Merry Christmas!

   Merry Christmas and a happy new year!  

We decorated our Christmas tree on Thursday night and afterwards had home-made mince pies and cocoa!

Rebekah putting the star on the top of the tree!

Gabrielle decorating the tree!

                      

                                                                                 

Rebekah eating her mince pie!

On Christmas Eve we each made our own Christmas tree shaped pizzas and watched a family movie together!

                                                                                    

Gabrielle eating her pizza!

Everyone was excited on Christmas morning, especially the little ones!



Rebekah opening her present

                            

Beth, Rebekah, Gabrielle and Sofia under the Christmas tree! (Rebekah’s ‘smiley’ face!)

In the afternoon we went to friends for an early Christmas supper!  It was lots of fun!     

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas!

Love Nancy



In Remembrance of Smokey

Late at night on the 26th of October my cat, Smokey, came home seriously injured. He had been caught in a trap and had somehow managed to get free and come home to me! That was soooo special! First thing the next morning we took him to the vet. Later that morning the vet phoned and said that we would have to put him down! His front left and back right paws were so badly crushed that they would have to be amputated and no cat can function with only two paws! I was soooo sad! I buried him at our new farm and planted a mulberry tree over his grave. So every time we pick mulberries, we can remember him! I am going to get another kitten soon.  But I still miss him soooo much!

  Love Nancy 

Sensational Sewing Challenge - Something Useful

This month at 'Sensational Sewing Challenge' the theme was Something Useful.  I made a felt bedside holdall. My mom found this idea while browsing on the web.  She cannot remember where though, so our apologies for not acknowledging this lovely idea.  The original holdall was made in material, but felt is so much easier and quicker to work with and this time of year, that worked for me!

This bedside holdall has a pocket for a bottle, toy, book or notebook and pencil. It is such an easy thing to make. I just taped 3 A4 Pieces of paper together for a pattern cut it out with mom's zigzag scissors and hand-stitched all the pockets and embellishments.  I am very pleased with how it turned out and will give it to my little sister, Gabrielle, as a Christmas present!

The new theme at Sensational Sewing Challenge is ‘Christmas’. So please hop over to Kelly's blog to enter your Christmas makes!

Love Nancy

A Giveaway at Beautiful Girlhood! {DON’T MISS IT!!}

My sister, Kelly-Anne, at Beautiful Girlhood, is celebrating 50 followers with a wonderful Giveaway!! She is offering one copy of a movie called Ever After - a Cinderella story. To enter you must leave a comment on her blog HERE.  Giveaway closes on the 25^th of November!  

M y views on Ever After...

Ever After is a clean, romantic movie based on the well known fairytale, Cinderella!  It is old fashioned, with beautiful dresses, horses and carriages, balls and lots more!

Don’t miss it!!

Love Nancy

Happy Birthday Daddy!!

On the 25^th October it was my Daddy’s birthday!!

We were all busy getting and making presents for him!!

I made my Daddy a little cushion out of felt that said NO. 1 DADDY! I also got him a packet of chocolate balls!!!!!

 

Rebekah opening Daddy’s present!  

Us girls took Daddy out to Mario’s for pizza!! It was soooo much fun!

Rebekah deciding what to have! A Hawaiian perhaps? Or maybe a margharita?  

Gabrielle devouring pizza!

 Waiting……

And begin!!

I love these photos of Rebekah!  She really enjoyed her pizza!

We went home to a delicious Chocolate cake and Daddy let us put on some of his precious Chocolate Balls when we got home!!

Me, Mommy, Daddy, Beth and Gabrielle!

I hope you had a lovely birthday Daddy!!

Love Nancy

My Birthday and Blog Anniversary!!!

On the 14^th of October it was my 12^th birthday!! And my Blog Anniversary!! My Blog is a year old now!! Kelly-Anne, (my sister), made me a gorgeous card!!!   

Isn’t it pretty?

We were staying with friends in Cape Town because Sofia was born at a hospital there, so I had my birthday there! They made me a trifle for my birthday! It was delicious!!!      
  

Me blowing out the candle!

My mom and Sofia were discharged from the hospital that day and we went to Greyton for the weekend (you can read more on Kelly’s blog) so that my mom could rest before the long trip home to Knysna. It was a wonderful birthday and I enjoyed it soooo much!! Thank you everyone for a lovely day!!

Love Nancy

Welcome Baby Sofia!!!

The long countdown is over, and it’s a girl!!!!  On Wednesday the 12^th of October little Sofia was born!!!  She is the most adorable little baby ever!!!!! Here are some photos of her!!

Happy!

All of us girls!

Crying!

Her sweet little hands!

Me holding sweet Sofia!!

...yawn...

Aaalmost asleep!!

I love her soooooo much!!!!!

Love Nancy

Kelly's Sewing Challenge - Accessories

This month at Kelly-Anne's Sewing Challenge, the theme is Accessories!!

I made a Button Necklace.

It was very easy to make!!

I have heard of this idea before, so I decided to give it a try!

Love, Nancy

Heidi’s Baking Challenge - Puddings and Desserts

This week at Heidi’s baking challenge the theme is ‘puddings and desserts’ so I decided to make a Malva pudding!



Malva pudding

10 servings

1 cup (250ml) caster sugar

2 eggs, at room temperature

1 tbsp (15ml) smooth apricot jam

1 ¼ cups (312ml) flour

1 tsp (5ml) bicarbonate of soda

Pinch of salt

2 tbsp (30ml) butter

1 tsp (5ml) vinegar

½ cup (125ml)

SAUCE

 1 cup (250ml) cream

½ cup (125ml) butter

½ cup (125ml) sager

½ cup (125ml) water, orange juice, sherry or brandy (I used orange juice)

Method   

Using a medium-sized mixing bowl and an electric or hand beater, beat eggs and caster sugar until light and fluffy.

Beat in the apricot jam.

Sift the dry ingredients three times.

Melt the butter and add to the vinegar and milk.

Fold the dry ingredients and milk mixture alternately into the egg mixture.

Pour the batter into a medium-large greased, ovenproof casserole dish.

Bake at 180 degrees Celsius for 45 minutes.

                                                                                                                                                            

 Melt the sauce ingredients together and pour over the pudding as soon as it is taken from the oven. Pierce the pudding with a fork to aid the absorption of the sauce.

Serve hot or cold with cream or custard.

Please hop over to Heidi’s blog to see if you can take part in her challenge!

Love Nancy

A Fun Outing to the Beach!

The other day my dad took Rebekah, Gabrielle, Beth and I to Myoli beach!  It was so much fun and the little ones enjoyed it soooo much! Kelly-Anne didn’t come with so I had to take the photos!

 

Beth playing in the water!

 

Rebekah playing with the sand toys!  

Beth and Gabrielle running away from the cold water!

Beth and Gabrielle loved being in the water even though it was very cold!

The beautiful mountains in the background.

Gabrielle fetching water

This one my dad took, isn’t it beautiful?

Beth and I digging holes and Rebekah writing in the sand.

It was the best beach outing ever! Thanks Daddy!!!

Love Nancy 

My Sisters!

Today I would like to tell you about my sisters. Here are some photos of them:

Kelly-Anne 14.

Kelly-Anne is the eldest. She is very pretty and a great big sister! She has a lovely blog called Beautiful Girlhood.  She is an excellent photographer!

Beth 7

Beth is in the middle. She loves animals, especially dogs! She has one of her own called Zak, who is very hyperactive! She, like her big sister, Kelly, LOVES taking photos and is quite good!

Gabrielle 4

Gabrielle is number 4. She loves card making and has made tons for my mom! She also loves going to the beach! Her favourite animals are guinea pigs (she has one of her own called Toffee), cats and horses.

Rebekah 2

Rebekah is the youngest. She is VERY independent and an adorable, sweet, precious little sister!

All of us girls!

It is so nice to be in a big family with 4 sisters AND another brother/sister on the way!!!!! My mom is 31 weeks pregnant and we are eagerly awaiting the arrival of our new sibling!!!

Love Nancy

Heidi’s Fortnightly Baking Challenge - Cupcakes!

This week at Heidi’s fortnightly baking challenge the theme is Cupcakes! I made some chocolate cupcakes with crumbled flake and a half a cherry on the top.  

The little’s enjoying their cupcakes!

Love Nancy