Friday, October 14, 2011

Snickerdoodles!

Normally I seem to bake things with chocolate in them. However today I saw a recipe for these sweet nutmeg and cinnamon biscuits and thought, why not. snickerdoodles. i think the name persuaded me to make them. hehe.


However, I should have made a half batch - I ended up with 50 biscuits! I have given some to Rissole for her birthday, will take some to mothers group at the park today and then some to friends tomorrow. I may or may have not eaten 10 while they were hot out of the oven....

The white roses in the background are from my garden! However I cant take credit for them as our tenants must of planted them while they were here (to replace one of my gardenias that must of died. looks a bit odd in a row of 8 trees, but at least the roses are flowering unlike the gardenias)

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

Sakura Sakura!


We celebrated our 5th Wedding Anniversary last week.  I thought we didn’t do presents – however this year Mr Motoko decided to check out what the traditional gift is and it’s wood. As we all know I am smitten with cherry blossom trees – so I got my very own pink cherry blossom to plant in the garden (which will hopefully grow like the one in the picture below.


Whilst on his Google search for Cherry Blossom trees, Mr Motoko came across the Cowra Cherry Blossom Festival  - Sakura Matsuri – so he organized a weekend away (well a Friday night only as there was no accommodation left on the Saturday night – busy spot.


The Gardens are the largest in the Southern Hemisphere and are simply divine. Cowra was the site of POW camp in WW2 and the Gardens are extension of the war cemetery. The blossoms had flowered early due to some unseasonably warm weather but it was still a beautiful experience.  I first experienced cherry blossoms back on my first trip to Tokyo in 2004. I still remember the pathways in the park lined with cherry blossoms and as the blossoms fluttering from the tree in the wind, it looked like it was snowing!



I’ve been inspired lately from my fellow business babe Sam at Drawn Outdoors to get my garden planned BEFORE I start planting this that and the other. I’ve never seen these yellow blossoms below before and think they will make a nice addition to the garden.  (Once I plan where to put it of course!)



If you are ever on your travels it’s worth a visit -Cowra Japanese Gardens





Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Wordless Wednesday - Did you say Cheese???

I'm not looking at you


I want to look but I wont
Ok, you said cheese. I want cheese. Where is it?


Almost, a smile and looking sideways. End of Session!

I'm playing Wordless Wednesday over at My Little Drummer Boy

Friday, September 2, 2011

Friday Connections - Marry Poppins Boo!

For the last week I have been singing "Just a spoon full of sugar...makes the medicine go down" after seeing Mary Poppins. It was fabulous and I highly reccomend seeing it.



Which reminds me of this fabric I have been stashing. Marry Poppins Boo!  I love the japenglish spelling mistake.  Its supercalafragalistisic...

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Friday, August 12, 2011

Friday Connections - A Scandinavian Chair?


This chair was a bargain, $5 at a garage sale a while back. Dad has sanded and lacquered it and it looks great.  For the last year it has sat outside on my balcony. I had already taken the hideous yellow cover off (underneath is a not much better green pleather).  The cushions got rained on and were probably already quite old, so ill buy some new ones. 

The chair itself is in great condition and is going to be a great addition to my new sewing room.


I just love this fabric by Kokka. I have set some aside from the shop to cover my chair. Before leaving the chair on the balcony I did cut out the fabric. and as usual that's as far as i got before i started on something else. So next week, after we have moved, Ill tackle this as my first project.


Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Friday, August 5, 2011

Friday Connections - Mama & Papa

Each week on a Friday, I'm going to link a product I love (either something I own, something in the store or a product I really want to buy) with whats happening/happened in my life.

Millie, who just turned one, is constantly saying "mama mama dad dad dad dad". Just slightly obsessed with our wedding picture on the side table and pointing and saying "mama. dad" over and over. I totally love it, except Dad Dad Dad seems to be more popular.

This reminds me of these cute little Mama and Papa pegs I bought years ago on a trip to Japan. I don't use them for anything, just to sit and look cute on my desk.  I noticed them as the Mama peg reminds me of my cousin Becky. Papa looks a bit to square for his lady I think.

Saturday, July 30, 2011

I just adore this Japanese fabric from Kokka. It reminds me of St Basil's in Moscow, which we visited back in 2007 not to long after we got married.


Below is a picture I took on our visit to Red Square. Notice the two brides in the picture..we saw dozens of brides over the weekend - all with big overcoats that looked like they had borrowed from the new husband as it was so cold. I just love the colours and architechture of the building. Magical.

Thursday, July 28, 2011

I may or may not have eaten the whole batch....

I may have baked some shortbread with both white chocolate and milk chocolate...and eaten 80% of the entire batch. oops. Not sure if I would make it again, it was to buttery (didn't stop me eating it of course).

I'm also not going to win any food styling awards either!


Friday, July 22, 2011

Something to make me smile in all this rain

Cabin fever had set in today so I took Buggleugs out for a walk to get a coffee. I spotted a knitted tree. Cheered up a very grey day. Note the little booties hanging down as well. Cute!

I've started a little knitting project - making squares for a blanket for Save the Children - Born to Knit - they are aiming for 16,500 blankets to help reduce the effects of pneumonia in children under 5 in their health programs across Asia. It's heartbreaking to read on their site that 8.1 million children a year die from illnesses such as pneumonia.

So far I have 2 squares down and 14 to go. I'm not a great knitter but this is something I can commit to and do whilst in front of the TV. I'm committed to actually finishing this project.

Thursday, July 21, 2011

Never to Young To Garden

Its never to young to do a bit of Gardening at Great Grandmas Place. Nice sparkly headband from Gma. Not over the top at all :)

Friday, July 15, 2011

I cant believe you are one!

I cant believe that a year has gone by so fast. I decided that I would make an Iggle Piggle cake from In the Night Garden cake for Millie.

I used RTR fondant and coloured it blue. I also was time poor so bought some Coles mudcakes and shaped and covered them. Not to bad if i say so myself!

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Kodomo no hi (Childrens Day)

Image from here

Yesterday was Kodomo no hi - children's day in Japan. Its held on the 5th day of the 5th month as part of Golden Week.

It is a day set aside to respect children's personalities and to celebrate their happiness. Each family hangs a set Koi-nobori (carp streamers) at their front door.

I found one on the street yesterday that a child must of made at school and dropped. I picked it up and flew it in the wind for Millie and she giggled. I'm going to make one for her. Although the handle was made of chopsticks....so it might be dangerous for a 10 month old!

Monday, May 2, 2011

Ooh La La


Just listed in the store, this adorable Japanese linen Fabric from Kokka. Delightful scences from Paris. Oh, to be back in Paris sipping a latte and watching the world go by.

I am thinking of some cushions for the guest room. I am thinking of redecorating the room in a travel theme but haven't quite got the vision complete in my head yet.

Ill just add it to the list of projects to be done!