Sunday, December 30, 2012

Roses for a new begining...

The sadness of leaving my old home also has good bits, where I get to experience new things that I never would have if we had not moved.
 
 Having enough roses blooming in the new garden to fill a vase has almost made it all worth it. I don't say that lightly. It is amazing what flowers can do in your life.
 
I have loved looking at them on my kitchen window sill, looking out at the beautiful view and watching the kids play.
 
 



 
 
 
Lou x

Friday, December 28, 2012

Our sparkly white, silver and blue tree 2012

This blog also works as a diary for myself. So I remember next year,  here my tree this year . I used white, silver and pale blue tree this year in contrast to last years bright yellow and pink tree. It really suits the new house too.
 
As always, I just used what I already had, including white lantern fairy lights on the tree which used to be in Evie's bedroom in the old house. I did spent about $10 on some on-sale ornaments to add the white reindeer, silver deer and a few sparkly white snowflakes.
 
 
 
 
 








Glass angel from Aunty Erica when evie was born, has been used on the tree each year since.


 
 
Lou x

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

A look back at Christmas last year...


 2011 was to be the last Christmas in our beloved home. We knew it we would be putting it on the market in the new year, so I really wanted to have a very special and memorable Christmas, one last time after about 15 Christmases here. I chose bright colours of pinks and yellow. We had the family over for a big breakfast and it really was wonderful!















Lou x

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Retro baby blue...







We recently sold this rerto Blue and white dresser.
 I just need a bigger house to keep all this cool stuff!
 Lou x

Monday, December 10, 2012

Christmas shopping...



Wouldn't it be nice if all our Christmas shopping involved pulling up to a road side stall!

Whenever we see a stall like this we love to pull up and buy something, not only is the price great, but it's always great quality and supporting local businesses. My all time favorite is a stall that sells flowers picked from their own garden.

 If I moved to the country, I would so be setting up a road side stall.

Lou x

Friday, December 7, 2012

French cooking school for my birthday

The class have roles to play in preparing our meal

Our wonderful teacher Terri

Fish en Papillote

Place a small piece of fish fillet in a square of baking paper
add some thinly sliced fennel bulb, a dash of white wine, a small square of butter, a few sprinkles of diced herbs, salt flakes, capers and pepper. Seal with twine and bake for 5- 10 minutes. So easy. 

Salade Chevere with goats cheese croutons


Prepping the rice

Asparagus with prosciutto

Salmon Mousse with Melba toast



This was my favorite, it was to die for! Simple Quiche Lorraine

Chocolate mouse served in an espresso cup

The Cherry Clafoutis was divine!


Me on my 36th Birthday outside the cooking school. Terri's home at Mt Tamborine.

We met some lovely people while enjoying learning new skills and eating an amazing 8 curse lunch with wines! It made my birthday very special to spend the day relaxing with Danny.

If you would like any of the recipes, let me know.
Lou x

Cute retro coffee table

We have lots of little pieces of vintage furniture around the house. The fun thing is to use it for a while for your needs and then when we no longer need it we move it on to make room for the next nice find. Someone else can then enjoy for a while. That's the beauty in vintage things.
 
 
This is one of our latest items on eBay at the moment


Lou x
 

Wednesday, December 5, 2012

Pine Cones for Christmas


I am loving the free supply of pine cones near our house and have been going for walks with the kids to collect them in bags. The kids love collecting them! I have added them to my outdoor table to make it look a bit more like Christmas and have also used it on my home-made wreath for the front door.
I think the brown and white look great together.
Maybe at some stage, I will research some more fun craft projects to do with the kids with pine cones.

When I was a child I loved collecting pine cones to throw into the fire at my Nan's house and watch them crackle away and while trying to get a smell of the pine. I really want to have a fireplace one day.
 (not that you would think that at the moment in this extreamly hot weather)
Lou x