Flour today , scone tomorrow

I decided to bake some scones. (My boyfriend likes cherry ones, however I prefer wheaten ones that just melt in your mouth).....mmm. They're actually very easy to make and can be whipped up in no time!!    (click here for recipe)

I decided to pay my expectant sis' a quick visit tonight. She told me she has trouble turning whilst sleeping and cannot stand for too long at any one time.   She is keeping us all in suspense about the sex of the twins.  I am so excited about being an auntie again!!

LATE NIGHT INSOMNIAC

My body clock is catching up with me again.....I've been staying up quite late in recent nights....and it's beginning to show. My main concern now is getting my beauty sleep.   I have been feeling the cold today too more than usual. It snowed for a while last night.......thankfully though not enough to make the roads too dangerous to drive on.....

Must go to bed now......

A recent meal out with the family

My other half and I

Scrumptious snacks to die for! And going back to my Chinese roots...

          
Dim Sum which are little 'snack' foods, originates from South China/Hong Kong....and generally served for breakfast or early lunch.  Click here for more info
In Belfast I discovered a restaurant called 'Lee Gardens' that does really fresh dim sum.   I have eaten in there a number of times and would describe my experience there as first class.....each dim sum dish costs about £3-00 per steamed basket.        Apparently it can take a period of up to ten years to master the skill of dim sum making......

My uncle is an expert in Chinese pastry/bun making.......I remember years ago when my dad owned a restaurant & my auntie & uncle were co partners my uncle would occasionally bake these lovely light pastries, some with Char sui fillings in them, others with sweet fillings such as red bean paste....He had an apprentice baker who later went on to open his own Chinese bakery in the centre of Belfast behind Donegal Pass (the Chinatown of N.Ireland - not as impressive as the C'towns in London or Manchester, but there are plenty of eateries in this street).

GROWING UP & LEARNING CHINESE

At the age of 11, my parents enrolled my sisters, my brother and I at the local Cantonese 'school' in Belfast, we had Cantonese lessons for 2 hours every Sunday afternoon........I used to hate going - how I managed to win 2nd prize & get my name printed in a national Chinese newspaper I do not know but I owe it to my mum & dad.  Now that I'm older I do appreciate that my parents were doing their best for us.

I managed to get a bit of a lie-in today.  It's been that long since I had one that I'd forgotten what it was like......

Ryan's all excited about going to his Granny Doreen's to stay tonight.......that's because they spoil him rotten.      I am glad and lucky that I have them to depend on at times whenever I need a break and they are good with him......

We are so lucky to live in such a beautiful country, to be honest I never really appreciated my home country 'til recently.  Most of my foreign friends tell me they would SO love to visit Ireland, which makes me feel quite 'honoured' to be here.      In the summer time we would go for drives along the Antrim Coast Road, there are really wonderful views along this route especially on a clear day.     

(Top) Near the Giant's Causeway

Waterfall at Glenariff Forest - taken last summer

Near the Giant's Causeway

My other half taking a leisurely stroll

A large river at Glenariff Glen 

For the love of crafting : cardmaking & sewing

                                    

Crafting is something I would tend to do if I had a good 2 hours to spare. I first got into it when my mother-in-law told me about it 4 years ago  -  I never saw myself as being 'creative' until I discovered I had a natural talent for cardmaking!......The good thing about making your own cards is you can completely design your own verses......you can make them as simple or as elaborate as you want......a handmade card is more 'special' , because a lot of thought has gone into making it

The techniques involved in cardmaking:

Some examples are :

decoupage (3D effect)

iris folding

rubber stamping

quilling

tea bag folding

Cardmaking is certainly a hugely rewarding and enjoyable hobby, I'd recommend it to anyone.

There are many good papercraft magazines out there nowadays, that one can pick up if interested in cardmaking .  WARNING:  This hobby is very addictive!!!

      
POUCH - MAKING
                                                                   

 

Here are some pictures from my recent travels:

The Colosseum, Rome, Italy - amazing ancient amphitheatre
Duration of stay in Rome : 5 days
Date: March 2009

 Paris, France - Eiffel Tower

• Duration of stay: 2 days
• Date: Nov.2008

Edinburgh Castle, Scotland

                             Duration of Stay: 2 days
                             Date: Sept.2009

Staying at home now (Motherhood looms)

There is nothing quite like a good change of scenery to blow away the cobwebs....I'd hoped maybe this year we might have been able to book somewhere exotic, instead my other half has mind his made up to leave it for a while.    I mean I even persuaded him to apply for a passport - he hadn't seen inside an airport for 14 years, until we went to Barcelona recently.   What an eye opener that was.
I inherit my love of taking pictures from my mum. Unfortunately while we planned to go to Barcelona I never thought of getting a good quality decent camera....there was the Gaudi architecture,the really colourful fruit market, cable cars, the touristy Las Ramblas, the crowded beach --- which could've been captured on camera, I regret that I did not take pictures of these interesting places....
I'm getting used to the idea of being a SAHM.....staying at home suits me.  For now anyway.