Apple,Ginger & cinnamon cake.

This is one of Donnas recipes , it lovely especially if you like ginger!

125 grms of butter
cinnamon
1/3 cup of sugar
1 egg
1 tablespoon of lemon rind
3/4 cup of golden syrup
1 3/4 cup of self raising flour
3/4 cup of milk
1 grated apple/ pear ...whatever is handy
1 pkt glazed ginger pieces.

TOPPING.
teaspoon of ground ginger
" " of cinnamon
toasted coconut
cream cheese or butter icing.

Cream the butter, sugar, add egg when white and fluffy then add :
Syrup and milk.
Stir in half the dry ingredients, then the rest adding apple and the ginger [ dice it first]
Cook at about 180/150 .
IF YOUR BLESSED WITH A THERMOMIX............you can just about 'chuck' the lot in!! hee,hee

Maureen

All my pictures seem to vanish ....not sure what I did wrong, so here's one for Maureen.

This 'brave little soldier' walked up the steps to the French Garden. I felt quite nervous,

as this time last year she had just recovered from a broken hip [ drove herself to the doctors]

when she had another accident and broke both her arms/hands ....she had both in sling.

But Maureen is a real British Bulldog she never gives in and will have a go at anything.

We are in the Red Hat Chorus together. In fact looking back in my history it seems that

we had done loads of things together, catering, cleaning, V.Teaching, kids activities [when they
were playing basketball] She is a compassionate woman and would help anyone at the drop of

hat. But don't get her 'goat up' because she a straight shooter.........and will let you have it.

I guess thats what we love about her. She's honest and you know where you stand with her.

Melville Rose Garden with Red Hats.

Small group of the RHts. went to the above today. Lovely weather

not like yesterday. We walked through beautiful arbours ladened with

roses, fed carp in the pond and had a lovely meal in the resturant.







Laurel, Julie and Christine .........where is Maureen?



Well of course !

















"you can look, but dont touch!!"

Julie chose the most wonderful menu, so simple but made me wonder if I had made

the right choice.

So Julie, I went to the shops when I got home and we've had it for dinner.
















Have you ever tried a Rose flavoured milkshake......delicious!

Another Birthday girl!

Tanya celebrated her birthday the same day as Carol , I couldn't find a photo of her [ next times she's in Perth I'll take a dozen]
Just one look at this picture will tell you everything. She's a bottle of lemonade [ sorry, dont drink champagne] Met my nephew Paul, when she was in high school, they were in "Annie get your Gun" she was Annie and Paul was Frank Butler........what a match. They have travelled the world together and raised two amazing children. Currently living in Sydney. Tanya used to teach Drama.....kindred spirits.

Christmas is coming!

The season is upon us with dinners, parties, school break-up etc. This photo of Glor was taken 2 years ago
under a sweltering  patio., this year air-con.yeh!
Wonder what it's like have a cold Christmas?
 Seems Perth is always on fire. As I write the Margaret River region [ renown for it's wine & chocolate] has almost been raised to the ground with devasting bush fires. Our Kim has been down there fighting the blaze along with hundreds of fire-fighters.For some it wont be a happy Christmas..........we can count our blessings!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SIS!

Carol is 60 plus today . Along with Tanya who celebrates her 40th. These photo's were taken when we dressed her up as a Christmas Decoration for some party she was going to in Mandurah. Always up for a bit of fun, she can be the life of a party.

A wonderful hostess [ extraordinary cook ] she is the best sister. An amazing grandmother, interior decorator [ with the help of Bill ]
dresses with exquisite taste. Friends everywhere [ some from her early work days ] she kayaks [ on good days in the canal ] swims,

boundless energy, she's loveable and loads of fun. I've been soooo blessed to have such a great woman as my sister. I love her dearly.
Have a great day and a wonderful year Sis!............love you heaps!

Early this morning!

Wish the garden would look like this all year round, but another hot day today and by February it will look like a 'desert'

Cant wait for the roses to grow over this arch that Bob built some years ago, seems to be taking years!

"TIGER" , she thinks she owns the place.......well maybe she does.

Courtyard looks like it needs a good pruning, but then Rome wasn't built in a day..............did you hear that ROBERT!!!!

Since we built the water fountain, the birds flock to it morning and night, but never go near the bird house....?

We love to watch the parrots come in for their morning bath, when they leave the tiny birds come and 'dive bomb' it's just lovely.

Mizpah......Gomer

Today we celebrated the life of my cousin Vicki's husband.....Gomer Jones, whose sudden passing has taken us all by surprise.
And in true 'Gomer Style" he went out in a 'boat' or was it a surf board....non the matter. He loved the sea....he just went fishin!

A most glorious day , blue skies and it had threatened rain. We all took his favourite 'football colours' and lined the estate at we waved

him 'bon voyage' His celebration was held on his old property, which is now his daughter Kelda's. Such a lovely way to go....from home!

My cousin Vicki and family were so brave and wonderful, they wanted this to be a happy celebration for him, everyone took
a drink of their preference and drank to him as they drove him away

and watched his 'spirit' sore

Then we turned back and had the most wonderful reunion. Lunch was a banquet, provided by caterers.

My cousins and our Uncle Charlie, who at 86 or is he 87? was as sharp as a tack and still telling funny stories

We reminisced about our happy childhood, with wonderful Aunts and Uncles and the mischief we could get up to.
Sadly Ian had to leave he is not in the picture.

He is such a charmer. Vicki and Kelda joined us for a 'girls only photo

When the Jones family left Kalgoorlie, they went to live in Scarborough. Vicki and Gomer met at the Scarborough Primary School ,
they dated and married in their teens, 47 years ago. He was a devoted husband, father and grandfather He started his working life

on crayfishing boats, then moved to pig farming, then horse, real estate. They have been successful in every aspects of their lives.

Tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all

His old tractor watched over the proceedings.

See you in the morning Gomer!

Goodbye Joan

This is the second beautiful person that has been 'called home' in a month.. Dear Joan, 86 years old, but what a star! I dont think there was
a thing should couldn't do. She made made my wedding dress [ amongst dozens of us ] she was the Relief Society Pres. when I had Donna and she was wonderful. She also taught me to crochet.......the patients of a saint, and she was. Thanks for everything Joan!

Arabian Nights

Barbara and Neil celebrated their wedding Anniversary and Birthday with a fantastic themed party at the 'hub' in Mundaring last
Saturday night.

Jared , Donna and the girls got into the swing of things, while Jared Jnr lounged back on the stage with a drink.

Everyone got up and danced on the floor with the "Belly dancer" it was such fun......'turn the lights, pat the dog" [ bollywood style]So who did the Belly dancer pick on.......you got it. Bob and Jared, John Kafarela

The King and Queen of Arabia. Barbara bought her outfit in Turkey last years. They both looked wonderful

                               Lady Pam and her Sultan........keep your eye off the belly dancer!

Yep, thats our Dawn with a black wig. And Jim in a costume.....surprise!. We have only ever seen him in a cowboy hat. But good onya
Jim for getting into the swing of things!Although we noticed you slipped into the other room when the bellydancer looked
like she was heading your way.

Donna looked gorgeous, pity I didn't get the full outfit on camera.

                            Laura and Grace with their friends from Northam, they all looked lovely.

                                             Barbara's Sister and Husband [ Ben Laden, alive?]

                                All the tables were decorated with these bird cages which Barbara had
   taken from verge pickup . She painted them all gold, some with gold birds in them, they were stunning

In the background is Jared , his brother Aaron and wife Katya who came from London for the celebration.
 And the Birthday Boy himself.

 WHAT A NIGHT!