Tasty...

This weeks meals have started off well.

The first recipe I tried from the Slow cooker book was Beef Olives . They turned out really well. They were tasty & very tender, & teamed with potato bake & vegies it was a successful meal.

I also whipped up a batch of little lemon cupcakes that have a delish lemon cream cheese frosting to take to work tomorrow.(I've only taste tested about 6-7, that's OK isn't it?)

So this week - taco's, roast chicken, pea soup,cheesey broccoli crepes, mushroom risotto & homemade pizza on the planner.

It has been a grey & drizzly weekend with not much happening. Seems like no time before the working week is upon us again.

Slow...

A friend showed me a new cookbook she had picked up. We had been talking about our slow cookers & the recipes in this book really appealed.



Now I usually don't buy cookbooks without photographs but these recipes seem quite simple & delicious. I had to go to about 4 bookshops before I found one in stock. Even Hayley had a look for me when she was out & about without success.

But today I have it in my hot little hand & have been bookmarking recipes I want to try. She even has some very yummy sounding puddings in this book, and the beauty is they are all thrown in the slow cooker. The author is even from Tasmania so how can you go wrong?

I'll let you know if the dishes turn out as good as they sound.

For Louise...

I stayed at home with my sick girl & did a little cleaning up & a little scrapping.

This photo is of me as a baby being held by my older sister



Louise has always been there for me as the journalling says. I appreciate this sense of place in the family. Sometimes the roles aren't always as predicted but they are dependable.

I found this layout style in a freebie mag & liked it, then I tried to find a photo that would suit. The other way of scrapping is, I think, a bit easier - match the photo to the paper. Now it's done & in the album

A long short week...

My short working week has seemed very long.

Tomorrows plans with my sister have been averted by a girl with a razor blade throat.

Part 2 of immmunisations have been postponed til the throat has improved.

My search for a new GP seems to be over. I was very impressed today with the whole consultation, which is a refreshing change. Nurses make very difficult patients (I suppose Drs do too) & expect very high standards.

Callum is learning how to responsibly serve alcohol.

The meal planner is still working really well for me, now all I have to do is get a similar result with a housework/laundry schedule & life will be a breeze.

Roll on holidays

Chilly...

We pulled out our woolley hats today, some to be warm, some to be stylish. Can you tell which is which???

I finally found a hat that suits me. But as I said to Hayley I'm not sure if it is the hat or my current haircut. I've looked for ages for one that doesn't make me look silly. When I tried this one & Hayley didn't screw up her face I knew I was on to a winner. She is very quick to tell me if she doesn't like something!



Hayley also found a new hat today



Callum has his fave & his favourite expression to go with it



Erin has snaffled this one from Hayley



We should all be warm this winter.

The menu mystery...

I thought the meal planner was going really well. Some variety with the meals, easy after work dishes that satisfied, & less trips to the shop. Ticks all the boxes for me.

But when I got up this morning the meal planner was...missing. Can't find it anywhere and no-one is fessing up to removing it. Maybe that certain someone didn't enjoy the mexican meatballs or wasn't looking forward to the chicken & leek pie that was in line for tonight.

I can't be dissuaded so easily. We are sticking to the planner even if they set it on fire!

This week...

my meal planner will swing into action again.

On the list - canneloni, lamb steaks, tuna mornay pie, mexican meatballs, risotto, ham & potato bake & a casserole.
Should be good.

I borrowed The Lovely Bones on DVD last night & Erin watched bits of it with me. Although I enjoyed it, it was not as good as the book. How many times do you hear that? At one point Erin & I were saying 'get out of the house, get out, he's coming...! It was suspenseful at times, & it has been about 10 years since I read the book but I think they changed the ending. I'll have to re-read it to remember exactly.

Being a regular at the DVD shop, recently I have also watched 'Its complicated' which I really enjoyed and 'Amelia' the Amelia Earhart story. One made me laugh & the other made me cry, both very good movies.

PS: I finally have added another recipe to my other blog, it only took me a year, c'mon you don't rush these things! If you are looking for an easy orange cake, pop over & check it out.

Layouts...

I finished off 2 layouts today in between cleaning, washing, baking & taxi-ing

They are both of our Mother being a bridesmaid to her friend Lillian in 1950. Both of the photos are black & white but this first one has been coloured or tinted after printing as they used to do back then. I suppose it was a cheaper way to have colour in pics or maybe the technology for colour printing was yet to be developed (ha get it...developed! OK I hear you groaning)

One for each album

New specs...

I had my eyes tested last week.
I've noticed that it has been harder to see things up close & to readjust my focus when I am reading then look up at the TV etc. I've been squinting at work & my colleagues have been teasing me about it. The eye test shows I need reading glasses but my eye health is fine.

I went out to the rack & tried to pick some frames that
a) weren't too 'granny' and
b) weren't worth more than my car!

These fit the bill in both ways, I think so, do you?

I'm trying to get used to wearing them.

Erin's favourite meal at the moment is spaghetti bolognaise. Tonight she helped me from the beginning to make the 'bol' & cook the 'spaghetti'

Good job sweet girl.

An obsession...

I have a little problem, an addiction of sorts...

I love scarves.

I have a lot of them...

This is just my favourites, waiting to be worn.

I love the colours & the fabrics & the way they finish off a simple outfit & give it a bit of flair. Now it has turned cooler you shouldn't catch me in the same one twice!

On the home front (the kitchen front actually) I am pleased with the way the meal planner is destressing my afternoons. I know what we are having for dinner and I know the ingredients are in the fridge/pantry. You can get the same planner here. I like number 2 version for myself with just the space for dinner & the shoping list on the right. This week chicken parma, meatloaf, curry, fettucine, pea soup & spag bol are on the list.

Here's to an easier life.

Easy...

An easy day, I put these cards together & finished off a layout.

This layout is similar to one I had already completed, this one is for my album.

I also made sausage rolls & a yummy meatloaf for dinner. I am trying to be more organised & have made a meal planner for the week. I downloaded & printed some pages & have filled in the meals I plan to make. My resolution is to only go to the supermarket once a week. I started last week & so far have stuck to it. Hopefully we will have variety & some savings as well.

Back to paid employment tomorrow.

Mothers Day...

Happy Mothers Day to all.

My Mothers Day was nearly perfect, nearly in the fact that my wishes to my mother were silent ones.

But we had a yummy lunch together, no housework to be done (as I did it all yesterday) & enjoyed myself doing things I like - baking & scrapping.

I was spoiled with gifts...

My favourite perfume to wear every day - Mediterranean by Elizabeth Arden. Even the bottle is my favourite colour.

And 2 new cookbooks to pour over. Hayley thinks I will whip up some vegetarian meals for her with this book to aid me!

Overall it has been a very nice weekend indeed.

Autumn days...

The leaves are falling, the air is cold, a little rain is falling & the days are getting shorter.



Winter is approaching.

Our mother...

While tracing our tree it has prompted us to look back at old photos.

I've scanned some of them & begun to preserve them in scrapbooks.

This one of our mother was taken when she was nearly 18. She has written To Mother from Margaret Xmas 1947. Thank goodness she did, it makes narrowing down a date much simpler!

Just beautiful.