Friday, 4 December 2015

Cupcakes for engagement party

A hive of activity in the kitchen for the engagement party.
All three of us working away.

In fact, it has taken nearly all week to catch up with the
cleaning up from it.

Due mainly though to Sam and I being sick with colds
ever since.

 Bob decides to guard the cupcake carrier.

 He then supervises the girls cooking and decorating.




 Bec's skills piping with The Cheesecake Shop come in handy.

 Sam and her friend Maddie, spent a morning creating these 
sweet decorations for the tops of the cakes.

Even some gold detail is seen here.

Sunday, 29 November 2015

...and 'the girls' line up

A few photos of our funny chooky girls.

Daffy, Checkers, Oreo, Minmi, and Josie -
five Chinese Silky Bantams.


 Soft and fluffy Josie the grey.


 Multi-coloured Checkers.


 Oreo, monochromatic with a funny hat.











 Little Minmi.


 Daffy.




Gourmet hand chopped kitchen scraps for breakfast.

Sam and Gordon's engagement party.

We were so lucky with predictions of 70-80% chance of rain,
to have a perfectly clear afternoon for the engagement party.

Many friends and family travelled from near and far, to attend
the party of our daughter Samantha, and her fiance Gordon.

It was held in the environs of Wahroonga park, as a picnic party
style of event.

We hired the park and the rotunda, brought additional gazebos as
insurance against the weather.

We have limited family, but Gordon's side is vast. Around 100
people were invited.

Half was catered from Sam's nearby work, and we made the rest
of the sweet foods. Cakes, cupcakes, fairy bread, watermelon/
pomegranate/strawberry salad and gingerbread cookies. Lollies
for the kids (young and old)

Recurrent themes were hearts and flowers. Very pretty, and so
was the elegant park setting.

 The happy couple.





 The antipasto plates from Pastadelli.

 Very precisely made fairy bread sandwiches by sister Bec.

 Sweet little cupcakes, a day to make just the top decorations alone.

 Bec's beau Mike, and balloons.

 Gordon introduces Chris too start off the speeches. He wore his 'Gordon' shirt of course.

 Friends holding Harper - Sam's friend Tori's child.

 Keep it short Chris.

 Chris' side, Sister Kerry, husband Dennis and father John.

 Gordon's uncle Angus gives a funny speech about Gordon, and says nice things about them both.

 Matt and Lisa's kids Ellie and Ryan sit politely through the speeches.












 The party flows out into the park, with chairs and picnic rugs brought along.





 My brother Mike and his wife Jenni.

Sunday, 22 November 2015

Bobo the Wunderkitten

Bobbie our Silver Tabby, lounging around in the heat,
is a pretty boy.

He's an indoor cat, but has a nice big deck to use.

These pics are by Bec.







Butcher Birds

We have a Butcher Bird territory, just beyond our fence
in the reserve.

They nest here every year, and like to visit our two birdbaths.
That gives us a good opportunity to see them up close.

This medley of photos by Bec and I over a few days.