Friday

If I had to describe my style I would say rustic.  And eclectic.  Particularly for the home.  My heart skips a beat when I look at things crafted from clay, timber or linen.  I love that old-world feel. 

Toast catalogues (when they produced paper ones and shipped them around for free) were always my favourite coffee table book/style resource. 

And I have kept every one, much to the ire of David :)  But why wouldn't you?

My favourite blogs display beautiful home settings with all the materials I love.

There is also a satisfaction I feel in doing things the slow (a word that has become the movement of the moment) “old-fashioned” way.  One of my favourite books is Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder.  The exquisite detail of everyday life.   That isn’t to say I want to hunt deer and pig, salt and store the meet or blow up the pigs bladder for Maggie to play ball with! And while it is reportedly like terrine, boiling a pigs head to make “head cheese” does not sound romantic at all.  I tried to read it to Audrey last year, but she didn’t show the same enthusiasm for it at the time. 

 But using essential oils to make cleaning products, or making beeswax candles and sewing linen napkins is appealing to me.   I can waste so much time looking at images of these things,,,  Even in my early teens I always wanted to visit museums and old homes and soak in the images of yesteryear.  At 15 I was a volunteer guide at Lanyon homestead and was always besotted with the out buildings, the kitchen and stables.

When we went camping early this year I loved stopping by huts and looking at the walls, papered with newspapers, now worn and yellowed.  Easy to think romantically about living in such a place and not about the bare necessity of warmth, light and food.

For now I will read the stories and look at the pictures.  I burn beautifully scented soy candles (made by others) and wait for my soft, crushed linen to arrive from Lithuania.  Then I will start by sewing my coveted crushed linen napkins.  :)

Wednesday

Long due gardening... love our vege patch!

 

 

new things

Yesterday I made my first sponge cake!

And after 4 years, our wisteria has flowers!

Planning

It is exciting to have a new project to turn my mind to.  During the semester break David is going to make Audrey a bed.  Her first "big" bed.  We are lucky that the cot he originally made for Nicholas is so big.  She is almost 3 1/2 and she is sleeping in it.  Most nights however she climbs out of it and comes to our room.

This gives me the opportunity (excuse, really) to pour over magazines and blogs looking for the style that I want.  I have a folder of pictures I have collected from magazines or the internet, organised into rooms.  Most of the pictures I have collected of girls rooms seem to have iron beds, but I think I have found the timber one I like.

Soon we will farewell the cot.  :(

 

 

My question however, is the bedspread. I can't put my finger on the style I want, but I want it to be subtle. Maybe cream with a small floral print?? If anyone has any suggestions I am open!!


On something unrelated, on Easter Sunday morning we had a sit down, special breakfast together. Rather than the grab your weet-bix and run to get dressed breakfast. I thought I'd share the recipe as it is SO yummy, and decedent. I love a good French toast... Nicholas and Audrey slept at mum and dad's the next night, so David and I indulged again. :)

French Toast

Place 2 eggs in a bowl with 1/2 cup pouring cream, 1 teaspoon vanilla paste and 2 tablespoons caster sugar. Whisk until smooth. Dip 4 slices baguette or fruit loaf into the egg mixture. Heat 30g unsalted butter in a non-stick frying pan and cook the bread for 1-2 minutes each side or until golden. Serve with maple syrup. (serves 2) thank you Donna Hay

Last Saturday

This post was actually written a couple of days ago and saved in my drafts.  For some reason the new (and not so improved) blogspot dated it today when I hit the publish button.  gggrrr)

Yesterday was the perfect day to be inside.  It rained all day.  We lit the fire, the kids played and did some puzzles.  We cooked and I had a short amount of uninterrupted time reading magazines and started a book.  (Mel, I have your Nancy Granquist book if you're looking for it!)

I spent the morning watching a movie, even if it was in stops and starts.  I have been wanting to see Bright Star for a while.  As usual, I loved the simplicity of domesiticity.


When David and I were in Rome (I just like saying that!) we went to the house where John Keats died. 
The little sister in the movie is adorable.  I had hoped Audrey would have that colour hair!  And I want one of those butterfly nets...

days like these

Today we stayed home.  All day.  It was perfect. I have the week off work this week.  I just decided I needed some space from the office politics.
The first couple of days I found I was still a little tense, but yesterday was getting better.  And today it was like old times.  There wasn't a mound of housework to catch up on.  The kids were playing nicely together and I felt good.  We cooked, we played, we ate morning tea outside.  I will be all refreshed and on a high... and then it will be Monday again.  :)