Anzac Day is more than just a day off work. It is a day to step back and remember the sacrifices made by the troops of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps in the First World War, and beyond. Yesterday there was a very moving assembly at school led by the Head Girl and Deputy Head Girls, who, along with a teacher singing The Band Played Waltzing Matlida and a moving rendition of The Last Post, recalled the events of April 25th, 1915 at Gallipoli. The poem In Flanders Field by Candian poet Lt. Col. John McCrae was read:
In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie,
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
Tomorrow Miss 5’s class are going to visit the Cenotaph which will be a first for her.
And today at home we baked a big batch of Anzac Biscuits. They are a popular biscuit here in New Zealand still. And especially with my husband. He’d love it if I made them year round. Rather than using the traditional recipe, I read some online and then amalgamated them, attempting to make a delicious but still healthier version of the biscuits.
Here’s what I used:
1C Rolled Oats
1/2 C white flour
1/2 C wholemeal flour
3/4 C Caster Sugar
3/4 C Descicated Coconut
1/4 C LSA
175g Butter
2 T Golden Syrup
1t baking powder, dissolved in 2T boiling water
2 t vanilla essence
Method:
Mix all dry ingredients in a bowl. Make a well in the centre.
Melt together butter and golden syrup, and add to dry ingredients along with baking soda mixture and vanilla. Stir until combined.
Place teaspoon sized amounts of the mixture on a greased tray, bake until crisp in a 190 C oven, about 12 minutes.
Leave on the tray to crisp up for several minutes after you remove them from the oven.
They seem really good- you barely notice the reduced sugar content, they are still very tasty and by still using butter they are still crispy.
I have also managed to get into the sewing room for the first time in forever. My oven gloves were in a desperately sad state, and I was delighted that I was able to make up a couple of replacement pairs from stash items.
The top one is from some fabric scraps, I’ve no idea the designer. The bottom one is some delicious Michael Miller fabric I’ve had for a while waiting for a project. The binding is home made binding I had made years ago, and I have two layers of woollen blanket inside, taken from a cot blanket I picked up from the hospice shop for a few dollars.
I don’t think the last time I made an oven glove I used the overlocker, but it was super simple to pin all the layers together and then overlock around. All the remained was to put on the binding and sew it on. A great use of a spare hour, and things from stash.
I’m not sure what rest of the day holds – I still have my machines out, the garden is calling my name too, and the children are about to claim the computer. I hope that you have a great Anzac Day, and that you take some time out to remember those who sacrificed so much for the freedom we all enjoy every day.
Shortly Stitches 
