An Orange Creative Space...

last week,

i blundered my way into kootoyoo's place,

not really doing it right, i suspect...

well, just thought i'd have another go

and perhaps,

do it all a little better?

i'm a copycat really.

i was visiting anna maria horner's corner

and saw a bit of orange pillow

that i found irresistable!

{unlike my majorly uncool bed pics}

so i made a pillowcase this morning

out of anna's 'innocent crush'.

i wanted an envelope end on this one...

i think it is the vibrancy

of the orange,

the unexpected clash of pale pink,

and the circles of maroon

that appeals to

my unconventional, hippy chick, lived through the '70s side.

i finished this at half past nine

this morning!

i had a sore knee

that got me out of bed early...

at half past five,

i was washing dishes and feeding the dogs.

a cup of coffee

is on the agenda

this drizzley thursday morning,

perfect weather for sewing and blogging!

sometimes it's all about the fabric...

naturally Carol xox

Best Ever Carrot Cake...

i know you think you've read it before,

but i'm not kidding you,

this one gets rave reviews

where ever it goes...

it was my night

{week 5 to be precise}

to take something for supper

at bible college.

mmm....i thought

what can i make

that most people would like?

i had a linen party

a couple of months ago

and everyone there

carried on about the carrot cake...

{which i hadn't made for a couple of years,

the recipe had sat forgotten and neglected,

we'd moved on to others instead}

so i made the carrot cake yesterday afternoon

{wouldn't you know it, the electric mixer made loud rattling noises

and gave up, just as i was making the icing,

quarter of an hour before i needed to leave

so it didn't look the best dressed}

anyway i took it along for supper last night

and people raved again!

they all said things like...

'this is the best carrot cake i've ever tasted!'

etc...etc...etc...

so i'm writing it out for you...

just in case

you would like to bake

the best carrot cake ever...

i know somewhere out there

the weather is grey,

bellies need warming up

and you're looking for a good reason

to turn on the oven!

so here goes...

you will need...

3 eggs

1 cup white sugar

3/4 cup cooking oil {i used canola 'cos there is no taste}

1 and a 1/3 cups plain all purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon salt {optional}

1 and a 1/3 teaspoons bicarbonate of soda

1 and a 1/3 teaspoons of baking powder

1 and a 1/3 teaspoons of cinnamon {approx. a little more doesn't matter!}

2 cups of grated carrot {i used the finer side not the chunky side of the grater}

1/2 cup of walnut pieces {or a few more}

1 teaspoon of vanilla essence {optional}



firstly...grease your pan...a square 8 inch pan or a largish round pan.

heat up the oven to 300 degrees fahrenheit or 150 degrees celcius.

beat the eggs and the sugar until pale and frothy.

drizzle the oil in beating as you go.

sift in the dry ingredients and stir into the mixture.

fold in the carrot, walnuts and vanilla essence.

pour mixture into the baking tin and bake for 1 hour.

now here's the icing on the cake...

soften 4 ounces or about 1 medium tub {125 grams) of cream cheese,

add a tablespoon of softened butter

and enough icing sugar {powdered sugar?} to sweeten to your taste..

beat until smooth and spread over the cooled cake.

sorry!

i had wrapped it up in cling film to go,

before i realised i didn't have a pic of the finished cake.

enjoy a piece of cake with your tea and have a fabulous wednesday...

naturally Carol  xox

Spring Green...

thank you for your kind comments yesterday...

when mr t and sharrie checked in a couple of hours ago

they were nearly at coonabarabaran in new south wales

and have about 8 hours travel to

get to bendigo in victoria...

it's a big country.

last night,

it was quiet in the house.

mr m was out ten pin bowling.

mr p was on his way home from bundaberg.

i finished sewing

2 cushions

 for my front room

{which used to be an open veranday but has since been closed in}...

in coordinating amy butler fabrics.

the trees are dressed to match...

in their pretty spring greens.

i love these fresh, warm, spring mornings,

{little ties at the back}

and the clear, bright, morning light

reminds me that

'His mercies are new every morning'...

that's God's grace.

this tuesday...

revel in the knowledge of His love towards you.

naturally Carol  xox

Bittersweet...

today,

mr t and sharrie

are going to bendigo, in victoria, to live.

bitter?

mum will miss them {that is me!}

they only got married in april...

and they've been living here a year...

sweet?

they've been living here a year

and need to get away to live their own lives as a couple.

new beginnings for them.

new friends.

new work.

new place.

and

they will love seeing australia on the way,

perhaps stopping over in canberra where mr t was born

and went to school etc.

showing sharrie off a bit.

it's about time really!

see you later...

sharrie and mr t,

God speed and heaps of blessings...whereever you go!

and the same to you too

if you're off on an adventure....enjoy,

naturally Carol  xox