Playroom progress

We are making fantastic progress on the playroom.  The builder and Greg have been working hard (Greg has been working very very hard).

Firstly, Greg had to remove the old sliding door.

Then the big old window and taking down the eaves.  The crap that fell out of the roof was absolutely revolting YUK!

Then the middle bricks, wood and bricks under the window had to be removed.  Following that a beam had to be put in, as it was a load bearing wall and also a false wall after the bricks.  

Next step is the plaster board/gyprock to be put up to cover the external brick work, eaves and new wall.

Now Greg has the fun job of finishing it all off so it is ready for painting and the stacker door to be installed.  Looks like he will be working at night after work to get it all done.  Busy busy busy!

We also picked up a sofa bed lounge on Wednesday.  It is in excellent condition and was perfect for the space we have.  It was $1000 new but I got this one for $500 second hand.  The downside was it was out at Pyrmont, in the city.  My wonderful Mum & Dad came and babysat the kids for us and we drove out there.  It was a bit of a debacle - the lady told me she would dismantle it - she didn't - and then didn't have any tools to get it apart!!!!!!..... (and we didn't take any tools because she had told me she would dismantle it before I picked it up - *sigh*)  Lucky for her, her neighbour had some tools and Greg got it apart.  Thankfully it all ended well but we have learn't an important tip for everyone

Always take tools, even if you think you don't need them!

We saved $500 + delivery of getting one second hand, so that will help pay for some floor coverings/window coverings etc.  We have also saved a bomb by getting Greg to help the builder and do a lot of the work himself (eg take out the door & window, plastering, helping the builder so he doesn't need to employ a labourer).

Every bit helps.

Think of Greg this weekend, plastering the walls...............................

Our mantra atm

"It will be fantastic when finished"

xxxxxx

How to make yoghurt from scratch - step by step

My boys love yoghurt and we go though almost 1kg a day!!!  I had to find a cheaper way of getting yoghurt than buying it from the supermarket at over $4 per tub.

I started making it myself, using the Easiyo system.  You can pick these up a garage sales or op shops for a few dollars too, or buy new for about $20 or so.

What you will need:

• Easiyo system
• Small tub of plain yoghurt (or previous yoghurt you have made) or some yoghurt starter (Green Living Australia)
• UHT full cream milk (I use this because you don't have to heat the milk up)
• Milk powder (full cream)
• Vanilla essence (if you want vanilla yoghurt)
• 3-4 TBL sugar

Method

Pour some of the UHT milk in your yoghurt container

Add 3-4 TBL sugar (this is important if you like/used to the taste of supermarket yoghurt - I did one batch without sugar and it tasted awful to my tastebuds.  Adjust to your liking)

Add 2 heaped TBL yoghurt (or a few grains of yoghurt starter)

Add 1-2 TBL vanilla - if you want vanilla yoghurt

Add a heaped 1/3 cup of powdered milk (optional, but necessary if you like a really thick & creamy yoghurt - we do!)

Shake it all up.

Add remaining UHT milk and give it another shake (try and dissolve most of the sugar)

Add boiling water to the Easiyo thermos up to the baffle.

Add in your yoghurt jar and put the lid on.  Wait up to 6 hrs or overnight and.....

YUM YUM YUM - THICK CREAMY YOGHURT!!!

Repeat the next day for more yoghurt, using 2 TBL from this batch.

Cheap and easy and oh so yummy.

Enjoy!

xxxxxxxxx

A busy life!

It has been crazy busy here at the moment.  I just don't seem to have a minute to myself any more, but I guess that is to be expected with my life at the moment.

Fathers Day was quiet, but I made this picture and put it in a frame for Greg.  He loved it! (it was VERY hard to get these pictures, let me tell you).

DAD picture for Fathers Day 2012

I did manage to get away for the weekend - it was Greg's cousin's Hens Weekend.  A bunch of girls went to the Hunter Valley.  We stayed in Broke, which was lovely.  We had dinner on Friday night at Margan Restaurant (nice), a wine tour on Saturday, with lunch at a very "french" inspired Tallavera Grove Restaurant and chilling out on Saturday night.  I headed off early on Sunday to save Greg from the kids, but they were very good so he didn't really need saving - but it is very hard work having them all on your own.

Of course I forgot my camera as I was racing out the door on Friday afternoon, but it was a great weekend away.  Although those fancy restaurants are nice, they are a tad pretentious in my opinion but I guess I'm a what you see is what you get kinda girl, so I don't really fit that sort of scene..... oh and last time I checked I wasn't absolutely loaded $$$$$$$$ wise either, so may cringe a little at the verrrrrrrry expensive price tags!  However, the views and decor at both restaurants and the wineries was wonderful and made for a fantastic weekend.

Outside Tallavera Grove Restaurant - gorgeous views of the vines here

Other than that, life has been chugging along as normal as it can be - ups and downs etc.

Ben has finally got some teeth - the top two have come though last week YAY.  We also had to give him a haircut as his hair was getting long and he likes to rub his head on the floor and it was going into dreadlocks!!  Also, everyone used to ask me if he was a girl because he had lovely golden curls LOL.

I took the kids to the park on Sunday afternoon to give Greg a break.

Ben, with his new hair - he looks like a little boy now

Michael having fun on the slide

Jemma sitting on the baby swing

Rhys having a swing

Both Ben and Rhys eat a lot of vanilla yoghurt.  In fact Rhys won't eat anything else.  I have been going through yoghurt like crazy and it gets expensive, especially since I can go through a litre a day, and at $4 per tub it adds up quickly.

Anyway, I have an Easiyo yoghurt maker and started using that, but even their packs were $3.50 or so a pack, so that was getting expensive.  So I decided to buy some live yoghurt culture from Green Living Australia and try my luck at yoghurt making.  

My first attempt was a disaster!  Not because it didn't set, but because it absolutely tasted DISGUSTING.  The reason?  I didn't put any sweetness into the yoghurt.  I actually am amazed at just how sweet our normal yoghurt from the supermarket is against normal unsweetened yoghurt.

After much trial and error, I now have our vanilla yoghurt down pat & I think it tastes yummy.  Here is how to do it:

Yummy home made vanilla yoghurt (very thick as we love it this way)

What you need

• Easiyo yoghurt maker & container
• Yoghurt starter OR some plain yoghurt from the supermarket (small tub)
• 1 litre UHT long life full cream milk (I buy Aldi brand)
• 1/3 cup heaped Powdered milk full cream (I buy Aldi brand) - this makes THICK yoghurt... nom nom nom
• 3 tablespoons of sugar
• 2 tablespoons of vanilla essence

Method

• In the Easiyo container, pour some long life milk into it
• Put in the yoghurt starter (few grains) or 2 heaped tablespoons plain yoghurt
• Put in the sugar, vanilla essence and powdered milk and shake it up
• Put in the remainder of the UHT milk and shake again (try and get the sugar to dissolve a bit)
• Place into the Easiyo with the boiling water and leave for at least 6 hours

After 6+ hours, it will be set and you can put it in the fridge.  Mmmmmmm, really thick fresh vanilla yoghurt.

Then, when you take it out of the fridge, make another batch using 2 heaped tablespoons from the container.  It goes on and on and on.  SO easy!!!  SO cheap!!

I will take step by step pictures next time I make it and put it in another blog!

Enjoy

Rach
xxxxxxx