Wet weekend!!

Well it has rained pretty much non stop for the whole weekend. So i found some ways to keep myself from getting Cabin fever.

I brought myself some magazines to curl up on the couch with. 'Spaces' by Frankie Magazine is absolutely inspirational and the photography is beautiful. Have already read it cover to cover more than twice!!

Mr. Fox and I splashed out and brought a Nintendo Wii......what fun!!! Seriously addictive. Can't wait to take it home for Christmas day. Definately in for some laughs and good times with this little baby around. Could be a big time waster tho...hmm must try and limit ones gaming time.

I have been crafting too tho..last minute crafting tho, so i cant share yet. And with high hopes of Summer returning to us soon I washed my beloved sneakers....



 

Sneakers waiting for summer!

And i also to some more photos from my 1954 Ideals Christmas issue (see this post Thrifty goodness). I do so love the pictures in this magazine...

They just seemed to make everything so wholesome and cheeful in the 1950s don't you think?

I saved my favourite til last...everytime i see this picture i smile. I think its super cute, I'm sure you will agree.

Adventures on Stewart Island

I spent a wonderful week on Stewart Island with the whole family.  It was really really cold but even more than that it was beautiful.  I will definately being heading back to Stewart Island sometime.

One of my favourite days was the one we spent on a Ruggedy Range Guided Tour to Ulva Island ( http://www.ruggedyrange.com/ ). Our guide Furhana was wonderful, we certainly would not have seen as many different kinds of birds without a guide.  I managed to get a photo of a precious Stewart Island Robin, they are fearless and follow people along the tracks hoping that they will stir up some insects when they walk.



A Stewart Island Robin

The day started out very sunny but ended up very windy and grey.  We came across two Weka who were fighting on the beach....circling each other then leaping in the air and kicking!!



Two dueling Wekas

 

We had a great day and and even saw some dolphins on boat back to Stewart Island.

On Stewart Island we did lots of day walks and also went out on fishing trip.....I didnt join in on the fishing (I'm vegetarian) but really enjoyed the trip. It was a beautiful Southland day; blue skys and hardly a breath of wind.

The Skipper and his son were both so kind. Big Mollymauks flew right in close along with Seagulls hoping for a scrap of fish. Not fishing meant lots of time to snap photos of the wildlife.







The name of the fishing boat was 'Rawhiti' which means 'dawn' in Maori i think. The Rawhiti tows a little red dinghy that the Skipper rows to and from his boats mooring place.  Dad and I were lucky enough to get rowed across to a little island in the wee row boat. 
 

View of Stewart Island from
 the Rawhiti Fishing Boat





We saw some cute seals but no Paua!!  Everyone mangaged to catch some Blue Cod and apparently it was ever so tasty.

A view from the dinghy looking back at the Rawhiti and some hungry fishermen !!

One last picture....

Half Moon Bay,  Stewart Island. NZ

Back in the Home Den

Well I am way down South at my parent's den and it is lovely. After a busy weekend in Dunedin catching up with friends and a couple of lazy days Mama Fox and I have sprung into action.

Mum has been transferring her favourite pictures onto material for embroidering using a lightbox. The image is from a lovely book " It's not always black and white. A colourful take on life's grey areas." by Kate Knapp (http://www.twigseeds.com/)

Gorgeous Mama Fox made pincushions

And she has been making pincushions in lovely vintage teacups. There are lots of tutorials to make these out there....this one we found helpful but used a glueglun to secure the cushion. http://blog.craftzine.com/archive/2009/06/how-to_tuesdays_vintage_teacup.html

And I made a batch of Chocolate Sauce using the same scrumptious recipie I have used for the past few years. Its delicious on ice-cream or strawberries....or both!!



Chocolate Sauce awaiting decoration and labelling

I cant recall which magazine that this recipe came out of and I cant find it anywhere on the photocopied page but I thought I would share it and if anyone knows which magazine its from I will reference it then. Making this sauce is so fast and easy and licking the bowl is rather good too.

This sauce has always gone down well with the men folk and is also a great gift to whip up at the last minute. I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as my family does. 



EASY CHOCOLATE SAUCE

Makes just under 3 cups

• 375ml can of evaporated milk
• 50g butter
• 2 Tblspn sugar (I like to use brown sugar)
• 1 cup drinking chocolate (The Trade Aid stuff is my fav)
• 1 Tbspn vanilla essence

1. Put the milk, butter and sugar into a large microwave proof bowl or jug and cook on high power for 3-4mins
2. Whisk in the chocolate and microwave for 3-4 mins, stirring once or twice. Stir in vanilla essence.
3. Bottle in hot sterilised bottles or jars.

Bath salts for Mama Fox

I also made some Lavender Bath Salts for Mum, looked at a couple of recipes and then kinda just used them as a guide.

It was so much fun grinding up dried lavender and dried lemon verbena leaves and mixing it all up in a big bowl. Very good for the soul and it smelt heavenly.








Have been really enjoying being at home with Ma and Pa Fox. So nice to be out of the city and back to the place I grew up in. Thought i would share some photos of just how lovely it is.



Fruit in the evening sunlight



The garden

 The lovely garden and a cute little Santa. The little Christmas pudding is a tiny bath bomb from Lush. It smells good enough to eat!!

I just love how every part of home is decorated, there is always a little surprise in every corner.

There really is no place like home.