verdant vista

Oh, did it rain this weekend! We've returned from a weekend at my in-laws to find grass that you could hide your ankles in and lush new growth on absolutely everything.

This weather's mighty crazy, but the plants sure are loving it!

tis the season

Regular readers will know that I love me an event. Halloween, Easter, birthdays... love 'em all. However, a truly special place in my heart is reserved for Christmas where I get a whole month to plot, plan and party.

Traditions? We're full of 'em. First of all the tree goes up on December 1 - not a day earlier or later. We decorate it together while playing cheesy christmas carols on the iPod.

Then we'll pop up the lights on the verandas, and in the windows - along with the Santa, please stop here sign in the garden.

Next on the agenda is a visit to Santa at David Jones: where my brother and I sat on Santa's knee eight million years ago.

On the weekends we'll drive around to the suburbs that have christmas lights and ooh and ahh at all the displays. Luckily there's enough variety in Newcastle to visit one location per weekend in the lead-up {obsessive? moi?}

Christmas eve we make our annual pilgrimage to church {usually the Civic Theatre in the city} where we meet friends and sit together to enjoy the show put on my the local high school kids. Then we go to my in-laws where all the family catch-up for supper and the massive Christmas Eve sleepover {my husband's one of five - all kids now have kids, some of whom also have kids... it's gigantic}.

Our daughter's bedtime book on this night is always The Night Before Christmas, and before tucking her in she leaves out cookies and milk for Santa, and carrots out the front for the reindeers.

We'll usually wake at dawn to excited children saying "Santa's Been" as the sacks that had been laid out the night before are now stuffed with toys and gifts.

Lunch is always a traditional roast cooked by my gorgeous mother-in-law, with everyone chipping in with vegies, serving or washing up. Finger's crossed for lovely weather this year so that once the massive meal's gone down we can sink into the pool and relax.

Then, five days later it's our gorgeous gal's birthday. We've always made sure that it's special and separate to Christmas - although she's pretty chuffed that her birthday month is punctuated with lights, celebrations and fireworks on New Year's Eve.

Hope you have yourself a merry little Christmas... x

phew, it's friday

Is it just me or is this year zooming along at warp speed? My sister- and brother-in-law and our two divine nieces will be coming out from the UK in December and I just can't wait to see them again. We're planning on having them stay for a few days and giving them a beach-resort holiday - without the bill at the end.

I'm thinking days spent by the pool, with early morning or late afternoon walks down to the beach to explore the rockpools. BBQs on the back veranda or fish 'n' chips at the beach. Lots of relaxing, chatting and getting-to-know-you-once-again time.

Can.

Not.

Wait.

bare esscentuals

I would find it near-to-impossible to name my must-have cosmetic. "Nail polish!" I'd cry. "Oooh, no eye-shadow!", "Lipstick, lipgloss, lipstain...", "Brow brush", "Tinted moisturiser..." I'm a total make-up junky.

However, I'm also completely besotted with scents - so when an email proclaiming the arrival of this floral blossom sensation arrived in my in-box today I swooned.

Guess what I want for Christmas...

pretty pictures

Here are a few of my favourite things - all combined in the one glorious photograph.

Turning sighs into smiles - always a good thing.

fluffy fings

I am an extremely tactile person. Much as I try to avoid it, I'm that person who veers off course in a store to fondle a particularly amazing fabric. So, while I adore these shoes, I think they'd be inherently dangerous as I'd be constantly either looking down to admire them, or bending down to stroke them.

However, danger aside - they're a damn hot pair of shoes non?

lazy daybeds...

This here is the smartest thing we did in our backyard reno. A nice shady spot to sit, or, on the weekends to lie on the daybed and read, is perfect while the kiddies are swimming.

Cost per use our reno is almost seeming cheap now. I can't believe that we waited so long to do it...

Today it was a mild 20 degrees, but our daughter insisted on going for a swim with her dadda when he got home from work. Luckily, because our pool gets sun all day it was a pleasant 25 degrees in the water. Bliss...

past times

This just landed in my in-box, and I'm not happy about it. Yes, I remember Chachi - and would prefer that he stayed that way, back in the past, without his far-too-open-necked shirt, sleezoid expression and protestations about how long he can go without sex.

Scott Baio might be 45 and single, but I wish he'd do so off my television set {particularly as I now know that he wasn't particularly single at the time. Ahhh, reality television - taking a wide berth of definitions...}

After a scorcher of a day yesterday it's cool and grey - yep, nothing like consistency! I had to do a lot of watering yesterday to soothe my poor drooping plants - the trees by the pool were particularly unhappy with the 38 degree temperatures and hot, lashing winds.

I did find the process quite meditative though. As a non-meditator I find it hard to switch off. Scarily, television is my meditation... But even that's not working. I found myself drifting off and eye-rolling last night in my favourite show - The Rachel Zoe project. At the end, when she was dizzy and nauseous? Um, did anyone recommend that she actually ate something? Crazy.

What do you do to chill out and switch off?

life lessons

Well, just as I'm over my hump of stress, come two great pieces of writing to cheer me. The first was over at girlwithasatchel, the second found on facebook.

Written by Regina Brett, 90 years old, of The Plain Dealer, Cleveland, Ohio

"To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me. It is the most-requested column I've ever written.

My odometer rolled over to 90 in August, so here is the column once more:



1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.

3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone...

4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch.

5. Pay off your credit cards every month.

6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.

8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.

9. Save for retirement starting with your first pay check.

10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.

11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.

12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.

13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.

15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.

16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.

17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.

18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.

19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.

20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.

21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, and wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.

22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.

23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.

24. The most important sex organ is the brain.

25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.

26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words 'In five years, will this matter?'

27. Always choose life.

28. Forgive everyone everything.

29. What other people think of you is none of your business.

30. Time heals almost everything. Give time.

31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

33. Believe in miracles.

34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.

35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.

36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.

37. Your children get only one childhood.

38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.

39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.

40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.

41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

42. The best is yet to come.

43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

44. Yield.

45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift."

serenity now

I had a blissful few weeks of being chilled after our gorgeous holiday - but I knew it'd have to end. Today I've got bucketloads to do - and quite possibly nowhere near the amount of time I need to do it in...

It's been like this for a while now, and I've been coasting, but today, oh no, today my body's not letting me coast.

It's decided to stress.

So, I'm going to take some deep breaths, ignore the non-essentials, and just get in and do what needs to be done.

See this chick in the pic? That'll be me, chilled, calm and with a rather fab set of red lips...

detox duty

Well, it was a rather fabulous weekend, but boy, do I feel the need for some detoxing...

Salad, seafood and plenty of water are on the menu this week. Along with bucketloads of water, daily walks and the odd swim.

It's gorgeous and summery outside today so I imagine I'll pick up my gal from school and she'll come home and go straight out and dive in the pool. I'll head out shortly to restock my paltry pantry and make sure there's some yummy summer fruits on offer for her after-school snacks...

blood and guts trifle

Well, the blood and guts trifle for the halloween party was pretty yummy, so I thought I'd share the recipe.

First of all I poached about 8 halved white nectarines {skin on, seeds intact} in a sugar syrup with rose syrup added {no measurements here, I just covered the nectarines with water in the frying pan, added about 1/4 cup of sugar and then a good slurp of Molin rose syrup}. I poached them for ten minutes skin side down, and then turned them over.

When I took them out the skin peeled away beautifully and the seeds popped out. I then added some vodka and a vanilla pod to the poaching liquid and reduced it till I had about a cup of thick, jelly-like syrup.

Then I made some vanilla custard {from a packet, next time I'll just buy a carton!} and toasted some flaked almonds.

In a large bowl I added sliced mini jam sponge rolls {I sliced them into 1.5cm slices}, then moistened them with syrup and an extra sloosh of vodka. Then I diced the nectarines, added a layer, then tossed over a handful of crumbled, frozen raspberries {for the blood clot effect}. Then a layer of custard went on, and some toasted almonds. This was repeated and I topped it all with a fat layer of whipped cream. Sprinkled over the top were more crumbled raspberries and toasted almonds. Finally, I drizzled some rose syrup over the top.

Sadly the phone in my battery died before I could take a pic, but it did look rather pretty. I think I'll be making this again, and renaming it the more appealing Raspberry and Nectarine trifle...

halloween scene

Just thought I'd share a pic of me and the gal ready to hit the halloween party last night. We had an absolute ball. My lil snakes were quite the success - it did help that I already have medusa-like hair to start with!

mini ha ha

We're off to a school trivia night tonight, amazingly, my first-ever trivia experience. I'm beside myself, as I have a head full of trivia that I'm dying to share. But, you watch, tonight, I'll know nothing... Will still have fun though!

For our table of ten I'm taking some nibblies to share. Red wine and crispy pancetta risotto balls {make risotto in the usual manner, then pop them in mini muffin tins and bake for 15 minutes or so till the tops are crispy} and mini steak sarnies {with caramelised red onions, garlic mayo and a sirloin sliced into rounds and served on sourdough baguette}.

Yum.

puppy love

I've always been a cat person. I don't know if it's because my starsign's Leo, or if it's just something that happened, but dogs and me, well, we never really got each other.

However, the other day I was out shopping and saw my neighbour {who lives in the street behind me} on crutches. I quickly asked what happened and she'd been competing in the masters and was in the first kilometre of a 5k run when her tendon in her foot snapped. Now, me? I'd be on the ground sooking, she? Kept running and won the race and the title. She's a legend. Now her foot's been operated on, but she can't walk her dog.

He's a beautiful big, black beast. Huge, but so gentle. So I've offered to take him for a walk. You know, gets me out of the house. I took him on Wednesday, but yesterday things got frantic, husband delayed at work, child with bucketloads of homework... So I called and asked if I could walk him this morning instead.

I turned up this morning and he almost wagged his tail off in excitement, then turned, ran back and grabbed his leash in his mouth running back to me almost turning his body inside out with figure eights of delight. I snapped the lead on and took him off and just felt his joy emanating from every pore.

Now I'm in love. Luckily I've got a few more weeks to spend with this bundle of black joy. Now I understand the dog thing. I get it, cos he's got me.

foot fetish

As I'm completely obsessed with the Halloween party I'm attending on Saturday night {costume, food, drink, cosmetics...} I thought these shoes would just be smashing - should Medusa wear Valentino.

I think I'll go with green fingernails {a really pretty Chanel shade} and black toenails - and go barefoot for a real Medusa experience.

If I were wearing these for reals though, I do believe that a bright pink toenail should peep out. You?

shades of grey

Why is it that I find grey skies so romantic in Paris, I adore the shade of grey painted on almost any surface {including the exterior of my home} and yet give me grey skies in Merewether and I fall into a funk? I get myself some serious SADs when the weather's grey. I can't work properly, the house seems to fall into a slovenly state... Grrrrrrr.

I should be cheered as I just went to Spotlight and couldn't find any rubber snakes, so bought some black and some sparkly silver pipecleaners instead. I also bought some red felt to make forked tongues and red sequins for snake eyes. I've also decided on my make-up - lots and lots of green and long black lashes. As for clothes, I've ditched the idea of a toga-esque costume - too precarious. Instead, I'm going with a long black skirt that's covered in a lacy kinda detail that could conceivably look like snake scales-ish. Now, I just need one of those gold snake armbands to wind up my arm, then I'm set.

I'm going to make myself a damn fine cup of coffee, tidy my desk and then get stuck into all the work I've got due. Oh, and I'm going to make myself smile - that always takes me to a happy place.

party planning

I have a tendency to get a wee bit overexcited at the thought of events. I remember when I was growing up I was so peeved that we didn't have Halloween in Australia - seriously, what a cool idea. Now, oh yes now, Australia's cottoning on.

Stores are filled with costumes, creepy lollies {such as squishy eyeballs, and body parts!} and decorations litter the aisles of Coles.

I've yet to properly sort my costume. I had a dream the other night that I was getting ready for the party and had forgotten to buy the snakes to weave through my hair - and without the snakes, well, Medusa's just, me...

So I guess I'd best head off to Spotlight today to stock up on snakes, or at least buy some pairs of black pantihose and red sequins for eyes...

so eye see

I was just reading an hilarious post here and have finally decided to get my eyes tested. I've always had perfect vision, if anything, I'm longsighted {perfect for spotting street signs miles away - I was the original GPS}. But now, with the computer-induced headaches and eyestrain, combined with the fact that I'm holding my books progressively further from me {pretty soon I'll be propping them up at the foot of my bed}, well, it's time to get my eyes tested.

I think that secretly I've been waiting for eyewear fashion to change. Those thin glasses that've been in style for a while now look fabbo - on everyone but me. See, tiny thin glasses make round faces look even more moon-like. Not a good look.

I'll call for an appointment this week, and you watch, I'll find a divine pair of frames and sure enough, will walk out without a prescription...

wash day woes

It's still bucketing down rain today. As it was yesterday afternoon - after a threatening grey sky quelled my urge to wash all weekend.

But now I've got piles of washing. Washing to do that's overflowing in the basket, towels to wash piled by the back door, towels to put away still in the pavilion where they were dried, and clothes to put away teetering in the guest room.

Eek.

The rain's forecast to stick around through tomorrow, so I guess I'll move the clothes line further back in the pavilion so the horizontal rain won't hit it and wash that pile of towels. While my daughter's doing her homework this afternoon I'll make a start on that pile of clothes, and when I trek up to the pavilion during a break in the rain, I'll grab that other pile of towels and put them away too.

As for the teetering piles of unwashed in the bedroom? I'll save them for sunny wednesday... I'm nothing if not an optimist...

monday's menu

For the first time, in what must be about a month, I've written up my weekly menu. I must have been out of practice, because it took me nearly 10 minutes - but it's done now, so here's what we'll be eating this week:

Monday: Meatloaf and veg {rainy and miserable today - I need comforting!}

Tuesday: St Tropez Chicken and salad

Wednesday: Steak and salad

Thursday: fish and salad

Friday: school trivia night - lots of yummy nibbles

Saturday: Halloween party so I'm taking red devil cupcakes and blood and guts trifle

Sunday: Roast dinner - lamb or pork - whatever tickles my fancy on Saturday.

Now I just need to shop. My migraine hangover's abated well enough so that I can drive. I'll call at the butcher before picking up my gal, buying the meat for tonight and chicken for tomorrow night so I can marinate it in a bottle of rosé, herbs and honey {mmmmmmmmmmmmmm} and then we'll dash to the fruit and veg shop up the road on the way home. Tonight I feel like Curly Kale - but I've yet to see that in Aus, so I'll have to satisfy myself with a big lump of steamed garlic spinach, green beans and almonds and, of course, mashed potato {I'll bake the potatoes and scoop out their mushy insides}.

What's on your table this week?

sleepy head

I dragged myself out of bed at 11.30 this morning. No, not a bad case of mondayitis - just a migraine. Sigh.

Thankfully I'm feeling much better now - just woozy and with the typical 'migraine hangover' - you know, cos the migraine itself isn't bad enough...

That's not my Laura Ashley bedroom in the pic - beautiful though isn't it? I think I need to find some wall space for that dove grey wallpaper. Surely I've got a little space to fill somewhere.

all the fun of the fair

We're off to the fete at my daughter's school today. I'm not wearing a pair of slinky black pants a la Sandy {where did she fit her internal organs?} but I have made my black cat cookies.

I'm just waiting for the last batch of icing to set then we'll wander down and spend some cash.

Love a fair.

moody blues

I'm pretty sure that it would be impossible to be unhappy if you had this room to walk into every day. How seriously sumptuous is it?

I feel that way at the moment when I walk into my front garden. Roses are blooming all over the place, the grass is verdant green, trees are covered with leaves, and other plants are bursting into bloom.

Glorious stuff.

I also got stuck in and cleaned my study yesterday, which, embarrassingly, took very little time. I grabbed a box for recycling and threw most of the stuff in there, made other one-sided paper into a nifty little notepad, unpacked the piles of mail I had waiting, and tidied mags onto shelves. Now the room's looking far more workable - and I've got heaps more done.

There's still plenty to do around the house, but by making two rooms habitable {study and kitchen} it's all much more attainable. It's kind of like breaking weight loss into easily achievable goals - rather than looking at the scary big picture!

It's a gorgeous day today, and soon I'm going out with the girls for a quick dip. The water temperature is a balmy 26 degrees, so I'm going to get my swim on.

Happy days.

on a roll

So, it's the pupil-free day and I have two gals just begging to be entertained. How to do it? Why baking of course. There's a fair at the school on Sunday so I'll get them gals busy baking sugar cookies. We bought a cute black cat cookie cutter on hols so think we'll make kitties with sugar cookie dough and ice them with black icing {yep, I do have every colour in the food colouring range in my pantry...}

We've delved into Nigella and found a recipe that makes 50 - 60 cookies. Perfect.

I believe that a spot of baking, followed by a swim, followed by a bit of telly and chatting will make for happy girls - and will hopefully allow me to finish off all my work.

Wish me luck!

school daze

I have a child who just loooooooooves school. When she's sick she'll insist that she's just fine and can make it through the day. School holidays {despite how many fun activities I plan} are the bane of her life. On the last day of school she'll stomp out the gate wearing both her cranky pants and her angry eyes.

So of course she was delighted this week to return to school. Beside herself with joy - until the note came home yesterday reminding us of the Pupil-Free-Day tomorrow.

Uh oh.

Luckily I'd organised a whole-day playdate AND sleepover with her bestie, which I thought would cure her ills. We'd take in a movie, maybe go ten-pin bowling, hopefully it'd be hot enough for them to swim...

So last night, as I'm putting her to bed, Miss-nearly-10 grumps, "Why does it have to be a pupil-free day tomorrow?" and I responded, "Oh well, at least you get to spend the day with Hollie..." to which she harrumped, "I wouldn't care if I got to spend the day with Santa Claus!"

Bless.

Nothing's better than school for my gal.

round and round

Every time I enter a room in my house at the moment I shake my head. Crap is just breeding! There are teetering piles of magazines in every room, piles of paper, washing that's screaming to be cleaned, or packed away, washing up to be tended to, odd things that have no home that just seem to accumulate...

Sigh.

Too much stuff, not enough storage space.

There's a fair at my daughter's school on the weekend and I'm seriously tempted to just grab everything that's not properly housed, fling it in a box and donate it.

Instead, I'm going to take an hour off work and get at least two rooms in shape - my study and the kitchen will do for starters.

Man, I need a cleaner. Stat.

Oh, and ps: this is not my living room. If this were my living room I'd feel duty-bound to keep it looking pristine at all hours. However, doncha think this colour pink would be ideal for my study? I'm sure I'd work better if my walls were such a pretty pink.

sweet next-to-nothings

I'm in need of new undergarments - but lordy, do I loathe shopping for the buggers. First of all, I could probably do with a fitting as I haven't had one since I stopped breastfeeding {and my daughter's now nearly 10...}.

If only I had the means, I'd stroll into La Perla and spirit everything into a changeroom. Don't you think that anything you wore over this bra would look sensational?

shoe of the week

I am dying, just dying, to see that new film about Valentino. In the meantime I'll content myself with a pair of his shoes - with the prettiest diamonte bows. Cuteness!

And these, with the Herve dress? Oh me oh my.

frock treatment

If I were ever going to spend an obscenity on a fashion item, it'd be one of these. If you could have a little black dress that makes you look as va-va-voom as a Herve Leger, well, what more would you need? Seriously, I'd carry my purse around in a coles green shopping bag if it meant I could afford one of these perfectly engineered beauties.

I was watching my new obsession the other night, The Real Housewives of New York, and Brittany totally rocked a Herve. With her bod she could probably also rock a Glad Garbage Bag - but still, you get my point. A Herve is now my current fashion covet. And with the US dollar being almost equal to the Aussie...

something kinda wonderful

While my hallway is nowhere near as grand and wide as this one, this is the inspiration for painting the walls a rich colour below the chair rail. Colourwise we could go with a rich french grey {darker than our pale grey exterior weatherboards} or a pale lilac {to tie in with the mother's violets shade on parts of the exterior} or a pale tiffany blue {to tie in with my love off all things tiffany and make me feel like my home is a little pressie...}

Decisions, decisions...

fresh start

One of the best things about our holiday {aside from the relaxation - which, I kid you not, is still happening!} is that we've returned all inspired to prettify our home.

The Southern Highlands is filled with gorgeous homes and gardens and have inspired us to reach even greater heights. So much so that the night we returned, my husband started sanding and sugarsoaping the hall before heading off to Bunnings yesterday and coating the walls with two coats of paint!

Our hall was always an oversight - but such an important part of the home. It was painted in a dirty yellow collour - not sunny, happy yellow, just blah yellow and didn't work with any of the rooms leading off it. Now it's a glorious shade of antique white and looks v fresh and inviting.

We're now trying to work out if we'd like to paint the wall below the chair rails in a shade of french grey - and what colour to paint the rear of the door. I'm pumping for either gloss black or pink, while hubby's keen on grey. We'll see. We've got the leadlight in the front door to consider - pink and green roses - naturellement!

I'll post some pics later on.

picture perfect

This is the sunroom of our holiday house - with what is the ultimate definition of a picture window - that view was better than any television programme! We adults spent the daylight hours melting into these comfy leather chairs - with coffee in the morning, and champagne in the afternoon. Bliss.

At night, after dinner, our resident pyromaniac would light the fire and we'd sit before it sipping wine and playing trivial pursuit {we've got a school trivia night coming up at the end of the month and are determined to kick butt!}.

The gals would happily bathe themselves, play and then put themselves to bed, only needing a tuck-in and a kiss goodnight.

It was an utterly memorable holiday filled with great champagne, wine, food and friends. I can't wait to do it all over again.

home-sweet-holiday-home

See this tree-lined drive? That leads to one of the best holiday homes around. Spring Hill Farm is the perfect base for a southern highlands sojourn. Great chef's kitchen, ideal rolling views, the perfect array of rooms, and a mere country-lane walk up the road to Burrawang pub. Every afternoon the dads would take the daughters up to the pub where the gals played checkers over raspberry lemonades and potato chips, while the dads chatted over an ale.

On the Thursday night we mums joined in for the pizza night - along with every other family in Burrawang! We munched on Pork Belly and Potato pizza {Beth, I thought of you with every mouthful!}, chorizo and caramelised onion pizza - and swilled it down with a glass of the local Sauvignon Blanc.

Too damned good.

perfect plonk

See this? This is a perfect piece of France plonked in the Southern Highlands. It's Mount Ashby vineyard home of not only a spectacular range of wine {really, really yummy!} but also the most french-style lunch you're likely to find in Aus.

Two very happy gals had a beef bourguignon pie each - washed down with lashings of baguettes. While four happy grown-ups shared a bottle of Pinot Gris and a petit plat filled with cheese, pork rillettes {oh-my-word!}, cornichons and other french delights.

We walked off sated, and with more wine for our dinner and wine racks! The owner and other staff were superb, the french antique dotted decor was to-die-for - and all round, it was a rather spesh experience.

tasty treats

This is a pic of the most divine patisserie outside of Paris. It was located in Bowal and we went there almost every day for a fix. Our gal was addicted to their flaky croissants and chocolate macarons! I flirted with the most superb lemon tart, a chocolate mousse-filled eclair, a crispy, caramelised cannoli and also indulged in the odd macaron. Oh, and the baguettes? Perfect for serving with the ultimate cheeses from the Cheese Factory at Robertson {where they have EVERY cheese imaginable}.

See the cute lad busking with a set of bagpipes to the left of the image? Bless his tartan socks! That was just one of the many magical moments of our holiday.

Le sigh...

and I'm back

Well, we're back home after THE most relaxing holiday ever. I'm soooo chilled, I'm positively frosty. We were lucky to go away with the perfect family to holiday with - and that put us all in the holiday spirit immediately. Combine that with a beautiful house in the most amazing location {pics and details to come this week: promise!}, gorgeous experiences, great shopping and mucho delish champagne, wine and food and you've got one very chilled out blogger...

I'm determined to hold onto this relaxed frame of mind and not allow stress to take hold of me again. I've unpacked mine and my daughter's bags, will fling on a load of washing later on, and will soon go to the supermarket to buy the makings for an easy, light meal {after eating confit duck three times this last week and consuming my bodyweight in champagne - light is essential!}

So, what's new? Am dying to immerse myself in blogs - but am saving that pleasure till tomorrow. Until then xx

a bientot

Well, apparently we're leaving in 45 minutes to head off on hols... I'm kinda ready. Bags are packed, lists are ticked {hey, how happy am I that I've got a couple of different 'holiday' lists on my harddrive? I just printed out the One Week Holiday list and everything I need is on there ready to tick off!}

I'll miss you while I'm gone - and imagine I'll be frantically scrambling for the computer when we come home on Sunday. Until then xx

don't leave me this way...

I used to think that losing a 'friend' on facebook was the most frustrating thing. I'd spend ages working out who it was, considering 'why' they'd dumped me and just generally fretting till I just decided to get over it.

Then I started tweeting and realised that plenty of people follow you just so you'll follow them, and when you don't, they stop following you. Weird. So people dumping me on twitter? Don't care in the slightest.

Now I've got a new one - followers who stop following my blog :(

What did I say, do, not say, not do...? Is it like Twitter and they've followed me and I've not followed them {I try, but if I've missed you just let me know and I'm happy to pop along}.

Now what happens when I'm away for a week?!?!?

Guess I'll just have to get over it and move onwards...

holiday, celebrate

Oh I am sooooooo ready for a holiday. I've done all but the final read-through and edit of my last two bits of work, the house is, well, okay {thanks mainly to my gal and her bestie who cleaned her bedroom - and our bedroom - magnificently mind, and without being asked!}.

My husband's off with our daughter searching for the ideal pair of school shoes. Ha! Our daughter has very, very, very narrow feet - which usually mean only the most expensive of shoes will do. And usually they're Mary Janes with velcro - because you can make them thinner. However, she's keen on a buckled Mary Jane this year - oh, how I've passed on my shoe fetish...

So I'm now off to tidy the kitchen, throw on another load of washing and get ready to start cooking the lapin au vin after lunch so it's ready to take with us for dinner tomorrow night. As for tonight's dinner... well, surely I've earned takeaway!

number 901

Hey, guess what? I've posted over 900 posts! Surely I can reach 1000 by the end of the year - how's that for a goal?

Anyway, that's not what I'm here for - I'm here about the pie...

Yep, that there, on top of this post, is last night's extravaganza sitting in a pie dish coming to room temperature before I lovingly cover it with puff pastry and bake it in a stinking hot oven till it's golden.

Now, last night the meal was absolutely to die for, so, to be honest, I'm a bit scared as to how fan-freakin-tastic it's going to be tonight. I may well require resuscitation... It'll be worth it though - don't you think?

cor blimey charlie

I swear that I walk out of a clean and tidy room, enter two minutes later and it's a disaster! I've almost finished all the writing I need to do before I leave, but am now looking at the state of the house and feeling like tearing out my hair {that'd save on touching up the roots at least...}

We've got a housesitter coming in to look after the cat and water the plants while we're gone and before she arrives on Monday morning we need to tidy every single room, wash three sets of sheets, wash a huge load of dark clothing, give the bathroom a spit and polish and sweep all the dirt and stuff that's blown into the pavilion with all this wind!

Hubby's out giving the 1920s french wire furniture on the front veranda a coat of paint at the moment {so they're ready for my cream and pale blue toile cushions - can't wait to post the end result for you!}, our gal's just been reunited with her bestie who's been away for a week, and I'm here blogging about all I've got to do.

Think we'll have lunch and I'll get stuck into the kitchen, wash the dark clothes, the move my way through the house from back to front.

Do you think a pretty frilly apron will help get me in the mood?

so damned delicious

Okay, here's the most amazing dish you'll ever eat - promise. We've got stacks leftover so tonight I'm putting it in a pie dish, covering it with puff pastry, basting it with egg wash and sprinkling the top with pale pink salt flakes before baking till golden.

There are a lot of steps in this - but seriously, I beg of you, it's worth it.

Julia Child = genius

Boeuf Bourguignon

Servings: 6

Difficulty: Difficult

Cook Time: Over 120 min

This recipe is from "Mastering the Art of French Cooking" by Julia Child, Louisette Bertholle and Simone Beck (Alfred A. Knopf, 1961)

Ingredients

One 170g piece of chunk bacon 

3 1/2 tablespoons olive oil

1.3kg lean stewing beef, cut into 2-inch cubes

1 carrot, sliced

1 onion, sliced

Salt and pepper

2 tablespoons flour

3 cups red wine, young and full-bodied (like Beaujolais, Cotes du Rhone or Burgundy)

2 1/2 to 3 1/2 cups brown beef stock

1 tablespoon tomato paste

2 cloves mashed garlic

1/2 teaspoon thyme

A crumbled bay leaf

18 to 24 white onions, small

3 1/2 tablespoons butter

Herb bouquet (4 parsley sprigs, one-half bay leaf, one-quarter teaspoon thyme, tied in cheesecloth)

450g mushrooms, fresh and quartered

Cooking Directions

Remove bacon rind and cut into lardons (sticks 1/4-inch thick and 1 1/2 inches long). Simmer rind and lardons for 10 minutes in 2 cups water. Drain and dry.

Preheat oven to 230 degrees celcius.

Sauté lardons in 1 tablespoon of the olive oil in a flameproof casserole over moderate heat for 2 to 3 minutes to brown lightly. Remove to a side dish with a slotted spoon.

Dry beef in paper towels; it will not brown if it is damp. Heat fat in casserole until almost smoking. Add beef, a few pieces at a time, and sauté until nicely browned on all sides. Add it to the lardons.

In the same fat, brown the sliced vegetables. Pour out the excess fat.

Return the beef and bacon to the casserole and toss with 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper.

Then sprinkle on the flour and toss again to coat the beef lightly. Set casserole uncovered in middle position of preheated oven for 4 minutes.

Toss the meat again and return to oven for 4 minutes (this browns the flour and coves the meat with a light crust).

Remove casserole and turn oven down to 160 degrees.

Stir in wine and 2 to 3 cups stock, just enough so that the meat is barely covered.

Add the tomato paste, garlic, herbs and bacon rind. Bring to a simmer on top of the stove.

Cover casserole and set in lower third of oven. Regulate heat so that liquid simmers very slowly for 3 to 4 hours. The meat is done when a fork pierces it easily.

While the beef is cooking, prepare the onions and mushrooms.

Heat 1 1/2 tablespoons butter with one and one-half tablespoons of the oil until bubbling in a skillet.

Add onions and sauté over moderate heat for about 10 minutes, rolling them so they will brown as evenly as possible. Be careful not to break their skins. You cannot expect them to brown uniformly.

Add 1/2 cup of the stock, salt and pepper to taste and the herb bouquet.

Cover and simmer slowly for 40 to 50 minutes until the onions are perfectly tender but hold their shape, and the liquid has evaporated. Remove herb bouquet and set onions aside.

Wipe out skillet and heat remaining oil and butter over high heat. As soon as you see butter has begun to subside, indicating it is hot enough, add mushrooms.

Toss and shake pan for 4 to 5 minutes. As soon as they have begun to brown lightly, remove from heat.

When the meat is tender, pour the contents of the casserole into a sieve set over a saucepan.

Wash out the casserole and return the beef and lardons to it. Distribute the cooked onions and mushrooms on top.

Skim fat off sauce in saucepan. Simmer sauce for a minute or 2, skimming off additional fat as it rises. You should have about 2 1/2 cups of sauce thick enough to coat a spoon lightly.

If too thin, boil it down rapidly. If too thick, mix in a few tablespoons stock. Taste carefully for seasoning.

Pour sauce over meat and vegetables. Cover and simmer 2 to 3 minutes, basting the meat and vegetables with the sauce several times.

Serve in casserole, or arrange stew on a platter surrounded with potatoes, noodles or rice, and decorated with parsley.

the ultimate meal?

Only a vegetarian could walk out of a screening of Julia and Julie without the most serious hankering for Boeuf Bourguignon. As you know, I'm no vegetarian, and I love rich, french meals.

I already have a fabulous recipe for the famous beef in red wine stew, but thought I'd try Julia's and although it's still an hour off, I think it's going to reward me. It's far more fiddly than my usual recipe, but that's what food cooked with love should be like. Taking the time to linger over each step {on a weekend preferably} means you develop a full appreciation for each ingredient.

I'm currently simmering eshalots in beef stock, flavoured with salt, pepper and a bouquet garni - after they've been browned and caramelised in butter and oil. After 50 minutes they'll be ready to add to my beef, bacon and red wine mix along with some sauteed mushrooms...

Sure, it'll take over four hours to cook - but it'll be a real mmmmmmmm-moment*. And considering that this week's been filled with mere, yeah, that'll fill the spot meals, I think we need one of those.

Oh, and in further cooking news, today I bought two rabbits from the butcher - chopped into eight pieces each and ready to make Lapin au Vin to take on our holiday. I believe it's going to be mighty chilly on our first night, so arriving with a le crueset full of casserole that only needs heating will be the nicest welcome.

* It was completely and utterly divine. The most delicious meal ever - I shall post the recipe tomorrow - and buy the book on the weekend!

frugal friday

Being frugal requires organisation - something I've had darned little of on the homefront lately. However, because of that I've made a few make-do meals that've stretched the dollar further. One night we had salami and mozzarella pizza with pantry and freezer basics. I always like to have some lebanese bread in the freezer for ready-made, speedy bases. We've also defrosted a 'who-knows-what-that-is' meal from the freezer and served it with pasta {it was lamb casserole apparently}.

Because we're off on hols on Monday I'm working out where to spend and where to splurge. I'm taking the le crueset for a few yummy slow-cooked meals, we're also packing up our coffee machine to set up in the kitchen when we arrive. I'll fill water bottles to take in the car - along with a couple of snacks. I'm also planning on cooking a meal tomorrow and freezing it - so I can pack it in the esky when we leave and we'll have a meal all ready to heat and eat on the first night - just add veg!

We've also got wine and champers we've bought from Dan Murphy's to take with us - so we don't have the last minute expensive bottle-shop run. However, we will be calling into a few vineyards in the southern highlands to buy at their cellar door - that's a must-do experience.

they're creepy and they're kooky

You know what I love more than a party? Nothing. Actually, no, I love a THEME party more than just a regular party. Which is why I'm utterly beside myself at being invited to a kids' and parents' Halloween party by a hostess who loves parties as much as I do {possibly even more...}

I RSVPd within seconds of receiving the invite, have already gone shopping with my gal to buy her a cute Wizardess costume and a pumpkin to carry her 'treats' in - and have put in my request for the food I'd like to contribute.

For the grown-ups I'm making "Blood and Guts Trifle" {sure, some may know it as raspberry and nectarine trifle, but hey, it's meant to be spooky!} It'll be boozy and bloody terrific. For the kids my gal had a suggestion - red velvet cupcakes - but as red devils. I think I'll be fashioning some devil horns from raspberry licquorice...

Now, as for what I'll wear. Last year I took the easy option and wore a long black frock and a witch's hat - but this year I've got time to plan. So, because I'm starting with long-curly-black hair that's got to be my springboard. Wait for it, I'm going as Medusa. Yep, with some wire I'm going to make some curls stand out and somehow fit snake's heads to the ends.

I also saw some cocktails on Martha Stewart that had me giggling - Pina Ghoulada! If not, we'll be going with the Absinthe and Champagne cocktails - death in the afternoon {so aptly named}.

yes ma'am

We're off on a week's holiday on Monday, so I've got a lot of work to do before we leave to ensure it's a stress-free and relaxing trip. Hence, I'll need a lot of discipline to get it all done. Hence, these shoes! Mr Pucci's designed these for the woman with a servant who's happy to get down low and go, go, go with all those buckles. I must say, you know those nights that you come in late and can't be bothered removing your make-up? Well imagine the damage these 4.5 inch heels could cause the Egyptian cotton sheets...

Oh well, a gal can dream. Over on net-a-porter they've teamed these with a bandage dress for the ultimate in va-va-VOOM. I love the detailing on the toes - peer in and check it out - it's pretty darned spesh!

green with it

I should be jealous of Rachel Zoe's bank account, unlimited access to couture, vintage wardrobe, front row fashion week seats, darling hubby... but no, my searing envy limits itself to one aspect.

Brad.

I heart him.

my new obsession

I loved this movie. Loved, loved, loved, loved it. I laughed out loud - plenty of times - and I'm not a loud laugher... I also had tears in my eyes. Fell in love with my husband all over again after this beautiful, beautiful depiction of a fabulous marriage and am inspired to cook up a month of French feasts.

I went with two great gal pals, and seriously, if one of them had said, "Do you want to see it again?" I would have walked straight back into the cinema.

Meryl is brilliant. How anyone could not fall in love with her characterisation of the amazing Julia Child is beyond me. My new mantra is "What Would Julia Do?" I believe that the phrase Joie de Vivre was invented for her. And Stanley Tucci? Oh, I'm in love...

Dinner tonight is Julia's Boef Bourginon, my dear friend found the recipe on-line after being inspired last night. Apparently the secret is to dry the beef before you throw it in the butter so it browns. Julia says.

Please go and see this film if you

a: love food

b: love romance

c: love France

Or, like me, all of the above...

moving pictures

I love going to the movies, love it. Surprisingly, however, I rarely manage to see a film on the big screen - or the small half the time. Tonight though, I'm off with a couple of gal pals to a Girl's Night Out fundraising screening of Julie & Julia. Woo hoo,

French food, Meryl Streep, Amy Adams. Parfait!

green fingers

Whew, what a weekend. Hubby and I went to Sydney to do lotsa test drives of new cars - fell in love with a few, out of love with others. We've now narrowed it down to Top 2 - and fallback car. Basically if we get offered a deal we can't refuse we'll buy one of the Top 2 - if not, we'll happily go with the cheaper fallback car.

This morning we went to the nursery on the way back from our inlaws and bought lots of pretties to fill in the gaps in the cottage garden. This pretty pink fleur is a pincushion or scabiosa and it's just divine. We've also bought some gorgeous blue delphiniums, marguerite daisies, pink cleomes and a few other odds and sods. My Mr is now out weeding, pruning and preparing to plant, while I'm working away - one story sent off, another to finish.

Our gal refused to leave her grandparents' today so we've left her to play for a few days - something she loves to do in the holidays. That'll free me up to work, so I can spend some time with her later in the week. Next week we're off down south with friends for a six-day holiday. Bliss.

I'm now starting on my thousand loads of washing - it's been days since I've done a load so it's been piling up. Where does it all come from and how do large families cope?

Hope you've enjoyed your weekend and are starting on a fabulous week.