sewing, cooking and gardening

Not a great photograph, but last night I finally finished the last bit of stitchery on my quilt. I hope to find the time soon to actually piece the three layers together and start the hand quilting!
I wish we could view this in Australia, but small youtube clips will have to do. I have Sophie Dahl's cookbook - and I do actually use it. I love the kitchen used here...


BBC also recently aired a series called 'The Edible Garden' with Alys Fowler. Can't view it here in Australia either. :(


Now I'm off, racing to get the bus to work.

passing time

How did I slip so easily back into late, late nights? Over the long weekend I was going to bed at 10pm - a miracle for me. The house is now quiet, I have been looking at inspiring photographs on flickr (I haven't really done this before - I think it might be addictive!) David has been watching an episode of Cheese Slices I taped for him. We are enjoying the "down time".
Yesterday Nicholas wanted to make gingerbread men. Admittedly, they aren't my favourite thing to make, but he loves it. I even gave the kids free reign on decorating!
Nicholas is more methodical...

...than Audrey! We had the carpets in our lounge room cleaned the other day. They are still damp. I think I want to keep it empty! It looks so clean. I thought half the stains on our carpet were there when we moved in, so was content that until the children get older we would make do. Now they look like they will be perfectly acceptable for another couple of years.

I bought a cardigan for myself today. I think I need new clothes for winter as desperately as my children do! And Audrey is loving her new gumboots. I wish I had these clothes for Autumn/Winter: * I am looking forward to Nicholas having his cast taken off on 6 May. It has felt like he has had it on his leg forever.
* I am looking forward to buying some new children's books for him to take to the hospital. David has found reading with Nicholas the perfect way to pass the time in the waiting room.
* I am going to make Nicholas a surprise cake while they are gone, and cover it with sprinkles. Only seven days to go.
* I look forward to being able to go for a walk with him, to the park and the nature reserve near our home.

Actually, I'd love to spend a couple of nights with David and the kids at Wee Jasper. Walking during the day, looking at stars in the night. Drinking a hot cup of tea, eating this apple and rhubarb pie (Donna Hay) and listening to Bon Iver.

Shop Around the Corner

I mentioned a couple of days ago that mum had bought me The Shop Around the Corner on dvd. It is just gorgeous - and I love how closely You've Got Mail stuck to the story, just in a modern context.

I was hoping to find the cafe scenes in both movies to play here as an example, and was pleased to find someone else had done the work for me! Unfortunately the embedding has been disabled, so click here to view it. You won't regret it, it really is lovely.

I am grateful I grew up with an exposure to James Stewart, Gregory Peck, even Mickey Rooney, Judy Garland, Elizabeth Taylor, Shirley Temple (my youngest brother was in love with her!), Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergmann, Gregory Peck, William Holden, Fred Astair and of course both Audrey and Katharine Hepburn.
My sister has always fancied having an outdoors movie night in Summer. With a sheet strung for the screen and a projector. Sounds like fun...

can you make a dancing face?

loving singing....

and a new haircut!

We Will Remember Them

good things

To show that things haven't been all doom and gloom around here, I'm posting a few random pictures from the weekend.

I came across my two angels sitting together on the deck, chatting away pleasantly. Nothing makes a mum's heart more glad.

I made this granola. Yum! It tastes SO good and it smells divine. David has always made his own yoghurt - they are a perfect match. So are we. ;-) I think I have been eating it for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Audrey helped me to water the garden on Saturday. Each week and I look at her and notice little changes. She is growing up so fast.

I bought the last lot of fabric (the wrapped parcel) and the batting to finish my quilt. I'm really excited about this last step! I also bought fabric to make this for Audrey. Thank you mum, dad, David and Melanie for my wonderful birthday gift vouchers!! They were like treasure in my pocket.

I finished listening to The Forgotten Garden on audio. It was really relaxing, listening to an audio book. I listened to it on the bus to work, I listened to it while I ironed and did other housework. it was a fun story about the sort of adventure I'd like to have. I used to spend a lot of time researching family history.

Now I am reading a Barbara Kingsolver novel when travelling on the bus to work and during my lunchtime. Jane Eyre is my before bed book, the one beside my bed that I pick up before sleep comes. So all in all, things are good.

rollercoasters

I have changed my blog settings so I can see the whole frame in youtube clips. Perhaps I worry too much. I just like everything in its place.
The past week was a rollercoaster ride. When I thought I was despairing of any hope, I read this post. I am surprised the way Ann often posts something that speaks right to where I am in my life. Without all the horrible details of the cranky mum I have been, I stop to think about how much what I am feeling shows on my face in the day. How much my frustration can easily escape my lips. Again i endeavour to do better, be better. i'll am grateful for her post as it enabled me to step back and take a moment to breathe. Even today, when i check, she continues to speak my heart here.
In the days when things were less rocky I escaped a little with Jane Eyre - a 2006 adaptation that mum lent me. As I discovered earlier this year with Wuthering Heights, finally there is an adaptation worthy. Because youtube can now be seen properly, here is the end scene.



I am now under pressure to finish the book before Bronte-along begins Wuthering Heights, which will be fun as it is a book that made a big impression on me. Mum has spoilt me over the past couple of weeks with the Orsen Wells adaptation of Jane Eyre, and the Shop Around the Corner (the movie 'You've Got Mail' was based on) so I have enjoyed 1930's-40's cinema. :)
Tonight I am going to be productive and get my ironing done, while listening to the last hour of an audio book. Then I am ready to start a new week, fresh of mistakes.