THE WEDDING

I sat glued to the TV watching and waiting to see the dress and it didn't dissapoint.  Wasn't it just so simply beautiful and I loved Kates headress too.  The boys looked so handsome in their uniforms, wouldn't their mother have been proud. 

I think Kates bouquet will be going to Diana which will be a lovely gesture.

MOTHERS DAY FLOWERS

I got a lovely surprise yesterday, one of my afternoon tea friends gave me the biggest bowl of chrysanthemums from her garden.  I filled all the vintage jugs I could find.  I think my daughter and daughter in law will get an early mothers day gift when I share them around. They just seem so summery even though it's Autumn.

BEAUTIFUL LACE

I love lace, especially vintage. 

 I was lucky enough recently to be given this beautiful vintage bridal train.  It was suggested I make something nice from it.  After much thought and touching and admiring it, I still cannot bring myself to cut it.  I originally thought of making a Christening gown from it, but ended up hanging it on my sewing room wall.  At least I can look at it every day until I have the courage to do otherwise.

HAPPY EASTER EVERYONE

After a lovely walk to the beach I made easter biscuits.  I hope everyone is enjoying the lovely break.

easter biscuits ready for the oven and after my attempt at icing them (not one of my strong points)

Easter Baking

I had a spurt of energy this afternoon so I decided to do some homemade bread for my lunch friends tomorrow but I got carried away as always when I am in the kitchen.  I figure if I am going to turn the kitchen into a huge mess of dishes and bits all over the floor like what usually happens when I cook, I may as well make it worthwhile, soooo the result, bread, hot cross buns, scones, biscuits, slice and muesli cake.  Not a bad afternoons play which is what it is to me because I get so lost in cooking that I forget the time.  Who needs to sit still to meditate? just do what you enjoy most, just as good a result.

In the pink

I love Sunday lunches especially when they are shared with friends, I decided to make this Sunday lunch table setting all pink and as the roses were still in bloom (my favourite flower) I made them the centre piece along with some of the beautifully fragrant petals in a pink depression glass bowl and of cause I had to include my little birdie basket filled with nougat.

Lactose free tea loaf

I made this Lactose free tea loaf and it is absolutely delicious and so easy.  It has a texture of the malt loaf my mother used to make.  I might add that most of it dissapeared before I got a chance to photograph it.
Recipe
3/4cup sultanas and the same of currants
1 cup strong black tea
13/4cups SR flour
1/4tsp salt
3/4cup brown sugar firmly packed
1 egg
2tbls marmalade

Method
Put sultanas and currants in a bowl and pour the tea over, stand overnight
Add sifted flour and salt to fruit,mix well, stir in brown sugar.  Beat the marmalade and egg together, add to fruit mixture, mix well.  Pour into a lined and greased loaf tin and bake in a moderate oven for about 1 hour until cooked when tested.  Turn out onto a rack when cool.  If you are not lactose intolerent then it can be spread with butter.

THE SUNFLOWER

Well the sunflower that I planted from a seed from a packet I bought to put in my muesli has finally flowered but I have never seen a sunflower that looks quite like this.  The centres are I think much bigger, but it is still lovely.

Simple but beautiful

I just love this photo I took last year on holidays.  It is so simple and yet beautiful