What is your sin? Cabaret and the 7 Deadly Sins.

Last night we were mesmerized as Tim Rogers and his 7 piece band, belted out their definitions of the 7 Deadly Sins through music, at the Opera house. Cello, double bass, piano, violin, accordion, guitar, drums and vocals created the sound and essence of each of the 7 deadly sins.

Which prompted us to ponder: what are our vices?

What are your biggest sins out of the 7?

1. Lust
2. Greed
3. Wrath
4. Sloth
5. Pride
6. Envy
7. Gluttony

I had to confess that we didn't need the cheese platter that we indulged in after the show at the Opera Bar. Gluttony would be on my list of sizable sins. It was, however, the best blue cheese I have ever sampled.

I don't see lust as a sin, unless misplaced or misdirected.

Sloth - I am definitely prone to an unmotivated moment, when I get one, only because I am so ridiculously busy the majority of the time.

Envy: I did envy the non-working group of Yummy Mummys at the park the other day. They talked of their love of not working, of going to the gym and putting their babies in the creche. They had six packs and ran half marathons in their free time??? I tried going to the gym after Lil was born (5 years ago). She screamed so much in the creche, that the child care workers had to keep paging me.

Wrath: I get cranky when I get tired, does that count? I seem to be tired most of the time......
Oh and I get cranky when I'm hungry. Wrath would be witnessed when I'm both hungry and tired.

Pride: Yes, I am very proud but always humble enough to apologise, tell the truth and acknowledge other people's endeavours and achievements.

Greed: not relevant to me. I don't aspire to material or monetary wealth. I will take comfort, simplicity, safety, security and homeliness over decadence, excess and wastefulness.

How do you rate? Be honest!

Love a red wine or three? Chocolate by the square or by the block?

Off to Cabaret at the Opera House Tonight!

Tonight Paul and I are watching a cabaret show at the Opera House. My sister, Trudy will drop us into the Opera Bar early, so that we can take in a drink, dinner and the sights and sounds of Sydney.

Lily has packed her Barbie dolls and will stay with Trude in Sydney for the evening. We will catch a cab back to Trudes later in the night, hopefully after a coffee in the city.

Escaping from the daily grind - work has consumed me of late. This half of the year is my busiest time. Sorry to neglect you dear blogging friends. I will get back on the radar this weekend.

xo

Tea, coffee, me ?

I have abstained from tea, coffee and alcohol for months.

Last night, Paul and I sat by the fire and with a red wine in my hand and a rosy glow on my cheeks - Paul played me record after record - of all the songs that he wooed me with, when we first met.

Each song took us right back to our courtship, when each of our 5 senses were amplified.

Last night I was courted all over again. I feel so safe and loved with you Paul.

So nice to take time out to connect and 'just be' with your, intimate, significant other.

Home to Mum and Dad's Farm

We went home to Mum and Dad's on the weekend. On my first night there I read a novel from woe to go, because in the presence of her Nanny, Poppy and Aunty Trudy (who was also home, from Sydney), Paul and I are both obsolete to Lily. Lily follows her Poppy around like a puppy dog; feeding the animals, shifting the fences, breaking in the horses, testing 50 cows for pregnancy! You can see her little, pink gum boots marching in the paddocks, a mile away from the house.

Poppy had arranged to give Lily a new, baby lamb, to keep for a pet - that was the reason for our trip. When we arrived and Lily was shown her baby lamb, which she named 'Pat', she then asked Poppy if the next animal he could get her could be a giraffe????? Poppy replied that he would if he could! I think they ended up agreeing on a piglet.

Little Pat is so soft and cuddly. Her tiny, little bleat nearly makes your heart cry. She is so timid and likes to stay close to her Mummy.

Animals are so therapeutic. My sister and I both had a pet lamb when we were at high school and we had to get up through the night, every four hours to feed Nonny and Mo, their warm bottle. I want this experience for my girl. I am so pleased that Lily loves animals and is so kind to them.

On Saturday morning, we 'went into town'. We visited my Aunty and Uncle, who own the 'Farm Produce Store'. We had lunch with them at 'Bent on Food' and I bought a love heart, black board from 'Bent on Life', the kitchenalia and homewares store in Wingham. I then perused the new book shop in Wingham. Wingham 'the friendly town', has never had a book shop, so I spent up big in support of this quaint, little store, so that it remains open for my subsequent visits.

When we returned home 'from town' someone had placed a block of wood, from the wood pile, at each door of Mum and Dad's house, denoting that a visitor had been. Last time I was home, a visitor had placed our gum boots in a fancy arrangement at the back door, indicating, once again, evidence of a visit - in our absence ---- a country thing...

Mum and Dad are always entertaining. People drop by continually. We had coffees, drinks, cups of tea, cheese platters and home grown, grain fed, T-bone steak and salad with relatives and friends whilst we were home.

Just what the doctor ordered.

Holly and her foal, Mingo

The new addition to our family - 'Pat', Lily's baby lamb

The Girls were very happy to have their photo taken - every one of them, making eye contact

Lily and Chee Chee

'Emu', the bull and I had a mexican stand off - eyeing each other closely, as I took this photo

My love heart chalk board, to hang in the kitchen - to scribble reminders

When you've lost your MOJO - copped a blow of sorts, what do you do?

You wallow in self-pity for a day or 2. Feel sad. Go for a chai tea on soy, at your favourite cafe and stare at the people passing by - wondering about their circumstances.

You pull yourself together by bringing home a cheese platter for the family, aiming to create some tone of conviviality.

You cook a big batch of minestrone, contemplating jumping in the pot yourself.

You play ping-pong with your daughter because you know it makes her so happy.

You sit out on the deck, in the sun the next day, wearing a big, floppy hat and even bigger sunglasses that cover your dark eyes and you think of the positives - as there are so many.

Should my life stop in one instant - I could not be more unbelievably lucky and happy. I love you Lily and Paul. This little family of ours, of the three of us (five including the dogs - and they are always included) makes me exceedingly happy.

The recipe for our Minestrone comes from the book titled 'Velvet Pears', by Susan Southam. The book itself is beautiful, the recipe is fool proof and the end product is gold. Can be googled, but I recommend buying and savouring the book.

This is what Tommy thought of the brunch! Today's Girls' Brunch! Please scroll down to older posts too - I posted 14 photographs!

Poor Paul and Tommy! Surrounded by all these crazy women! The above shot is of Shelley. The brunch was in her honour! So good to catch up.

Scroll to 'older posts' at bottom of this page to see the food and my attempt at a 'rustic' table setting.

My blog was playing up so all posts are out of order! Sorry?!!! What a vexation on the spirit!

Lily and Charlotte on the piano

Amy's 'Magical, Love Heart', hair do for Lily

Charlotte and Lily playing Mummys - and cooking in the sand.

The Girls - deep in conversation.

Shelley explaining something to Nat. Lily resting back and LOVING getting her hair done by Aunty Amy!

Nat, Shell and Amy

Shelley (the star of the day) who we all miss - and Amy on the right

Shelley and Amy in Lily's bedroom.

Lily and Amy (Aunty Amy - Queen of all the kids and respite for all the Mums!)

Amy and Lily

Amy's Sweet Potato Quiche...

My Mum and I have this thing for milk jugs?!

Fresh Juice in a Big Yellow Jug

I find brunch to be a particularly easy 'meal' to cater for, regardless of the number of people attending. Trays of warm croissants (out sourced of course, I am not Martha Stewart, can she even make croissants? Can anyone?), a fruit and a cheese paltter, a home made cake and some form of chocolate, covers sweet and savoury.

Lunches can be fiddly and dicey and require cutlery. Dinners involve several courses and a need to be balanced and timed correctly. Too much stress and cleaning up.


I really rate brunch. You don't need to hang out in the kitchen.

My little cheese board that I made in Year 9

Many moons ago, at High School, I made this little cheese board in Industrial Arts, (with the help of some of the boys in my class, particularly, one - Sam Worland). It has listened to many a conversation betwixt friends over the years over copious coffees and glasses of red wine.

A cinnamon stick on each napkin for fragrance and effect

It is hard to tell in this pic but the table cloth and the napkin have actually been fashioned out of a $17 builder's drop sheet from Bunnings hardware store.

I saw an image of the drop sheet, used as a table cloth in a Donna Hay Food magazine. Last time Paul went to Bunnings I asked him to pick one up for me. The material is raw like linen. The drop sheet is humungus - so great value and perfect for a rectangular table, like ours. Paul just had to trim a bit of the length for our table and then sew the edge. I cut the napkins to size. I cannot believe builers are using this gorgeous fabric as a drop sheet - it is criminal. Go and buy yourself one today. I am going to get another one because they are so functional and a perfect, rustic, raw, oatmeal colour, that goes harmoniously with everything.

It feels elegant to serve butter on a crystal platter

Just like sometimes I want to put on my 'posh shoes', sometimes I want to trawl through the cupboard and pull out the elegant china and mix and match it together in a tinkling clatter!

I am talking ever so rarely - school holidays, when I have the time to socialise with friends and do something special, but it feels so civilised and decadent and ceremonious. A touch of harmony and decorum and grace, which rarely intercepts our busy lives, dotted with take aways, plastic coffee and our perchance for eating whilst standing up at work, rather than embrace the alternative - that being, to starve.

Today we ate croissants with jam and more lascivious, lashings of butter. The marmalade jam above, is home made by my grandma.

Today's Girls' Brunch At Our Place

Today I had the girls over, so that we could catch up with our Shelley Anne, who has moved away - and is home for the holidays.

Kids and Mums and friends had a good day together, laughing, eating and talking. I love my friends - I didn't want them to go! We had so much to say, so many things to cover - neither one of us, hardly drew breath!

Gabble, gabble, gabble - Paul takes us all in his stride - regardless of how personal or girlie, the conversation turns.

Thanks girls, for your company - I had a beautiful day!

I was going with a 'rustic themed brunch' - hence the leaves and colours of autumn.

2 days ago, Paul and I went to a cafe and on my teaspoon, rested a quaint and fragrant, little star anise - thus, I repeated the idea for my brunch. One can pop it in their tea for a hint of flavour or simply place it on the spoon for effect.

Every domestic goddess needs a lemon tree growing in their back yard

Imagine my joy today as I went to make myself a slice of toast, slickered with segments of avocado, seasoned with salt and pepper and drizzled with lemon juice - drawn from the lemons of our own tree!

Every farm house I lived in as a child had a gnarled lemon tree growing in the back yard. It created appeal and convenience.

What's not to love about lemons? It is essential to have them on hand. They look great in a bowl. They season avocado on toast - perfectly.

Sweet, flat head fillets, drizzled with lemon juice, make a meal - one that is simple and that we have often. Lemons have the finesse to tizz up icing and they are refreshing in soda water.

I can't imagine life without our lemon tree.

A meal is: a salted, peppered, avocado served on toast, drizzled with lemon juice

Rhubarb - still a season off being a buttery rhubarb crumble

Whilst out photographing our lemon tree, I checked on the other produce that Paul lovingly grows in our garden. This man knows how to look after people, pets and plants alike!

Paul's glossy spinach, that will become minestrone this week.

We love our minestrone flavoured with a chunky, big, heel of aged, parmesan cheese.

Beans

Zucchini and our snoopy, nosey parker - who tried to manouvre herself into each shot!

I hope you like the pics of our garden!

Each cake we bake takes 5 years off my life, but creates a life time of close and funny memories.

We loved the series 'The Cook and the Chef' and before we begin cooking, on every occasion, Lily must announce which one of us is the Cook and which one of us is the Chef! It varies from time to time.

Sweet Indulgence

Lily's Luscious Lime and Poppy Seed Cake

Last night, Lily and I began cooking my favourite, Lime & Poppy Seed Cake. This morning we iced it.


There are about 3 different parts or processes going on, to cook this cake. Certainly there are 3 separate bowls happening. As a consequence of having my little helper by my side, who is impulsive and loves to create geat puffs or clouds out of icing sugar, I left out the 'creaming of the butter and the sugar' step of the operation.


Paul sat in the dining room, last night and read, whilst chuckling and listening to us, as we fought it out hammer and tong in the kitchen.

Alas, the cake survived and so did we and it was consumed in slithers, out on the deck for morning tea. The stramberries are essential, to mop up the refreshingly, zesty, lime icing with your fingers.

Satiating creative pursuits

The above picture is a drawing from C.S Lewis' The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe - the story of which, I have been in love with ever since I was a little girl. Like Lucy, we sometimes wish to peer into our future, plan for our goals and realise our dreams.

I spoke to my friend Simon on the phone a couple of nights ago and he told me that he had written a new 5 year plan, for his life. In essence - his hopes for the next 5 years. He bought himself a banjo and is going to find a teacher to help him learn how to play. I think this is a noble and a sensible pursuit. His wife may think it expensive and time consuming! However, every man and every woman needs a hobby.

What sustains you outside of work? What is your 5 year plan? Has your plan changed? Mine has changed of late - Simon has inspired me to re-plot my goals. Why? I feel I have so many things to do and achieve in this life and not enough time to do them.

I have so many creative pursuits on the back burner. Another mosaic project is dancing in my head. I want to create a sign that hangs beside our front door which reads: Lily Kate Cottage, thus naming our home after our beautiful girl.

There are so many little, somewhat trivial things that I am saving up for/would like to buy in order to make our home more comfortable. Little items that swirl in my mind:-

--- thick and heavy, straw coloured curtains for our bedroom, to block out the light, since our neighbours cut down their tree, that used to block the street light!

--- a duck egg blue, antique light or wall sconce, in the shape of a tulip's bell to put above the chair beside the fireplace.

--- a freestanding light to stand beside the couch, to create another reading spot.

--- an exquisite ivory dossier, with quality paper for me to place photos of miss Lily and the pressed flowers and leaves that she has given me over time. Complete with drawings and scribbled comments, pieces of her hair ribbons etc.

--- would a dishwasher be too much to ask? For those of you that have one, do you recommend one? I am not sold on the idea yet, but people who have a family seem to love their dishwasher.

--- another visit from the electrician to install more power points in our old house, that was built at a time when only one power point per room was installed (if that). They didn't have all the appliances and mod-cons of today. With the increase in price of electricity, and the effect on the environment of carbon emissions, this should be at the bottom of our list, I know.

What's driving you? What do you source and scour when you get out and about? What's on your wish list?

Off to ice my favourite, homemade cake - Lime & Poppy Seed - Yum!

Paul is building a bed for our little, campervan Rosie. He is talking to me about what lengths of wood he will need. He will go pottering about in the timber yard up the road today. I can tell this makes him very happy.

Happy hobbying! Whatever you are into!

Release...

When one door of happiness closes,

another opens; but often we look

so long at the closed door that we

do not see the one which has been

opened for us.

Helen Keller

This happened to me recently. I let go of something that I was looking at, striving for and was hell bent on attaining. It wasn't a possession, it was a job, a mind set, something that I thought, would have served to make life for our family, a whole lot easier.

I looked at this door, this opportunity for so long, that I failed to notice any other doors or opportunities around me.

Taoist philosophy states that:

"When you let something go from your life,

something better will come in".

I have unburdened my thoughts and mental anguish from chasing that goal. It is said in Aboriginal culture, stop chasing it -you will chase it forever - let it come to you like a boomerang.

I have released myself from that mountain of perpetual effort and as such, peace and other options and avenues have been gushing in!

The job was never, ever meant to be mine. Thank goodness that it didn't take effect.

Has this ever happened to you? You have had your heart set on something only to have it taken away -but for a reason - to ensure your happiness?

This happened another time in my life. I was aspiring to something, working my tail off and seeking another location in my employment, only to miss the boat.

Thank goodness this happened, or I would never have met Paul.