cold comfort

Wow, in a week we've gone from 37 degree scorchers, to today's low of 17 degrees and raining. Can't complain about the rain as hopefully it's helping to put out some bushfires and is drenching some pretty dry gardens. It's also brought our carpenter back to finish the pavilion by nailing the slats around three edges - woo. And hoo!

Last night's lamb was utterly divine. Perfection. Best of all, I only used half of it - so do you know what that means? Lamb pie for dinner! I've never baked a savoury pie before, so I'll need to google a recipe. I'm thinking of a pastry base, a rich, red wine sauce and maybe a mashed potato topping - served with mushy peas (which I'll have to give a new name as husband and child both have an aversion to green peas - odd!)

comfort food

It's called that for a reason, which is why I'm slow cooking this Tuesday. A friend's status update on Facebook called me to slowly cook a leg of lamb, which I'm doing.

After studding deep cuts with chunks of fresh garlic and pieces of anchovy, I browed the leg in a pan. Then it's gone into the dutch oven with plenty of onions, more garlic, more anchovies, carrot and french lentils. A tin of diced tomatoes, some chicken stock, white wine, salt and pepper and a bouquet garni complete the combo. I should have simmered it, but didn't - I've just covered it with the lid and popped it in the oven on a low heat (120 degrees). It's going to slowly cook for at least five hours (should have started earlier for a seven hour cooking time, but oh well, we'll see) and then I'm serving it with potatoes and zucchini - possibly cooked together as a gratin, again, we'll see...

Hastily thrown together comfort food still serves a purpose, so long as it's got all the necessary ingredients and is still shown love. After all, sometimes a quick snog is just as good as a long, slow pash... 

thoughtful tuesday

I'm in a strange place at the moment. I'm around 1000 kilometres from my mum, step-dad and brother who live on 6.5 acres of bushland, right near the bushfires in Victoria. Houses have been lost at the end of their street (admittedly a very long street of about 7.5 kilometres, but still, that's too close). I'm trying to concentrate and work but am thinking about their safety, wishing that their "tree-change" were actually a "sea-change" so they could live somewhere safer, without the imminent threat to their lives and their home. I've been doing lots of calling to check their safety, and fielding calls from friends and family who've tried to get through, but found the phone lines busy. Normally an engaged signal is a minor annoyance, but when you know that catastrophic bushfires are nearby it sets the adrenaline pumping in the most horrid way.

At least they're safe. Close friends of theirs, the dearest, sweetest people you could ever meet, are waiting to hear the bad news about their daughter, her partner and other family members who lived in Kinglake - one of the worst affected areas. The death count's still rising and it could take weeks for positive identification. My heart and prayers are with them, and everyone who's experienced loss in these fires.

The worst part is that some fires were deliberately lit, while others were the result of a flaming cigarette being flung from a window. Obviously I have no concept of what goes on in the deranged mind of a pyromaniac - nor do I want to - but who throws a lit cigarette out a window any time, let alone in 46 degree heat? That's not ignorance, that's willful stupidity. They will be found, and they will be charged, but the lives, human and animal, the loss of homes and priceless memories, along with the nightmares so many will continue to experience, cannot be salved with a gaol-term. 

The only positive is lift it's giving the human spirit. Cash donations are pouring in, people are desperate to help, and the town's will be rebuilt with vigour. The Aussie battling spirit is at its best in times of crisis - let's hope it continues even when times are good.

luminaire

Our electrician is coming this week to hang and connect this chandelier in our pavilion. We found it a few years ago in an antique store, and basically designed the pitch of the pavilion roof around it. Here it is trying out life on the outside on our side veranda. I think it'll like looking over the pool - you?

damping down

I wrote a lot about the rain last year, and how I wished it would move where it's needed. Today I'm really hoping that plenty of rain clouds settle over Victoria to quell the bushfires. My thoughts are with those who've lost loved-ones and their homes in this horrific tragedy. 

j'adore

My love for this frock knows no bounds. It may possibly be quelled when I too own a floaty grey frock, but until then I'll have to live it out on-screen. 

Of course the episode featuring this frock was just on - and the phone rang just before I feasted my eyes on it. What couture candy the final series served up. Delish...

belle fleurs

Here's a little dose of pretty to liven up your day. Pink and red are just the happiest colour combo don't you think? And I'm loving on the combo of ranunculus and roses - I might have to plant a few ranunculus bulbs amongst the catmint that carpets my roses - red and pink, to contrast with the red and pink roses naturellement.

Oh, and can't you just imagine a bowl of cafe au lait in that pretty spotty number?

in memorium

I love The Cramps. I also adored the love story of Lux Interior and Poison Ivy. Like Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward I looked to them as an example of a hot, long-lived marriage. And now he is gone.

RIP Lux.

saturated sunshine

Today, to put myself in a better mood I painted my toenails bright yellow. I really should have resisted that urge. I used an el cheapo nailpolish that looks like primary school paint - goopy, opaque and with surprisingly sparse coverage.

If I really needed cheering up these shoes {Pour la Victoire: Tatienne in case you're wondering} would have been a much prettier option. Yes, they would be a tad more expensive than my $2 nailpolish, but far more rewarding - oh, and I'd be helping the economy too. Selfless really.

take me away

Every time I look at this gorgeous image it makes me sigh and smile. 

it don't matter if you're black or white

Help me out here. I like to do laundry properly. I separate darks from lights, handwash anything that tells me to (by hand, in the sink, not on the machine's 'handwash' cycle) and follow instructions to a ridiculous degree.

But when you're sorting lights from darks and you have something that's black and white striped where does it go? Darks? Lights? Why must laundry mess with my head? Luckily, I'm eco-conscious and do all my loads with cold water so I don't need to worry about fading of dark colours, so I tend to throw stripey stuff in with the whites, as I presume that because it's been treated so the black on the actual garment won't bleed with the white on the actual garment all should be well. But c'mon, washing's meant to be a no-brainer - isn't it?

Oh, and yes, that is a pink washing machine. A pink Smeg washing machine. I think I died a little on the inside when I saw it - I thought my hankering for a green Smeg fridge was going to be the end of me - but this? Oh wouldn't washing be bliss...

shoe envy

See this teeny, tiny picture here? Well, squint and use all your visual powers and check out the insy wincy shoes on the model. See them? Aren't they mini-magnificient perfection? This outfit was one of the wonders that Gok whipped up on Gok's Fashion fix the other night. I love what he did with a little bias binding around the lapels at at the waist to embellish that cute little peplum. He also placed cute little bows above the split at the rear of that pencil skirt. Five bows - because odd numbers are better than even stylistically...

However the shoes, which were ever-so-cheap look like the most divine, quilted, bi-coloured, patent Chanel Mary Janes. I want, I need, I must have. I believe they were from either Office or Next - one of those fabulous UK stores that has cheap yet divine stuff. I'm browsing until I find these in a size 37. Yes, they will end up costing $8000 Australian thanks to our cruddy exchange rate versus the pound, but still - cuteness!

* Update: I've found a slightly larger version of the shoes for your viewing pleasure. I have also found them on the Office website for seventy pounds. Now, if you had in-laws going to the UK in a few weeks to visit your sister-in-law who lives just outside London would you buy them, ship them to sis-in-law's and ask in-laws to bring them back to Australia just in time for winter? Would you?

when worlds collide

Why is it that on some days things just conspire against you? You know, nothing goes smoothly, you can't make yourself understood, if something should take one hour it ends up taking four... Welcome to my yesterday. Erk, it was annoying. Nothing went smoothly, or if it did I didn't notice it. But it's gone, it's over, today is another day. Working on the whole Power Of Now thing I'm just going to let yesterday go (well, aside from blogging about it now) and happily get on with today.

Today's going much better thank you. There are blokes finally taking away the temporary fencing that's been sitting around in the side yard, being slowly decorated by an array of weeds. I'm reasonably prepared for the work I have due. The house is looking okay (sink cleaned - bonus) and I have only a few hours work to do on a story that's due tomorrow which is coming together rather beautifully.

Tonight I'm also determined to bbq the ribs that are sitting in my fridge. Last night my daughter had netball grading that started at 4.30 and finished at 7pm. Yes, in the heat. Poor little poppets were red-faced and exhausted while I was berating myself for bring upteen bottles of water for the girls - and none for me. I also forgot to take a chair which meant many hours of standing which I'll only suffer if someone magnificent is on a stage in front of me performing my favourite songs (yes, my daughter was playing her little heart out, so that helped make it bearable, but oh, my ancient back...) Anyway, all that led to the most evil takeout meal of all McDonalds - but it did hit the spot.

Tonight, enormous green salad, ribs and bucketloads of cool water to wash it all down. A nice way to end the day.

breathing space

It's been one of those days so I thought a pretty image might breathe some fresh and more inspired life into my day. These shelves and fleurs from CountryHome are seriously joy-inspiring. Non?

hair scare

Driving along in the car the other day my ears were delighted to hear a favourite tune from a band that holds a special place in my heart - Pavement. These indy rockers were the soundtrack to a particularly lovely stage in my life, hence my continuing adoration. In this song Steve Malkmus's quirky vocals implored "Darling don't you go and cut your hair..." and you know what I did this morning? Ignored him. Yep, how's this for a segueway... We painted the pavilion at the end of the pool on the weekend and I ended up with a substantial amount of white paint in my long, black curly hair. A couple of washes haven't budged it, so this morning, I washed it again, then hacked away with the scissors. Oops.

Obviously the good thing about long, curly hair is that you don't have to be precise when you cut it. It's curly, it's kooky, it'll adapt. However, I'm not sure how well my hair will respond when it's dry after having a couple of inches cut from random sections. Hopefully okay.

Oh, and I still have some paint in my hair, but I'm hoping to pass that off as a statement - or just dye over the top of it...

And yes, next time I paint I will wear a cap - and attempt to not doong my head on the freshly painted beams quite so often.

bagging a bargain

Who doesn't love a bargain? Hearts have to skip a beat when something you want AND need is on sale. I raced into Target the other day to see if I could find any cheapo swimwear and found a fabulous black and white printed number - for $10. I know! I bought my daughter a couple of pairs too (one stashed away for next summer in a larger size) 

I also bought the most divine Cath Kidston Lilac and Lavender washbag set with the cutest little make-up bag, handcream, soap, shower gel and lip salve - for only $9 - that's positively stolen. I think I need to redo my nails, slather my hands in the creme and polish up my pout with the salve. It's already starting to be one of those days, so best try to counter it with some scent-therapy.

you give me goosebumps, heart thumps...

Omygodomygodohmygodohmygodohmygodohmygodohmygodohmygod... Alexander McQueen, you saucy minx you. I've had to bring my shoe of the week forward two full days because of these lovelies. They've also inspired me to get all crafty a la Gok's Fashion Fix. I am so going out to buy a slew of organza roses to pin to the back of a pair of black heels. I have a divine pair of black satin pumps that would feel very ooh la la with a rose following in my wake.

Oh, pretty.

role reversals

In most ways I'm tres girly. I love pink, feel naked without pretty coloured toe- and finger-nails, I squeal, I giggle... but over the years I've realised that I do some blokey things. For example, I always leap into the driver's seat whenever we head out. I love driving, whereas my hubby has no real opinion on it - so I'm the driver. I also take on the traditionally masculine arena of the bbq - wielding tongs like any good Aussie bloke. Not for any real reason - just because I like cooking. 

However, on the weekend we bought a new barbeque. A real big, boofy, blokey barbie. The hulking great stainless steel machine you see in this post is coming to live at our house this weekend, and I think my husband's in love. I'm pretty sure he has visions of roasting sides of wildebeast on the rotisserie, sizzling large hunks of steak on the racks and allowing butterflied legs of lamb to slowly brown under his ministrations. 

Can't say I blame him.

well read

I was an avid reader from an early age. I devoured books and they always made me smile. I also started my re-reading thing quite young. See, if I like a book I can happily read it again, and again. It may have something to do with my goldfish-like brain, or maybe repetition suits me. Anywhoodle, there are some children's book's that I just la-la-loved. I wished that I'd kept some from my childhood, but they were lost on one of my dad's many moves. 

Thank goodness for op-shops though. Over the years I've rebuilt an extensive Dr Seuss collection for my daughter and she's just as fond of his amazing brain as I am. There were also a few Little Golden Books I adored - and this one here was my absolute favourite of all. I actually screamed the day I found this on a second-hand bookshop's shelves.

Annabella and I both love The Color Kittens. Even though she's nine, if she's had a big day and is too tired to read, I'll get this out and read to her at bedtime and we'll both smile at the tale of Brush and Hush. When the little pink dog dances with a groovy green cat... oh, what wonderful illustrations.

Next stop is to track down my favourite book from when I was about nine. What The Witch Left and is a magical tale that even to this day inspires me. The friendship, the magic and the adventure are a must for every little girl's mind. It was a scholastic book, so it was probably one I begged for from a school book club. But now, it's sadly out of print (despite many fans calling for its reprint) so I'll need a well-loved 2nd hand version. Anyone?

oh please

Much as I love the stuff, one of my pet peeves is chocolate for breakfast. Erk. It's wrong, on so many levels. As I tried to teach my daughter from an early age: chocolate is a sometimes food, it shouldn't be a major part of the food pyramid. That's why I loathe chocolate cereals aimed at kids. I'm not going to instill such negative eating habits in my child - the whole rewarding with food thing can lead to serious issues as you grow up.

So imagine, here I am this morning, racing through Coles when I spied this concoction on the shelves. Now, I'd always thought special K was one of those cereals that when you're trying to lose weight, you turn to. But now? Not so sure. Reading the ingredient list makes your blood boil. The first ingredients are rice and wholegrain wheat - good. Then sugar then, mmmm, 'chocolately chunks' which require a science degree to decode. Obviously a fair amount of the ingredients are some kind of sweetener. Oh, and there's fructose, and corn syrup - you know, the old 'break down the sugars into 20 different combinations so that 'sugar' isn't the first and main ingredient - but would be the majority ingredient if you combined all their unholy sweetness together.

No wonder so many people are confused about food and what they should and shouldn't eat. When a formerly reputable and reliable brand such as Special K deems it okay to eat chocolate at breakfast your average consumer is going to be confused. Not me, no Special K product, even the original which I actually like, is gracing my cereal shelf. Ever.