Doing...

I am supposed to be crocheting a granny square a day as a challenge to myself after reading this post over at Mum's Simple Living Blog. I thought this would help me get my granny square projects (I decided to make rugs) finished that I talked about in a previous post. I have collected my wool together, and found my crochet hook that mysteriously went missing, so no more excuses!

But...

I am starting a new project...

Just a simple knitted square x 20 to make a simple knitted quilt.

Just deciding on colours at the moment...

Oh and I have found a cute little Valentine's bookmark I want to knit up too :)

I am reading this book that I bought for myself as a birthday present back in December...

We had another visit from an unwanted guest!

I think hubby has a thing with shoes, he has a pair of mine on with little diamante's on them lol!

This one was 4ft 9inches and was waiting for me when I went to collect the eggs with my grandson...

We have large pieces of reinforcing rod (like what is found in concrete sleepers) that hubby made up and they hang at different spots around the veranda and yard. This makes it easy to grab one should we encounter a snake...

The attraction in the hen house would be the mice, even though I did find a hollowed out egg shell.

A very venomous brown snake, the third one this season!

Normally the ants do their thing with the carcass, but our neighbour the Goanna decided to have a feast on this snake.

The nectarines are ready again,

have been busy picking some at the end of each day,

and stewing them up for later use.

I stack these in the freezer...

17.01.12

It was 42.6C (108.7F) on this day,

and it produced the most spectacular sunset.

Wishing you all a fantastic day today,

xTania

Around here

Firstly I would like to give a big WELCOME to my new followers!

There has been

some pretty skies...

tinged with smoke...

from the recent bush fire that is out now thanks to the helpful rain...

Hazy, smoke covered moon

Getting some work done...

Gotta love his shoe laces lol!

Smiley happy Millie dog...

She has barely any teeth left now, she has worn them all down and her tongue now hangs out quite regularly, she looks funny sometimes :)

From the garden...

Beetroot, capsicum, carrots, zucchini, apple cucumbers...

Grating the surplus of Zucchini's...

Measuring into one cup bagfuls...

ready for the freezer to add to stews, quiches at a later date...

In the kitchen...

I visited ANGLESEY ALLSORTS blog today and was inspired after seeing the pictures and recipe of her drop scones.

So I went ahead and cooked up some good old fashioned drop scones too, I have not had these since my grandmother cooked them for me many moons ago.

I used a recipe from one of my grandmothers cooking books...

(Manual of Domestic Art 1953, cost one shilling and sixpence lol)

Drop Scones

1 heaped cup plain flour

1/4 tsp. salt

1/2 cup of milk (small half)

1 tbsp. sugar

2 tsp. cream tartar

1 tsp. carb. soda (lumps crushed)

1 egg

Method ---Sift flour, salt, cream of tarter, and carbonate of soda. Make a well in the centre of flour and put in beaten egg, stir in a little flour (using wooden spoon). Add milk slowly, beating all the time. Beat 4 or 5 minutes. Grease the hot girdle (a frying pan may be used as a girdle), and put mixture on in dessertspoonsful (allow space between them). Turn the scones over and cook both sides evenly. Serve with butter or jam.

I have been a little absent from blogland lately.

This past week I have been helping a friend to clean out her ex husbands house after he passed away suddenly, sadly he was only 59 :(

Hopefully I can get back to regular blogging soon. Sorry I haven't had much of a chance to visit all my favourites and leave comments, I am getting there slowly though...I have a lot of catching up to do!

xTania

It's raining!

I am happy to report that it has started raining,

so instead of seeing smoke in the hills all I can see is glorious rain...

We have a bush fire

The hills in the nearby Flinders Ranges are on fire.

We are safe but a couple of little country towns and farms could be at risk. So far no casualties and hopefully it stays that way. The fire is burning in inaccessible terrain and is being bombarded with water from five water bomber planes.

This photo is from the ABC North and West facebook page

(Mary from Port Germain sent this photo of the fire near Port Augusta.

This photo was taken Thursday night (5/1) from Stirling North).

This was the view from our driveway yesterday...

For more information and pictures see the links below:

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-01-05/wilmington-cfs-battles-ferocious-blaze/3760484

http://video.theaustralian.com.au/2183869594/Bushfire-out-of-control#.TwYsmVVzfY4.facebook

Hello 2012!

May love and laughter light your days,

and warm your heart and home.

May good and faithful friends be yours,

wherever you may roam.

May peace and plenty bless your world

with joy that long endures.

May all life's passing seasons

bring the best to you and yours!

~An old Irish Blessing~

2011 Christmas snaps

Now my house is quiet again, it is time to post some Christmas pics.

Daughter Kyla took most of these photos,

except this one...

Daughter Sarah and SIL Shane...

Daughter Talia with SIL Jarrad and grandson Blake...

Family shot of Me, son Jack, MIL Carley and Phil...

Another family shot, Me, Phil, Mum, Dad, Carley...

Now for the group photo...

This turned out to be a lot of fun :)

Phil decided it would be a good idea to take the group photo with the automatic setting on the camera. The thing was we hadn't used this feature before. So after 3 attempts and 3 fails we finally captured this one. By this time every single one of us was laughing...

L - R back: Kyla, Carley, Tania, Jack, Jarrad, Talia, my dad Charlie.

L-R front: Shane, Sarah, Phil, Mum Ronda, and Grandson Blake.

What we didn't realise was that it would take multiple shots so this was the result lol...

Here we are cheering because it finally worked...not knowing it was still clicking away :)

Me pointing and saying the camera is still taking photos...

After all the laughter had settled, Kyla took this photo of Phil and I.

The sunset at the end of CHRISTMAS day was lovely. The day was hot (32.6C, 90.7F) but we survived. Christmas Eve ended up being 43.7C (110.6F).

Onwards to 2012 now.

Once again we are having scorching temperatures for the rest of this week and weekend.

Today 34C (93.2F),

Tomorrow Friday 38C (100.4F)

New Years eve Saturday 40C (104F)

New Years Day Sunday 43 (109.4F),

Monday 42C (107.6F),

Tuesday 40 (104F),

Wednesday 41C (105.8F)

Eeeeekkkk!!

We were going to go away for a few days but cant now because the garden and animals will need to be taken care of. The swimming pool will be put to good use I think :)

So wishing everyone a Happy New Year where ever you are.

xTania

Merry CHRISTmas!

We are puffing and panting as the weather is handing out it's Summer best this CHRISTmas. It has been very hot all week and I am so tired...

37C yesterday (98.6F),

39C today (102.2F),

41C (105.8F) tomorrow (CHRISTmas Eve)

and 37C (98.6F) on CHRISTmas day!

I suppose that is better than the 42C (107.6F) they forecast earlier in the week. Not much fun when there is so much to prepare, but we will get there. CHRISTmas lunch will consist of cold meats and salads, followed by my Mum's favourite CHRISTmas pudding and brandy custard YUM!

I want to wish everyone one a very Blessed CHRISTmas and a may 2012 be all that you hope for...

Love, peace and joy to you all!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JESUS!!