this moment

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week.

Via Soulemama.

Slow School Scarves

Having re-read yesterday's post, I feel I should say, in the interests of truth in reporting, that I don't actually walk around the house knitting. Not in a lost, wandering, 'Downton Abbey' kind of way. But if I'm enjoying knitting something reasonably manageable, often with an unreasonable deadline, and those pesky children of mine are requiring my attention AS THEY SO OFTEN DO (she says gazing dryly over the rim of her martini glass), then I find it a good way to keep knitting and attending to their 'stuff' rather than having to constantly put down and pick up my needles. You know.

If I was knitting as consistently as I perhaps led you to believe, then what excuse have I for the almost year it has taken me to knit this scarf and hat? Hmm? They were a request from a dear friend for her two school girls - scarves and hats in navy blue to wear while waiting for the school bus on chilly mornings. The girls survived one freezing winter without them, and now, on the brink of another, finally they are done. And it is a testament to my love for these girls and their mum that they have them at all because, really, I don't enjoy knitting scarves. Oh, how they go on and on forever in such a repetitive fashion.

A big thanks to my cooperative model...

Still, I am glad to have been able to knit these girls something useful, and even more glad that I am finished. The hat is Amanda Soule's 'My Hat of Choice', and I worked up the scarf with a similar simple lace pattern. The yarn is Cascade 220 in Midnight Blue. Ravelry notes here.

Still thoroughly, and at a snail's pace, enjoying Stephanie Alexander's memoirs.

And joining in with Ginny's Yarn Along here.

Little Cardigans and Lunatics

I was asked a question today that I'm asked often: How do you find the time to knit?

We were at playgroup and her two-year-old was running riot with my pair, who were, naturally, decked out in an array of handknits. (I'm often reminded on these occasions of this card that I received once from a very rude relative - hello, Unc.) Anyway, I proceeded to launch into my explanation about how I find it easy to knit while doing other things, most especially watching TV, but also in waiting rooms, sitting in the passenger seat, at the park, when reading and even sometimes while working at my day job. It was at about the point where I was describing my method of tucking the ball of yarn in between my boobs so I can knit whilst walking around the house that I noticed her eyes had glazed over and she had the look of someone trapped in a conversation with a lunatic and wasn't sure how to extricate herself.

And it occurred to me...some people just don't get the knitting thing.

Rather than worry about that, I thought I'd show you the end result of my attempt to knit a little cardigan in a week. I managed to finish the knitting in time for Hannah's visit, but there were still the ends to weave in and the blocking, so she left without it. Never mind - that's what Australia Post is for.

Ravelry notes here. The pattern is called Helena and it's knit in some Jo Sharp DK wool, colour Orient. Lovely, yes?

And just to settle any rumours about the extent of this knitting obsession, here's the latest addition to the stash. Cascade yarn, mostly chunky 128, with some 220 thrown in for good measure. I have big plans for this haul. Big.

So tell me, lunatic? Or not lunatic?

And the Winner is...

Earlier this evening, just before settling in to watch the Eurovision final on SBS, I asked the GM to do the honours and draw winners in our grand prize giveaway. He put on his best tracksuit pants and did interesting dances between each draw to add gravitas and a touch of dignity to the occasion.

So, without further ado, the winners are as follows:

1) First out of the 'hat' (which was actually a bowl) was Jode. She requested the Biggest Morning Tea merchandise pack for her budding teen chef. It's heading your way, Jode.

2) Second out was Gillian, who lives all the way over in England!!! Gillian took a shine to the mitts and mug cosy, so, Gillian, in about a week or so when they're finished, they'll be winging their way to you.

3) Third out was none other than Shirley, who had her eye on the Craft Queen gift voucher. As much as I'd like to wrestle it from you, Shirley, I'll do the right thing and step aside.

4) Next out was my friend Beth, who is a very clever lady wanting to put the glorious teapot tapestry under glass on her tea tray. Can't wait to see the finished product, Beth. 

5) And last but not least (the GM did an extra special dance for the finale) was Claudia. Claudia wanted the mitts, but as they were already won, I'm sure she'll be happy to settle for her second choice, the Loani Prior tea cosy book. 

So, ladies, email me your addresses and I'll get everything sent off in the next few days (or weeks if you're Gillian!)

Congratulations and, again, a huge thankyou to everyone who donated their hard-earned to such a very good cause, as well as supporting my little endeavour here last week. It was such fun, wasn't it?


Now, will someone tell the kid up there that the tea party is over?

this moment

 {this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week.

Via Soulemama.

A Very Bloggy Thankyou

The kettle's boiled dry, the tea leaves are all steeped out, one glance inside the baking cupboard reveals we're clean out of flour, sugar and chocolate. An enormous thankyou to everyone for your support. I don't have much solid evidence to base it on but I think we succeeded in having the world's biggest bloggy morning tea ever! Yay for us. The tally stands at $850 from a total of 29 donors. Aw, thanks, guys. What an effort.


A round of applause for the tea sets who took part:

Big thanks to my official real-life tasters. Lettuce for dinner every night next week, my loves.

If you missed them, you can find all the recipes here:

Vanilla Pear and Raspberry 'Little' Cakes

Orange and Walnut Cake

Mocha Brownie

Oat and Sultana Biscuits

And finally, for those who donated, be sure to let me know if you're interested in the giveaway, and if so, what. I'll draw winners over the weekend and announce them next week.

And finally-finally, of course there's still time to make a final pledge. Click on that button (aw, that button!) on the right. I don't think the Cancer Council will say no to your dollars even if I've put all the teapots back in the cabinet.

Well, after all those warm beverages, something tells me there might be a glass of the cold and bubbly stuff at the end of this day. A Very Bloggy Champagne and Canapes, anyone?

Wholesome and Oaty

These tasty little bickies are full of goodness, yet yummy enough to seem like a treat. Just like choc-chip cookies, without the choc. Perfect for the little fairies in the house. 

You need:

1 egg

1/2 cup brown sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

80g soft butter

50g plain flour

50g wholemeal flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

100g oats

1/2 cup sultanas

You could use your mixer for this, or just go with muscle power. Whisk egg, sugar and vanilla until thick and pale-ish. Beat in the butter. Add flours and baking powder. 

Stir through the oats and sultanas.

Form into teaspoon-sized balls and place onto lined baking trays.

Bake at 180 degrees for about 15 minutes until lovely and golden and crispy-chewy.

Serve to your children after naptime and tell them it's a treat for good behaviour...

..or excessive cuteness.

Recipe adapted from 'Apples For Jam' by Tessa Kiros.

Tea Party

Have you noticed that it's been a bit of a child-free zone here this week? Nice, huh? As much as I've been enjoying all the grown-up chit-chat we've been indulging in, I thought I'd better let the girls out of the cupboard under the stairs so they can join in the fun for a few hours. We're setting up for an old-fashioned teddy bears' picnic complete with rainbow tea, magic fairy cakes and some wholesome oaty sultana cookies. Hope you can make it. Bring your kids if you have any spare. If you don't, you're still welcome, but can I recommend ear plugs? 

Fairy wings and princess crowns optional.

Coffee Cosy

We may be in the midst of A Very Bloggy Morning Tea (the world's biggest, I'm led to believe), but it is still Wednesday, which means it's Yarn Along. Conveniently, I have the much-hyped mug cosy finished and ready to show you. It's one of the giveaway prizes, ready to be tucked up with a pair of mitts and shipped off to a lucky winner. If anyone else wants to join in the fun, you're most welcome. We've been raising money for the Australian Cancer Council and are well on the way to doubling the original target, all while drinking lots of tea and coffee, not to mention eating cake (and cake and cake).

It would have been nice if I'd photographed a theme-appropriate book to go along with the mug cosy. Something like 'Teapots Through the Ages' or 'Leaves and Bags: A History'. However, I'm still enjoying Stephanie's memoirs, and with all the baking this week, very slowly at that.

I'd like to stay and chat but that biodegradable cup up there contains a soy latte. I'm off to enjoy it before it goes cold.

Head over here to read about the giveaway.

And head over here to see what everyone else is knitting and reading this week.

Mocha Brownie Stop Me Now

Many people declare theirs to be the very best brownie recipe. I make no such claim. I mean, how could I prove it? So while it may not be the best, this one is entirely appropriate for a coffee kind of day.

You need:

200g dark chocolate (the better, the better, if you know what I mean)

200g unsalted butter

1/2 cup strong black coffee

1 1/2 cups brown sugar

4 eggs

1/3 cup cocoa

1 1/4 cups plain flour

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

Preheat oven to 160 degrees Celsius. Grease and line a 20x30cm baking tray. In a small saucepan, melt the chocolate and butter over low heat. Stir through the coffee.

In a large mixing bowl, combine the sugar, eggs, cocoa, flour and baking powder until it's a sludgy mess.

Add the melted chocolate mixture and stir well.

Pour into your baking tray. Ignore lumpy evidence of your failure to sift cocoa. Bake for 50 minutes.

Try to wait till it's cooled down enough so you don't burn your tongue. Cut into small squares - it will feel like you're showing restraint even if you eat 20 pieces. If you can't get through it all in one day, it's especially nice, and entirely different, after a night in the fridge. Declare it the best brownie you've ever eaten, even if you can't prove it!