WOYWW, Brayer video + Extra Crunchy Ginger nuts!

Hullo there everyone!!
I actually started most of this post ages ago now and never published it, but show you a bit of my "unchanged-from-last-week "desk just to keep up with the theme. 
Those of you who were around later last week will know I have a wounded paw. After doing last week's post, I left for the skin specialist and came back with 5 stitches in right hand (skin cancer, an SCC)-  :D They come out next Wed. then have to have one done on my foot.
 BIG ANNOUNCEMENT!!  
Finally did a brayer video (taken before hand was done)
CLICK on this post here from yesterday!
Showed the brayer backgrounds on last week's post, this is a crop of the desk shot last week. Same as I have not been in there all week to work due to hand!

The observant monkey watchers among you commented last week that Deer Monkey, on the right, has his deer shirt on already. :D The WOYWW badge which he usually wears has been seconded by his monkey mate, Mechant, who is sitting beside him.

 Okay, so a while back now, the baking bug temporarily hit. I just had to make some of mum's scrummy Ginger Nuts, so I thought would share them .


If you like them really crunchy, the key to the crunch with biscuits is to leave them on the tray to cool and if possible for five mins in the open oven - if you cooking another batch obviously you cannot. 
Take care they don't get too brown though. I like to make good dunkers (in tea of course) and they are certainly that! If you like them really gingery then put in two teaspoons (or more) of ground ginger like I do.

I have rather poor quality video of our cheeky clowns of the garden (Rainbow Lorikeets - see also here) taking a bath in our bird bath, taken the same time as last weeks photos. I thought of it after took the still photos, so they were nearly finished!
Poor quality because it was taken on maximum zoom with my camera, through the lounge room window!
Rainbow Lorikeet “Lorikeets are considered a small to medium parrot and range in size from 150mm (6") to 400mm (16"). The colour of the bird depends upon the species and the variation with in that species, however bright colours are common and popular. Lorikeets are one of the few parrots that eat mainly nectar and pollen. In Australia, it is common along the eastern seaboard, from Queensland to South Australia and northwest Tasmania.”

Happy WOYWW everyone!

For those of you not in the know - WOYWW is a weekly blog hop - What is On Your Wordesk Wednesday? and here we do a reveal of what we are working on at present - or not! check desks all over the world, (click here) at our brilliant hostess', Julia's blog and see what you may learn and glean. 

Thanks so much every one for popping over for a peek and chat, and may the Lord bless your day wherever you may be!
Shaz in Oz.x  

 

WOYWW! Exotic fruit + Sharon's Craft Cupboard!.

Hi folks, 

Well another week and although we are so enjoying the sunshine, we do need some precipitation - but hey rain will come. if we pray and pray and wait, and pray some more!

Before I forget have been meaning for weeks to share with you a very new blogging friend here in Oz. She must have really great taste as her name is Sharon :D 

and her Blog is "My Craft Cupboard" -link here !  

Just to prevent any misunderstanding, this is NOT my card. 
Made by Sharon ~ My Craft Cupboard's stunning card, please pop over if time permits - her blog is http://sunshine2go.blogspot.com.au/

As you can see such beautiful, exquisite work is over there - I told her about WOYWW but she said she was not game to show us her her desk... maybe pop over say hi and let her know we would love to see it!!

Some pickies to share, because it is WOYWW and the great World Wide Blog Hop of What is On Your Workdesk Wednesday, please do take peek and join with us over at Julia's fab blog.

No desk today, as it's the same as last week here - zilch done in crafty dept!! 
Getting jobs done inside and out before cataract surgery 2.10.12. Have made few cards which will schedule soon, but they are given away so not on desk. 
I was asked by Morti of WOYWW if my fruit tree shown also in last weeks post tree was an exotic one - so here it is!

Exotic (!) lemon and lavender - the lavender is a natural insect repellent!

This week I have made something with our lemons, so sharing it instead!

Lemon peel on the plate, it is Granny's Lemon Cordial as you can see -  peel is thrown out afterwards. Recipe is below if anyone wants it. If trouble reading it just email me! really yum, Granny's was not brown like mine as she used white sugar, I use raw sugar. So nice in summer.

We do have an exotic fruit our yard, so I thought would share this. It is a Macadamia nut tree, full of abundant flowers as you can see. This photo is almost on full zoom, about 15 ft up.

Yes, we do get some nuts but as it is in our neighbour's yard (it over hangs our fence) it is not sprayed, so little greedy insects get most of them! It never fails to amaze me they bore  tiny, weeny holes through the hard outer husk, as well as the very, very hard shell! For more info see here.
One last photo thought you might like! 
Finished mulching the roses and here is the third and fourth rose of the season.

Black Beauty Rose and Sutter's Gold very small small bud - with visiting lady beetle :D I did not know till after uploaded to computer it was on there! (Oh, to left front, my wee Scottie dog from Scotland)

I would really appreciate it if time permits and you can check out 
my "Consider the Clouds" post down below! You will see why if you do!

Happy WOYWW every one and thank you SO very much for popping over for a peek and a chat. May God bless your day wherever you may be!
Shaz in Oz.x
PS a VERY special welcome to new followers Cardarian, Mary H, Gita and Lori!

WOYWW What's On Your Workdesk? Wednesday 108 + Pineapple Jam!

Well here comes another week around again! Feel like your world is spinning too fast sometimes?? I do! The calligraphy piece on my desk does not show as much progress as I would have hoped but that is because of life getting in the way - some more card orders, Pineapple jam and Mint sauce and other such domestic chores. However almost all the painting has been finished and the gold leaf now just has to be done; this one has a lot of it so it will take some time!

After numerous attempts I have finally perfected Pineapple Jam! It must be made on fresh pineapple and pineapple juice (all the recipes on the net were with tinned pineapple, but not like the real deal). When Golden Circle stopped making it a few years ago my brother in law was distressed – one of his favourite condiments no longer available. Anyway he has been patient waiting for this batch, so will be pleased to get it and my sisters' to receive the mint sauce. Our mother always made her own so we are totally spoilt by it now – bought is not quite the same.

Have made more than one card this week as orders came but have posted the other three before so wont worry putting them up again. This last one I really like too. I made it on Monday night as was going to my neighbour’s funeral on Tuesday morning and wanted a really special card for her family. They have been our neighbours since Dec. 1973, so a few years you might say! she was in her 90^th year, and really sweet lady.

This card was made with the lovely Stampin Up Pastel card and a Stampin up stamp now sadly both discontinued.  I used the pigment S.U. Pastels Ink Spots and embossed with Iridescent EP. With Caramello Cuttlebug folder, enlarged method (see sidebar), and Labels 2 dies with Labels 2 Nestabling new from Fat cats, I really like the framing of the pictures with the Nesties. A computer generated greeting, with Fancy Tags and Petite Scalloped Small Nesties also to finish off the card.

Unhappily the photo dies not do justice to the bling and Irisdescent EP, these are are much prettier. Tried several ways - no success.

If you want to enjoy a snoop at desks around the world, and learn sooo much, please join in the fun and pop over to Julia’s blog, Julia's Stamping Ground for the best blog hop around! 

Well thanks for peeking everyone, happy WOYWW and may God bless your day wherever you may be,

Shaz in Oz. x PS You may like post below too?

Pineapple Jam recipe (Jo asked for it so here 'tis,  - now 'tis mine, so  no guarantees come with it! )

750g of fresh diced ripe pineapple.
500g of sugar (you may want to cut it back my brother in law likes it rather sweet)
2 cups of unsweetened pineapple juice
i packet of Jamsetta*
 *( I use 50g packet - but it seems to me this varies, so just add as much as it needs, sometimes it seems to set quicker than others, and need less, but needed whole packet this time).

METHOD:
Cook on stove for about 50 mins, a gentle rolling boil. I puree it with a stab hand blender about 50 mins into cooking it carefully as it is piping hot as that is how the jam is here not in big pieces.
Cook it for another 10 mins to settle bubbles, then jar up in warmed jars, if set and it tastes to your liking.
I find most of the bubbles go after you jar up you dont have to lift of scum like other jams.! :)