Barossa Treasures

The gorgeous Alice F and I had a girls road trip to the Barossa on Saturday and I couldn't have thought up a more perfect way to spend a day.

We left pretty early (7am ish) and headed down to the Barossa Farmers Market and headed straight to the breakfast - coffee, fresh oj and egg and bacon rolls - so very good.  I had mine with beetroot relish - yum

barossa fm breakfast

sated we then had a good look around.  my first stop was Careme for gorgeous cake and pastry.  I picked up sourdough fruit bread - my absolute favourite bread and a lush chocolate brownie with fig.  I convinced Alice to try the lemon tart - they are too good.

Careme goodies on offer

I wanted to buy a Careme shopping bag as a keepsake but they gave it to me for free!

after the market we hit the towns Angaston and Tanunda for op shopping adventures.  The awesome secondhand clothes shop in Angaston was shut but I managed to pick up a couple of funky aprons...

$2, $5, $1.50

some lovely glassware

 10c - $2.99

and some retro craft books for inspiration

$1 each

I also grabbed a couple of shirts and an old sheet for craft fabric projects - not sure what yet.....

I seemed to be inspired by autumn colours on this outing

After so much shopping - for so little money we headed back to Angaston for a late late lunch at Blonde Coffee a gorgeous cafe and deli/food store that I love for it's atmosphere and simple yet tasty food, great coffee and chai and lush cakes.  it is the kind of place I would love to run one day and the kind of place I so wish we had in the Riverland.

It was the best of days, with fun window shopping and antique browsing, bargain buys, such good food and the best company.  sweet memories - thanks alice :-)

soft love

I've had some visitors in the church for a while longer than i had planned but they kept me company until i got a round to arranging their travel.

I got news today that one had safely arrived in Kingston and since they set off together I am assuming that the others got to Howrah and Glenorchy by today too.

My friends had to see Tasmania and couldn't wait till I was ready to head home - so they flew Australia Post and now with their new families where I'm sure they will have lots of love. And I will see them again in a couple of months!

one year of crochet

Last Easter I taught myself to crochet, I don't remember doing it as a child - I certainly knitted and sewed but don't remember the stitches so maybe not.  I love crochet, so much faster and playful than knitting, although so far I've only played with scarves, straight and curly....

A couple of weeks ago I finally attempted my first Granny square and one year on I can say my world of crochet is opening up. 

 Thanks Pip for Meet me at Mikes fabulous granny square tutorial!

I love the simplicity of the granny square and how much I can play with patterns.  For now I'm just using up a batch of wool of the same ilk to make a knee rug - eventually 5x5 squares - 6 down, 19 to go! 

 so much  fun

It was good to sit and watch Angel on DVD and crochet a good part of my Easter away.  Things have been so hectic, hence the lack of blogging for a while.  My chilling out was interspersed with lots of cleaning out and packing ready for the move back to Tasmania.  I have 8 weeks left in the Riverland and my things might be heading back a few weeks before me.  I am such a nester and even though i didn't unpack half of my things when I moved into the church I still have so much to sort through and prepare for months of storage.  Was good to make a BIG dent in the task, now I should be able to attack bits and pieces over the next few weeks after work and such.

I must make a list of crafty projects to get done before I go too - have a few important items to make for special peoples.......

food for thought

After a rough couple of weeks I am re-indulging in the simple pleasures of cooking.  Amongst my treats from North America were some Mint Chocolate Hershey Chipits!  After having stored them in the fridge over summer in a container with my cocoa power, it has taken on a hint of mint rendering it unmixable with other flavours.  My solution - Chocolate Choc Chip Cookies....

yum

I put half the dough in the fridge for baking later in the week so I don't eat them all at one and ensure I share!

I have also been reaping the rewards of my lovely herb garden.  the basil has be going strong and I've put some in pots to give away to several friends..

and added it to breakfast

I wouldn't win any awards for my presentation, but it tasted amazing!

The rocket is getting a good work out in salads and the parsley is ready to be re potted too for sharing.  My shade house is really paying off.

Woman and Home - January 1958

a vintage find at the boat shed market in adelaide on saturday is full of food for thought....

A REFRESHING KITCHEN_DINING_ROOM

The kitchen is very much the heart of the home in these days - and, if the family can do their work at a table there, it is cosy for them and company for the housewife.  Meals served in the kitchen can always be piping hot, too.

stylish

sensible advice

' how could any girl feel at ease if she knew that she had only the one set of clothes she had on, which was in first class order?  The keeping of our own wardrobes is an almost full spare-time job for any girl.  If you doubt it the consider:

How do you keep your dressing table?

How do you keep your chest of draws?

How do you keep your shoes?  Your stockings?

How do you keep your jewellery?  

Your hats?

A single girl only has herself to look after;  her clothes and all her accessories should be kept perfectly.  If not how will she manage when she has (a) a husband and (b) a husband and a family plus herself to care for?

the 2010 me would fail in 1958.  I wonder if a 1958 me would also fail...

I hear the faint whisper of ' spinster' and 'such a shame' ' she's a lovely girl... just ... headstrong/independent....'

but then they say / said a way to a man's heart is through is stomach

so maybe the pineapple puff would be my redemption

or my fancy entertaining??

a complete story to pass the time??

SOMEWHERE IN THE WORLD THERE MUST BE A MAN WHO COULD MOVE HER TO LAUGHTER WITH A WORD, TO TEARS WITH A LOOK, TO ECSTASY WITH A KISS

Petra didn't know if she wanted to marry Neville or not.

She was twenty-nine.  That fact should not have swayed her decision one way or another, of course.  She had always sworn she would never look upon marriage merely as an escape from spinsterhood, and yet - and yet . . . Well, time was passing, swiftly and ever more swiftly, and she had not met anyone she liked better than Neville....

I have a funny feeling she doesn't marry Neville.... someone much better comes along and sweeps her off her feet in the most romantic of ways, maybe...

and finally some grooming tips to help me on my way

how things have changed?

and the garden grows

my herbs are getting more love and attention than i give myself sometimes and they are coming along...

my rocket rocks - second sewing starting to show

the first few leaves plucked were delish

the basil is thriving and needs to be thinned and replanted

the chives are very happy

a new thyme plant is wild while the seeds are slow

a little chilli is just starting

the parsley was a slow starter but making a good show

and the corriander is also reluctant but coming along

my shade house is protecting them not only from harsh sun but the current storms

next job is to replant some seedlings to share the love

Melbourne Round Up

Since I got back it has been crazy at work and i've been feeling less than fabulous so there has been a bleep in the blog.

The rest of my Melbourne trip was busy, challenging and thought provoking.  Plus some fun.  Most of my friends had lots of life stuff going on so not much socialising around the conference but I did get to have breakfast with Ben on his Birthday - AMAZING french toast with caramelised banana at Gas Eateries & Supply Cafe in South Melbourne and then of course Ben's 30th party where I got to catch up with Andrew and some old faces.

Ben had a Bonn Voyage party so I trimmed up a tee-shirt for a sailor girl look.  wearing it made me feel very anime, sailor moon.....

ahoy- thanks costume store for inspiration

On Sunday the lovely Louris and I went and checked out the Rose Street Artist Market which was filled with lovely things.  nothing I had to buy - luck because i had my suitcase with me and there was NO room in it.  But lots of inspiration!  Then we went to The Vegie Bar for coffee (and juice for me as a bit seedy fro the 30th!) I haven't been there for so long - not surprising since i don't live in Melbourne but I was reminded of the amazing menu they have, I wish I'd been hungry.

With time to kill and nothing to do but wonder before I headed to the airport I found myself at the Sustainable Living Festival at Fed Square.  I was tired and hot but I found a lovely vege buger (finally hungry) and some shade and chilled out on the river front.  Melbourne really has a lot going for it, that i didn't always make the most of when I lived there.

The flight home involved a mid air delay and diversion around a storm and I landed in Mildura very tired.  Dinner with Thom turned into a an overnight stay thanks to a spare room with inviting new1000 thread count Egyptian cotton sheets, bit not before I was introduce to the PlayStation and war games - not really my thing but insightful watching the boys all the same...

Treat One - from Craft Victoria shop

Material Treats from Clear It on Brunswick - Dangerfield and Alana Hill

 

Alana Hill Ribbon treat - pretty

Food for Thought

I found this apron at my local op shop and paid 50 cents.  While I was in Melbourne I checked out Hunter Gatherer on Brunswick St - they had a suitcase full of vintage aprons - most at $20.00  

No more trips for me (at least nothing interstate) until I head back to Tas.  But I think I have plenty to keep me busy......