Tied Up With String: Cake on a Cold Morning and Thrifted Treasures

Am I really that crazy?

Is it wrong for me to sacralize the coldest months of the year?

I know so many people who think I'm nuts and even though most of them agree that a cozy fire or a heartwarming soup remain delights to be treasured - they usually draw a line at grey and wet.

Me?

Well to be honest - Sunshine coupled with near zero degree temps.

Now that's Nirvana for me.

Yesterday was one of those days.

Waking up to a mere .8 of a degree outside - I skipped the outdoor shower for the first time ever.

For those of you who are wondering what the big deal is... believe you me Perth is not about COLD it's all about HOT. So for us "this be a bloomin big deal" The sun was out in absolute resplendent grandeur and the lack of clouds only added to the stark brightness of this icy day. Looking outside you'd have been forgiven for thinking it was just another summer morning in the hills.

Indeed the view from my kitchen windows had me wondering if the weather application on my phone was faulty? Then I poked my nose outside.

Very quickly I slammed the door shut and turned the heater on.

After rugging up and taking my lad to school, I returned home to enjoy a leisurely breakfast....

Of tea...

... and cake.

Hubby's Whole Orange cake - with a spread of marmalade. Goes BRILLIANTLY with Earl Grey.

Must be the Bergamot?

(Here's the original recipe)

Tweaked using Cumquat's from our garden.

This hedonistic breakfast had me savouring the morning in all it's glory.

Here I was sitting at my kitchen table (adorned with a pretty vintage linen tablecloth I thrifted this week for only $6!)

.... listening to the birds outside and admiring another lovely thrift find just outside my front door.

Isn't she stunning?

She guards my front patio like a Sphinx.

I also filled a few bottles with some bits from the garden and hung them from the meter box.

The bottles are Santa Vittoria Fruit Nectar bottles with the label peeled off, a bit of decorative paper and some (you guessed it) twine to hang it with.

And for that little something extra - a small paper fan made from the page of a vintage novel.

So simple - just fold the paper concertina style, add a feather and tie up one end with a bit of string or twine - I make these as decorations all the time - for presents, for table settings etc.

I might add that these drinks are pretty yummy too - and no nasties!

(My favourite is PEAR)