Unexpected finds

After swimming lessons, and before a lunch for mother-in-law's birthday, we had half an hour to kill 20 minutes away from home. So we stopped by the local KMART to see whether or not they had a V-slicer (to easily julienne carrots). They didn't have anything which suited, but they had a few other bits and bobs which I have been on the lookout for.

Firstly some bright, cheap and cheerful outdoor cushions. I wanted some colour to make outdoor pop - and I was adverse to spending $30+ per cushion for the pugs to put their arses on! So when I found these for $5 and $10 each (including the insert) I thought I was not going to be able to do much better than that! Amazing how much nicer it makes the outdoor area look. Am almost inspired to sweep out there!

 

A bit of colour for outside

My next cheap and cheerful find was a glass cloche. I have had my eye on these for a while - but at $40 or $50 each I'd not found enough inspiration to put my hand into my pocket! So when I found them for $7 each, I was quick to snap up a couple! Am thinking I'll put one in the sitting room filled with some decor items - and I might put the other in Oscar's science room. No matter where they end up they'll look good - and I am so pleased I found what I was after at such a reasonable price.

 

Glass cloche

My final find was designed to be used as a photo holder - but I immediately saw its potential as a little girl's hair clip holder! Adelaide has far too many hair clips and I've never really liked the canvas hair clip frames everyone else seems to have. So I thought this would be just the ticket to keep them organised and looking sweet on the inside of her cupboard door. And for $5 it hardly broke the bank. Adelaide is really impressed with the new addition to her room - and I'm thrilled she no longer has a drawer filled with hair clips!

 

$5 hair clip holder

So  nothing hugely exciting, but a few bits and bobs to make the house look a little more tidy and finished. Can't wait to get the cloche in situ. Watch this space!

Our Daily Bread

So my latest interest is baking. I never thought it was worthwhile baking my own bread. Bread is so cheap to buy and, well, I do have a life! However after getting Thelma, and reading all the other thermie owners going on about their bread, I decided to give it a go.

I started with scrolls which were quite nice but a little dense. But then I tried another recipe which was much better. Moister and more fluffy. Since my initial try I have made it 3 or 4 times - and am now trying varieties. Today I had a go at Olive and Seed bread, and it was delicious! I think I might try scrolls, again, using this new dough recipe. In any case, I'm now getting in to baking bread. It's quick, easy, cheap and we all love it!

 

A white loaf and my Olive and Seed creation

My other creation has been jam. There is a quick and easy strawberry jam recipe which I also made today. Jam is usually such a sticky and annoying thing to make - but not anymore. This was so easy and delicious and I plan to try it with other fruit.

It's really interesting the way Thelma has changed the way I cook. We're certainly eating a larger variety of foods and flavours than ever before - and much less in the way of preservatives. And it's really enjoyable to be making things I'd not usually bother cooking.

Junk

So it's a long weekend, and I've got a list (a long one!) of the little things I want to achieve around the house. One of which I have been meaning to do for ages - hanging up my junk jewellery.

If I don't hang it up, my necklaces end up getting tangled in the bottom of a drawer and not worn. It seems such a waste, and is also a pain to untangle, so I thought I'd sort it out once and for all with the installation of a rack for them.

Two stick on hooks, a rod, and an obliging wall in our WIR and finally my junk jewellery has a place to call home. I've started loading it up but now have to untangle the rest to put it all in place!

 

Hanging rail for junk jewellery

There's a heap of other things to do in the next few days - like hanging some art, weeding some garden beds, sorting more clothes for charity and cleaning out my desk drawers. Probably none of which are worthy of a post. But I'm pleased this is done and we've made one more step forward.

Scrolls

First bread experiment with Thelma today! Ham and cheese scrolls. Seriously it beggars belief how quick and easy these were to make. I did them plain, but next time will add a little home made mayo and chutney to jazz them up further and make them a little more moist.

Best of all - they got the kiddie stamp of approval and were less than 1/3 the cost of similar scrolls store bought (and that's without factoring in I also made 3 times as many)!

Ham and Cheese Scrolls - made in minutes with Thelma

Yummo!

Yesterday I had some girlfriends over for wine and chit chat. So rather than buying dip, I made a delicious smoked salmon dip from scratch.

Smoked salmon, light cream cheese, a little fresh dill, some tarragon, a teeny bit of white wine vinegar and a few capers - 5 seconds in Thelma and a delicious dip was ready for the table!

Special mention needs to go here to Sean's lovely herb garden for providing the fresh tasty herbs. Dip was a hit! Next I am going to try home-making some crackers to go with it.

 

Smoked salmon, dill, tarragon,
white wine vinegar and caper dip.
Was delicious!

Have been busy around Parkview doing little bits and pieces. A new shadow box in Adelaide's room. A new vase in the sitting room. A runner for the kitchen table.

I'll do a post in the next day or two with all the little bits and bobs.