Cup and saucer swap

In my recent blog about a reunion of friends, I mentioned we are taking a cup and saucer to swap.  This little darling seemed to suit all the lovely ladies and so became my choice.
Also on the agenda at the reunion is a cake stand workshop.  My friend Trindy and I are the cake stand fiends and will take along some plates.  These were my choice, Trindy chose lovely flowery plates.  She is the cake stand Queen.
Hope you like my bargains.  They were only a couple of dollars each. 
Il take pics of the finished stands after the workshop.
Next, we choose a book to swap.  Trindy said she has trouble parting with books so maybe the books could come home after they travel !
I'm sure, knowing us there will be mire fun ideas emerge. Il keep you posted.
Ten years ago, when we had our girls "farewell" weekend.  I  did sketching and painted a picture for each friend.
Trindy wrote a journal and bound a copy for each of us.  Shelleigh collected shells and glass and gave us a collection.  Jo took photos. 

Some of my thrifted plates for cake stand.

So you may gather, this is a gathering of wonderful friends. Can't wait!

Up cycling family bed cover

 I have made cushion covers from a very very old cotton bedspread completely worn through in places.
Still a shabby corner on this one but will last years I'm sure. The cotton is so thick and spotlessly clean. I think il get four large or two large and several small covers.  Il keep you posted. 
Think they will look great on a bed.

Re-union plans

As many of you know, Low Head is my favorite place on the planet.
We lived there for many years and still have a cottage there.
10 years ago five friends decided to have a girls weekend at the Pilot Station( cottages are historic ) to farewell one of our circle of friends, Jo.
Jo and her family were off to Chile.
We gathered on the Friday evening like school kids on camp.  We had organized food, wine, activities etc.
It was a huge success and we dined on those stories for years.
Next Month, we are re living the adventure.  Jo came back, via a few years in W. A. 
The menu is organized. We have one  of the group running a class on cake stand making. We will run a book swap. Each of us will bring a tea cup and saucer to swap. Something to remind us of our friends.
We will all take time out from family, work, and life in general and review the past 10 years no doubt.  So much has happened. But for us the celebration will be that we are all still healthy and happy.

A fun Dinner

Last week, we held a dinner party for a couple of girls who are heading to Paris on an art residency. 
For me, the room is as important as the food, so French theme was set!
This print was very kindly given to me by clients last year and for this night it held centre stage.  I dragged every French related book out and included all my art books.  Little mementos I'd gathered on trips, and a gift for each guest of a photograph from Paris printed on A3.
The room was full of candles and flowers and it looked great.
We bought some fairly reasonably priced French wine.  The menu started off with Pate and champers. The main meal was a provincial style banquet which really is just another way of saying roast chook!
Desert was a yummy cake the guest of  honor brought along.
Out came all the lively crystal and china from my early married days and a French dinner party was under way.
I had such fun dressing the house.  The best part was the mad rush to tidy and polish!!
Many years ago, my husband and I entertained a great deal at home.  It seems to be something City folks don't do.  Think il get back into it!
Maybe themed nights are the way back. 

Tip on cooking fish

We were given a great tip on cooking fish recently.  Cut you fish into pieces and soak in milk. Roll in flour.   Fry in a little vegetable oil. For some reason the milk seems to eliminate a lot if the fishy smell and the fish tastes so good.
This fish was flounder. 

Weekend Fun

A gorgeous rainbow at Federation Square

Meet my friend Margie.  We have been lucky to find cheap flights to Melbourne this weekend and are having a wonderful time with our friends and shack partners.  Marg and Vince.
They are childrens entertainers and Vince is a singer songwriter.  Today Marg and I have painted silk forlittle scarves she sells to go with their children's rainbow song.  I ran a child care centre for many years and I know just how popular this flag waving song is.  This afternoon we travelled into Melbourne to the wonderful Fred Williams exhibition St Federation. Sq.
I'm a huge fan and feel inspired to paint a large canvas. Tonight a poet friend is staying here so the dinner conversation will be very funny. 
Tomorrow night we are attending a friends book launch and play reading.
So all in all a full on art inspired weekend with the nicest people you can imagine.  We feel very lucky.
I did catch up with my boys in the week so I feel the Mothers day love.
Hope your all having a nice weekend. 

My new bike

Look what I found when I arrived home from work yesterday!!
My husband and I pass a cycle shop on our walks.  At Christmas time a bike like this was in the window with sold sticker attached.  I used to stop and fantasize about cycling at Low head(as it's very flat and a safe cycle path all the way to George Town along the rivers edge).
My dear husband must have ordered this or spotted another.
I shrieked with delight when I saw it and can honestly say it was the happiest moment in a very long time.  I think as wives and mothers we spent huge amounts of energy making other people happy and to be on the receiving end of such a gift is something I will always remember and appreciate. I couldn't believe it.
I loved cycling as a girl and had a bike when we were first married. It was replaced by a pram!! 
I will find a basket for the front, pack our thermos and cycle along the river as often as I can.  (my husband has a nice bike)
This cycle is called an Amsterdam by Electra.  Not sure of a name for her.
Any suggestions?

Lunch catch up

A perfect escape for lunch and a catch up with my friend Anne today.
This beautiful old building was once a tannery, now a fantastic cafe near Longford.  The room is is an eclectic mix of antique and vintage furniture, beautiful prints of far away cities, candles, a roaring fire and a friendly dog.
The food was tasty and beautifully cooked.  A great selection of wine and very good coffee. 
The garden is beautiful.  All in all a great place to visit.  Reminded me of
Italy. 

Bathroom

Our old bathroom has been getting me down lately as it never looked clean no matter how much I scrubbed.  So a quick coat of paint and a recycled sink costing $30 later!
The lovely vintage towel from my dear friend Margaret and one of Tanyas soaps (suburban jubilee) add a touch of luxury.  Keeping all the usual clutter off the sink is another story.

Hope you're all having a nice weekend.

Pantry

This little room has been like this for 9 years!  It sits behind our kitchen and the original plan was to extend the bathroom into this space.  Lately however, our kitchen seems so short on storage we have decided to re create the pantry. 
The condition of our whole house was like this 9 years ago.  I don't think we could ever undertake such a renovation again. The pantry won't take long and I'm hoping lots of shelves to store things will be the result.  Il keep you posted. 

Birthday flowers from my work

The company I work for sends flowers on our birthday.  Today it's my turn and I want to share them with you.
When I started blogging I decided not to share personal stuff but I sometimes feel I miss sharing the best bits.
My little grand daughters birthday was yesterday, so we had a lovely evening with family yesterday.  I'm off to work now!! Have a good weekend.

Rescued rose

This lovely rose was destined for the rubbish heap and was but a twig when I popped it in beside our driveway.
It is such a pretty rose and probably from the 70s. 

Op shop finds

This week I had such fun catching up with a dear friend, op shopping.  We fantasize about our tea shop and the vintage style decor.  We imagine setting up a cottage with retro fittings. One we can rent to trendy holiday makers!
We laugh about the fact that we are needing to clean out our cupboards yet buy more "stuff". We think of the special people who treasured the objects we pick up and smile at the things that remind us of our Mothers.
In a very busy life, these little outings are so special and I can't wait to do it again.  This gorgeous Denby jug is for a lovely lady I've met through work.  She has Denby ware will love this little treasure.
Jugs are my favorite purchase. 
Linen is next. 
I wonder what you have found this week?

Grateful Box/Wedding anniversary

On a recent trip to Melbourne. My husband and I found an Eco market with lots of exciting stalls, lectures etc.
Standing alone was a grateful box!
People could type ( on an old typewriter) a grateful message, then nail it to the box which looked like a telephone box. The typewriter was inside the cubicle.  Some people enjoyed reading the messages others queued to type. Everyone smiled.
A lovely moment in a big city.
It was our wedding anniversary and I felt moved to write this message.

This lovely ring was my husbands gift for our 40th anniversary. He gave it to me in St Pauls Catherdral Melbourne.
Here I am lighting a candle.
A very special moment.

Strawberry Jam

Jam making is one of my favourite kitchen pleasures. Today I decided to make a couple of jars using strawberries from the market and add some Cointreau we bought duty free.
All trial and error but great fun. I'm pleased to report it tastes wonderful.
Our youngest son has wonderful fruit trees in their garden, so next jam will be plum! Can't wait. Do you like making jam? What is your favourite?

In the Studio

How good it is to have time in the studio. The weather changed today and it felt so great to be working indoors yet open to the garden and rain. I'm going to crest some new works this week, il keep you posted.
Hope your weekend was wonderful.

24 hrs

Escaping to the beach cottage after work on Saturday, is something to dream about. "Elonera", our little cottage was all polished and waiting for us, as guests had been in and our dear friend had cleaned and polished.
After reading and snoozing, we headed for the beach once the intense heat had passed.  Here is a picture of my husband and our gorgeous Rosie.
We walked 2km passing rock pools, and beautiful beaches, until we settled at Pilot Beach to enjoy bubbles at sunset. 

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Music in the street (Tamar Valley folk festival)

Music in the street at the Tamar valley folk festival last weekend.  We are all exhausted but so happy with the festival.  Great fun and fantastic acts.

Jam making

Our son has a massive apricot tree, yummy apricot jam making this week.  We will pick more and freeze some stewed apricots.  I'm so tempted to buy one of those drying machines.  Does anyone have experience with these?
Our folk festival next weekend. See the tab at the top of my page.  Love to see you there!

Beach fun

Beach Fun As a glorious week at the beach cottage ends, I am reflecting on the sunny days filled with fun. Visits from friends and family.  Grandchildren and family dogs keeping us fit and happy.  Rides on our scooter to the lighthouse and remote beaches  Good books, fresh food, New years Eve in the garden with friends, standing on the beach in the moonlight for New year. We head back to work and into the final preparation for the festival refreshed and happy. How was your week? Three new rescued roses today! A busy evening tomorrow, planting. X