Life is Sweet

My beautiful friend Christine is coming on board as my Caterpillar Cupcakes business partner. This is her farm, where we spend a LOT of our spare time. Spring is well and truly here and it really is so idyllic to sit in the sun with a dear friend, stitching and planning and watching our children-5 of them between us (although baby Nathaniel is still a babe-in-arms) play and explore so happily in Nature. Life is sweet.

Right Now

Loving; This picture of Kyan and his friend Ezekiel, taken a couple of days ago. Despite the apple in K's mouth, the runny noses on both of them, and the red eye, I love it. It makes me smile every time I look at it. Ezekiel was born two weeks before Kyan, and when I held him, as a newborn, across my huge stomach, Kyan began to kick insistently, and Ezekiel stirred in his sleep and wiggled his tiny fists. It was the first time they met and they've always been friends.

Listening; To Otis Redding on my new Ipod dock-a bit of an impulse buy at the supermarket of all places, but well worth it!

Making; A purse, a cat, a gnome. Rotating the three (short attention span!)


Wondering; If I actually love them a teeny bit more when they are sick?

Hoping; For a bit less rain over the weekend if possible? Mother Nature are you listening?

Drinking; Twinings English Breakfast. Always.

Enjoying and Appreciating; The peace of this quiet moment (after a very busy week!)

Letterbox Lovliness

Now I love the Internet and email as much as the next person. But something I worry our children may miss out on these days is the joy of running to the letterbox, finding a handwritten letter inside that's just for you (and um, not a bill!). When I was a little girl, with most of my family living in England, I used to read and reread a letter from my Granny, a cousin or an aunty. I treasured those letters and still have them today.

So it's pretty great that young Charlie, from the Heartfelt household, and my Isla have become penpals! Thanks Charlie, for another gorgeous letter and an AMAZING treasure map xx

Over the Weekend...

It's a great feeling, getting small things finished and off to their new homes! A Hobby Horse for a friend's daughter...

A zip makeup case for when I finally manage to get round to doing a shop update... I love the way those two fabrics go together...

And a pirate, for the same future shop update...

In other news, this weekend Christchurch was thrown into turmoil by a large earthquake. Here in the Bay of Plenty we have our fair share of earthquakes too (although none as large as Saturday's Christchurch one since 1987) and they absolutely terrify me-even the small ones. My heart goes out to everyone living in Christchurch who has been through this awful experience-especially those who are now homeless as a result of the earthquake. There are already quite a few organisations that you can offer assistance to the victims through-my choice was the Red Cross. Kia Kaha Christchurch.

Our Father's Day...

There's a reason we're smiling chocolately smiles today. Not only is it Father's Day in our part of the world, but it's also Liam's birthday-this means extra special chocolate cake for him!

Chocolate Birthday Cake

2 Tablespoons good quality cocoa

1 Teaspoon baking soda

pinch of salt

1 1/2 cups plain flour

1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1 cup castor sugar

2 eggs

1/2 cup milk

100 grams melted unsalted butter

1 teaspoon vanilla essence

1/2 cup black instant coffee

Preheat oven to 180 degrees Celsius.

In a large bowl, sift together the dry ingredients, then mix them together using a dry egg

whisk. Think "airy"...

Beat the eggs, butter and vanilla together in another bowl, then add to the dry ingredients carefully.

Make up the coffee, then add the baking soda while it's still hot.

Mix everything together then pour into a very well greased cake tin.

Bake for about 40-50 min-until a skewer inserted comes out cleanly.

Ice and decorate when the cake is completely cooled. The shamrocks were Isla's idea-celebrating Liam's Irish-ness! Eating leftover icing, half of which ends up on your face and all over the kitchen cupboards then smiling a cute chocolately smile is optional. But recommended! Happy Father's Day everyone!