3 THINGS #2

I woke up this morning thinking it was Friday.
Wishful thinking at its worst.
Iv'e had a busy week this week, not necessarily doing things I had planned, but things that had to be done. I had all intentions of setting up a new work table for my art/craft so that I had somewhere to work and keep all my bits and pieces together. My aim is to start painting again, years after I put that skill to bed, I have had the urge to take it back up again. Lets hope I still have some sort of talent left.

This week...

I read the fantastic debut novel The Lost Swimmer by Ann Turner. What a page turner. I wont give the plot away, because those of you who, like me love a good book and have not read it yet had better get your hands on a copy pronto !

Another thing that I am really enjoying this week is how my garden is coming along. Planted only a mere six months ago, the plants are thriving and the geraniums are going gang busters with their blooms.

On Tuesday, after enrolling my fifteen year old into senior high school for 2016, I have had this deep sense of nostalgia for times gone by when my babies were young. Having my youngest child begin this last stage of his schooling before heading out into the world to follow his dreams has made me realise that it wont be too long before all my babies are grown and gone. What then ?

There is always so much to think about....
There is always things that are changing....

beck xx

BACK TO THE FUTURE

Re-hydrated pizzas, self lacing shoes and self drying jackets. Today these are suppose to be part of our lifestyle. Anyone had the pleasure of trying these babies out yet ?

Today marks an epic date for all of us Back To The Future fans who back in 1985 watched Marty McFly and Doc take off in their time machine to let loose on the future....

21.10.2015 it seemed SO far away back then. I for one didn't think it would arrive so soon, but here we are.

Another date in my future is also looming its ugly head.
Yesterday we had the 'interview' to enrol our youngest son into senior high school, it was then that the years 2017 and 2018 were made apart of my vocabulary.

Why, you ask....

2017 is the year that we will watch our youngest son graduate grade twelve, after many long years being the parents of school children, it will all be over. Just like that we will become the parents of grown ups. What in the world will I do then ?

Not only will all my babies be grown ups, but if all goes according to my sons senior school set plan, 2018 will be the year that he heads off to the big smoke (Brisbane) to follow his dream of becoming a Forensic Scientist.

It is too much for this mumma to handle right now.
I know I am not ready for all of this.
And just like Doc and Marty did all those years ago, I want to climb into a time machine and go Back To The Future...

Who wants to join me ?

beck xx

MONDAY MUNCHIES - Lasagne

We had a very productive weekend in the garden, weeding, pruning, planting and mowing. And once we were finished the heavens opened and down came the rains. I love a good rain storm, I also love the easy meals we enjoy on the weekends, there is just something different about spending time in the kitchen with the family home and the bustle of the week behind you.

This weekend however I was quite naughty, serving up meals with lavishes of cheese and pasta. In my defence it will most likely be the last time we indulge in these types of meals as the weather heats up and salad become the daily ritual.

LASAGNA

* Fresh or dried lasagna sheets
* Beef mince
* Diced onion
* Minced garlic
* 1 tsp Italian herbs
* 1 tbs tomato paste
* Large tin of diced tomatoes
* Grated cheese

Bechamel Sauce 

* 60 g of butter
* 1/3 cup plain flour
* 4 1/2 cups of milk
* 1 cup grated cheese

In a large pan, saute onion, garlic and herbs till soft. Add mince and cook until all browned.

Add the tomatoes and tomato paste and stir until well combines. Bring mixture to the boil, then reduce heat and simmer for a half hour or until sauce reduces and thickens.

In a separate saucepan, melt the butter for the bechamel sauce then add the flour while stirring.
Gradually add the milk whisking continuously to prevent lumps. Once the sauce begins to thicken remove from heat and stir in the cheese.

In a deep lasagna dish, layer the mince, the lasagna sheets and bechamel sauce, finishing with the bechamel and a layer of grated cheese.

Bake in the oven at 150 degrees (fan forced) for 20 minutes until cooked through and cheese is golden.

Enjoy

beck xx

ROAD TRIP TO MELBOURNE - Part one

Its been eight weeks since we abandoned left our teens at home and hit the road, just the two of us, for an adventure that we will remember for a life time.

It may sound selfish, heck yeah it was.
But after twenty two years of parenting and devoting our whole beings to our four fabulous sons, we are entitled to take three weeks off and just be a couple....

Aren't we ?

We drove all the way from Mackay to Melbourrne.

Yes my mind still boggles that we drove that far, but it was fabulous. Four days of exploring Outback Queensland and Rural New South Wales. It was a road trip of great proportions, taking in sights and experiences that we have not had not experienced before.
In the end we were ever so glad that we decided against flying, for our road trip was full of highlights and memories that will last a life time.

We even got out of our car and chased down the wild Emus, they are flighty things. We laughed and laughed letting loose and forgetting ourselves and where we were, I haven't felt so good in so long. We must have looked a funny sight to the travelers zooming past us in their cars.

We stopped for our first night in Roma, a sweet little town in Outback Queensland. It was time for a snooze before we hit the road to Melbourne again.

Linking up for FYBF with the beautiful With Some Grace

beck xx

MONDAY MUNCHIES - Quick & Easy Meatloaf

Sunday nights is easy meal night around here, a quick fix meal to end the weekend, before the chaos of Monday rolls around. We have been known to consume toasties or noodles on really lazy Sundays which receive cheers from the boys because, no veggies...

Last night however veggies were on their plates, and although dinner took a little prep, it was still quick, easy and delicious. Perfect any night of the week.


QUICK AND EASY MEAT LOAF

INGREDIENTS 

* Beef mince
* Grated carrot
* Diced onion
* Cherry tomatoes halved
* 1 egg
* 1 tbls BBQ sauce
* Bread crumbs
* Tomato sauce

In a large bowl, combine all ingredients, except the tomato sauce, and mix well.
Lightly grease a non stick pan and press the mince mixture into the pan.
Top with the tomato sauce.
Bake until meat loaf is cooked through and golden.

Serve with veggies or salad.

Last night I teamed our meat loaf with the new Birds Eye Seasoned Sides Garden Medley. They were delicious and a hit with the boys.

Enjoy

beck xx

this post was not sponsored by birds eye.

COMMON CHAOS

We are one week into the last term of the school year for 2015, and already the end of year chaos has begun.
You know how it goes. Exams, report cards, awards nights, performances etc etc. The usual common chaos that the end of year brings. It also includes mountains and mountains of crap wonderful work being brought home, class parties that always require plates of crap healthy food to be shared, last minute friend and teacher gifts, oh and did I mention the crap that gets brought home by the bag full ?

Its been a BIG year for these two....

The end of this year is  huge for us. It includes interviews with the Principle and year coordinator as our baby youngest son heads into senior school next year. Yep, that's right, our youngest is heading into his final two years of school, How did that happen ? Just yesterday he began Prep, didn't he ?

We are also celebrating another huge milestone in our family as our third son graduates grade twelve. That's right, we have now managed not without drama to get three out of four sons to grade twelve graduation.

Phew...We are nearly there ;)

Even as I am typing tears prick my eyes threatening to fall. I was told, after I hysterically blubbered daintily wept at my oldest sons graduation that it gets easier as each child reaches this big moment in their life....

Let me tell you, it doesn't.

I have found as each of my sons reaches the ultimate goal, I become more hysterical saddened by the process as I realise my boys are no longer my little men but actual grown ups, ready to make their own decisions. It scares me a little bit more each day as I learn that I must let go and send them out into the big wide world to explore. It is the hardest part of being a mother, give me sleepless nights and tantrums any day.

But you know.....
I wouldn't change a single thing.

beck xx

I MUST CONFESS - That this post is not about anniversaries, but the BEST NRL GRAND FINAL EVER !

Firstly I would like to confess that I am not in the least bit sorry for missing today's Monday Munchies post sorry I was a little preoccupied with THE BEST NRL GRAND FINAL EVER but I promise that it will return as usual next week.

In case you didn't notice, or live on Mars (I heard that it could be possible one day) the North Queensland Cowboys won the NRL Grand Finale last night.

And I must confess that I may or may not have gone a little nuts with my congratulatory posts sorry

I also must confess that I  may or may not have been on the edge of my seat during the last few minutes of the game.

I must confess that I also may or may not have screamed the house down when the Cowboys WON after 20 long years in their search for glory.

I may or may not have cried big happy tears,  and O must confess that I may or may not have peed myself a little. As I said, I may or may not have.....

Congratulations to a well deserving team for their win. Cowboys, you have made us North Queenslanders very proud, and even without the victory of the 2015 grad finale win, you are our team and winners in our eyes win or loose.

my condolences to the Broncos fans 

proud to be a Cowboys supporter beck xx

Linking up with the beautiful Kirsty for I Must Confess