As August Draws to a Close

 Greetings lovely friends & readers

Here we are on the final day of August & Spring is right around the corner ...............

Last Friday Alec had his school Grandparents Day which they combined with a Book Character Dress-Up Day.      Alec went as a Wizard from Lord of the Rings, & I went as a Granny  😉

Over the weekend I was asked to help with Sid's costume for his school Wearable Arts Competition.  The theme was "rural" & Sid chose to go as a Compost Heap (!!!)  Yes you did read that right!

  I made a simple hessian tunic & we dried orange & lemon slices in my dehydrator then his Mum glued on all the rest of the foraged items, including making him the hat which took 3 prototypes to get right.  Personally I thought he made rather an adorable little compost heap.  (& he was the only one in the entire school!!!)

Last week I had to go to the Variety Store for tissue paper so I purchased another 2 white plastic Urns - small & large sizes, as I decided I wanted a set of 3 & I showed the medium size in my last post.  Once again I gave them 2 coats Resene Black Test pot paint first.

I find they dry much better by the fire this weather.  

Now Miss Pippi takes her watching-paint-dry-duties very seriously, but I noticed she fell asleep on this particular occasion.  These are the rust products I used above right.

It absolutely fascinates me watching the rusting process take place.  I spritzed these 2 with more water than last time & I noticed they took on a darker, more mottled effect.  

I had some violas left over in a punnet so these got planted in the larger size & I planted some perennial Polyanthus in the smaller size pot  (from out of my garden).  

I'm really happy with this display on my deck table & it's giving me all the spring vibes  💛

This morning I got up early, hunted out Mum's old recipe book & made her Fruity Chocolate Cereal Bars - 

a VeRy old recipe in the book, so old it's almost ineligible to read. (I'll write it out at the bottom in case anyone should want it - makes a good big quantity in my meat dish)

Today is exactly One Year since my dear Mum passed away.  In fact as I sit here typing this ... this very time last year I was driving frantically down to be with her as the Resthome had rung me urgently.  

There is a sweet young lady in my local village of Kihikihi who has a roadside stall outside her house selling flowers.  I had ordered a bunch of pink flowers for Mum - look how beautiful they are - $20 for the bunch.  I'll enjoy these then dry them to take to Mum's ashes plot.

I'm burning a homemade candle today & playing Mum's favorite songs - she is never far from my thoughts.  

A dear friend sent me this verse this morning & I thought it was so lovely  💗

The rain we were forecast is now pouring down & the furry ones are all tucked up inside ... Yes Little One is sleeping on the ironing board!  😑

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend dear friends - thank you as always, for your welcome visits here today,

Sending much love & friendship to you all,

Fruity Chocolate Cereal Bars:

3 cups crushed cereal  (muesli, cornflakes, weet-bix)

1/2 cup rolled oats

1 1/2 cups dried fruit (raisins, sultanas, apricots,cranberries)

1/2 cup coconut thread

1 cup chocolate chips, buttons or pieces

1/2 cup toasted cashew nuts or almonds

100 gm butter

150 ml honey, golden or maple syrup

Line a slice tin with baking paper (I use my meat dish)

Combine all dry ingredients in large bowl.

Melt together butter & honey or syrup, simmer for about 5 minutes stirring constantly.

Combine dry ingredients with syrup & press into the baking dish, place in fridge for a couple of hours.

Once cold cut into portion size bars.  Keeps for a very long time (not in my house!!)  😉