Morning tea with Miss E

About eighteen months ago I hosted an afternoon tea for my mother on her sixtieth birthday.  My cousin, Miss E, was only about six at the time and while her mother was invited to the party, Miss E was a bit too young for a grown up gathering.  So, I promised her I would do a special morning tea just for her and me.  Well, I finally got around to it.  

I wanted to make an event out of it; set up a pretty table with the special china on embroidered table cloths.  It turned out rather well, I thought.

I baked and sandwiched and brewed and fought with the humidity which, to my immense displeasure, kept melting the icing sugar on the spongecake and made the muffins sticky.  However, they all tasted good.

We sat at the table like ladies but I think I may have missed the boat by about six to twelve months because Miss E, now seven and a half, is no longer into princesses and playing ladies.  I think she enjoyed herself, though.

I needn't have worried about the icing sugar.  I think that's the tick of approval!

We ended the visit with a video and full bellies.

A success, thank goodness.

Made By Me - Puppets!

Blinkin the dog with a wonky gob and the sweetest expression.  Blinkin went to baby Jimmy for Christmas.

Bunyip with his new caretaker Donna.  Bunyip began as a dog but when he evolved four nostrils I thought perhaps he was better off as a aquatic monster.  The other puppet dogs would laugh at him.

Resolve

In 2012, every day I will:

1. Go for a walk
2. Write in my journal
3. Stick to my budget

Feel free to share your resolutions in the comments sections...I look forward to reading them :)

Happy Holidays, everyone!

No matter which specific event you celebrate this festive season, or even if you're just enjoying the time off work; have a very safe and joyful end of 2011!

Best wishes for 2012...

Love,
Claire

Collectorama - RNA Showgrounds 26/11/2011

I looooove events like Collectorama.  I find that it's sometimes difficult to locate antique dealers in South East Queensland and when you do, it's hard to know what they've got in stock without making like a Leyland Brother and travelling all over the countryside to find out.  So, it's lovely to see so many in the one place.
I set myself a budget.  I'm not going to tell you how much because some of you may freak out.  I will say that it was an amount I can afford and I came in under budget.  I said to myself "Claire, you have this much money you're allowed to spend at this event.  You don't have to spend it all but if you do, that's fine because it's earmarked for this specifically."  Ironically, I found it to be a liberating experience.  I felt no guilt and I made no rash purchasing decisions.  Like I said, I came in under budget and it's a technique I'm going to use from now on.


Collectorama also boasted the attendance and services of all three hosts from Collectors; the ABC programme all about collectible items.  Gordon and Adrian were offering valuations on items people brought in and Claudia judged the best retro outfit and best robot costume (she is a collector of robots) with donations going to Wildlife Volunteers Association Inc.


So, what was my haul?  
 - 2 Conway Stewart fountain pens.  Both in working order although they could use a clean up.  My word, dealers price pens differently.  Most either don't know what they have or else they over price unusable pens.  The latter particularly pothers me.  If I buy a pen, it has to be working or can be fixed up by a replacement bit or service. 
 - A fist full of knitting needles
 - Greek and Australian coins (pre Euro and decimal currency) a present for my Uncle who has made some major life decisions this year to benefit the family.
 - Victorian (the era not the state) enamelled glass jug and tumbler set.  This one called my name and was  very reasonably priced. Tiny chip on one of the cups and a bubble in the jug bottom has chipped away.  I'm going to see if there's anything that can be done for repairs.  If they can mend a windscreen, someone can surely fill a chip in a jug.