I took these photos over the last few months and have only just gotten around to sharing them with you. I love love LOVE Autumn in Victoria.
I don't have a lot of spare time at the moment, so I'll just give you a quick run-down on the cake. I wanted to do another layer cake, but didn't want to have to spend the whole day making it, so I made 2 cakes - one vanilla cake (double the recipe) and a chocolate cake (a Green's Choc Mud Cake with an extra block of chocolate thrown in for good measure.)
I then divided the vanilla cake up into 4 equal (ish) amounts and coloured them. And then I put big blobs of the cake mixture into the cake pan. (I used a brownie tray for this cake.)
After Hubs' exam on Friday, all the med students in his year based at Wang (15) headed back to one of the students' houses to be greeted with this:
Since Hubs is celebrating a bit of a milestone this year, we're having a birthday month! It started on his actual birthday, last Thursday (the 23rd of June, for those playing at home.) I had planned to give him a big sleep in, brekky in bed, and present opening to follow. What actually happened, is that Hubs was the one who gave me a sleep in! That's just the kind of Hubs I have. An awesome one. Once I got up and showered, I did make him brekky - bagels with cream cheese and we ate together on the couch. Then it was time for prezzies! Unfortunately, it was also time for Chanbe's nap time. So once he was settled, the opening commenced!
He received some lovely cards from family and friends in Brizzie, as well as a package from his Mum that took him for a lovely trip down memory lane. He also received...
Rest in peace Uncle John. You were loved by many and will be missed by many more.
So Chanbe and I arrived in Brizzie on Wednesday, and unfortunately my little guy is sick sick sick. Just a cold, but a nasty one with a horrid cough that's been keep me him (okay, both of us) up all night. Not much to be done other than give lots of fluids and lots of cuddles, which there are plenty of both.
Anyway, just wanted to touch base and say hi and if this post is a bit random, you can blame the lack of sleep. Also the fact that blogger has changed the layout of posting and it's messing with me a bit. Just something else new to learn... Oh! And my dear cousin Amy had a little baby boy the last night. SO EXCITED!!! Can't wait to meet the little man. Congrats Amy & Andrew on the arrival of Jett Alexander x x x
In the last 30 hours, as well as having 7 (interrupted) hours of sleep, I have been busy in the kitchen making the following:
Shepherd's pie
Bolognaise
Lamb stew (slow-cooked)
Chicken stew (slow-cooked after the lamb)
Pasta bake
Orange polenta cake
Oh yes. I'm taking the next month off cooking. Maybe not baking though. I may whip up a batch of either chocolate or oatmeal cookies tomorrow, depending on time. I still have to pack for Brisbane, as well as send a few emails and run a couple of errands, and spend time with Hubs before we depart early Wednesday morning. Unlike last time, we will drive from Wang to Melbourne airport. The thought of all the "legs" was too much this time around, and I'm relieved about that decision.
So much to do! But right now, it's sleepy time. And by that, I mean I'll be sleepy while Chanbe keeps me up :-)
Step one: find an awesome vanilla cake recipe
Step two: mix ingredients and choose colours
Why thank you for all the compliments for the cake! I really had a great time making it - that's the good thing about Chanbe going to bed around 6pm. I get the evenings to bake and cook to my heart's content while Hubs plays studies on his computer. Tonight I spent 2.5 hours cooking meals to put in the freezer so Hubs has a few things to eat while I'm away, and so I don't have to cook for a week (more like a month!) when I get back from Brisbane and we have to move.
Oh yeah, did I mention Chance and I are going to Brisbane for a week on Wednesday? I thought it would be good for Hubs to get some solid study and sleep done in preparation for his exams. The next month is going to be absolutely chaotic, with my trip to Brizzie, Hubs' birthday (guess how old he's turning!?) (and I'll give you a hint - it's not 23!), Hubs' first 2 exams, our garage sale, (I'm SO EXCITED about that!), then some full-on packing needs to start, then Hubs' third and final exam (yay!) then more packing (and culling I hope) and then we move the week of the 4th of July. That's only 3 weeks and 1 day away. Yikes! I want to be "settled" in by that Friday - that's the plan anyway. The thought of it all is giving me a massive headache, and I don't know if and when I'll have time to blog in the next wee while, so I'll just have to play that one by ear. I'm glad I got my 500th post in though!
There is something I do want to share in the mean time. Last week I was going through some of my posts on this blog, reminiscing and reading about our adventures, when I stumbled upon this one. I looked up the movie I had mentioned, The Expendables, and Hubs and I ended up watching it last night.
It was awesome.
I do love a good action movie, and the best thing about this movie? One of the scenes had Bruce Willis, Sylvester Stallone, and... wait for it... Arnold Shwarzenegger!!! I'm not even kidding! Where else can you get Bruce, Sly and Arnie teaming up like this! It was a thousand times better than The A Team movie (2 thumbs down from me) and just a whole lot of fun. 2 thumbs up if you want mind-blowing action and a star-studded cast.
I'm falling asleep at the keys now, so I'm going to call it a night. Looking forward to seeing a few of you while we're up in Brizzie!
(I love that Sophie Ellis-Bextor song)
If (when) you come to visit us, you'll notice a few things: 1. There will often be the smell of freshly-baked goods in the air; 2. I will probably apologise for the chaotic mess that will greet you; and 3. There will be music playing. Nothing loud or fancy, just something playing in the background to add a little ambiance and atmosphere to the place.
Why am I talking about this? Besides the fact that I needed a 499th post (the next one's the big one!) we have been to a couple of social events lately that have been okay but really could have benefited from some background music. Music is the ultimate ice breaker and helps to lighten any mood in any situation. This is definitely one of those things that Hubs and I can't understand why other people don't think the same way as us.
I've even been at people's houses and suggested "Hey do you want to put a CD on?" Is that rude? I'm not saying that these events have been awkward or boring, I'm simply saying having music on as well can make a social situation even better. Like adding a spoonful of milo to your coffee, or putting butter on your corn. It just adds that little something that makes it extra good.
That's pretty much all I have to say about that. And now, to keep you excited, here's a fun video we took of Chanbe on Saturday night (oh yeah, we're party animals) feeding himself. And my voice is in there as usual, laughing my guts up. Oh, and see if you can pick the song/band playing in the background!
Enjoy! And I'll see you soon at number 500!
My mothers group
