Long Weekend

How much fun, family and relaxation can you fit into a long weekend.

Picnics, grandchildren, egg decorating, boat watching, patting farm animals, visiting family, lunches, soap making, upcycling clothes, gardening just to name a few. 

What a fantastic weekend.  I hope everyone had a wonderful easter doing what you enjoy doing the most.

Good Friday Tradition -Brisbane to Gladstone Race (Bluewater Festival)

Every year since we have lived at Redcliffe (12 years) it has been a tradition to head to the water and join in the festivities of the Brisbane to Gladstone Boat Race.  For the last 4 years I have been part of the market stalls at the Bluewater Festival at Shorncliffe.  This is where the race starts.  I truly love this festival as it is so family friendly and full of great activities for all ages.  Two festivals running this day.  One at Redcliffe which is a great festival BUT so busy you really don't enjoy yourself.  It is like peoples day at the Ekka.  So this year not a stall holder but a visitor and off we went to Shorncliffe.  Bill, William, Rhiannon and myself.


Shorncliffe.  What a perfect day.



Easter Biscuit Decorating

What a great way to start the Easter Break with some easter decorating with the Grandchildren.  Rhiannon, Callum and Noah making their own creations with Arrowroot Biscuits, Icing, Sugar decorations, jelly beans, and sprinkles.  They truly loved the activity.  This looks like a new tradition to start every easter.'

I hope you all have a wonderful easter.  Tomorrow we are off to Shorncliffe for the start of the Brisbane to Gladstone Yacht Race plus a picnic lunch.

Sue x

A not so lazy Sunday

It certainly has been a busy Sunday today.  Early morning rise at 5.30am.  Washing  to be done as well as baking and some gardening.

Easter is only a few days away so hubby asked me to do a trial run on some homemade Hot Cross Buns.  I love Hot Cross Buns.  None of those Chocolate ones they have in the shop.  Just the original ones but with no peel.  Hubby not a lover of peel.  I am very pleased with the result so I thought I would share the recipe.

HOT CROSS BUNS

1 egg
plus 1 egg yolk
3/4 cup Milk
80 grams butter
6 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon lemon rind grated
1 teaspoon cinamon
2 teaspoons mixed spice
3/4 teaspoon salt
3 cups plain flour
1 tablespoon yeast
1/2 cup sultanas

Method
Place all ingredients in the bread maker and set the breakmaker to mix dough.
Add fruit at the signal.  Most breadmakers will beep so you can add them in.
Once completed take out of breadmaker and punch the dough down.
Roll pieces of dough into a ball.  This mix will make about 16-18 average size buns.
Place these 1/2 inch apart on a greased pan.  Cover and rise in a warm place for 1-2 hours.
Mix up a 1/4 cup of plain flour, 1 tablespoon of sugar and enough water to make a paste. 
This is the mixture to make the cross.  Use a piping bag or a freezer bag with the tip cut off and pipe a cross on each bun.
Bake buns in a preheated oven 180c or 160c if you have a fan forced oven for about 20 minutes.
While the buns are baking mix a 1/4 cup of sugar and 1/2 cup of water together and heat until sugar is dissolved.  Let it simmer for a minute or two.
Take of the heat.  Brush this on the top of your hot cross buns to give them a gloss.

Happy cooking everyone.

Sue

Quiet week online

I know I have been quiet over the last 2 weeks due to the useage of our internet being used.  Now hubby knows how much U Tube can chew up the GB.  Any way I have to admit I did miss it.  I do rely on the internet alot to keep up to date with my friends especially my facebook friends as well as reading all blogs I follow.  So I was grateful that my new book arrived in the mail just in time and what an amazing book. 

I have been following Rhonda Hetzel blog for quite awhile now and was so excited when Rhonda had published her book.   Her blog is Down to earth and very interesting if you are interested in saving money, paying off your mortgage early and living an amazing life.  We are currently working on our vegie patch again.  New house new garden to dig.  Great gardening advice.  Cleaning advice and easy nourishing recipes to use. 

As well as having this book to read I have been busy making decorations for the dinner dance at my work which was held last night.  Fantastic night and had a ball. 

I am also participating in an apron swap.  I have purchased my material and I will spend this week making my apron for Sheila.  Sheila has a fantastic blog sheilasquiltworld. 

I have been also making some patchwork handbags which look great and they will be gifts for my sister and sisterlaw for their birthdays.  Each one will be filled with handmade soaps and goodies.  I enjoy giving handmade items as gifts.  One of a kind and the love that goes into each item.  Whether I make it or I buy it from a Handmade Market you can guarrantee that so much time and effort and love was put into that item.  In Brisbane alone we have some great handmade markets.  My favourites are brisstyle and thehandmadeexpo so please check out their blog for information on when their next markets are on.

Anyway a couple of busy weekends over the next few weeks.  The grandchildren are coming today next weekend is Easter so need this week to finish off their easter gifts.  Handmade of course.

I hope you all have a fantastic weekend where ever you are.


Sue x

Time for a break

So far this year has been quite busy.  It didn't take long to get back into work after our holiday to Tasmania.  Work has been quite busy which is great.  I love to be kept busy.  At home I have been busy as well.  Last weekend was my first market since November and like normal I always love going to Ipswich to The Handmade Expo.  I have been quite busy creating at home and have extended to the range of products.  Currently I am in love with my overlocker and sewing machine and can't get enough of both of them.  But this weekend I have to give them up and spend time with my beloved hubby who I think has been feeling a bit neglected.  We are heading up to Rainbow Beach on Saturday, staying overnight and then heading home.  One night is plenty to sit back relax and have no disturbances.  No facebook, no internet, no William (son on camp), no sewing machine, no creating.  Just Bill and I and my camera to take some photos of the beautiful place.   Hopefully the weather will improve.

Anyway I hope everyone is having a great week and have a fabulous weekend what ever you are doing.  Don't forget if you live in Queensland we have to vote on Saturday.  Should be interesting who will be running the state next week.  Well I won't be thinking about it this weekend.

What ever you are doing enjoy.

Sue

Disability and Discrimination

I have the most amazing Grandson Callum who has Autism.  Callum is 6 and in year 1 but unfortuneatley his school is treating him unfairly.  Below is a letter about to be sent to the School, State Member, Education Queensland regarding the treatment my grandson and daughter have been given since the beginning of the year.

To the Headmaster of Kippa-ring State School,

My name is Sue Grier and I am the concerned Grandmother of Callum Milliken who is in grade 1. 

I am in shock of the way my grandson and my daughter is being treated by the school in regards to his Autism. 

As we have all hear over and over again by our politicians and Education Queensland that all children whether they have a disability or not are entitled to an education.  This is not happening.  You advocate on your Responsible Behaviour Support Plan that:

Education Queensland is committed to provisions that ensure all young Queenslanders have a right to and receive a quality education.

At Kippa-Ring State School, our purpose is to provide a safe, supportive and challenging environment with opportunities for all students to achieve to their potential. Our Responsible Behaviour Plan for Students is based on the Code of Behaviour, National Safe Schools Framework and relevant legislation and Education Queensland policies as outlined.

Our school provides a positive climate within and beyond the classroom to help develop students’ social, emotional and civic skills. Students, staff and parents build student resilience and responsibility and work to ensure a safe and supportive environment.

In all my 25 years being involved in the Disability Sector in Queensland I am disgusted in the treatment of Callum.  Last year Callum was attending Prep at your school and the school knew of his Autism so things should have been in place ready for him in the New Year. 

Social books should have been developed by your Behaviour Support Team to prepare him for this.  Instead my Grandson has been isolated in a room at lunch time and has never had the chance to play with anyone at break time.  My daughter is trying everything to assist him.  Instead you have made her feel guilty. It is NOT my daughter’s fault that a teacher injured herself when she was assisting Callum.  If proper strategies were in place this would not have happened.  Where is the Intensive Behaviour Support you promote on your website?  Where is the meeting with the parents?

Where is the daily monitoring? Have you and your staff worked out his triggers?  Are you listening to the main person who can give you this information? Where is his Positive Behaviour Support Plan?  Every time Sarah has asked for it she is told “should have it tomorrow”. It is unacceptable that most mornings at 9.15am my daughter receives a call to come pick him up.  What about the Wrap-around Program you boast on your website.  What strategies are in place? Making him spend time in the Headmasters Office is not a strategy.  Sarah was told a few weeks ago that a Social book was to be developed.  Where is this?  Are these just all empty promises.

 Where is this Network of Professionals that you talk about on your website?    

What happen to inclusion and integration?  I don’t see this at all.  I see isolation and discrimination.  All I see is very poor management. Is this how you treat children with disabilities at your school?

Regards

Sue Grier