Start spreading the news… cheesy but it had to be done.

Now this may be run of mill, ho-hum, yawn material for 

some of you jet setters out there but, for me, it's pretty spectacular stuff…

via here

We leave for the United States tomorrow night!

It's my first time (my son's too - Hubby lived there for a year before we met)

To say that I'm excited is laughable because excited looks like comatosed

compared to my levels of freaking out right now.

I'm supposed to be packing.

I'm supposed to be cleaning for the house-sitter.

(thanks Sis!)

I'm supposed to be organising that last load of ironing.

I'm supposed to be doing anything but blogging …

…thing is I can't quite get my head around it.

Honestly.

It's as though it's happening to someone else in a movie.

I keep thinking about HERE and HERE 

and 

THIS and THIS 

and when I think of THIS…

well then I just freak out all over again…

Peoples please wish my Hubby and Son good luck…

they're going to need it! 

Oh I do love to be beside the seaside...

A book should serve as the ax for the frozen sea within us.

Franz Kafka 

On life's vast ocean diversely we sail. Reasons the card, but passion the gale.

Alexander Pope

There is one spectacle grander than the sea, that is the sky; 

there is one spectacle grander than the sky, that is the interior of the soul.

Victor Hugo

The three great elemental sounds in nature are the sound of rain, 

the sound of wind in a primeval wood, and the sound of outer ocean on a beach.

Henry Beston

A woman knows the face of the man she loves as a sailor knows the open sea.

Honore de Balzac

You must not lose faith in humanity. Humanity is an ocean;

 if a few drops of the ocean are dirty, the ocean does not become dirty.

Mahatma Gandhi

Ocean: A body of water occupying about two-thirds of a world made for man - who has no gills.

Ambrose Bierce

I pray to be like the ocean, with soft currents, maybe waves at times. 

More and more, I want the consistency rather than the highs and the lows.

Drew Barrymore

♥♥♥

Impromptu

Packed in a hurry

Audiobook on the drive down - The Fry Chronicles

Gin & Tonics at Sunset

Midnight stroll in the moonlight

Holding hands with your soul mate

Big (mahoosive) bowls of pasta

Sand in my shoes

Life is wonderful

Ginger, Walnut, Date cake... with a twist...

Hubby is learning to bake.  

He's an amazing cook but baking is his next Everest.

Over the weekend he treated me to a Walnut, Ginger and Date cake that was so delicious I asked him if I was allowed to share the recipe with blogland. You see even though he used (and improved) a basic Date Loaf recipe from bestrecipes.com he added a little magic.....

Lemon Thyme ... in the icing!

And oh boy does it work. 

Melted couverture/ quality organic white chocolate and fresh lemon thyme buds.

Crushed and sprinkled on top before the chocolate hardens.

Genius.

Here's the recipe if you'd like to try it....

Ingredients

1 cup chopped dates

1/4 Cup chopped 'Naked' Buderim Ginger - (Glace Ginger will work, though)

1/4 Cup Chopped walnuts - Chunky is great!
1- 1 1/2 teaspoons bicarbonate of soda 1 cup boiling water

1 x tsp cinnamon

1 x tsp ground ginger
2 tablespoons soft butter
3⁄4 cup sugar (I like to use brown sugar)
1 beaten egg
1 cup self-raising flour
1⁄2 cup plain flour

Method 

1. Grease a loaf tin. or use baking paper
2. Place dates, cinnamon, ground Ginger, Naked Ginger, walnuts, soda and hot water in a bowl and stir - allow to thicken and cool  slightly.
3. In another bowl,mix butter & sugar,  add egg and mix until creamy.
4. Add date mix to butter mix, then add flours and mix well.
5.  Bake at 180°C for about 45 minutes or until skewer comes out clean.
6. Melt some good quality white chocolate to spread in a thin layer on top
7. Sprinkle with fresh thyme buds before chocolate hardens

School Holidays and Sloth-like Tendencies...

So this will be a lazy post  - so lazy in fact that I cannot even be bothered editing & ordering the images or apologising for the close-up of my toes or the medium close-up of me straight out of a bath and into THE onesie*... the one that was bloomin pricey but had the ever essential "bottom flap" (which I consider nothing short of ESSENTIAL given that the whole point of a onesie is to remain cocooned and how then do you achieve this when it's time to take a twinkle???) 

It's mid-winter school holidays (or break or vacation whichever you prefer) here peoples. That means we stay in bed late when we can - and we conduct ourselves as sloth like as is allowed before life truly gets in the way. We have the bush radio on most of the day whilst crafting, we venture out to feed the chickens and walk the dog, drink lots of tea which we accompany with sugary treats and allow the pooch to act as lap warmer whenever possible. 

School/study is going very well. My lovely tutor allows me a day of work experience in her shop as well (which I looooooove) and the practice is making all the difference. We have exams coming up so I have to squeeze study in to the sloth timetable ... as well as a few "Mother-Son Milkshake & Soy-Chai-Latte Dates"

Yes... life is looking pretty horizontal here in the hills peoples. It's all about squeezing out every drop of hedonism the day has to offer and making zero excuses for it. After all what else is a vacation for?

Now if you'll excuse me I need to make some hot chocolate and fish out some knitting... and possibly emerge from the onesie so that it can be washed. 

* I have desired, dreamed and wished for a Onesie for most of my life. I first spotted one on Little House on the Prairie - when I asked my mum why they didn't make pee-jays like that anymore she laughed... whereas I was being serious. It seemed like the most logical outfit for any cold winter climate and I adored the fact that someone had the genius to incorporate a "loo-flap" - after all who wants to strip halfway in the middle of the night? It's bad enough that the toilet seat is like an ice-block! Are these thoughts just mine or do I share a camaraderie with other "onesie wearers" out there?

♥♥♥♥

PS - I mastered the paper crane... sans a swear word. Not sloth-like but noteworthy.

Still learning...

My oh my... if anyone had told me that one of the most challenging tasks in Floristry was wire work I would have scoffed and (rather arrogantly) replied "Oh I can handle wire... " Um.. No.
It's hard peoples... maybe not for everyone but for me it. is. haaaaaard.

My humble attempt!

Maybe the fact that I have such large hands and long fingers, makes it even more challenging 

to tackle these fiddly bits. We were asked to make an OTT Corsage and I bought a bunch of Orchids for the class to share (that's why they all look similar) Whilst I'm not one for corsages myself (or any strict symmetrical design for that matter) I do appreciate that young debutantes demand these in droves and they end up being a nice penny earner if you can master them. I am still loving this course more than words can say and I cannot wait to start other components ... like... NOW! I'm a wee bit impatient I'll admit. Next week we tackle staggering in a symmetrical bouquet. On another note....

We attended the Blues and Roots Festival last weekend and had a ball. My favourite act was definitely Rufus Wainwright who stole my heart with his amazing voice and unique song writing. He does a pretty amazing version of this well known number too. We had great weather for it and I left feeling incredibly grateful to live in a country that organises and offers so many fabulous artistic festivals. 

Well peoples I have lots to do to prepare for Easter ... a hearth to decorate, food to purchase, recipes to read, bunting to make.... I'm a little unorganised. I think it's hard to face Easter knowing that I wont be (by choice of course) eating chocolate and drinking tea. Still this juice journey has been AMAZING and I feel so incredibly rejuvenated and renewed... in mind, body and spirit. Only seven more sleeps and I will have completed a 60 day journey that has changed my thoughts on health, nutrition and natural remedies for life. I have a lot to be grateful for this Easter and for me it really is a time of rebirth.

I wish you all a safe a break and a very Happy Easter. 

♥♥♥

Learning again...

I've bought some new stationery, a binder and fresh pencils to be precise.

I need to go to the hardware store and purchase secateurs, needle nose pliers and

(if I can find it) a device called a rose stripper - which de-thorns them with minimum fuss.

I have a beginners kit containing a multitude of items that I will soon 

be using, the most exciting (and frightening) being my new Swiss Army florist knife. 

Thus far we've looked at compact versus light and airy symmetrical arrangements.

We've had a go at wiring, using the floral knife, prepping oasis, cut flower care, 

product preservation, economising, design elements applicable to symmetry, 

best practice, precautionary measures, the wholesale industry, time management 

and last but not least... botanical names...... phew

Floristry is hard peoples! I mean really hard

Now don't misunderstand me.... I am not under any illusion that 

the Hollywood version of this career actually exists.

You know the one I mean...standing around arranging stunning

blooms in a crystal vase ... whilst the birds tweet and the tea brews.

No sir.

Early hours, quick decisions, fast paced work, grubby hands and very little glory. 

Think about it...

When the man in your life hands you that gorgeous bouquet you don't ever say:

"Oh wow... who did this? I must ring him/her and tell them I love it"

Uh-Uh

However I've come to understand that it's very rarely about accolades

when you are arranging, designing and creating. Yes you want to know

it looks good, it's liked, loved... admired. Only because you'd obviously 

suck at your job if it didn't. No - you do it because time just stands still.

Everything melts away... housework, bills, world issues, the kids, the duties...

I even forget to finish my tea.

I am not sure what other florists will say when they read this.

I have a friend who insists that even when she's run off her feet she 

couldn't think of any other job that would give her the same satisfaction

and pleasure that working with flowers does.

I'm inclined to agree

♥♥♥

It's a long weekend here in Perth. 

Young Prince has a buddy staying over and they're in the pool role playing as their heroes. 

Hubby has just arrived home from a great day at work and I've got "homemade fish and chips" cooking as we speak. The weekend consists of a whole bunch of paperwork, some study for moi ... (botanical names are something else peoples!) reading, swimming, markets and herbs... lots and lots of herbs. I hope wherever you are right now you're looking forward to some fun this weekend. See you on the flip side! 

Cashew Pesto....♥

Ok here we go...

It's easy, it's nutritious and it pretty much kicks your store bought pesto in the face

Ingredients

3 big bunches of the freshest Basil you can find

(wash, and break off leaves) 

1 cup of raw cashew nuts

Juice of a small lemon

1 small clove of garlic

A generous pinch of sea salt

Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Wazz it up in a blender adding oil to create your desired consistency.

There are no rules peoples ... add chilli if you like, more salt, lemon, pepper?

Now... 

Stir it through hot pasta

Melt it on a steamy spud

Spread it on a fresh Baguette ... or better yet THIS bread

Use it in a wrap instead of mayo... you can thank me later

Lavish it on freshly grilled fish 

Dollop it on a salad

Create the perfect base for poached eggs on toast

Boring steamed veg? Not anymore.

A bit of extra motivation...

In just TWO teaspoons of Basil you can get 60% of your daily Vitamin K needs

(read more about how crazy good basil is HERE)

Cashews are a very rich source of essential minerals - more info HERE

Extra Virgin Olive Oil is a natural anti-inflammatory - more HERE

Garlic is nature's anti-biotic - more HERE

Lemons are very alkalising to our blood (a good thing!) more HERE

I'm astonished at what a powerhouse of goodness this simple spread can be.

I hope you get a chance to make some and enjoy the green deliciousness.

Be aware though that, being fresh, this pesto does not have all the nasty preservatives

that the store bought kind contains..... so....

 Keep it refrigerated and use it promptly.

(and believe me... you will....)

♥♥♥

We have lift off....

Yes ladies and gentleman, I am proud to announce that I have (finally)

launched my rocket of creativity into the dark and uncharted space that is 

my future. I'm petrified.

But in a good, excited and adrenalin pumping kinda way

I keep hearing Martin Luther King in my head

"I have a dream..." and then I'm embarrassed to admit it 

bandies about floral notions that do not compare at all to the 

monumental importance of the civil rights movement.

Still it is my dream...and it's coming true.

There are so many wonderful people out there who have inspired me to

follow a dream and just dive in... flail if you have to but try... at least try!

Ladies like Kate, Eleni, and Rebekka ... (to name only a few)

All very different dreams but dreams coming true nonetheless

Do you have dream? A desire burning quietly? A fire in the pit of your 

belly that you neglect to stoke because ... (fill in the blanks)

Do you long to try something but you are afraid of failing, or you are 

putting it off until .... until ... (fill in the blanks)

I'm pretty sure that there are NO GUARANTEES WHAT SO EVER where I'm

heading - but I woke up this morning with just a little less regret. 

Boy did that feel good

*********

PS -the above image is of my first ever attempt at a 

"Symmetrical, Formal and Compact Design"

Whilst I'm not a fan of the style I know I need to learn all facets 

before I can "go crazy daisies on my own" 

Cool huh?

Excitement levels rising....

Do you love flowers?
Do you dream about them?
Do fill vases and vessels in your dreams?

I do....

.....and I've just enrolled in a Floral Design course.....

... so can you imagine how excited I am?

I cannot even imagine how excited I am since I am soooooo

excited I've lost all perspective on excitement.

I have a new excitement benchmark level.

I am newly excited.

This is a blissfully good feeling.

*******

Peoples... when last were you truly excited about something?

What was it? Why did it excite you?

It's awesome is it not? This rush. This heart smile.

My wish for you today...

A mahoosive dose of healthy, heart racing, tingly, smiley excitement.

Enjoy ♥♥♥

Jaunting to Melbourne...

Well it's a rather exciting affair when Hubby says:

"Marty (my Dad-in-law and my Boss) is flying us all to 

Melbourne for the Siren Awards"

My response:

"1 shriek, 2 squeals, an uncoordinated happy dance 

and the embarrassing (involuntary) "Nooo Way!?" 

You see ....

... I LOVE Melbourne ever so much.

(not just because it's cold and I get to wear my winter threads)

It's where I first moved to when I left home....

... It's where I met Hubby and fell in love 

(accepting his proposal after only SIX days... not kidding)

It's where I made many a happy memory with dear

friends and family...

It's where I hope to live AGAIN one day

(with any luck in the above building... I mean get out of town!

Me..... LIVING in the "Tea House" .... Pffff!)

It's a city filled to the brim with everything and anything.

We stayed in apartments situated in the heart of town.

The building itself has quite a history.

Built in 1884 and designed by renowned Australian architect William Pitt.

(The above image is taken from inside the inner courtyard)

We only had to step outside the foyer and we were within spitting distance of

trams, restaurants, bars and theatres.

Further down the street is China Town 

A colourful spectacle of clashing cultures and architecture....

.... that has to be seen to be....

... understood?

Hubby and I ventured to favourite haunts where 

we reminisced over the past ....

... as well as planned for the future....

(crazy, dreamy, pie-in-the-sky plans... the best kind)

... you see Melbourne is very grey... very wet and 

ever so ... dare I say it... London...ish.

So for two "wanna be Brits" ...

... you can just imagine the fun we had.

Coincidentally Hubby's birthday was on the Saturday and so,

 in honour of this auspicious occasion, we embarked on a culinary skirmish

 that began with a French Cafe and ended with a Thai feast.

(he was a very merry bear indeed)

With so much to see and do we knew we needed to 

squeeze every second out of every day  -  as a result we've returned feeling

much like one does when one runs a marathon... in heels.

I need to make mention of one particular store....

... by the name of Mark Denver 

Loosely coined as "Vintage Industrial" but I feel 

better described as .... well ....

HEAVEN.

Definootilly my style. I could easily have stayed

in here for another two hours but we had a lunch booking 

and I had to settle for a quick peruse (drool) and a brief chat 

with the friendly Jenny (Mark was out back) - who informed me

that they do ship across Australia .... sigh.

I think the thing I love the most about Melbourne

is the ease with which one can get around and the 

variety of things you can experience. It's what 

a city should be... exciting, unique, cultured and vibrant.

I had the good fortune of 

stumbling upon one of my favourite design houses

Third Drawer Down

(situated off Brunswick street in 

the funky and arty district that is Fitzroy)

To be honest I could ramble about this great town 

for eons. It has an atmosphere that I adore and 

I'm especially proud of how "anything goes"...

... how people here blend in because their colours - no matter how

vivid (or dull) are all just a fitting match to the eclectic backdrop

of a place that oozes "unique"

I know I'll be back again soon....

... but until then...

... Thank you for having us Melbourne.

PS - Congrats to Marty for doing well at the awards! 

(and a MAHOOSIVE thank you for letting us come along to celebrate)