Pancakes and a stroll around the yard

My son loves these...

Pancakes

(similar to MacDonald's hotcakes)

2 cups SR Flour

2 cups milk

2 eggs

1 tbspn oil

half cup caster sugar

couple drops vanilla essence

Mix altogether and cook as required.

I can't remember where I found this recipe but I would like to thank them as these are now a favourite at my house.

I was out collecting kindling for our fire this afternoon when I came across some toadstools enjoying the cooler wet weather

These ones are not that pretty like some of the photos I have seen recently on other blogs, but fascinating all the same.

The weeds are loving it...

A tree with some lovely yummy figs.

These are the white centred variety...

...knowing that it is Autumn by all the leaves

This poor Sleepy Lizard (Shingleback) is a bit confused with the season. I would have thought he would be in hibernation by now.

The weather although it has been wet and raining on and off for days, it is still not that cold. I heard on the ABC local radio this morning that temperatures in our area and west of us will be experiencing unusually warmer weather than what is typical of this time of year.

xTania

Awesome wonder

Rain (20mm) on Sunday,

Fog on Monday,

Beautiful sunset on Tuesday.

Fantastic weather we are having...

xTania

Doings...

Hello dear friends,

I would like to share with you some of the things going on in our lives...

The boys after some motorbike fun...

I thought it would be a nice idea to learn to ride a motorbike, if you can't beat 'em, join 'em right?

But on second thoughts I think I might stick to horse riding and get myself a nice docile horse. (Our dog Millie loves to chase wheels or anything that moves, she does not chase cars though).

We went to visit my mum for Mother's day yesterday.

Dad had found some treasures in his travels and kept them for me. Below is a lovely enamel bowl with some Panda bears painted on the bottom. I had an old jug already, given to me by my grandmother some years ago and so now I have a very rustic jug and bowl.

Dad also found this old meat-safe in very good condition except someone has replaced the handle. I will be on the look out for an original handle now, but I am happy with the one on there as it adds character.

The back...

The new cyclamen plant next to the safe was a gift to myself for Mother's day. I have a special present coming soon that I will share with you all when it arrives.

Inside...

It looks to be the original paintwork.

Now the nights are cooler I have organised myself to do some knitting,

just some more dishcloths, these are easiest for me as I can manage to finish them.

Big knitted projects never seem to get finished by me, I lose interest and start on something else before finishing the other item.

I even tried my hand at a crochet one.

I am hoping to try knitting bed socks next, now I have found a pattern.

A friend gave us an old barbeque that was no longer any use, well the bbq part anyway.

Hubby decided to use up some scrap wood and make it into a utility table, I am pleased with the way it turned out.

Bonfire season is here, we have not got to light this yet as we want to make sure that it is not too dry as we haven't had that much rain. A few fires got away recently due to it still being too dry even though it is no longer fire ban season.

The circus was in town on the weekend. We could see the tent from our back yard.

I hope all you dear mothers had a special Mother's day spent with your loved ones,

Have a great week everybody,

xTania

Today....

Our rustic rain gauge...

measured 5mm (20pts) overnight....

Woo Hoo, the plants have sprung to life....

Bird of paradise...

Beautiful raindrops on everything....

Got my ANZAC biscuits done...

My recipe is:

ANZAC Biscuits

1 cup plain flour

3/4 cup sugar

1 cup rolled oats

3/4 cup coconut

125gms butter

2 tblspns golden syrup

1 tspn bicarb soda

3 tblspns boiling water

Preheat oven to 180C

In a bowl mix together dry ingredients.

Then the rest.

Spoon onto a greased oven tray and flatten slightly.

Cook for 15 - 20 minutes.

A zucchini slice with our lovely home grown eggs...

thanks chookies!

Zucchini Slice

375gms zucchini, grated

1 large onion, finely chopped

3 bacon rashers, finely chopped

1 cup (125gms) grated tasty cheese

1 cup self-raising flour

1/2 cup oil

5 eggs, lightly beaten

Grease a 19cm x 29cm rectangular slice pan.

Mix all ingredients together well.

Pour mixture into pan and bake in moderate oven about 30 minutes, or until well browned and set in centre.

Serves 4-6

End of day.....

Beauty....

Enjoy your weekend,

xTania

ANZAC Day

Tomorrow in Australia is ANZAC day.

In remembrance and thanks to all our diggers who gave up their lives to make ours better.

For More information about our ANZAC's go here:

xTania

This to that

I can't believe I have managed two posts in one day!

I got to and tidied up outside under our shaded area. It was starting to annoy me, looking out my kitchen window and seeing a mess.

I swept up a heap of leaves and dirt that had built up over the last month, moved the boxing bag that never gets used...why do we think we want something and use it for a while and then the novelty wears off and it collects dust? I would like to put this in my rumpus room that was previously used for Family Day Care. I still have a lot of left over stuff, mainly toys out there, so that will be my next job, hopefully I can get started tomorrow. I also moved some of ds's things that had been collecting up in a nice pile.

For a while I have wanted this area closed in so we can set up the old wood-stove that we have out in the shed. I would really love to be using it. Hopefully hubby takes the hint when he sees what I have done to make it look better. The north wind really whistles through here, hot in Summer and cold in Winter so it really needs to be made more comfortable. It is good at the moment because being Autumn there is not much wind about. The weather is still quite warm here with today being 32C (89.6F).

I have moved some of my pot plants that were struggling out the front of the house to under the shade. Along the retaining wall I have tried to grow some herbs. Some have been successful but others have died. I will plant some more soon and hopefully they will grow this time.

Hubby made this little bike for me. I have potted some mint and so far it is still growing.

Some of my plants look a bit sad so hopefully they will soon pick up.

It will now be a lot more pleasant to sit outside with a cuppa.

Wishing you all well,

xTania

Recipe: Baked Lemon Cheesecake

Updated: ds wanted to know where the jelly stuff was on top of the cheesecake? So I added a lemon topping made up with the juice of 1 large lemon, 1 cup sugar, 1 cup water, 1 heaped tbspn each of custard powder and cornflour. Put in saucepan and heat, stirring until thickened. Apply to top of cheesecake.

Hope he likes it, will be picking him up from school shortly so I will soon know lol.

After a lot of nagging I finally got around to make the cheesecake that ds had been asking for. The recipe can be found in the booklet from the Australian Women's Weekly June 1993.

BAKED LEMON CHEESECAKE

(can be made four days ahead)

2 Cups (200g) plain sweet biscuit crumbs

125g butter, melted

3 eggs lightly beaten

1/2 cup castor sugar

3 x 250g packets cream cheese, softened

3 teaspoons grated lemon rind

1/4 cup lemon juice

Lightly grease a 20cm springform tin.

Combine biscuit crumbs and butter in bowl, press evenly over base and side of prepared tin; refrigerate 1 hour

Beat eggs and sugar in large bowl with electric mixer until pale and thick. Add cheese, rind and juice, beat until mixture is smooth and creamy. Pour mixture into prepared biscuit crust, bake in moderate oven about 1 hour, or until firm; cool in oven with door ajar. Cover and refrigerate several hours, or overnight.

Decorate with wiped cream, and lemon pieces and mint, if desired.

Serves 6-8.

Suitable to freeze

Not suitable to microwave.

* * *

The sunset last night....

Have a great day everyone,

xTania