My Lucky Dip Life!

      You probably wouldn't think it, if you visited these shores from the southern hemisphere, that spring has finally made an appearance.  Even though we had snow and frost last week, the daffodils are nearly out, crocus in full bloom, and the tulips are well on their way out of the soil already. Usually, by the beginning of March I have gone through all my seed packets, drooled over online catalogues and decided what, where and when I'm sowing for the coming veg growing season.  This year it has been a lot colder than I can remember from seasons past and somehow the "lentekriebels" (as they say here, the spring fever) hasn't struck yet.... but regardless of how I've been feeling, the tomato seeds have to go in!  I've got a bit of a thing about tomatoes.  They are my favourite vegetable to grow and to eat!  If I wasn't limited by space I would go a little bit silly growing tomatoes I think.  There are hundreds of varieti...

Lots of posts from me today... like waiting for a bus, none will come for ages and then 3 will turn up at once! I've mentioned my online crafty group in the past, it is so good to have like minded people to bounce ideas off.  In January it was suggested we do a Quilt-a-long.  I got excited!  I've always thought that one day I may make a quilt for the girls... but never really pursued the idea.   Apart from scrappy patchwork bags I've never done formal patchwork blocks either. You know, I don't really "get" quilts - I'm a duvet girl and growning up in a warm climate, there wasn't much need for extra blankets and quilts to snuggle under come winter time. So although I was excited to be starting a new long term project (1 block per month) I wasn't quite sure we really did need a quilt in the house. The first quilt block was shared and the very much needed instructions, in the form of a photo tutorial.  Do you know I found it so HARD!!! I'm...

Wow, it seems like only yesterday it was February... and here we are bang in the middle of March (ish)!  Well, in February, I was asked to make a cake for my neighbour's twin girls.  They asked for Minnie Mouse, and so I did my best and came up with this cake!     I'm really pleased with the way it turned out because my heart wasn't really in it this time... my girls were on school holidays and I just wanted to chill with them instead of making and baking, but they were happy to play and keep themselves amused and let me get on with it.    I haven't done many fondant cakes in the past, I usually go for the cheap and cheerful butter cream option but for a portrait cake I chose to do fondant....I nearly had a big OOPS moment with the bow, planned to do it all the day before I needed to deliver it.  Luckily a friend who makes beautiful cakes saved my bacon and told me to do the bow a good few days before I made the rest to give it time to d...