Off to the country

Mid year school holidays have started here. We are off to the country for a few days, but not before I get a chance to do two things:

Welcome my newest follower.... Ellie from petalplum.

and

Give a big thanks to the lovely Natalie from After Noah. My new clock has arrived in one piece. Thanks again for all of your help.

I hope you have a lovely week.

One of those weeks!

This image from here

It is amazing what we can justify to ourselves when we are very tired. Like this last week when I let all the rules fly right out the window, without even a second thought. Most days, all I wanted to do was crawl under the doona, eat chocolate and watch girlie dvd's. I didn't, but really, really wanted to.

Here are some of the things that we did last week, that are well and truly out of the norm.

• watching TV during dinner
• watching movies after straight after school, on more than one occasion
• eating ice-cream for dessert every night
• wearing my tracksuit every day
• having chocolate cake and store bought biscuits for afternoon tea, not a piece a fruit in sight!
• not doing the washing and sending my son to school in demin shorts instead of school shorts
• not doing the grocery shopping
• not making the beds

And on then Friday, for the very first time in five and a half years, I decided that we were going to go out for a family dinner. Just us, not because someone was visiting, not because it was someones birthday. Just because. Well, OK, I just couldn't be bothered cooking.

I was having one of those weeks!

But I think I might have started something. It was really fun night. Just the tonic I needed to shake myself up and get moving again.

Craft night coasters

I have finally gotten around to taking a photo of the coasters I made at craft night last week.



They sort of match the lunchtime place mats I made a while back.
The same linen and Sprout off cuts.

We also had a new member join our group last week. Welcome Kylie.

Words of wisdom - quote seven

(this is another image from M.I.L.K )

" Do what you can, with what you have, where you are"
- Theodore Roosevelt

This is the very first quote in a little book of handwritten quotes, that I have been carrying around and adding to for over 20 years. On re-reading these quotes this week, I saw that I had added this quote on two other occasions over the years. It is also one of the quotes in this book, that I can't put down at the moment.

This applies to my life right now, in so many ways.

Soup to warm the bones

(I wish I had served my soup this way! Image from here)

When I worked in London, many years ago, Cauliflower and Cheese Soup was often on our work menu. At the end of the day, any leftovers went to the staff, most of us, penniless backpackers. We were very grateful. This soup was always a hit when I brought it home and was often requested by my friends on cold weekends too. I haven't made it for ages, obviously Queensland doesn't have the same 'chill' factor as the UK. So I took some guidance from a few different recipes, added this, adjusted that and this is the recipe I have come up with. It's very close to the original I made all those years ago.

Cauliflower and Cheese Soup

serves 4-6

• 50 grams butter
• 1 onion (diced)
• 1 clove garlic (finely chopped)
• 1 large cauliflower, approx. 1.3 kilo. (broken into florets)
• 1 large potato (peeled and diced)
• 1 litre chicken stock
• 1 tables. dijon mustard
• 1/2 cup mature cheddar cheese (grated)
• 1/2 cup gruyere cheese (grated)
• 1/2 cup single cream
• salt and pepper to taste

• extra grated cheese for serving

Melt the butter in a large soup pot and gently saute the onion and garlic until soft. Add the cauliflower, potato and stock and bring to the boil. Reduce the heat and simmer for 45 minutes or until the cauliflower is very tender. Transfer the soup to a blender and puree. Return to the pot and stir through the cheese and mustard, then the cream. Season to taste and heat through. Serve with extra grated cheese sprinkled over the top.

I only had a mild cheddar cheese in the house last night, next time I might try something sharper or a mix of cheddar and guyrere as was suggested by one recipe.

Psst.... I went over to borrow mum's blender to puree this soup as my blender has died. She had friends there for afternoon tea and they had brought an amazing cake with them. I had a try. Chocolate and red wine cake - Wow! As anybody tried this before? It was amazing. I think I have a recipe somewhere, I might have to try and find it.

Words of wisdom - quote six

(more photo's from M.I.L.K)

"procrastination is the thief of time" - wise man unknown

The soup kitchen

On so many occasions in the last weeks I have had found myself thinking 'takeaway' for dinner. A trip to our local fruit barn and farmers market soon put a stop to those thoughts. Stealing 20 minutes here and there to chop ingredients and put a big pot of yummy soup onto boil, we have instead, been enjoying warming nutritious dinners.

And, the added bonus is, my kids finally love soup, almost as much as me! Last week they each ate 3 full bowls of chicken soup and piles of bread. Phrases like 'yummy,' 'hmmm, my favourite' and 'good one mum' are coming from my their little mouths. Delightful.



In the last 2 weeks we have made (some for the freezer, some for dinner) Moroccan chicken and chickpea soup, minestrone, creamy broccoli and lemon soup, cauliflower and cheese soup, borscht and smoked sausage and bean soup.

The chunky soups were the favourites and naturally the little monkeys did not touch the borscht!

What soups are you making at the moment that are warming the souls of your family?

Images are from the Little Golden Book, "The Tawny Scrawny Lion and the Clever Monkey"

Words of wisdom - quote five

(a M.I.L.K image again)

"If I try to be like him, who will be like me" - Yiddish Proverb

Words of wisdom - quote four

(this is another image from M.I.L.K )

"Man is born to live, not to prepare for his life"
- Boris Pasternak

This weekend

On Saturday we went here to see this fantastic vintage poster exhibition. We had such a lovely (child free) afternoon. Pink champagne and pretty pink petit fours. We ran into lots of people we knew, it was so lovely chatting and catching up. There was some great posters, but hands down, this girl is my favourite. I don't even dare ask if it's sold, because it's just sooo tempting. I mean, how great would this look in my house!





On Sunday we went to "Disney on Ice" So much fun. It was so nice being out and about seeing a show. The kids really loved it.

Also: taste tested everything at the farmers markets, ate burgers and milkshakes at a funky retro cafe, lounged in the winter sun by the bay, made new friends at the park, collected sea-glass on the beach, ate dinner at mum's again.

words of wisdom - quote three

(this image is also from the book "M.I.L.K Happiness")

"growth demands a temporary surrender of security"
- wise man unknown

Words of wisdom - quote two

(this image is also from the book "M.I.L.K Happiness")

"Children have more need for role models than for critics"
- wise man unknown

Words of wisdom - quote one

(this image is from the book "M.I.L.K Happiness")

With age, comes wisdom, or so they say.

It's already been one week since my birthday. I had wanted to share a week of wise words with you, but I've been to darn busy to have even contemplated such things.

So instead, in my second week of being older and wiser I will send them out to you now.

"A wise man thinks twice, before saying nothing"
- a very wise man

or

"bite your tongue" - my wise mother

Lemons from Grandma

I am dreaming of lemon and poppy seed cake.

A few lifetimes ago, when I first visited Dublin (Ireland) we went into a large warehouse of a bookshop on the banks of the River Liffey. Tall shelves were stacked high with dusty secondhand books. Weak sunlight filtered through high, dirty windowpanes and narrow stairs lead to level after level of creaky, uneven floors. I was in heaven, I could have easily spent my whole week in there. Tucked in a corner of the second or third floor was a cafe. The strong aroma of coffee lead me to a worn wooden table. It was here that I had the best lemon and poppy seed cake ever.

I have tried many, many recipes over the years, nothing has even come close.

I am dreaming of that lemon and poppy seed cake.

(I just did a google search. I believe I am talking about the Winding Stair bookshop. Much changed and cleaned up, but you get the idea. I was there in 1996! I feel so very old!

Stay at home fun

See how much fun hanging out at home can be. Yes we need a little bit more of this!









These images are from a couple of our 'Little Golden Books' favourites, Nurse Nancy and Doctor Dan the Bandage Man.

A slower pace

(this image is from Hanna's gorgeous blog, girl from the corner table)

I am looking today, for a slower pace, it's here somewhere, but in all of the mad rushing about over this last week I seem to have lost my sense of peace. Don't misunderstand me I have had a great week, but it's all of the mundane day to day things thrown in together with all of the fun things, rushing in and out of the house, driving here and there and everywhere, late nights, tired kids.

I just love being at home. The weather is getting cooler, and I am wishing to slow down. I want to do things both for myself and with my children. Baking, cooking, crafting, chatting, drawing, reading, exchanging stories. I guess I am sick of hearing myself say 'hurry up, lets go!'

I might have to schedule in some time, as things won't be letting here up for a few weeks yet.

Here are some of the very fun things we have been doing over the last week:

• fish and chips in the park
• cups of tea in the winter sun
• birthday breakfast by the sea
• yummy panang chicken curry at mum's restaurant
• roast pork buffet at the local bowls club and dancing!

The really lovely thing was, that these times were shared with my beautiful family. Most visiting from far away. We had 4 generations at the bowls club on Saturday night, it was nice.

Oh, and we had a really fun craft night, on Tuesday night as well.

Unintentionally French

This morning when I got up the sun was shining, the birds were singing. A beautiful winter's morning, I decided we would sit outside to eat. I got breakfast ready. I.....

• set the table with an antique French tablecloth.
• put a new selection of CD's in the CD player - French Playground and the Chocolat Soundtrack
• put some croissants in the oven
• put the butter and homemade apricot jam onto the table - the jam was made using this French recipe
• made a milky cappuccino
• took two French cookbooks to the breakfast table. I always read at the breakfast table.

We were sitting, both kids on my lap, laughing and dreaming of French holidays we will take. Planning trips on canal boats, picnics on riverbanks and walks through sunflower fields, when I realized how French everything was this morning.

Totally unintentional.

• why did I choose that tablecloth, I haven't used for weeks.
• I only changed the CD's because I could not stand another minute of Disney songs.
• weekly breakfast is usually, weet-bix and toast, but Miss Moo Moo came shopping with me and she picked croissants.
• I always, always have black coffee in the morning when at home, but this morning because I wanted to use my new cocoa shaker thingy, I made a cappuccino instead.
• And why, out of 9 books sitting on the bench did I pick, Rick Stein's French Odyssey and New Bistro.

Who can tell?

PS: It was a public holiday here today, hence the extra lingering at breakfast. It's usually a tad more hectic on a Monday morning!

Ladies who lunch

I forgot that I took this photo of my beautiful daughter. This was my birthday lunch on Friday. We always have so much fun on 'Girly Day'. We do love to eat out!



Pesto chicken and pasta salad, pumpkin, beetroot and feta salad and the Nosh house salad. Delicious! Crumbed chicken tenderloins for Miss Moo Moo.

'Girly Day' Friday

Every Friday, Miss Moo Moo and I have 'girly day'. This last Friday was my birthday, so we dressed up in all of our finery and hit the cafes, shops and restaurants!

I spent a lovely day with the beautiful woman in my family. My daughter, my mother, my aunt and my cousin (who is like a sister). Their love is my strength and the only gift I need.

Like an extra special birthday present the weather had turned very chilly. Hooray! So we were able to dress in new boots, scarves and big jackets. We met mum here, a fantastic food emporium for coffee. Lemon curd tart, passionfruit curd tart and apple crumble tart (shared, of course!) with a warming cappuccino, hmmm, a perfect start to the day. After much lingering and the purchasing of some fine food (sourdough bread, french cheeses and yummy chocolate and coconut meringues) mum went to work and Miss Moo Moo and I went shopping. Lunch was a delicious mixed salad plate at a recommended cafe. More homewares shopping after lunch, with the afternoon ending having tea and pink cupcakes with my aunt and cousin.

And what about the boys? They met us after school and after work, when we all went to mum's restaurant for dinner.

An early night. All of that eating and shopping can take a lot out of you!

Be a loaner

Jacqueline Elizabeth Gonzalez Aray. Isn't she gorgeous, how could you not want to help her realize her dreams.

"Nobody made a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could only do little" - Edmund Burke

Earlier on in the week I became a member of the Kiva organisation and made my first business loan to Jacqueline (above) for the grocery store she has set up in her home in Ecuador. Read more about her business and the reason for her loan, here.

I would also like to welcome my newest 'follower' Sandra, another one of Jacqueline's lenders and avid Kiva supporter. Sandra is currently helping 19 small businesses from all over the world. What an inspiration!

It's the simple things.....

I pulled this picture out of my son's school bag this afternoon.

It made me laugh and laugh. Just what the good doctor ordered.

Beautiful dresses and piles of clothes

I seem to have spent much of this week and last, surrounded by piles and piles of clothes. I continued with my washing, folding and sorting, started before my holiday and ending today (well, almost) with one big pile of boxes.



I have sorted:

• children's pj's for Brook
• washed and sorted all of Miss Moo Moo's old clothes, ending up with a box for little Miss M and a box for little Miss A and a box for the op shop.
• I repacked all of the old boys clothes back into better boxes and back into the garage.
• I sorted out my wardrobe. Some clothes that have hardly been worn are going to be sold, however, others items of my wardrobe went into the rag bag, and some went straight into the bin!
• I made a list of things I actually need in my wardrobe for winter, I discovered I have quiet a few (maybe more than a few) black tops that kinda all look the same. Opps!

So this afternoon, with the end in site, I did my final load of washing (number 9) A dark wash.... A tissue has gone through the wash!



Totally defeated, it is still sitting in the machine and I have come in to send e-mails and look at beautiful dresses instead.

All of the images are from Christian Siriano's website.
Too gorgeous for words!

The first week of winter

It’s been a bit of a heavy week.

It was the anniversary of my Nana’s death earlier in the week. How have we lived 6 years without her? I search for her strength within myself every day and I am so grateful when I can find it.

It's not only that, I have watched some pretty disturbing documentaries (during one, I left the room, I thought I was going to be sick!) and watched a couple of very intense movies. My eyes have been opened to the homelessness in my area and the very real poverty abroad. I've been thinking a lot about our planet and my part in it…. Amongst other things.

I have become very aware of so many things over this last week.



So, aware, I was, this afternoon, when the children and I set up our 'winter display' together. Crafting and chatting about winter in other countries and in ours. Content to just be.

Our children have the capacity to fill our love tanks with a single smile or word. I feel so incredibly lucky to have these little people come into my life.

Our 'winter display' is work in progress, there has been a request for more pom poms and more wintery words need to be printed. We ran out of time this afternoon. There will also be the many nature finds we will collect over the next couple of months. Oh and the pine cones, I put back out for the photo, but Spunky Monkey is adamant that they cannot be on display, as they were part of our 'autumn display. They must be packed way!

Strawberry fields forever

Miss Moo Moo and I have had a lovely time, this morning, with our playgroup friends, picking strawberries.

Oh, the luscious taste of the seasons first strawberries. It always reminds me of living in Brisbane (pre-kids) and sharing large punnets of sun-ripened strawberries at the Kangaroo Point Jazz Festival. We have spent many lazy days in the sun, with yummy picnic food, good wine and the season's first, bright red strawberries, while enjoying the jazz. Sadly, I think this festival is no longer. I could be wrong?

We might have to go strawberry picking again on the weekend, as we ate almost all of our pickings while lazing in the sun.

Can you believe that!

We love a festival

(the kids first fairy floss ever, are we meanies or what! They loved it, of course)

Where we live, the World Environment Day Festival was held today. Why it was not on yesterday, I cannot tell you. We didn't get there until midday but we still managed to have plenty of fun:

• we saw a wombat, a possum, and the almost extinct quoll.
• Miss Moo Moo got her face painted, a fairy princess of course!
• we ate bratwurst rolls with sauerkraut and german mustard.
• the kids made badges.
• we drank freshly squeezed sugar cane juice with lime and ginger.
• we followed the Pied Piper parade lead by a beautiful giant butterfly on stilts.
• had yummy scrummy, fresh salads and chicken laska for lunch proper.
• chatted to the wonderful and helpful ladies from the community gardens. I took lots of flyer's.
• we met Phoebe the bat and the lovely bat lady. Bats are sooo cute, who knew!
• we drank cappuccino's and shared chocolate macadamia cake
• we talked seeds and native plants

But the highlight, was sitting all afternoon in the glorious sunshine (sleeveless top and jeans. that's winter in Queensland!) and listening to the fantastic live music. What an amazing atmosphere.

I hope you had a lovely Sunday too.

World Environment Day

As it is World Environment Day today, I decided to have a look at my ecological footprint. What I discovered was devastating. Lets just say, it would take more than one earth (and we do only have one) to keep supporting my lifestyle. I am very ashamed.

Having children you realize more than ever why it is so very important to care for our world and our environment. I have written a list this afternoon of some habits I need to change.

Here's the list:

• Each person to use one cup per day for drinks of water, etc. With breakfast, morning tea, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner, plus 'I'm thirsty'. That's a lot unnecessary cups filling up the dishwasher.

• Take shorter showers. I have to actually take notice of the four minute timer stuck to the shower wall, and stop justifying long, hot, lovely showers with "I'm a mum, I'm exhausted, I deserve this!"

• Compost. Compost always, compost properly and compost well. And let our garden reap the benefits. Then mulch.

• Use the car only when necessary, if going 20 minutes away, go only once a week and do every thing that I can when I'm there. I usually do this, but last week - crazy! Here, there and everywhere, everyday!

• Half fill the kitchen sink and soak dishes before putting them into the dishwasher. I must stop rinsing things under a running tap.

• Keep a bucket in the shower to catch the water as it's heating up. Then use it on my inside house plants, they are usually desperate for a drink.

There are so many other things I know I can be doing, but these are the things, that, every time I do them, I feel guilty. So this will be a start.

I also discovered 'little eco footprints', Tricia's lovely blog. Lots of inspiration to keep me on the straight and narrow.

What small changes could you make to give our children and their earth a better future?

Warm and cosy

every child deserves and needs this. (Miss Moo Moo - 10 months old)

This morning I finished packing up some of the kids old pajama's, socks and books. Then Miss Moo Moo and I hit the shops and bought a couple of new pairs of children's pj's to add to the box.

It was a pleasure to then hand over our pajama's to Brook, the Australian Chapter Affillate for the Pajama Program. Brook had been inspired by an episode of Oprah, to help children though this program. I, too had seen this episode. I remembered it well and wanted to help.

Brook collects the children's pajama's, then passes them onto the Salvation Army. They will then be distributed to local families in need. Families in our area!

If you are in South East Queensland and want to help, Brook Neylan can be contacted on 0423889061. She will be collecting pajama's until the end of August, but the sooner the better, as winter is already here.

Beach walks and Eurovision

We got back, late last night from our holiday, here.





Some days we did this:

Beach walks, bush walks, creek walks, explored caves, watched dolphins, collected shells, made a Robinson Crusoe-style beach shelter, drank wine on the beach at sunset, made another Robinson Crusoe-style beach shelter, had a morning tea picnic by the lighthouse, enjoyed the excitement of bunkbeds, slept in, bought local honey, ate danish pastries where the creek meets the ocean, found a starfish.



And some days we did this:

Bought custard apple's at a roadside stall, collected autumn leaves, took a very long country drive, had an afternoon nana nap, ate a counter lunch in the sun at a historical pub, played 'I spy', got op shop bargains, looked in art galleries, enjoyed the entertainment of bunkbeds on a rainy morning, crossed old wooden bridges, crossed old wooden bridges underwater, talked about volcano's and dinosaurs, ventured down dirt roads, wet dirt roads, bumpy dirt roads, were given free toys at an antique shop, ate ice-creams on the riverbank.



At night, after we tucked the little monkeys into bed at 7pm, we had a glass of wine out on the deck, before coming inside to the warm and Eurovision.

The image above is of this years winner, the gorgeous Lena from Germany, singing 'Satellite'. She is so cute, just 19! Congratulations Lena! My other favourites of the night were Georgia, Ukraine, Greece and Romania. Loved it all. We are big fans of the Eurovision Song Contest in this house. A bit of wine, a bit of dancing, lots of fun.