Teaching Each Other.

7 year old daughter is teaching 10 year old son to start recognising some notes/keys on the piano. She is a good little teacher. 10 year old son is teaching 7 year old daughter to play handball.

Decorating Biscuits.

A Special Birthday.

A good friend held a Jane Austen party on Saturday night.

Imagine candlelight, ladies dressed elegantly, and dancing.

Trifle, bakewell tart, chocolate coated marzipan and fruit, to mention but a few.

Our party favours were so thoughtful: a fabric drawstring bag with some lovely goodies inside.

As gift wrap was only evident later in the 1800's, we wrapped the present we gave in fabric, decorated with some sprigs of lavender from the garden.

Mud, Mud, Glorious Mud.

We all felt like chocolate cake:

500 g butter

2 cups caster sugar

6 eggs

2t vanilla essence

Separate bowl, mix and sift:

2t baking powder

3 cups plain flour

1 and 1/2 cups cocoa

Fold into butter mixture and add

2 cups almond meal

1 and 1/3 cups milk.

Divide into 2 cake tins, bake for at least 45 minutes.

Prayer and Reflection.

Last night was the first Prayer and Reflection evening at our new church. The church was quiet, with low lighting and soft music. We heard some passages from the Bible and inspirational readings. We were left, unhurried to pray and reflect. What a lovely evening. A chance also to meet some lovely ladies that I had not yet spoken with.

Cookies on the Little Table.

I can rest freshly baked cookies on this little table in the kitchen. They don't last long though as the older children walk past and enjoy!

Spring Sandwiches in the Garden.

Can you see the jasmine hanging from the clothes' line?

Mum suggested punch: ginger ale, with tinned fruit in natural juices and sprigs of mint. Delicious.

The production line:

I made chicken and mayo, roast beef/sundried tomato and chive cream cheese, smoked salmon/dill/ cream cheese, ham/Thai pesto/lettuce.

One tray, sprinkled with alfalfa to retain moistness.

I am glad this lunch was held yesterday as today the valley is filled with smoke with burning for hazard reduction.