Winter Blues Reversed....

global warming has cooked things up a bit

changing tides, glaciers, hibernations... the whole shebang

thermostats all around the world are confused

the almond tree has blossomed

the poplar is following suit

native freesias have carpeted the nearby parklands

i’m scoffing pretentious soy chai lattes

in a desperate bid to hold onto cosy affairs

i wear “the onesie” in protest, but usually have to strip

halfway through the evening because I’m overheating

I have run out of period dramas to watch

and pod casts to listen to - i have books (of course)

but they’re not cosy reads - need to find a cosy read

(something set in Russia I think)

I didn’t knit enough

i didn’t sort enough

I didn’t have many picnics

(none to be accurate)

I wrote in my journal though

and I made lots of things

oh dear .... I’m rambling

It’s a spectacular day outside

I’m not exaggerating 

20 degrees - sunny and the bluest of skies

I know i should be out there enjoying it

I know I should be excited about the prospect of spring

it’s just that winter flew by all too quickly

and I don’t feel like I got money’s worth 

winter blues reversed

rare but real 

♥♥♥

A Winter of Content....

* Showering outdoors ...  you hurry to get under the hot spray of loveliness but linger to exit. You run inside chased by the wind and you melt in front of the heater. It's all about freezing your sweet patootie off in order to REALLY appreciate that cup of tea, that warm jumper, those toasty slippers. The contrast forces an absurd gratification and the reward is all the more sweeter for it.

* Food and Drink... it all takes on a new meaning for me when the weather cools down. It becomes sustenance rather than calories. I find myself seeking out comfort food like a truffle hunting boar. I cannot stay away from the pantry, I linger at the refrigerator, I don't even bother putting away the toaster. No Sir. It's time to fatten up. Hibernation is upon us and we must be ready to face Spring with a renewed strength to our constitution. 

* Making ... As the degrees descend I find it easier to locate that inner sanctum. The quiet place where ideas flow more readily and creativity entertains, rather than eludes, me. Words are everywhere like shells on the shore. Treasure hunting is fun. I am not taunted by the clock, instead it's ticking comforts me. I can make a brew... locate the chocolate stash (good for hibernation and creation) ... and then in a hedonistic state of catatonic rapture I am able to make things, write things, craft things and read things... and not for any end purpose either ...  No -  just for the sheer luxury of it. It's too cold outside.... best read a book.... it's raining... best start knitting .... it's wet and miserable... best make some bunting. Absurd to some. Completely logical to me. 

* Sunshine... an oxymoron to most I know - but Sunshine really is my favourite thing about a Perth Winter. It's all the pros and no cons... it's the blackcurrant lollies so rare in the mix... the lucky find... the gem. You can let it soak into your bones and there is not a bead of sweat to be seen. You can dry the linen naturally... you can spread the rug on the lawn... you can take tea in garden... with the chooks. The humble front patio setting, small and unassuming, quickly become the best seats in the house. The pooch knows it and will not budge for bone nor breakfast in a bid to savour every shard that comes his way. 

This is Winter for me peoples. It just feels like a time to be inexcusably content. Running from vehicle to front door in a downpour - content that you are sheltered. Thermal underwear - content that you are warm. Gardening - content that there are no flies. Appeased, fulfilled, smug, gratified... all synonyms for CONTENT.

What does Winter mean to you? What emotions does it evoke from you? Do you even like Winter? Is yours a wet or dry one? Do you have activities that you love undertaking when the cosy factor is increased? Are you a "big scoffer of all foodstuffs" ... as I seem to be? Family traditions? Bonfires? Favourite films? Do share. ♥

Now is the Winter of my Utter Content!

Sorry William but in my life there can be no such thing as a "Winter of Discontent" and although I know that these famous lines are filled with irony, I prefer my smug misquote anyway.

This week has been filled with all sorts - cleaning out of sheds, lesson planning for work, being sick, work, being more sick....blaaaaah. Anyway I'm on the mend now and therefore happy to reflect on the events of the week that was....

The most important being our first BIG Winter rain! I dropped my son off at school and we had to wait for a moment for the downpour to cease before he could exit the vehicle. Needless to say we were both giddy with excitement. I went home and made sure that lunch would suitably suffice the days "cosiness levels" hence the soup du jour.....

Organic Soba Noodles, Scallops, Baby Peas and Sweetcorn.

Yum Scrumptious I tell you - and so darn easy.
It took me ten minutes to whip this up and it was so filling.
I made the recipe up with what I had in the pantry so for a similar dish try this.

Hubby then topped off the days culinary successes with this doozy....

Chocolate Heaven
(again tweeked and twiddled by Hub but try this for something similar)

I stopped by at my favourite local Florist  and picked up these spray roses and then shared the bunch amongst my many little vials and vases. I start nesting when the weather gets cooler and I find myself getting excited about the oddest things.....

Like toe socks....

... and wearing my favourite Red Riding Hood coat.

Even my pooch seems more willing to curl up on a couch and do sweet nothing...yawn.

I collected fallen leaves from the garden, made a "Welcome Back Winter" garland; and hung it above the hearth - love that word... HEARTH (no surprise that it contains the word heart in it yeah?)

There's something so sexy about the colours of Autumn.

So even though the weekend was filled with sunshine and butterflies...

I remained blissfully focused on all things cosy, Wintery and wonderful.
Oh and the weekend weather forecast? Cold, rainy and cloudy.
(Happy - Crazy - Nana Gown - Cup O Tea in Hand - Dance)

So have yourselves a super week peoples - the toaster has just popped and the marmalade - Cranberry and Red Grapefruit thank you very much - is calling...
Tooodle Ooooh!

Time to take Tea and Toast

I wish I could say that the weather outside was dark and gloomy.

This being the perfect setting for a tea & toast fest...

 But alas - the sun is all "shiny shiny" and the clouds are....um...gone.

I realise that, for many, this would appear to be perfect Autumn weather. I will concede that Perth is just stunning on a bright and blue skied day, however we need the rain. DESPERATELY!

So to some how summon the clouds, the cooler weather, the puddles and the rainbows,

I drink tea.

Copious bladder taunting amounts.

Not just any tea.

Earl Grey from T2

Teamed with hot, buttery, marma-laden (new word) toast.

This weekend Hubby and I plan to love our garden (would've been so good to do this with showers to help soften the soil, Sigh/Sulk) and hopefully put some bits and pieces in the ground. I am setting the alarm for a garage sale (just up the road) and my little man has a sleep over planned for Saturday evening (school has just broken up for Easter) Perhaps I can twist my Culinary Knight in Shiny Apron to cook up a pasta, paella or some such. Either way I'm sure a delicious bottle of red has been set aside.

At least the evenings have been cooler. Great for walking the pooch and outside showers - usually extra long showers since the dash twixt shower to towel to robe can be quite goosebumby!!

 Here are some of my Winter Wishes:

I hope to start a bigger vegie patch

I hope to get chickens (soon)

I hope to train for a 12km marathon (held in August)

I hope to be more creative

I hope the BBC fund a few new period dramas (soon)

I hope to master the art of a MOIST cake

I hope read several great books

I hope T2 start selling their Earl Grey Royale in bigger tins(soon)

I hope to master knitting

I hope to master sewing

I hope it rains (SOON!)

I hope I find the time to do even three of these things!!??

Happy weekend to you all!

Grizzly, Grey and Cosy!

Well I'm off to Melbourne with Hubby this evening!

It's where we met, courted (do people still say that?) leapt into love AND became engaged - after only six days I might add (but that's a whole other post) We had both lived in Victoria for some time before we came to Perth. After accepting his proposal we spent a year of hedonistic bliss living and LOVING the Grey, Grizzly weather that is own to Melbourne. So I checked the weather report and....

Triple somersault of joy!If I could do one I would!

Instead I've tackled what I do best - PACKING! So the suitcase is now full of wintery woolly wonders! 

Hopefully I can get around wearing as many layers as possible....

I had a practice run this morning. 
You can't see the coat very well but it's a faux fur swing number with a sparkly antique button 
(paid all of $10 for it.. gotta love thrifting!)
The style is very Audrey - so in my eyes VERY cool!


Well I have to run - still have a bit more packing to do, fish to move, a kitchen to clean, hair to wash um.... Yep I'm off!


(See you in a week or so with a whole new project that I'm most excited to share!)

Is that Autumn I spy?

I know, I know... Complaining gets you absolutely nowhere but if I call it "longing" then surely I'm allowed to moan and wallow and wish and whimper?

You see I am spotting more and more of Autumns promise - like this divine Plane Tree leaf - but alas the weather is still 235 million degrees outside (tad exaggeration) and every time I open the office door (I'm working in an office TEMPORARILY)I spot the outside world  and it greets me with very un-wintery (a new word) weather. Grrr...Mumble mumble...Grr!

Lovely brown leaf are you taunting me?

Do you know how much I long to see more of your kind, dancing around the streets in choreographed swirls and twirls?

No - you are perfect and patient and not in the least bit concerned. Just as a lovely brown leaf should be.