My parents generously sent me a little money for Christmas and my birthday with instructions to buy myself some “warm boots”..

As much as I’d like warm boots (and I’ll get me some in January for sure) I’ve spent it on something else, a keynote speaker and a rainstick!

I’ve always wanted a rainstick so when I saw one in Bluestone Magik and Enchanted Crystal (this is such a cool shop- especially the back room) in Mahone Bay I grasped it firmly, tipped it and listened. Immediately it started raining heavily outside so it was a sign and now, at home, I have been annoying Hobbits, dogs and cats alike summoning the rain gods at every opportunity. (I will use this in 2012 for watering my vegetable garden)

Two wonderful speeches by Sir Ken Robinson who discusses the very ethos of the importance of creativity in schools- please watch and discuss!

The other thing I bought was a “keynote speaker”..

I’ve always been interested in alternative methods of teaching our children. Not every child thrives in a regular school system, sometimes creativity is a way a child can learn and grow and become brilliant in a sphere that is outside the box.

For some children school = boredom/anxiety or apathy. While some children thrive on structure and academia and have an affinity for these, others will only thrive and show interest/joy and brilliance in computers/art/sports/music/drama in a less structured and creative environment.

My educational hero is Sir Ken Robinson…

When I first heard him on TED.com I finally had found someone who was able to express the thoughts I had inside me in such a wonderful way that it was enlightening.

And now he is coming to Halifax in April and it looks like I’ll be travelling up to enjoy listening to the man himself.

I can’t wait…!

I’m a strange bird. I’d rather mend and make do (no matter how long it takes me) than throwing away something that can be re-used or indeed something I can repair. That’s probably why a) My house has way more clutter than it should (but I’m working on that!) and b) My stove/oven has been out of action for over a year..

Finally I got my act together and by brute force modified the clips on the wires inside the oven to accommodate the larger pads attached to the universal element I purchased many months ago. My daughters jewelry making pliers came in handy to crimp the two together before pushing the wiring back inside and securing the internal plate attached to the element with two screws I borrowed from my cupboard hinges (must remember to replace those)..

A friend had advised me to also replace two large range fuses, which I did and with trepidation and fingers in ears (ok ear) whilst switching the stove on, was delighted to not hear a bang or to witness a plume of acrid smoke rising from the door. Indeed it was a time for rejoicing as the oven cooking element sprang into life … this meant only one thing. Time for a BAKE-A-THON..

A frugal kitchen space saving tip… use a buffet table as your preparation surface! Mine is perfect as a cooking table and is always kept clear between cooking so I can either throw a tablecloth over it or simply fold it up and movie it out of the kitchen in just a minute!

And here is the very first thing I baked and so far, despite their absolute deliciousness I have only eaten four…

Ingredients:

3/4 cup Earth Balance organic soy butter (yes it’s totally yummy)
1 cup of organic light brown sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup water (feel free to add some fresh coffee to that)
1 cup organic flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg
3 cups quick cooking or rolled oatmeal
3/4 cup of golden raisins
1/2 tsp sea salt
1/4 cup of glace mixed fruit chopped
1/4 cup raw sunflower seeds
1 tbsp of Salba seed (for omega 3- optional)

Preparation:

Cream together the vegan butter and sugar until smooth. Add vanilla and water slowly and mix well.
Add flour, baking soda and spices until well mixed, then stir in oats and seeds, raisins and glace fruit

Spoon 1 1/2 inch balls (flattened) onto an ungreased cookie sheet and bake 10-15 minutes at 350 degrees, or until done.

Enjoy your vegan oatmeal cookies!

We’ll be making our own Christmas Crackers this year- but we’ll probably have to shout bang…. just like the “Goods” from one of my favourite wayback TV Series “The Good Life” Click here for The Good Life- Homemade Christmas Crackers

I’ve been trying to source cracker snaps in my wish to make our own for Christmas!

You’d think it would be easy right? Actually it looks like to make my own Christmas crackers I’d have to buy crackers and remove the snaps to make my own…

Don’t believe me? Call www.michaels.com and ask them if they sell cracker snaps…

“Hi- do you have cracker snaps at your store”
“No sorry we don’t have them here”
“Oh do you have them at your branch in Dartmouth”
“No sorry, we used to but now we don’t…..we can’t import them anymore as they are now classified as explosives”
SILENCE- followed by rapid burst of laughter from both ends of the phone…….

Not wanting to be thwarted I started Googling and a friend sent me a link to some on eBay! (thanks Adrian!) … this looked hopeful! They would have to come half way around the world from Australia BUT if there was a problem with importing cracker snaps (remembering that they are highly explosive and a threat to humanity) into Canada they would probably not make it through customs.

I haven’t found cracker snaps made in Canada yet. If anyone knows where I can get some I’d really appreciate it