Ruby Bay

After a long and busy week of cleaning, sewing, cooking, eating , organising, Birthdays and parties, we felt we needed to head out and blow off the cobwebs a little.
Join us on our family Sunday.

It was quite cold and a little misty, but it wasn't raining and it was a great day for a walk. We called and invited Auntie Beebs and her super cute teddy bear  dog, Miffy to come along.

We headed for Ruby Bay where there is a lovely little secluded beach and a good walk to the Lady's tower. What fun!

Fraser and Miffy in action

And not too far behind ......

Fraser is so proud he was allowed to hold Miffy's lead.

A small history lesson - these concrete pillars used to be a common sight around the coastline. They were put in place during world war 2 so that tanks could not be landed onto and driven up the beach. I learned something new today!

The view from behind the pillars. Back the way we came.

The pink wellie girls!

The Lady's tower.

Inside there was a fire place

It didn't occur to me how ridiculous this was until we got home. Surely if it is cold enough to require that a fire be lit, then it is surely too cold to go "bathing in the sea". No?

Fraser taking a better look up the chimney

My weary girl on the walk back to the beach

Treasures in little hands

And tiny treasures in my hand

(she had her nails painted for her pink Birthday party yesterday. I love how they are all chipped as they have been so busy )

Back to the car.

I

Sundays

 xx

Linking up with

Time travelling .........

Tonight I am travelling back in time. Isn't it funny how your mind can take you straight back into a period of time, never more so than if it is an important time in your life. You can almost relive it in your mind. Sometimes it can be a date to take you back, sometimes a smell. Maybe the notes of a song can drift you along to a special time or place.


 Today my baby turned 4. My beautiful honeymoon angel. Exactly 4 years ago from now, after a 58 hour labour, I pushed our beautiful little Princess out and into the world. My little superwoman emerged right arm first and we knew straight away she was going to be a force to be reckoned with. Luckily in a good way!


I remember being astonished by how warm she was when I held her for the first time! She was so beautiful and so perfect. I can almost smell her sweet soft little head.

I can't believe it is 4 years since I experienced this moment.

Meeting her big brother for the first time

I so wish we got Fraser's face better in this, but I do think we can see it all from the side

We brought her home

And we loved on her and loved on her until she grew

and grew.

Then she started to crawl, most of the photos have been blurry since then ;)

This girl is NEVER still!

But she is smily!!

She is a very Beautiful........

Oh so funny......

Mummy's girl!

AND she is 4!

Happy Day Baby girl xx

I always feel very emotional on my children's Birthdays, especially with Kirsten. She will be our last baby and I feel a bit sad to know I will never experience this age again. I am always very aware of their childhoods slipping through my fingers.


I am ever so grateful to be able to slip back in time now and again,for those songs and special dates that jog my memory back into those specific times. Sometimes I just need  to remind myself that we have, in fact, treasured these moments. We do revel in the small things every day, I have held their tiny and not so tiny hands. I breathe in their sweetness and snuggle their little warm selves.


I have loved them with every fibre of my being from the moment I knew of their existence and can comfort myself with the knowledge that I can do so forever.


I have enjoyed my journey tonight. Thankyou for sharing it with me.


Happy Birthday baby girl xxxx






Here is our song x






Ps. I made it all pink , all for you!

O . M . G(lee) !!

I am soooooo excited!!!

 Look what my sweet family bought for me!

I am away to put my things in it!

yay

AND it is Glee night tonight.!

 *sigh* does it get much better than this??

Coconut Cupcakes with vanilla buttercream

These were yummy! So yummy in fact that I stole one while they were cooling I iced it and hid in the kitchen cupboard (away from the kids)  to eat it!

I think I might make some more for the Birthday  that is coming up later this week!

Makes 12

110g Butter

180g caster sugar

2 lge eggs

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

1/8 tsp almond extract (optional)

125g SR flour - sifted

120g Plain flour - sifted

125ml coconut milk

25g desicated coconut

- Preheat oven to 160c

- Cream butter and sugar with hand mixer

- Add eggs one at a time, mixing in between. Add vanilla and almond at the end.

- Combine the two flours in a seperate bowl

- Add 1/3 of the flour mix to the creamed mixture and beat well.

-Pour in 1/3 of the coconut milk and beat again

- Repeat steps until all the flour and milk have been added

- Fold in the desiccated coconut using a metal spoon

- Spoon into the cupcake cases - fill to 2/3 full

- Bake in the oven for 25 mins

- Cool in tins for 10 mins before moving to cooling rack

Vanilla buttercream

110g Butter at room temp

60ml milk at room temp

1 tsp vanilla extract

500g icing sugar - sifted

- few drops colouring (optional)

- Beat in butter, milk , vanilla and half icing sugar until smooth.

- Gradually add the remainder of the icing sugar and beat until buttercream is smooth and creamy.

Add colouring 1 drop at a time and beat well.

** I didn't add colouring as I wanted pink but had no red colouring and they still looked sweet. Actually no one noticed the icing as they were inhaled in around 10 mins.

**Also I used muffin sized cases and it made 12 so I guess this is the right size to use

Just around the corner ......

Nope, sorry this post is not about the gorgeous little book shop from You've got mail   (which, incidently, is one of my most favourite films of all time!)

Not a lot happens on a Sunday in my city. Sundays usually involve a lot of family time, wonderful for us , not much to write about. So this is only my second time joining in.

 I love winter, I love the crisp coldness and all of the festive fun. I still like January and February , but not nearly as much. It is wet, it is grey , it is freezing with  gale force winds blasting the sleet and snow into your face.

I know most people are getting fed up with this winter, all of the extreme weather, not to mention all of the snow. So, I decided , what we all need is a little reminder of what is just around the corner. I thought I might share some of our sunshine from last spring. I hope this still counts, it was a Sunday, I remember because it was Easter Sunday.

We were staying with my parents while our house was being renovated, so these pics were taken in their garden. it was an unusually warm day and it was a joy to be outside , enjoying the colours and sunshine of a lazy spring afternoon.

I love Daisies

You can just see the buds beginning to unfurl on the trees

This is Misty, our family Moggy. This puss is a legend!

(Sami, this is the one I think looks like your kitty)

And Tigra who was enjoying soaking in all the warmth

Kirsten and Daddy

We weren't the only ones who thought it was a good day to be out at the seaside. Plenty of people out sailing.

Linking up with Unknown Mami who hosts Sundays in my city. Follow us around the world peeking into the lives and Cities of others xx

warming winter soup

I got this recipe at my slimming class on Monday night. I thought I would share as it certainly doesn't taste "slimming" and is so hearty and warming. Just what I need today as it is blowing a gale and hammering snow and sleet , not a good recipe for the nursery run :( EVERYONE took their cars so I had to park so far away! We were soaked through by the time we got home.

Sweet potato and lentil soup

1 1/2 Tsp curry powder
1 1/2 onions (finely chopped)
1/2  apple (grated)
2 garlic cloves (crushed or chopped finely)
1 1/2 inch piece of ginger (grated)
1 1/12 lbs sweet potato (chopped finely)
1 1/2 pints stock ( I used chicken)
3 oz red lentils
1/4pint skimmed milk
juice 1/2 lime
spray oil (or could substitute with 1 tbsp olive oil if you are not a chubster like me ;) )

- Toast curry powder - medium heat for approx 2 mins
- add oil
- add onions, apple, ginger and garlic. Gently cook for 5 mins stirring occassionally
- add stock, sweet potato , lentils and milk.
- check for seasoning
- cover and simmer for approx 20 mins
- blend until smooth
- stir in lime juice


This is the first time I have made it, I think next time I will add 2 pints of stock, as this recipe makes  a very thick soup.

Kitty in the corner

Here is Meaty, working hard alongside Lor and I on Sat night.

In amongst all of the devestation creating. I was sitting beside her sewing bows. Hmm I though she was looking all lovingly at me, maybe she was after the thread again! No chance puss!