[pretty in pink]

It may not be well manicured, and the weeds a bit out of hand in some places, but I'm lovin' some of flowers in my garden at the moment.

[curry in not-so-much-of a hurry]

Sometimes my cooking experiments don't always work, well first go anyway.

Didn't feel much like making dinner on this cold and rainy night ... and was really wanting some chippies (as you do when it's rainy), so thought I might have a go at some no-fat sweet potato chips to go with some tinned butter chicken and pouch rice.

You beauty, dinner in 10 minutes, or so I thought...

Unfortunately my idea didn't go to plan, as sprinkling the sweet potato chips with paprika made them burn in those spots. :( 

So I tried again, only salt sprinkled on them this time and they turned out a bit better ... but they weren't as good as the potato chips I did last time, being a little burnt in some places and soft (not crunchy!) in others. They also took 7 or 8 minutes in the microwave with several checks in between. :(

Third time lucky, this time I used the potato peeler ... and success, crunchy little slivers of sweet potato to add to my so-called 'quick dinner'. :-/

We still ate the 'dud' sweet potato chips on the side, but the crunchy ones were so much better.

[watch me grow]

I'm sure I willed it to rain again yesterday as I sprayed the lawn for weeds. 

Fortunately, the rain has been useful for other things – look how much my tomatoes have grown in 11 days!

Today

11 March

 

[Easter art projects]

I have had a busy couple of weeks formatting a book for a client, so no time for arting or renovating, however, with that now under control, it's time to get creative again. I am loving Pinterest for ideas and 'how-to' blogs on arty things to do with the Grade 2ers. 

Today we're making little chickens out of disposable cups for Easter...

and this is what we're doing next week...

...Bunnies made out of envelopes (with room for goodies) – not sure which eyes I like on my sample envelopes, they both work.
Oh well, let's see what the kids do, no doubt the girls will add eyelashes! :)

You can find the 'how-to' blog for these here.

[compost tomatoes]

I've had some tomatoes spring up in strange places in the garden (and lawn) courtesy of lots of rain and the compost that's been spread around, so I replanted them in a few strategic places around the garden, and now have close to 10 plants waiting to bear fruit. 

 

I love it when I get plants for free. :)

[rite of passage - the Normanby]

I know it's about 20 years later than many of my college and schoolfriends; and it would seem a Brisvegas long-standing tradition, and almost sacrilege NOT to have been to this famous drinking hole before my 40s ... However, the drought will remain no longer ... I am finally going to the Normanby Hotel for the first time tonight! Yes, hard to believe I know. 

I'm even going with a college friend, and have a designated driver too – so I'll have a drink for you!

:)

[home made no fat potato chips]

I was really feeling like some chippies yesterday, so thought I'd check out the internet for a recipe for something I could make (that was hopefully relatively good for me!)

I found this recipe and gave it a go.

 

I made a few modifications to the method. I put a layer of paper towel on the glass tray in the microwave, then a layer of baking paper, then the cut potato (sprinkled with sea salt), followed by another layer of baking paper. I only cooked them for about four minutes on high and checked a couple of times.

They were quite yummy, and tasted like Kettle Chips. You can't make too many at once as you are limited to the size of you microwave tray (but that's probably a good thing) – and I had to share it three ways with the kids, so only ended up eating a third of a potato!