Happy Valentine's Day

The last of our Peaches I'm going to miss them in our morning porridge!


Happy Valentine's Day everyone!! Or as it's known in our house - Happy Fluffy Puff Day!
( The recipe was on an earlier blog). It's been such a lovely day today. We had some
special friends and my sister over for lunch.


Shared a vaguely Lebanese style lunch and
of course the Fluffy Puffs. It was good to take time out of the busy week and spend it relaxing
with my beloveds.

Chocolate Gugelhupf or Yeast cake for Valetine's Day

Classes have started and we're all happily busy with phone lessons (German, Biology, Chemistry and English) and attendance classes in Catering and Programming. I've learnt how to make a simple (and utterly useless) calculator and make a form that tells me my name. LOL ( Good for when my old-timers ailments start) But I've really enjoyed it. Probably cos it's in the morning and I think best then. (After lunch I usually need my Nana Nap)


OOh and I spent my birthday money too. I finally got the Knit-picks interchangeable needles - the Harmony Wood. Got MnM the steel ones last year and they were lovely but I preferred the wood. We can always share them now as both sets are interchangeable with each other.

There was a down side. I have to order the folder separately , which I didn't know and also the smallest needles (3.5) aren't screwing all the way down. I checked MnM's set and her largest needle has the same problem, only more so. I rang the Button Bar where we bought them and a lovely young woman ( Helena) said she had the same problem and just to try and push whatever is blocking it into the needle (with a tapestry needle) and if it doesn't work to bring them back. So I'll try that later and see how I go.

She also encouraged me to try the

Magic Loop

method for circular knitting and it works a treat. I've started the sleeve on a fairly long cable and its just so cool!! No dpns , no losing needles etc.

Today I'm grateful for easy, tasty recipes that don't take forever so I can spend time with everyone. And automatic front- loading washing machines. They clean my clothes gently, use less water and water my garden.
Valetine's Day is for all who love - Does that mean my chookies are my valentines 'cos they sure love me in the mornings when they're fed, in the evenings when they're put to bed and when they leave little presents on the paving when they escape. : )

huggs Little Ma

Squeezing Stuff in!!

Hi All
Hasn't this first month of 2008 gone by so fast!!!
We've been keeping busy with lots of craft and cooking. Our two favourite things to do. This is a "Sour Cream Choc Cake." I got the recipe from a book called "CRAVE a passion for chocolate"by Maureen McKeon. It has lots of pics, mmmmm. This book is one I will be putting on my xmas wish list, which is growing all the time.

This week we discoved a great way of drying the baby beanies I've made.

It's a small dessert bowl on top of a glass. It is a great way to help keep its shape.
A while ago Little Ma spun some Camel down and Tussah Silk. So while the Aussie Open was on this year I made a capelet and Little Ma made a shawl from it. Both of us wanted to try a stitch called 'Solomon's knot." We both started to crochet freestyle.



On the Capelet we chose a button that was made out of coconut. We both fell in love with it as soon as we saw it.
Until next time MnM :)


Hi I was just feeling crappy 'cos the Angel was getting on my nerves ( Instructions are yuk and the fiddly stuff makes me feel like I'm getting no-where) the Ice Queen cowl needs concentration which I've been lacking in the hot weather( air con is not working and the fan is just not enough . Why did I get rid of the pool - silly, silly me ) and I needed something interesting yet easy. My crocheted vest is boring me as well - possibly cos' it's the third time the bodice down has been worked. So I've started a kid's jumper with a round fair Isle Pattern around the shoulders. I feel so much better even doing the rib. Guess I just needed to knit SOMETHING!! I'm using some beautiful soft handspun wool from a lady (Irene Paine) who has passed away. I know her daughter-in-law, Beverley Paine, who passed on the wool to me. I wish I could have met her and told her how lovely her spinning was and how much I am appreciating knitting with it.
I'm going to go and knit some more . i think I'm ready to do the stocking stitch part - I can't believe I'm so excited to start that part. LOL


Oh , and what I'm grateful for today is being able to borrow books from the library. Less clutter at home and cheaper! Always a plus. I can check out books and decide if I really really need to have that one at home.
Huggs Little Ma