Penniedarling

I just love it...  Elodie will be wearing it next!

Labels: 6/16, Knitting

The sun is shining on my new name and number sign.

Labels: 6/16, Garden

Remy and Elodie both aged 6 weeks wearing the same suit...  very similar but just that little different as well  :-)

Labels: 6/16, Elodie, Remy

Get this lot together and the noise can be deafening... happy noise though  :-)

Labels: 6/16, Grandchildren

Cold weather sent me up to my Local Butcher yesterday, I never go on weekends because he's just too busy but it was urgent... I needed Beef!   I had to laugh when I saw the trays and trays of chopped Chuck Steak in the window!  Jason told me they'd spent yesterday chopping up heaps because of the weather.  Now when I usually buy Chuck, which isn't often Jason or Stewart usually have to chop it for me on the spot... but not yesterday... so home I go with 2 kilos of Chopped Beef Chuck!

To make a great big stew and a large number of pies.   Totally YUM!  David had a big serving last night and today I've made 20 meat pies to share with my children   :-)  

See... I told you I was good!!
 But WAIT!  That's not all...  I hate the left over trimmings of the Pastry, such a waste so with a little bit of imagination I have made the most delicious Puff Pastry Cheese Yummies!   Recipe below.
Puff Pastry Trimmings of 5 sheets plus one whole sheet.
Lots and lots of Cheddar Cheese, I used 1 1/2 packets of sliced Cheddar.
And a little shaved Parmesan.
I didn't add a herb but you could of course.
In the Kitchen Whiz in three different portions I blitzed the pastry and cheese together then rolled it out, cut it into circle shapes and put some shaved Parmesan on top.
Baked in a 180c oven for 10 or so minutes until browned!     Just wonderful and they will heat up nicely as well.

Labels: Food

 A letter written my Grandfather Clements to his wife my Grandmother Edie.  This was written on board the ship that took Clem to France at the beginning of WW1.

Labels: 6/16, Rodd

My local butchers... Stewart and Jason... best butchers on the North Shore!

Labels: 6/16, Turramurra

Radio 702 were talking about 'Welcome Wagons' yesterday and lots of people were ringing in telling stories of being welcomed into their Suburb and so on... when I remembered way back... in late 1970!

We were in California on the last leg of our 3 years of traveling around the world when we called into San Jose to catch up with Louis, Sheila and Eugene Daugherty, we'd met them in Europe somewhere while on our travels and as we were going to be in the US after they got home we exchanged addresses.

Louis and Sheila had just moved into San Jose and the 'Welcome Wagon' had been with lots of wonderful goodies, information and discount or free vouchers.   I needed a haircut and as Sheila had a 'Free Haircut' voucher and was never going to use it she gave it to me.

So along I went to this hairdresser, who never said a word, never asked me where I came from or where I'd moved into or any of the questions I thought I may have been asked, I guessed my accent gave me away to some extent although in that time not many Americans had ever heard of Australia, thinking we meant Austria!

The only thing this Hairdresser said to me was... 'Do you want BANGS?'    I was horrified, what the hell was she saying, what were bangs!  I was so shocked I can't remember what I said, probably just said... 'okay'...  very meekly.  Boy I was glad to get out of there!  I didn't want to be arrested for cheating the Welcome Wagon!

 That's our London Taxi on the right with Sheila in the camper van beside us, we are amused at the garb this man is wearing to go to the showers.

 Then we bumped into Louis, Sheila and baby Eugene in a park while having a lunch break somewhere in Austria.

 Me in California with my 'San Jose Bangs!'    (I just noticed I am rolling wool, I was taught to knit by my Great Aunt Carol when I was 5 years old and I've never stopped, no matter where I am, I've always got some knitting underway. )

The Daugherty's were Louis parents who lived in Phoenix, Arizona and were so very generous and hospitable to us when we called in on our travels around the USA.

Why?  Why?  Why????   please tell me WHY?  Americans call a simple fringe a 'Bang'.

Here's what Wiki says...

1. 1.

   a sudden loud, sharp noise.

   
   

   "the door slammed with a bang"

   
   

   synonyms:

   sharp noise, crack, boom, clang, peal, clap, pop, snap, knock, tap, slam, bump, thud, thump, clunk, clonk, clash, crash, smash, smack; More stamp, stomp, clump, clomp; report, explosion, detonation, shot; informalwham, whump "the door slammed with a bang"

   • a sharp blow causing a sudden, loud noise.

     
     

     "I went to answer a bang on the front door"
   • a sudden painful blow.

     
     

     "a nasty bang on the head"

     
     

     synonyms:

     blow, hit, punch, knock, thump, rap, bump, thwack, smack, crack, slap, welt, cuff, box; More informalbash, whack, clobber, clout, clip, wallop, belt, tan, biff, bop, sock, lam, whomp; informalslosh; informalboff, bust, slug, whale; informaldong; datedbuffet "a nasty bang on the head"

2. 2.

   North American

   a fringe of hair cut straight across the forehead.

   
   

   "she brushed back her wispy bangs"
   
   I asked Wiki the question... 'Why do Americans call a fringe a Bang?'   here's the reply...
   
   The term bangs originally referred to a hair cut bang-off (straight across at the front), although the term is now applied to diverse forms of hair stylings. It is probably related to bang-tail, a term still used for the practice of cutting horses' tails straight across.

Labels: Europe by London Taxi, Friends, Pennie

I love this gold ring, it's my Engagement ring and as you can see is well well well worn  :-)  48 years well worn.  We had this ring made especially after I arrived in England to marry David.

Labels: 6/16, Pennie

The rest of the World is so far far far away, you go through these Heads and sail away.
I love sailing through these heads heading to the UK and I love sailing through these Heads when arriving home  :-)

Labels: 6/16, Sydney

Jackson's Fruit Pastries! Fabulous Jacko, just delicious and fantastic!

Labels: 6/16, Food, Jackson

 David and I had to admit that it's been years and years since either of us has walked around the back of the garage, so it was a bit of a shock when Bruce, our neighbour beside the garage popped in to ask if we could replace his fence we share while replacing the fence we share with our neighbours in front of him... 
 Lucky Niall was here this day and managed to chop most of the ivy and poison the big thick ivy roots...
We didn't have any problems with the fences bordering our three neighbours behind the garage thankfully!
 Just look at that mess back there...

But in a trice... all was fixed!

 Still got a pile of ivy to get rid of though.
 Nothing changed down the back.

Labels: Garden

I do love these beautiful birds, love their song and just love watching them.

Labels: 6/16, Birds

Our pool was very full of water after all that rain a couple of weeks ago and full again after this weekend.

Labels: 6/16, Pool

Last Friday Remy, Gwilym, Emily and Elodie came for lunch and for Gwilym's godmother Francoise to meet little Elodie, when they were almost here Remy announced to his parents that he thought he'd like to stay over... so even though he didn't have a change of clothes, didn't have any PJ's, didn't have his toothbrush and didn't even have a 'just in case' nappy for his evening sleep... he was still up for it!   So after everyone had gone home, David and Remy walked up to our local IGA for the nappies, Pennie found a new toothbrush that works with our electric toothbrush, Pennie also found one of her soft Babushka's has a heat pack in it that when heated in the microwave made Remy's bed nice and warm... so all was set for a good nights sleep...  after a double serving of pasta, a few stories and 10 hours sleep Remy was up the next morning and raring to go  :-)  he's good that boy, he's very good. 

Then after 3 bowls of 'Remy's Muesli', and after checking all the rules and regulations Remy was ready to go to the Sydney Bus Museum...  in David's van... but first, don't forget Elodie's little pram.

I bought this little cane pram almost 45 years ago from a Junk Shop in Chatswood, for about $1, $1:50?  can't remember exactly.  It's been adored by little girls and boys for all those years but now it's time to pass it on.  In the pram is a white teddy and Remy put his (what was called his Little Panda but after some stuffing by Remy with Pennie's help is now called Fat Panda!)  you will notice that Fat Panda has one arm around Little White Bear, he's hugging him!

 Look how happy this big boy is...  and his Grandfather as well...
 Just as I was saying bye to Remy, he said very thoughtfully...  'I want to come back and stay for...  11 days because I love you so much.     Heartbreaking stuff indeed  :-)

Labels: Remy

No filters used here... just one very beautiful Hibiscus.

Labels: 6/16, Garden

One very much alive Huntsman Spider... always welcome in our home.

Labels: 6/16, Spiders

This was my name when I was driving Iceland around for the Sydney Olympics... actually it still is my name  :-)

Labels: 6/16, Pennie

I love my Vibrant but Naughty 'Dear Jane' quilt.  The original 'Dear Jane' is a lot larger with a lot more blocks but in very soft colours, plus the blocks are pieced, not appliqued like I've done.  Yes I know I'm naughty!

Labels: 6/16, Quilts

 Still a long way to go but it is happening, a new fence!   Will be getting a paint job when it's all finished... what colour I wonder??

Labels: Home

 This is the Floor Plan of my Grandparents home, 'Nar Vale' at Strathfield. I was born just around the corner and my parents lived in a flat, which is no longer here but went from the Master Bedroom's ensuite to the Living Room.  Living in this lovely old home when I entered it was two of my Great Grandmothers, my Grandparents Mama and Poppa, Poppa's sister Carol and brother George.  Rosie and Ripley of course and Rosie's Sister Pam and brother Tony.   It was a full and very happy home.
I found this floor plan on the Internet along with many photos when it was for sale last year.  It sold for $2,600,00.00 (Two million six hundred thousand)

Labels: Cobcroft

I just love their visits :-)

Labels: Birds

Just look at this big pile of dirt my Uncle Tony is digging out in preparation of an Air Raid Shelter during WW2.

Labels: 6/16, Tony

 A big Happy Birthday to our Tomo in Macao!  

 Happy Birthday to Kate usually in Canberra but enjoying a holiday in Sydney at the moment.

 Happy Birthday to our niece Ellie.

And...  Happy Birthday to our friend Carol!

Labels: Ellie, Friends, Kate, Tomos

That's my beautiful Mama on the left in the hat, with my Great Aunt Carol and my cousins Sue on the left Lion and Andrew on the right lion at 'Glenroy' in Windsor.   Some lovely memories  :-)

Labels: Cobcroft

Stairs in the outside garden at Hearst Castle in California 1970...that's me peeking on the right.  It looks like it was raining.

Labels: Pennie, USA

 My small Pizza on the right has to be one of the very best Pizza's  I've ever enjoyed.

 I love the this hotel has decorated the stairs with these tiles...where are we you may ask...  Well Manly at the Ivanhoe Hotel which has had a renno and looking and tasting great  :-)

I love love love what they've done here, I would have loved to lay them myself, such fun and really rather random but it works! 

Labels: Food, Manly

In my me time I love to write little books for my Grandchildren  :-)

Labels: 6/16, Books