Geckos

I finished the geckos, just in time for end of school so the kids gave them to their teachers.

                                                                                pattern from  here

Indian Feast

What else do you do on a weekend except spend 4hrs in the kitchen cooking an Indian Feast

It was well worth it.  It was DEEEEEELISH.  We had fruity lamb, spicey chickpeas, chippattis, popadaums, lime pickle, brinjal (egg plant pickle) and mango chutney and a minty yoghurt dip.

Play Food

I have been doing some amigurumi play food.  MsR loves it.  MsH, MrM and even MrJ!!  I have more planned but am lacking in time as christmas grows closer....

Spaghetti and meatballs.  Not really hard just single crochet in 2strands of off white 8ply the length you desire for the spaghetti (or noodles if you are doing a stirfry.  I'm doing that next)  and balls in 2strands (one choc brown and one brown-it was all I had :)  ) and firmly stuffed for the meatballs.

Fruit bowl from the book Yummi 'Gurumi .

Meatball and Macaronni Soup

Oh My Goodness!!!!  Such deliciousness.  Can be as FAILSAFE as you want or not.  And it only took 500grm of mince to make a big pot that fed 8 hungry people, some who had 4ths---yes I'm looking at you MrJ!!   Definately a keeper.

Finely sliced/grated vegetables-I used carrot, cabbage, frozen peas and frozen green beans
Finely sliced shallots/onions
Finely sliced garlic
Chicken stock, about 10cups-I used a mix of chicken stock, bean stock, quick stock and water as I didn't have enough chicken stock
Mince, about 500grm-mixed with a little rice flour, seasoned and rolled into teeny little balls about the size of your thumb nail
Macaronni, about 200grm

Gently saute the vegetables, shallots and garlic.  Add chicken stock and bring to the boil.  Gently drop in meatballs in a few batches, stiring between.  Sprinkle in macaronni.  Let gently simmer until meatballs and macaronni is done.

Rain rain go away

well at least for a little time...until the tank needs filling again and we need water :)
The kids are going stir crazy, they are used to having a giant undercover patio to play under whatever the weather but here there is a tiny space in the grage under the house that I have drapped with wet washing.
Yesterday we spent the day watching DVD's -in the morning they watched them downstairs as I wanted to keep and eye on them and I was sewing ( 1 of the chrissy present boys nightshirts finished 4 more to go and then on to the girls ones) and in the afternoon it was upstairs to have lunch.  Mmmmm cheese popples

I use a quick rise dough with some fresh/dried herbs and break it into little walnut sized balls.  Place them barely touching on the tray, drizzle with oil and top with grated cheese.  Bake and enjoy.  mm mm mmmmm

After lunch we put up the christmas tree.  Poor thing its getting old, as I said to P "I've had it longer than I've had you" and most of my treasured decorations, that were bought pre-children, are no longer with us but it was decorated with love.  And that is all that matters :)

I have to get cracking on the teachers presents I have decided to do the gekko bookmarks.  They are quick, easy and use little yarn but they are super, super cute.

Back on track....

Time to get my A into G!!!!  I have been crocheting, still looking out for zombies, doing a little gardening and a bit of mothering here and there.    We had my Dad over for a visit and the children loved having their Poppa here, only 2yr until we see him again. 
The end of the year is nearly upon us.  We have been stressing about Christmas presents for the children with MrB and MrM being the hardest to get for.  We could go out and buy the list they provided-after they watched Saturday cartoons- but to what ends?????  More plastic craptastic action figures that narrow their field of play?  More branded tripe?  GAH!!! 

Book Week Costumes

Last week I spent a busy time at the sewing machine and I think I may have my sewing grove back.  Yipeeeeee!  I have taken over one of the rooms downstairs to set up my workstation.  It is so big that I have my sewing machine, overlocker, a few big bookcases (to be used for my books, craft books and material) and a large cutting table (the old camping trellis table)  Now all I have to do is get some sort of hanging space so I can hang my designs up, put the ironing board up and a large cork board for design inspirations.  Wow that sounds much more grandios than it is or I will ever be able to produce but it is a nice area to go to and sew that I can shut to door to-well I WILL be able to close the door once I unpack a few more boxes hehehe. 
So here are the piccies of the children in their costumes for book week.  The had to go dressed as a character from a book.  There were lots of superhero costumes and princesses but there were some really good ones-like the gladiator with cardboard armour that was all cut out so the plates were overlapping. 
So here are

MrJ as a Dinotopian.  He relates EVERYTHING to dinosaurs, every. bloody. thing., so one of his favorite books is the series Dinotopia.  About a mysterious island where people and dinosaurs live together. 

MrS as Aragorn from Lord of the Rings.  He has a bit of Lord of the Ring love atm.  He is valiantly attempting to read it and for a child who struggles so hard with school work that is a huge feat. 

and finally there is MrB as a wizard.  He spent all day in his costume, bless him, all the others changed out. 

MsH didn't want a costume.  I offered repeatedly but she decided not to.

All in all a good weeks work.