Easter Tree

Tonight I spent my evening cutting out Easter Eggs from beautiful scrapbooking papers to attach to my Easter Tree. I pick up a willow tree with lights from work and then put on the cut out eggs, hanging them on white string. I also added chocolate eggs as well. I am going to hunt out some feathers and make up some polystrene eggs to add as well.

Decorating Easter trees is another festive holiday custom that traces its roots back to Germany. The traditional "trees" were branches in a vase hung with brightly colored eggs. Today many homes hang the painted or dyed Easter Eggs and other decorations on real trees in their front yards to add a colorful touch and a festive spirit to the whole neighborhood.

A variation on the secular Easter Tree tradition is based on the Bible. Many Christian families create ornaments from scriptures starting with Genesis and ending with the Resurrection. You can either add one ornament a day for the 40 days of Lent or just one per week until Holy Week when you'll add one per day. The ornaments are usually hand made and the kids help to decide what symbols to make into decorations for the Easter Tree.

Whichever idea suits your family best, you'll have lots of fun with this holiday tree trimming custom. These sites will give you a bit of the background and history of this charming tradition and some great ideas for decorating your own Easter Tree...

Microwave Plum Jam Pudding...

This is a new favorite of ours...one we enjoyed tonight...so quick and easy....especially nice with homemade plum jam...but you can use any jam or golden syrup...




MICROWAVE JAM PUDDING

Ingredients
· 60g butter or margarine
· 60g caster sugar
· 60g self raising flour
· 1 medium egg, beaten
· 2 tablespoons milk
· 2 tablespoons of jam or syrup


Preparation method
1. In a medium bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until smooth.
2. Mix in the egg and milk gradually, so as not to curdle the mixture.
3. Sift in the flour, and fold in gently.
4. Put 2 tablespoons of golden syrup, treacle or raspberry jam in bottom of microwave- safe bowl. Pour in the mixture.
5. Cover, and cook for 3 minutes on full power, or until the pudding appears set when gently shaken and the top is sticky. Serve hot with custard or cream.

A sneak peek....at a "Love Story"....

Over the past few weeks I have been working on a new quilt....and it always amazes me, how as soon as I pull out the fabrics, start working on a design, the love affair with fabric and thread begins....there is nothing better...it is like retreating into a good book....fabric in itself will begin to tell you a story of how it is to look, what colours go with what....if there is to be any other features whether applique or embroidery etc... this quilt started out with the centre and with a little applique work....I can't reveal too much at this stage....shh it's a secret!, it turned into the quilt that I have made. I have used new fresh colours of summer and a rich chocolate box palette and tried a few new things in the design....I have made it in these two colour ways as you can see in the photos just as a hint...just so I can see how one quilt done in two colourways can look so different....I hope it inspires you...

An Apple A Day

Hey Guys, just letting you know to check out the latest issue of 'Country Threads' - Bountiful Harvest, out now. I have a project in there called "An Apple A Day", which is two lovely cushions, that you can complete in a weekend featuring an apple box label fruit print.

My Garden...the best place to be...in the summertime...

Today I went to the local nursery and bought a beautiful new bird bath...bought it home and filled it with recycled water...I also splashed out on some new plants for my garden to go with my magnificent roses...I have chosen plants that flower prolifically and have the same colour palette; either pink, purple or white...they look so pretty....

my scented roses...

New flowers for my garden...

Christmas has come again...and gone again!!

Isn't is amazing just how we spend weeks planning Christmas; our gifts; the Christmas meal; wrapping the presents; only to have in one day, it totally demolished.... I had a very heavily ladened tree this year, with gifts for cousins, nieces and nephews, sons and daughters and for my husband...only for it to be all gone by Christmas night...is it worth it she cried...ABSOLUTELY YES!

My greatest joy is to give...to give of love, family and presents. To bring family together to celebrate at this time of the year...

I hope you all have had a wonderful Christmas and have a fun filled New Year...

This is my tree after the event...it's looking a little sad...and one of my most favourite decorations this year....

A beautiful beaded bird...

Our City Tour

Tony and I spent the day today in our beautiful city - Melbourne! Our friends (the city buffs) took us a backstage tour of some of their favourite haunts and sights in and around Melbourne.

We started the day at Nth Bawlyn Cemetery, looking at the mausoleum of the acclaimed Elisabeth Springfield, who died over 100 years ago. In his grief, her husband created the most magnificent shrine to his wife...it is definitely something to see.

A Celtic Cross at the Cemetery...

We then travelled by tram into the city, stopping at Flinders Street. By the time the tram got to the city it was packed full off race goers, all heading off to Derby Day. We walked from there up to Degraves Street where we stopped and had a well earned cup of coffee and a muffin, at an outside eatery. I was entralled by the people and the sights that past before my eyes, I could have stayed and watched all day, just wondering where and what these different people, were doing and where they were going.

This is a photo across from where we were sitting....

We visited the State Library, looking at the exhibitions that were on show at the time, mostly about our history of books and literature and our history of Australia. It was fascinating just to look and to read about our history and just spend time - quality time reflecting on our pioneers and how they forged the country that we live in - it was quite humbling.

The writing on the wall... the beginning of the literature exhibition...

Artwork on another wall...

We travelled down some side alleys and lanes and came across some beautiful and very artisitc graffiti....

We had a great day and were thoroughly exhausted by the end of the day... it's kind of great just exploring your own city...we have so many unearthed treasures...