It's been awhile ...

Sorry it's been so long since my last update post.  Life is still busy here, but I seem to be catching up slightly, so taking time this rainy Sunday afternoon to do a post.

I had a trip to Deloraine recently and was able to enjoy a walk by the Meander River.  It was a lovely sunny winter's day.  I had forgot how pretty it is there...

And a short visit from two of my 'American' grandson's.  Dylan was here for Denver and Sophie wedding, but I hadn't seen Zak for about 8 years!

Zak, Dylan, Marnie and me, on the sofa

Denver, Sophie, and Toby the cat, on the floor

I've been browsing some old Grass Roots magazines while eating my lunch and came across a yummy slice recipe.

So I made it...

Here here's the recipe.  I hope you can read it...

I used a bit under half a cup of brown sugar, added some chopped dried apricots to the mixed fruit, and a dash of mixed spice and nutmeg.

And remember I mentioned I might add a green border to these squares (left over variegated yarn from the fistula hospital blanket)...

and speaking of the fistula blanket, it is still being sewn together (not my favourite part)

The green colour is called 'leaf green' :) ...

They are all finished now (7 x 7 = 49 squares), and because I don't have anywhere I can leave them out to sew together, I pinned them onto a blanket and can roll them up and put away in between times...

although I just placed them randomly, I made sure I didn't have any two the same together :)

But I've put both projects aside to get this blanket finished...

for a lady from church who is going into hospital in a few weeks for a knee replacement operation

I'm between books at the moment.  I had been reading The Hawk and The Dove series, but the last one was a bit intense and because there was a lot going on here, I wanted something a bit 'light', so I've been reading this...

Here's a little snippet...

From Amish wide-brimmed straw hats to fine china, the shelves at Dorothy Mast's Community Country Store burst with everything an Amish family doesn't make at home.

Even though it's only a few weeks before Christmas, my companions, Kathryn and Sharon Kauffman, ages 14 and 6, are not thinking about Christmas shopping.  Nor are they thinking about the gifts they will receive.  In their Amish home, the birth of Christ is celebrated as a day for spiritual renewal, and presents are not emphasized.

"Usually, if we get a gift from our parents for our birthday, we won't get one for Christmas," says Kathryn ...

Today Kathryn and Sharon wear matching light blue dresses.  A black woven shawl protects Kathryn from the December wind; a black wool jacket shields Sharon.  Both wear black Amish bonnets, black stockings, and sturdy black shoes shining with polish.  Amish girls and women often dress this way when they go to town or to church ...

And yes!  My grandson was born a week ago!! 

unfortunately, he had an infection so had to stay in hospital for a few extra days, but he is fine now and home and happy :)

Hazel meeting her new baby brother for the first time...

He was born 3 days before her 8th birthday

baby Ben David 

And on that happy note I will go and cook some dinner...

Have a blessed week!

xx