They Are Here And Safe

Well the family managed to finally get out from Christchurch on Thursday, It took a while as they had to find places for most of the animals. Nearly all the bridges are out near them in Avondale, and traffic was really congested.

They are so pleased to be out of the chaos and getting showers, water, toilets, power and most importantly a good nights sleep and no aftershocks. It is really hard for them to decide what to do as they own their own home and have to go back sometime and see how there house has been assessed, it is more damaged than last time with their front concrete walls all down. Most possessions in their house are ruined.

It is so terrible hearing all the sad sad stories coming out of Christchurch. More big aftershocks today which wont help the recovery.

It is lovely to have the cousins all together last night for tea and having fun and happy.

The Worst Of Times

On Tuesday a massive earthquake struck Christchurch with many lives lost. You can read about it here. My daughter and family live in Avondale in Ch Ch. They are at the moment trying to get out to get to me here in Nelson. They have managed to get petrol and some of their animals into care of some sort. The house is still standing but everything is trashed in it and no hope of water power sanitation any time soon they are better to leave if they can and recharge and get some sleep food and showers, the aftershocks have been horrendous. Thank God they are alive.

I haven't had much sleep over the last few nights and cant begin to imagine what life is like for so many families there and around NZ and the world. My prayers are with all especially the rescuers that are doing a fantastic job. My cousin and her husband are traveling to Ch Ch for there flight out so dont know how they will get on.

Will keep posted.

Another Day In Paradise

This last week has been very busy what with having visitors out from the UK, barbecues and spending time with the family. Joel stayed last night and we got up early for a trip to Isel Park and House before it got too hot. It was a lovely morning and nice and cool underneath the trees, there were already lots of people about walking dogs and themselves, also an art group were setting up for a bit of painting what better place for a bit of recreation. The house didn't open until 11 am so we explored the huge trees and stream that meanders through the Park. On the way home we brought a enormous watermelon and boy did we enjoy it after waking home in that heat!

I have also been doing a little knitting trying once again to u

se up my stash.

I made a Fratello my second one, a lovely pattern by Tikki this is her blog.

I also made a pair of fingerless mitts out of some leftover VP sock yarn they turned out lovely, just a perfect fit. Trying to think of what to make next, nothing too heavy with this heat! Enjoy your day wherever you are.

Anzac Biscuits

Yesterday had another baking day, bread and Anzac biscuits. I have been having a few problems with my bread due to the high heat and humidity, it has been rising too much and spilling over the top and it has holes in it. All in the freezer for some friends, so hope it is okay.

I was given a recipe for Anzac Biscuits and it its the best ever, no running and spreading over the tray, these keep their shape well and are really delicious.

Recipe for Anzac Biscuits

Preheat Oven to 150 cel

1 Cup Flour

1 Tsp Baking Powder

1 Cup Sugar

1 Cup Coconut

1 Cup Rolled Oats

Mix all these ingredients together.

Melt in a large bow until bubbling

2 Tbsp Golden Syrup

The recipe says 150 g butter but she used 120g and so did I, it worked out fine.

2 TLBS Hot Water

1 Tsp Baking Soda

Dissolve soda in water then stir into bubbling butter mixture. Pour into dry ingredients and mix well.

Roll into balls and press with fork on tray

Cooking time 15 to 20 min. I found 15 mins was okay for me but it does depend on your oven.

ENJOY

I went to a new Church on Sunday and enjoyed it, it will be so much better for me as I can walk there.

t has been really hot and humid here the last few weeks some days it got to 30 deg, we dont usually get extremes of temps here but I am not complaining all too soon it will be winter.

Been quite hard to knit using wool, so have been making wash cloths in cotton. I did make another Tam, this time in 8 ply so it has come out small perhaps fit a toddler I changed the pattern around a bit the top looks like a spiders web.

I have also made a Summer Flies Shawl using some stash I had got from an op shop only cost me about $4 This was a lovely easy knit as I so love written patterns. I am not a fan of charts.

Delicious Slice

On Saturday I went black-currant picking with my good friends Roger and Ruth. We do this most years, its lovely to get out into the countryside at the Moutere. This is perhaps 1/2 hour from Nelson. It took us about 2 hours for me to pick nearly 3 kilo's, and the weather was kind to us, overcast at times which helped. Thanks to the lovely growers there who allow people to pick free at the end of the season. On the way back popped into Kahurangi Estate Winery for some tasting and buying.

Yesterday turned some of the black- currants into a shortcake slice.

I use this recipe doubling it, you can substitute the apple for any fruit and also you can sprinkle a little corn-flour on base before putting fruit so it doesn't get soggy

Apple Shortcake

2oz Butter

1/2 Cup Sugar

6oz Flour

1 egg

2tsp Baking powder

Pinch salt

Use 2/3 cups fruit

Sprinkle with icing sugar when cool.

350 deg for 20 min

Just cream butter and sugar then add egg then dry ingredients. Roll out and line tin, this can be challenging but it doesn't matter if it gets to be like a jigsaw puzzle it all works out in the end

I doubled mixture as it would only make a tiny one, and what use is that Ha Ha!!

As you can see mine looks a little overdone it is a bit but I like it like that and the camera made it darker than it really is!

Its Been a While

Its been a while since posting here as my camera has been playing up, but all okay now.

I've been enjoying our lovely summer here in Nelson, having barbecues with the family, raspberry picking and just chilling out. I have been trying to use up some of my stash instead of buying more wool, I am experiencing withdrawal symptoms though.

I have been making several tams using two colours which I really love and as a rule hats and me do not go together but these actually look okay!

I also made some wee baby slippers, a couple of shawls, baby washcloths and trying to finish my crochet blanket but not a thing to do in summer Phew!

Been busy today washing windows and now I am off to tackle my stove, a job I hate which I leave as long as I dare although don't use my oven much these days except for bread.

I am looking forward to next month as my cousin and her husband are coming from the U K to see us, it will be 4 years since they were here last and we have lots of catching up to do.

Well off to use some elbow grease!

Nearly Over

Well this year is nearly over .... how fast did it go!

Had a nice Christmas with the family we did a brunch again as it was so successful last year. I made this yummy Festive Wreath, it has become a family tradition now. Georgia and linds helped make it so now they can do it for special occasions. The recipe is from my favourite bread book by Alison Holst. I see that she has a new bread book out, cant wait to see if it is as good as the previous one.

Also made a chocolate trifle for the 1st time, I usually do the good old fashioned English one but this looked easy enough. Here is the recipe'

CHOCOLATE TRIFLE

1 Pkt Sponge 6x8

Chocolate sauce

1 bottle cream

Chocolate Sauce

Put in saucepan over low heat

2 0z butter

1 cup sugar

2 heaped dsp cocoa

2 cups boiling water

Thicken with 2 heaped TBS corn-flour, and allow to cool. Cut sponge into fingers. Place in layers of sponge, sauce and cream. Finish top with cream. Top with grated chocolate or decoration of your choice . ENJOY

I had a really lovely necklace from my daughter Julie. It is made out of recycled buttons and is very retro looking and I love it I am going to hunt out all my old buttons for her to make more. She is very talented and makes the most amazing things especially felt food and soaps. She has just got her blog which is The Happy Houswife have a wander around and see what she makes.

Dan and Linds got me a lovely photo of the grandchildren they had taken while they were in Auckland on One Tree Hill.

On the knitting front I have made a Tam in fair-isle or stranded knitting out of some old stash it looks very nice, made a few mistakes but next one will be better. I seem drawn to colourwork knitting , just love seeing the patterns emerge.

I do hope you all had a lovely Christmas and have a healthy happy and peaceful 2011.

Happy New Year Everyone

Its That Time of Year Again!

Well I had a busy week last week spent a few days housesitting pets for my daughter..... that was fun! A 3 month puppy and a Sphynx cat it was like looking after toddlers. They both wanted my attention all the time. We had 2 cool days so the cat,who has no fur cuddled up to me wrapping his arms around my neck even when I was on the computer really must knit him a little coat. Every chance he gets he sits in the sun and is sporting a lovely tan!

I had the grandchildren around yesterday while their parents went Christmas shopping, decided to decorate the tree and they really enjoyed it especially throwing the tinsel on last of all.

Well I am busy making bread today 2 Focaccia

and 2 loaves for a friend, she says they will make a lovely Christmas present! I am happy with that too!

Have a good week and don't get too stressed out with Christmas ... Remember the Reason for the Season!

Knitting - Long-Tail Cast-on

This is something new I have learnt to do, took me awhile to master it but finally did it. I needed this cast on to do 2 KAL I am doing with Patterns from Tikki through her ravelry group. They are Soretto and Fratello and are both knitting up nicely, it is exciting doing each clue and wondering what the finished garment will be! The back of Sorello has a lovely lace panel insert.

It has been a really sad week here in NZ with the loss of 29 miners at The Pike River Mine. Today there will be a memorial service in Greymouth and a 2 min silence will be observed throughout NZ. My Thoughts and prayers have been with these families and cant begin to imagine how hard today will be for them. R.I.P.

Home Again

Its nice to go away but its nicer to come back home. I have just spent nearly 4 weeks in Christchurch visiting my daughter and family. I was lucky enough to get a lift to Hanmer Springs then was picked up from there by the family.

The devastation is awful after the Quake on Sept 4th, still lots of places you cannot access in the city and the suburbs. The roads around Rachel are not good at the end of her street is an enormous sink hole that they are now trying to repair. They still haven't had anybody from the EQC yet and there are a few cracks and movement in the floor.

The day after I arrived I was baby-sitting the girls when there was a big aftershock 4.8

It sounded like a train going by

and a jackhammer bashing the house, things were falling and the power went off. I have never been so scared cant begin to imagine what the big one felt like 7.1.

I finished a couple of pair of socks for the girls and they needed them as one day it was only 3 deg! I am just finishing another Theodora Sock, this is one of my favourite patterns for fit.

Well the rain has just started but it looks quite parched here so could probably do with it . Pity i have just put washing out!

Joel (GS) is coming around soon and we are going to be making some things with Polymer clay, necklaces for his sister for Christmas and other things. I made a few buttons when I was away and they turned out okay ........ need more practice though.

Have a lovely weekend wherever you are.

Loving This

I am so loving this wool, it is Crazy Sock Zauberball in colourway Kleiner Fuchs.

Morag of Vintage Purls has imported a selection of Zauberball in lace, crazy sock and single sock. I looked at all the projects made with this and decided I would just do a plain sock, so I could just enjoy the colour changes made by this delightful yarn. I am already planning what colours next to buy, too many choices and I want them all!

Today is miserable rain gales and cold..... oh well it is spring!!

In the week went to my friends house, it was a glorious sunn

y day and the views from her garden over the sea and snow capped Southern Alps were just stunning. Took some pics but not very good, was trying to capture the colours of the blue mountains and sea.

I am out for tea tonight to friends for my birthday tomorrow. How the years roll by!

Hope you all are having a great weekend.

Not Quite Finished

Haven't got much to report on the knitting front except 2 little tops knitted from the top down which I love, with no seaming which is always a bonus.

First is Boheme which is a lovely little tunic top, I downloaded this when it was free but now it has been revised to add larger sizes and well worth the $6US. I did this in Patons Smoothie. I have yet to find some nice buttons for this.

I have just finished another Pebble Vest

in a sort of apple green, this has to be one of my favourite knits, so easy and done flat in one piece, there are a few ends to sew in though.

Had a busy day washing nets and windows, now its raining wouldn't you know it!

Had Georgia over for a sleep over. We made shortbread that was very yummy, even if it was overcooked we both decided we liked it that way anyway! The recipe is very easy.

9 0z butter

12 oz flour

1 cup of icing sugar.

Mix altogether and form into a roll cut into slices and bake 160 - 180 deg for around 15 min's.

I don't know where this originated from but its old.

Looks like there is another cold front coming brr...... roll on summer.

Have a lovely weekend wherever you are.