It may seem...

...at first glance, as though our year has been one long holiday punctuated with the occasional market.

It's been a busy term one.  My baby started prep and my big boy headed to secondary school.  There have been illnesses, a broken wrist, extra curricula activities and - most importantly - a visit from my big sister and her family.  They live in the UK and it's been two years since we last saw each other.  This visit has been much anticipated.  To see them, hold them, smell them.  We kept ourselves exclusive for the time they were out here and feasted on their presence.  And now, they're back home.  Over too soon.

Mackenzie Falls - Grampians

Wimmera River, Horsham

The Pinnacle - Grampians

The Pinnacle walk - Grampians

The Pinnacle walk - Grampians

Wyperfeld National Park

Aboriginal rock painting - Mt Hollow 

Wyperfeld National Park

Yarraville Markets - tomorrow!

It seems my slackness in blogging knows no bounds.  I blame instagram.  Anyhoo - tomorrow you will find me at the delightfully quaint Yarraville Markets.  I'm clearing the last of my summer stock at ridiculous prices as I get ready to roll out the winter gear.  Come along if you're after a bargain.  Plus, as usual, there's  great range of beautifully handmade products from other folk.

This weekend...

We have a busy weekend coming up with the start of the netball season, a couple of birthday parties and, on Sunday, I'm heading to the Teddy Bears' Picnic at Ripponlea.  Look, there's a teeny tiny poster below.  I've tried making it bigger, but the resolution thing is all wrong.  

Ripponlea House is located 192 Hotham Road, Elsternwick.

I'll be there with my Squirt Baby wares from 10 - 4.  

Aside from the market, there's lots for families to see and do.  So pack a picnic, some teddies,  don sunscreen and hats and come to Ripponlea.  Gates open at 10, and the entertainment starts at 11.

The summer that was

Still daydreaming about blue skies, days at the beach and not rushing around. 

Seems like such a looong time ago.  I wish we could bottle that summer holiday feeling, and take a little swig when the need arises.

Eating - Raspberry and almond cake

We've been on chook duty at school this week.  One of the advantages of chook duty is keeping the eggs.  At this time of year the girls are busy and we are loving the bounty.  It means we can use eggs eggstravagantly and whip up some delicious fare that requires more eggs than we'd usually use in one hit.

This recipe was unearthed during a search for "berries" and "cake".   During summer we go berry picking, and freeze some of the harvest for use throughout the year (when there's six of us the picking rate is rather high!).  Well, I've used the last of the blueberries but had enough raspberries to whip up a cake.  Earlier in the day I'd made some ice-cream which leaves one with the dilemma of what to do with a bunch of egg-whites.  This cake is the perfect solution - 

Raspberry and almond cake

2/3 cup plain flour

100g ground almonds

 1 & 1/3 cups caster sugar

1 tspn vanilla extract

8 eggwhites

150g butter, melted, cooled

250g raspberries

50g oats

icing sugar for dusting and making it all pretty at the end

Preheat the oven to 200 deg C

Grease and line a 20 x 30 cm tin

Place flour, ground almonds, sugar and vanilla in a large bowl and mix well.

Beat eggwhites with a pinch of salt until stiff peaks form.

Fold eggwhites into almond mixture and gently stir in butter.

Spoon the mixture into the prepared tin.  Scatter the berries* on top, followed by the oats**.  Bake for 40 mins, or until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean.  Dust with icing sugar just before serving.

*I had raspberries on hand.  I'm sure it would be fine to use any berries, fresh or frozen.

**the recipe actually called for flaked almonds.  Didn't have any, so settled for oats instead.  I'm sure it's slightly healthier that way!

So I guess this post means I'm officially back in the saddle for 2013.  There are changes planned at Chez Squirt Baby, and these will be rolled out as the kids ALL go to school and I settle into a life of lattes, manicures and long boozy lunches.  It's all good.  Promise!

Well that's all folks...

It's the night before Christmas.  I'm trying to quell the growing panic by attending to unnecessary tasks and leaving the important stuff for 1 am or thereabouts.  Actually, that's not true.  I'm feeling kind of organised.  Except for the fact I haven't managed to complete the sewing I've been trying to do for my girls and I.  

Today is about Christmas baking, something the MOTH has been attending to for the last few years  (I'm reclaiming the kitchen).  Actually, he's much better at shortbread than I am.  Marv and I have been making fruit mince pies.  Earlier I made another batch of these hazelnut snowballs I posted to Instagram the other week -

I've made the sugar syrup for tomorrow's pre-lunch cocktails, roasted the pumpkin for one of the lunch dishes and the esky is full of ice & drinks.  Even the Christmas presents are wrapped and under the tree (unusual for this household!).

I'm off to tidy the garden before we crank up the BBQ, bath the kids and wait for the sun to go down.  Christmas Eve sees us trawling the neighbourhood for pretty lights.

We're excited about tomorrow.  This is the busiest year the MOTH and I have ever experienced.  We're feeling stretched and weary.  But tomorrow we are reminded of the magic of childhood and the mystery that is Christmas.  We will be without our girls (here and here) for the first time.  But we will be surrounded by family and celebrating this new life -

Merry Christmas all.  Safe journeying.

I'm off for a few weeks of R&R - I'll be back in late January.

Triple header weekend

I've had stern words with myself.  There will be no more last minute market bookings (although last Tuesday night at Wales Street went off with a bang!).  So, folks, the countdown clock is ticking loudly.  This weekend I'll be at the Sister's Market at Northcote Town Hall as follows - 

On Sunday 9th December I will be at the Shirt and Skirt Markets at Abbotsford Convent, close by to the Convent Bakery. From 10-4.

I'm still sewing new fabrics and designs.  This week there are new basic drawstring shorts for boys and by tomorrow there will be some new dresses for the baby girls.  I've been busy restocking singlets, onesies and reversible hairbands.  There's a full-time job just there!