This one is for me!

I am going to make myself one of Leonie's Wrap Vests
Actually, I think I might make 2, one knitted and one crocheted just like this one.
I found a jumper at the op-shop that I am going to recycle for my knitted version.

It can be mundane work un-doing a knitted jumper, sometimes frustrating but it is also exciting to think that I am going to have all of this wool for a measly $4!!
I have undone half of the jumper and I already have about 4-5 balls of wool. I reckon that is fantastical, not to mention slightly thrifty !!

This is how my wrap vest looks so far - knitted:

Now that I am about half way into this knitted version, my busy brain is starting to move into crochet mode... oh but what colour could I use??? Best I go and do some op-shopping!!!

We are getting back into the routine of things slowly now that Miss Abbey is in her second week back at school. We had a couple of little sleep-ins and getting to school just in time during the first week.
I think I like the relaxed mornings of the school holidays, the not having to be anywhere by a certain time and lets just take our time...
I do my best to not be rushed in the mornings before school, I like Miss Abbey to get herself organised then spend a short time playing with Miss Evie or drawing or sometimes cleaning up her never-tidy-can't-see-the-carpet-for-all-of-the-CRAFTY-STUFF  bedroom!!
Yes I do hear myself saying "Abbey you need to spend some time tidying up your room!". Almost everyday I am sure I make this comment either out aloud or silently in my mind.
I am not even going to allow myself to think into the future when Miss Abbey is a teenager.... I will allow myself to wish that she grasps the concept of organisation and tidying-up as you go! Fingers crossed!
After school activities are all go, we have 2 afternoons of activities and 3 afternoons of home time....
this is time for some reading...

and if the weather allows, some outdoor play time...

bubbles are our favourite at the moment...

Week 2 - July School Holidays

The weather was alot nicer during the second week and we enjoyed a morning down at our local beach.....so many pictures to have as memories of a sunny winter morning, strolling, talking, laughing, and lots of splashing in the water from little Miss Evie.

  

 

 

 

We finished our morning off with a little picnic before heading home for some quiet time....

Hooks and Needles

Any spare moment I have lately there has been non-stop clickety-clickety-click and hooky-hooky-hook. I am really enjoying creating anything with yarn.

Winter hats are my favourite, the pattern is here and it is very easy if you know how to crochet. So far I have made 7 of these hats, they make great gifts!
I have also made myself a pair of wrist warmers! The pattern is here and is quite easy - I did not add the fluffy bits though!

Also on the knitting needles in pink this time is another one of these

The pattern is here but is in French - I used Google Translator to translate the pattern and managed to follow it. I would like to make Miss Abbey one too, but I need to work out how to make a bigger size for her - I would love one too!!

Banana Bender Biscuits

Banana Bender Biscuits

makes about 24

Ingredients:

60g (2oz) butter

1 cup (7 oz) sugar

2 cups (12oz) mashed ripe banana

1 1/2 cups (6oz) sifted flour

1 teaspoon bicarbonate soda (baking soda)

1/2 teaspoon  salt

2 eggs, well beaten

1 1/2 cups (6oz) chopped pecan nuts*

Method:

Pre-heat oven to 150'C (300'F)> Pre-pare baking trays.

Cream together butter and sugar. Sift flour, bicarbonate soda and salt together and fold into the butter-sugar mixture. Mix in the beaten eggs, banana and nuts*.

Spoon drops of the mixture onto the pre-pared baking trays, allowing space between each biscuit.

Bake for 20-25 minutes. Turn onto wire racks to cool. 

Being rich and moist, these biscuits do not keep for very long.**

* I used sunflower seeds as I did not have any nuts in the pantry. I pulsed the sunflower seeds in blender for a short time before adding to the mixture. 

** I placed half of the biscuits in the freezer. The recipe does not state if they are suitable for freezing. I will advise in the near future.

NB - I also added 1/2 cup of dessicated coconut to this recipe.

Enjoy!

Recipe from: "The Complete Book of Baking", 

First published 1984 by Lansdowne-Rigby Publishers, 

reprinted 1988, reprinted by Ure-Smith Press 1990, 1992. 

ISBN 0725408081

{one of my favourite op-shop finds!}

Week 1 - July School Holidays

With a Monday sleep in of sorts and a quiet day at home, the rest of the first week of the July holidays was slightly hectic with early morning rises to get to swimming for Miss Abbey and afterwards included quick shops to the supermarket or op-shop, bank, and other miscellaneous errands... then home for Miss Evie to nap and time for cooking, housework, and down-time for Miss Abbey, also we had a couple of outdoor adventures while the sun was shining...

and a little cloudy ...

I have to include this....Miss Evie found a blue texta! She does enjoy drawing....

I'm not sure what her mission was, but it took some soap and warm water to remove most of the blue-ness!!