Golden Vanilla Cupcakes with berries and lemon

Vegetarians taste better. ~Author Unknown

Trying out a new book I received for Christmas.

Golden Vanilla Cupcakes with a little inspiration from the Strawberry Tallcakes.

The batter was surprisingly runny.

I substituted A2 full cream milk for soy as, surprisingly, we had some in the frig to be used up.

My substitute for 'all-purpose flour' was plain spelt flour.

I also used rice bran oil rather than canola oil as it was in the pantry.

They came out of the oven with interestingly little quirky bumps rather than a flat surface.

Never perturbed by unusual shapes, I set about slicing up some strawberries to macerate in some maple syrup...mmm!

Soon thereafter, a little slicing here, a dollop there (of lemon butter),

strawberries spooned over, and a fresh raspberry on top.

Soon we were all making cupcakes.

The verdict...

a definite thumbs up.

Next time, I'll have to try a real vegan version.

Daytripping to The Whispering Wall, Williamstown, Barossa Valley

Summer Blue and Crusty Brown

Pictures tell so many words yet sometimes the most cherished memories cannot be captured: the deer which ran quickly across the road in front of us, the little bunny which hopped by our side into the grass, the millions of golden wanderer butterflies flittering, giggling sisters enjoying the journey, whispering to each other at the wall, almost out of sight, yet fully audible, taking a wrong turn and discovering new places, hearing sweet singing from a delightful toddler - "beautiful pussy you are, you are, beautiful pussy you are etc.", the fairy flying across the windscreen, the shingleback lizard heading across the road in front of us, the kangaroo taking a peak at Ess from the short grass.

Daytripping to the World's Largest Rocking Horse, Gumeracha

Take rest; a field that has rested gives a bountiful crop. ~Ovid

The days of January are always wonderful times. They are days of rest to me, days we can enjoy being together as a family without the pressure of time constraints. My Generous Gentleman always takes a few weeks off over Christmas time. He is a home body like me so takes on many of the house jobs giving me a little break from things such as hanging out washing, watering gardens, putting out rubbish and lifting growing two year olds. Ahhh bliss!

Days of refreshment come when we venture out together as a family, having had a rested morning at home - no rushing, no clock watching.

Tripping to Gumeracha in the Adelaide Hills, Ess just had to ride this miniature pony, Mini. She had a lovely ride chatting away to the assistant and brightening her day as well.

Climbing the world's largest rocking horse.

Admiring the sights from the heights.

Achieving milestones for little ones.

Reflecting on the great heights we had just achieved while rocking on the little rocking horse below.

The wildlife sanctuary nearby is a lovely place to wander with the girls, although they are quite nervous when it comes to getting up close and personal. This little wallaby was interested in nibbling some food quickly but hopped away to its privacy amongst the dry twigs and leaves hastily.

The beauty of the peacock never fails to dazzle.

Enjoy some nourishing time together with friends and loved ones and remember that "sometimes the most important thing in a whole day is the rest we take between two deep breaths". ~Etty Hillesum

Welcome 2010

The merry year is born

Like the bright berry from the naked thorn.

~Hartley Coleridge

As the New Year dawns I am thrilled to be watching new buds form into flowers on our succulent on which I was watching the new leaves form this time last year.

Aren't these sweet seats for fairies?! Ess and I are quite decided. The fairies are sitting here in our garden, ensuring it all survives the heat of summer and delighting us with dreams and stories both told and left untold yet felt with the heart.

We wish you health and happiness, prosperity, love and laughter and lots of beauty in 2010.

Giveaway Winner Announced!

Give more, expect less.

Thankyou lovely people for entering my little giveaway of a pretty list cover to celebrate the spirit of generosity and giving. I enjoyed reading your comments and learning a little more about you.

Barbara, I like the way you list quotes which are meaningful for you - do you have a special book to keep them in? I remember my mother doing just the same thing. I haven't started to do that at this stage. I write them on my blog for all of us day by day as they relate to what I'm doing for you.

Homestay Mama, I am glad of your honest confession that you'd like to be more organised :) So glad you're enjoying the music (which I'll have to change now, won't I!)

Shandora, you sound so organised already and I admire your organisation with menu lists and recipes. However I need my spontaneity to retain my sanity with regards to meal preparation. I have my frig stocked with good food, and plan a meal or two in advance with a general idea of what will happen over a week. Menu lists and I can never seem to become good companions :)

Now, the time has come. My delightful Ess has helped me by writing your names on pieces of paper,

folding them and placing them inside the small pocket of the list cover.

And the winner is...

Congratulations Homestay Mama!

I am delighted you have won this giveaway and look forward to posting this to you in the very near future, after this new year's weekend.

Merry Christmas

Great little One! whose all-embracing birth
Lifts Earth to Heaven, stoops Heaven to Earth.
~Richard Crashaw

Once long ago against her breast,

A mother hushed a babe to rest

Who was the Prince of Heav'n above,

The Lord of gentleness and love

O, sleep, my little one, sleep.

~excerpt from The Silver Stars are in the Sky (Lullaby Carol)

An Australian Christmas Carol

Wishing you gentleness and peace this Christmas time.

Ess is Six on the Fleurieu

This pixie's from the Land of Hearts.

She's perching on a blossom,

which grows within a forest glade

that's magical and awesome.

She and all her fairy friends

have flown on shimmering wings

to wish you all the happy fun

that a birthday brings!

Have a magical 6th birthday!

- on cards received from Granny and Mum, Dad and little Eee

Our trips to the Fleurieu Peninsula south of Adelaide never fail to delight us.

When I asked Ess during the week whether she'd like to pick blueberries on her birthday, her eyes lit up and her ensuing excitement was unsurpassed.

Little Eee picks...

and explores.

This was our first visit to The Blueberry Patch, Mt Compass.

My precious Ess fairy with beloved dandelion found in the patch,

about to be blown away on the wind.

With fresh blueberry ice creams available after the hard labour of fighting off earwigs, millipedes and tiny spiders, to achieve buckets of delicious blueberries...

we'll definitely be back.

In Goolwa, these treats awaited us after lunch,

along with an afternoon swim at the beach.

It was so refreshing to be out catching a few waves in the southern ocean. This is my style of wave-catching anyway! Beloved little treasures nearby.

Six feathered birthday candles on a beachy sandcastle cake for our delightful six year old.

Then after our late arrival home in the evening...

it was never going to be too late to enjoy the birthday cake lovingly decorated by Ess and I.

Happy Birthday my sweet Ess.