Banana Cake

No St. Patrick's Day action for me but, I know you are dying to know that today I baked my first banana cake here in the US. It took me longer to find the ingredients in the shop then it did to actually make it. A nice lady in the shop helped me understand the butter (it's all labelled sweet cream butter) - but it's just butter. Anyway, using my new zippy kitchen aid mix master thing, it was made in a jiffy. The icing is not quiet the same tho, not as cream-cheesy I reckon - I even used Kraft Philly. Deb will take it to work tomorrow to start earning brownie point credits :0

I made my first loaf of bread too and it was superb. Best bread we've eaten here. The bread here is just sweet and quite yucky really. I'll have a crack at hot cross buns on the weekend but I never mastered it at home so not expecting miracles here. I couldn't find mixed peel anywhere? So looks like I'll have to cut up the dried fruit manually or...to my dear Tupperware lady friend...I might try that choppy choppy slicer thing I got. It did onions good so maybe it will do the dried fruit for me? Will let you know how I go.

Griswald's Car ?

Took this photo of a car at the supermarket. I laughed - I wondered if it was the Griswald's car. (You older folk who remember Chevy Chase and the Vacation series of movies will get this). Sadly, no Griswalds in the shops.

Meeting some lovely people when out walking with the dogs. I never knew people at home to be so friendly. The dogs go crazy when they meet new dogs and it's great watching them run and play and then come home and collapse totally shagged. They are both on the watch for squirrels now and there were a few out this morning with a death wish. Cricket is doing well on his Zyrtec tablets - coughing and sneezing has settled.

I have named our front verandah (porch) the 'loading dock'. Everyday something arrives in a box which usually means hours of assembly work on the 'production line' = the front doorway entrance area. My fingers are getting sore spots from the screwdrivers and allen keys and I think I'm getting Popeye arms.We are only waiting on the lounge and bedroom suite which still may be a few weeks.

Loading Dock and Assembly Line

Chewbacca

Now I like my hair short as you know. Moving to a new city is all about finding new things; a doctor, a dentist and a hairdresser. We have yet to find a new hairdresser and it's been about 8 weeks since my last haircut. Given I get a haircut every 4 weeks, you can imagine I'm getting a fair mop on top. If I don't get my hair cut soon, I'll be able to audition for Chewbacca in the next Star Wars movie.

We're going running again in the morning at dark o'clock (before work). Given my long term hip injury, it's killing me to run too far but I'm enjoying it, especially in a new place. Can't wait to ride the bike on the weekend. We're also out for dinner tomorrow night with a visiting friend. And a useless bit of trivia, my hot song at the moment is 'Make Me Like You' by Gwen Stefani. Must be time I get the guitar out too and start strumming again. Time for a cup of tea, a piece of banana cake and a few more episodes of Blacklist.