Brigitte’s autumn hideaway

Posts Tagged ‘birthday’

This weekend we had a lot of fun (even the cold snap hit us in New Zealand)

All children were involved to bake a birthday cake

David of course loved the ‘machine’!

We made a delicious cake with self made marzipan!

All was done ‘Top secret’ of course!
And on Sunday Christoph got a surprise party

Birthday card by Aileen.

And of course Daddy ‘had’ to share the presents

To make your own Marzipan you need almonds, sugar and rosewater.
First you give 1 cup almonds into a pot and fill with boiling water. Soak for a few minutes, strain and give into cold water.
If you squeeze the almond now it will pop out of it’s skin.
Process the almonds in a food processor or grater or like me use the Magic bullet.
Add half a cup of confectioner sugar (I make my own by powdering raw sugar with the Magic bullet)
And add 1-2 tsp rosewater. Knead well. If it is sticky, you need more sugar.
You can make Marzipan also with a bit creamed honey instead of sugar.
It tastes yummy and has no added preservatives like the Marzipan from the store.

On my birthday I was greeted with a candlelight heart!

And a yummy chocolate cake decorated with a spiral! This will be another great year of my life!

I am so happy and thankful for all we managed. Now I am excited to greet a new year in my 40′s (The next picture was taken by Aileen)

Actually I was born in spring, but since we changed the hemisphere I am  an Autumn child now.

Now I can enjoy toadstools instead of “Maigloeckchen” (Lily of the valley in English)

What a wonderful world!

So much to discover, learn and give. I wish you all a great jorney!

Autumn finally hit New Zealand in her best robe. Colourful trees are turning the green Island into a joyful artwork.

Everywhere basket fungus is popping up and leaves a trail of funny white frames all over the Autumn floor.

There are also other mushrooms looking curious around under the warm autumn sun.

May is the month where I celebrate my birthday with my youngest son. David has just turned Four and enjoyed a special day with a lot of fun. His birthday cake was a delicious butter-, chocolate-, sponge-roll- choo – choo

We also made a trip over the Rimutaka into beautiful Wairarapa. There we loaded our car full with fruits, veggies and free range eggs from the farmers in Carterton.

In Featherstone I saw my first surgical theater on wheels!!!

That’s so awesome! New Zealand is just fantastic!!!!

There are more and more surprises in this beautiful country, and I am so happy to enjoy an awesome warm and colourful Autumn.

It is Davids Birthday today and we went to an ‘Forest adventure’
After yesterdays rain we were surprised by flooding at our beloved path at Spicer’s botanical park.
That was not the only surprise! Oh no!
We found our first Parasol mushrooms in New Zealand! Yeah!
Finally we found our beloved edible mushrooms! Their scent smells like nuts and they are so good when you saute them in butter or roll them first in flour then egg and pan-fry in butter. Yum!
We sure had a great dinner today! And what a day to remember!
David turned three and we found Parasols!