Floral Friday : Protea scolymocephala

January 31, 2014January 31, 2014 ~ Aletta - nowathome ~ 12 Comments

Protea scolymocephala is a dainty shrub bearing abundant pink-tinged, creamy-green flowerheads in winter/spring, ideal for small gardens on the sandy flats.

For more photo’s click here.

http://decocraftsdigicrafts.wordpress.com/2014/01/31/floral-friday-lilies/

http://scrapydo.wordpress.com/2014/01/31/pineapple-lily/

http://woollymuses.wordpress.com/2014/02/01/floral-friday-310114/

Home-Style Macaroni and Cheese

January 30, 2014January 30, 2014 ~ Aletta - nowathome ~ 8 Comments

Macaroni with chunks of Cheddar cheese is baked until bubbling for a soothing and satisfying supper.

200 g uncooked elbow macaroni

50 g butter or margarine

45 ml plain flour

500 ml milk

225 g softened cream cheese

2 ml salt

2 ml pepper

10 ml country -sty le Dijon mustard

225 g cubed 1 cm Cheddar cheese

125 g fresh breadcrumbs

30 g butter or margarine, melted

30 ml chopped fresh parsley

Heat oven to 200°C . Cook macaroni according to directions; drain. Meanwhile, in a saucepan melt 50 g butter; stir in flour. Cook over med. heat, stirring occasionally, until smooth and bubbly (l min.). Stir in milk, cream cheese, salt, pepper and mustard. Continue cooking, stirring occasionally, until sauce is thickened (3 to 4 min.). Stir in macaroni and cheese. Pour into casserole dish.

In small bowl stir together remaining ingredients; sprinkle over macaroni and cheese.
Bake for 15 to 20 min. or until golden brown and heated through.

Microwave Directions:

Cook macaroni according to directions; drain. Meanwhile, in casserole dish melt 50 g butter on HIGH (50 to 60 sec.). Stir in flour.

(I used a packet of creamy mushroom soup to make the sauce and did not use salt or pepper .)

Microwave on HIGH until bubbly ( about 1 min.). Stir in milk, cream cheese, salt, pepper and mustard. Microwave on HIGH, stirring after half the time, until thickened (4 to 5 min.). Stir in macaroni and cheese. ( I added pieces of bacon too!)

In small bowl stir together remaining ingredients; sprinkle over macaroni and cheese.

Microwave on HIGH until heated through (8 to 10 min.).

A Word A Week Photograph Challenge – Context

January 29, 2014January 30, 2014 ~ Aletta - nowathome ~ 3 Comments

context

ˈkɒntɛkst/

noun

the circumstances that form the setting for an event, statement, or idea, and in terms of which it can be fully understood.

What story does my photograph tell?

http://suellewellyn2011.wordpress.com/2014/01/29/a-word-a-week-photograph-challenge-context/

http://decocraftsdigicrafts.wordpress.com/2014/01/29/a-word-in-your-ear-context-the-a-p-show-hastings-2013/

http://geriatrixfotogallerie.wordpress.com/2014/01/29/the-island-of-astipalaia/

Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge: Walk 100 Steps or less and take new photos

January 29, 2014October 14, 2014 ~ Aletta - nowathome ~ 4 Comments

Sunset over Table mountain. - Scene a few steps from my back door — Sunset over Table mountain. – Scene a few steps from my back door

For more photo’s click here.

Sunday Stills, the next challenge: Bad Weather

January 27, 2014January 27, 2014 ~ Aletta - nowathome ~ 4 Comments

Ed’ s prompt for this week’s challenge is any kind of bad weather. It can include snow storms, rain storms, tornados, hurricanes and even droughts.

The worst storm I have ever experienced, was the cyclone Hennie during our holiday in Mauritius.

Clouds in anticipation of Cyclone Hennie March 2005 in Mauritius

Photo's taken on our way to Cape Town — Rainbows- Photo’s taken on our way to Cape Town

Stormy clouds over a canola field near Philidelphia Western Cape , South Africa

Storm Clouds over Lake Taupo in New Zealand

Heavy rains - Eshowe Hills golf estate — Heavy rains – Eshowe Hills golf estate

http://sundaystills.wordpress.com/2014/01/26/sunday-stills-the-next-challenge-bad-weather/

http://castelsarrasin.wordpress.com/2014/01/26/sunday-stills-bad-weather/

http://esengasvoice.wordpress.com/2014/01/27/sunday-stills-challenge-bad-weather/

http://abstractlucidity.com/2014/01/26/sunday-stills-challenge-bad-weather/

http://backroadstraveller.blogspot.com/2014/01/sunday-stills-next-challenge-bad-weather.html

A Word A Week Photograph Challenge – Undulate (wavey/ripple)

January 26, 2014 ~ Aletta - nowathome ~ Leave a comment

The word of the week is Undulate:

verb

move with a smooth wave-like motion.

synonyms:

rise and fall, surge, wave, billow, roll, swell, flow, wind, swing, whirl, wobble, oscillate

Floral Friday: Ornithogalum thyrsoides

January 24, 2014January 24, 2014 ~ Aletta - nowathome ~ 16 Comments

Ornithogalum thyrsoides

Family: Hyacinthaceae

Common names: wonder-flower, star-of-Bethlehem, chincherinchee; tjienk, tjienkerientjee, (Afr.)

Showy bulbous herb of vast horticultural importance because of its long lasting flower stalks suitable for use as cut flowers.

Ornithogalum thyrsoides is a perennial herb, 20 to 50 cm tall, with round bulbs becoming dormant in the winter months. The plant has few (5-7) fleshy leaves that die back after flowering. Leaves range from 15 to 30 cm in length and 0.5 to 1.5 cm in width, are lance-shaped, smooth and soft-textured.

http://floralfridayfoto.blogspot.co.nz

http://ceenphotography.com/2014/01/23/floral-friday-fotos-unusual-angles/

http://irenewaters19.com/2014/01/24/floral-friday-3/comment-page-1/#comment-2087

http://forestwoodfolkart.wordpress.com/2014/01/24/floral-friday-scarlet/

http://decocraftsdigicrafts.wordpress.com/2014/01/24/floral-friday-dahlias/