It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like...

Decorating wrapping paper

A robot, a rocket, two suns and a moon. Perfect!

Baking with the children.

Our much loved tree.

My hand print from when I was four.

Cohen's hand print when he was four and this year's ornament. Each year the children's great Aunt buys them their very own ornament. Such a lovely tradition.

Emerson's hand print as a baby.

Cohen's Christmas cards - Santa in his sleigh, Oscar, Cohen and Emerson build a snowman, and Santa leaving presents under a Christmas tree.

Happy Christmas Eve!

What I'm Reading, Eating, Listening to and Loving...

Reading

I've just finished reading Lisa Congdon's latest book, Art Inc., an artists guide to building their career. I found it instructive and I think it would be useful for any creative business person.

For my neighbourhood book club, I recently finished Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None - the best selling mystery novel ever and one of the best selling books of all time. I love that book club challenges me to read novels that fall outside of my usual well worn genres. And honestly, this book did not disappoint. It also made for excellent book club discussion. (I am so lucky to have such awesome neighbours, who started a book club years before I moved here, and invited my to join before our house contract had settled, three years ago!)

Next in line is Tim Winton's Eyrie for the final book club of the year, and Meg Stewart's Margaret Olley: Far From A Still Life, chosen as a result of falling in love with Olley's work after our trip to the Margaret Olley Art Center. And finally as a book that was recommended to me, The Happiness Trap.


Eating

As the fabulous flush of Mulberries on our tree diminishes, we are eating fresh handfuls of berries picked daily, and baking with our frozen berries.

Mulberry Muffins

Mulberry and Strawberry Crumble Recipe

Listening to

You know I love to listen to pod casts while I'm working at the jewellery bench, and when I have run out of episodes of After The Jump, or Stuff You Missed In History Class, I have been trying out some newer pod casts, like the long form news style Serial, from Ira Glass and team, and the creative and inspirational Raise Your Hand. Say Yes. by Tiffany Han.


Loving

Afternoon sunlight peeking in our rooms.
The imagination that comes to life in my children with the addition of a cape and mask.
My Belinda Marshall 2015 Wall Calender has been pre-ordered. Swoon!
A Little Bit Crafty - with some of my most loved makers inside, this is on my wish list.
Jacaranda trees blooming in purple all over town.
Two passionate people with a start up worth supporting, The Nursery Project.

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Please share a few of your own reads, eats and favourites in the comments!

Delightful Things - A List

Sometimes, when life is troublesome, or pregnancy emotion is getting me down, I've found that writing a list is the perfect cure. It could be a list of reasons to be grateful. A list of big and little dreams. A list of ordinary objects. Today, it's a list of delightful things. 

Won't you join me? Find a blank page and your favourite pen. Leave the page open as you go about your day, and keep thinking of things to add to the list. It's a lovely way to be mindful, think positively, look for the lovely and be open to the delightful things in your world. 

Leave a comment, create your own post, or snap a photo on instagram and tag it #delightfullist, so we can come and visit.

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Delightful Things

A brand new bar of soap - all the better if it is natural and handmade

Fresh sheets, still smelling of sunshine and grass

An empty washing basket - delightful and satisfying

Two sleeping children and a cup of tea

An unexpected parcel in the mail, covered with stamps

Little children holding hands - gets me every time

A single ray of sunshine striking out of a mass of clouds - like something from an old oil painting

A toddler picking you flowers

Homegrown fruit passed over the neighbour's fence

A pile of new books from the library - oh, the possibilties

A list of goals I'm working on

 






1. Pancake morning 2. My first cross stitch 3. Drying some of our many homegrown chillies 4. Belynda Henry at the opening of her amazing show, Jigsaw 5. Baking with Mama 6. A new work in progress 7. Sketches for a client's pearl

Along with my usual list of goals - to be organised, to make from scratch as many of the things we use as I can, to read two books a month, to make time to craft etc, there is another list I have been thinking about and working on that revolves around the things I want to achieve before baby number three is born - especially given that I am now 31 weeks pregnant and the remaining weeks are going to simultaneously drag and fly by.

- A new collection for release in the store in time for Mother's Day.

In between working on custom orders, client repairs and stock for Finders Keepers, I have been sneaking downstairs for a couple of hours each night to work on a collection of Pearl pieces to be released soon, for Mother's Day. There will be drop pendants, drop earrings, traditionally knotted pearl strands and pearl studs, starting from $45. Sign up to my newsletter to be kept up to date! 

- Stock and display for Finders Keepers Market

I've been staining my wooden display for the market and still have a long list of things to do in preparation for those two days in July. Like making a table cloth big enough for a 1.8 meter table, sourcing a 'credit cards welcome here' sign, ordering more packaging and display boxes, organising insurance and of course, completing all the stock I have planned to bring with me. So very much has been crossed off the list though, thanks in part to Didi, my fantastic intern.

(There is a great interview over here with the founders of the Finders Keepers Market.)

- Nesting: de-cluttering, cleaning and organising our home

Yesterday I tackled Cohen's room while he was at school (best to do these things when they aren't looking!) I filled two garbage bags with broken and outgrown toys, paper, and hoarded 'bits'. I last did this in December, and try to do it at least every few months. I tidied up the book case and toy basket, cleaned the surfaces and windowsill, moved the bed away from the wall and vacuumed the floor and scrubbed the wall too. Going through his closet and chest of drawers for clothes that no longer fit is still on my list. 

Also on my list, my studio. I started the process of de-cluttering and re-organising my space, but I've hit a wall while I wait on a book case and table. In the meantime Emerson is having a wonderful time going through each box.

Emerson's room and my closet are also on the list.

- Baby clothes

I've saved many of the children's baby clothes in boxes and garbage bags in the garage. Some I've lent to friends little ones, but the 'newborn' clothes and those special clothes, that loved ones brought for us, or that I wore as a child, are boxed up waiting to be washed and sorted in preparation for baby. So much washing. One garbage bag at a time.

So, what goals are you working on?

What's on your list?

This post was inspired by Lisa's list of 27 blog topics.

Rocky Road Recipe - Christmas Baking

I remember while growing up that one of our Christmas traditions was to make Rocky Road with my Mother. A treat for the family, a gift for teachers, neighbours and friends. I always knew it was nearly Christmas when the fridge was full of Rocky Road, Rum balls and stone fruit. 

It has been years since I made Rocky Road. Have you ever made it? It's simple, quick and too yummy. I made a nut and dairy free version this year, so the children and I could eat it too. Cohen and Emerson are still a bit little to help too much with this recipe, due to the warm chocolate, but I think it would be great for older children. They did however lick the spoon and sample the lollies.

You will need:

1/2 cup of desiccated coconut

1/2 cup of broken up biscuits of your choice ( I used 'Teddy Bear' biscuits)

4 x 100 gram Lindt 70% Cocoa dark chocolate (which is diary free)

1 x packet of 250g marshmallows

1 x packet of lollies of your choice (I used Starburst Babies)

30 grams of copha

Break chocolate in to pieces in a microwave safe bowl. Chop up copha finely and mix through the chocolate. Melt together on medium in the microwave, checking and stirring with a spoon a minute at a time. This takes 2 - 3 minutes.

Stir in the coconut, marshmallows, biscuits and lollies. Tip the mixture in to a lamington tin lined with baking paper. Smooth out and refrigerate for approx. two hours, until firm, then cut in to squares with a sharp knife. Try to resist eating too much...

To make a lovely gift, find an interesting box or a pretty tin and line it with baking paper, fill it with Rocky Road and add a few fun touches. Perhaps decorations or gift tags made by your children? Some stripes of washi tape? Or maybe cellophane and ribbon? The team at Pack Queen provided me with a funky window tin. Perfect for gifting Christmas treats, and a nice size for future use for the receiver. I lined mine with baking paper, cut off the excess paper with pinking shears and tied it with bakers twine and added a small air dry clay heart.

A perfectly sweet Christmas gift!

Tea, friendship and a recipe

A cup of tea and a friend can really do wonders for ones mood. I must admit, the confines of recovery have been getting to me. The children have had cabin fever. Emerson is teething and Cohen is testing his boundaries, as four year olds are want to do. I've not felt myself and have been unable to shake the feeling. I've felt I should be doing 'something', though I'm uncertain as to what that 'something' may be. There is much I am still unable to do. Despite the many positives, it's been frustrating.

Sitting around the kitchen table with an old friend this morning, we chatted in that interrupted manner that mothers become accustomed to. Sentences hang midair while meeting a child's needs. Threads of conversation are lost or picked up again eventually. Dreams, stories, hopes, successes and failures are shared. The words flow. Gifts were exchanged. And there is that ease you develop with some people where, no matter how long it has been since last you saw them, you pick right up where you left off.

I noticed something this morning. As we discussed our children, our gardens, our crafting, our renovations. The contentment that I feel at home overcame the resentment that I've had at not being able to drive. The excitement I felt about our renovations, which waned with the eye surgery and recovery, reappeared. I felt my sense of self seeping back in. My passions reawakened. I felt a renewed surge of possibility. That I could be more patient and more grateful. That I could make the most of this time.

And I thought how wonderful friendships and tea are.

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I made this cake in anticipation of her visit. It smelt so good when it came out of the oven yesterday that Cohen and I just had to try it. I did manage to save some for today. I made it dairy free, as I am lactose intolerant, but you needn't. I will be making it again quite soon, as it was moist, fluffy and yummy!

Cinnamon Tea Cake

60 grams butter (I use Nuttelex with Olive oil)
1/2 cup sugar
1 egg lightly beaten
1 teaspoon vanilla essence
3/4 cup self raising flour
3 tablespoons plain flour
1/2 cup milk (I use soy milk)

+ a tablespoon of melted butter
half a tablespoon of sugar and
half a teaspoon of ground cinnamon mixed together

Pre-heat oven to 180 degrees celcius (350 degrees F)
Grease and line the base of a cake tin with baking paper

Beat butter and sugar until light and creamy. (I use an old mix master)
Add egg gradually while still beating, then beat in vanilla.
Add sifted flour and milk and fold in with a spoon until just mixed and smooth.
Pour in to tin and smooth top.

Bake for 30 mins, then check with skewer. (Edges should be lightly crispy and skewer should come out clean, though cake may look under cooked.)
Let cool a few minutes before inverting on a wire tray.
Brush with melted butter and sprinkle sugar and cinnamon mix over the top.

Pour a cup of tea or coffee and share with a friend.
Enjoy!

The heart of the home

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Bacon mushroom and cheese on the left, smoked salmon, mushroom, olives and capers, without cheese, on the right (I'm lactose intolerant)

Chicken burgers with home made chips and pickled home grown beetroot

Potato, carrot, sweet potato and rosemary from the garden, with a little olive oil, ready for roasting

One meat and vegetable pie, one vegetarian pie (we freeze the leftovers for quick lunches and dinners)

Muffin mini-pizzas with the left over salmon, olives and capers from the pizza

Parsnip, tomato, carrot, lentil and butter bean soup


Salmon, cou cous and baby spinach leaves with balsamic vinegar

Dairy free banana cake, with eggs from our neighbour

A little bit of what has been happening in my kitchen lately. I'm always trying to find a balance between taste, health, budget, luxuries, seasonal, organic, allergies and time. I write a meal plan each week and we have a budget of $150 for groceries and consumables (like toilet paper, aluminium foil, and dish washing liquid.) Using cloth nappies and making my own laundry liquid have certainly helped stretch our budget further. As has buying in bulk and keeping a store cupboard down stairs. My sister has just copied out some of her favourite recipes for me to try this week.

What have you been cooking lately?

Instagram Snippets

1. A whole shop of vintage buttons at Paddington Antiques on Latrobe Terrace, Brisbane

2. Checking out pressed aluminium at Restoration Station for a renovation project

3. Everything looks better en mass

4. He drives, I knit

5. An oregano flower and a blown light bulb, resulting in candle lit dinners

6. Another batch of home made laundry liquid

7. Beads for a wholesale order

8. Baby snuggles

9. Dairy free short bread

Lately

1. Loving baby wearing

2. Making pickled homegrown beetroot

3. Emerson cut her first tooth

4. Gifted guava and pickings from the garden

5. Making bread rolls

6. Writing in my gardening journal

7. My carrots and beetroots to accompany Sunday's roast

8. Boiling mulberry jam

9. The finished jars of jam (yum!)

Weekending

Sometimes, I stay up late at night while the rest of the house sleeps. Sometimes I read, sometimes I write, sometimes I reminisce with an old movie. At such times I feel I have the whole house to myself. Though I am equally comforted knowing that my loves lay dreaming beneath their blankets not far from me. There is peace and quiet late at night. The cat sleeps beside me and I sacrifice an hour or two of sleep in return for quiet concentration. 

It's times like this that I can slowly unravel the secrets of turning a heel when knitting a sock. I tuck myself in satisfied with my efforts. When the children wake me earlier than usual those mornings following, I sometimes regret having stayed so long from bed the night before. 

But not when I have a heel as evidence of my evening.

Right now

Writing out my favourite recipes in the journal I received at Christmas

Baking all my own bread for my month from scratch challenge and enjoying the meditative qualities of kneading dough

A from scratch meal - roast chicken and potatoes with homemade gravy, fresh rolls and honey glazed carrots

Seeds planted for my garden and to swap with friends

Sugar-cane mulching the garden beds with Cohen's 'help'

My first organic water melon harvested from the garden!

Admiring my gifted box brownie

New post cards from the gallery on the picture ledge

Sewing little aprons for little friend's birthdays

Listening to the amazing sound of the kookaburras who have been noticed sitting on our fence of late, looking like something out of a painting

Typing with a sleeping baby in my arms

Feeling thankful for all that home and Motherhood have to offer

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Inspired by SouleMama