A Day Out

Sovereign Hill, right here in our town, is a leading tourist attraction. It depicts the Gold rush era of this area in 1851. We are reading The Night We Made the Flag at the moment, it is a beautiful, beautiful book.

Over winter they try to turn it into a winter wonderland, This is Sovereign Hill's idea of snow, foaming bubbles! It's a laugh.

The boys dressed up, they are reinacting the convicts aboard the ship from England.

Sweet Alice ready for the voyage.

We come here often as we have a yearly pass, it's fun for the children, they get to make candles, ride the clydedales and or course pan for gold- it's very addictive, you can almost feel the gold fever comming on!

February lady cardi

Well I've finally finished what's been on my needles since march.

Everytime I visit 'A friend to knit with' in blog world, she has a new jumper knitted every week, I swear EVERY WEEK.

Can you tell I'm jealous?

So this pattern is February Lady
I knitted it in 5ply alpaca yarn, it's beautifully soft and light perfect for the weather we're having right now.

And in case your wondering, I am going to knit a pint size one for my little girl......I just can't help myself!

Fathers Day

Happy Father's Day Dan,
Thankyou for still smiling when I didn't wake up till 9.00am this morning.
Thankyou for not expecting breakfast in bed (that was the plan).
Thankyou for letting Alice eat most of your fish tonight. Next time I will order her own plate of food.
You were born to be a Dad, and everyday, everyday I am grateful that you are beside me, on this journey, because you are the strength of this family, and I couldn't do it without you.

Spring has sprung

The first of the lambs, born the day before, doesn't he look healthy

This clever Mama had twins!. Jim got to come and watch one of the sheep giving birth, His words were 'wow".

Oxtail Soup with basil pesto. This is my favourite winter soup, don't be put off by the name, it really is delicous.
1.5 kg ox tail
2 leek
4 rasher bacon
2 carrots
2 parsnip
2 potato
beef stock.
2 celery sticks
brown the oxtail peices, set aside.
saute the leek and bacon together and the veges all chopped finely, add oxtails back to the pan. add enough stock to cover, simmer for 2 hours till meat falls off the bone.
remove the ox tails and pull the meat from the bones add back to pan, add some parsley.
pesto:
small buch of basil
1/4 cup pinenuts
1/4 olive oil (I think, maybe more)
3 garlic
1/4 parmason cheese
whizz together in food processor
swirl a dollop through the soup when serving.
The pesto is a must, it really lifts the soup adding zing to a slow cooked soup.
ENJOY