Photo a Day - Where you relax

That would be the deck. I kick back with a drink and the computer is within reach. Most times a cat or dog is lolling somewhere. Today I bought a pot of daffodils so they will hang out with me as well while they last.

Photo a Day - Toy

Need to find a toy in this house. Look no further than around the dog.

Photo a Day - Feet (late)

I don't like feet so maybe that's why I procrastinated on this one. Snapped this just as I went to bed. Not glamorous as I treat my feet badly, but done.

Photo a day - trash

I tried to find something I consider trash in vain so the next best thing was a garbage can. One of the things I dislike about the current kitchen design is the garbage needs to be on the counter. When the kitchen is eventually remodelled it will be hidden away.

Photo a Day - Signature

All the correspondence from my office goes out under my hand. I surely would get tired if I had to sign every letter. So I have signature stamps. A signature stamp must be similar to your real signature but slightly different. Just realised I should have put a real one in as well. Oh well.

Photo a Day - keys

At almost 50 I have the first set of house keys to something I own. Special.

A cake a week

No cake last week as I was sick. So back to that orange poppy seed cake which I am determined to get right.

My friends Keryn and Barbie who can both bake advised me about baking paper all the way around. They also both suggested a light dusting of flour. So here is the tin duly prepared.

Out of the oven and not looking bad.

The good news is it did not stick. The bad news - well a picture is worth a thousand words.

I forgot another of Barbie's tips which was to rotate the pan during cooking. As with all the others it tastes good bit will be made again - I will get it eventually.

As the oven was on and we were having soup for dinner I decided to make scones.

Freshly out of the oven and not looking too bad.

Molly thought they were delicious and is sulking because there aren't any more.

Photo a Day - Breakfast

Sunday always means more time to sit and relax and enjoy a leisurely breakfast. On the menu today - a very traditional bacon, egg and toast.

Photo a Day - Animal

I can do this one. Yesterday was moon and finding the new moon in the sky defeated me.

This is Honey our most recent addition. A rescue with some issues but we love her dearly.

Before her was Milly Molly Mandy. Her personality is so big she needs three names.

Then there was Charlie. We lost him to cancer in October but he is forever in our hearts.

Now for the gorgeous Ally. Our girl who has so much spirit but hates change. We got Charlie when she was six months old and it took her another six months to forgive us. Having said that one of my precious memories of her is when Charlie was so sick. Prior to his illness she hissed at him whenever there paths crossed. Then one day just after he was diagnosed she laid beside him in the hall for 1/2 an hour. When she got up she went over to him and rubbed his head with hers.  I like to think she was saying goodbye.

Last but by no means least is the gorgeous Cleo. When she came to us she weighed 400 grams and fitted in the palm of my hand. She is considerably bigger than that now. She is simply the best cat ever. I love her to pieces and cant imagine what it was like before she came into our life.

Photo a Day - Kitchen Sink

We have a double sink. While I like that I don't like that there is no draining board. Something to be done when we remodel the kitchen.

Photo a Day - Delicious

This morning when I decided what we would have for dinner I was well. I now have a raging sore throat and temperature. Nothing can be more delicious than comfort food - in this case salmon mornay. May not look all that flash but I love how it tastes.

Photo a Day - Before and after

I lay no claims to being a gardener. We bought a rose bush the day our beloved Charlie died.

I love how this

becomes this.

Photo a Day - funny

I discovered Big Bang late. I have now caught up. These guys continue to make me laugh.

Photo a day - A corner of your home.

I saw this tree in the window of a shop in Summer Hill. Laurie thought I was being ridiculous but as usual indulged me. It lights our living room every night now we are together.

Merry Merry Snowman

I have been battling a cold all week but did get these squares sewn on.Now for the trimming.

Photo a Day - Green

St Patrick's Day  according to legend is the day to plant your sweet peas. I made a comment on Facebook earlier this week and received lots of helpful advice. I am assured by the staff at Flower Power that they don't need a trellis as they are a dwarf variety. Fingers crossed.

Photo a Day - Sunglasses

I don't wear glasses of any sort - not even sunglasses. So what to use for my photo today. two of my favourite characters from a feel good movie.

Photo a Day - car

I don't own a car, need to get my licence first.  However if I did this is what my heart desires.

Photo a day - Clouds

The clouds today were quite pretty unlike those of last week which went on to deluge Sydney.

Photo a day - Sign

I needed to go into the City today for a meeting. I normally get off at Town Hall but not feeling well stayed on the loop and alighted at Museum. Love the old world feel of this station.

Photo a day - Fork

I have never mastered the art of chopsticks. Today was definitely a comfort food day for me which of course means soup. So a fork from the drawer at work was the order of the day.

A cake a week

The good news is that I made the butter cake again during the week and received lots of lovely comments. Apparently I have it mastered. So the challenge for this week was to try the orange poppy seed cake again.

You may remember last week I had problems with it sticking. So this week following advice from master baker  Barbie B I used a pan with smaller sides and lined the base with baking paper.

Mixture into the pan and looking good.

Now here is where I forgot another piece of advice from Barbie - rotate the pan halfway through cooking so it rises evenly. Not real clear from this picture but one side was definitely taller.

So to the turn out moment. Did it stick - You betcha.

Like last week tastes good but I want it to look good as well. This recipe will not defeat me.

Photo a Day - Someone I talked to

If you take the animals out of the equation the only person I spoke to today was Laurie. There was concern from him as I am still sick. Frustration from me when he refuses to follow instructions when he is trying to use the Internet and won't listen even when he doesn't have a clue what he is doing. After having lived alone for so may years having someone around all the time is certainly different. I have been surprised by how well I have adjusted.

Merry Merry Snowman

Nada, nil, zilch zero. However you want to say it not a stitch taken this week. I've been sick and just getting up and ready has taken all my energy. I think I'm on the mend so next weeks report should be better.

Photo a day - Loud

I wear lots of grey and black so this dress is a bit of a departure for me. I think it's quite loud.

I love the black and white bands around the edges.

Photo a day - Red

My photo today is my lunch box. I love taking left overs to work. Takes out the problem of deciding what to eat. Today I had spaghetti  inside. Only problem I was too sick to eat it.

Photo a day - window

This morning I tried to take a photo of the window from the deck. Impossible as there was next to no light because of the driving rain. Tonight at about 6:00pm sitting in the same spot I could have had sunglasses on it was so bright.

Photo a day - Something you wore.

I work in an industry where the norm is a suit. For years I conformed but was never comfortable. Being a big girl they just never seemed to fit and I was always uncomfortable. Enter the girls from Towanda and all of a sudden I found clothes that I liked and was comfortable in. I still the remember the shock of some of the staff when I started at a new Court and they realised I was not going to wear a suit in Court. Oh the horror.

So today I wore one of my newest pieces and was comfortable all day long. BTW people still listen to me even though I'm not in a suit.

Photo a Day - 5pm

5 pm and I was where I am most weekdays - at work. Anyone who knows me well knows of my absolute terror of birds. One of my staff however doesn't. She went to Thailand and wanted to bring me back something. She knows I love handmade things so this owl was my present. It usually hangs on the side of my computer. I was touched by her thoughtfulness and am starting to like it.

Photo a Day - A smile

While not the best photo of her this picture brings a smile to my face every time I see it. It is my niece Megan and was taken the first night I saw her in many years. It's her birthday tomorrow and I will get to celebrate with her on Saturday. Can't wait.

A cake a week

During the week I made the butter cake again and apparently it was so good someone thought it was store bought. Buoyed by my success I decided to tackle this cake.

A couple of things made me go in this direction. I had oranges and the cake tin I had bought was the right size.

A little shopping had happened during the week and I now have gorgeous food prep bowls which were put to good use.

The recipe seemed really easy. all I had to do was tip all of the above into a bowl and mix it.

Not the most appealing photo I will admit but in no time at all it was mixed and in a well greased pan.

So far so good. Into the oven and out when cooked. The instructions called for it to be left in the pan for 5 minutes and then turned out. This is when disaster struck.

As I did last week I omitted baking paper. I think I got away with it as the fat content was much higher. I will make again on Sunday and use baking paper and see how I go. BTW it was delicious.

Photo a day - bedside table.

I was going to pretty this up before I took the photo but then decided against it. So what's on my bedside table - a phone, magazines, fabric, mail and a booklet that tells me how to grow flowers from bulbs. The photo shamed me so everything is now in its rightful place.