On My Mind - Mending

On my mind this Friday morning is mending.  Three of my four delicates bags suffered catastrophic holes in the week leading up to us leaving Queensland.  The consequence being that they dispel your 'delicates' mid wash. 

They have given us good service, as all have been in use since I left home six years ago.  Initially I thought I would just replace them when I got up here.  But yesterday I got to thinking - I put my Nanna hat on - that my Grandmothers' certainly wouldn't have thrown out something as mundane and prosaic as a delicates bag just because of a few holes; they would have mended them.  So, I did just that.  I stitched back up the holes.  Some of these bags have been mended multiple times now so they don't look pretty, but really who sees your delicates bags except you!  They will continue to serve their function just a while longer, and in the meantime that is money in the bank for us.

On My Mind: Chewy Health Slice

Joining Rhonda in sharing what has been on my mind.

Earlier in the week Katy of The Non-Consumer Advocate asked for a muslie bar recipe.  So, when I did the grocery shopping yesterday I grabbed the extra ingredients I needed to make up my favourite recipe - ALDI was out of dried apricots so I had to do an extra stop at Woolworths:)  Incidentally, ALDI has put up its price quite significantly on dried apricots - is this the same the world over?  There was even a sign explaining that a shortage of apricots meant regretably there had to be a price rise!

My recipe comes from my Mum's old copy of Mouthwatering Meatless Meals - a World Vision fundraiser. 

It is yummy!

Ingredients
1 cup wholemeal self raising flour
1/2 cup coconut
1/4 cup rolled oats
2 tbsp sunflower seeds
1 tbsp sesame seeds
1/2 cup chopped dried apricots
1/4 cup chopped dates
1/2 cup sultanas
1/2 cup chopped nuts
1/2 cup brown sugar
125g butter or margarine
2 dspn golden syrup ( I know this is hard to get in the US, perhaps molasses or maple syrup could be substituted)
vanilla essence or extract

Method
Melt butter and golden syrup.  Add to dry ingredients.  Mix thoroughly.  Press into flat tin.  Bake in moderate over for 20 minutes.

On My Mind...

Joining Rhonda in letting you know what is on my mind today....

I am thinking about planned and unplanned expenses.  No matter how careful you are with your money there are just some things you can't forsee.  Monty started limping Wednesday night.  Thursday morning I took him to the vet - he had torn his anterior cruciate ligament in one of his hind legs.  The Vet advised surgery; without it the problem would just get worse.  

Monty went under the knife this morning.  An unexpected $840 later, he has a prothesis in his leg and is lying in the portacot feeling miserable - we have put him in there to keep him away from Ginger while he recovers.  Turns out it can keep the baby in, or out!

On My Mind: Ginger's birthday

Joining in Rhonda's On My Mind series.

Ready for church last Sunday

Oh, my, where did the last year go? 

I can't believe my baby is a year old today. 

Ginger you are filling our days with a joy we can't explain. 

The sound of your laugh, you constant chatter, cuddles round the neck, your new lap sitting habits (she backs onto any available lap - including other childrens!), your curiousity and joy in life make you so much fun to be around.

I am privileged to call you my daughter.

Happy Birthday baby girl!

On My Mind: Neville

Joining in Rhonda's On My Mind series.

Late in spring (here in the Southern Hemisphere) we put in a watermelon vine from the local country markets.  Recently it grew a watermelon. 

My husband named it Neville.  His (the watermelon's, that is) little sister was called Ophelia.  [My husband is following cyclone nomenclature here - alternating male and female names in alphabetical order]  Ophelia met a sad end when a possum ate her.  Fortunately DH had already constructed a possum proof safety net over Neville when this tragedy occurred.  We actually didn't think Ophelia was big enough yet to need protecting, but we are new to this gardening game and it turned out she was still attractive possum food. 

We harvested Neville yesterday and hope that we will get another watermelon before the weather turns too cold.

On My Mind: Baking Day

As per last week, I am joining in Rhonda's On My Mind series.

I had a baking day yesterday to restock the freezer.  In retrospect I think I bit off a bit more than I could chew as by mid afternoon I couldn't face going back into the kitchen to make tea and Ginger's patience had definitely run out!  Fortunately, I had some pizza bases I had prepared a few weeks earlier in the freezer so we didn't succumb to the lure of takeaway!  I think this is an important money saving tool - pre-prepared or partially made meals you can whip out at a moment's notice and have dinner on the table even if you can't face cooking.

My baking used up lots of the floaters in our cupboard - Gingercake (recipe here) used up some lurking glace ginger, the fruit cake some currants bought for Christmas (recipe here), lunchtime chapattis (not pictured, but recipe from the Hairy Biker's Cookbook) some wholemeal flour which I wasn't sure whether was plain or self-raising (must label, label, label....) and the custard cookies (recipe here) custard powder I bought 4 years ago!  Most satisfactory!  The white container is yoghurt being made

And, now there can be no further complaints from DH that there is nothing left in the freezer for him to take for morning tea.  He does like a daily sweet treat.  The bread will be put to work for lunch today - I am thinking cheese and tomato toasties.

On My Mind: Homemade birthday

Joining in with Rhonda's 'on my mind' blog link-up today.

Making Ginger's homemade birthday presents is on my mind today; we a trying to ensure most of what she will receive from us is homemade.  I want the day to be special, to say "we are so glad you came to join us".  Less than two months to go - I can't believe she is has been with us for ten and half months!

With DH out field this week I have made quite a lot of progress.....most of the bunting is cut out (if not sewn), her doll's quilt is made and so is a steiner baby doll (following instructions from this book).  I have tried to use stash materials as much as possible, but had to buy fabric for her bunting - fortunately Lincraft is having a 50% off fabric sale.  The wool stuffing for the doll I was given by the owner of our local sheepskin product shop.  He gave me offcuts from his chair covers - so kind and I had just enough to fill the doll.

Still in the works are a birthday crown, some hanging decorations, the sheets and pillowcase for her (yet to be) restored $9 thrifted doll's cot - her Daddy is in charge of the cot itself and a Daddy-made play kitchen.