Monday, March 31, 2014
I promised my cousin Simon, that starting on Monday, I would go through my photo room and see if I had any more photos or negatives of his dad Tony... I spent one hour moving and sorting ... and the second hour going through these old cards and letters which were sent to me when my first baby was born!
This one gave me a great big smile :-)))
He knows who he is but I blocked out his name for privacy reasons :-) This person really loved the Charlie Brown comics.
These are the cards I received when Nerys was born and I'm very ashamed to say there are several in here from people I just cannot remember, admittedly that was almost 43 years ago... but it's sad as well.
But this one below had me in tears... twice!
As I gracefully mature I'm finding out just how much I loved my Mama, I knew I loved her when I was a kid and I knew I loved her when I was a teenager and as an adult as well... but I don't think I knew just how much this beautiful woman meant to me until she was gone. Oh no... here come the tears again...
My Mama and Me :-)
(1945)
Labels: Family, Mama
Photo a Day Challenge - 31.3.2014 - Faux
Here is a 'Faux' of 'The Old Curiosity Shop', and below is the original photographed by myself way back in 2006.
The Lilliput Lane Cottage above is one of the first Cottages produced, it's not nearly as intricate or as colourful as the cottages they make nowadays.
I was just wandering around London one day, by myself, and came across the original shop made famous by one of Charles Dickens books... that's why I love London so much, you can wander around and come across the most wonderful and sometimes surprising things.
Labels: 3/14, Lilliput Lane
Sunday, March 30, 2014
A fascinating find and a bit of a mystery thanks to my cousin Andrew!
Just recently Andrew discovered a long ago connection with our family and his wife Monica's family so they visited the National Police Museum in Canberra and found the plaque dedicated to one of our Ancestors. (see above)
Now that got me going because I remembered I had an old silver tray which was given to me by Mama, our Grandmother, so I dug it out and photographed it to show Andrew.
It had always looked like this, I thought it was just so old and worn it was what it did look like... I don't think I ever polished it nor had anyone else for that matter but then I wondered...
... so got out all my old, very old bottles of Silver polish... what a horrible job, this tray isn't easy to clean, so many intricate bits!
But..
It came up a treat didn't it!
Now to the Mystery... Check out the details on the tray!
1. The Plaque in Canberra says 'Constable' this tray says 'Sub Inspector'.
2. The name of the Plaque is Samuel, this tray says William.
3. The date on the Plaque is 19th January 1903, the date on the tray at Retirement is 1896...
4. The Plaque says Auburn, the tray says Paddington, he would have moved around of course but why Auburn when he retired at Paddington? and the Plaque is dated after his retirement maybe dated the year of his death?
So Andrew 'please explain' :-)
Labels: Long Family
Congratulations Jackson, we're all very proud of you :-)
This was Jack's first year of Competition Cricket and he received the award for Best Bowler, well done Jacko.
Tim... one of the Proudest of us all...
Even I'm impressed with his Stats and I don't know a lot about Cricket!
Labels: Jackson
Photo a Day Challenge - 30.3.2014 - Fast.
Oh yes... very fast, Michael looking behind wondering where all the other horses are?? :-)
Labels: 3/14, Michael Rodd
Saturday, March 29, 2014
Yesterday I made myself a 'To Do' list and first up was... to clean up the Wine Room!
Okay so I know I'm a bit slack but I had neither the inclination nor the desire nor the strength to tackle it earlier. I took the photo above on the 11th of Feb this year after this Apple juice exploded in the Wine Room... the thought of getting in their and cleaning up the mess was just too impossible to imagine... but yesterday I did it!
Why we didn't have wildlife or mould or even little ants in there I'll never know, just lucky I guess, the wine room is right in the middle of our home with no outside walls so maybe that helped. I only cleaned my shelf which has the soft drinks on it, David did the rest...
Believe me... this is tidy, very TIDY! Actually I think we'll have to rename this room, there's not much wine here mostly home brewed beer... We'll have to call it the Beer Room I suppose.
Labels: Home
Photo a Day Challenge - 29.3.2014 - Sticky.
The toffee on the top of this dessert is very very sticky... but very Yum!
Labels: 3/14, Food
Friday, March 28, 2014
Have you ever made an 'Impossible Pie'? I've heard of them over the years but never knew or was interested in what they were... until...
I read this Kerry Greenwood book...
It was a gentle read, just what I need at the moment, and it's set in Queenscliff, Victoria (not NSW) and what it got me doing firstly was to enjoy a lovely long browse on Google Maps to visit the beaches, lovely old shopping centre and to find out that the Islands offshore are really called Rabbit, Swan, Duck and Mud... that alone was enough to make me think I must visit one day.
But... what it really got me doing was making the 'Impossible Pie' that was mentioned several times in the book and Kerry Greenwood even gave the reader the recipe in the back of the book!
So I just had to give a go didn't it.
... and it is quite delicious, don't know if I will make it often but it's very good and very easy to make :-)
Oh alright... don't nag... here's the recipe...
Impossible Pie by Kerry Greenwood aka Phryne Fisher.
1/2 cup plain flour
1 cup caster sugar
3/4 desiccated coconut
4 eggs
vanilla
125g melted butter
1/2 cup flaked almonds (I didn't have flaked so used flaked coconut)
1 cup milk
Put flour, sugar, coconut, eggs, vanilla, butter and half the almonds into a blender and blend well, then add milk slowly. Pour into a well greased pie dish and sprinkle left over almonds or coconut over top.
Bake in 180 degree oven for about 35 mins
Labels: Food
Photo a Day Challenge - 28.3.2014 - Nostalgia.
Lovely memories.
1969 - Trevi Fountain in Rome with two little boys stealing money with a magnet on the end of string, so if you ever threw a 'Coin in the Fountain' ... this is where it went.
Labels: 3/14, Pennie
Thursday, March 27, 2014
Photo a Day Challenge - 27.3.2014 - Something I made.
I made this for Jackson's 5th Birthday :-)
Labels: 3/14, Food
Wednesday, March 26, 2014
This is a little embarrassing...
There I was just cleaning up my buttons, actually I was looking for some particular buttons... when I found... (See I even have a little button label telling me what they are :-)
These... What are they? you may well ask. These are the thingies that go on the upper arm of your khaki shirt if you are in the School Cadets... do they still have School Cadets? (just did a Google, yes they do) Anyway... Dad looked after these Schools and more before he retired from the Army... so I know where I got these...
And I know where I got most of these badges but when I sorted through them I discovered I had still these below...
Now I know these are School Badges, I know if a boy fancied you he would give you his badge and I know I got the Kings School badge from Andrew Crisp who was the cousin of my cousin from Wollogorang and we saw a fair bit of each other when I was at Wollogorang and he was home from boarding school... (R.I.P. Andrew)
But can I remember the names of the boys who gave me these other badges??? No I cannot! I know I knew boys from Shore, Manly, North Sydney, Knox and so on but Rose Bay??? I lived on the Northern Beaches when I was given this one, maybe I just found this one! Sort of a bit sad really, I'd love to give these badges back to the givers :-)
Anyway... long story but I wanted you to know that I do tidy up my Button Bowl every now and them LOL!!!
Labels: Sewing Room
Photo a Day Challenge - 26.3.2014 - I am here.
At the Blue Gum most First Saturday's of the Month :-)
Labels: 3/14, SCQuilters
Tuesday, March 25, 2014
I know I really love the wildlife we have in our garden... but...
This is so unfair! This was lush with parsley until David moved the pot onto one of our little marble tables nearer the kitchen... someone was very hungry last night!!!!!
But THIS is a CRIME!!!!!! My beautiful little rose, given to me by Brenda and Lisa when my Rosie passed away... was full of buds right at the end of that long stem. Bloody Possums!
But pretty clever I have to admit... the measurement from the top of that beam down is almost one metre! or 3 feet 3 inches in patchwork measurements... that's one long drop, so this must be one very big possum with one very long tail!
Labels: Garden
Photo a Day Challenge - 25.3.2014 - Soft.
Oh yes... lovely and soft.
Labels: 3/14, Babushka
Monday, March 24, 2014
I'd like you to meet... Maxie!
Just hanging in the Kitchen.
Big standing up boy.
Lazying about with some other friends of the family :-)
Labels: Knitting
Photo a Day Challenge - 24.3.2014 - One of a Kind.
Sunday, March 23, 2014
I have more admirers :-) Actually I am much admired!
Just look at this beautiful Rose.
My Great Aunt Carol, (who lived to be 101 and died in her home in the same room she was born in...) used to say... 'Were you admired?' This was after you'd told her you'd been to lunch with someone, to a party or just out... she'd listen to your story then sit up in her chair and say... 'Were you admired?' I don't remember what I replied, probably in the negative :-) I don't think I ever wanted to be admired, that would be just too embarrassing wouldn't it!
... and this... so delicate.
and this one, so bright and bold!
Labels: Flowers
My friend Stephanie came all the way for Albion Park Rail to get her van fixed :-)
Nah... she didn't really, she came up to spend the weekend with us for a bit of a catch up, and a sew and a knit and a sleep over.
So lovely to see her on her own and for longer than a couple of hours.
And yes she did need something fixing in her Camper, so who better to come to but my David! Mr Excellent-Fix-it!
Check this out... Stephanie once lived in Fiji and she said she would pick these beautiful Hibiscus, cut off the stem and stick a stick or a straw of a broom into the flower at the base and it would last just as long as if you put the flower in water... I know that's only one day but I like this way much better :-)
Labels: Flowers, SCQuilters
Photo a Day Challenge - 23.3.2014 - I'm loving...
Wait till you see what I'm knitting now... I just love it!
Labels: 3/14, Knitting
Saturday, March 22, 2014
Photo Challenge of the Day - 22.3.2014 - Morning.
From Star City Hotel... a lovely spot to stay with this fabulous view, I think the buildings below might be different now, it was a while ago that we stayed here... I just checked, it was 10 years ago :-)
Labels: 3/14, Sydney
Friday, March 21, 2014
A gift from a Secret Admirer :-)
So pretty, so bright and so lovely... thank you Secret Admirer :-)
Labels: Flowers
Photo a Day Challenge - 21.3.2014 - Full.
Cheers Nerys! Enjoy that Lime Cordial!
Labels: 3/14, Nerys
