XX............

                                                                                   

                                                                                 

A mantle re-claimed..............

Hello there...fancy a few pretties today?? Right then..............

                                                                                   

Actually I really just snapped a few of these pics out of pure excitement at having got back ownership of the mantle, after our now-ten-year-old took it over for a good few weeks with all her birthday cards.............

                                                                                 

But now they have been safely packed away (did someone mention hoarder-in-the-making??) and I can start throwing about the usual dust collectors objects d'farm.............

                                                                                 

Have a lovely Thursday.............we are off to the dentist. Yep...I really know how to entertain the kids in the holidays.....fun fun fun!!!..............

                                                                                 

See you soon............



                                           Janelle  xx
                                                                          

Going Random!!...................

Hey there...how's the week treating you? We are cruising along nicely thanks. Today I'm not exactly sure what it is I'm posting about...always a good thing I'm sure?!! So, in the words of my children, we are going 'random'!!......
Beginning with what is becoming an everyday occurrance around here at the moment......frosty white EXTREMELY CHILLY mornings..............

                                                                               

                                                                                 
Cold..............

                                                                                 

But pretty...............

                                                                                   

And onto totally unrelated subjects......we have been baking.....again............

                                                                                   

Errmmm......in the kitchen?........

                                                                                 

And I'm still enjoying these little pretties so they are being forced upon you as well.......

                                                                                 

With an extreme close-up...........

                                                                               

And with that I shall wish you a Happy Wednesday and be off to enjoy some of this sunshine.....

                                                                                   

                                                                               

While it lasts!!................


                                  Janelle  xx
                                                                       
                                                                         

Outside Play...............

Morning!!............

                                                                                 

We are enjoying a slow, pj wearing, week-2-of-the-school-holidays morning here today............

                                                                                 

And yesterday we enjoyed a sunny but chilly but still lovely day outside in the garden...............

                                                                                   

We've been lucky so far this Winter to be blessed with so much sunshine and bright blue skies..........

                                                                                     

Definitely helps to keep the Winter blues away.............

                                                                                   

And fantastic for keeping the noise kids outside..............

                                                                                 

And it's looking to be the same today.................

                                                                                 

                                                                                 

 So I am off to pull on the gumboots and beanie and step out to play...............

                                                                                   

Wishing you a fab week ahead..................


                                                Janelle  xx                                                                      

Basic Cookies...............

Morning.....thought I'd take some time out from refereeing my children's squabbles  the holiday fun and share a little recipe love........

                                                                                   

I discovered the recipe in an old Donna Hay kids magazine and it is fab!! We use it heaps as it is quick, easy and relatively mess free......(I did say relatively remember..).......

                                                                                   

We pull this one out to make stars and trees at christmas time.....hearts, flowers and numbers at birthday times.....and pretty much whatever shapes we feel like at every other time.....very handy!!............

                                                                               

                                                                                  

(Must say this pic totally creeps me out.....looks a little too much like a certain creepy crawly that I have a huuuuge phobia of?!?)................

                                                                                   

                                                                                   

 Ok....so on with this recipe....as I said it's pretty much a copy of a Donna Hay recipe but I do feel it's my biscuit-loving duty to share it around......in the mag it is called a Basic Cookie Dough so we'll go with that..............

                                                                                 

 
                                                                               
                                                          Basic Cookie Dough 


Ingredients........

250gm (8 3/4 oz) butter, softened

3/4 cup caster sugar (I have used 'normal' white sugar and even raw sugar. They work fine but the cookie does have a grainier texture)

2 teaspns vanilla extract

1 egg yolk

2 1/4 cups plain flour, sifted

icing sugar, to serve

Method.......

1. Place the butter and sugar in a bowl and beat together until pale and creamy. Add the vanilla and egg yolk and beat until well combined.

2. Add the sifted flour and beat until a smooth dough forms.
(ok..here I actually stir the flour in by hand with a spatula because (sob sob) I only have a hand-held electric beater who's motor would probably blow up at this stage but if you are one of the lucky ones who do indeed own a free-standing mixer (kitchen aid?? Sigh............) then go for it...just don't brag about it please.....)

3. Divide the dough into four portions, wrap each portion in plastic wrap and place in the fridge for approx 15 minutes.

4. Preheat your oven to 180 degrees

5. Roll out each portion of dough between 2 sheets of baking paper until 3mm (1/8") thick. Remove paper and use cookie cutter to cut shapes. Place cookies on lined baking trays and bake for about 8 minutes. Cool on wire racks.

6. Dust with icing sugar to serve.

                                                                                 

What's also great about these is that if you don't want to bake all the cookies at once you can freeze, say, 2 of the portions of dough then one day when you suddenly realize you have nothing to feed your staaaarrrrving children for afternoon tea you can whip out the cookie dough from your freezer, let it defrost, roll, cut and bake and shut your children up feed your lovelies...........

                                                                                 

 

It is also something fun to make with your kids (school hols??) and you can really adapt and add anything that takes your fancy......choc-chips, smarties, jam......go for it.............

                                                                                 

I'm off to warm up by the fire....it's turned chilly around these parts today.............

Have a great Thursday.....

Happy Baking!!!................


                                    Janelle  xx                                                                  

Bargain boasting..............

Well Hello there!! Are we having a good start to the week?? We are on school holidays here for the next two weeks so things are working a little slower for us. I do like that. So.........onto homewares I say.............

                                                                                 

We are really lucky here in my local town to have the best bargain shop. Of course there is the usual bargainy cheap I'll-fall-apart-if-you-look-at-me items hanging about in there but amongst these there is always some type of treasure lurking about......

                                                                                 

Such as this cute little sign I found the other day......nice yes??................

                                                                                 

I'm considering popping a jar next to it for the kids' loose change. Though I'm sure that would backfire on me and I'd just end up with stinky unwashed children..........

                                                                                   

I think it will make it's way onto a vintage? hook on the bathroom door. Until then I'm enjoying some fun and happy snaps with it.............

                                                                                 

 

  So how about you? Sniffed out any bargains of late??.......

                                                                                   

                                                                             

I'm off to read a mag enjoy my children's company.............

Have a happy week.................


                                      Janelle  xx                                                                        

Happy Sunday................

Hey there! Not much to share today really.......

                                                                               

Just popping in to make sure you're having a happy day........

                                                                                   

We're enjoying a relaxing day of doing not much at all...............

                                                                                 

And loving every minute of it!!..............

                                                                               

Have a good one.....

And see you soon...............


                                 Janelle  xx