tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11922644076480005912012-01-27T17:28:49.278+11:00Enriching family life through simple living and simple pleasuresSoniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05272874599732564999noreply@blogger.comBlogger1581100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1192264407648000591.post-81562018062846562482012-01-27T17:27:00.002+11:002012-01-27T17:27:21.685+11:00

There's been a change of circumstances recently and I've decided to put my blog in a holding pattern for a few months. Please feel free to browse the archive of course. Cheers.

Soniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05272874599732564999noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1192264407648000591.post-32549470300206030672012-01-08T11:34:00.003+11:002012-01-21T12:59:08.109+11:00

Continuing with tradition (ahem, I did do this last year - that makes it a tradition, right?) here is a review of my reading in 2011. I've put the wrap-ups in the sidebar. Working at the local bookshop changed my reading habits. I was introduced to many authors I didn't know of and I was reading a few manuscripts for reviews (which are not included in this list). Disappointingly, I managed

Soniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05272874599732564999noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1192264407648000591.post-57096098115588807312012-01-08T11:03:00.001+11:002012-01-08T11:04:16.311+11:00

The school holidays is definitely testing my imaginative skills.... On a day I knew would be too hot to be outside, we went for a short stroll first thing in the morning before the heat set in. Carrying baskets, the kids picked up anything that took their fancy - leaves, feathers, twigs, fallen flowers, etc. Back at the house, they created their own collage using sticky tape and glue.

Soniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05272874599732564999noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1192264407648000591.post-7449596765000176442011-12-04T14:52:00.001+11:002012-01-08T11:04:22.552+11:00

The house is in top gear for Christmas... We've made reindeer food to hand out at the class Christmas party (thanks to Frog Goose and Bear) We've made our Christmas gift tags from last year's Christmas cards (care of Little Eco Footprints) We've bought all our Christmas gifts for family and friends. I'm especially proud of the little gifts for teachers and carers - a Keep Cup and a $5

Soniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05272874599732564999noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1192264407648000591.post-47470424607823181572011-11-15T14:20:00.001+11:002011-11-15T14:28:34.228+11:00

I thought I'd share what I've been up to lately....uhm, shopping. With birthday money (I just love that I still get birthday money!) I bought some essential reference books and some fabric for my stash. Little Poppa told me about Fabric Traders, an online fabric shop. The choices are delightful and they are lovely to deal with. This will keep me out of mischief for a while...

Soniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05272874599732564999noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1192264407648000591.post-22894187115244431772011-11-01T16:19:00.004+11:002011-11-15T14:28:43.412+11:00

Mending is such a chore for me. I honestly didn't think I would do what I set out to do. But I'm so happy I followed through with action. I set myself the task of mending. I took out the clothes that were un-wearable because there was a missing button/bead or there were stubborn stains that got the better of me or whatever reason it was. I usually use lemon juice in water warm to soak whites

Soniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05272874599732564999noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1192264407648000591.post-89530928264704483492011-10-25T14:22:00.001+11:002011-10-25T14:24:28.921+11:00

I've been thinking about consumerism a lot lately. I've noticed so many beautiful shops close down locally to me and be replaced by shops stacked to their roofs with cheap, lower quality stock. I do buy from those shops on occasion (I certainly do not want to stand on my soapbox and wag my finger at anyone) but I'm disappointed every time a shop with quality goods, whether they are handmade

Soniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05272874599732564999noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1192264407648000591.post-43340447586551906052011-10-07T13:15:00.002+11:002011-10-25T14:24:56.649+11:00

Today, I'm joining in at Down To Earth with Rhonda's On My Mind... With my son back at school next week, school lunches are on my mind. My children are very aware that we make conscious choices with what we put in our mouths. I don't ban any foods. We simply categorise them into healthy and 'sometimes' food. I have no intention of disallowing my kids having goodies at a birthday party. I've

Soniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05272874599732564999noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1192264407648000591.post-5216137313302698132011-10-04T17:59:00.000+11:002011-10-25T14:25:04.021+11:00

Well, I did it. It was a great (but painful) experience. As quilt number 2, it was definitely something I shouldn't have embarked on had I realised what was actually involved... Applique, embroidery, sewing on ribbon and strip upon strip joining!! But, boy am I proud of it. My son is very excited to have it on his bed now. P.S. Thanks to hubby for being a sport and holding the quilt while I

Soniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05272874599732564999noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1192264407648000591.post-21939017096732519202011-09-12T20:40:00.000+10:002011-09-12T20:40:35.437+10:00

I'm very excited! This is my first giveaway here at Light Shade of Green! My Memories have created a digital scrapbooking software program, called My Memories Suite. I was asked to review the software. Having been both a scrapbooker and an I.T. professional in the past, I was keen to check it out. My Memories has kindly offered one reader a chance to win their own copy of the software as well

Soniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05272874599732564999noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1192264407648000591.post-66493287335178017582011-09-06T10:49:00.000+10:002011-10-25T14:24:44.801+11:00

For the last couple of months, Australia's capital, Canberra, has been phasing out plastic bags. A total ban will be in effect from 1st of November this year. I've been a little behind in reading up on my green news so I only knew of this recently. The details of the ban are interesting with regards to what's being included and excluded. Specifically, plastic bags of 35 microns or less will be

Soniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05272874599732564999noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1192264407648000591.post-73581986925312628722011-09-02T11:45:00.002+10:002011-09-02T11:46:58.411+10:00

Since beginning some paid work a little while ago, it's been taking some getting used to the juggling act of family and work commitments. The work is not stressful and I don't need to take work home at all but it takes a little organising, doesn't it? Anyway, I've had a couple of projects on the go lately, with my son's quilt and the wood blocks. And I am proud I managed to complete the Off The

Soniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05272874599732564999noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1192264407648000591.post-54944134978134791372011-08-18T14:06:00.000+10:002011-08-18T14:06:35.268+10:00

I'm having some fun 'off the page' with papers and wood. I've selected papers and colours that suit our lounge room, which will be its home when I'm done. See other creative spacers here...

Soniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05272874599732564999noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1192264407648000591.post-40085367211725117652011-08-11T16:38:00.000+10:002011-08-11T16:38:52.068+10:00

I'm slowly getting the tricky bits done on my son's quilt. I don't know if I would have picked this design if I had known I would be doing applique, tricky machine stitching and embroidery. Did I say embroidery?? Oh boy. I finished the zig-zag stitch on the dinosaurs. And then embarked on the embroidery. I had to buy a hoop and wrap it in ribbon as instructed. Then I slipped the hoop onto the

Soniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05272874599732564999noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1192264407648000591.post-30652313252377855412011-08-06T10:14:00.000+10:002011-08-06T10:14:21.890+10:00

I enjoyed writing my post on baking tips recently. Sometimes I felt that, in reading blogs, everyone was doing things so perfectly and exactly right all of the time. So it was good saying, sorry that's not me. I'm very much a hit-and-miss kind of cook when it comes to sweets. I started to think that I was setting my standards too high. Why on earth would I expect a challenging recipe to work the

Soniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05272874599732564999noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1192264407648000591.post-64526962535885122552011-08-02T13:43:00.000+10:002011-08-02T13:43:15.099+10:00

It's been a lovely year so far in reading. With a lot of other things in my life in chaos, reading is a pleasure I indulge every day. My husband does not read books very often so when he finished two books in seven days, I was a little envious of his speed reading! I love it when he reads because it kinda gives me permission to read even more and not feel as guilty that my head is buried in a

Soniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05272874599732564999noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1192264407648000591.post-66024551621597469412011-07-28T13:05:00.000+10:002011-07-28T13:05:26.279+10:00

I wanted to find some craft activities to do with my 3YO girl that were related to books she owns and loves. No, I was unaware of the amount of those kinds of activities that are on the net! Bliss indeed. So simple too. I printed out a couple of activities from The Little Big Book Club website, picked out the related books from her bookshelf and away we went. She made a pie from two paper

Soniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05272874599732564999noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1192264407648000591.post-67403497208575108522011-07-23T22:02:00.000+10:002011-07-23T22:02:09.484+10:00

I took my kids to Australian Geographic recently (yep, big mistake, they went crazy!). While they went crazy I found Dick Smith has written a book about the population crisis. Before I started reading, I knew that Smith wasn't going to hold back. And I admire that quality in this amazing man. On the very first page he encourages us to embark on our own exploration. Smith knows he's in a

Soniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05272874599732564999noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1192264407648000591.post-60525925939216327982011-07-21T12:57:00.000+10:002011-07-21T12:57:54.337+10:00

I often make my own cards. It's something easy for me and I love colour so it's lots of fun. I used to have another blog so I could post my cards for online challenges. Challenges are always great for ideas and for getting the creatives juices going. But I wanted to recycle things to add to my cards rather than always use 'virgin' papers and embellishments. Buttons are good to reuse on cards and

Soniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05272874599732564999noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1192264407648000591.post-1170831746518802402011-07-13T08:02:00.001+10:002011-07-13T08:02:43.256+10:00

Other Wordless beauties here.

Soniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05272874599732564999noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1192264407648000591.post-5074922335900182012011-07-10T16:19:00.000+10:002011-07-10T16:19:39.726+10:00

I've always loved looking at maps. I think it's because I used to own a desk with the map of the world on the top. Do you remember them?! I may have passed on the fascination with maps to my 5YO son. Recently, I made a puzzle map of Australia so that he can learn the states and capital cities. Like a puzzle, he can place the states onto the map, then the state names and then the capital cities

Soniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05272874599732564999noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1192264407648000591.post-80952472902062908682011-07-06T14:10:00.001+10:002011-07-06T14:10:40.302+10:00

Join here

Soniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05272874599732564999noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1192264407648000591.post-958209433331998422011-06-29T14:08:00.000+10:002011-06-29T14:08:13.219+10:00

I have been heavily influenced by cookbooks over my cooking life. They have been a very important part of me and when I look at some of them, I recall that phase of my life. I have several Jamie Oliver cookbooks and I've cooked from all of them. I appreciate his simple, fresh approach to cooking, heavily influenced by the lovely Italians in his life! He's the guy that got me interested in

Soniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05272874599732564999noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1192264407648000591.post-22436593469123549492011-06-23T13:09:00.000+10:002011-06-23T13:09:22.067+10:00

This is the best multi-function meal (I will demonstrate soon why)! This is a savoury muffin recipe (thanks to Recipes+ with minor changes). My 3YO and I baked the muffins for lunch and then I put a small number in the fridge for my son's lunch the next day and a small number in the freezer for another time. So I solved a few problems: 3YO wanted to bake 3YO needed some lunch 5YO needs

Soniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05272874599732564999noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1192264407648000591.post-47166306932716981322011-06-21T09:52:00.000+10:002011-06-21T09:52:54.465+10:00

I have a love-hate relationship with baking. Let's face it, I've had more failures than successes. I've thrown a lot of cakes out for so many reasons - uncooked in the centre, didn't rise, read the recipe wrong and the list goes on. At one stage, I actually had a person come out to check that my oven was working okay. (Sounds a little bit like the carpenter blaming his tools, right?) Best ever

Soniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05272874599732564999noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1192264407648000591.post-9834520989620034802011-06-16T10:27:00.000+10:002011-06-16T10:27:28.743+10:00

image by Gretchenmist My views on caring for the environment have evolved, changing from a superficial, arrogant understanding to a more informed awareness that I've applied in many ways into family life. I've found that the idea of simple living is gentle on the environment. Initially I thought it was all about replacing every product in my house to a green product (don't get me started on '

Soniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05272874599732564999noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1192264407648000591.post-5389444865001864672011-06-13T14:02:00.001+10:002011-06-13T14:04:06.118+10:00

I love entertaining but it can be exhausting, especially when you have young children. Even a simple barbeque can be hard to do! I like to entertain where it looks like I've made a HUGE effort but really it was as simple as pie (and sometimes I do make pie). It's easy to throw a few chicken pieces and some sausages on the barbeque. But it doesn't have to look like you've just opened the bag and

Soniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05272874599732564999noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1192264407648000591.post-52394543234203292132011-06-10T16:26:00.000+10:002011-06-10T16:26:21.464+10:00

A simple one today. I always feel good about using leftovers. Leftover savoury mince ended up in lunch time pastries. Yum. This savoury mince includes lots of diced vegetables and cooked down with tinned tomatoes and a little beef stock. I use puff pastry sheets. Divided into 4 squares I add a heaped tablespoon of the mince into the centre and sprinked shredded tasty cheese on top. Fold over

Soniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05272874599732564999noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1192264407648000591.post-87774955583061073452011-06-07T10:04:00.000+10:002011-06-07T10:04:06.432+10:00

image by Gretchenmist Sometimes I just can't be bothered. Do you know the feeling? I know I need to put a load of washing on, it's already 11am and I've achieved the total amount of zero. It's those days when your answer to everything is 'Blah'.  It's a gorgeous day. 'Blah'.  I've run out of flour. 'Blah' and oh well.  I could make a meal from the crumbs on the floor. Yep and 'blah'. I think

Soniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05272874599732564999noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1192264407648000591.post-44915983822492859882011-06-03T18:53:00.000+10:002011-06-03T18:53:02.655+10:00

So I'm a little late with My Creative Space. But considering I haven't posted about this kind of thing in over 6 months, I just couldn't wait until next week. So I started my quilt today... Woohoo! It's a single bed quilt for my 5YO boy. Dinosaurs are appropriate of course. And I love the colours I've selected - lime greens and shade of blue. It's my first time with applique and I'll be

Soniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05272874599732564999noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1192264407648000591.post-74344066596502062212011-05-31T20:40:00.000+10:002011-05-31T20:40:23.620+10:00

I think a lot of about food packaging. Since my son started school, packaging has become an even bigger issue. My landfill bin has not been overflowing like it used to. Unfortunately, I can't pinpoint exactly what I'm doing right. I know that sounds bizarre. Maybe I'm underestimating the conscious decisions I've made in my purchases. A result of buying  fresh, local produce at your local farmers

Soniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05272874599732564999noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1192264407648000591.post-64725542085541441552011-05-29T13:56:00.000+10:002011-05-29T13:56:36.864+10:00

Hooray for Farmers' markets coming back in fashion! We haven't been for a while because my kids don't get as excited about fresh local vegetables as I do. Go figure. But today was a special day amongst many special days that are held at our local market. Their second anniversary bought out of the goodies for kids. So even though I've had sick children and a husband with the flu over the last

Soniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05272874599732564999noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1192264407648000591.post-89803852146801646132011-05-23T13:37:00.001+10:002011-05-23T13:39:58.830+10:00

I love this slice. It can be eaten on its own or put into a sandwich. It's a lunch box winner at  my place and it's great for the kids to help make. The recipe is from Super Food Ideas magazine February 2010 issue. Ham and Vegetable Slice 1 medium zucchini, grated 1 carrot, peeled and grated 1 medium red capsicum, finely diced 100g ham, chopped 3/4 cup grated tasty cheese 1/2 cup

Soniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05272874599732564999noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1192264407648000591.post-50134432511557533172011-05-17T14:31:00.000+10:002011-05-17T14:31:57.356+10:00

I plan meals because then I can avoid rushing around and therefore avoid stressing about putting a meal on the table that is healthy and yummy. The other stuff like saving money is a bonus when I meal plan. The other day I was getting frustrated over planning meals for the week. I pulled out pieces of paper, notebooks, display folders and magazines. In the end I created a mess and only had half

Soniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05272874599732564999noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1192264407648000591.post-5879480949654230142011-05-12T21:51:00.000+10:002011-05-14T06:49:15.542+10:00

At the end of a day, sometimes I say 'We didn't eat any greens today!' Sometimes it goes wrong and my family don't eat greens in their day. It's not intentional. I'm always thinking about colour in our meals. I made beef stew for dinner recently and mentioned that there were lots of colours in our meal. My 5YO boy pointed out all the colours he could see and then said 'It's a rainbow meal!' I've

Soniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05272874599732564999noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1192264407648000591.post-33347318947113589572011-05-09T14:01:00.006+10:002011-05-09T18:21:46.360+10:00

Sometimes kids don't need a new activity, just a change of scenery...

Soniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05272874599732564999noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1192264407648000591.post-28529600826446382742011-05-05T16:41:00.000+10:002011-05-05T16:41:01.637+10:00

We had a bumper crop of tomatoes this year. We finally pulled out the plants now - in May! Tomatoes were still on the plants but they weren't ripening any further. It's just not warm enough anymore. What do you expect in May! So here are the last batch of ripe tomatoes(with a couple of bulbs of garlic we harvested a little while back.) So what do you do with a couple of kilos of tomatoes??

Soniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05272874599732564999noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1192264407648000591.post-36488654372966407222011-05-03T11:04:00.000+10:002011-05-03T11:04:45.830+10:00

Every day, I'm arting, crafting and playing with my children. Sometimes I just don't want to do it. Sometimes I have no enthusiasm for it and the kids can see it. Everyone has their off days, right? My daughter is not someone who likes the whole independent play thing. She's three so I can't expect too much. I like a balance of independent play and organised play (but that's for another post).

Soniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05272874599732564999noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1192264407648000591.post-20425605940391597572011-05-01T13:38:00.000+10:002011-05-01T13:38:39.794+10:00

I met the woman behind the incredible blog and now book, Planning With Kids. Nicole Avery is an inspiration. I was lucky to be able to go to the book launch last Friday. And for something a little different....me. (my first appearance on my blog!). Nicole Avery, the Planning Queen (left) and me. Head on over here to see details of her new book.

Soniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05272874599732564999noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1192264407648000591.post-81794045764676685342011-04-28T18:26:00.000+10:002011-04-28T18:26:42.014+10:00

I love this recipe because there is something for everyone in it. Those that like some protein, those that love their pasta and those mums that love adding something green to their meals. It's very tasty and there are many things you can do to make it even easier for the evening meal. Chicken and Vegetable Pasta Bake Dice half a butternut pumpkin into 3cm cubes (or thereabouts!)1 broccoli,

Soniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05272874599732564999noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1192264407648000591.post-38849830632893250162011-04-27T09:58:00.000+10:002011-04-27T09:58:08.841+10:00

I love Winter for two reasons: casseroles and soups. At this time of the year, I make big batches of both to freeze. I also keep a batch of bread rolls in the freezer so we can use them for dipping into those warming soups. The great thing about casseroles is they can be so friendly to the hip pocket. The budget meats can be cooked for a long time and become so tender and morish. Another

Soniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05272874599732564999noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1192264407648000591.post-37603258499936205012011-03-08T14:49:00.001+11:002011-04-23T21:45:47.997+10:00

My head has been firmly planted in the ground on the topic of the Murray-Darling Basin. After watching the ABC documentary on the issue, I was shocked. Not only about the dire state of the basin but how much that has been happening while my head was buried deep in the sand. So many FACTS I was unaware of until now... The enormity of the basin - the Murray-Darling Basin covers one-seventh of

Soniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05272874599732564999noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1192264407648000591.post-7789378134675389302011-02-27T17:28:00.000+11:002011-04-23T21:46:10.986+10:00

Some cooking this month... Date and Apricot Loaf (Recipes+ Issue Oct 2010) Coconut balls - care of Catherine at A Time To Create We don't usually buy potatoes but we had them around this week and I certainly didn't want to waste food so.... Potato Gnocchi (Jamie Oliver) Our vegie patch is finally producing some great stuff - what to do when you can't keep up with the tomato salads? Yep,

Soniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05272874599732564999noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1192264407648000591.post-21239704728840426162011-02-22T20:44:00.000+11:002011-04-23T21:46:47.132+10:00

Each week I will share with you my thoughts about what "environmental awareness" means to me by taking each letter of the phrase....(Click on any phrase to see previous posts)Ethical                             AttitudeNot my problem?              WaterVegie patch                      ActionImpact                             Rethink your daily waysRenewables                     EducationOrganic

Soniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05272874599732564999noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1192264407648000591.post-30658994878558384092011-02-19T18:44:00.000+11:002011-04-23T21:46:58.573+10:00

image So I guess this is the post where you learn a little bit more about me. I've tried to keep on track with my chosen blog theme - the environment. Over the last few months, I've expanded into the creative side of things - making, baking, kids craft and the sort. I still think these topics are all relevant since it reflects the values we have as a family - simple living, fewer preservatives

Soniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05272874599732564999noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1192264407648000591.post-79545619602288330312011-02-10T18:32:00.001+11:002011-04-23T21:47:20.921+10:00

I love cooking and baking. I'm not afraid to try out new recipes and I've created my own yummy plates of my own on occasion (which I have posted here of course). My blogging started off very slowly. It was as if I started prematurely. But I took off with it about six months later. Today, just over one year on, I've learnt a lot about my blogger topic of choice (the environment) as well as the

Soniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05272874599732564999noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1192264407648000591.post-90515832543296845662011-02-06T14:26:00.000+11:002011-04-23T21:47:56.497+10:00

I discovered this punch bowl a couple of weeks ago in a local op shop. I didn't take it home because I didn't have any cash on me. Then recently I saw there was a sale on at the shop and ran for my life to buy it. I honestly thought someone else would snatch it away from me! My mum owns a beautiful crystal punch bowl that I could borrow any time but I just couldn't resist this glass bowl with a

Soniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05272874599732564999noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1192264407648000591.post-74705759277067791102011-02-02T15:08:00.000+11:002011-02-02T15:08:26.102+11:00

It's not a pretty picture. It's a regular meal - well, it's roast chicken, Jamie Oliver style, with roasted sweet potato and whole roasted garlic. Correction, that is, Australian certified purple garlic that my husband planted, tenderly cared for and then dried in our shed. If you think you've tried garlic, think again! Whole garlic bulbs, unpeeled, in the roasting tray. Roasting garlic whole

Soniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05272874599732564999noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1192264407648000591.post-90285683007642248582011-01-31T10:52:00.000+11:002011-04-23T21:48:41.953+10:00

My eldest starts prep this week and I have a few butterflies in the tummy! He's excited and keen to learn EVERYTHING. That's what he told me - 'I want to learn everything'. Uniform, bag, books, shoes and other miscellaneous items are bought, labelled and ready to go. So I thought we'd go through the recess and lunch time routine in the few days leading up to the big day. We talked about what

Soniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05272874599732564999noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1192264407648000591.post-51288357396975552252011-01-30T08:36:00.000+11:002011-01-30T08:36:22.729+11:00

Some cooking days.... A batch of toasted muesli Cooked playdough care of Frog, Goose and Bear (well, technically it's cooking!!) Double Chocolate Brownies care of Stephanie Alexander's The Cook's Companion A speedy Chicken Fried Rice (with brown rice) Banana Loaf

Soniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05272874599732564999noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1192264407648000591.post-53002691141031811942011-01-27T07:56:00.001+11:002011-04-23T21:49:15.434+10:00

I started making a card and stopped abruptly. My ribbon collection was getting out of hand. Piles of it in a drawer and it seemed I never had the right ribbon for my card. I made these spool-type thingys out of cardboard that was lying around. I think some crafters call them floss cards?? So now they are organised AND they don't take up anywhere near as much space as before. Bonus. I can

Soniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05272874599732564999noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1192264407648000591.post-11497408794123038692011-01-23T20:27:00.001+11:002011-04-23T21:50:38.907+10:00

Well? What do you think of my op shop find? I am fully aware that there will be a variety of reactions! The apricot doesn't really scream fashion. I know. But when I put it on, I loved it. I think paired with a bulky brown belt and strappy shoes, it is a nice addition to my wardrobe. Head on over to the delightful Her Library Adventures for more flea market finds. And join in to be part of a

Soniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05272874599732564999noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1192264407648000591.post-78097916164024169672011-01-20T13:13:00.000+11:002011-04-23T21:50:56.818+10:00

I've been busy with paper at my other blog... To see other creative goodness, head on over here.

Soniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05272874599732564999noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1192264407648000591.post-79410477212509567282011-01-15T11:03:00.000+11:002011-04-23T21:51:29.136+10:00

A new year always brings me enthusiasm and new ideas. Of course, everyday life can eat at that optimism. If only I could bottle that 'new year's optimism' and take it out whenever I need  it. While the bizarre tropical heat and heavy rains here in Melbourne are upon us, this is nothing compared to what's going in Queensland. Now, there's flooding here in Victoria as well as around the world. (

Soniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05272874599732564999noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1192264407648000591.post-71335991462523494042011-01-10T11:11:00.001+11:002011-04-23T21:52:26.877+10:00

Each week I will share with you my thoughts about what "environmental awareness" means to me by taking each letter of the phrase....(Click on any phrase to see previous posts) Ethical                             AttitudeNot my problem?              WaterVegie patch                      ActionImpact                             Rethink your daily waysRenewables                     EducationOrganic

Soniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05272874599732564999noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1192264407648000591.post-30365482692128527292011-01-02T19:27:00.001+11:002011-04-23T21:53:13.564+10:00

My word for 2011 is..... embrace This word pushes me outside my comfort zone. It makes me squirm considering that I spent most of 2010 hiding. This word shoves me into the thick of things, into the world, and more importantly, into the community. I will embrace the lows and the highs. I will embrace the sadness and the happiness. I will embrace my individuality and I will embrace everyone

Soniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05272874599732564999noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1192264407648000591.post-68219402176425410912010-12-21T16:47:00.000+11:002010-12-21T16:47:17.757+11:00

We've managed to get ourselves a harvest of garlic! It's proudly hanging in the shed to dry. It's our first time and I'm very excited about it. Certified Australian garlic. Brilliant. I'll tell you more about growing garlic in the new year. The oregano has gone bananas! We now have several bunches hanging to dry also. A short break I wll be taking a short break from the blog, refreshed in the

Soniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05272874599732564999noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1192264407648000591.post-83628640702672093302010-12-17T14:23:00.000+11:002011-04-23T21:54:07.270+10:00

I've decided to write this post for a couple of reasons. I temporarily digress from the environmental posts to give myself a break. The festive season is a crazy time. I do wish to post but my brain imploded when the calendar ticked over to December 1. Secondly, books are a big part of my life so it shows another part of me in a way. I've managed to get through a lot of reading this year which

Soniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05272874599732564999noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1192264407648000591.post-52803815919239662942010-12-06T13:41:00.001+11:002010-12-06T13:42:36.223+11:00

Thanks to my green-thumbed husband, we have a vegetable patch going very well at the moment. We're growing a variety of vegetables but I thought I'd focus on the tomatoes today. We get our seeds from Diggers that are of the delightful heritage kind. We've planted: Black krim Black prince Purple russian Brandy wine pink Green zebra San Marzano Mighty red Italian tomato Yellow beams Tommy toe A

Soniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05272874599732564999noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1192264407648000591.post-70553184793554114962010-12-02T13:24:00.001+11:002011-04-23T21:54:45.015+10:00

Each week I will share with you my thoughts about what "environmental awareness" means to me by taking each letter of the phrase.... Ethical                             AttitudeNot my problem?              WaterVegie patch                      ActionImpact                             Rethink your daily waysRenewables                     EducationOrganic                           Natural?New is

Soniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05272874599732564999noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1192264407648000591.post-86395179278570983282010-11-25T08:02:00.001+11:002011-04-23T21:55:11.541+10:00

A couple of weeks ago, I showed you my intentions (and progress) of my first bunting. To be honest, I didn't think I was going to pull it off. Some of you will think that buntings are easy (and they are) but this was testing my skills further. I'm really happy with the result. Not too crazy about the colours and patterns but I didn't really focus too much on that. My focus was on finishing it!

Soniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05272874599732564999noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1192264407648000591.post-27954726265990472202010-11-24T09:51:00.000+11:002011-04-23T21:55:39.228+10:00

For more lovely Wordless Wednesdays, pop over here.

Soniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05272874599732564999noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1192264407648000591.post-50555592111778792302010-11-19T08:35:00.000+11:002011-04-23T21:56:09.309+10:00

I've never done this before but I felt compelled to tell you about a book I bought recently for my children. 'All Through The Year' is a gorgeous book. It's beautifully written by an Australian author, Jane Godwin. The illustrations by Anna Walker are lovely and full of pictures that you can talk about with your children for ages. The bonus is children will learn about the months of the year but

Soniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05272874599732564999noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1192264407648000591.post-1988563274760703662010-11-18T08:22:00.000+11:002011-04-23T21:56:30.203+10:00

I believe one would call it 'the zone' or maybe 'obsessiveness'. More cards... And my very first bunting underway. I have no idea what I'm doing but I'm giving it a try. I want to cut the letters for 'Merry Christmas' from felt and stick them on. We'll see... More creatives spacers here.

Soniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05272874599732564999noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1192264407648000591.post-39231444899521054712010-11-16T08:26:00.000+11:002011-04-23T21:56:56.815+10:00

We all know them. Those that are good at gift giving and those that are lousy at it. What I find fascinating is that those that give beautiful gifts don't necessarily place importance on 'stuff' nor necessarily a big spender.  I'm a little more conscious about my gift giving these days; more thoughtful and more environmentally friendly. I've thought about the paper we use, the cards we buy, where

Soniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05272874599732564999noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1192264407648000591.post-78036826770714861352010-11-14T20:34:00.001+11:002011-04-23T21:57:18.350+10:00

Each week I will share with you my thoughts about what "environmental awareness" means to me by taking each letter of the phrase.... Ethical                             AttitudeNot my problem?              WaterVegie patch                      ActionImpact                             Rethink your daily waysRenewables                     EducationOrganic                           Natural?New is

Soniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05272874599732564999noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1192264407648000591.post-80809567109201403072010-11-11T12:22:00.000+11:002011-04-23T21:57:38.126+10:00

I'm well into Christmas preparation. Last week was the Christmas paper garland. This week are the Christmas cards and tags. I had a false start with the cards this year. I created the ugliest and most uncoordinated card of all time. I then was given a few 'scraps' from Alison Ellis herself. Yep, I know her (gloat) and her papers are gorgeous. It was all the inspiration I needed! Still a few

Soniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05272874599732564999noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1192264407648000591.post-18002038797740259212010-11-10T15:15:00.000+11:002011-04-23T21:58:34.214+10:00

I'm writing lists at the moment. Lots of them. I'm a big fan of lists. I just have to be careful - I sometimes uses lists to procrastinate. Lots of listing and no action-taking! There's the Christmas card list. The Christmas gift list. The baking list. And I've been working on the meal plan. Meals have been hit-and-miss lately. Very last minute which usually means expensive because I've had to

Soniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05272874599732564999noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1192264407648000591.post-5187057261919478402010-11-08T08:41:00.000+11:002011-04-23T21:58:56.470+10:00

Each week I will share with you my thoughts about what "environmental awareness" means to me by taking each letter of the phrase.... Ethical                             AttitudeNot my problem?              WaterVegie patch                      ActionImpact                             Rethink your daily waysRenewables                     EducationOrganic                           Natural?New is

Soniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05272874599732564999noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1192264407648000591.post-29864755845101181982010-11-04T08:04:00.000+11:002011-04-23T21:59:08.311+10:00

Christmas time isn't too far away and I have started making a few things. Christmas cards are an easy start of course and as you can see, chaos has begun at my craft table yet again! I will no doubt show you the finished product. I tried my hand at a paper garland and that was so much fun!   I used AlisonEllis papers and some red cardstock with tiny, tiny christmas tress punched out. I then

Soniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05272874599732564999noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1192264407648000591.post-65339680133922688382010-10-31T21:33:00.000+11:002011-04-23T21:59:23.340+10:00

Each week I will share with you my thoughts about what "environmental awareness" means to me by taking each letter of the phrase.... Ethical                             AttitudeNot my problem?              WaterVegie patch                      ActionImpact                             Rethink your daily waysRenewables                     EducationOrganic                           Natural?New is

Soniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05272874599732564999noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1192264407648000591.post-88581358098252160522010-10-29T10:11:00.001+11:002011-04-23T21:59:46.279+10:00

Being of Italian heritage, you could be excused for thinking we eat pasta all the time at our place. But we don't. I like to keep variety in my meals and of course this includes pasta. Good old-fashioned lasagne is left to my mum (I have yet to master a good lasagne). I have experimented with different types of pasta and have developed my own sauce (with and without meat). This particular

Soniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05272874599732564999noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1192264407648000591.post-91679546906188625492010-10-24T21:12:00.000+11:002011-04-23T22:00:04.325+10:00

Each week I will share with you my thoughts about what "environmental awareness" means to me by taking each letter of the phrase.... Ethical                             AttitudeNot my problem?              WaterVegie patch                      ActionImpact                             Rethink your daily waysRenewables                     EducationOrganic                           Natural?New is

Soniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05272874599732564999noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1192264407648000591.post-697339644446891202010-10-22T08:07:00.000+11:002011-04-23T22:00:26.916+10:00

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.- Soulemama

Soniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05272874599732564999noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1192264407648000591.post-51521273639725536412010-10-21T08:12:00.000+11:002011-04-23T22:00:52.904+10:00

I finished my quilt. Woohoo! My very first one and I'm downright proud of it. Lots of handstitching which I had a breakdown over initially but got the hang of it eventually. Really, this was so much fun to make. My daughter loves it to bits which is great to see. Next project will be a dinosaur quilt for my son's bed. Bigger but still a simple design. My husband doing his duty, holding up

Soniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05272874599732564999noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1192264407648000591.post-23149553650663392812010-10-19T07:52:00.001+11:002011-04-23T22:01:53.716+10:00

This is a variation on a recipe I have used many times from Superfood Ideas magazine. You can get the recipe here. I highly recommend the Superfood Ideas version (however, they don't seem to hold together for me upon shallow frying). Since my kids have started developing their list of 'don't touch with a barge pole' foods I've had to change the recipe and came up with a combination that was both

Soniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05272874599732564999noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1192264407648000591.post-3742325527274455022010-10-18T09:09:00.001+11:002011-04-23T22:02:17.540+10:00

Each week I will share with you my thoughts about what "environmental awareness" means to me by taking each letter of the phrase.... Ethical                             AttitudeNot my problem?              WaterVegie patch                      ActionImpact                             Rethink your daily waysRenewables                     EducationOrganic                           Natural?New is

Soniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05272874599732564999noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1192264407648000591.post-64085351927251964132010-10-12T18:40:00.001+11:002011-04-23T22:02:33.019+10:00

Boy, have I been slack with this blog. No excuses of course. And here is an easy, kid-friendly dinner. It was a winner for us. (Not bad considering I simply took the food processor out and looked around the kitchen waiting for inspiration...!) Chicken Balls 500g chicken2 tablespoons parsley1/4 cup barbeque sauce1/4 cup breadcrumbs1 egg1 onion, chopped salt to tasteextra breadcrumbs to coat

Soniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05272874599732564999noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1192264407648000591.post-18035898459875773352010-10-01T15:04:00.000+10:002011-04-23T22:02:54.490+10:00

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.- Soulemama

Soniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05272874599732564999noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1192264407648000591.post-51150224826812476302010-09-26T16:39:00.000+10:002011-04-23T22:03:27.545+10:00

Everyone has something they believe in dearly. Whether it be a charity you donate to or a foundation you follow in some way to raise awareness and funds. For me, it's beyondblue. Next month is all about raising awareness and reducing stigma of anxiety and depression. Over three million Australians suffer from anxiety and/or depression. There are many ways in which people can show their support.

Soniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05272874599732564999noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1192264407648000591.post-27069141782395102462010-09-21T09:39:00.001+10:002011-04-23T22:03:45.253+10:00

I think the key to meatballs is bread, believe it or not. If I don't include bread in the mixture then they become quite tough when cooked. Nowhere near the melt in your mouth texture that I think is much nicer. Meatballs 1 x 700g bottle tomato passata1 onion, finely diced1 teaspoon dried oregano1 tablespoon tomato paste 500g minced beef3 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped1 teaspoon crushed

Soniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05272874599732564999noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1192264407648000591.post-8862931072439264412010-09-20T10:46:00.000+10:002011-04-23T22:04:13.449+10:00

Image: www.taste.com.au As a parent, nutrition for our children is a high priority. My theory is - if they don't eat well, they don't play well; if they don't play well, they don't sleep well; if they don't sleep well, they don't eat well, and round and round we go. I have that cycle in my head and find that the key for my kids is nutrition. As a teacher, I would often see a group of 13-

Soniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05272874599732564999noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1192264407648000591.post-90070170237511493412010-09-19T13:46:00.000+10:002011-04-23T22:04:29.899+10:00

Meet the newest member of our family - Charlie. He's an Australian Terrier who is three months old. I may live to regret the chaos but he's cute nevertheless ;)

Soniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05272874599732564999noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1192264407648000591.post-29727777670457671202010-09-14T12:27:00.000+10:002011-04-23T22:04:44.143+10:00

I find this meal very kid-friendly. Take out vegetables they don't like, add ones they do like. I also blend the tin tomatoes with a stick blender to avoid watching the awkwardness at the dinner table when they spoon out a piece of tomato, look at me in shock and ask 'What's this, mum!?' The recipe is an altered version of one I found in a cookbook released by the Australian Institute of Sport

Soniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05272874599732564999noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1192264407648000591.post-84368353522896228832010-09-09T10:28:00.000+10:002011-04-23T22:05:12.348+10:00

I've been having a delightful time of late with sewing lessons galore. I'm making my first quilt, I've been sharpening up my sewing skills at my local fabric shop and I have also had some lessons with the talented Hayley, of Thinker Maker. Hayley is what I call a mindful shopper. She makes a very conscious decision every time she consumes, sepcifically with fashion. She once ran an eco-friendly

Soniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05272874599732564999noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1192264407648000591.post-74476746588764354572010-09-07T12:37:00.000+10:002011-04-23T22:05:36.931+10:00

Combine into a bowl: 3 cups of rolled oats with 150g of mixed nuts (almonds, hazelnuts, sunflower seeds, pepitas) and 1/2 cup shredded coconut and 1/2 cup pure maple syrup and 1 tablespoon of grapeseed oil or canola oil Line a tray with baking paper, spread mix onto tray and bake at 180 degrees Celcius for 20 minutes or until golden brown, stirring occasionally. Allow to cool. Add 3/4 cup

Soniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05272874599732564999noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1192264407648000591.post-56060561616660701362010-09-05T09:05:00.000+10:002011-04-23T22:05:53.566+10:00

Humans are complex characters. Each and every one of us are made up of contradictions and hangups, of peculiarities and scars, of dark and light and all the rest that no-one will ever know.  Blogging of the environmental kind is also complex. Climate change, peak oil, sweat shops, water conservation, food miles, food toxins and consumerism are only some of the issues an 'environmentalist' faces

Soniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05272874599732564999noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1192264407648000591.post-11571595994229355052010-09-02T07:48:00.002+10:002011-04-23T22:06:14.828+10:00

I've been sewing again this year. Having been taught a little years ago, I know my way around a sewing machine but the skills are still developing. I tackled an 'Easy' Vogue pattern at the beginning of winter. Yes, I am aware that it is now the end of winter. It took me days to read through the instructions and gain enough confidence to lay out the pattern on the material. Unfortunately, after I

Soniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05272874599732564999noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1192264407648000591.post-14600299619741524742010-09-01T14:57:00.000+10:002011-04-23T22:06:31.080+10:00

Head over here for Wordless Wednesday

Soniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05272874599732564999noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1192264407648000591.post-2534057706491627152010-08-31T09:48:00.000+10:002011-04-23T22:06:49.983+10:00

I'm a huge fan of quinoa (pronounced 'keen-wah', but this pronunciation is still debated). It's a grain native to South Africa but technically it's a seed. I'm sure that many of you have eaten quinoa but if you haven't, you must try it. It's a fabulous grain for so many reasons. It has a slight nutty flavour when cooked. You can purchase it in grain form or flakes and there is also a black

Soniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05272874599732564999noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1192264407648000591.post-91853168751851917882010-08-27T11:34:00.000+10:002011-04-23T22:07:50.088+10:00

The only experience I've had with second-hand shopping is through Ebay. With all the posts about simple living and consumerism and living with 'stuff', I thought it's high time I try a new experience with second-hand shopping. Some of my finds...  jacket and dress at an op shop The most gorgeous retro bowl at a garage sale A pretty biscuit plate from an op shop Amongst these things, I

Soniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05272874599732564999noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1192264407648000591.post-23754768735470360702010-08-24T09:40:00.000+10:002011-04-23T22:08:55.767+10:00

I was reluctant to share this soup because there are some pretty spectacular cooks amongst bloggers - who am I tell you about soup! So I thought I share not just the recipe but some of the things that I do when making soup. I often use legumes in my soup but with young children I found that they prefer certain ones over others. My kids don't like the texture of whole chickpeas but don't mind

Soniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05272874599732564999noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1192264407648000591.post-48954509274976016522010-08-22T13:50:00.003+10:002011-04-23T22:09:29.320+10:00

This book left me in the fetal position. My head is still in a mess after reading it and quite honestly, there is a part of me that wished I never read it. Two Canadians, leaders in environmental thinking, decided to experiment on themselves, acting deliberately in an attempt to increase the toxin levels in their bodies. The results are stunning, shocking, jaw-dropping stuff. The chapters are

Soniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05272874599732564999noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1192264407648000591.post-78665586023280849602010-08-20T14:31:00.001+10:002011-04-23T22:10:55.033+10:00

Another quilting lesson today and my cot quilt is coming along nicely. I really enjoyed the class. I was amazed to see a couple of other ladies who were hand-stitiching their quilt. Ahhh!! But I can imagine that it would be very meditative indeed. I'm seriously falling in love with fabric. Big trouble, I'm sure. So many beautiful choices and, in my head, I'm already up to my second and third and

Soniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05272874599732564999noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1192264407648000591.post-24740589071795209482010-08-17T11:46:00.000+10:002011-04-23T22:08:55.771+10:00

This is a follow on from last week's post on my versatile white sauce. I do need to add that this particular white sauce is Maggie Beer's recipe. This sauce uses half milk and half chicken stock which makes for a lighter sauce. I really love that. Chicken Pie...serves 4 One serve of white sauce 1 1 cup of mixed frozen vegetables 500g chicken fillets 2 tablespoons olive oil 2 sheets puff pastry,

Soniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05272874599732564999noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1192264407648000591.post-87269082839510775892010-08-16T09:07:00.000+10:002011-04-23T22:12:02.283+10:00

Our visit to Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne was excellent. I guess it really depends on how I describe it: I drove the kids 40 minutes away to an oversized garden. It has a children's play area, a cafe and a modest souvenir shop. We walked around a little, played in the park and took some photos. OR It was a glorious morning. The sun was out on a Winter's day and it would have been criminal

Soniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05272874599732564999noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1192264407648000591.post-78251353948663195742010-08-14T16:56:00.000+10:002011-04-23T22:12:40.649+10:00

I read this Dr. Seuss book to my son recently. It asks you to list all the things you want and you will receive it all on the First of Octember. "Everyone wants a big green kangaroo.Maybe, perhaps, you would like to have two.I want you to have them. I'll buy them for you......if you'll wait till the First of Octember." My wants are: To educate my extended family on treating our planet with

Soniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05272874599732564999noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1192264407648000591.post-5447769876142146182010-08-13T12:52:00.000+10:002010-08-13T12:52:33.072+10:00

Those of you who live in Melbourne know how cold it's been this Winter. We've been through some very cold nights, gusty winds and dreary days.  Our garden is looking good nevertheless. We've had some successes and some failures. We manage to eat a few broccoli and they were very yummy. But it wasn't the biggest harvest. The garlic growing under the dwarf apple trees are coming along nicely. We

Soniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05272874599732564999noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1192264407648000591.post-61568213337246897132010-08-12T09:34:00.000+10:002011-04-23T22:10:49.803+10:00

Because I don't have enough to do in my life.... I started up a new blog, displaying my card creations. It's called Colour Me A Card. I've been following some card blogs that offer challenges based on a card sketch. I figure there is no pressure since I've been making cards for a while and this will now allow me to add a linky to their challenge. I was also keen to keep A Light Shade of Green

Soniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05272874599732564999noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1192264407648000591.post-35593043937340757032010-08-11T08:05:00.000+10:002011-04-23T22:12:46.155+10:00

Wordless Wednesday here

Soniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05272874599732564999noreply@blogger.com9