Productive Day!

We had a productive day yesterday.  Our kids have a cubby house that my dad made for them about 7-8 years ago.  Well of course its coming with us but it is so heavy that we couldn't lift it to move and it wouldn't fit on a trailor so it had to come apart for transport. so we pulled it apart,  Here are some pics of the process.

Just starting

front wall and ceiling pannels off

With my two baby girls

Nearly done, roof and walls off

My dad the champion builder!

On Saturday I woke up in one of the snarky type moods and so to try and get my self out of it I started knitting a dischcloth.  These things are fabulous and I use them everywhere, but it has been a while since I have made one and I am getting low.  Also a friend of mine, Delvene, has been learning to knit and is and churning them out, so I was inspired and what better way to lift a mood than a quick knit up that you can see finished. 

Well the theory was good but no longer had I done a few rows but of course someone needed something, then I got distracted and then I went out for the night so didn't really get back to it.  With all the packing the last thing I needed was another "work in progress" laying around so on last evening I decided to finish it.  So what do you think?

These are the best thing and can be made from all sorts of yarn.  This one is made from 2 strands 100% crochet cotton 4ply.  They are great to use too,  and once you have used these you will never go back to the store bought cloths.  I use them in the bathroom, kitchen, laundry and any where else my little cherubs make mess and whats the best you just chuck them in the washing machine when your done.  They really don't wear out (I have had one for at least 5 years now).  They are also great for new knitters to try,  something really easy with just knit stitch and yet not the boring old scarf, have some increasing and decreasing to.  It is actually knit on the diagonal so it is really easy to make bigger or smaller even for the first timer.  When you are ready to try something more you can easily incorporate some patterns into it.  Here is the link to where I found the pattern.  Have a go at one, but trust me it won't be just 1 you stop at.  Well I will catch you next time and if you do make one send me a pic I would love to see your handywork!

Lazy Easter Sunday

I really didn't do much packing today, it is easter after all and I was on kid duty whilst Ian packed up lots of shed stuf (read lots of crap everywhere).  So I had a lazy day with the kids.  I recently discovered a lovely Blog mainly about knitting, cooking and life in general (A Friend to Knit With)  I have been drooling over all the knitting and especially the lovely cookies this lady bakes.  Well yesterday I tried one of the recipes,   Here is a metric conversion for you.

Slice and Bake Cookies
Ingredients:
450gms brown Sugar (16 oz)                                   2 Cups oats
450 gms melted butter (4 sticks/1 lb)                   2 Cups Corn Flakes
2 Cups sugar                                                                    4 Cups Flour
4 Eggs                                                                                 2 tsp Baking Soda
2 tsp Vanilla                                                                     2 tsp Baking Powder

Directions
Mix in order (1st column then second column). You are looking for the consistency of a plyable dough (may need to increase or decrease your flour)
Add nuts if desired.
Roll into logs and wrap in wax paper
Chill for at least 2 hours before cutting.
Bake at 180 c (350 f) for 10-14 minutes

Dough can be stored in the freezer for later use.

Check out the orginal here Slice and Bake Cookies (at the end of the page)

This was the best idea,  I got about 9 logs out of it and put them straight into the freezer.  Then when you want to use them just pull them out cut along the log to make circles and off you go.  I wrapped mine in baking paper and then the sheet I needed was even ready to go - so easy. 
This is the outcome of 1 log - I got 9 logs total.  You could probably make them a little bit bigger but I like them this size becuase of course the little chicklets like to take 2 at a time.I can not believe that I haven't come across this idea in any of my Aussie cook books - its great.  Here are some picies (yes I need work on my log shapping).  Try them they are yummy and such a good idea for the school holidays.  Enjoy and don't forget to check out A friend to knit with's blog.

Packing has begun!

Well the chaos of packing up 7 hoarders worth of stuff has begun.  Everything we are packing has to go into storage as we go because we have to be out of our old house on the same day we can get into our new use, bit of a bugga that.  We have sent 3 trailer loads of just pot plants to my inlaws today as well as a full shed load of boxes.  It still all seems a bit surreal at the moment.  I have got a copy of the floor plan with the necessary labels on it.

This is generally how we will lay out the house as well.  Finally a room for each chicklet, and did you notice I have a sunroom and a workshop in the main house.  The workshop near the sheds is where all the lego and science lab stuff for the boys will go.  We also have a family room (mainly for the 2 little girls) a lounge for the adults, a family room for the 2 boys and Nish's room (or rather teenage retreat) is big enough for lounge and bedroom.  We also hope to put a bathroom in there for her too.  Ian's Junk has been relegated to the Master shed, but this thing is so big I think our current house could fit inside it.  The 2 lovely pups have a house/cage infront of the workshop and there is also a cattery for pip and pop.  Well I better stop procrastinating and get back to packing. 

Hope you all have a great Easter and stay safe.