lately...

 What's goin' on lately? Just the usual...

 

Excursions to little dusty towns...

 

 

Baking up a storm with Bombe Alaska...

 

 

Eyeing off beautiful green sets of furniture that I have no space for but NEED IN MY LIFE...

 

 

Reminiscing about home and the next trip back (come on Christmas!)...

 And washing, so much washing.

red brick laneways

 

 

Still workin' for the weekend, weekends like this one - long walks, good coffee, scouring second hand stores and finding new favourite places.  This is the rear view of one of the loveliest buildings in town (yes it has a nice backside). It's the customs house in Rockhampton which is beautiful sandstone building that has a gorgeous dome roof that reminds me of some of the beautiful examples of architecture abroad.

holy sheet

Some recent thrifty finds to hopefully soon be made into beautiful dresses and skirts and all things lovely by the very talented Poppy & Mustard.  You should definitely check them out asap on their facey page and buy yourself somethin' perty.  I'm thinking hunting out vintage sheets and tablecloths is my life calling.

 

 

white cotton delights

We've just come back from a lovely weekend in Bundaberg, which is just below us on the map.  Of course we did the obligatory Bundaberg rum tour and tasting.  I must say rum is on the lower end of my favourite alcoholic beverages list, but it was really delicious to try all the different types with different mixers.  I'm quite converted. Any drink suggestions are most welcome.

 

As well as doing the rum tour, I toured a couple of op-shops.  And I must have said it a million times, but I stand by it: smaller country town op shops are always full of absolute gems.  I came across a rack of shirts for 50c each and found not one, but four beautiful white vintage cotton shirts.  I love all of them for different reasons.  The frills and embroidery and delicate collars...and now I'm gushing like a proud parent.

 

 

 

 

 

 

poppy & mustard

 

I am in love with this dress.  It's way deeper than lust.  I purchased it from the lovely Poppy & Mustard whom I stumbled across at the handmade market that has recently started up in town.  I have the biggest lady crush on the girls.  It's made from beautiful vintage sheets, which means it's ridiculously comfortable.  I suppose it's one step away from wearing a toga!  The capped sleeves and ample skirts will be perfect for hot summer days.  You should check them out and then we can have a toga party.

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...