20/52

"A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2013."

Bell - Shes LOVES technology.  I'm not a huge fan.  Consequently we are always clashing over the subject.

Tom - Making his way into the Playroom through the "secret door".  He is not a fan of having his photo taken.  This is as good as it gets this week.

George - I was trying to get a photo of him sitting on the wooden bench.  He kept on grabbing for the camera.  I might have better luck next week!

Very happy to be joining in with Jodi's "52 project".

Things I'm loving

Sunny Autumn days, neatly lined up gumboots and potted colour to "pretty" up the back porch.

 

 

My favourite tree in the front yard in all its Autumn splendour.  It provides much needed shade in Summer and is now busily scattering orange and brown leaves everywhere.

 

Mothers Day treats - Beautiful blue jug and wire basket which now houses my growing collection of new and retro napkins.  Bought from a lovely new homeware store that has opened up here in town.  I have my eye on so many things in there.  They also have an online shop if you want to take a peek here.  Gorgeous enamel homewares, baby linen and clothing.  Treats galore!

A homemade Mothers Day card and reluctant model.  He takes off as soon as I get my camera out.  This is my first "proper" handmade card from Tom.  Done at Kindy.  I love it.

How pretty is this?  Made by Bell for me!  A sweet little bag that came to me wrapped in lace.  Has a perfect little wooden button on it too.  Sewn up on her machine.  You could see that she was so proud of it when she gave it to me.

 

Material from Bell's fabric stash.  She handed these over and said "these are more you mum", ha, love it.  Can't believe she has a better material stash than I do.

Autumnal sunsets over the vineyard.  They have been amazing this week.  Showing off oranges and pinks for all to see.

 

Have a relaxing and fun filled weekend.  Up to anything?  I have a (finally) weeded and dug over vege garden to tend to.  Dinner with family too which will be fun.  Going to bust out the Sultana and honey ricotta cake for all to try.

Happy weekending!

"I wholeheartedly believe that no matter what is happening in your life, there is always something you can be thankful for..no matter how simple it is."

Joining in here

 

Eco Store giveaway winners!

 

Hello and welcome to all you new followers of A little bit country.  I really enjoy discovering new blogs and reading about your corner of the world.  And for those who have been following for a while now, thank you for visiting this space, I really do enjoy sharing it with you.

Now....

The three lucky winners of an Eco Store Lip Balm each are...........

 

My Garden Diaries

NZ Green Buttons

KnitGirl 66

 

(we use the tried and true method of names in a hat!)

 

Congratulations!!!

Please drop me an email with your contact details to: alittlebitcountrynz (at) gmail (dot) com so that I can post you each a gorgeous Eco Store lip balm.

 

Be sure to take a look at these beautiful blogs for three amazing Autumn Giveaways:

 

This Brown Wren

Sea and Salt

This Whole Family

Eco Store

Healthier for you.
Safer for our environment.
Packaged in the best materials available.
Labelled with a full list of ingredients.
Guaranteed to give excellent results.
Concentrated to save you money.
Not tested on animals.
GE Free.

 

 

Honey and sultana ricotta cake

I made my first recipe from my new Nici Wickes cookbook on Sunday.  We had it as dessert but it would be perfect for morning or afternoon tea too.

This is most definately going to be a regular fixture in our house.  The kids loved it and George even pinched the last bit off my plate when I was'nt looking.

I sprinkled icing sugar on ours, but by the time I got round to taking photos it had melted into the cake.  Although the recipe says it's a "cake" to me it is more like a clafoutis or flan.  Either way it is just so delicious and the smell is simply mouth watering.

Give it a try, it is so easy to make.  I managed to do it with children and dogs flying around everywhere, everyone wanting something including one who managed to walk muddy feet from the front door to the back door!

There is a great tip in the recipe regarding the sultanas:

"Toss the sultanas in a tablespoon of flour to coat. This stops them from sinking to the bottom of the cake batter mixture. "

Genius!  I did'nt know this and it does work!

 

Honey and sultana ricotta cake
 

Ingredients

1 cup sultanas

3 eggs

4 tablespoons sugar

2 heaped tablespoons plain flour

100g liquid honey (or any honey warmed slightly to liquid)

Zest of 1 lemon

250g ricotta cheese

1 cup thick yoghurt

¼ tsp ground cinnamon

1 tablespoon sugar, for sprinkling

 

Method

Preheat the oven to 180°C.
Butter and flour a 25cm ovenproof round ceramic dish (I just used a cake tin).
Toss the sultanas in a tablespoon of flour to coat. This stops them from sinking to the bottom of the cake batter mixture.
In a bowl, beat the eggs and sugar until pale, light and creamy.
Stir in the remaining flour, honey, lemon zest, ricotta, yoghurt and cinnamon. Stir until well mixed.
Lastly stir through the floured sultanas.
Pour into the prepared baking dish and bake to ‘wobble stage’ (i.e. set around the outside but with a slight wobble in the centre 6cms) and golden on top, about 30 minutes.
Serve warm or cold, sprinkled with extra sugar.
This honey-scented cake is the most divinely simple cake to make and is beautiful served with poached or grilled fruit.
Makes one 25cm cake

Enjoy!!!

Linking in with..........

 

 

For the love of Crown Lynn!

For those of you who are regular readers you will know that I love Crown Lynn crockery and Crown Lynn Swans.  If you asked Mr H he may say it is more of an obsession!

My granny cabinet is full with my crockery and I think I may have any mentioned in that post that I was "at capacity"........but its always possible to squeeze a few more in.  I do know that my collection is quite modest compared to other collectors and I'm constantly telling myself "no" when I see it in shops or online.

I came across these four Crown Lynn saucers and tulip cups last week.  I have never seen the pattern before but love love the retro flowers and colours.  I would be keen to know if any Crown Lynn collectors out there could tell what the pattern is?

They are all in excellent condition and the pattern on the saucers are raised slightly too, which again I have never seen before.

So after moving a few things around they are now sitting very happily in the granny cabinet.

Joining in with Max 

(who has the most amazing Crown Lynn Colour Glaze crockery collection I have ever seen!)

 

 and

 

 

 

 

 

19/52

 

"A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2013."

Bell - Loving Maybell and Kevin - these two are spoilt rotten.

Tom - Playing in the Sunday afternoon sun.

George - ALWAYS covered head to toe in dirt.

Very happy to be joining in with Jodi's "52 project".

 

 

Things I'm loving............washi tape craft

This week Bell and I have been enjoying getting crafty with my washi tape stash.

We have decorated jars and bottles and made washi tape bunting.  I've also started decorating some plain recycled paper labels to add to gifts.  I'm currently eyeing up a few new designs to add to my collection.

The best thing about this has been Bell's interest in the washi tape and being able to sit down with her and do a bit of craft and have a natter.

Are you a washi tape nut?  Are you up to anything crafty at the moment?  Have you any washi tape ideas you wish to pass on?

Happy weekending!

"I wholeheartedly believe that no matter what is happening in your life, there is always something you can be thankful for..no matter how simple it is."

Joining in here