Take a look outside.

I don't know if you find this, but whole days can go past and you don't even leave the house. This happens a fair bit. I don't really like it. I like getting out and about. Sometimes though, getting in the car or train is too much. Who could be bothered carrying that HUGE NAPPY BAG of my dear little Percy!!!??? Anyway, the past few weeks, the three of us have gone for a long, slow walk everynight after dinner. This meant that I got out the house, so didn't feel to guilty or lazy. I didn't realise just how much there was to see just outside my front door! I thought I would share these photos of all the pretty, fascinating and interesting things there is to see.

The door on a letterbox

 

 

 

 

It's a fish tank in a fence!!!!

These are my favourite flowers

 

 

 

 

Art on the back of our local milk bar

 

Pretty window at local shops

 

 

Hope you have enjoyed these photos. Im looking forward to tonights walk and all the things I might find. I wonder what things you can find just stepping out of your front door?

 

Taz

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tea For Two and Two For Tea.

Sorry for my silence lately..I thought I had seen the end of my blogging days as my computer hates me (and I hate it), but i've won and i'm back now! So, best I get on with it!

Here are two 'tea' recipes I thought I would share with you. Both are good with a cup of tea.

Apple and Cinnamon Tea Cakes.

I made these recently for morning tea at a crafteroon I went to with my sis in law. Seeing as we nearly ate the whole batch(I may have finished them on the way home), I think they were a hit!

I got the basic recipe from this fab book, then changed it slightly.

 

 

 

Here is what you will need:
150 gm plain spelt flour or normal flour
generous pinch of salt
2 1/2 tsp baking powder
50 gm butter
75 gm rapadura or normal sugar
1 egg
6 tbs milk
2 apples, sliced
cinnamon
extra tbs butter
extra sugar

Preheat oven to 180C. Cream the butter and sugar until fluffy. Add the egg and mix well. Combine the flour, baking powder and salt in a bowl. Add the milk and flour mixture alternately into the egg mixture. Combine well.

Pour into pretty patty pans. Place a slice or two of the apple ontop and bake for 15 minutes or until skewer comes out clean.

While the muffins are still hot, brush with hot butter and sprinkle cinnamon and sugar ontop.

 

 

  

Banana and Apricot Tea Bread.

I love a good tea bread. My mum makes the best tea bread! If your reading mum...a few of yours as Christmas pressies will make me very happy!

This tea bread I made was really yummy. You could have it for brekky or with a cup of tea in the afternoon. I love that you can see all the yumminess..the fruit and the nuts. Smear a good amount of butter on your slice and it really is one of the best foods!

 

I got the basic recipe from here, and the lovely photo idea(we've got matching plates), but changed it to suit what we had in our pantry and added an extra something.

 

You will need:

90gm butter, softened

150 gm dried apricots, chopped
50gm currants
150ml boiling water
90gm rapadura sugar
1 egg
250gm plain spelt flour
4tsp baking powder

pinch of salt

100g almonds, chopped
2 mashed bananas

2 tsp cinnamon

1 tea bag

 

Preheat oven to 180C and grease and line a loaf tin. Soak the currants and apricots in the water with the tea bag for 15 minutes. Adding the tea bag is something my mum does. It adds a subtle tea flavour and the fruit gets even tastier.

Combine the butter,baking powder, salt, sugar and egg in a bowl until well combined. Add the flour gradually until well combined.

Add the mashed bananas, fruit and nuts and fold in well. Pour into your prepared tin.

 

 

 

Bake for 45-50 minutes or until a skewer comes out clean and it looks golden.Sit in tin for 10 minutes then cool on wire rack.

 

 

 

Slice and enjoy! This keeps well in a airtight container. Don't forget the butter!

 

 

Hope you have enjoyed these recipes!

 

Taz

 

 

 



Happy Birthday Go Mumma!

It was one of my lovely sister in laws birthdays yesterday. She writes the blog Go Mumma. She is also a very creative, crafty lass, who I just love buying/making birthday and christmas pressies for as I know she really appreciates and loves the handmade, thrifted and quirky things in life! Here is what I gave her for her birthday...

I made her this purse.

 

I found the white crochet/knitted(not sure what is it) pocket at an opshop and then decided to turn it into a purse.

 

 

Ignore the terrible stitching!

 

Found this cute thrifted dress

And this pretty head scarf.

 

Wrote in a pretty card, that could be framed or pinned somewhere,

Sealed it with some pretty tape from my trip to Japan,

And wrapped it up in bright colours.

 

I hope you had a fabulous birthday Ash, and I know you will look just lovely with your scarf, dress and new purse!

 

 

Love Taz!

 

 

 

 

 

Jolly good finds!

Here are some of the latest treasures i've found! The Christmas stuff is getting me a little excited! Have a look..

Thankyou Patsy, for your christmas record

Cute wooden christmas couple

 

Some vintage christmas cards

 

 

 

Love the pink!

 

One of my favourites!

Pretty wrapping paper

 

I love the use of hearts for christmas!

 

Vintage tea towel

  

Lovely fabric

 

Cute sheets

This amazing outfit for Percy!

 

This book for when Percy is older

This jacket with icecreams all over it for Percy.

 

Found this gardening book for hubby, then realised it said Percy on it!

This glass bottle. So cute.

Pretty bowls to add to the pretty bowl collection.

 

 

 

I hope you have enjoyed looking at my jolly good finds! Perhaps they have inspired you to have a look in your local opshop and school fete! And hooray for christmas coming!

 

 

Taz