It's been stormy here

By Hj - was rainy yesterday now crazy wind. (did manage to get some of my washing dry)



Plently of indoor activity - infact we are working towards a little art show - Kd is very keen on selling his art work!

Chocolate Cake Making = Learning to love to Read

I have been thinking of a variety of ways to inspire the love of reading and writing in my son's life including writing letters, rewards for positive attitude when doing his homework, reading Rohald Dahl together (I have got so into his writing I am currently reading his adult short stories - which I love - he is much a naughty and tricky writer) and recently I have invited him each week to pick a recipe he would like to cook - which involves reading recipe books, reading the ingredients of the selected recipe, writing the required ingredients on the shopping list and then when the time comes reading the recipe to cook the selected item. This time it was chocolate cake.



I would have to say this is one of the nicest chocolate cakes I have ever had - although not the quickest of recipes - but if you used this recipe a lot it would be come easier as you would be in a "routine" of cooking it.

Interestingly my family group email has been sharing chocolate cake recipes including Mum's which was usually demolished as soon as we walked in the door after school.

This Chocoate Cake Recipe is from Donna Hay

120g Dark Chocolate chopped
120g butter
1/2 cup caster sugar
3 eggs seperated
3/4 cup plain flour
2 tablespoons coco
1 teaspoon baking powder

Melt chocolate
Preheat oven to 170
Cream butter and sugar and add yolks one at a time and beat well
Add in melted chocoate, shift tog dry ingredients and then add to wet mixture
finally whisk the egg whites and graduately fold into the mixture

cook for around 40 mins or until ready

Yum

My next plan is to introduce journal writing or perhaps writing our own books - but taking it easy and not being too pushy just yet.

Here is a link to a Mum who confesses to making loads of books with her kids and here too

Mask Making

Hj and I went on a shopping spree today for new warm tops for good - with the tops came a top paper bag - perfect for mask making.

I liked this quote I read in the AGE last weekend I have been thinking about the quote all week. It was used in an article called "all men are liars" - looking at relationships between men and women. I have to admit I don't have a high regard for men - men have had and still have too much power and it is more likely than not that this power will abuse women in some way. My opinion was challenged when my son said to me this morning "You always think that I am going to do something bad."

Watch your thoughts for they become words. Watch your words for they become actions. What your actions as they become habits. Watch your habits as they become character. Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.

Birthday Wishes to Mummy

An unforgettable birthday with something causing me awful pain in my right hip - the blood taking lady saying to me maybe your just feeling old.

Still managed to get a lot of love despite being a crippled couch grump. Here is the evidence. Thanks to my sister who came and played with my daughter and brought lots of bright colour into my home xxx and a brother who cooked me tea and a CAKE yum! Phone calls and gifts from the UK and a special text from another brother first thing in the morning!

A darling husband who took off two days of work to keep the household running and me off my feet - healing up with the pain easing off now - what is going on in this 35 year old body of mine?

A cousin sewing and cup cake scoffing afternoon (in the autumn)

Making that starts with the letter B - oops I mean fairy

Don't you just love autumn?