Kyra Made A Snowman!

While we're sweltering Down Under younger family members in Canada and the UK have been making snowmen...

Emily found some great snow near Lancaster and played on her sled...

Sadly it began to rain on William's "snowman" near Manchester...

Aaah, to be a child again.

Priscilla and Kyra are also making coloured ice marbles in balloons but they had slightly warmer temps yesterday so they haven't frozen yet.

It's quite cool outside in the mornings now and quite delightful!

Enjoy your day,
Love from Sue
xox

Twitch Pics

There's not a lot going on around home today so here are a few Twitchie photos! The back garden has been weeded within an inch of it's life so Himself has had to re-resort to eating our herbs!

He's been enjoying the sage in the pot at the back, it's neatly mown now!

Hooroo!
xxx

Some Knitting Fun

I really had "busted my stash" of cottons for washcloths during recent cricket and tennis matches on telly so decided to treat myself to some new yarn from Spotlight. This gorgeous cotton is called Filou by Vera Moda  and is strap-like and very soft, it knits up quickly on 5mm needles (32sts) and I've already made 2 washcloths from one ball of green...

I liked the look and the price of these fancy scarf yarns...$2 for a ball of Lily Mesh...you knit into the loops at the side with these yarns so that was a fun challenge. I knit the pink scarf in one afternoon, again on 5mm needles and just 6 stitches...

 The finished scarf looks like a chrysanthemum!

I saw my first ever wild sulphur crested cockatoos this weekend near Mum and Dad's house. Climate changes are pushing these beautiful birds closer to the cities as they search for food. These 3 were grazing with a small flock of galahs...not the best photo sorry but can you see the yellow crest on the one on the left?

We are enjoying quiet days at home, 33C is forecast for today but the mornings are quite cool and lovely.
Hope you all have a super week,
Love from Sue
xx

Feelin' Good?

This good????

 lol No groaning, thank you!

Hope you have a great weekend!
Seeya next week
xxx

A Nana Fun Day

Yesterday I was asked to look after Jess and Liv for a few hours while their parents attended an appointment. They came over around 9.30am and set to work on some puzzle magazines I'd saved for them and a late breakfast of orange juice and toast. Jessica had written me a very loving letter.

A phone message came from Gordie with the generous offer to pay if we wanted go out and "do something" special so I asked if they'd like to go to Chipmunks which is a short drive away. To see their faces light up was special indeed so we hunted for socks to fit them(Socks must be worn in the playground), got a water bottle and off we went...

The place is huge and very well designed with lots of friendly staff keeping an eye on the children. There is plenty of seating, a nice cafe and there were 6 birthday parties going on yesterday as well as 2 daycare groups using the facility but there was still plenty of room for every-one. After lunch 4 characters came on stage to mime and dance to popular music and the younger children had a ball dancing...

The main reason I took the girls here and it cost $12.90 each for them to get in, instead of going to a free park, was that it was an air-conditioned indoor activity so there was no danger of sunburn. We stayed for 2 1/2 hours but could have stayed all day if we'd wanted to. Would take some sandwiches next time as the cafe was rather pricey.

So home we went, back to the puzzles and when Gordie came to collect them he had a lovely surprise for me, his cousin Tommy whom I hadn't seen for 13 years! Tommy got involved with the girls' crosswords and we all had a good laugh...have asked for a photo of the two cousins together, it's lovely to see them so close. Gordie was 6 yrs old when Tom was born and he used to carry him around and rock him to sleep.

After they'd left I came in here to my pc and Jessie and had typed this on the screen
""My nana sue is the Awesomest Nana in the world and She loves me, I love her 2!" 

That's all for today,
Must go and stuck into my housework methinks
Love from Sue
xx

Striking Frangipani

I'm not sure if every-one knows how very easy it is grow a new frangipani tree from an off-cut but it really is.

Several months back, when the deciduous tree had lost all it's leaves, Dad and Steve-next-door cut 2 straight 'branches' from one of Steve's gorgeous trees. I left them outdoors for around 4 weeks to dry out somewhat...they didn't die but actually began to sprout new leaves. Then I popped them into plant pots of tomatoes and today they're both thriving...2 beautiful new trees for free! Their perfume is so sweet and so evocative of hot summer nights, one of my new plants looks like it's going to flower before long...

With camera still in hand I sneaked up on Brer Rabbit, asleep on the tiles at the front door...

Up close and personal with Mr Kissy-Face...lol

We had a lovely dinner last night ...

Home-made beefburgers(mince, an egg, chutney and oatmeal), home-made sweet potato wedges(coated with oil and seasonings, baked at 200C for 40mins) and home-made mashed avocado(with fresh lime juice, chopped tomato and garlic). Not bad for the "night before shopping day" and all delicious and thrifty.

Joe is having all those stitches out today and then we are off to Fremantle for his appt with the Oral Team who are keeping an eye on his amazing ability to form cysts in his sinus cavities! That will give me the chance to shop at the wonderful Italian Greengrocery on Wray avenue...their prices are very good.

Wishing you a lovely week, peaceful beats exciting for us these days!
Love from Sue
xxx

Joe's Putanesca Sauce

Close your eyes and imagine the wonderful rich and garlicky fragrance of this delicious dish...

Joe has been craving putanesca sauce after reading about it somewhere. He added anchovies to the shopping list this week and yesterday spent a very pleasurable hour making this sauce and the spaghetti. It was very hard to concentrate on the tennis with such a fabulous smell drifting through the house!

You'll need:

1/3 cup of olive oil
10 anchovies(a small jar)
8 whole garlic cloves
1/2 t dried chilli flakes
a red and a green fresh chilli, chopped
1 tin of chopped tomatoes
1 cup of passata(pureed tomato)
2 t capers
12 pitted and halved black olives
5 chopped garlic cloves
1/3 cup chopped parsley(Joe used basil)
1 T basil

Heat the oil and gently fry the whole garlic cloves and the anchovies until the garlic is lightly browned and the anchovies fall apart.
Cook the chillies for a few seconds and then add the tomatoes, passata, capers and olives and simmer for around 30 minutes.
Add the chopped garlic and herbs and simmer for another 5 minutes.
Serve over pasta.

There is quite some debate about whether or not to add parmesan cheese to this dish, "experts" say that where you have anchovies in the dish you should never have cheese too...it certainly didn't need it. Some people dislike anchovies but they break right down and just add a lovely saltiness to the sauce. Perfecto!

Joe went to Perth on the train on Monday to see his dermatologist. I thought it was just a regular check-up so stayed at home but he had 3 BCCs removed and had about 16 stitches in his chin and his back. He never complains but I know he is very sore. Hopefully they will be benign, they usually are.

Thank you every-one for your kind thoughts and words about Priscilla's progress yesterday, she reads all the comments and is buoyed by knowing so many people care about her and her family.

Hope you have a lovely weekend,
A little more weeding is on my horizon!
Sue
xxx

Priscilla Update

Our dear Priscilla has had scans recently that show the tumour has stopped growing although it is still alive. Her doctors decided to try a different approach to her treatment and this week she had another biospy; several pieces of tumour were removed and will be treated with various chemotherapy drugs to see which will be the best option.
The biopsy was very painful as Priscillas' nerves have wrapped around the tumour, I think she is incredibly brave. This poster was on her facebook page recently and says it all...

Other family news is that her hubby, Will, has passed his lorry driving test and that should increase his income, especially important while Priss is unable to work.
Darling Kyra turned 4 years of age last week...time really does fly...here she's trying out some new dance moves!...

What a cutie-pie she is!

Thank you as always to every-one who keeps this family in their hearts and minds, prayers and hopes.

Love from Sue
xxx

Fiona

A very special friend died on Friday after battling cancer for many years. Fiona was sparkly bright, compassionate, giving, intelligent, caring and creative, a mature age qualified teacher who sadly never got to practise her skills with her own class.

Fiona quickly offered me a room in her home when my first marriage ended and always asked how I was over the following years. We worked together as teachers' assistants for one wonderful year, she lit up the room with her enthusiasm and her special needs child, Kye, had every advantage available as Fee learned more about his condition and put recommended practices into place.

When I told her I had "met" Joe on the internet she quickly 'checked him out' and they became great friends. On our wedding day she borrowed the school camera and took most of the photos of our special day. I took the camera off her and took this beautiful photo of Fiona and her husband, Wayne...

Then she went to our house and decorated the garden for our reception with candles and stars and set out tables and chairs. Fee had already painted these beautiful glasses for our gift, they only come out at Christmas so highly are they regarded...

Fiona belonged to a Medieval Society and enjoyed re-enacting life from days of yore. She made her own costumes and loved to get away for a few days to Balingup to join in the festivities there. This photo was taken at the Rockingham Foreshore 3 years ago...Fee in sunglasses and the red and black costume was the marshal as the knights battled...

It's taken 5 days for it to really sink in that she's gone, only 47 yrs of age, wife, mother of 3 young adults and Nan to 2 little boys. How can it be true?
A glamorous photo as befits some-one who will be forever young, R.I.P. We love you so.

13.12.1965 - 11.01.2013 Passed away peacefully at home. 

Hallo!

Well I must wish you all a very happy and healthy New Year from the bottom of my heart.

My absence has been caused by several things.
Blogger has begun charging once the size of the blog reaches 1GB and at $2.49US a month this sounded reasonable. Once it had gone through my bank it became over $5 a month~~$60 a year for the rest of my life and then what? I started trying to reduce the size of my photos which had little impact and now I have deleted all my Canada and Paris posts to get under the required limit.
I am still going through posts and reducing photo sizes (in pixels not cms) and there are some gaping holes that need to be plugged! Bear with me please.

To check your own blog picasaweb.google.com is the address...scroll down to the very bottom and in very small print you can see how much storage you have used.

Perth has just sweltered through a heatwave of 7 days with the temps over 38C, it was over 42C in our garden every day and it is not conducive to sitting in a very hot room blogging. We've just had another few days of very high temps too, this house is not air-conditioned but Elizabeth has helped us to buy a portable air-con which has saved my sanity!

 The Down To Earth forums have had a HUGE influx of new members since the beginning of the month...too many people feeling overwhelmed by their spending over the silly season, others wishing to join the new de-cluttering challenges to keep on top of their housework; Becci is also running a crochet along this year for beginners and more experienced crocheters so if you still haven't joined the forums then what are you waiting for?

So there you have my excuses!
I have still been knitting and cooking, no baking as Joe is still ploughing through all my Christmas cookies and cake! Cricket and tennis are on telly all day and night and provide a lovely distraction from the heat!
I'll be back!
Love from Sue
xx

Happy Christmas

I would like to wish you all a very joyful Christmas and much happiness and great health in the New Year.
Enjoy your holiday and please take care when travelling.

Happy Christmas,
Love from Sue
xx

Austin's First Birthday

Our youngest grandchild, Austin, turned 1 yrs old yesterday in Ottawa, what a Love he is...

Much love to you, Austin, from Nana and Grandad in Australia
xoxo

Just adding this pic of him eating his first birthday cake, it made me laugh

The Knit Before Christmas

I just have to share this with you, it made me laugh and gets better each time I read it...

‘Twas the night before Christmas and all around me
Was unfinished knitting not under the tree.
The stockings weren’t hung by the chimney with care
’cause the heels and the toes had not a stitch there.

The children were nestled all snug in their beds
but I had not finished the caps for their heads.
Dad was asleep; he was no help at all,
And the sweater for him was six inches too small.

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I put down my needles to see what was the matter.
Away to the window, I flew like a flash,
Tripped over my yarn and fell down with a crash.

The tangle of yarn that lay deep as the snow
Reminded me how much I still had to go.
Out on my lawn, I heard such a noise,
I thought it would wake both dad and the boys.

And though I was tired, my brain was a bit thick,
I knew in a moment, it must be Saint Nick.
But what I heard then left me perplexed-ed,
For not a name I heard was what I had expected
“move, Ashford; move, Lopi; move, Addie and Clover
Move, Reynolds; move, Starmore; move, Fraylic–move
over”
“Paton, don’t circle round; stand in line.

Come now, you sheep wool work just fine!
I know this is hard; it’s just your first year,
I’d hate to go back to eight tiny reindeer.”
I peered over the sill; what I saw was amazing,
Eight woolly sheep on my lawn all a’grazing.

And then,in a twinkle, I heard at the door
Santa’s feet coming across the porch floor.
I rose from my knees and got back on my feet,
And as I turned round, Saint Nick, I did meet.

He was dressed all in wool from his head to his toe
And his clothes were handknit from above to below.
A bright Fairisle sweater he wore on his back,
and his toys were all stuffed in an Aran knit sack.
His cap was a wonder of bobbles and lace,
A beautiful frame for his rosy red face.

The scarf round his neck could have stretched for a
mile,
And the socks peeking over his boots were Argyle.
The back of his mittens bore an intricate cable,
And suddenly on one I spied a small label.
SC was duplicate stitched on the cuff,
and I asked “Hey Nick, did you knit all this stuff?”

He proudly replied “Ho-ho-ho, yes I did,
I learned how to knit when I was a kid.”
He was chubby and plump, a quite well-dressed old man,
And I laughed to myself for I’d thought up a plan.

I flashed him a grin and jumped up in the air,
And the next thing he knew he was tied to a chair.
He spoke not a word, but looked in his lap
Where I’d laid my needles and yarn for a cap.

He quickly began knitting, first one cap then two;
For the first time I thought I’d really get through.
He put heels on the stockings and toes in some socks
While I sat back drinking Scotch on the rocks!!

So quickly like magic, his needles they flew,
That he was all finished by quarter to two.
He sprang for his sleigh when I let him go free,
And over his shoulder he looked back at me.
And I heard him exclaim as he sailed past the moon
“Next year start your knitting sometime around June.”

-Author Unknown

Zucchini Pancakes or Fritters

I made these two nights ago and they were tasty and fluffy, quite nice cold too if you have leftovers.

You'll need ...

2-3 cups of grated zucchini
1/2 cup of wholemeal flour
1/4 cup of parmesan or cheddar cheese
3 finely chopped spring onions
1/2 teaspoon of baking powder
2 eggs
salt and pepper

Make a batter by mixing the whole lot together and shallow fry until brown on both sides, serve and enjoy.

This next recipe comes from The Thrifty Kitchen by Suzanne Gibbs and her daughter, Kate Gibbs. I have made a few changes.

Crispy Coconut Oat Biscuits

You'll need

250 gms softened butter
2/3 cup brown sugar
1 egg
2 T treacle or golden syrup
1 cup bran, I used oat bran
3/4 cup wholemeal flour
1 cup of white flour
1 t baking powder
1 cup of dessicated coconut
1/2 cup seeds or chopped nuts
1/2 cup sultanas

Cream the butter and work in the sugar, egg and treacle or syrup
Fold in the remaining ingredients and knead lightly
Shape into golf ball sized balls and place on greased trays, press lightly
Bake at 180C for around 20 minutes

I made 20 last time and they are lovely big biscuits which freeze well.

Speaking of food have you tried Narelle's Apricot Slice yet? It lasts well, requires no cooking and makes a beautiful gift, my apricots are waiting in the pantry! I can't believe I don't have a photo but you can enjoy looking at Narelle's pics :)

I'm laughing because a certain Funny Bunny just ran in here as fast as he could and went straight back out again! Yesterday I spent some time looking at vintage rabbit images on-line...this one was painted in 1503, it's a hare I believe and I really like it...Elizabeth is painting Twitch at the moment but having lots of trouble with the variations of colour in his coat. I can't wait 'til she's finished.

Bye bye for now,
Love from Sue
xxx

Santa Came to Tee-ball

As it was the last matches before a Christmas and summer holiday break a special visitor arrived on a huge shiny motor bike...he parked the bike and shouted "Hallo everybody" and then broke into a gangnam style dance much to our delight...next he lined up the two teams and wished them a very happy Christmas before tossing a big bag of lollies/sweets to each child and a fair few of their younger siblings;

Jess waits her turn, Ally and Olivia are just behind her...

Our wonderful couch, Caroline Crouch, had already given out bags containing chocs, sweets and a huge balloon and the season ended on a high note.

I can't thank Caroline and the other coaches enough for all the hours they put in voluntarily  to make childrens' sports a reality. They are a fantastic!!

Enjoy your week,
Sue
xx

December 12, 2012

It was my birthday yesterday...12/12/12. I was born in 1956 and turned 56 yrs of age...the numbers were very unique. It was also our 11th Wedding Anniversary and despite some-one only "giving us 6 months" we've never been closer.

Thunderstorms were forecast but we went out anyway, up to the New Moon Restaurant in Northbridge for a Dim Sum lunch. We were seated quickly and served green tea and then the dishes started coming. Ginger duck, chicken and mushroom in a steamed rice parcel wrapped in a lotus leaf, chilli mussels, steamed pork dumplings and almond and prawn cakes...it was all delicious and eaten too quickly to photograph, sorry!

Then we walked up to the State Library. They sell their unwanted books so we browsed through them but at $6 and $8 each they were still too expensive. I loved their Christmas Tree however...

Some of the books for sale...

It began to rain heavily while we were in there so we scuttled across to the Art Gallery...

An animated French film was playing on the big screen outside PICA... we paused to watch for a minute or two...

The Art Gallery itself was wonderful as always but the gift shop prices astound me, $675 for a 60cm wooden horse made of blocks??? $199 for a wire rabbit?

Back on the train it appeared that a huge storm front was following us home...the sky was breath-taking as the forks of lightening crackled through the layers. When we got home I grabbed the camera and took a few pics...

and lastly what grand-daughters do when they come for a quick visit...they are both fascinated by my sewing table and pins and needles and sorted my pin cushion...

Hope your week is going well,
Love from Sue
xxx