Get Real Post

Have scrapbooked another layout. I am still being totally inspired by this awesome scrapbooker, and this layout is pretty much a scraplift, although in saying that, it is also very much my style and I have done layouts a little similar in the past. Probaby why Pipp's work appeals to me so much.This week Lusi has issued us another "Get Real" Challenge.

So I guess my challenge to myself and to you too is to document your life as it is right now. Room by room. Memory by memory. I'm starting with the place that I am most often in and just basically went around the kitchen and took photos of things that mean something to me or that I might want to remember in years to come. But I want to emphasise that this is not an exercise in what the room 'looks' like as much as it is what kind of feelings and memories that we associate with the things in that room.

Ok looking around my kitchen I found these few things I wanted to share with you.

Really these canisters hold pride of place on top of my kitchen cupboards. They are over 100 years old and they belonged to my great great grandmother. My grandmother also had a set which she inherited from her grandmother and which my mum has now inherited. They were very special and precious to my grandmother, and she always had them on display in her kitchen. I felt very priviledged when she gave me my set, and although I didn't know my great great grandmother, these canisters hold special memories to me of my grandma and the many many happy times I spent in her kitchen with her.
Really this is one of my mixing bowls. It is over 30 years old, and it is used almost daily. It was given to me by a dear lady at my kitchen tea before I was married. It is a set of two, and the dear lady that gave it too me, wasn't particularly well off, and this gift was a sacrifice of love on her part and is one of the reasons why I shall cherish it. Each time I use it I remember her and her sacrifical giving. How blessed I was.
Really this is relatively new in my kitchen. It is a gift my husband bought me just a couple of weeks ago, and already it has become a firm favourite as it allows me to prepare nourishing and nutriential meals for my family especially on those days when I am out for some length of time. It also has a timer which allows me to set the time it needs to cook, and once the meal is cooked, it turns off and goes into keep warm mode.
Really this jug is boiled constantly throughout the day, This is one of Steve's acts of service, he usually makes me a cuppa each afternoon and ever night and we have this little routine of spending time and enjoying a cuppa together. Not only is it used for us but there is hardly a day that goes by that it is not boiled to make a cuppa for someone who walks through our front door. It is now getting old and marked, but we have well and truely got our money's worth out of it. Really this is the shelf that holds the assortment of hot drinks on offer when visitors stop my. I am known for my awesome Mocha's and hot chocolates and this is often a favourite amongst those dropping in. They are also little treats for us on a cold winter's night.
Really, these are some of my favourite recipe books and I often refer to them when preparing meals. Several are recipes from close friends, which I have bound into book form. Love preparing meals that have been tried and tested and handed on through friends. Lots of happy memories are associated when making some of these recipes, and usually find that I tend to use tried and tested recipes in preference to those just out of a recipe book.
Really this is one of the prayer cards on our fridge. This family is very precious to us, they are actually family to us, and having their photo on our fridge helps us to remember to pray for them daily. They are missionaries serving the Lord in PNG.

Really we have several fridge magnets with verses of scripture on. These are great reminders to us of God's faithfulness and also a great way for us to constantly hide God's word in our hearts.

Really, I love seeing home made baking on the cooling racks in my kitchen. These were a quick batch of cupcakes I made this afternoon, as we were having friends dropping in for afternoon tea, and I also wanted to bake some to take out with me for morning tea tomorrow when I am meeting up with a few girls to scrapbook and make some cards.

My last Really would have to be a photo of my cupcake stand. This is just a girlie treat, that I shouted myself last year, but I really love this cupcake stand and I love to fill it with homemade cupcakes made from the very special "Nat Marden" Cupcake recipe.

Just some other photos of our day. Just wanted to share the finished cupcakes on my special stand. I made over three dozen of these this afternoon and only have 18 left. The girls loved them - I have t say a HUGE thanks to Nat for sharing her recipe, it is by far the easiest cupcake recipe I have ever made and I would also have to say that it is almost fool proof, which is pretty good in this household. Here are some photos of the finished product

Also have to say that I got a nice surprise when my man came home a day early from his fishing trip. He was to come home tomorrow but one of the guys who was to stay with him had car troubles today and didn't make it back up to Corio Bay, so Steve decided to come home as well. This is his new look as he arrived home at 10.30pm tonight.

Finally just a few of the things I am thankful for today.

1. That Steve had an awesome time away with the guys and arrived home safely tonight

2. Afternoon tea with one of the girls from church who is a real encourager.

3. Pretty pink cupcakes

4. Praise and worship at church this morning, and also the awesome sharing time.

5, Beautiful blue skies and crisp winter chills.

6. Mud crabs for dinner for tomorrow night

7. My ironing lady who arrives in the morning.

8. Cuddles with my man.