A late summer lunch

We celebrated a double family birthday with a late summer lunch. We joined James' parents at Bittern Cottage on the Mornington Peninsular and toasted James and Eliza - father and daughter.

The cottage run by Jenny and Noel Burrows is reminiscent of tiny family restaurants in France where the menu of the day depends on what's in season and fresh from the garden.

Today the late summer menu began with a savoury plate - delightful pickled cherries, homemade terrine, spiced carrot, grilled zucchini and a slice of potato fritata with romesco sauce.

Roasted duck followed with morello cherries and new potatoes and beans.

A serve of salad, then French cheese ...

We finished with a plate of summer ice cream - lemon, strawberry and mango.

A perfect summer feast.

Loved Up

Happy Valentines Day

Hug your loved ones tight

xxx

Crafters Unite

Crafty types across the blogosphere have big big hearts.
Loads of folks are crafting away and putting their goodies up for auction with all money going to the Bushfire Appeal.
Thanks to Silly Gilly for creating this button.
Click on it to see the handmade loveliness up for auction ... and bid big.

Sunset on a devastating week

This surely has been the longest week in history.
Every day seems like it's lasted for 60 hours.

I've listened to the radio every night into the wee small hours. Listening as fire raged through tiny towns in Victoria. Listening as people's lives were utterly destroyed. Listening as the death toll climbed higher and higher. It's 181 ...

The fires are still burning in some areas. It came within metres of homes in Healesville today. Here in the city we experienced a blazing sunset this evening. A firey ball in a smokey sky.
I snapped these pics about 7.30 on my way home.

Eerie.

Home baked treats

The team at our office turned on a treat today. Home baked cakes, scones, friands, muffins, cupcakes, slice, point sandwiches, chocolate ripple cake and more!

For a minimum $5 donation, staff filled their plates and enjoyed the most wonderful morning tea.

All the money raised is going to the bush fire relief fund.

More than a $1000 was raised in our office alone.

A truly delicious result.

Thanks to everyone who baked

and everyone who ate!

Victoria's Darkest Day

Our hearts to out to the people in regional Victoria who have suffered incredible losses in the bushfires.
It is surely Victoria's darkest day; a tragedy on a scale we have never known before.
The searing heat and tinder dry conditions sparked devastating firestorms across the state.

As I type this, the death toll stands at 66 and is expected to exceed 100, whole townships have been obliterated and more than 700 family homes destroyed.

Ironically there was rain today.
I think the sky was crying.
We were.

Colours For Our House

It's been a pleasure to choose the colours for our new house ... and incredibly easy. James and I have not disagreed on any selections. We are remarkably together on every decision.

We're chosen carpet, tiles and paint colours for doors, walls, ceilings, skirting and architraves. We've selected beautiful French limestone for bench tops and the vanities, some lovely bathroom tiles as well as the timber and blue grey limestone for the floors. And a splash of colour in the upholstery.

The palate is elegant and subtly dramatic; a mixture of soft greys and neutrals against strong elements like the timber.

Eliza says she's finally getting excited about the house.

She can start top see what it might look like. She LOVES the Porters Paint pale pink teamed with eggshell white which will be painted in wide stripes on a feature wall in her bedroom.

Yes, were all started to get excited.

Packages

I'm a wee bit tired of hearing about Kevin's big package.
It's a 42 billion dollar package.
Commentators are calling it Kevin's stimulus package...
Makes me feel a bit wobbly.

Kevin's package is big .... but not as large as the one big O wants to thrust on the US.
He's got a trillion dollar one.

Boys and their packages ..... they can't stop comparing them!

The sort of packages I like are brown paper ones, tied up with string.

A litte bit excited

Ooooooohhh
I'm feeling a shiver (dare I mention that word when we reached another exhausting 33 degrees today) ....
So like I was saying ....
I'm feeling a little wave of excitement.
I'm a signed up member of Brown Owls a crafty group for grown ups offering inspiration and conversation.
I like it already!
I heard about it on one of my favourite super cool blogs Meet Me At Mikes .
The first get together is a meet and greet in Fitzroy later this month.
I'm looking forward to meeting other crafty gals ... and learning lots!
It will be a great way to get some actual time for projects .... at least once a month.
Who knows, I might even finish one or two!
(Darling Georgia, I haven't forgotten about your quilt little one)

Thrifting Gold

I love trawling through Op shops, I LOVE a bargain and and I heart old recipe books.

Sometimes the planets align and you strike gold on all three levels.

I was in Brisbane a few weeks ago and one hot and humid Saturday I spent a wonderful couple of hours rummaging through a number of op shops and vintage shops in Paddington.

Look what I found!

I

The Children's Picture Cookbook is classic!
Included are recipes for orangeade, taffy and lemon delicious pudding, ginger snaps and more.
I love the colours and the illustrations.
Probably from the 50's or 60's I'd say ... and in pretty good condition.
A steal at $2...

And I couldn't resist this little paperback. A book of recipes compiled by mothers and friends of the Wangaratta Boy Scots, dated 1963 - the year I was born.

A lot of the recipes have ticks beside them .... obviously well loved family faves like rolled oats fingers, Churchill Slice and savoury mince. The Chow Mein recipe is kitchily retro.
I'm going to try a few out, when we move back to our house and I have an oven that works.

Will probably give the Chow Mein a miss..

It's the best 50c I've spent in a long time...
I mean what else can you buy for so little that gives so much pleasure ... and feed your family as well.
Cool!

In a pickle

Home Made Pickled Onions

1kg pickling onions

1/2 cup salt

4 cups white vinegar

2 tablespoons mustard seeds

1 tablespoon peppercorn

1 cup caster sugar

2 bayleaves + extra for the bottles

Placed the onions in a bowl and cover with boiling water. Allow to stand for 5 mins then drain and refresh in cold water. Peel the onions and place in a bowl with the salt. Pour cold water to cover the onions and set aside for 24 hours.

Drain onions and pat dry. Place the vinegar, mustard seeds, peppercorns, sugar and bayleaves in a small saucepan over low heat and stir until the sugar is dissolved.

Divide the onions between 2 x 1 litre sterilised jars (or more smaller jars) . Carefully pour over the vinegar mixture ensuring the onions are completely covered. Add a single bayleaf to each jar. Just poke it down the side.

Seal and store in a cool dark place for at least a week. Use within two months.

Fix yourself a platter with a sharp vintage cheese, crusty bread, pickled onions and some home made relish (if you've got it), pour a beer or glass of wine and lunch is served.

Oi, Oi, Oi

We joined my sister, Zoe and Georgia in the park tonight for Jazz in the Gardens to celebrate Australia Day.
The girls got into the spirit.

Earlier Eliza and I attended a citizenship ceremony in Malvern Town Hall. What a happy, happy day.

Eliza told me she felt very proud of her country.

Us

Georgia @ 7 months !!! Apple custard is a new fave. Xxxxxxx

Aussie Aussie Aussie ...

Some chilled out jazz, a mild evening in the park with the family and my sister's inspired mini pavs were the envy of all around us!

What a great desert idea for our Australia Day picnic ... and they tasted as good as they looked.

We didn't have room for seconds so my generous sis offered the treats to a couple of ladies who'd been drooling. Turns out one lady from South Africa become an Australian citizen today. It was her first Australia Day as a brand new Aussie .... and her first ever Pavlova - so a day to remember.

Our House

We'll be back in our house in about 2 months ... It's hard to believe it's so soon ... after soooooo long. We moved out last February and will move back in 13 months later.

It's been a tough year, but with our eye on the main prize, it's definitely worth it.

Our family can't wait for our dream to become reality.

Not to mention the space, the storage and the kitchen.

We're starting to think about the housewarming!

Summer Favourites

Whenever I go on hols, the first thing i do is paint my toes.
It puts me in the holiday mood and means I've had time to do something for me!

"Swim between the flags".
My parents words still echo in my head as my sister and I raced down the burning hot sand to the water.
Now I'm telling my own daughter the same thing.

Relaxed after a swim ....

A snow cone, on the beach at Noosa, along with the rest of Melbourne!

Summer

A taste of summer...
I reckon a slice of watermelon looks like a gorgeous smile :)

Summer Holidays

A Country Christmas

Magnolias. Magnificent.

These magnificent magnolias have unfurled in my office

Creamy, pink and sculptural.

A  wonderful way to welcome my new job.

Spring has Sprung

Spring has sprung ... the grass has riz  etc

And so has my hay fever.

That itchy throat and scratchy tongue has been waking me the last few mornings.

Followed the sneezes.

Looks like it could be a bad season.

When we were in France two years ago in Spring ...  same thing ...  

I needed some hay fever spray for my nose - but try translating that into French!

After miming, sneezing and scratching at my throat, James came to my rescue.

He offered Malaise de printemps - sickness of spring.

There was the ah-ha moment in the pharmacy and all was well.