Baby Shower

My 5th Grandchild is due in 2 weeks, and today we held a baby shower for my daughter M, the Mum to be. This will be her third baby, and we already know that she is having a little boy.

M has 2  beautiful girls aged 9 and 7 so having a little brother on the scene is going to be an interesting change for them. I think that he will be surrounded by much love and attention.

Anyway, everyone had a nice morning.  Lots of yummy things to eat, and it's always lovely  to catch up with friends and relatives. So now it's just a matter of waiting for the phone call .
I can't wait !

Lemon cake and other things.

One of my very favourite cakes is a Lemon Syrup Pound Cake. I have made many using different recipes , but I have finally found one that I think may become my signature cake. It's quite a large cake, and needs to be cooked in a slow oven for a good 90 mins. I made one to take to work last week, and it was a big hit.
The violet pattern cup saucer and plate belonged to my Grandmother. When my Mother  first gave me quite a few pretty cups and saucers that had belonged to both her and her Mother, I really wasn't very interested in them, and they stayed packed away for a long time. Now I treasure them , not only for their pretty patterns, but also for the sentimental attachment I now feel.

For as long as I can remember, I have always loved mixed pattern fabrics. In the early 80s whilst on a trip to Hong Kong, I came across a dress that I absolutely fell in love with. It was quite expensive , and  I really wasn't a label shopper back then, I simply bought what took my fancy, and that was that. A dear friend introduced me to being more label savvy after she saw me wearing my new dress, and asked if it was a Diane Freis dress. I had no idea what  it was, and told her to look at the label. Sure enough it was a Diane Freis, and that was the beginning of a love affair with the beautiful georgette mixed colours and patterns frocks of Diane Freis fame. I think I owned about 6 in all.
 Anyway I am still drawn to mixed fabrics, and found my new cover last weekend. I bought it with my secret santa gift voucher. It's more a winter cover I think, as I like to use white covers in summer.

Sunday afternoon by the river

This afternoon I met two of the girls for an early evening meal and glass of wine . We found a great little spot on a grassy bank of our  river. The area that we visited is on the South Bank side of the river, and was where Expo 88 was held. It has recently been re developed, and is now a bustling hive of activity with several excellent restaurants, bike and walking paths, and this lovely expanse of grass where people can sit and watch the world go by.

It was such a lovely Autumn afternoon, and I was amazed at just how many people were enjoying our beautiful river city. We bought fish and chips from a local take away, spread out our picnic blanket, and watched the light fade, and the city lights come on. Little H amused himself and us by running around, doing little tumble turns, and watching other little children enjoying themselves. I noticed that some people were lying around on huge bean bags that were for hire. Nice idea.

Motherly Love

A few weeks ago my eldest daughter K who is a first time mum to 8mth old Lucy had an interesting thought which she shared with me. She wondered if I  have the same all consuming love for all my girls that she has for her little girl.  Of course I do I said, and she replied that it couldn't be possible. I have thought about it a lot since, and I think that the love you have for your children is always there, but it goes through changes as your children grow and eventually become adults.  Because babies and toddlers are so dependant on you for everything, the love you have for them probably is all consuming, however as they grow and become independent, and eventually move away from home, you still love them dearly, but it is just different. Maybe it's natures way of allowing you to cope with your children leaving the nest. All I know is that my girls mean the world to me , and I love each one of them with all my heart, and always will.

Grandson's Birthday

Yesterday the whole family got together to celebrate little H's second birthday. The theme was carnival, and my daughter G ( mother  of H )  outdid herself with carnival themed paraphernalia sourced from internet suppliers. Despite the showers that threatened to spoil our outdoor fun, the day was a great success, and the birthday boy had fun with his cousins and friends. Aunty L made him a fabulous clown cake.