, etc.Always a good day but I've a little sunburn and  so tired so early night is called for. Photo of cute minature Highland cattle, boy or girl possibly either didn't want to lift up anything for a closer look.   Aunt Bee

Bought this tray off Trademe, I loved it and even better Basil loved it too,  Basil is not his real name, but it will do, he is quite good about my mad collectingI found this while in CS, it caught my eye it was not clean, looked like it had afternoon tea still on it but it cleaned up beautifully, it is lovely.Lovely cut work tablecloth.This lovely doily, not sure if it will stay in this form, we'll have to see.