A new favorite!

We have a new family favorite for lunches, white chocolate and raspberry muffins! Yum!

Pies and destruction!

I forgot to show you two of our purchases from Costco yesterday! These looked amazing and just happened to find their way into our trolley.
This is a 2kg apple pie that had been recommended. All of our family loves apple pie and although we normally make our own this was irresistible. We are having it for dessert tonight with a choice of custard, cream or ice cream on the side. Anyone care to join us??? There is plenty to share! (don't panic , there is not a chance we will eat it all so I plan to freeze individual slices for after school or sports snacks!!)

This is a pumpkin pie (1.7kg if anyone is interested in just how enormous it is). We have made them before and they are a favorite of HS (in fact he has as many favorites as the horsey one is fussy!!). How could I say no when he asked for it ever so nicely fluttering his eyelashes?? I think he has this earmarked as for him only but SH and I will be tasting it so we know whether to buy it again.

This morning I woke to be greeted by Jimmy's latest destruction! Honestly this dog must have a gut of steel. Overnight he destroyed / ate a tube of 'Pawpaw ointment' (can be used as an antiseptic, lip balm etc). There was definitely no ointment left only a mangled mess of red plastic and not even enough of that to make up a whole tube!!

Out and about...

Today has been a long day. SH, HS and I headed off early to Melbourne to attend the open day at William Angliss College. With HS in year 12 we are trying to keep as many options open as possible and explore lots of different possibilities. I managed to get a little knitting done in the car (don't be too shocked, crafting 2 days in a row!!) on the vest that both Catherine (Calidore) and I are knitting. I have decided I am a very slow knitter and I will be in the nursing home by the time it is finished!!Oh well baby steps!! Before going to the College we quickly called in to Prahran Market to buy fresh pasta (the horsey ones favorite - she is a very fussy eater) and fresh turkish bread - yum. We also went to Essential Ingredient, one of my very favorite shops where we stocked up on our Lindt chocolate (white and milk) chips that we use for cooking. They come in 2.5kg bags and believe it or not are cheaper than buying normal choc chips in the supermarket and twice as yummy. Biggest problem is finding a hiding place from the kids or they become an after school snack! The college was well worth visiting. We took a tour and then did some exploring by ourselves, attending a few information sessions as well. Lots of nice 'tastings' of foods and drinks.There was an ice sculpture demonstration, these beautiful swans were just blocks of ice when we arrived. This large chef greeted everyone on arrival - put a smile on our faces!! Maybe, just maybe we have found an area of interest for our boy! After this a quick visit to Costco to stock up on our cleaning and laundry supplies. We seem to be able to get there about every 3 months and save so much money on these items. We were also able to pick up some fruit and veg today as we were going straight home which was a bonus. Think its time to read the paper in bed before having a reasonably early night, Monday again tomorrow and the start of another busy week!!

Proof!

I know these are really bad photos, I had a lot of trouble getting them any clearer but I wanted to prove there has been some stitching happening!!!! I have spent the day working at the boarding house and managed to stitch while I talked to the girls. It is a Fairy 'Princess Diary' pattern by Brenda Ryan which is supposed to be made into a pillow. As I am doing it for my niece in the UK I think I will put mine on a bag instead which will be a little more postal friendly. I am using a 'Cottage Garden' thread in Tulip and doing it all in the one variegated thread. I am really happy with how it is growing and am actually itching to pick it up again. I will be spending quite a few hours in the car tomorrow so have my knitting ready ( I can't stitch in the car!)

(Both this pattern and the Cottage Garden threads are available to purchase at www.orangedaisy.com.au)

An evening at the theatre!

The 'horsey' one and I have just got home from the final production of this years school play. This year the production was 'Charley's Aunt' a classical and very funny comedy set in Oxford in 1892. There were only 10 characters but they did such a wonderful job and kept the audience well and truly entertained and laughing.

My boy!

I am so proud of my HS, he has received notification that he is now a Level 1A Referee for basketball, one of only 3 in town. He has worked hard towards this and it is a great achievement.

Off to the show!

Yesterday SH and I visited Sheepvention for a few hours. It is a sheep show and associated events that is on annually for two days. It is renowned for wet and muddy weather!!! and this year did not disappoint. In the past the schools have all had a day off on the Monday but in the Shire's wisdom they now have Melbourne Cup day!!!! There are sheep on display and for sale, working dogs competing (one of my favorite things to watch), machinery to inspect, an amazing fashion parade of wool garments with a competition for young designers, local food and wine showcased and lots of shopping opportunities. There was even a 'Nundle wool' stand. I think they had a good show as they didn't have a lot of stock left. We enjoyed our annual 'lamb burger' for lunch and met up with lots of people we haven't seen for a long while. A great outing but oh it was nice to get home to the warm!!