Our Son Emanuel born on 22.9.2012

Our Son Emanuel born on 22.9.2012

Thursday 26 September 2013

Rich Butter Cake

I'm on a roll with cake baking lately!  Had to try out several recipes and this one is perfect for birthday cakes.

2 cups plain flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
185g butter
1 cup castor sugar
3 eggs, beaten
3 tablespoons milk

1.  Butter and line a deep-sided 20cm (8in) round cake tin with grease-proof paper.  Sift together flour and baking powder.  Beat together butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
2.  Add eggs gradually, beating well after each addition.  Mix in half the flour and milk, combine well.  Add remaining flour and milk and mix well.  Turn into the prepared tin, level top and bake in a moderate oven for 1 hour.

A lemon butter icing is lovely.  Soften butter and mix with lemon zest, a bit of juice and sifted icing sugar and beat until fluffy.

Enjoy!

xox


Tuesday 24 September 2013

Great Aunt Fae's Sponge Cake

It has been a long time between post's but I feel ready to get back into it.  Not quite sure what happened?! ... motherhood with a very active little fellow and not much sleep nor time to myself!

My son Emanuel turned one on Sunday so we had a lovely party in the park.  I've gotten a lot of requests for the recipe of his birthday cake so thought I would share it here so I didn't have to keep typing it out!

Here is My Great Aunt Fae's Sponge Cake recipe.  I cooked it in two tins and put cream and berries in the middle and on the top made a 1 out of the blueberries.

180Deg 30mins (or less if divided into two tins)

4 stiffly beaten egg whites
add 1 cup caster sugar and beat in gently, then

melt 1oz butter in 2 tablespoons hot milk plus vanilla
sift 1 cup SR flour 3 times and add to cake mixture alternatively with milk mixture


Enjoy!

xox


Monday 11 March 2013

Jaime and Aviva's Wedding Photos

So whilst I decide whether or not to post photos of Manu, here are some wedding photos that I took the other weekend!  I loved loved loved doing it.  It was the first kind of photo assignment I've done since before having a baby and I'd like to do more of it.

Enjoy!! xox











Tuesday 5 March 2013

To share photos of our children or not?

An important person in our family has asked me not to publish photos of Manu and share them so widely.  I now feel like I'm in a bind and on one hand I can see their point and on the other I wonder really what is wrong with sharing something I am so proud of.

They have made a point that Manu has not given his permission to have his photo shared with strangers.  Of course he is too young but then what right do I have? 

I've decided to respect this persons opinion and rethink what my blog is about and whether it can continue down a different path other than documenting my child's growth and development.

Does anyone have a view on this subject they can share with me?

Liz x

Wednesday 20 February 2013

Tasmania: MONA Museum



I will let the pictures speak for themselves.  Last week our little family spent four awesome days in Tasmania.  One of the highlights was visiting the MONA Museum ... the Museum of Old and New Art.  It literally took my breath away with the space and curatorship of the exhibition.  Definitely go if you find yourself in the farthest South State of Australia!

It was so kind of a friend of mine to lend me her good camera for the trip and I will be taking photos  at her wedding so looking forward to sharing some quality images.

Liz xox






 
 



Tuesday 12 February 2013

5 + 6/52 A portrait of my child every week for a year. Tasmania.


 We have been in Tasmania for four days and I am a bit behind in my 52 project so here are weeks 5 and 6 together.  We were busy bees and had a wonderful first family holiday. Next stop Africa??!

 Manu loved being carried every where by Daddy and he is putting everything including fingers in his mouth ... Grandads especially taste good!

I have a lot of beautiful photos from our trip and will write more about what we got up to in my next post.

Liz xox


Friday 1 February 2013

4/52 A portrait a week, every week, for a year




Manu has decided that 3am is a great time to practice his rolling and once he has rolled, he can't roll back yet so there has been a lack of sleep in our household this week.  Perhaps that is why I've delayed posting a photo for the 52 project this week.  But also I've been so busy with Manu that I haven't taken many photos.

I love this photo because it really captures Manu's developing character.  He is starting to get a strong will and to know what he wants!  He's also so funny and makes me smile every day!  He is reaching out for objects and rolling to his right side.  There is no stopping my not so little fellow. What will the next week bring?

Liz xox

Monday 28 January 2013

Boredom and relaxation = creativity.










Here are a few of my art works and what I had time to do today ... paint my toenails! 

We have gone from scorching heat to major rain and floods here lately so it has either been too hot to go outside for long or too wet. Today we have rain wet wet rain.  This made me recall a time a few years ago when I was living by myself in a gorgeous little house on a hill in South West WA.  I had looot''s of time to myself.  It also rained aloooot. It was a very creative time but also full of solitude and boredom.  I wrote lot's of poetry and painted ... took photos, drew and dreamed.

Painting is something that I adore but find really difficult at the same time.  It's a challenge and a delight.  For the last two years in a row,  I've done a week long painting course in February at the National Art School and really enjoyed being immersed in splodging, brushing and mixing paint, getting lost in the focus of painting an object or from life.

Being a new Mum this year means that I won't get to do that week long course which seems like such an indulgence now but I want, every chance moment I get to be creative and take care of myself whether it be to cook something new, go to a book shop, sit at a cafe, do a quick drawing or take some photographs and I will make a record of those things here.

Now all I have to do is catch those moments between boredom and relaxation!

What do you do to keep creative?  Have you become more or less creative since becoming a Mum?  How do you stay sane and maintain space and time for some of your own interests?  What do you do on rainy/hot days when you can't go outside?

Hope you had a lovely weekend out there.

Liz xox



Wednesday 23 January 2013

3/52


Kumbo tubwa!  That is big belly in Swahili and this is my second photo in the 52 project.

Our little son is not so little any more.  On one hand I want him to grow up big and strong of course... but on the other, I don't want time to go too fast.  I hope that he never shy's away too much from my kisses and hugs as he gets older.  I know that the world will soon give him big challenges.

This photo also makes me think of the relationship between Father and Son.  How important and vital it is.  Even though I am giving him so much care now with breast feeding and my time not working, tending to his every need, it is Eddie that he is going to look up to as a male role model.

This picture makes me think about males in our society and gender stereotyping.  Of course Emanuel will probably love trucks, balls and boisterous play but my hope for him is that, along the way, from his Daddy and Mummy, peers and friends, that he learns to be gentle, loving, affectionate, resilient and attentive.  Is that too much to ask?

Have a wonderful week everyone.

Liz xox