**Mandy**

about me

Melbourne

I live on a 5 acre property in the Dandenong Ranges of Victoria Australia having moved from the "burbs" when I became pregnant with my now three year old daughter Alyssa.
Here is a couple of pics of my property, one from the front & one looking towards DD's cubby house in the backyard:


Once Alyssa was born I became a stay at home mum as I couldn't bear the thought of putting her in daycare.
She is the light of my life, I never imagined myself as a mum when younger but now wouldn't have it any other way.

Alyssa was very ill when she was born & we almost lost her so consequently now she is spoilt beyond belief..LOL but is happy & healthy, thank goodness:



I love cooking and experimenting with new recipes so have quickly become addicted to Zaar & it is now a part of my everyday life, I'm addicted to tagging & swaps and of course the beverage forum..




In addition to zaar & being my daughter's taxi :lol: I also spend my time, reading, gardening and of course shopping.



I'm lucky enough that we have the space & so love growing our own fruits, vegies & herbs, this also means we have plenty of room for animals & at the moment have 2 dogs, Jack & Benji (Jack Russells), 3 cats, Salem, Cougar & Snowpea, 4 chooks, Henrietta, Heather, Happy & Helen, 3 rabbits, Pepper, Salty & Fluffy & one Guinea Pig, Lenny.





As well as our pets, we also have a lot of native animals around our area, we have kangaroos, wombats, echidna's, possums as well as rosella's, galah's & cockatoo's hence the name of where I live..




This is our resident possum muching on an apple & one of our resident echidna's on the search for an ant's nest, I've yet to get a photo of the wombat ...and am too scared to get too close to the kangaroos...





Another thing I've become addicted to since joing Zaar is swapping and I have participated in many swaps

A big thankyou to all my swap partners:

Spring Regional Swap: BLUE ROSE
Fall Halloween 2007: Iceland
Aussie Regional Swap Calms79
Aussie Xmas Swap Kookaburra
Candy Swap: bcfdwife
Christmas Stocking Swap 2007: Alskann
ABC Swap "B" TasteTester
Can't Live Without It Swap: Susiecat too
ABC Swap "C" QueenBee49444
ABC Swap "D&E": CaliforniaJan
Easter/Spring Swap 2007 Borealis Beegirl
Herbs & Spices Swap: Chef mamma
Red Swap: Pneuma
ABC Swap "F&G" Sharon the Rocket
Coffee & Tea Swap Breezytoo
Fall Halloween 2008: Heidi in Seattle
Purple Swap:
Xmas Stocking Swap 2008:
Xmas Ornament Swap 2008:

Participation Banners:

Favorite Foods:

I love coffee & have a cappucino maker at home, always looking for different ways to make it, flavouring combos etc.
Other favourites include anything cinnamon, coconut, chocolate, vanilla or lemon flavoured.
Mexican and Italian foods are also pretty high up there & lately have become really interested in indigenous Australian ingredients & recipes that include them thanks to Mark Olive & "The Outback Cafe"

Things I'm not too keen on are olives, tea, aniseed flavoured licorice, brussel sprouts,

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