preserve me

Remember how I mentioned all the beautiful produce up in the north of the country?  Please observe fine examples below.  We are in the thick of strawberry season with massive punnets of strawberries for an absolute steal.  I hope the growers are doing alright out of it, I guess buying it straight from them at the market rather than the big chains gives them a better profit.

 

 

 

 

I love making jam, or stewing the fruit I can't use in time.  It's so nice to have home-made things ready to go in the fridge pantry and freezer.  Kumquat marmalade jam tastes like home to me.  I can't remember a time in the last decade where I've walked away from nanna and pa's house without a jar or two.  And jam with cream on fresh bread is the most delicious way to satisfy groans of hunger pre)and post) dinner.  But enough salivating from me.

 

 

 

 

 

The process always seems to end up rather messy when I'm at the stirring helm.

 

 

And voila! The finished product, ready to cool on the windowsill.

 

minty green evenings

 

 

Warm evenings and minty limey cocktails on the back deck. Ready for a hot summer!  Please send any good cocktail (and/or mocktail - for more a more virtuous day) recipes my way...

sun seaside and seafood

 

Best things about living near the seaside:

1) Seafood

2) Long walks along the beach

 

Which is pretty much our whole weekend, every weekend.  I can find no better way to release the stress of the week than looking out at the ocean.  It's that whole 'feeling tiny' thing, and then you realise everything you were stressing about completely doesn't matter and that there's no use worrying about tomorrow, because tomorrow is going to happen however it wants!

 

Cooking and subsequent eating of all the fresh seafood has been brilliant for stress relieving also.  And how great is it that I can look through the front window of the fish market and straight out the back door to the fishing docks and the open sea?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

flower power dress, a morning walk then down to some serious business

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What a glorious morning to start the weekend.  In previous weeks I have been extremely lucky to visit home, seeing friends and family for the first time in much to long to think about.  It has left me feeling very loved, satisfied that I am not missing out on too much, a decent amount of home sickness, and exhausted.  So a weekend full of 'normal' is welcomed with open arms.

 

Despite a whole week of having difficulty waking up, on the weekends my body is happy to be up and about at first light (what sick joke is that!).  So down to the beach we go to exercise the dog, or is he exercising us?

 

This number is one of my (many) memento's from my trip home.  I've now got a very keen eye for dresses that can handle the Queensland summer, and this vintage dress ticks all the boxes. I am madly in love with the bright pattern, it MAKES me happy.  Plus I can just about wear anything with it as I'm sure I'll find a colour in the fabric to match.

 

And now I'm back at the house, post our quick walk to the nearest voting booth.  Yes it's election day.  I'm yet to work out if my interest in politics is acceptable or tres uncool.  People seem to be very polarised.  But despite my keen-ness to exercise my democratic right I was a little disappointed by the voting options.  I'm not complaining that the options are all the same, because there are huge differences.  I just didn't realise Australia was so deeply conservative as seen from the number of conservative parties ('Stop the Greens' Party??? Are you kidding, a whole party dedicated to stopping another Party whose most dangerous ideas is protecting whales etc??).  I think I had this idea that  Australia was progressive, but I tells ya, I'm not feeling so confident.  I guess I just don't want to be embarrassed on a global level, is that too much to ask?

 

 Anyway, shake off that serious face Alice, you're getting frown lines.  And it's still a glorious weekend.

lemon, laneways and nostalgia

 

Farewell long hair, my old friend.  Until we meet again.  We shared so many good times, but now is the time for space, before we get too attached and parting becomes too difficult.

 

So I had the chop.  And it was good.  And I love it.  And I'll want long hair again one day.  But not just now.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

black ice

Okay so it turns out I gave the gift of happiness last Christmas.  Happiness to the mister, happiness to neighbours and friends, and especially happiness to myself.  I gave the gift of an ice-cream machine.

 

 

We started my making the classics - a bit of choc, a bit of strawberry.  This is one of the more recent creations.  I won't take full credit, though I did do a fajita load of stirring.  May I introduce liquorice ice-cream.  Liquorice is one of those foods that divide the nation.  Religions have been based upon the like or dislike of liquorice, but I'm loud and proud and ready to state my preference as a liquorice lover.  May I suggest you try liquorice ice-cream in your lifetime.  De-lish. And if you're super motivated, try making it!

 

 

dancing dress for dancing

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wow, these photo's were taken an age ago, but hey that's what happens when you (or your lovely mister) stand on your computer.  So much catching up to do!

This is just prior to heading to the ballet for the evenin' - a relatively rare occasion here.  Twas actually a Cuban ballet troupe - are they troupes or is that completely insulting? Maybe 'company' sounds better and less circussy.

Anyways, was nice to be out and about on a school night and have a decent occasion to dress up in a frock.  This is my American square dancing dress, which is a lovely pinky-reddy hue that I'm told suits my complexion.  The little white embroidery details are very sweet, but I think I was just a sucker for the MASSIVE skirt.  I wore black gloves and a light coat for the occasion, but barely needed them.  And finished with a little sparkle sparkle grey glo-mesh bag.