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"A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2013."

Stella:  

Original Irish Hand tailored "Blarney Headwear".

(Op-shopped)

Ruby: 

Witchery Kids.

(purchased by her stylish older cousins)

This weekend these hats went everywhere with the kids. To the beach and to my parents for a BBQ dinner. 

I love a good hat. Just the the ticket to round off any outfit.

46/52

"A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2013."

Stella: through the glass. She's an apparition with foster kitten, overlaid with a mirror image of the garden and hut.

Ruby: making coir mix. In anticipation of rain this week, we've stepped up our seed planting.

I'm late this week. Everything's getting done, but in slo-mo. There's four little foster kittens to be cared for. And I've been prioritising some me time; reading books and knitting/sewing/making in anticipation of Christmas. It's been fun.

45/52

off the sandbags...

"A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2013."

Stella:

first in today.. although not entirely planned. I think there was some slipping and some sliding before she committed to the leap.

Ruby: 

launches herself at everything with the greatest enthusiasm.

Beautiful morning at the river mouth. Our kids were first off the sandbags today; a group of boys gathered to watch, and then join in. 

Something about leaping into cool green waters just makes everything ok. 

How was your weekend?

did anyone take any big leaps?

making..

I made this dress yesterday. 

I cut the pattern from newspaper, using a top I'd bought for Stella some years back as inspiration.

And just kinda made up the sizing as I went along..

I left it hanging on her door last night. This morning she came wandering out in it, sleepy-eyed, with a huge smile. 

She likes it. And it fits perfectly...

material: 

main fabric donated to me by my Mum, when she moved up here and downsized.

sleeves and contrast material: an old beach dress of mine.

pocket:

a thrifted doily.

orange lace edging:

 from this beautiful shop.

almost-summer evenings

Late afternoon, about five o'clock,

after the homework is done and the music practice complete,

we head down the beach for some kite flying...

our friends are emerging from the dunes.

We have 2 kites, 4 kids, 2 mums and this amazing and beautiful expanse of beach for our playground.

 We have blue skies, fresh south-easterly winds and the occasional onlooker with curious dog..

But mostly, it's just us. 

 The kids share, take turns and help each other.

 It feels like magic and it makes my heart sing.

We stay late. It's almost upon dark when we leave. After the sunset show of colours.

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Halloween..

"A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2013."

Stella: zombie. 

she rallied after a stupendous stack on concrete. The bandages, dressings and stilted gait added an authentic touch to her costume. And the blood on her knees and elbows was real.

Ruby: witch.

and just the cutest happiest little one I ever did see.

Halloween has never really been that big here in Oz (or is it just me?). Just in the last few years it seems to have crept into my field of vision. Last year we tripped around some back streets with a group of friends. Houses decorated with pumpkins and balloons tied to gates signalled a welcome to the kids. We met neighbours, ran into school friends, laughed and enjoyed a nice walk at dusk. It was so much fun we did it again this year.

making afghans

These biscuits have become a firm favourite in our house. 

I was first introduced to them by my Kiwi friend Nessie, who runs an awesome bakery here in Noosa.

She makes biscuits the size of small plates. Some days my friends and I sneak out for coffee and afghans after school drop off. It's a small reward after the morning chaos.

So, imagine my delight to find the recipe in the Frankie magazine cookbook, "Afternoon Tea"

This cookbook is magic, by the way. Simple old-style recipes beautifully photographed and styled. (This isn't a sponsored post, by the way! I just love this cookbook.)

I'm gradually working my way through each and every recipe.

(It's always useful to have a little helper in the kitchen. Just to make sure the dough tastes just right.)

Recipe:

for the mixture:

200g softened butter

1/2 cup sugar

1 1/4 cups plain flour

1/4 cup cocoa powder

2 cups cornflakes, crushed.. I get little helping hands to do this

1 cup walnuts, crushed ( optional.. my kids aren't big on these, so I just leave them out)

For the icing:

1 block of cooking chocolate (I like dark, but milk is fine too)

preheat oven to 180 degrees.

cream butter and sugar in a mixing bowl until light and fluffy. sift in flour and cocoa, and mix. Fold in the cornflakes (and walnuts, if you're using them) until just mixed.

Line a baking tray with baking paper. Spoon or roll mounds, whatever size you like, onto tray. Bake for about 15mins, until just set (try not to dry them out too much, as it's already a crumbly biscuit)

While biscuits are cooling, melt chocolate. I just microwave it, but you can melt it in a bowl over boiling water, if you like.

Ice each biscuit with a dollop of chocolate. Top with your fave topping..this recipe features walnuts, but Nessie uses slivered almonds, which I adore. The kids also like shredded coconut, or just plain.

Eat 'em all up. Now.

(New Zealanders.. I'm probably preaching to the converted. Sorry about that)

Anyone else got some simple yummy biscuit recipes on their blog?

Leave me a link, and I'll happily pop over to check it out.