Andrew's Birthday

With chocolate ripple cake.

Losing it!

But all for a good cause!
Andrew and I have signed up for the World's Greatest Shave to raise money both to support those with blood cancer, and leukaemia research. We have a target of $5000 each.
To raise the stakes, for every $500 I raise, 10cm will come off my hair. My hair is currently almost 90cm from hairline to tips. The last time it had more than a trim was 5 years ago. The last time it was above my shoulders was 15 years ago. My hair has never been shorter than a bob!

If you can spare a few dollars, please sponsor me!

Two Batches of Biscuits

Sometimes, when I'm feeling really nice, I'll make a batch of peanut butter cookies. I have to be feeling nice, because I hate them (as I hate all things peanut) and so I have to make another batch that I'm willing to eat. This week it was ginger (though I have my doubts about the ginger, so they might be unknown spice biscuits)

Yule 2012

I love Yule. It was the first Sabbat I ever celebrated, and it has always been my favourite. This year though was really something special.
My Pagan friends arrived early so that we could have a ritual, and a gift exchange. I wrote the ritual this year. It's only about the second time I've written one, but this came out quite well. The gifts were in lieu of Christmas presents. Giving Christmas presents to Pagans has always felt weird, and while this doesn't actually reduce our costs, it does redistribute them to a different part of the year. I received Infamous by Sherrilyn Kenyon, and some gorgeous oils and sugars and things for the kitchen.
Our other guests arrived once night had started to fall, bringing with them an incredible set of dishes to share. Our menu:
Nibbles: Kabana, Camembert and crackers
Entrée: Pea and ham soup, beetroot and feta salad
Main: Lamb massaman curry, chicken and mango curry, vegetarian chilli with corn chips, coconut rice
Dessert: Pear cake, berry muffins, chocolate tart, chocolate mousse (above), home made vanilla ice cream, pure cream.
Mulled wine
The mousse was Andrew's contribution, though as he was trying to make both the dark and white mousses at once, I gave him a hand with some beating and folding and layering. I only made the ice cream!
The company was the real highlight though. Along with all the regulars, there were a few people who haven't been in a while, and one new guest. Everyone fitted together so well, and there were times I laughed so hard I couldn't breathe. I can't wait until next year!

Daleks got my husband!

But he wanted them to. He was so excited about this shirt, and had to have it finished in time for our friends' engagement party. He even sewed on the buttons - I'd finished everything else but had to go out.
Mind you, this photo was taken as we were about to head out for our first anniversary, almost a month later. Andrew prefers being behind the camera, and it's hard to get the camera out of his hands for long enough to take a photo of him!

Sweets for my Sweet

Amongst my Christmas gifts was a book called Delicious Gifts, which I finally started reading on Monday. When I saw the recipe for Peanut Butter Meltaways, I knew it was the perfect Valentine's present for Andrew (even though we'd agreed not to exchange presents, I couldn't resist).
While I'd like to try making them again when it's not so hot, Andrew is certainly enjoying them.

Steampunk Husband

 I made this shirt for my husband, using gorgeous steampunk design fabric from Spoonflower and a vintage pattern. I wasn't sure that there was a good reason for using a vintage pattern, since men's styles have not changed all that much, until I realised that the pattern taught me how to flat-fell seams!
I took about an inch out of the sleeve length, in order to fit it on the fabric, but it seems that was just as well. I really enjoyed this project and I love the finished product - the fabric feels divine, and there's not a single exposed seam! Andrew likes it too - he's wearing it right now.

It worked!

The dresses worked out,

  the colour scheme was perfect,

 and I am married!

The girls are growing up!

Our chooks now all look like adult hens. We're now getting 5 or 6 eggs everyday, and occasionally we even get 7!

This is Opal

Obsidian (Andrew calls her Sid)

and Dora.

We've also had a couple of additions to our little flock. First there was a bantam for Dad. He took so long to name her that Andrew was calling her Henrietta von Cluckington III, but Dad eventually chose a name.

This is Chook.

Then we got a rooster. He, too, is a bantam and is scared of the bigger girls, so I don't think we'll be getting chickens any time soon.

This is the Colonel (as in Colonel Sanders. Guess who named him?)

101 Uses for Pumpkin

Andrew's pumpkins finally ripened. We got 1x8kg, 1x2kg, and one slightly possum nibbled. So now we have to use them up...
1. Roast as part of dinner - check
2. Make soup - check
3. Pumpkin pie
4. Pumpkin scones.
Now if someone could just help me out with the other 97 uses, we might just get there!

Andrew loves his pumpkins.

Yay for Andrew!

It looks like my gorgeous man finally has an apprenticeship, so Yay for Andrew!

Cookie, cookie, cookie

Mum and Andrew put in a request for peanut butter cookies, and other than refusing to actually put peanut butter on the shopping list, I didn't have the heart to refuse. They enjoyed them, at least! I have also made yet another batch of chocolate chip cookies - always my fallback - and a batch of Anzacs, though I wasn't entirely happy with those. I can never remember which recipe is the good one.