AUSTRALIAN HOME JOURNAL

I remember my mum had a drawer full of Australian Home Journals when I was a kid and she'd get them out from time to time and go through them to see what she could make. The other day my friend Janet from Gottabee Country at Abbie Lane in Highfields gave me this one from August 1950. Janet had rescued it from her MIL's possessions after cleaning out some of her things. What a treasure and many thanks to Janet. By the way if you're unable to get to Highfields to visit Gottabee Country (my absolutely favourite shop) click on the link and take a visit through their online store.

CHOCOLATE CAKE

You've got to try this chocolate cake recipe. You'll find it here on Jackie's blog. She's from The Back Shed and when I saw her recipe there I thought I'd try it. I'm seriously embarrassed to tell you how much of that cake just two of us ate in one day and even on the next day it still tastes as fresh and delicious as when it first came out of my oven. It's just as easy as any packet cake and twice as yum. Thankyou Jackie.

LITTLE PRINCESS

 "Little Princess" one of Sally Giblin's patterns. She's from The Rivendale Collection and she has gorgeous designs which incorporate the cutest stitcheries.  I have quite a selection of her patterns which you can check out here, but I'll be offering this bag as a kit at the upcoming Christmas In The Country Craft Show at Gatton early next month. After that I'll put it on my website. At $10.00 each, her patterns are really good value.

ROLLING PINS

You know a function has been well organised and planned to perfection when it all appears to run smoothly and everybody is happy and friendly and it all looks too easy. That is how Spring Into The Country at  Geham  was over the week end. The girls did an amazing job and it was an excellent market. I loved being there and being part of it and meeting and talking to people who have similar interests. Even the rain held off for us - well it did until it was time to pack up! But it wouldn't have mattered as that is why undercover markets have so much to offer.

I was ecstatic to find some old rolling pins there and this was my "big" purchase for the weekend (we won't talk about the fudge).  I already had a few, so only 2 of these are my new ones. The ones I love most are the ones with the green and red handles. Gorgeous aren't they, and how she could part with them for just $5.00 is a mystery to me. Thankyou Sharon if you happen to read this. They will be well loved in my home.

BED TIME ON MY DRESSER

One of the joys of having little people coming to visit on a regular basis is finding little surprises like this after they have gone home.  I'm not sure why this little floppy eared dog is such a favourite, but it made me smile when I found him so carefully put to bed on the shelf of the dresser that decorates our hallway entrance.  The doiley that's being used as his doona is one of the nice things my mother in law hand embroidered  and gave me a very long time ago.  A perfectly good use for it don't you think?

LOOK WHAT I FOUND AT LINCRAFT

Much as I love the "men" in my life, I get very upset when my tools disappear on a regular basis.  But today I realised there is a solution and I think it might just work.  I don't have a problem with my sewing tape measure which is regarded as second class by all but me, but I do have a problem with the other type of tape measure which you buy at the hardware shop.  I use that type too, as we do quite a lot of house renovating, so I'm always measuring something or other.  That's where Lincraft comes in.  Do you think he'll be "brave" enough to claim this one for himself?

It's not quite perfect in that it only has centimeter measurements, but I think I can cope with that.

An other problem area is my stapler.  I lose track of how many I buy, so where they disappear to is a complete mystery to me.

Lincraft have a variety of tools - all very pretty and girly.  So I may just have just have to pay them another visit and expand my range. (I'm sure you'll find them places other than Lincraft, but I just happened to find them there)

SELINAS DATE CAKE

There's a bit of a fresh breeze at my place this morning which means everyone seems to be looking for something delicious and warm to have with  coffee.  If you go on over to 
Selinas Vintage Blog (just a couple of posts back) and try out her recipe for Date Cake, you'll find the perfect complement to your morning cuppa.  It is disappearing very quickly at my place and already I've been asked for the recipe.   I must say I think the lashings of butter that she recommends are decidedly wicked, but seriously scrumptious.