Sweet Mary

Ginger Crunch - a New Zealand classic with a twist. Lois Daish ( much missed food writer for The Listener a couple of years back) says this version is from the Wholemeal Cafe in Takaka. It is absolutely delicious. Two good sized pieces have been eaten rather quickly already. Base: 150g butter 2 tbsp golden syrup 3/4 cup soft brown sugar 3/4 cup desiccated coconut 1 1/2 cups rolled oats 3/4 cup plain flour 1 1/2 tsp baking powder 2 tsp ground ginger Preheat oven to 175C Line a 20x30cm slice tin Put butter, golden syrup and sugar in pan and melt gently together. Remove pan from heat and mix in all the other ingredients. Press into tin and bake for 15 minutes - I find if I go over this time it goes too crunchy when cool. Mark into squares while still warm and spread with icing. Leave to cool completely (if you can!) before cutting through icing. Icing: 60g butter 120g icing sugar 2 level tbsp golden syrup 3 tsp ground ginger Melt together and beat till smooth.

I went to a fabric sale this morning in the Havelock North Community Centre - its on tomorrow too from 10a.m. There are many rolls of beautiful fabric including the very pretty Amy Butler ones below.

Happy Easter everyone!

Two beautiful bunches of sunflowers to enhance our sunny autumnal days in Hawkes Bay. I put them up high so that they could be seen in all their glory. While on the sunflower theme, just had to take a photo of the "sunflower" quilt that I am making for a special wedding in France this summer.

Packing up for The Hereworth Gala this Sunday - see top left or here for details. Alongside my regular Sweet Mary handmades I have also added a few extra lines: bunting, Easter egg cups and cozies, lavender bunches and ribbon hearts. See you there !

I have just finished a couple of noticeboards for Melanie of Driving Miss Daisy. Mel needed somewhere to pop all her notes and cards and thought these boards would be just the thing. Click here to find out about this great personal driving service.

Manly Beach We spent a week in Sydney recently, mainly for a family celebration but also interspersed with a few beach forays. Our twenty year old son was with us so we stuck to iconic Sydney beaches. There was some shopping done too but I don't have any photos of the mall! It is only half an hour on the ferry to the city and one that is full of sights. Daily commuters on the Manly ferry hunker down with a book or tap away on their lap-tops. Tourists, as we were, sit right up the front exposed to the sun and wind and snap away. The Opera House and Sydney harbour bridge with walkers right at the top. Not something I fancy doing but a lot do, including my boys who are really keen. We caught the bus from the city to Bondi Beach travelling the scenic route through Paddington . From memory this is the sea water swimming pool at Curl Curl beach where some of the locals like to "chain" surf. Look at the photo below and you will get the idea! We returned to autumn in Hawkes...