birthday girl

It was 7 years ago on Saturday that we welcomed our Miss Julia into the world. 

I remember the night we brought her home. She was two days old. I was exhausted. So exhausted that I just had to sleep. But  I could not because of a hungry baby that was waiting for milk to come in. Around midnight Daniel said he would take her downstairs. Not long afterwards she fell asleep in his arms. I remember drifting off to sleep thinking that everything was going to be okay.

 

It was too hot to bake a cake on the day of Julia's birthday. So we waited until the next day.

Julia asked for a caramel cake. I found an old Women's Weekly recipe for Butterscotch Teacake. The icing proved to be rather addictive.

Then I realized I had no candles. So I poked a rose into the middle. Julia didn't seem to mind.

She lost her front tooth the same day.

I think she likes her new bike. Happy 7th birthday Julia.

from the weekend

Folk music and markets.

How was your weekend?

Australia Day

Hello all on this day that is our Australia Day.

To be honest, I've never really celebrated Australia Day before. I'm embarrassed to admit that it fell in that meaningless public holiday category for me.

But not this year. I googled. I found this.

And I think what I learnt is that there are no rules for celebrating Australia Day. It's what you want to make it.

storm last week

So this day you will find us doing a little barbequing, pavlova eating and mini flag waving.


And hoping that the Australia our kids inherit is recognisable as the one we ourselves inherited.


What are your plans today?

now

1. freshly washed op shop fabrics
2. first time using Debbie Bliss
3. favourite cups
4. lounge in a not so tidy state
5. feed time
6. ravelled
7. op shopped tin
8. verandah time

Have a wonderful Wednesday!

play

They say that boredom leads to creativity. It's taken several weeks, but the boredom claims and sneaking in of screen time has gradually been replaced with play of the creative kind.

Crazy hair styles. Dress ups. Dancing. Blanket cubby houses.

It's a shame they go back next week.

Julia Child's Scrambled Eggs

This fine Monday morning, the last week of our school holidays I might add, I thought I would show you my favourite recipe for scrambled eggs.

For years, scrambled eggs were a hit or miss affair with me. I never used a recipe. Sometimes they were great. Other times not so great.

Once I tried Julia Child's recipe, I haven't looked back. Though it is very simple, she is very particular about her amounts and methods. But, once memorised, you will be set.

Her recipe calls for 8 eggs and I usually use 8 to 10 eggs (slightly increasing the other ingredients if using the 10) for our family. This morning we are only doing 4 eggs which gives a medium sized serving for 2. Ironically, our Julia will not eat eggs.



Here it is:


Julia Child's Scrambled Eggs
 (serves 2)

4 eggs
salt and pepper
2 teaspoons milk
1 Tablespoon softened butter
1 Tablespoon cream

Smiley face optional - I swear this was unintentional!

Beat the eggs in a bowl with the seasonings and milk, using a wire whisk, until just blended.

Smear the bottom and sides of a pan with the butter and set over moderately low heat. Stir slowly and continually. (I like to use a flat wooden spatula for this).

Slowly it will thicken into a custard. Stir rapidly, moving the pan on and off the heat if you need to. When they are almost the consistency you want, remove from the heat, as they will continue to thicken slightly.

As soon as they are the right consistency, stir in the cream, which will stop the cooking.

Best served on buttered toast.

And completely frugal if you have your own chickens (or a generous neighbour, as in our case!)

(Recipe aside don't you love Julie and Julia?)


Wishing you a pleasant Monday.

iphoned

We went out yesterday. We "happened" to find ourselves at our local phone dealer. I just happened to buy myself a phone. Or, rather, tie myself down to a two year contract.

I'm feeling a little guilty about the extravagance of it all. I haven't had a mobile phone for 6 months, which did make me a little nervous when I went out phone-less.

I guess it was the photo apps that got me in the end.

For all you tech-savvy people out there, which apps should I be downloading? That is, when I can pry the phone out of my son's hands. How is it possible that a 9 year old can be so much more proficient with navigating that phone than I am?