Sweet Mary

Something to brighten any day! Margaret at Janeff Bookshop in Havelock North knits and sells the most amazing tea cosies. You can buy one readymade from the eye catching window display or order from the book.

Button collection - forgot to include my mother's button tin that I played with as a child. Country Living (UK)magazine collection- part. Fabric collection - part. Pin cushion collection with favourite red one bang in the middle. A very clever lady called Merynn Read has made a few of these. They are works of art especially the two wool fabric ones at the front. A small part of the painting collection that my mother (in photo) has painted and given to me over the years. Two ceramic hearts from my children. I have just spent the best day, sorting out my Sweet Mary room, in readiness for packing up and moving. The above photos were taken over the day to highlight some of my favourite collections.

Michelle sells very good muesli at our local farmers market in Hastings. There are a few different "flavours" but my favourite is the pear and ginger. Every Sunday now, we arrive at the market early and sit down to our individual serve of muesli, yoghurt and apple compote. Even though we eat this muesli every morning at home we still look forward to our "fix" at the market.

A few weeks ago it was my birthday and as usual I received more beautiful tea towels to add to my collection. Now, if any of the givers are reading this and thinking I am having a bit of a moan - I'm not. I am lucky to be given these little beauties, each one is joyfully received. I never buy beautiful tea towels for myself so am delighted to be given them. One in particular from my friend Nic just needed to be remade into something else. I unpicked all the seams and added rik-rak, sewing it on between the red lines that frame the profusion of flowers. A thick linen type fabric for the back. I edged the opening in my cream linen bias tape that I bought from here . Then tied the back together with more rik-rak. I know it looks like a not very well filled pillowcase (it is!) but there is a method in my madness. I could use it on my bed but think I will try it on the sofa for a while. Sometimes its nice to curl up and cushions are just not the right shape for this sort of rela...

I have been making this microwave pudding on and off for years so thought I would share this very excellent Gary Rhodes recipe with you all. That includes you Jess and Janie - hope the ginger crunch turned out okay. My chosen "addition" is jam and this Famous French Street jam made by my friend Bev is my absolute favourite. I made and cooked the whole delicious thing in 5 minutes and didn't bother to make custard but that would have been nice. Double click on the recipe photo to enlarge enough to read. I always find that there is a tiny bit of uncooked mixture left around edge after cooking. Don't keep cooking to get rid of this or your pudding will be dry! I eat it but you could just scrape off.

Pale, pale pink, blue and green Chook Eggs on sale at the Links Organics stall at the Hastings Farmers Market last Sunday - double click on the photo to enlarge and read the information. You know its autumn when the fennel is as pretty as a picture. There is something wonderful about the intensity of colour in autumn flowering roses.

This is just a quick post - I have a longer one for tomorrow. I am starting the pack-up of all my treasures. We have finally bought a house and will move into our new home towards the end of June. I have been a very long time without a "home" of my own so it is very, very exciting for me. Like I can finally exhale that long breath I took many years back. When sorting through the boxes we are storing for our 'overseas experience" daughter I came across the black and white quilt I made for her 21st birthday. Somehow I had neglected to add a label so I sat down there and then to cobble together a record of the event. Had a bit of a giggle afterwards as my embroidery skills are definitely on the basic side but the job is done now and that is a good thing.