Jikana Damaru

old photo origins

This is a photo of mum (aged 18 months) with her brother, Robert and big sister, Joan. I've always loved its vintage 'cute kids' appeal, but recently took an interest in its origins. It was taken in 1936 towards the end of the Great Depression. Even though there were seven more siblings to follow, this is one of the few portraits the family could afford. It was taken by (local photographer) Francis Whitehead - his studio in Ipswich was the longest continuously family owned studio in Australia (before it sold in 2001). From what I can tell, it's a paper print encased in some sort of clear resin, with a metal back and stand. It's also possible that it's been printed straight onto metal with a resin overlay. The surface is glossy and easily scratched. I thought I'd find lots of online info, or some similar photos but...I'm stuck. Seems like there were numerous photographic processing techniques in the mid-1930's and it's hard to pinpoint exactly where this picture fits in. One thing's for sure, given the long exposure time (anywhere from 15 to 30 seconds), the children were either very well-behaved, or simply in awe of the "technology" of the time.

Perhaps you've got a similar photo in your family, or you can point me in the direction of some antique photo expertise? All assistance greatly appreciated...and any stories about old photos are very welcomed!

My Gift Wrapping

This year I wrapped my Christmas presents in a combination of brown craft paper and snowflake printed foil wrap. I decorated my packages with MT masking tape, tied them up with spotty ribbon, rik-rak and yarn. The To's and From's were written on a mix of mini luggage tags and hand made doe tags. A post with free downloadable graphic is coming soon, ready for next year!

The little house boxes from Target were filled with coloured tissue-wrapped stocking fillers to introduce colour at the windows. I bought an extra set of the house boxes that I want to pop LED tea lights into next year and make a feature of them.

Have a sweet day!

This week I'm grateful for... holidays

Holidays. When life eases to a gentle pause. When a quiet moment has meaning. When we allow ourselves the privilege of basking in ourselves. We mosey, we mooch, we maybe. Oh, happiness.

So, this week I'm grateful for...

1. Holidays - of course. Ending too soon as I'm already back at work (but keeping the holiday spirit inside, regardless!).

2. House swaps - we spent a very happy few days in the Pink Fibro last week while Al and her brood came to our place. House swaps with fellow parents are the way to go. There is space, there are toys, there is wipeable furnishings.

3. Leona Edmiston - January sales turn me very shallow very quickly. I snapped up two half-priced Leonas yesterday and I am so in love with myself in them. She really knows how to dress a woman's soft spots.

So, what's making you smile today? Grab my I'm Grateful For... button from my sidebar if you like, add your Grateful post below and please add a link back to me in your post. Then pop over to visit other bloggers who are spreading a little sunshine. Happy day to you!

[Image via weheartit]

it's definately

ice cream weather here in Melbourne

& these recipes

look just right to eat on a hot Summer day

Two-berry ice cream

2 berry
recipe

Passionfruit ice-cream

passionfruit
recipe

Choc mint ice-cream

choc mint
recipe

Lemon-curd frozen yoghurt

& this super easy healthier option
lemon curd frozen yogurt
recipe

do you have a favourite ice cream or sorbet or summer day treat?

all images courtesy of taste.com.au

Gluten-free Cranberry & Almond cupcakes

Cranberry & almond cupcakes (makes 12 muffin size cakes)

Ingredients
125g (4.5 ounces) butter, softened
1/2 teaspoon (1/6 ounces) vanilla extract
150g (2/3 cup) caster sugar
2 eggs
170g dried cranberries
50g (1/2 cup) slivered almonds
150g (1 cup) Gluten free self-raising flour
60ml (1/4 cup) semi-skimmed milk

Cooking instructions

Preheat oven to 160-180 deg C (325-350 deg F).
Line muffin tray with paper cases.
Beat butter, eggs, vanilla extract and sugar with an electric mixer until the mixture turns a pale colour.
Stir in fruit, nuts, flour and milk.
Divide mixture among cases.
Bake for 25-30 minutes
Place cakes on a wire rack to cool.

Above are pics of my cupcakes on "My Winter Woodland Dessert Table".

I also made an extra set of gluten-free cranberry & almond cupcakes that I packaged up in a hand printed box and gave as a Christmas present.

Have a sweet day!

Dealing with Difficult People #3: Negative Nellies

We've tacked Newborns, we've tacked CPs, this week...

You've met Nellie. She's permanently involved in some catastrophe or another but it doesn't matter because the world is going to end tomorrow anyway. She goes on and on and on and on about how awful life is and how thoughtless other people are and how nothing is any good any more. Being with Nellie is like having laser eye surgery - you're awake, you're uncomfortable, you're having your cornea cut open and peeled back.

But there are strategies for dealing with people like Nellie.

1. Nellie is looking for disagreeable, so agree with her.
It's painful, but it's true. The more you agree with other people the less they talk. Rather than trying to cheer them up (a red rag to Nellie's bull), just agree that it's all so awful. Once you agree, you will soon see that without fuel they have no fire.

2. Distract and divert
Nellie: "Oh, I can't win. The postman is deliberating crumpling up my mail before he puts it in the box..."*

You: "Yes, but it's been beautiful weather for posties, hasn't it?"

Nellie: "He hates me. I can see him next door getting the mail out ready to ball it up..."

You: "Speaking of balls, I had the nicest dessert last night..."

Nellie: "Really, dessert? What did you have?"

It really does work.

3. Surprise and delight
If every time you see Nellie she launches into a diatribe, cut her off at the chase. Bring along a bunch of flowers, a punnet of strawberries, a small notebook for her to jot down her interesting thoughts... Just a little something 'just because'. Thoughtfulness is appreciated by everyone, but particularly by our Negative Nellies.

4. Counter-attack
Nellie: "That Mary is so thoughtless, she never rings me, I always have to ring her."

You: "That's funny, she always calls me."

Nellie: "Why doesn't she ring me then? I knew she didn't like me."

You: "Oh, she really likes you. She said just the other day how nice it is that you always call."

Sock it to 'em.

5. Pollyanna her into silence
If number 1 isn't working, do the opposite. For every negative, express a positive. Negative Nellies hate Pollyanna so it works a bit like Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. You'll soon find she moves onto less negative fare if she suspects that a positive might be coming straight after.

Know any Negative Nellies? Any coping tips to share with us all?

* I wish this was imaginary but, alas, I have actually suffered through a convo about the mean postman. I need to widen my circle of friends, obviously!

[Image by Suse Bauer - check out her Revoluzza monsters!]

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Please also take some time today to send powerful thoughts of healing to Lori's husband. Godspeed, Tony.

♥

My Little Pony Birthday Cake

Yes, it's kitch. Yes, it's a myriad of grotesque colour. But gosh-darn if I am not proud of this little work of art! Two nights before Fern's birthday, I sat down with some paper and crayons and came up with this design for a My Little Pony cake.

Why My Little Pony? Well, Fern LOVES ponies, like most little girls. Her cousin has one, so she gets to get up close and personal often, and drives us all insane nagging us to go see the 'Nays!' every 3 minutes while we're on my parents-in-laws property, which is where the horses are kept. She also loves her My Little Ponies collection (I wish I'd kept my vintage ones from the 80's!) and and I'm always tripping over them strewn about the house.

So. My Little Pony it was! Dan and I baked a round vanilla, strawberry and chocolate marble cake the night before Fern's birthday. Dan then got up early to ice the cake with scary Royal icing and surprisingly (to us both) it turned out beautifully! We then decorated the top with Smarties, decorative glitter gel, candles and of course a little My Little Pony!

Fern adored her cake, and went to bed with her pony with a smile on her face..... unfortunately I didnt get any photos of her blowing out the candles. Here it is:

Dan and I have made a pact to one-up ourselves every year now in making our kids cakes. This is Fern's birthday cake from last year, hmmm tough call I reckon! Which do you prefer?!?!