All the nyummies

I feel like it has been so busy around here lately but I have no idea what I've been doing!

We had some family visit for a few days which was super special to me as I don't get many visitors, especially family.

I gave Elvis' mum a copy of the novel, The Help and we have both raved about it since.

Such a great book, and movie too!

I've just started reading the fourth instalment of the Miss Peregrine's series but have already decided after it I will read The Help again, it was just so good!

I had a go at making a lemon and poppy seed cake, it was nice but a little dense.. 

like me, hehe ;)  

There was also a pavlova made.

Always such a pretty thing to make.

 My kids and I call it pavola these days ~ we saw a  funny kids tv show about primary school student antics (just a fun fictional show) with an episode about their teacher making a birthday pavlova, but one boy called it pavola, it stuck with us :)

More cinnamon rolls were made.

A double batch even!

These were for my staff morning tea and seemed to be a hit.

I don't want to look at another one for a while now!

This is something a little special I want to share..

This is Elvis'

secret~but~I~think~he~knows

Christmas present.

I bought the wood burning tool at the hardware store for a decent price and had so much fun making this present!

Elvis is obsessed with smoking bbq, I'm sure he dreams about it!

He chews up his phone internet data on youtube videos on smoking meats.

For his birthday a few months ago I surprised him (but he knew, goshdarnit) with an offset smoker. I can be a real good girlfriend at times.

He always has to google what the correct temperature for particular meats are though so I thought a little board to hang by the smoker would be handy.

I can't take credit for the images, which I found on Pinterest, so thank you to that clever person!

I've had a hankering for some hot bread smothered in butter and honey so tonight I gave it a whirl.

Ive had zero success with bread making in the past but thought my cinnamon rolls worked perfectly and who could fail with my you-beaut oven?! ;)

Well, to set the record straight, I can fail with my you-beaut oven hehe

But the bread worked out just fine.

Globs of butter and oodles of oozy honey

*heaven*

It's the simple delights that are all I need sometimes and it felt really good to achieve something, even if it is small, private and downright uneventful as making a ball of bread (I don't think it deserves 'loaf' title).

So I ate and ate, and ate some more until I thought I would burst!

But you know what...

There's another ball/baby loaf on the kitchen bench and I'll do it again tomorrow! ;)

The summer veggie garden is really coming along and we are already watching lots of tomatoes forming, zucchini babies stretching, and harvesting the mature crop of carrots.

The bugs must be holidaying at the neighbours because the plants are finally getting a chance to do their thing.

So exciting!

I love being in my garden, and being able to use it to feed my family is so satisfying.

I send my thanks out (probably not as often as I should) for my little safe place.

Some days its all I have.

But its all I need for me n my lil family :)

Time to get some nunighs, maybe I'll dream of homegrown beefsteak tomatoes and basil on homemade bread, mm mmm!

❤❤❤