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.