Alphabety Blocks – The Handmade Pledge

I made the Handmade Pledge a few months ago, determined to either buy handmade presents, or make them myself. I didn’t want to scare myself away from the challenge by doing every present that way this year, so I settled for my nephew’s present. I made JT a set of alphabety blocks. He’s a bit young yet to be learning his ABCs, but he can still mess about with them now.

These are the papers that I used for the blocks. I cut them into 30x30mm squares to be glued on. I didn’t use all of them though, so now I have a big bag of squares left over and no project ideas coming to mind.

Basic Grey | Urban Prairie | Kettle	Basic Grey | Archaic | Rock
Basic Grey | Archaic | Relic	Basic Grey | Archaic | Ancient
Basic Grey | Urban Prairie | Wild Flowers	Basic Grey | Urban Prairie | Ladybug
Basic Grey | Urban Prairie | Harvest

The first few squares of Basic Grey’s Kettle cut, and ready for gluing. Only a couple of hundred or more to go!

 

Cutting the squares up took about two hours, I’m not the fastest in the world when it comes to wielding a pair of scissors. Soooo many of them, though!

We bought a length of untreated pine, 180cm long and 42x42mm squared. And I got my husband to cut about 40 cubes out of that, 42x42x42mm each. This is a raw, untreated block.

And here’s the majority of the untreated blocks, all ready for the final stages. But first! They needed to be sanded back, and the sharp edges taken off. I had cramps in my arms for an entire day afterwards.

 

I glued the squares on with PVA glue, after wiping the dust off with a slightly damp cloth to help them stick better. I wish I’d bought a wider range of card, but I think the one’s that I did buy were enough anyway. I used a red/gold card to spell out his name. Then I stuck the letters on.

A couple of the finished blocks, spelling out the first half of JT’s name. They’re rough, but then, they ARE handmade and we weren’t going for perfection here. We wanted them to look a little rough, anyway.

 

The finished product! We bought a plastic container and used some of the lefftover letters to put JT’s name on the lid. We put a lot of effort into this (my husband and I), and we’re quite chuffed with our first crafty project.

Design – A Tea Garden

My husband and I are currently living with his grandmother, after a few hefty expenses we haven’t been able to live by ourselves as we’d hope to. And with my current health problems, it may be longer still. But that doesn’t stop a girl from dreaming!

 

We’re both from the country, so the harsh greys of the city and the noise are depressing to us both. Getting out in the park is a welcome relief, albeit a brief and superficial one. I’ve always enjoyed gardening, so bringing a bit of colour into our (hopefully, soon to be) garden will be a relief that is a bit more lasting. Its satisfying, seeing things you tend with your own hands grow and blossom.

So I’ve been wondering; what do I want to get out of my new garden? And how on earth am I going to do it when we’re renting, and can’t garden properly? The outcome? A “portable” tea-garden. I love tea. A LOT. I love trying new teas, and I love my staple drinks. I know I’d get a kick out of growing my own herbs for making my own teas and tisanes, freshly picked before brewing. Mmm-mmmm.

My favourite herbs in teas;

• Camellia sinensis
• Rosehips
• Hibiscus
• Lemongrass
• Ginger
• Peppermint
• Vanilla
• Chamomile
• Spearmint
• Jasmine
• Rooibos

But, I love trying new things so this list grows as I find new flavours to enjoy.

What follows is some rudimentary research into the plant side of things. Next up, how to grow them in a portable way that is both attractive and functional. I don’t want a garden of plastic pots that look tacky, messy and just plain ugly!

 

…

Tips for Growing Herbs for Tea

• Harvest early in the day, after the dew has dried, but while the herbs are still lush in the cool of the morning.
• Most herbs are at their peak just before they bloom.
• Try not to tear or crush the herbs until you are ready to use them. You don’t want to waste any of the essential oils.
• Harvest all your herbs at the end of the season, once a frost is forecast. You can dry the herbs whole and store for winter teas or for use as seasonings.

Camellia sinensis - a small shrub about 1-2 meters in height, though it will grow taller if you don't prune it. In the fall, your tea shrub will flower with small white blossoms that have a delightful scent. These plants are often grown as ornamentals. For planting,Camellia sinensis likes well-drained and sandy soil that is on the acidic side. If you are going to grow your tea in a container, add some sphagnum moss to the potting mix. You'll need some patience, too. Your plant should be around 3 years old before you start harvesting leaves.

Anise hyssop (Agastache foeniculum). Known to some as licorice mint, anise hyssop is related to mints and hyssop. It delivers a hint of delicious licorice flavor to tea—a tea once enjoyed as a traditional beverage by the Native Americans of the northern plains. Its tall spikes of purple-blue flowers reach 3 to 4 feet high, and the plant is much loved by bees. Anise hyssop is a perennial hardy in Zones 4 to 9 and grows best in full sun with a rich soil. Easily started from seed, it happily reseeds itself but is by no means invasive. Both leaves and flowers can be harvested for tea.

Peppermint - this is a perennial favorite for many people. Its refreshing taste is uplifting and cleansing, as well as wonderful for stomach troubles of all kinds. Peppermint is generally very easy to grow and enjoys sunny and semi-shaded spots. Grows very, very easily and unless you want it escaping across the garden, keep it pot-bound. The leaves are the part used for making tea.

Lavender - a delightful, softly fragrant tisane that is perfect for soothing, especially recommended forreducing tension and soothing headaches. Lavender grows well in full sun, well-drained soil. Lavender buds are the part of the plant used for tea.

Lemon Verbena - a refreshing and tangy lemony taste comes packed in these simple but easy-to-grow leaves. It needs full sun and will not tolerate harsh winters, so keep it pot-bound if that's a danger in your area. The leaves are the part used for tea. (Aloysia triphylla). With its fresh lemony scent and flavor, this herb is an all-star in the garden and the kitchen. The aromatic woody shrub can reach to 12 feet if you live in Zones 8 to 11. It overwintered and grew to 6 feet the year after I planted it in my Zone 7B western Oregon garden. In cold climates, you can replant it each year or grow it in a container for wintering indoors by a sunny window. Lemon verbena loves full sun and excels when grown in rich, moist, well-drained soil. Harvest leaves anytime for tea.

Mints (Mentha spp.). You’ll discover a myriad of mints to satisfy any taste. While spearmint and peppermint are always welcomed tea herbs, I prefer a whisper of fruity flavor found in pineapple mint (M. suaveolens) and orange mint (M. aquatica ‘Citrata’). Most mints will take over a garden given rich, moist soil, though both pineapple and orange mint are a bit less aggressive. Curb mint’s aggressive behavior by growing it in a large pot or other contained area. Harvest branches frequently and strip off leaves for tea.

Rose Hips - rose hips are the seed cases for roses. They are extremely high in vitamin C and are very good for you. Rose hips will form once the rose bush goes to seed. The rose hips should be deep orange-red before harvesting. Clean the rose hips gently before steeping.

Bergamot - Bergamot carries a touch of orange flavor. The plant produces gorgeous bright red, purple, or pink flowers and is happy in full sun or semi-shade. The leaves and flowers are suitable for steeping.

Marjoram - this herb has a fruity, citrus flavor and an undertone of mint. It grows well in full sun to semi-shade. Leaves and flowers are suitable for steeping.

Chamomile (German) - A delightful apple scented herb, this one is traditionally used to induce calm and sleep. It makes a gorgeous but delicate lawn feature with small daisy-like flowers. It tolerates full sun to semi-shade. The flowers are the preferred part for making thetea. (Matricaria recutita). These miniature white-and-yellow daisy-like flowers perk up any tea with their delightful apple-like flavor. Growing 2 to 3 feet tall, this vigorous, self-seeding annual can leap across the garden if spent flower heads remain. You can grow chamomile from seed in full sun and any well-drained soil. Harvest the flowers for tea anytime after the white petals appear.

Jasmine - with a fragrance reminiscent of summer time, jasmine provides a delicate and enticing flavor. It grows in full sun to semi-shade and although it can form a part of your tea garden, it needs a trellis or wall at the back of the garden to really thrive. It is not suitable for cold winter climates, however, so if you endure that sort of weather, you will need a potting arrangement that can be moved indoors. The flowers are the suitable part for making tea.

Coriander (aka cilantro) - used more frequently incooking, coriander is also suitable for herbal tea and has a flavor similar to Lady Grey tea. With strong citrusundertones, this tea carries a spicy and acidic flavor. Accepts full sun to semi-shade and is an ideal container herb. The leaves are used for tea.

Thyme - thyme is considered to be a good tea for soothing stomach troubles and sore throats. It is spicy and may be an acquired taste - try it first before cutting too much herb! It is tolerant of full sun and semi-shade and is an ideal container herb. Use the leaves for tea - if flowers are present, these can also be added.

Violets - if you love the smell of violets, violet tea will probably be a favorite with you. Violets prefer shady growing areas and are easy potted plants if desired. An excellent source of vitamins A and C. Violets are considered to be soothing and refreshing and are a good tonic after winter. The dried leaves and flowers are suitable for steeping (fresh flowers can be used for effect)

Rosemary - Rosemary has long been used in infusions for easing emotional depression and blood circulation issues. This plant prefers strong full sun but will tolerate light shade, and requires well-drained soil.

Stevia - Stevia is a safe and natural herbal sweetener, used in place of sugar in an herbal infusion and safe for diabetics to use. Stevia does not handle colder weather well at all and should therefore be a potted herb that is brought indoors during cold snaps and wintertime. The leaves are naturally sweet and their sweetness can be concentrated by drying or dehydrating them.

Green Tea

• Pluck the very youngest leaves and leaf buds.
• Blot the leaves dry, and let dry in the shade for a few hours.
• Steam the leaves (like you would vegetables) on your stove for about a minute.
• For a different flavour, try roasting them in a skillet for 2 minutes instead of steaming.
• Spread the leaves on a baking sheet and dry in the oven at 250F for 20 minutes.
• Store the dried tea leaves in an air-tight container

Oolong Tea

• Pluck the very youngest leaves and leaf buds.
• Spread them out on a towel under the sun and let them wilt for about 45 minutes.
• Bring your leaves inside and let them sit at room temperature for a few hours.
• Make sure to stir the leaves up every hour.
• The edges of the leaves will start to turn red as they begin to dry.
• Spread the leaves on a baking sheet and dry in the oven at 250F for 20 minutes.
• Store the dried tea leaves in an air-tight container.

Black Tea

• Pluck the very youngest leaves and leaf buds.
• Roll the leaves between your hands, and crush them until the leaves start to darken and turn red.
• Spread them out on a tray, and leave them in a cool location for 2-3 days.
• Dry them in the oven at 250F for about 20 minutes.
• Store in an air-tight container.

Envelope Template – Cottonblue on Flickr

envelope template, originally uploaded by cottonblue on Flickr.

I love this envelope template, it really is gorgeous. I think I might ask Sam to make me one, and put the dremel I bought him for his birthday back in September to good use.

del.icio.us Tags: make,projects,craft,flickr,cottonblue,template

Beginning afresh

On the tenth of December last year, I sat down with a piece of paper and a pen and I wrote out a personal manifesto, of sorts. I guess you could call it a New Year’s resolution, and I suppose it is in a way. But I try not to think of it like that.

For the past few days I’ve been trying to find a copy of what I wrote last year, but there doesn’t seem to be any in existence anymore. A fact that makes me feel guilty and sad. It means I never done anything I set out to achieve.

I am left with the desire to start anew again, though, and I’ve been contemplating on and off what this year’s manifesto should be about. I would like it to be easily achievable this time around, starting off with baby steps and working me way forwards from there.

And this time, I have Sam’s full support. As well as my own determination that things need to change.

Why?

Because I recently learnt that I have a heart condition. At this stage, I don’t know if its life threatening, or how its going to affect me, and I won’t until I see my doctor again but I do know that I want to live a better life. Things are going to get harder from here on out, and I need to buckle down and make my life worth living.

There are so many things about myself that I dislike, and that need improvement. I’m determined to make them happen. My world is being shaken up, may as well try to make the most of the broken pieces.

Graphic Examples of Personal Manifestos:

[Mark Pavey]

[Gala Darling]

Naked Apartments - Make your own terrarium

Article found over at Naked Apartments on making your own Terrarium for around $20 (I'm gonna take a stab here and say that's US, cos that's pretty bloody cheap o.O)





You can make yourself one of these beautiful terrariums in less than an hour and for around $20! A terrarium is not only beautiful enough to give as a gift (housewarming present!) but is also great for those of you who have nibble-y pets.

Here is a list of things you need to get started:
-A clear glass container
-Gravel, stones, small rocks
-Activated charcoal.
-Plants
-Sterile potting mix

Continue Reading Here--->

Broccolini fail.

Tonight's dinner had broccolini in it. Not something that's in season, but I need something to add a bit of substance to the lamb soup we were having, and I'd never tried it before. Nor can I say I'm overly impressed with what I tried. I'm not saying that it was completely the fault on the part of the vegetable - I will admit to under cooking it! - but it was just plain not nice. The flavours of a more mature broccoli just weren't there, and I guess I was disappointed.

I may give it one more chance to shine, and cook it for longer (who'd have thought it would need longer than broccoli?) and maybe do something to try and bring out its flavours rather than adding it for substance but I'm not making it any promises. I just don't think its going to become a regular thing. That's even if I ever eat it again.

I'm on the look out though, for a recipe which might give me some ideas about how to cook it well. I don't like finding food that I'm not fond of. I love food, but there's already so much I don't like!

What's on Your Table?

This afternoon I sparked a conversation on one of my Facebook updates that got my mental juices ah-humming. Is it any surprise, that its about food? I love food. An awful lot, and for the people that know me, well, you know the size of my hips can attest to that! I never used to love experimenting as much as I do now, but this has left me curious about other people's food habits. So if you'd like to indulge me for a moment.....

Food Questionnaire

1. Lets start off nice and simple, what's your favourite ingredient?
2. What's your favourite cooking method?
3. What are then top ten most cooked meals that come out of your kitchen?
4. What are your top ten FAVOURITE meals *NOT your family's*?
5. How many cookbooks do you own?
6. Roughly how many recipes do you think you've cooked from them?
7. What is your favourite food show?
8. What food shows have you watched, and/or enjoy?
9. What food/s will you simply not touch and why?
10. How open are you to new foods and recipes?
11. On a scale of 1 to 10, how picky are you about what you eat?
12. Do you wish you could be more experimental in your kitchen?
    
13. If yes, what are your reasons for not?
14. Name one recipe that you're dying to try and, share it!
15. Is there anything else you'd like to add?

What's in Season - December

A new month has started, and with it the arrival of Summer. Summer and I have never been the best of friends, I like the cold, and the rain and sitting by the fire with a rich, hearty meal and a hot cup of tea. I can't stand the heat, and I think its the British blood in my veins that makes me so intolerant of the Australian Summer!

But I've been enjoying fresher foods of late, salads, and fish and chicken. Things that are a bit lighter, and full of spark and crunch. And now that we're living so much nearer to the beach than we were last year, and can so easily go for a swim, I think I might find this season to be a bit more tolerable after all.

FRUIT
Apricots, bananas, berries, cherries, lemons, lychees, mangoes, pineapples, rockmelons, Valencia oranges, watermelons.

VEGETABLES
Asparagus, avocados, capsicum, celery, cucumbers, eggplant, lettuce, onions, peas, squash, sweetcorn, tomatoes, zucchini, zucchini flowers.

SEAFOOD
Atlantic salmon, blue swimmer crabs, Sydney rock oysters.


Vegetables
Asparagus - 
Creamy Asparagus Pasta
Poached Chicken and Asparagus Spaghetti
Asparagus Risotto
Asparagus with Shaved Parmesan, Aioli and Lemon
Asparagus with Poached Eggs, Feta and Sumac


Avocados -
Jacket Potatoes with Avocado and Ricotta
Grilled Salmon with Lime, Coconut and Avocado Relish
Chicken, Avocado, Basil and Ricotta on Rye
Marinated Mushroom and Avocado Salad
Salmon, Avocado and Asparagus Salad
Potato Rosti with Avocado, Salmon and Rocket


Lettuce
Egg and Lettuce Wraps
Vegetarian Rice Paper Rolls


Onions
Aromatic Rice with Balsamic Onions
French Onion Soup
Baked Onions Stuffed with Pistachios and Cranberries
Three Cheese Polenta Triangles with Caramelised Onions
Onion, Ricotta and Sage Omelette
Warm Potato and Onion Salad
Caramelised Onion and Sausage Tart
Red Onion Tarte Tartines

Peas
Minted Peas Couscous
Chicken and Pea Risotto
Fried Rice
Chicken and Coleslaw Salad with Avacado
Pea, Feta and Mint Fritters
Pea and Goat's Cheese Tarts


Squash -
Squash Risotto
Curried Squash Soup


Sweetcorn -
Chicken and Sweetcorn Fritters
Chicken and Sweetcorn Salad


Seafood
Atlantic Salmon -
Pan-fried Salmon with Grilled Asparagus and Dill Sauce on a Bed of Mixed Salad Greens

Just some of the books currently on my wishlist!

		Title	Price	Desired	Received	Priority
1.		"Marie Claire" Fresh and Fast by Michele Cranston (Author)	$25.10	1	0	high
2.		Eco-Friendly Families by Helen Coronato	$10.85	1	0	medium
3.		Instant Entertaining by Donna Hay (Author)	$23.07	1	0	medium
4.		Jamie at Home: Cook Your Way to the Good Life by Jamie Oliver	$30.00	1	0	highest
5.		Mastering the Art of French Cooking (2 Volume Set) by Julia Child	$48.57	1	0	high
6.		Table ("Marie Claire" Style) by Yael Grinham (Author), et al.		1	0	medium
7.		The Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady by Edith Holden (Author)		1	0	medium
8.		The Flavor Bible: The Essential Guide to Culinary Creativity, Based on the Wisdom of America's Most Imaginative Chefs by Karen Page, Andrew Dornenburg	$20.47	1	0	highest
9.		The Instant Cook by Donna Hay	$29.01	1	0	medium
10.		The Nature Notes of an Edwardian Lady by Edith Holden		1	0	medium

Gratinée - Cream of Roasted Cauliflower and Leek Soup

I've been looking for a soup recipe that has roasted cauliflower and leek for some time now. Earlier this year Sam and I went out for dinner, and we begun our meal with this most delicious soup. And so I was left with the desire to cook it for myself. I trawled all my usual recipe sites, but found nothing to satisfy the craving. Nobody was making a cauliflower soup with leek!

On a whim, I turned to Flickr and done a search for cauliflower leek soup. Imagine my surprise to find that there were two whole pages of photos people have uploaded of their own attempts at this recipe. The one I found at Gratinée seems to be the best one, so I'm going to give it a shot tomorrow night! If it turns out well, I've got my first course for my planned dinner party.

The following recipe is the property of Darina Kopcok, I post it here out of appreciation for the deliciousness of her work; and gain no financial benefits from doing so. You can read her post in its entirety here, and I heartily recommend checking Gratinée out!

Cream of Roasted Cauliflower and Leek Soup

Ingredients:

1 head cauliflower
1 large leek, white part only
3 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons water
olive oil
1 carton vegetable or chicken broth  (946 ml)
1 tomato, blanched in hot water and peeled
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 sachet bouquet garni *
1/4  cup creme fraiche
sea salt
fresh ground pepper

Directions:

1) Preheat oven to 400F. Wash the cauliflower and leek thoroughly. Cut the leek into chunks and cook slowly in butter and water until water evaporates and the leeks are tender, about 20 minutes. Meanwhile, cut the cauliflower into chunks and drizzle with olive oil. Roast in oven until golden and caramelized.

2) Bring the stock to a simmer. Add bouquet garni, garlic, salt and pepper. Add the cooked leeks and tomato. When the cauliflower is roasted, add to the broth and cover. Cook on medium low heat until the cauliflower is soft and tender and the flavors are incorporated.

3) Remove the bouquet garni. Puree the soup with an immersion blender. Season to taste with more salt and pepper. Thoroughly blend in creme fraiche.

* Bouquet garni is a mixture of dried celery, bay leaves, thyme and parsley. I buy Cote D’Azur brand, which is a local company. You can make your own bouquet by choosing a mixture of herbs and tying them into a small piece of cheesecloth. This will immerse the soup with the flavors of the herbs.

Poached eggs on a bed of baby spinach with toasted turkish bread and dill sauce

Poached eggs on a bed of baby spinach with toasted turkish bread and dill sauce, originally uploaded by | Annean |.

Leftover dill sauce from last night's salmon. This is the first time I've ever attempted poaching eggs, and I'm quite pleased with how they tasted. They don't look as appealing as the one's you can buy at a cafe, but I'm sure with practise I'll get better!

Pan-fried salmon and dill sauce on a bed of grilled asparagus and salad greens

Pan-fried salmon and dill sauce on a bed of grilled asparagus and salad greens, originally uploaded by Clara Fournier.

This was dinner tonight, Pan-fried salmon with a dill sauce on a bed of grilled asparagus and salad greens.

The salmon was pan-fried after a light brushing of oil, cracked five peppers and salt and coarsely chopped dill.

The asparagus was done in butter, chopped garlic (only a teensy amount!), more dill and lemon pepper.

The dill sauce was a basic sauce, made with canola oil, egg, mustard, dill and salt and pepper.

It tasted heavenly, and I especially love that all the ingredients were sourced locally!

Sala

Sala, originally uploaded by favaro JR..

I just adore this loungeroom, the colours, the lighting, the warmth.... Its gorgeous =]

Up On High Studio Sitting

The following photos were taken on Sunday, at the Up On High Studio in Fremantle, by the very talented Seng Mah.You can find him here; http://www.thesnapshooter.net 

These are just a few of my favourites from the shoot - now I just have to decide which one's I want prints of!

 

      

Trying to cook in season

Fruit: Avocados, bananas, cherries, grapefruit, lemons, loquats, mangoes, melons (honeydew, rockmelon, watermelon), oranges (valencia), passionfruit, pineapple, papaya, pawpaw, strawberries.

Vegetables: Artichoke, Asian greens, asparagus, beans, cucumber, lettuce, onions, peas, silverbeet, spinach, sweetcorn, tomato, watercress, zucchini.

I'm terrible for cooking whatever I feel like, with little concern for whether or not they're in season. If we were in a position to grow our own, I know I'd be better at it. But until then... I'll just have to try my best with bought food from the organic market around the corner.

What's On the Menu?

Asparagus -
Creamy Asparagus Pasta
Poached Chicken and Asparagus Spaghetti
Asparagus Risotto
Asparagus with Shaved Parmesan, Aioli and Lemon
Asparagus with Poached Eggs, Feta and Sumac

Beans
Vegetarian Chili Beans
Wholemeal Pasta with Rocket Pesto, Green Beans and Potatoes
Minestrone
Macadamia-crusted Fish with Asparagus and Green Beans
Bruschetta with White Beans and Mushrooms

Lettuce
Egg and Lettuce Wraps
Vegetarian Rice Paper Rolls

Onions
Aromatic Rice with Balsamic Onions
French Onion Soup
Baked Onions Stuffed with Pistachios and Cranberries
Three Cheese Polenta Triangles with Caramelised Onions
Onion, Ricotta and Sage Omelette
Warm Potato and Onion Salad
Caramelised Onion and Sausage Tart
Red Onion Tarte Tartines

Peas
Minted Peas Couscous
Chicken and Pea Risotto
Fried Rice
Chicken and Coleslaw Salad with Avacado
Pea, Feta and Mint Fritters
Pea and Goat's Cheese Tarts

Spinach
Spinach and Feta Slice
Cheese and Spinach Tortilla Melts
Spinach Gnocchi
Chipolata, Spinach and Red Onion Salad
Spinach and Ricotta Cannelloni
Spinach and Lamb Pides

...

This project was bigger than I thought, and this is just a LIST of the recipes. Full recipes will come as I cook them. For now, I'm going to call this a day. Round two, the fruit, coming tomorrow.

Favourites Slideshow - Flickr

ideal barista

ideal barista, originally uploaded by elliott_andrew.

I absolutely adore this photo, especially the notes that people have attached to it. It just makes me smile, through and through.

In other, related news, I may have a new job as an assistant manager for a cafe. I'm excited about it, but trying to not get too invested in the idea just yet. After all, I haven't got it yet and I do take rejections/failure a bit too hard!

Letter to the world

Dear World,

Seriously considering my childhood desire to be a hermit when I grow up.

Cass

A healthier lifestyle

Tonight we had my brother-in-law and his new girlfriend over for dinner. I cooked up a roast dinner more suitable for 10-12 than the five people sitting at the table, but my husband and I love leftovers so I don't hear any complaints about the amount of food put out on the table.

The food was DELICIOUS, although I forgot about the broccoli - and if you're not watching it steam it can go from deliciously bright green to a horrid brown colour in a matter of moments. Too soft, but still palatable.

My only problem was, just how much grease there was. I used no oil in the cooking process, and yet I still got up from the table feeling like I'd eaten an entire pat of butter. Or several. More and more I'm finding that my tolerance for greasy, fatty food is lowering. Not just because it makes me feel ill, either. But its becoming a mental thing, too. Just the thought of eating something hot, decandent and rich in flavour turns me off. A sad day, given how much I love the above.

And whilst I have no desire whatsoever to become a vegetarian (I love my meat too much to ever give it up) I'm finding myself becoming more and more interested in what a diet devoted more to my leafy greens could offer me. I'm determined to eat better, and to be more interested in the nutritional value of the food I prepare for myself and Sam.

I think its probably about time to reevaluate the stock/standard recipe selection that I turn to each fortnight, and reconsider what meals we eat frequently.

Getting over the fear of it all.

The funny thing about this post is that I'm writing about all the things I'm scared of - and it starts with getting over one very simple hurdle. I'm scared to write. In putting these thoughts down in writing, I'm acknowledging these problems as really existing and I've tried to ignore it up until now. In acknowledging them, it makes me responsible for getting over them.

And by writing now, I'm taking the responsibility that comes with my first acknowledgement - to actually do so.

So what else am I scared of?

I want to live self-sufficiently, a more organic, natural life. But I'm scared of taking the first steps towards doing so.

I want to take up photography on a more "professional" basis. I would like to start earning money for my efforts, but not fulltime. More of a paid hobby, I guess.

I want to go somewhere with my writing. But I'm scared of putting the proverbial pen to paper in case what I write is really crap, or worse, I discover that I can't write at all.

I want to lose weight, be healthier and fitter. But I'm scared of trying, in case I get laughed at.

I want a job more suited to my interests and talents. But I'm scared of going for it because I'm terrified of rejection.

...

All of these are things that I should be able to overcome using simple commonsense and a "just go for it" attitude. I should. Really. But do you think I can?

Story in progress - basic ideas.

The room was windowless, and all but dark except for the dim ray of light filtering into the room from under the doorway. A wooden ledge ran around the entire room, slightly damp from the water dripping down the stone walls. Musty smelling hay was piled up in one corner, and buried in its depths lay the figure of a girl.

In the half light it was possible to see that she lived, though her breathing was shallow and irregular. Dark stains marked the slip covering her body, and her hair matted with blood. She dozed fitfully, although she was slipping closer and closer to death her mind remained aware of her surroundings and she twitched at every sound coming through the closed door.

Muffled voices filled the corridor outside, coming closer and closer until they paused outside her cell. The girl's head rose slightly from the hay, her swollen eyes opening to watch the door. It remained closed, however, and she did not hear the soft click of the lock opening. Rather, she heard the voices outside continue to speak. The gruff voice of her guard, arguing with the gentle, soothing tones of a woman.

The girl licked her lips, tasting dried blood. Its acrid flavour would normally make her recoil, for she had always felt sick at the sight of blood. Now she simply felt numb, the awareness of what faced her sinking in. She shifted her body clumsily, propping herself up on the wooden ledge above her head. With some effort she managed to haul herself up onto it, into a sitting position.

Almost as soon as she'd stopped breathing heavily from the exertion, the door swung slowly open. The light filtering into the room made her squeeze her eyes in pain; though the light was naught more than a dull candle. A figure obscured the light, and stepped into the room. The smell of blood and disease was strong in the air, and her visitor quickly held a rag to their nose and mouth.

"Who are you?"

Coming to kneel before the girl, the woman who had visited her so many times before, grasped the girl's face firmly with her hands, twisting her head this way and that as though her features would reveal more than the girl herself had done.

"Tell me girl, who are you? I cannot help you if I do not know who you are."

At the girl's bitter, stony silence the woman lashed out, her open palm striking the cold cheek sharply. There was no gentle, soothing voice now.

"You are only making things harder for yourself, why won't you tell me?"

With her small hand nursing her already redeening cheek, the girl opened her eyes to stare at the woman before her. She saw no compassion in the woman's face, only a barely concealed greed. Oh yes, this woman knew who she was. And both knew it would be more dangerous for her to reveal her identity, despite her promises to the contrary. She had promised her father, never to tell a soul who she was. And she had managed many long years in exile, until a few months ago....

~*~

"Sun, my child. Come sit with me awhile, will you?"

Her father sat by the open door, leading out onto the verandah of his studio. Summer's warm breeze drifted in on the evening air, licking at her sweat-lined skin. It was a welcome relief from the heat of the day where no wind had eased the discomfort. As she sat down on the rugs beside him, she shifted the thin dress hanging from her shoulders. The material clung to her skin, and she could only look on in amazement at her father's ability to still wear his heavy robes in such a heat.

He smiled at her, patting her hand gently. But the smile did not reach his eyes. Both father and daughter knew the purpose of this meeting. Silence hung over them, as heady as the scent of magnolia blossoms. Neither wanted to break it, and it wasn't until her father drew an unsteady breath that Sun finally spoke.

"Father, I...."

Squeezing her hand, the old man shook his head. The look he gave her told her all that she needed to know. The family would honour the tradition, and there was naught Sun or her father could do to change things. Hanging her head, the young girl tried to hide her tears with her long, dark tresses. At barely ten years old, she did not look old enough to leave the safety of the nursery, let alone sit here now.

"Sun... if I could, you know I would not ask this of you? But... the family... Your cousin... I have no choice."

Nodding silently, it was her turn to hush her father. She tried to smile around her tears, to be strong for him. With her mother gone, life would be almost as hard for him now.

"Exile is the only choice, Father. My cousin would just as soon have my head on the chopping block, I must flee before she has her wish."

Both were crying freely now, sending her out into the world was almost as bad as sending her to the executioner. But at least she had a chance of survival. If she remained, it would not be long before her cousin; the heir to the family's head, would see to it that there was no chance of survival. Their grandmother was nearing death. Her mother should have been the heir, but with the tragic death of both her mother and aunt the previous year her older cousin had been formally elected by the family. A number of secret attempts had already been made on the child's life but when she officially became the head of the family, her cousin would not tolerate her cousin continuing to live. She was, after all, the rightful heir. And it was only down to her age that she was not Chosen.

"I will leave tonight, Father. I'm sad that I cannot say goodbye to Gran before I go but even this is too dangerous. At least I know she understands..."

Silence again fell of the room, broken only by the mournful sound of an owl on the wing. Its soft hoot echoing the sorrow in their hearts. Kissing each other on the cheek, the girl clung to her father as she said goodbye. He slipped a small purse of coins into her hand, shaking his head when she tried to refuse it.

"You will need money to get by until you find a way of making a living, Sun."

Neither said what they were thinking. How would a ten year old girl find any kind of employment? It was nigh on impossible, even with her talents and training. For certain, she was being sent to her death. Sun smiled awkwardly as she turned to gather what possessions she had packed.

"Do not fret for me, Father. I will find employment soon enough."

As she left the room, night descended in full. Leaving to sit in the darkness, and old man alone and broken with no one to witness the fresh tears pouring down his lined face. Avoiding the servants who were still present Upstairs, she kept to the shadowed halls as she made her way down. Even as she made her escape she heard shouts from the courtyard below. The rough voices of soldiers echoed in the hot chambers. And so, they had come. Lifting the corners of her thin dress, Sun fled down the stairs. The servants and her father could not hide her escape for long, and she had to put far more distance this first night between herself and the home of her childhood than she had ever thought necessary.

Portfolio

Some photos won't appear, I will change this if/when I get permission of the people in the photos to do so.

Diving in the deepend, with only rudimentary swimming skills

I was going to continue my project list from yesterday, but then I thought - there's no use in overwhelming myself with a huge list of things that I want to do. Best to begin making inroads to the projects I've already written down before coming up with more. Otherwise I won't know where to start, and I'll become bogged down with it all. I'm terrible like that.

So instead, I'm going to START one of those projects. In the planning stages at least, and actually do something for a change rather than simply talking about it.

...

I'm not the best photographer in the world, have a little understanding about the way it works and how to do it properly, but I love doing it and I've always had the passion and desire to get in there and just DO IT. I've got some technical knowledge, and the more photographs I take the better I feel I'm becoming and expressing my creative abilities, too. But I haven't found my niche yet, or added my own personality to the photos that I take.

So I guess the first steps will be learning more, and developing my own style. I hope to start promoting myself from the outset, offering free photography in return for models, and possibly access to places I wouldn't otherwise get the opportunity to photograph. I'm tossing up whether or not I want to offer free prints of some (or one) of the best photos from each shoot but I guess it will be good incentive.

And, I need to really look into ways to promote myself properly. I'm not doing very well in that department as yet. I'm home sick still, which means I've got all the time in the world to really do this well.

Wish me luck!

Annean xxoo

Project List

I love lists, I really do. I enjoy making them, and then reading back on it later. There's something satisfying about them. So, here's a new one. A list of projects, not a list of 100 Things That I'd Like to Do. I think this would work better, and be more achievable. Less depressing because some of the things that I want to do... I probably never will. So here's my new list =)

PROJECT LIST

1. Steampunk our television set.
2. Design and create a rental friendly vegetable and herb garden.
3. Revamp the chest of drawers in the bedroom.
4. Start a DVD collection (list forthcoming XD)
5. Collect and paint and whole bunch of miniatures for the D&D campaign.
6. Go through the kitchen, and donate what I don't need to charity.
7. Promote myself as a photographer.
8. Write a cookbook of all my favourite recipes.
9. Study photography, cooking, gardening and woodworking.
10. Knit Sam a jacket.
    
    

I'm going to stop at ten tonight, I have the flu and the medication is messing with my ability to think. I'll definitely add more tomorrow though =)

My old list of 100 things that make me happy

I wrote this last year sometime, to remind myself of the things that I truly enjoy in life. I plan to rewrite it, and see how much its changed in just a year. I'm also planning to write a list of 100 things I want to do - a list I've tried to do on and off for the last four or five years.

So I decided that something I really wanted to do was compile a list of things that make me happy, right now. In a few years I want to try and do it again and then compare the lists...

1. Sam, nothing and no one else could possibly hope to be on the top of this list.
2. The first few days of Spring.
3. Snoozing in the sun.
4. Curled up in front of a fire with a book in my hand.
5. Finding contentment in a hot cup of tea.
6. Discovering a new tea to like.
7. Reading through the recipes in a cookbook.
8. Receiving a cookbook as a present.
9. Discovering a new author to love.
10. Rereading my old favourites.
11. Watching for the millionth time, the BBC production of Pride and Prejudice.
12. Curled up next to Sam as we watch a period drama, and feeling pleased to know he enjoyed it.
13. Curling up with Sam, period.
14. The sound of running water.
15. Watching running water.
16. Hot full pressure water running down my body.
17. Slipping into icy cold water, in a pool or a river/ocean/lake.
18. Sunsets over the ocean.
19. Sunrises on the farm.
20. The first hour or so after the sun has risen, and the world is bathed in gold.
21. Standing or walking in the rain.
22. Dancing in the middle of a thunderstorm.
23. Coming home completely drenched and freezing cold, to jump in a nice hot shower.
24. Bathtime... a rarity, but a purely indulgent pleasure because I always make sure to do it RIGHT. Candles, bubbles, scented water, soft relaxing music, no interruptions and a good book to devour.
25. Foot massages.
26.Well, full body massages really. Its less enjoyable when in pain... but if he's doing it for purely pleasure reasons Sam has the 'Touch'.
27. Reading Lord of the Rings, and still to this day enjoying every word of it.
28. Reading through Sam's collection of books and devouring 4 or 5 of them a week.
29. Trying out a new recipe.
30. 29a) and messing about in the kitchen.
31. 29b) and having Sam love it.
32. Inventing new foods, and having Sam love it so much that he says I can cook it again.
33. My roast lamb.
34. My roast potatoes, that are better than even Nanna makes.
35. My shepherd's pie.... even Mum can't better me on that one.
36. Using fresh herbs straight from the garden.
37. Notebook.
38. Candlelight.
39. When Sam does something unexpected and romantic.
40. Having a clean house.
41. Often, when I'm not procrastinating cleaning the house makes me happy.
42. Flooring Dad, when he walks into the house and can't find a fault in its cleanliness.
43. Listening to the sound of birds singing in the first few hours of the day.
44. The chorus of frogs that croak and groan on the dam at night.
45. Hot, balmy nights with the gentle whir the fan and the blowing air on my skin.
46. Cuddling down in the blankets on a cold night, warm in my little cocoon.
47. Having Sam there for warmth whenever the nights get too cold.
48. Gum trees.
49. The sound of the wind blowing through the sheoaks.
50. A warm day spent in the bushland in the middle of the wheatbelt.
51. Going away on a camping holiday with my grandparents.
52. Spending the day down in Margaret River.
53. Sunbathing on a warm rock, by a cold pool of water at the bottom of a gorge.
54. Driving sheep.
55. Burning fallen trees, branches etc on the farm.
56. The traditional family bbq.
57. My nephew, Jackson... the few times I've seen him.
58. My baby Elly.
59. The colour yellow.
60. The colour green.
61. Watching things grow that I myself have planted and tended too.
62. Days off work.
63. Lazy Sundays with nothing better to do than go with the whim of the moment.
64. Taking photographs, and discovering the gems amongst them.
65. Collecting books, and watching the collection expanding. There'll be a library room eventually.
66. Hats.
67. Tea sets, or just tea pots.
68. Ironing... and yes, it makes me happy.
69. The smell of cooking steak.
70. Lavender.
71. Clean, fresh sheets.
72. Freshly mown lawn.
73. Watching documentaries.
74. Specifically, IMAX of David Attenborough.
75. New episodes of Dr. Who.
76. David Tennant.
77. Dreaming about the past... and I don't mean, my past... like, Victorian, Medieval...
78. Writing.
79. Creating my own universe.
80. Seeing people enjoy reading my writing, especially the poetry.
81. Reading through my poetry once its finished and being pleased with the result.
82. Creating things with my own hands.
83. A job well done.
84. Praise
85. Finding something new to be interested in, and studying it.
86. Looking at our wedding photos.
87. The smell of Acacia blossoms.
88. The smell of wet earth after the rain.
89. Munchkin.
90. Mango tea.
91. Dragon's Pearls, or Buddha's Tears.
92. Discovering someone who likes something that I like, and not expecting it.
93. People that I get along with.
94. Spending time with the people I love.
95. Being surprised to find mail in the letterbox from Jo.
96. Getting to talk to Jo online, even if its only briefly.
97. A clean, sparkling kitchen.
98. Going on picnics, and just lazing around doing nothing.
99. Sleeping in.
100. Finishing the list to end all lists.