today, we went up into the hills for a picnic with our VISE tutors, Peter & Lee

they might not look very big, but they sure felt big when you climbed them!

it was definitely worth the effort to capture views like these!

this muesli bar recipe is adapted from a recipe in the Family Circle best of kids cookbook – its quick & easy to make & tastes delicious!

ingredients:

• 1 cup desiccated coconut
• 1 cup pepitas
• 1 cup sesame seeds
• 1 cup rolled oats
• 100g diced dried apricots
• 125g butter
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 cup honey

method:

• put dry ingredients in a big microwave bowl with a flat base
• cook on high for 5 minutes (depending on the wattage of your microwave, you may need to stop & stir several times)
• add diced dried apricots to dry ingredients
• put butter, sugar, honey in another bowl. cover with absorbent paper. cook 4 mins on medium (50%)
• stir wet ingredients well. add to dry ingredients. mix well
• spread evenly in a 20x30cm lined tin. press down firmly
• leave until cold, then slice into bars. enjoy!

lots of excitement here this morning … one of our pets (6.30) had her 1st lamb & we were lucky to witness his arrival

this photo was taken not long afterwards – when he was still cold & wet & wobbly

already 6.30 has proved to be such a good mum & its going to be exciting watching her lamb grow

we discussed many names, then miss M suggested calling him Thursday – so Thursday it is!

… are always a hit … especially when its something you *have* to do for school

i love so many things about this photo … Bear’s too big workshirt paired with his pj pants; the angle of his foot; the cluster of 3 lambs; Ricky drinking as fast as he can, tail wagging with Fighter right there – just in case! the way Gibby is nibbling hopefully near his leg … its something many country kids have experienced

they race outside in the morning to feed them before they eat their own breakfast & their breaks are spent feeding & playing with them. baby lambs make great pets & both kids adore them!

m & b helped to dust flour on the floor so we could see the bunny’s tracks. there were two sets of tracks this year – a mama & her baby perhaps?

i especially loved the little signs they wrote for the bunny (including a thank you after her visit)

i hope you had a happy chocolate covered easter too!

time flies by doesn’t it?

my baby turned 8 today

here are eight things i know about Bear …

1. He loves riding on his motorbike & building things (he’s always loved building things!)

2. He gets very animated & tells great stories

3. He’s wearing the same size shoe as his big sister (size 3)

4. He is very ticklish!

5. So far, he’s only lost 3 teeth (all on the bottom) but another 3 are wiggly right now

6. His favourite bedtime toys are still sheet & Digerdy

7. He has a sweet tooth & sneaks chocolate  from the fridge – but he hasn’t learnt to remove the evidence (a stepstool) !!

8. He wanted lego for his birthday – lego on his cake & more lego to play with – & he was in lego heaven today!!

a new year, a fresh start, full of possibilities … i love little rituals like:

choosing a new diary – i loved this blue one from smiggle

checking waters & discovering full dams (a real treat!)

i’ve also been contemplating a word for 2010. instead of making resolutions (which most of us rarely keep), the idea is to choose a word that sums up your intentions for the year. then use that word to keep focussed & on track esp. when you are faced with challenges (as you will be). in the past, i’ve chosen focus (2008) & bloom (2009). this time, i considered focus, aspire, visualize, intention & ended up selecting action. many people have good intentions & focus & visualize, but if you want to achieve your goals, you need to take action. so action will be my mantra for 2010.

• take action to declutter (body + home)
• take action to beautify (home + garden)
• take action to move towards all my goals

want to play along? here are some great posts about this topic:

one little word – ali edwards

resolution revolution – christine kane

create a 2010 intention plan – michelle mcgraw

have you thought about your intentions &/or chosen a word for 2010? please feel free to share your thoughts about starting the new year.

i baked some classic aussie anzac biscuits this morning & they were so delicious!

my wonderful SIL shared the recipe with me, & now i’m sharing it with you

Anzac Biscuits

 Ingredients

• 1 cup plain flour
• 1 cup rolled oats
• 1 cup desiccated coconut
• 3/4 cup brown sugar
• 125g butter, chopped
• 2 tablespoons golden syrup
• 1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda

Method

1. Preheat oven to 180°C.  Sift flour into a large bowl then stir in oats, coconut and sugar.
2. Place butter and golden syrup in a small saucepan over heat  until melted. Remove from heat. Combine bicarbonate of soda and 2 tablespoons water then stir into golden syrup mixture (mixture might become frothy). Add immediately to flour mixture and stir  
3. Roll mixture, into balls (or use a spoon to get chunks of mixture), placing on baking tray. Flatten, allowing room for biscuits to spread. Bake for 15 to 18 minutes, swapping trays after 10 minutes, or until biscuits are golden. Allow biscuits to cool completely on trays.

I made a double batch

Don’t they look delish?!

Enthusiastic Attitude

Stop fighting against what you have to do.

Turn it into what you want to do.
For any given task, you can be miserable and plodding or you can be enthusiastic and highly effective.

It all depends on your attitude.
Instead of dreading and avoiding something that you must get done, choose to look forward to it.

Then jump in, make it happen, and get it finished once and for all.
It’s really very easy to make a change in your attitude.

You can do it without lifting a finger.
With a positive, enthusiastic attitude toward whatever task you must complete, the work will go more quickly and smoothly.

And, you’ll feel a whole lot better while doing it.
Decide that you truly want to get it done, and soon you’ll be reaping the rewards of your effective effort.

– Ralph Marston