Vegie patch - update

Just an up date on the vegie patch. It's really coming into its' full glory. The blood plums are rippening and the zucchini and capsicum are all starting to be ready to be picked.The tomatoes have a little way to go but we are getting there.

The wildlife love the fruit and vegies so we have netted the fruit trees so to have some fruit left to eat.

Here are pictures, I hope you enjoy them. Will keep you posted.

Once a upon a time - weight loss - getting the job done

Off to the gym again and this time with a renewed interest. The festive session is over and the great tasting food, that I shouldn't eat is behind me. The festive session is not for another 12 months that should give me plenty of time to get the job done. It's time to lose this weight. I'm already on my way with thinner shoulders, probably thanks to the equipment at the gym and my legs have lost the heaviness.

So overall I am pleased but not satisfied with my weight and I think that is what is helping me to continue. I'm looking better but I'm just not there jet.

My plan is to get into a routine so to start having a pattern of exercise and hopefully I can work out how much exercise against how much food to decrease the kilos.

I'm going back to my small plate theory and hopefully that will help too. I have been able to increase the exercise and duration and I hope that will counter act the food intake.

I always thought losing weight was pretty easy but I'm now finding it is harder then you think and you really have to make a life change and get you mind in the right place to make it successful. Some people talk about losing weight, some people even give it a go, but it's the ones who want to do it for life that get the results kept the weight off. I hopefully will be one who changes my life. Will keep you posted.

Back to the gym

Well, The festive season is over and all the tasty treats are gone. And now I have to get back on to the horse. The trainer has given me some great tips, not that they were any big eye opener. Eat better, less sugary treats, (really, lol,) and keep up the gym work. Now having said that he has help the back quite a bit with exercises I would not have done by myself. So, he has been a big help. The lower back seems to be stronger and the pain has decreased. Having said that, I'm touching the wooden desk for good luck and hope it's not the calm before the storm.

The body is getting to it's former glory and hopefully will get to be trim and fabulous. The arms have trimmed up, the legs look thinner, I have even lost weight on my shoulders, but it's that mid area that's always a problem and the hardest to get rid of. But I will persist and I now have another person I have to justify myself to and hopefully he will keep me motivated to reach my goals. Will keep you posted.

Apron mini - 'Nature'

Aboriginal Designs have always fascinated me with its' beautiful blend of natural colours of yellow, reds, blues and browns. The dot painting and how it represents a landscape or feeling and how these colours come together. Here is my latest Apron mini called 'Nature.' which I have just listed on etsy. I hope you like the colours and combination of shapes.

Once a upon a time - weight loss -personnal trainer

Session 2. The personnal trainer has now given me some goals and the comfort of speaking to someone really makes me feel like there is more then just a plan for a better and stronger body and better and stronger mind.

I think the key here is finding someone you can feel comfortable with. However he did go through the not to have to much sugary treats and as Birthdays are coming thick and fast it will be a challenge.

Having said that I spent alittle more time on the X-trainer this morning and hope to get in alittle gym work done before I start my sessions. Will keep you posted.

Apron mini Earth, Sand and Sea - An Aboriginal design

I have just listed a new apron mini. This striking blue background with its Aboriginal prints makes quite the statement. I love this material and I think it really shows off the beautiful colours of this country Australia. I hope you like it too.

CHEF STYLE HALF APRON 'red with floral design'

I have been busy creating another chef style full length apron. I do love these aprons as they do suit most people. I love the floral design on this one as it flows through the material. Here is the background story. I hope you enjoy this one.

Background Story.
This striking material was bought to make an apron as a gift for a relative and I loved it so much I thought it would be great to make one for the etsy community as well. This relative loves the colour red and with its floral pattern it was the perfect choice. I love the floral design and the way it sways through the material and tomato colour red.

Once a upon a time - weight loss -personnal trainer

I took up the offer of my free session with the personnal trainer. Yes... it has come to this. I felt like the next contender, the next gold medalist.

I was pushing the limits, sweat was pouring off me, I was being pushed to my breaking point. The intensive work out was not breaking me but making me stronger, OK, now for the real story..........

I had a leisurely walk to the gym, remembering I picked this gym because it was close by. The weather was beautiful and the blue sky and calm breeze was a pleasure.

I arrived at the gym and introduced myself and start with why I requested the time with him. Pouring out my life story in 3 minutes flat and how I got myself into this unfit state, he nodded caringly and we started on our way. Always bearing in mind my back problems he gave me exercises and repetions to do. I kept telling him I'll see how I will hold up tomorrow, and that will be the real test. But I must admit the structure of someone telling me what to do and when was quite a relief and I just listened and learnt from someone in the know. I did push myself, sweat was pouring off me, probably from lack of exercise and being unfit, I was being pushed to perhaps not breaking point but enough for me.

I do now get up from the mat alittle quicker and with alittle more zip then six month ago, and hopefully that continues.

I was never one for the personnl trainer and thought it was a bit of waste of time. I don't need someone to tell me what to do. But, I now think I do, and it makes it alot easier. I enjoy the hour and can honestly say it flew. Will keep you posted.

Once a upon a time - weight loss - table tennis

Didn't get a chance to go to the gym but was persauded to play a game of table tennis. A sport I did as a child and teenager being taught by my dad and then having lessons.

I played at school and was in the team. The competitions were fun. I continued competitions as a young adult with a local table tennis club. It was great exercise and I made many friends. A fun game to play.

Twenty years have passed and I bumped into an old team mate a few months ago, who played at the tennis club. Jokingly he said to his son, see that lady I played table tennis with her twenty years ago and she was terrible. We both had a laugh as I introduce him to my family.

You are probably wondering what this has to do with my once a upon a time- weight loss stories. Well, I probably burnt of more calories today and without knowing the time flew and I was in the garage smashing and slicing that little ball for about an hour. Great exercise and a great way to envolve the family. Having said that I have taught them to well and now they are beating me.

I know it's all the rage in hollywood and I hope the trend continues as it is a fun leisure/sport that anyone can do. Will keep you posted.

Makeup roll - new design -just listed on etsy.com

The sneak preview of the makeup roll has just been listed on etsy.com. You can go to the etsy mini and click on to go straight to the site if you wish. I hope you like the new design and colors. I'm at present busy making a skirt for my daughter as she has been nagging for weeks. Will post soon on motherhood and it's joys.

Makeup roll - new design -sneak preview

I have always loved make-up rolls and have been busy creating my own for you all to see. I wanted a make-up roll which would be washable and easy to care for.

As you probably have guessed by now polka dots is my favourite design of material but I do like quirky, floral and vintage feel of design.

Quite a variety but one common factor in all of the materials is color and contrast of it. This is a sneak preview for you all and hope you like the design. The plan is to make a few more in other colors. I will be listing this on etsy later on tonight.

Apron mini with a vintage feel

I have been busy creating a few more aprons and here is the latest in the apron mini collection. I love the polka dot lime green and I have added a vintage feel material as the pocket and bow to enhance the feminine touch to this apron. Here is the background story to this new apron.

Background Story.
This lime green apron mini with it’s vintage feel brings the modern together with the old. A beautiful soft lime green polka dot material and again a soft warm floral pattern contrasting on the pocket and a bow to add to the feminine touch. I’m always adding something special to my aprons so you are really purchasing a special item.

Will keep you posted.

Apron mini Navy blue with polka dots

New apron mini just finished with heart shape on pocket. Here is the background story to this apron. I hope you enjoy this one.

Background Story.
This mini style of apron has really caught my fancy with the sassy feel of the style and with a shorter sexy look. The polka dots which I love in all colors really adds to the feminine appeal and emulates the motto of an apron for every woman everyday.

New Year - Resolution.

New Year resolution. Everyone talks about it and even contemplates doing something about it. We make the long lists of things we wish to come true but does anybody ever stick to it and achieve these goals. This is the question I ask myself every year.

I have therefore decided to give myself three goals to achieve, three simple and hopefully doable goals which give me a quick result and some sign that New Year resolutions are achievable.

Here is the list: 1. to get to 62kgs by June(that's plenty of time. Right? lol.)

2. Go with the flow of life, relax, she'll be right, mate.

3. And learn more about this thing called the computer.


So I'm off to the gym today to get this body back to its former glory and get these kgs off that have been a thorn in my side, and the other side and on my legs and arms and other unmentionable places, you get the picture, to get me back to the old fabulous body I had in my twenties. Will keep you posted.

Brush rolls - my lastest love

I'm in the process of making a range of brush rolls which I love and is a vital accessory of evey woman. As you probably already worked out I love contrasting colors and useful items. Hear are the pictures to the lastest addition to the runawaywombat collection.

Stewed apricot cake -traditional style

Hi, and as I promised I have made the cake with the left over stewed apricots. This cake turned out so good it is definitely on my make again list of cakes. I made a normal butter cake recipe and added the stewed apricots about 6 to 7 table spoons.

I added less sugar, about 1/2 cup, as I thought there would be plenty of sugar in the apricots. I was right, it really didn't need any more. The great thing about this cake is how moist it came out. The apricots were not overwhelming but there was a slight apricot taste. And not many visual signs of apricots. I did add a 1/2 teaspoon of bi-carb of soda to help it rise. I don't know if that helped but it did rise quite well. I cooked the cake for about 45 minutes or so until it was cooked through. Very moist, will definitely make it again. No complaints from the family, always a bonus.

Small cakes filled with stewed apricots

It has been a while since I posted something about my cooking. I do enjoy creating a dish, espcially when it turns out nice, and believe me sometimes it doesn't. My husband bought home quite a few apricots, to many to eat so he suggested to stew them. I then made my usual biscuit recipe and put some of the stewed apricots in the middle. They turned out quite nice and with a dollop of cream would be even better. I hope you enjoy the pitures and I'm going to try a butter cake with the rest of the stewed apricots. Will keep you posted.