1.12.16

butterfly


Growing, changing and finding her true colour in life like a butterfly

26.6.16

presentation day . fawn


Milou had her second drama class presentation day on Saturday. The theme was enchanted forest and she totally enjoyed dressing up as a fawn. 

19.6.16

ninja daddy


Happy Father's Day! 

Thank you for being our ninja daddy 
and love us beyond all measure. 

We Iove you! xo



9.6.16

1st birthday . marceau



Marceau, you are super awesome
I am so lucky because I get to be your mummy
One day you will outgrow my lap, 
But never my heart

I love you! xo

8.6.16

1st birthday . family



My family . Just the right mix of chaos and love
They are my sun, my moon and all of my stars

7.6.16

1st birthday . pass the parcel


Marceau's first pass the parcel and had fun ripping off the wrapping paper.

1st birthday . castle


My sweet little prince had fun in his castle.

5.6.16

1st birthday . bubbles


Happiness is catching bubbles all day long.

4.6.16

1st birthday . birthday boy


Birthday boy. I can't believe this picture was taken from six months ago. Marceau has achieved since then:

                        -  he now runs everywhere!
                        -  can do simple signing such as thank you, please, down and spider
                        -  uses utensils to feed himself
                        -  can say daddy, mummy, jie jie (big sis), the dogs' names, gou gou (dog)
                        -  bear-hug is his specialty
                        -  enjoys reading 
                        -  loves dinosaurs and Lego
                        -  weighs 10.62 kg
                        -  82.5cm in height
                        -  has 12 teeth
                        -  broccoli, cheese, tomatoes, pork bone soup, waffles are his favourite food
                        -  likes tickling big sister
                        -  dances like there is no tomorrow




3.6.16

1st birthday . old vermont burnt sugar cake with popcorn and maple syrup frosting


My sweet lil boy just turned 18 months old a few days ago. It doesn't seem that long ago we celebrated his first birthday. When there is a birthday, there must be a homemade birthday cake!

2.6.16

discovery



It is amazing to watch when every little thing is new and fascinating for them. Everyday is a new discovery.

sick day


I think every mum wishes they could use a magic wand to make their babies well again in a flash. 

puppy


Milou asked to have her face painted for the very first time at the annual Aquadrome festival. Of course, puppy was on the top of the list.

31.5.16

venice . ponte dei sospiri


A glimpse of the Bridge of Sighs during maintenance. 

As my last post in honouring the loss of a dear family member recently, may this be a reminder that I should never take things or anyone for granted. The many moments that I had taken granted; mostly because I assumed there would be many more of them.

30.5.16

venice . shadows




Shadows from the afternoon sun highlight the architecture of the Palazzo Ducale.

venice . morning sun


Some gorgeous morning sunshine on this absolutely beautiful Akita. James and I both agreed we would have an Akita one day.

29.5.16

venice . ponte di rialto


My take on the Ponte di Rialto (Rialto Bridge), the heart of Venice and the city's first bridge over the Grand Canal. 

28.5.16

venice . door knocker v


This is my favourite door knocker from our visit to Venice.

26.5.16

venice . boy with a frog



This gleaming white sculpture of a boy with a frog by Charles Ray is 8 feet tall and occupied Punta della Dogana for four years.

25.5.16

venice . patterns


Beautiful wrought iron patterns on a door.

venice . lost


Let's find a place to get lost.

24.5.16

venice . door knocker iv


I like the quirkiness of this door knocker. I think it is a Koi? Please correct me if I was wrong. 

22.5.16

venice . bloom


With a little time and Iove, it will bloom where it is planted.

21.5.16

venice . sunset


Gondolas at sunset with San Giorgio Maggiore in the background.

20.5.16

venice . door knocker iii


Another beautiful find during our walks through the cobble streets around Venice. 

18.5.16

venice . view



View of the Grand Canal and Santa Maria della Salute from the Academia bridge. 

17.5.16

venice . what's the rush


We visited Venice a week before Christmas so there was festive decorations everywhere including these two santas, who seemed to be in a rush.

16.5.16

venice . door knocker ii


Door knocker is a great way to impress your visitors even before they enter your home.


15.5.16

venice . farewell


How lucky am I to have known you to make our final farewell so hard. I will always think of you whenever I make scones or have a KitKat. May your soul be in a happy place now.  xo

14.5.16

venice . the eagle of zeus and ganymede


This is my favourite version of the eagle of Zeus and Ganymede statue at the Gallerie dell`Academia museum. 

13.5.16

venice . by night



Venice is unquestionably romantic during the day but when it under a cloak of darkness, it gives an extra dose of intimacy and mystery.

12.5.16

venice . door knocker




was totally obsessed with these beautiful door knockers around Venice. You will definitely see more of them in the upcoming posts. 

11.5.16

venice . captured


A captured moment is a return ticket to the memory otherwise gone

10.5.16

venice . in snow




It is hard to imagine Venice any more romantic than it is. Well, arriving Venice in a thick layer of soft white snow is definitely the most romantic and something I will never forget. 

9.5.16

goodbye



It is not saying goodbyes that hurt but the flashbacks that follow.

My posts for rest of the month will be honouring a very special person that we lost recently. 

8.5.16

time




The problem is, you think you have time. ~ Buddha

7.5.16

my mummy



Everything I am,  I got it from my mummy. Thank you mummy!

We love you very much! xo

6.5.16

maple cross walk . view


Enjoying the best view from daddy's shoulder.

5.5.16

maple cross farm . fur children


These two bicker and annoy each other just like our other two human children. However, they do share a lot of fun and joy together and Iove each other very much. It's a complicated life!

4.5.16

maple cross farm . walks


May there be more of these lovely walks this Spring and Summer.

3.5.16

maple cross . hide and seek


Some hide and seek fun with her buddy.

2.5.16

maple cross farm . best day


Milou probably won't remember the best day of television but she would definitely talk about the best day of running in an open field. 

1.5.16

maple cross farm . princess



She always checks to make sure I am not too far behind. 


30.4.16

bear hunt



We're going on a bear hunt
We're going to catch a big one
What a beautiful day!
We're not scared

29.4.16

lil adventure


Lil adventure in the woods with daddy.

28.4.16

dorset . be back soon


We love going to the beach and will definitely be back soon!

27.4.16

dorset . sharing



Milou hadn't quite master the art of sharing.

26.4.16

dorset . toes


The feeling of sand between your toes. 


25.4.16

dorset . 70th birthday


I baked a lemon blueberry cake with cream cheese frosting for my father in law's 70th birthday. This cake is so light and moist!


Lemon Blueberry Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
Ingredients
  • ½ cups cake flour*
  • ½ cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • ¼ tsp baking soda
  • ¾ tsp salt
  • ½ cup maple syrup
  • 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 Tbsp lemon zest
  • 4 large eggs
  • 2 tsp lemon extract
  • ½ tsp vanilla extract
  • ¾ cup + 2 Tbsp milk
  • ¼ cup + 2 Tbsp sour cream
  • 2 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
  • ½ cups fresh blueberries, at room temperature, rinsed and drained well

  • Cream Cheese Frosting
  • 12 oz cream cheese, softened
  • ¾ cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • ¼ tsp lemon extract
  • 2 Tbsp maple syrup
  • Blueberries for garnish
Directions
  • - Preheat oven to 350 degrees. 
  • - Butter 3 x 9" round baking pans and line the bottom with parchment paper. Butter parchment paper and lightly dust pan with flour, shaking out excess.
  • - Sift cake flour into a mixing bowl. Add all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt and whisk for 30 seconds, set aside. 
  • - Whip together butter, maple syrup and lemon zest until mixture is pale and fluffy with an electric mixer. 
  • - In a 2 cup liquid measuring cup, measure out milk then stir in sour cream and lemon juice, let rest 3 minutes. 
  • - Mix eggs into butter mixture one a time, then stir in lemon extract and vanilla extract.-
  • - Toss blueberries with 3 Tbsp of the flour mixture. Working in three separate batches, beginning and ending with remaining flour mixture, add 1/3 of the flour mixture (to the butter/egg mixture) alternating with 1/2 of the milk mixture and mixing just until combined after each addition. 
  • - Gently fold in blueberries. 
  • - Divide mixture evenly among the three baking pans. 
  • - Bake in preheated oven for about 24 - 27 minutes. 
  • - Cool in baking pans about 20 - 30 minute then invert onto wire racks to cool completely. - 
  • - Once cool, frost with cream cheese frosting and decorate with blueberries 

  • Cream Cheese Frosting:
  • - Whip butter until pale and fluffy. 
  • - Add cream cheese and mix until smooth and fluffy. 
  • - Add vanilla and lemon extract and maple syrup and blend several minutes longer until smooth and fluffy 
  • - Chill the frosting in the fridge for half an hour before frosting the cake.

* you make your own cake flour by replacing 2 Tbsp of all purpose flour with the same amount of corn flour for every cup of flour required.

24.4.16

dorset . gymnast


Lil gymnast was busy at practising her performance.