Lest We Forget

This is the grave of my great (great, great) uncle Harold who lost his life in WWI in France. We visited his grave on our trip to France in 2011, it took a trip to Amiens by train and then a long taxi ride to find him in the small village of Sailly-au-Bois. He is the only Australian buried in that war cemetery. He was just 23 when he died, leaving a wife and child behind.

The Sailly au Bois War Cemetery

I obviously did not know him, but I still get very teary by the sacrifice he made. And because he is still such a long way from home. I'm not sure whether his widow was ever able to sit by his graveside, or whether he has had many visitors before us, but I know he at least has his comrades by his side.

Anzac Day always makes me miss my Pop, who is no longer with us and who fought in WWII, and how lucky we were that he and my Dad, who fought in Vietnam, came back home to us.

The Australian War Memorial at Villers-Bretonneux

Lest We Forget

Happy Anniversary!

It is three years ago today, I did one of the best things I have ever done... got chickens!! Ha, bet you thought I was going to say something else, didn't you?

 Pearly enjoying the autumn sunshine

We have only one of the originals left, Pearl (aka Pearly Gates, or Bill's sister!), and a few new girls have joined us along the way.

Lucy having a sticky beak after I had cleaned out the coop

If you have thought about getting backyard chickens, do it! Chickens are great pets, they are quirky and full of personality, they are easy to look after and great fun.

Today's collection

And did I mention the eggs?

Happy anniversary girls, we are so glad you came to live with us.

xoxo

I love going on holidays, but...

We are back from our lovely trip to Tasmania, and it is so good to be home. We all had a great, although very busy, trip through the Apple Isle, and here are a few snaps we took.

 Nelson Falls

 Cradle Mountain

 The Bay of Fires

 Snow fight on Mount Wellington

The penitentiary building at Port Arthur

I will do a more thorough post when I can scrape together a few minutes away from the washing machine!

xoxo

Off on holidays

We are heading off to Tasmania for just over a week today. We are going as a big family group, the parent-in-laws, us, the sister- and brother-in-law and stacks of kids! Three little campervans making our way around the apple isle.

I may post as we go, if not, lots of photos when we get back.

Xoxo

PS We are currently sitting on the Tarmac at Melbourne airport after unexpected mechanical difficulties!! Argh!!

Apple & Cinnamon Muffins

I love muffins. They are quite delicious and the varieties are endless. I usually make my apple muffins with grated fresh apple but I stumbled over this recipe over the Easter break and since I had a tin or two of pie apples in the cupboard I made this instead.

Melt 150g butter and set aside to cool slightly.

Preheat oven to 200 degreesC and lightly grease your muffin tray.

Empty a 400g can pie apple into a bowl and use a knife to break into smaller pieces.

Sift 2 1/2 cups (310g) of SR flour (I use wholemeal) and 2 teaspoons of cinnamon into a large mixing bowl, add 2/3 cup soft brown sugar. Make a well.

Whisk together 2 eggs with 1 1/3 cups of milk and 1 teaspoon of vanilla essence and pour into the well. Add melted butter.

Gently fold the ingredients together with a metal spoon until almost combined. Add the apple and stir through.

Fill each muffin hole with the mixture, be generous as this mixture doesn't rise as much as other muffin mixes.

Sprinkle each with finely chopped walnuts (about 1/2 cup in total, although like every other recipe with nuts in it, I am very generous with the nuts!).

Bake for 20 - 25 minutes or until they have risen and are golden brown.

Allow to cool for a couple of minutes and then gently remove from the muffin tin (I like to use a knife for this) and move to a wire rack.

Serve warm or at room temperature. Yum!

Because these muffins are very moist they should last for a few days, but only if you can keep them hidden from the kids!

Recipe from The Essential Baking Cookbook - ISBN 0 86411 940 2

I've done it!

I have opened an Etsy store!

For those that haven't yet discovered the wonders of Etsy, it is an online marketplace for vintage and handmade goodies and supplies. I have been a constant visitor and admirer for a few years now but only recently made my first purchases. And Etsy will be my first port of call when looking for gifts for loved ones in the future.

Anyway, back to my store!

It is called Homespun Field, no surprises there, and at the moment it holds some lovely crocheted goodies. Mostly stuff for girls and women at the moment but I will be adding new lines over the coming weeks and possibly some quilts and whatever else tickles my fancy.

To say I am a bit excited is an understatement! The idea of opening a store has been at the back, and then the front of my mind for quite a long while. I have just finally plucked up the courage a couple of weeks ago and have been crazy busy deciding what to stock and trying out patterns.

But don't worry, you won't be constantly bombarded with stuff I am selling! Having this stuff shoved in your face all the time on blogs annoys me so I certainly won't be doing it here. Maybe a picture or two every now and again.

Wish me luck!

xoxo