My First Award!

Yay! An award. Except... I don't know how to link the picture. So, until someone manages to put me in the know (anyone? help, please?) I'll have to be award-pictureless. ... ok got it now. I think. It's here, anyway.

See!

Anyway, the rules. I have to link it back to the lovely lady who nominated me, and that would be Leslie. Then I have to nominate 7 others.

Jeanne from a peaceful day
Keptwoman from Jumped the Ditch
Dutch Girl Cooking
Darcy from Life With My 3 Boybarians
Obi-Mom Kenobi
Michelle from girl, outnumbered
Kayluray from Charlotte Mason in America

I've only been blogging for a short time (2 months) and I've come across so many interesting people, and had wonderful responses from those who have come across my little blog. I originally started this so that my in-laws, living in New Zealand for about half the year, could still keep up with the children and our general goings-on. Now I'm blathering about all kinds of things, and you are letting me. Thank you very much, you have been very kind.
Next, learning how to jazz up my blog. Something pretty and purple and dragonflies. Or dragons. Some blue and green, too. (I like dragons, and dragonflies, and butterflies are ok, too.)
Oh, and losing weight. But that's another conversation.

Worst.Snackfood.Ever

Chocolate-covered cashews. They have chocolate, and they are cashews. *And* they *don't* have a padlock! Grossly unfair. Don't look for any left tomorrow ;)

Scones

I was looking at the picture on my previous post, and noticed that part of the recipe for scones was displayed, so I thought I post the whole recipe, because I like scones.
I actually make 2 kinds of scones, depending on what I have, and how I'm feeling. The first recipe is the more traditional, and more effort.

Scones

500g self-raising flour
1 tbs icing sugar (4 tsp)
1 egg
1 1/2 cups milk
60g melted butter

Whisk together flour and sugar
Stir in egg, milk and butter, until mixed
Pat together, and knead for a few seconds
Pat or roll gently till about 2-2.5cm thick (1 inch)
Cut into squares or use a 7cm/3 inch biscuit cutter
The remains can be patted together and cut again. Try not to do this too often.
Place close together on a lightly floured tray and bake at 210C/410F for 15 minutes

The other recipe uses lemonage, and is wonderfully simple, yet still makes a great scone. I've made both and people have loved both.

Lemonade Scones

3 cups self-raising flour
1 cup lemonade
1 cup cream

Mix together gently, and pat out like before. You pretty much do exactly the same for both

I've added sultanas, dates and cheese to these recipes to make different scones. It's better to use the first recipe if you're making savoury scones, and omit the sugar.

Well, I hope you like them :)

Easy-peasy Apple Cake

If you look, you can find a variety of eggless cakes that involve oil, bicarbonate soda and vinegar. This recipe started there, but, well, it's something slightly different now. So, here goes.

You will need:

1 ⅔ cups self-raising flour
1 ½ tsp allspice
1 cup sugar (it called for brown sugar, but we only have raw)
½ tsp salt
½ cup water
½ cup applesauce
⅓ cup oil

I used SR flour, so didn't need the bicarbonate soda and vinegar.

And this is what you do with it:

First, you DO NOT grease the pan. Or maybe you should, but the person who wrote the recipe said DO NOT (just like that) so I'm just passing it on. I didn't this time, but I think, maybe, I will next time.

The whole point of the recipe is that it is incredibly easy, and doesn't involve much in the way of clean-up, so you're supposed to mix everything in the pan you're baking in. So, dump all the dry ingredients in your 20cm (8") square pan and whisk until blended. Then you add the wet ingredients, and stir to mix, not overbeat.

Bake at 175C (350F or thereabouts) for 35-40 minutes. I baked it in my Mum's oven at 180C for 30 minutes because her's doesn't have clear markings. Also, her oven is fan-forced, so I probably should have set it lower. Anyway, it was certainly edible. I made it a couple of hours ago, and it's mostly gone now.

This is the Applesauce cake. You may even be able to read a couple of recipes off my sheet. I laminate my recipe sheets so they actually survive my cooking :o

This is the chocolate cake. I've put the recipe at the bottom of this entry. Hmm... Let me see. Milk, oil, salt and vanilla. Some of the ingredients.

If you are using a special cake pan, it might be a good idea to mix it in something else, and pour it into the pan, so you don't get unmixed flour in the grooves.

Mum gave this to me a couple of Christmases ago. It's bigger than the 20 x 20cm pan, so it cooked quicker - about 24mins. Nice, hey.







The chocolate cake recipe, using the same method, is this:

1 ½ cups self-raising flour
1 cup sugar
⅓ cocoa
½ tsp salt
1 cup water (I used milk)
½ tsp vanilla
⅓ cup oil

So, again, whisk together the dry ingredients. Add the wet, and mix. My suggestion would be to do this in a separate container, and pour into a lined 20cm (8") square pan, because both my cakes (in square pans) stuck. I may just have to stick the chocolate cake back together with icing. Sigh... the things I have to do... ;)

Some Christmas Photos

I just made these into a little movie. Hope you like it.

Spring Street AOG Lights

We went to the Spring Street AOG Christmas lights last night, and some of the pictures are actually fit to be seen ;)
As you turn onto the streetm, you see the sign:

Then, at the front of the church (which is on a fairly major street) they have this sign:

The lights are arranged on a little drive through the carpark. All around the ride are wonderful lights - different words, such as the one below, as well pictures.

The angel's wings were supposed to appear to flutter up and down. I managed to catch it just as it was moving up:

I think this is the stable. Either that, or there was room at the in for a horse, but not Mary. Behind the stable is the word 'Believe', which I have above.

Here are the shephards and the star.

Another angel. Beautiful.

The Three Kings/Wisemen/Magi. I know one of them was traditionally called Melchior, and another was Caspar, but I can't remember the other one. Or the order of the gifts, but that's ok.

They also had a lovely nativity - about full-sized, and right at the end of the ride. Unfortunately, BOTH shots I took of it are horribly blurred, as are all the other photos. I really need to learn how to take photos. Maybe if I get that nifty SLR I want, I might magically be able to take wonderful photos. Hey hubby.... ;)

Christmas Lights

After closing off the inspection pit and taking the photos we went to Toowoomba to look at some Christmas lights. I actually managed to get some usable photos from the 2 lovely exhibitions we went to, but I'll do that tomorrow. Or Boxing Day. Sometime. In the meantime...

Merry Christmas to all, and God's blessings on your New Year.

The Aftermath

It's raining! It's bucketing down! I don't think you can see it, but it's even splashing out the inlet, because it's coming in at such force that it's bouncing off the strainer/insect wire at the inlet.

One problem though. There is a leak. It's at the first section that I made :( Dad thinks he knows why - we have placed the joint under too much pressure (because we wanted it to go a certain way, and it didn't want to.) Dad also thinks he knows the answer. Yay, more blue glue :P

The rain has stopped for now, and Bethy is pretending to dive into the water. We got 20cm in that downpour - 8 inches. Over a roofspan of 100 square metres, that equates to 20,000 litres. Now Dad somehow got another figure entirely, but he was manipulating cubic metres and all kinds of things. I'll just stick to my plain mm rainfall x square metres roofspan. (Which is to say, 1mm rain on 1 square metre roofspan = 1 litre of rain. So 200mm rain on 100 square metres = 20,000 litres. Apparently.)
Also, it has been raining since then. Insert big, cheesy grin here!

I really should get the stepladder out. Someday.

How it went... Part 2

So this was the last section completed. The downpipe has to make this side-step because it was placed so close to the concrete area. The pipe it used to connect with was capped, and is now a dead end. The plaid (former) tablecloth covers the inspection pit which we can open to flush the pipes. (Have I already mentioned that?)

Thankfully, we got a bobcat-digger-thingy to dig most of this trench, but it still only dug beside the pipes, so we still had to dig out the rest. We actually cut out 3-4 metres of pipe and pulled it out so that we could do the alterations. If we hadn't done that, we would have had to buy a $50+ thing that had sliding bits so we could fit it in. Once the pipes are in the ground, you see, they don't move. So we sliced and diced.
T-piece 1 took the new pipes from the back. (You can see the new pipes at the back. Mum covered all the other pipes before I got to take photos.) T-piece 2 at the front takes the side downpipe. You can't see it, but there's a 3rd T-piece in front again to take the overflow from the tanks. (This is getting boring, isn't it? Sorry - it will be over soon.)

Ok, so this is the inspection point. It is currently open (that is, the pipes are open) because Dad didn't want any rainwater going into the tanks until he was ready. The whole thing needed to cure 24 hours-ish before being put under pressure. Which it will be (insert evil cackle here!)

Note the inportant differences: The pipes are now capped. Yippee! The system is now ready to take water. Which is very important, because...

See these clouds? They're heading our way. This whole time the weather has held off. It's ready to go now, and here comes the rain. And, according to the weather website, it's here to stay. Woo-hoo!
Don't they have a nice yard?

How it went... Part 1

Well, this is where it all began. This is the first downpipe I had to work on. In the beginning, it was just hanging from the guttering, not attached to the wall, and draining to the ground, not to the storm water drains like the other downpipes, because the patio roof that it drains was a an addition, and the builder doesn't appear to have been able to bother.

This is the downpipe that I pulled out of the gutter. It was too narrow for the rest of the work, so I had to make a new one. Anyone want a somewhat used downpipe?

The downpipe runs along to the rear downpipe, and then into the ground. It will be painted to match the other downpipe (and the wall) but not today.

All the pipes travel under the ground to the tank pad. Then they go up the side and into the inlet at the top of the tank. That thin, snakey thing running down the side will be the water guage (eventually) so that we can see how full the tanks are.

Ok, so the main lot of piping is the new pipes leading into the tank. Of the other two lots, the one sticking up with the lid is the septic. We made extra sure that we DID NOT risk damaging that one. The little bit of pipe uncovered is from the downpipes I've already shown.

Now to upload some more photos. See you soon.

The Fine Art of Present Balancing

Is it just me? Or does everyone do it? Everyone with children, that is. I have just spent the evening wrapping presents, and during that time I took time out to present-match. Have I bought too much for this one? Does that one have enough? Is the only boy going to feel left out that his sisters got the pretty-pretties and he got the dinosaur puzzles? (Doubt it!) ButI do make a concerted effort to ensure that I have gotten similar amounts/types of presents, and that no one feels left out. I could buy so much more, especially for the eldest, but I won't. I don't want accusations of favouritism, and I especially don't want bickering. So I present-match. Is that such a bad thing?

That's It!

Well, that's it! The last join. Please ignore all the messy glue - we were just making sure that there was enough glue, as there could be a fair amount of pressure on these joints. Oh, and the glue pot is closed, isn't it. Uh huh, it is. The clothes are there to prevent dirt getting into a) the join, and b) the inspection point. Of course there is still work to do, but, from tomorrow, it is allowed to rain to the heavens' content. (We are allowing 24 hours for the glue to cure to full strength.) Tomorrow I plan to take photos of all that we've done. I should note that Dad is the brains behind the op - I'm just the worker bee. He knows where everything is going, although I may just tell the story of Gumpy's Folly ;)

But I Just Got Them Cleaned!

I finally got the last of the blue glue off my fingers this morning. Now I've got more. And I've got more plumbing to do tomorrow, to try to get it finished by Christmas, and I may be going out on Wednesday, so it has to be tomorrow. sigh... In the meantime, let's slather the moisturiser. I'd take a photo, but the desk if *very* cluttered. Again with the sigh...

Tanks for the Exercise

I really need to take more photos. We had 2 large rainwater tanks delivered ... er... some time ago, and Dad decided that we could hook it up to the downpipes ourselves, rather than employ a plumber, since it wasn't being plumbed into the house. Since Dad is in a wheelchair (mobility scooter, actually) and hubby is working, that meant Mum and me doing all the work. So I have been cutting (a little) glueing and fitting *lots* of PVC piping. We're not far from finishing the actual plumbing, now, and hopefully will be done before Christmas (Thursday - eek!) which will be good if it rains as forecast. It will be good to get rainwater in the tank, rather than town water. We had to fill it up partway in case we got another heavy rainfall before it could be hooked up. If there had been heavy rain before the tanks were ready, they could have floated up off the tankpad. There have been a few, apparently, come up like that.

This is the white piping that will go to the pump, which will be close to the house. The other thing hanging down will be a guage to measure how much water is in the tanks. The black pipe connects the water from the front tank to the back tank. Around the other side will be the overflow coming from the back tank out to the street. That will be the last thing to do, as the tanks won't fill up quite that quickly.
As for the exercise bit - I'm sore! I've been stretching and squatting, and lifting, and all that. And using the gloopy blue plumbers glue that STINKS! I think I've finally got all that off my hands. I got so grubby that I went straight in and had a shower, then came out and slathered the hand cream on. Got to be girly some time.

Blog lists

Is there some kind of limit to the number of blogs you are allowed (you know, in that polite, 2-snacks-on-your-plate kind of way) to follow? I have only just started 'following' blogs on my blog-following-thingy in the last month. (Ok, I had a sugar low today, and my brain hasn't caught up.) I now have 17. So is this normal, or am I getting a little obsessive? Because I really don't know who to trim. They're all good. And when you've got a blog called Help me, Obi-Mom Kenobi! You're my only hope ... well, what can you do? Yep, my latest... er... followee?
Next question, of course, is how many do I actually list on my blog? Just because I'm following them in the background, do I list them *all* on my blog? That could get a little long. hmm... we'll see.

Christmas on William Street

Every year, the Baptist church in town hosts a Christmas celebration, with carols, a little animal-petting thing, a big display on the true meaning of Christmas, some crafts, and a nice alternative to Santa photos. And, unlike most Santa photos, the photographer had no objection to my taking a photo as well. His photo cost $5, which I got, but I can't send that to relatives, so I took my own photos as well. So... photos!

This is the Nativity scene. Mark is Joseph, Gracey is Mary, and Beth is a Wise... Person. Thinking of a reference from Riana of These Days in French Life - une sage femme?

My photos seem to have loaded in reverse order, and I really couldn't be bothered correcting it. Here is Bethy colouring her bookmark. You can also see a star in the foreground - the 3 crafts were: colour a bookmark, glue and decorate a star, and there was some bell cut-out-and-fit-together dealie at the other table. We didn't get to that.

Gracie colouring. That dress was bought that very day, without her available for sizing. It fits well.
This shirt was also bought that day. I don't know if you can see it, but its the Black Watch tartan pattern (aka Campbell tartan.) Not that we're Scots (or at least, not much) but it's a lovely pattern, and he loves the look and feel of it. And it brings out his lovely pale complexion (roll-eyes.) The kids actually do get outside, just not in the heat of the day. I don't like sunburn on anyone, especially not children. We usually kick them out somewhere between 3pm and 5pm, depending on the heat of the day. It was bright enough for playing until about 6.45pm today. I should know, I was doing work on the tanks at that time.
Here's Bethy petting a (rack brains for name) Barred Plymouth Rock chicken. Purty! er... Both of them, actually. I just have a thing for the Barred Plymouth Rock chooks. Although, I also like ... er ... Golden somethings. I've forgotten.

It took me all my effort to get Gracey to touch the sheep. I don't know why, but she seemed to have decided that they were dangerous creatures bent on biting her. This her smile-for-mummy smile. Note the dutiful pat on the sheep's rear. Couldn't get her near the chickens, though.

I've been working on the railroad...

So... child labour or heaps o' fun? When we dug the tank pad, we ended up with a huge pile of dirt. Some of it was spread around the yard to fill in some low areas, but at least half was left in 2 mounds, waiting to go back in around the tanks. Well, we're still working on the tanks, but now that the tanks are in, the kids are now allowed to play in the dirt.



Beth is carving out her initial in the dirt.

They're all having fun, making a mess. They now have some small tunnels in the dirt, but I don't think my camera can pick that up. Friends that have come over (late enough in the day to be comfortable) have been taken out to the dirt pile for some fun (and so their mothers can have a fit over the amount of dirt they bring home in their clothes :D )

Galahs in the Sorghum

I saw this as we were driving home today. The sorghum is ripening and burnt orange in colour, and the grey and pink galahs are having a wonderful time feeding off the seeds. I hope they leave enough for the farmers :)

Mark and his tree

Well, I've finally got the photo of Mark with his tree, an African Mahogany. It came back from my aunt's place in Townsville sometime around October last year, and was planted sometime after Christmas. Being in drought time, it hasn't been watered often, but it's doing well now. I don't think it's quite as big as he thinks it is ;) He tends to let his hand float up when going from the tree top to him.
As an extra note, the shirt he's wearing came all the way from Ireland. My brother went there for a holiday this year, and had to buy a rugby shirt for Mark. It doesn't have any particular country affiliation - my brother thought that hubby wouldn't appreciate an Irish or Australian jersey, since he's a died-in-the-wool All Black supporter.

Pirate Dancing!

Well, my baby had her Dance Night last night, and the theme of the Preppies' item was Pirates! Aaaarr me hearties! Well, this is my baby carrying off the treasure right at the end of the item. It's pretty well the only photo that turned out nicely, as it was so dark, and I only have my little camera. Lusting after the $1 200 SLR camera, but that ain't going to happen anytime soon. Ah well.

My elder daughter insists I add her comment: boring! The poor little dear was bored out of her poor little mind by the concert. All together now: poor Bethy! (That will teach her for insisting on adding something to my blog. The cheek of her! ;) )