Mama Chameleon

Friday, January 23, 2009




Tastebud Screamer

-well mine scream for this cake at least! The pic above is the piece I longed for but resisted.

Diva made it today only because we were out of butter. Here is the recipe for you my dear sis!
Deep Dark Chocolate Cake
1 3/4 cups flour
2 cups sugar
3/4 cup cocoa
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
1 cup milk
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 teaspoons vanilla
1 cup boiling water
Preheat oven to 350°F.
Combine dry ingredients.
Mix together eggs,milk,oil,vanilla. Stir into boiling water. Add to dry ingredients. Mix well.
Pour into a 9 x 13 inch pan. Bake in preheated 350°F oven for 40 minutes.



Posted by michelle :: 4:41 pm :: 4 comments links to this post

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Saturday, January 17, 2009



Connections

About 2 weeks ago our family went on Summer Camp. It is week long program run by the Anglican Mission organisation, CMS, for people to come and hear a fantastic Christian speaker and to meet and interact with missionaries who are home for a few months.
So for 7 days (less for us this time, because Topsy got sick and wasn't able to get into the doctors at the mountain town) we bunked up in a one room unit, ( yes we all lived in that one room, with an ensuite) though we were fully catered for. The unit is part of the CMS accomodation complex right next to the auditorium which is super hard to get into! It is just so convenient everyone wants to gt a place.
What happens at Summer Camp?
Well thousands of people from all over come. There is a kids' program that is very well planned and executed. It is exellent at each age level, that runs from 9 - 12pm. The missionaries we hear from visit each age group and interact at their level in a really hands on way culturally. And in that time frame for the adults, the theme this year was The Cross and Eternity. We would sing maybe hear an interview, then listen to an absolutely fantastic speaker talking on part of the Bible linked to the theme. After morning tea, we could go to one of 6 different seminars each day for an hour, where missionaries from all over would talk on all different topics: eg Googling God, Taking Kids With You,Upsides and Downsides, and Do We Still Need To Send Missionaries?
I lapped it all up, I must say.
Then after lunch we could do whatever. Our family went to the pool a few times, and caught up with friends at a variety of different places.
There was always a fun informal program at night with interesting and often funny items put on by the visiting missionaries.
Where we were staying, someone would set up a video for the kids, and the adults could watch the night prgram live on a TV link in the dining hall instead of going all the way back up to the auditorium.
I would put Topsy to bed , see the kids off to their movie and go to watch the talk in the dining hall. Hubby always crashed by that stage. Then there would be a supper ( late night snack to the Amnericans) served in the dining hall to all the people coming back to hear a specific missionary or couple or family share about their experiences. I loved going to that as well! LOL!
One of my highlights of the week had to be a conversation I had witha 13 year old boy one afternoon at our accomodation. He was also a missionary kid in Kenya. Left at the age of ten. And for the first time in many years I had a real reminisce about favorite old haunts and very similar experiences. We really connected. The age gap disappeared!
Next year though, I think we will rent a house with another family. Our little unit got incredibly hot, and I think that rather than the video at night, the kids can start coming up to the night stuff. They would find it really fun and interesting.
Hope you are still awake after all that! Heehee!
Just leave you with some pics I have taken lately.
Granny and Topsy baking. Topsy puts on his yellow chef's outfit ad become Greg (Wiggle) the Chef.

My big boy: Roly


Early morning reflections


Great Mates




Learning the ropes of the water pistol




My princess. The reason there are more shots of her and Topsy than the others? They are much more willing victims!




My most uncooperative victim!!! Such a waste of such handsomeness!














A cockatoo at CMS Summercamp



A something bird at our bird feeder. It is up high where the cats have no hope!!!

Cousins trying to barter at the $5 silly gift exchange! Not great pics, but I love the expressions!!!


Posted by michelle :: 8:59 pm :: 1 comments links to this post

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