ANZAC DAY AND EASTER

LEST WE FORGET

Today is ANZAC Day, when we remember the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps, established in World War I.

My grandfather like so many Australians, served on the front line in Flanders, and two great-uncles of Mr Cardinal lost their lives there, young men far from their homes in Queensland.

I made some Anzac biscuits, as is my tradition...
Containing oats, butter, golden syrup, coconut and flour, this recipe was developed around the time of WW1.  The biscuits were sent to soldiers abroad because the ingredients do not spoil easily, and the they lasted well on long sea voyages.
The recipe contains no eggs, apparently due to a shortage of eggs (many farmers joined the war effort) as well as the fact that eggs would shorten the life of the sweet and healthy treat.

This is my recipe:
1 cup rolled oats
1 cup plain flour
1 cup sugar
3/4 cup coconut
4 oz. butter
2 tablespoons Golden Syrup
1 teaspoon bicarb soda
2 tablespoons hot water

Combine oats, flour, sugar and coconut.  Melt butter and syrup in saucepan until combined.  Mix bicarb with boiling water and add to butter/syrup.  This will froth up very quickly so use a medium size saucepan.
Immediately while frothing add to dry ingredients and mix together.
Place teaspoons of mixture on greased tray or on baking paper, allowing space for the biscuits to spread.  I cook at 160C for 15 minutes, but I have a hot oven.  Yours might take longer, or need a slightly higher heat.
Cook until golden brown but not burnt!
They are quite soft when cooked, but harden a little as they cool.

Did you make Anzac biscuits today?
Tell me your preferred recipe/method..

We stayed home this Easter..it was Family time.

My younger sister had a birthday and we gathered a few of the clan for a celebration at the Red Cardinal nest...

When your birthday falls at Easter, you get an Easter Birthday cake from your big sister...

as well as Hot Cross Buns...

Easter Sunday saw us singing and celebrating in church, followed by brunch with our younger son and his wife.

They really know how to set out a beautiful spread...

So healthy, we felt no guilt re our chocolate Easter eggs...

Her Majesty stepped out wearing her Australian Wattle Brooch - to my delight, and it loos perfect with yellow.

Long-time readers might remember I acquired a replica of this brooch when we toured Buckingham Palace in 2016.

I rarely get a chance to wear it, but I do love having it...

Reminds me of when I was a little girl who was captivated by the arrival of the young Queen to our shores, and by the idea of the wattle brooch presented by the Australian people.

And Happy 93rd birthday to Her Majesty this week.

She was a little fashion plate even 90 years ago, aged about three!

It was also lovely to see Catherine of Cambridge on Easter Sunday in this lovely chic hat and coat first worn at Easter in Australia a few years ago.

In other family news, Little Aussie now has pet chickens..

I think his smile says it all....

A bit from left field, but a great Easter present..

The owl is working very well, and the cockatoos have not been near the herb garden which is now flourishing ...

Sadly, it has also frightened off the lorikeets whose feeder is about 4-5 metres away.

They have not been here for days.

I need to move the herbs and owl a bit further off, and perhaps find extra rations of lorikeet treats...

Have a great week

XXXX

RANDOM THOUGHTS OF THE WEEK

Hello,

Walking by the creek I discovered the Golden Wattle is blossoming.

I love its beautiful scent, and delicate yellow fronds.

It is of course Australia's national flower, and I have mentioned lots of times that I like the Queen's Wattle Brooch, presented to her by Australia early in her reign.

I have purchased online tickets to see the State Rooms in Buckingham Palace, a tour which incorporates a display of Her Majesty's Wedding and Coronation gowns, along with many other noteworthy outfits.  

As a life-long sewist, I will enjoy this immensely.

After which I will proceed, as is my wont, to the Gift Shop.

Where, it seems, they sell replicas of the above Wattle Brooch.

hmmmmm....

Moving right along, last time we went to London I saw my first robin red-breast, on Day 1, while walking through Green Park.

And speaking of wildlife, I have put out lots of my father's nature books for Little Aussie to read.  It might have influenced me to buy a cheap tiger sweater from H&M.

We wished our grandsons had been with us at the local village on Saturday.  

Look who was wandering around!!

Thank you all for the helpful and interesting hints on things to see in London.
I have taken notes, and my itinerary is coming together.
All hotel reservations are now in place, and I might even let myself get a tiny bit excited.  

Of course, after London we are off to Dublin and the wedding of our son to his Irish Lass.  I have never been to Ireland, and if you have, would love to hear what you enjoyed.

My list at the moment goes something like this:

Book of Kells

What did you love in Ireland?

Is it green because it rains all the time?

I have much to ponder...

Stay warm or cool, whatever the weather in your neck of the woods...

XXXX

PRIZE-GIVING DAY

This is the 300th Post on the Red Cardinal Blog -

and just three years since I began blogging.

 Hollywood joined in, putting on a party for the occasion...

Oh, no, actually that is for our Cate Blanchett, who took home the Oscar for best actress.  And every other gong this season, which must make her the most successful Aussie actress, ever..

She always looks gorgeous in a blush gown, and looked like a princess today.

Then there is our other Australian Catherine...

Designer Catherine Martin won Two Oscars for her work on The Great Gatsby.

As always, I was somewhat glued to the television, well actually I made a cake and did some sewing during the Oscar telecast..

Always loved navy, and Sandra Bullock did not disappoint in this classy look..

Penelope Cruz - well you all know I'll go for the pale pink every time, and the l black accent adds to the glamour..

 Kelly Osbourne looked like a diva in this elegant number..

Liza Minnelli, who is 'of a certain age', an age with which I may or may not have a nodding association.

This was probably a good idea to begin with, but who made this?

So many obvious tailoring mistakes, sleeves which pull, top hem has stretched, pants side seam not aligned properly - I could go on.

If I made this I'd toss it in the bin and start again, possibly with a better quality of fabric.

But perhaps I am being too harsh, Liza with a Z..

but you deserve better.

Surprise of the night: Kim Novak. 

Actually, I was surprised she was still alive, shame on me..

Eighty years old, looking glam, but seemed to have trouble with her speaking voice.  As for Matthew McConaughey, Best Actor winner ...I do so love a Southern accent.

He is from Texas, which we have twice visited, and where we have friends.

I could listen to that drawl all day - sigh!!

Did you watch the Oscars?
Tell me your favourites...

Blogging has brought so much fun and joy into my life...

the real action, of course, always takes place in the comments box.

A lovely reader, B, sent me this photo of a pretty Red Cardinal having a happy time atop a snowman.... just the sort of image I need during our hot summer..

GIVEAWAY!

To celebrate the blog's 3rd birthday and 300th post, I am putting together a jolly little bundle of items referencing the Red Cardinal nest..

A red bird pin/brooch from elk..

Elk accessories are designed in Melbourne, and elk works with small family manufacturers utilising traditional crafts and skills, supporting small communities with consistent, sustainable work.  Elk contributes to UNICEF's work for the world's most vulnerable children.

.. can't send you a lorikeet - or can I?

and not forgetting our white cockatoos..

There'll be something handsewn, made with my own little birdie claws...

pink roses..

and Wattle Fairies..

several items from the Art Gallery shop..

and anything else my mind can dream up in the next fortnight.

To enter the draw, all you have to do is leave a comment on the Red Cardinal blog by 17th March, and/or become a Follower... Easy!

I am happy to post internationally - 

love all my blogger friends from around the globe, and this is my thank you gift to you.

It's been raining today - Halleluih!
Maybe I'll get a few more roses next week...

Bye now

xxxx

WATTLE

Australia looks forward to a Royal Tour in April this year when

Prince William, Kate, and Baby George arrive..

It's been announced that Kate will wear some of the Queen's fabulous jewels, on loan for the trip, including her famous Australian Wattle Brooch:

It was given to Her Majesty by the Commonwealth of Australia sixty years ago on her first visit to our shores..

The Queen usually wears it with a yellow outfit, and it has made an appearance during most of her royal visits.

Many women are not keen on wearing yellow.  I love it, but I think you need to get just the right shade for your complexion.

Kate has only occasionally been seen in yellow, but the Queen is fearless with colour.

Our wattle blooms in Winter, and has a beautiful scent..

I found some paintings by some well-known Modernist Australian women artists:

Google Images

Drapery and Wattle, 1952, by Grace Cossington-Smith [1892-1984]

Google Images

 Wattle, 1928, Margaret Preston [1875-1963] 

and generations of Australian children have grown up enjoying the little bush fairies created by May Gibbs [1877-1969], which include the gorgeous Wattle Babies:

Maybe someone will present Prince George with his own book of Aussie fairytales!