It's even hot here today. Feels like a proper, hot summers day…and we take them when we can down here. With so many of you in the grips of a heatwave I thought I'd try to cool things down a little. A little white always does the trick don't you think? Stay cool friends. Make sure … [Read more...]
Christmas presents that worked
January 13, 2014 by 33 Comments
You may recall I wrote a post before Christmas with the things that I was getting the girls this year. Now, a few weeks after the big day, it's been interesting to see what was a hit…and what was not. I always seem to get some things wrong…hoping one day to get it right! I thought I would show some … [Read more...]
Corners of my mind
January 12, 2014 by 35 Comments
A few weeks ago when we were driving the 550km home from the farm Rob and I got to listening to an easy/smooth/old radio station that was playing hit after hit on some ridiculous count down of over 890 best songs from the 80's and 90's. We were obviously thrilled, the kids notsomuch, as we sang our … [Read more...]
How to make a photo book in iPhoto
January 10, 2014 by 41 Comments
Yesterday I started on my annual photo book. I started doing these on my Mac 3 years ago now - we had a family Christmas away with all of my family and as I was official photographer I decided to make each family a book of photos from the week away. Everyone adored and cherished these and my girls … [Read more...]
Recipe Roulette: Sour lemon cake
January 9, 2014 by 75 Comments
How many of you got a cook book for Christmas? I actually didn't get one this year, which is a change, as my cupboards look like this: And on top of the cupboard looks like this: Other coffee tables and bookcases also look like this: And there they sit, occasionally flicked … [Read more...]
Miscellaneous 35
January 8, 2014 by 58 Comments
I planted some ice berg creeping roses a few months ago. They are very happy, as am I with their progress. One day they shall hang down in white glory all over the front of the house. That will be a very good day indeed. The whole garden in fact is very happy with the summer conditions - sunny and … [Read more...]
Made
January 7, 2014 by 55 Comments
We've got some lovely friends, let's call them Mr & Mrs Munro as that is their names, who have gifted us with some pretty special home-made stuff over the past few weeks. On the weekend Mr M (he also made Rob's coffee table birthday present which I ADORE) gave us a wooden vessel that he made … [Read more...]
The sleep shuffle
January 6, 2014 by 66 Comments
My husband gave me the kindest compliment this morning in ages. It wasn't about how I look, or what I'd cooked or made, but it was about how I handled myself in the middle of the night. You see, we are currently sleep training our 4-year-old for the, oh I don't know, 678th time. And I generally do … [Read more...]
Sunday arvo
January 5, 2014 by 12 Comments
I had to drop something over at {A year in my garden} this arvo which gave myself and the girls the perfect excuse to meet their 4 new ducks. Gorgeous, fluffy, yellow ducks. I mean really…baby goats AND ducks in one week? Sheesh. Poppy watched on. I wandered through the garden, smelt some roses, … [Read more...]
Things I like {The home edition}
January 3, 2014 by 28 Comments
I do love a good holiday, but I think my favourite part of a holiday is coming home. And getting everything back into order. Throw in a good de-clutter and taking down all the Christmas deco's/tree etc and I was in some kind of heaven today. Floors vacuumed and mopped. Surfaces wiped. New flowers … [Read more...]
Chocolate box braille
January 2, 2014 by 25 Comments
I got some lovely Christmas presents last week but I have to say my very favourite was this one: A tin of PROPER UK Quality Street chocolates. ALL FOR ME. I was quite beside myself. As a little girl I used to get a box of Cadbury Hazelnut Swirls in my santa sack each year and I knew that it was … [Read more...]
Leftovers #154: Bill Granger corn fritters
January 2, 2014 by 32 Comments
Are you still eating Christmas ham? Me too! I don't care what people think of ham, it's nothing but giving during this festive season. We picked up a bag of corn from a road side stall on Tuesday for a fiver and with the ham STILL giving there was only one thing for lunch: Fritters, corn fritters. … [Read more...]
Summer days drifting away
January 1, 2014 by 12 Comments
Yesterday was full and wonderful. All the days have been this week. A trip to the beach. A drive along the beautiful Macleay River to South West Rocks where the road follows the bends of water along huge old frangipani and Moreton bay fig trees. There are road side stalls to grab fresh veggies as … [Read more...]
2013: The recap episode
December 31, 2013 by 41 Comments
Here we are. I know I say it every year but this year I REALLY mean it. Time is flying by. This year has disappeared from my very eyes, leaving me standing here on the last day scratching my head thinking it really must still be May or June at a stretch. I've just trawled through the blog for the … [Read more...]
Thai chicken noodle salad
December 30, 2013 by 10 Comments
I made dinner last night, and it was good. After a week of eating, well, A LOT, a simple salad with punchy asian flavours was called for. Something COMPLETELY different to the prawn/ham/roasted meat scenario. I made this salad up as I went, with the help of my trusty brother-in-law (the ex-chef). I … [Read more...]
How to make a Mojito
December 30, 2013 by 14 Comments
What's better than one jug of mojito? TWO JUGS OF MOJITO. Simple really! Rob whipped us up a few last night as a pre dinner, pre fishing cocktail and I was reminded of how good they are. Mint, limes, white rum, sugar, ice and soda…summer in a glass! Mojitos (to make a decent jug that serves … [Read more...]
Postcard
December 29, 2013 by 17 Comments
Golly GOSH is it ever good to be on holidays. To forget what the day of the week is, to only think of time in meals and what you need to get to make them happen. To swim for hours at a time. To have a nap in the hot afternoons. To see kids happy. To see kids with OTHER adults to hang out with. To … [Read more...]
easy holiday cooking
December 27, 2013 by 5 Comments
I'm in official holiday mode. And for me, besides the day time naps, booking reading and over consumption of food and booze, it means time for some new cooking. Time to pour over some cook books and magazines and get inspiration for some new classics for the year ahead. There is something about not … [Read more...]
Christmas 2013: how it went down
December 26, 2013 by 11 Comments
And so we are done with another Christmas. Ours was pretty much perfect - time with people that we love. A continual moving feast over a few days. Champagne flowing, ham consumed and (mostly) happy children. While the sun hasn't been shining as much as we'd like, that's the perfect excuse to stay … [Read more...]
Exhale
December 23, 2013 by 50 Comments
This morning we have packed the car, threatened the children (again) that they better stop whinging or Santa will NEVER come, thrown some swimmers in, hidden presents galore and headed up the mighty Pacific Highway with every other bastard in NSW heading in the direction of the farm. After … [Read more...]
