A Parcel
This morning I came home, after running some errands, to find a parcel on my front verandah.
A package from Hey Lucy.
And its contents were so beautifully wrapped and presented!!
Thank you Marne.

The CD is of Marne's favourite Christmas songs. I did try to listen to some of it today, but there was some major eye rolling about its out of season-ness.
And the other part was a gorgeous cushion cover (handmade of course). It has a bunny screen printed on the toille, and is hand quilted. The backing is a lovely linen.Go and have a look at Hey Lucy on Etsy.
And spend some time at the Hey Lucy blog. It is a truly inspiring and a happy place... the colours, the photographs, the projects... just lovely.

Happy Birthday Brent


We had breakfast on Saturday morning to celebrate Brent's birthday.
This is Brent 'enjoying' some strawberry champagne. I think it was a bit too girly.


BBQ breakfasts are the best!

=
And this was too good a photo to pass up!

Yes Dan... you were caught!!!

ANZAC Day
Gallipoli is such a powerful movie.
I remember when I was in high school, the whole school was taken to the cinemas to see it.

My New Favourite Dish... and a Wish

This week I went into the city to see a Capella group, The Idea of North, with some friends.

Beforehand, Joy and I ate at One (Tony Bilson's Wine Bar and Bistro), and we asked the waiter to recommend something.

Kingfish Peruvian Ceviche

Well, it was delicious! Ours was served with sweet potato and a shot of vodka.

I have 'googled' the recipe:

The Peruvian cook cleans the fish and lets it soak in salt water for 10 minutes and then removes it and pats it dry.

1 lb fish fillets of corbina, red snapper, or any good quality whitefish

juice of three lemons

juice of three sour oranges or limes

one medium onion, thinly sliced

salt and pepper to taste

a pinch of cayenne pepper

1 clove of garlic, minced

1 hot pepper, chopped fine

2 tablespoons chopped parsley

2 tablespoons chopped cilantro (coriander)

Cut fish into pieces and place on a platter. Place the thinly sliced onions on the fish. Then add the remaining ingredients, covering with the juices. Place in refrigerator for at least 4 hours before serving. Serve on bed of lettuce and garnish with cold sweet potato or corn-on-the-cob.

The Idea of North were amazing. So clever.
I wish I could sing...

I'll have to rectify the chalk residue left on the board.

A Pretty Place To Put Your Dirties
IKEA sell cheap clothes hampers ($3.95), and I have bought quite a few of over the years. I use them for all sorts of things - handbags and scarves in the bottom of my wardrobe, 'green' shopping bags in the laundry etc.
The one we use for the dirty clothes had seen better days... the plastic had all ripped due to laundry being forced into it again and again.
Last night I made a fabric bag for the frame instead.

It was a simple task, however I ended up breaking 4 sewing machine needles in the process trying to reinforce the corners. So Plan B: I used a large tapestry needle to thread and tie some ribbon to strengthen to potential weak spots.

Annual Holiday with Friends We have just returned from our annual holiday to 'the farm'.
Highlights included:
* reading,
* relaxing,
* warm weather,
* walks with friends (yes, I am glad everyone insisted I step out on the early morning power walk),
* the kids enjoying the large open, rural-type activities,
* burning things (see below).
The low points:
* me (best left unexplained),
* having to come home to a dog-free house.

The urge to build bonfires (especially amongst the males members of our party) was strong, and a definite highlight for most.

Farewell Old Friend
Today we made the heartbreaking decision to say goodbye to Boris.

Boris, taken 13 April, 2009

Boris had been with us for a very long time... he would have been turning 15 next month. He was a member of our family before the kids came along; and patiently with good grace, accepted his lower position in the pecking order with each arrival.
He has been a loyal friend.
We will miss him terribly.

Easter Monday With My Family
We spent today, down on the south coast, at my parent's place.
The kids ate truck loads of chocolate.

My parents in their backyard with the dogs - Boris (ours) and Zawadi (theirs).

A perfect day to have lots of cuddles with Holly (my newest niece).

The 'grand kids'. A sweet but noisy bunch.

Mum was off to have a bath and a glass of wine when we left!!

Quite Amazing

Not just biased...
a truly gorgeous child showing off his hat at the school Easter Hat Parade.

PS: The piece of glittery fabric around his wrist is not something he would usually don - its purpose was for a dance his class performed for the doting parents and grandparents.

Only 4 days to go...
and then holidays. Winding up another incredibly busy school term.
I do resolve to actually blog a bit more during the holidays.

I have just booked a family holiday for May. Last year we went to the Gold Coast for the first time, and enjoyed it so much that we are going to do it again. May is a perfect time of year - while it is cooling down in Sydney, Queensland is still lovely and warm.
Here is where we are going to be staying:

The Moroccan Resort

Yesterday I finished reading the Secret Scripture. My sister-in-law, Bronwynne, gave it to me a number of weeks ago to read, stating she 'couldn't put it down'. Unfortunately I had to put it down to attend to tasks such as parent/teacher interviews etc, but was very pleased to have an opportunity to sit down and read for a couple of hours. (Unfortunately the bathroom still needs a clean, and the washing pile is enormous still.) It was an interesting slice of history, and a compelling story - worth a read.

Roseanne McNulty, forgotten centenarian, long-time resident of the Roscommon regional mental hospital, is facing an imminent upheaval. The decrepit Victorian institution is soon to be demolished, leaving its residents displaced in a starkly changed modern Ireland that has all but buried its violent origins. Attempting to organise her memories, some reliable, others shifting, she embarks on the writing of a chronicle.

More of the review here.

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I have also read this series during the term:

They put me out of action for days!! I loved them.

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I have also recently read The Secret River.

This was brilliant - a story set in the early days of white settlement in Australia.

I definitely recommend you read this one!And a movie of note that I have seen was The Reader.

It was confronting and caused me to weep a few times.

Movies and books with the Holocaust theme seem to be everywhere at the moment, or maybe I am just aware of them as were are reading several in class - the Boy in the Striped Pyjamas by John Boyne, Once and Then by Morris Gleitzman, and I am David by Ann Holm.