Day Eleven

cause some days you just have to step away from the computer screen

I wish, I wish

I wish I could write a lot about my week, but truth be told they are whizzing by far too quickly for me and most times not much is done. Plus I don't' think many people are very interested, in my blog or blog reading for that matter. It has been so dreadfully quiet lately, where is everyone? So really, really quickly, here is how I remember bits of it:

[+] a watercolour workshop I attended last Wednesday with Little Paper Lane
[+] my attempt at painting with watercolour
[+] a cute couple I found while op shopping (only 10 cents!)
[+] banana bread made during the week, I was lucky girl this time and managed to get a slice :)
[+] a camera found at the markets for two bucks
[+] crocheting a baby hat...so relaxing after my crazy week
[+] this gorgeous magazine purchased while picking up my new glasses

I wish I could continue chatting, it has felt like so long since I have. But sadly I am in the middle (or rather the beginning) of revising my project proposal, which sadly, hasn't been going well. I think I have been here a few hours and not much progress has been made. My brain is fried after all day in class, I felt like Charlie Brown when grown ups talk and all he hears is mumble. Exactly like Charlie Brown haha.

lately

I wish I could say I was doing something super exciting that would explain the very long absence from here but truth be told my days are slowly slipping by with not much being done...just a little baking, a little crocheting and a little walking sometimes in the cool of the evening







Nothing too exciting...but holidays are meant to be peaceful and relaxing which they have definitely been. 2013 will be a very busy year for me, for those whom I told, (can't remember who exactly 'knows') I was sent an email August last year to apply for the honours program at uni and spent most of my days thinking yes I can do this! but a few minutes later thinking it was a crazy idea and I couldn't possibly do it. So being the procrastinator I am, I left to the very last minute and decided to apply thinking I will regret it years later if I didn't at least apply. As soon as I handed it in I thought they would definitely say no, I felt I had done so poorly on the written application. But on the 24th of December I was advised I was successful with my application. So for those who have been keeping their fingers crossed for me...thank you. I am sure your fingers are numb from it ;)

hello november

true I am a few days late, twelve to be exact but I am finally feeling better after the big presentation on the 1st of November. I got home that day feeling so nervous and jittery, and my legs were so very achey like I had the flu. So here I am a few days later finally feeling better and relaxing as each day passes. I finally got back into the kitchen and made these amazing pumpkin scones, so super soft and sweet despite looking very plain.





I also, after years and years of wanting to go, got to visit the sculpture by the sea a day before it was due to close. It was not a very nice day weather wise but I had so much fun looking at all the different sculptures. The most enjoyable part was when the dolphins appeared and the sculptures were quickly forgotten by all. Everyone was oohing and aahing at their little show they put on, it was quite a sight. My favourite sculpture?











The one below, I couldn't get a proper photo though. The title of the piece "life is short" and it was made out of tree branches and it only had "lif"













And I was back to crocheting a little potholder to send to a pen pal. I squished it into the envelope so I hope it doesn't end up looking too deformed when it reaches Belgium.



Not too much else going on...except a whole lot of job hunting. Fingers are crossed I find something soon but things aren't looking too good, I applied over the weekend as a volunteer and even they didn't want me haha. Biggest news though is I cut my hair! It was so very long but at the same time I had very dry ends. I will probably regret it soon but for now it feels nice to have short hair in this hot weather. I cannot imagine what summer will be like.

Hope everyone has been well...promise I'll be around more. I know I say this a lot but I truly mean it this time ;)

life lately

I know I should be spending all my spare time finishing up assignments (just two left) but it seems that during my last weeks at uni I always lack the energy to finish up strong and get distracted by EVERYTHING!

So this is what I have been up to lately...a little baking, a little op shop purchases, a little mail making, a little crocheting. If only all my days could be spent like that ;)

weekend bits

another op shop visit and I picked up these three treasures, not much to many but I was so excited when I had these in my hand. Firstly the camera - it was initially picked up by a gentleman and I could tell he was very interested. When I realised what he had I motioned Andres with my eyes to have a quick look at what I had just missed by a few seconds, distraught that I had not arrived just a bit sooner to find it. So when I saw that he no longer had it in his hands I quickly searched for it he was obviously not interested when he realised the film rewind lever wasn't working but a little home repair fixed that. Now the book is one of the many little collections mum bought us when we were younger and most of them were thrown out I assume after some young visitors would come over and draw all over them so to find this book brought back a lot of memories, a whole lot.. And lastly the staffordshire plate, although I am obviously not the greatest of collectors like Laura I am happy I got one. I am going to have a wall in my kitchen with a few plates and have decided they are all to have yellow in common and this one will go so perfectly







a little trip to Windsor yesterday to see the flooded Hawkesbury river but I think we got there too late, we did have a wander and it was perfect timing finding the heart on the piece of wood with my love walking just in front. He knows that when I am with my camera it is best to just continue to walk and not wait around for me





and today I finally finished some duck egg cosies I am sending to a special girl and her boys. I do hope she likes them. And hopefully the long overdue letter that I have been promising her since I don't know when will accompany them. My heart melts when my kids pick flowers for me, my daughter gave me the tiniest of flowers, how perfect and how sad it makes me all at once. It is her 10th birthday tomorrow (she reminds me every few seconds just in case I have forgotten), and she will no longer be in the single digits birthdays but double digits along with her brothers. Boy is it hard letting go for this mum.

My week long break has ended so quickly but I am glad that it is moving fairly quickly, I am super anxious for this semester to be over already.

crafty weekend

I got bitten by craft bug this weekend...but boy did I enjoy it!

snickerdoodle muffins & uni

Friday...I am glad I made it to Friday! this week has been a crazy, crazy blur and I am so happy the weekend has finally arrived. I would jump for the sheer joy of it but I don't think I could lift my feet right now.

I love Fridays as they are usually my baking days (and for now my only day off).  I miss baking so much if I don't bake anything for a week, my last baking adventure were the apple streusel bars so I definitely had to get back into the kitchen today and the weather was just right to have a hot oven on. I must admit though once I start baking I find it hard to stop and today was no different. Today I made snickerdoodle muffins and quickly followed it with a batch of banana choc chip blondies. And although these weren't planned, two lentil bakes for my son to take for church lunch tomorrow to share.

I enjoyed my first week back at uni despite the fact that there is an enormous amount of work that needs to be done this semester.  I am in love with the books I picked up at the library this week and am slowly looking through all the pages and drawing a huge amount of inspiration from all the amazing projects. I was even able to manage to work a little more on my little pig potholder...it is still missing its cute tail and face but hopefully that will get completed soon (I hope). I am sure my second week will not be that enjoyable or the weeks following that. Ah well! I did get a compliment though when I mentioned my age to some of the babies in my class (all 20 and 21) a girl said I did not look it. I am thinking she definitely needs to be wearing the glasses but it did make me smile just a little.

Anyway...here is the recipe for the snickerdoodle muffins for those who are after a really fluffy treat.

Snickerdoodle Muffins

226g unsalted butter
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
2 1/4 cups SR flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup sour cream
1/4 cup buttermilk
2/3 cup sugar (extra)
2 tablespoons cinnamon

1. Preheat oven to 180C. Line a muffin pan with paper cases.




2. Mix the 2/3 cup extra sugar with cinnamon and set aside.




3. In a separate bowl, cream the butter and sugar. Mix in the eggs and vanilla.




4. Add the sour cream and buttermilk and mix well. Stir in the dry ingredients and mix until smooth.




5. Using a spoon, drop a scoop of the batter into the cinnamon sugar bowl. Gently roll the batter in the mixture. Place the ball into the muffin paper case.




6. Sprinkle any remainder cinnamon sugar on top of the muffins and bake for 15 minutes or until a skewer inserted in the centre comes out clean.

good things

[out for a walk]







[at home]

















[lovely op shop visit today]

it has been a good week and my last one of freedom...uni starts Monday :(