Happy Spring!

Goodbye Winter!

Well, today is the very last day of Winter. I am so looking forward to Spring, but there have been some things that I love about the cold season. Things like:

♥ Curling up by the fire with a good read

♥ Long, brisk walks with the dog

♥ Bokeh

♥ Cute flannel pj's

♥ Snowdrops

♥Beef Bourguignon

♥ Endless games of Scrabble and Take Two

♥ Beautiful white mornings

♥ Nursing a cold with an enormous pile of Donna Hay magazines and steaming Peppermint Tea

♥ Crisp, clear nights with an amazing view of the stars

♥ Hot chocolates

What are some things you like about Winter?

I love this!

Image courtesy of That Kind of Woman

I love roses...

Couldn't resist capturing this beautiful rose this morning.
I'm really sorry for the delay with the Kusodamu Ball tutorial. It's coming!

Kusodama Ball Tutorial, Part 1

And finally, the long-awaited Kusodama Ball tutorial! I'm planning to do this tutorial in three parts over the next few weeks. Have fun!

Kusodama Ball Tutorial, Part 1

In this post, I'm showing you how to make the individual petals for the flowers. All you'll need is 60 pieces of paper cut into 8x8cm squares.

Step 1. You start with a square of paper.
Step 2. Fold it in half to form a triangle.
Step 3. Fold the left corner up to the middle corner.
Step 4. Do the same with the right corner.

Step 5. Fold the left point in half again so the edge of it is exactly in line with the outside edge of the square.
Step 6. Do the same with the right side.
Step 7. This is where things get a bit tricky! What you have to do now is open up the left flap you've just folded, and flatten it out.
Step 8. Do the same with the other side.

Step 9. Fold the top of the left triangle down so it's level with the edge of the paper.
Step 10. Do the same with the other side.
Step 11. Fold the left triangle back together again along the crease you've already made.
Step 12. And the same with the other side!

Repeat with the other 59 squares.

I'm still trying to work out how to make my photos bigger, but in the meantime, if you click on each photo they'll come up in their full size and you'll be able to see the individual steps more clearly.

Kusodama Ball...

I first discovered these delightful creations in an article from Australian Country Style, and I've been smitten ever since. They make the perfect gift, and are so simple to make. All you need is paper, glue, bobby pins, and a bit of patience. I used vintage music to make this one, but you can also use old books, maps, scrapbooking paper - anything that tickles your fancy!

Tutorial coming soon...

Fledgling Farmer

spiced maple biscuits

Here is a recipe for a batch of delicious biscuits I made this afternoon. Enjoy!


Spiced Maple Biscuits

125g butter
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup maple syrup
1 teaspoon mixed spice
1/2 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
2 teaspoons boiling water
1 1/2 cups plain flour

maple icing
1 cup icing sugar
3 tablespoons maple syrup

Preheat oven to 180˚C. Place the butter, sugar, maple syrup and mixed spice in a saucepan over medium heat and stir until melted and smooth.
Place the bicarbonate of soda and water in a bowl and stir to combine. Add the butter mixture and stir to combine. Add the flour and mix until smooth. Spoon 2 tablespoons of the mixture at a time onto baking trays lined with non-stick baking paper, allowing room to spread. Bake for 12-14 minutes or until the biscuits are golden and firm around the edges. While the biscuits are baking, make the maple icing. Place the icing sugar and maple syrup in a bowl and whisk until well combined.
Cool biscuits on wire racks. Drizzle over icing and allow to set.
Makes 12.

Recipe from Donna Hay Magazine

'Catnap'

Puss having a snooze in the morning sun. Trés mignon!

Hydrangeas...