A couple of party pics...

 Just a few pics from the birthday...

(my ability to hold the camera still as the night got older, became very poor! lol) 

thank you to all who sent birthday wishes.

It was a lovely evening and I have never laughed so much or had so much fun.

1. my sister and sister-in-law stringing party lights

2. loads of colourful artificial flowers everywhere

3. Hula dog Shelby! 

4. me with my personal party organiser, Traci x

5. an empty punch bowl  :((  who knew I was drinking so much vodka?

6. pretty lanterns

7. me and the kids, you guys made my night!

(and I'm told, 50 is the new 40!!!)

lol have a good weekend guys!

Carole :))

I'm terrified....

It has arrived.

The Machine.

Each time I walk past the door I break into a sweat, 

I don't even have to look at it,

I just know it's there,

waiting for me.....

Carole :((

The big reveal finally happens!

 The moment you've all been waiting for!

My stitchery comes home again!!

Do you remember my stitchery project when it was almost naked?

Well that was way back in June.

Patty, Linda, Nathalie and Margaret were also playing, cleverly crafting getting their own stitchery projects ready to send on adventures too.

Well I added a few more pieces to mine and sent it off to America to start it's world wide journey... 

 

My stitchery visited with Patty in July

where she added one of her famous felted hearts.

Then it went to stay with Nathalie  for a short while in August....

where she added some fine words and a wee "home" with lots of pinkness!

Then off it went to spend some September time with Linda, where busy hands took over and 

created a girl stitching! 

Then finally it flew to Switzerland in October to pay a call on Margaret,

where lots of fabricy and buttony goodness was added....

...and a teeny tiny heart!

 And here is my beautifully crafted stitchery...

Thanks girls! I love how you all took such great care of it and 

I love 

all you added!

It has become a very special treasure.

Check out the others stitchery projects on their blogs - 

the links are all listed on the side under QB5.

Enjoy your week!

Carole :))

An exciting package arrives...

Remember my stitchery project?

Well it has arrived back home after visiting several different States in America and then heading over to Switzerland.

Stay tuned to this blog....I'll be opening this very soon and you'll all get to see what's been added to it!!

How exciting!!

IT'S HERE!!!!

Yesterday it looked like this!

Yes, that is snow you can see!

It not only looks cold, it FEELS cold!!

BUT today is my birthday! 

And the sun is out 

there's no wind,

and it's time to have us a ...

South Seas Beach Party!!

table decorations

The punch bowls are ready,

the hawiian shirts and skirts are ready,

the food is all prepared,

the lanterns and fairy lights are ready to hang,

the pineapples and straws are waiting,

lots of coloured leis hang everywhere!

BRING IT ON!!

Carole :))

My next attempt

What do you think? 

Cherries anyone?

Carole :))

Progress report

Here is painting no 2. 

Can you tell what it is?

I think the apple needs some major colour adjustments lol.

I guess everyone starts with the obligatory fruit!

Wonder what next weeks lesson will be on?  

Carole :))

And 2 more arrive!

These 2 arrived on Saturday afternoon!

A smooth delivery, and both lambs are feeding well!

Yay, no bottle feeding!

Spring delights

Carole  :))

Don't laugh.....

Well you remember I told you that I was doing an online class thru Joggles.com?

It is a watercolour sketch book class.

Jane LaFazio is the tutor.

Well it has just started and we will get 1 lesson a week for 6 weeks.

Our first lesson was in still life.

Now I am very eager to get going, but there is a small problem...

I can't draw!

One has to be able to draw in order to paint the subject!

So I can't draw, and I totally am colour blind when it comes to mixing! 

So this class is going to take me to comfort zones that just don't exsist! LOL

For my first try I used 2 apples and a lemon.

What do you think?

Could you tell they were fruit? (please say you could!!!)

If you really could then maybe I'm off to a good start!!

2 apples and a lemon, 5x7" by carole brungar

Have a faulous week!

Carole :))

A pretty surprise arrives...

This pretty card arrived in the mail yesterday,

a pretty wee bunch of vintage flowers and butterflies.

What a lovely combination!

They came from a lovely blogging friend, Jen in Australia. 

Thanks Jen,

they made my day!

I totally love them!

Carole :)

I have loads of comments and questions about our wee lamb!

So, I'll try and answer some of them here for you.

I had no idea as to why he wasn't feeding from his mum, and I couldn't pen them

so that I could check her udder, so

rather than let him die I decided to bottle feed him.

He is now quite a strong wee fella.

Today with the help of our "faming lady" and her dog

we rounded them all up and checked them all. 

One of the sheep looked like she would lamb very soon, another looked 

as though she would lamb in the next few days.

After they had all been checked, we held the mother 

and suckled the wee lamb to her.

She had plenty of milk. We left them by themselves for a few hours, 

and I went out now and again to help and remind him where the milk came from lol,

so he could get used to feeding from his mum.

Then, much excitement, tonight after watching him feed all by himself,

we let them back into the big paddock.

He has been feeding lovely!!

It's such a relief. I have been feeding him 3 times a day, and although it's VERY cute 

to have cuddles etc... the novelty soon wears off! LOL

THEN.....

tonight, one of the other sheep had not one, but 2 little shaky white lambs!

It was so exciting to see them born and to watch them trying to feed from their mum, and

she was being a very tentative mother.

They both look healthy and strong, and I'll take photos for you tomorrow. 

In the mean time, I'm going to have to come up with some names..

any ideas??

Here it is, our first lamb of the season!

Our first lamb has arrived and his mother is not feeding him. So, it's out with the bottle. It's so cute, but I'm sure the novelty will wear off soon!! 

Have a great weekend everyone!

Carole :))

Cake recipe

Here is the recipe for the fruit cake from a couple of blogs posts back - I promised Jane of marigold jam that I would post it.

It is a very tactile cake to make. Roll your sleeves up and away you go! 

It was taken from the October 2010 New Zealand House and Garden magazine.

Shortest Day Cake

1kg mixed dried fruit (add prunes to give the cake a dark colour. I used mixed fruit, but I will make it again using only sultanas)
1/2  cup of liquid sherry, rum or tea
200gm butter
2 cups flour
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 tsp baking soda
pinch of salt
2 eggs
1/2 cup of milk
1/2 cup honey

The day before you plan to make the cake, soak the fruit in the liquid, (rum, sherry or tea)
Then to make the cake, in a big bowl rub the butter into the flowr. Add sugar, baking soda and salt, then the dried fruit. In another bowl mix the eggs with the milk and honey. Add this to the main mixture and stir (with hands). Put into a 23cm round or square tin and bake at 160 degrees C for 1 1/2 to 2 hours.

Enjoy, let me know how yours went!

Carole :)

ALOHA I'm excited!

all images taken from google

 In a couple of weeks time my personal clock is going to roll over 50

and to celebrate the occasion 

Mr Madness and Mess and his illustrious partner in crime, my gorgeous daughter, 

are organising a birthday bash.

I have been told not to do, organise, or plan anything!

But they have told me it has a theme,

it's a South Pacific Island beach party!

I'm thinking-

coconuts

ukuleles

floral leis

 drinks in pineapples, 

grass skirts,

palm trees,

pina coladas

and music, just imagine the music!

Mr Madness and Mess is even going to get his band back together for the occasion 

and has been hard at it practicing on his drums!

Bring it on I say!!

You just gotta love these kiwi expats!

This pic was borrowed from Lilla's blog,

Just Lilla

It's her Noel Christmas banner and she has videos up that you can watch and learn how to make one just like it.

She creates some gorgeous stuff, 

she's very clever...

but gee she's a kiwi, I mean, it goes without saying! LOL 

Thanks Lilla!!

A Gorgeous Sunday

It is a stunningly beautiful day today,

 it is even hard to trawl through days and remember one quite as nice.

 A gentle breezes kisses the tops of the tallest trees,

everyone wants to stop what they're doing and soak up the heat.

I must remember to thank you all for all the good wishes I received on starting my new job. 

I was treated to a lovely morning tea on my first day, to welcome me.

And I find I'm working with a lovely group of people.

I am left wondering what's happened to my leisurely life of crafting!

However I managed to finish stitching my addition to Patty's project.

I used some vintage Coats 60 crochet cotton to embellish her piece.

So now it's finished and will go in the mail.

It's the last of the five stitching projects, so it means mine will return home soon

and I'll get to see what gorgeous things Patty, Linda, Nathalie and Margaret added to mine!

The countdown begins!

Hope you are all enjoying a lovely weekend!

Carole :))