Biscuits in a Jar

Somehow always look much more classy than in a plastic container.

Andrew's Birthday

With chocolate ripple cake.

Birthday dress

 There was a problem with the pattern for Abby's birthday dress. The neck binding measurement was given as 21 inches (easier to use imperial with the quilting ruler and cutting board) but I realised the night before her party, when the dress was otherwise finished, that that was huge. Looking at the other sizes, it was supposed to be 12 inches. There was no time to fix it then, so she wore a superhero skirt from Ana, Ma Petit Tresor

 I did manage to fix it by the following weekend for our photo shoot though. And then I took a few photos at home.

1st Birthday

Fractal Broccoli

 Also known as Romanesco. You've got to admire such geometric form. And it's tasty too

Cake

 Mum liked the pumpkin and walnut cupcakes so much she requested them for her birthday

And I made Nigella's chocolate olive oil cake.

One day of good rain...

 ... and suddenly we have lake views

Almond Blossom

Pumpkin and Walnut cupcakes

From Taste.com.au magazine. Sadly, not very pumpkiny. Mostly they taste of cinnamon and the lemon icing.

Corn!

 It's amazing the damage a kid without teeth can do

Winter in the Veggie Garden

 After last Winter's complete failure

 and our failure to plant anything in Spring

 thanks to a certain small human

 I'm pretty impressed with the garden this Winter

 There's peas and beans

 And Brussels sprouts and broccoli

 Even some of the things that didn't come up last year have come up this year!

Lemon or Grapefruit?

 I think one of our lemon trees is a bit confused...

It's definitely Winter

Dragonfly Dress

 For a sweet little girl's 1st birthday

Fruit from the Tree

She loves a good orange, so it's a good thing our tree has provided some

Baby's first apple pie

 Okay, so it's more like a pastie because that's easier for her to hold. And there's no sugar except what's naturally in the apples. But I think she liked it.

Baby and bunnies

Smocked Singlet for Ruby

 Somehow bullion roses always look better after a day or two

Honey Crunch Creams

In search of an eggless biscuit recipe, because the chooks are off the lay, I came across these. They're supposed to be made with Greek honey, whatever that is, but I used the orange blossom honey that I had in the pantry. They're quite tasty, and I think I'll make them again. I'm considering a version where I replace the orange rind with lemon, and add a little ginger.

Marinus' Chocolate Crackles

 My parents' neighbour turned 60 on Sunday. They have been neighbours since I was a kid, and he used to drive me to high school. So we have a long standing tradition that I make him chocolate crackles, which he loves, for his birthday. These ones are just a little bit sparkly.

This year's orange crop

I'm so proud of our little tree

Bearded Beanies

 My brother wanted these for his kids before his daughter was born, but never followed through on buying yarn, so for his birthday I had my mother-in-law knit and crochet a set for the whole family. There are press studs so the beards can be removed.
Abby wasn't too happy to model Ruby's one

Anntoinette's Samhain Pumpkin

 A teeny tiny Jack-O-Lantern

See how they grow...

 Abby, 7.5 months. Ruby, 3.5 months. Samantha, 2 weeks

Ollie, a few days shy of 4 years. Alex, 3 years 2.5 months