Babies, Bunnies and a little B&B

Welcome to the world Bailey John Taylor.
Today you are a week old.

Proud Parents. Jess and big brother Laurie. 

The Easter weekend see's some expensive plane flights, Brisbane YHA adventures and a sense of freedom. All with my dear Mum by my side: Aunty and Nanny hop up to be at little B.boys side.

Easter surprise post rules. Much better than chocolate!
Pretty much just wanted to show off my cute new bit of fluff.
And because he won't think he deserves a mention ( the giver of
such gifts.. not the porcelain bunny lady )

Toms go adventuring to the pond

Mariannes Cottage. A most beautiful and quaint little B&B

 Mumma's pick of holiday fun found us here with lovely Meg. Home cooked breakfasts and lazy mornings on the verandah. Look forward to a return journey to this idyllic hideaway. Road trip anyone?? 

 http://www.maryannscottage.com.au/

Look at this tree!! It was dated at 400 yrs.  A staircase of tree formed steps meant climbing was but a dream.

Just a little trip to Burpengary. What a horrible sounding suburb! Alas, drives to the Hitherlands (Mileny and Montville) make it all worthwhile

. Gratitude for not falling out of the sky, for the effect post can have, for Brothers hospitality and Mums company, for new borns and old trees. 

Holidaze.

Remember school holidays when you were at school? That 2 weeks of borderline bliss boredom. So many things to do... and then, bam.. its over? Its the same for teachers too!
But with many a project completed...many a friend seen and many cups of tea drunk. Thought a little recount was in order. Just for amusement on a drizzly sooky day.


Getting into the community vibe of the mountains. Services are offered up to a mural with an Artist by the name of Michael Lynn. Pretty amazing stuff

A teaser of whats to come. This is our perfectly primed white wall. Hazelbrook is about to abound in local history mural fun. 

To be continued... 






Holidays wouldn't be holidays without a trip to the parentals and some family TLC. So off I hop, skip and jump down to Picton.  Ra, Ra, Ra... much sitting around reading old favourites ( The Tao of Pooh and some Edna St Vincent Milay Poetry) Many a blue wren watched, Some old school friends visited, and walks to the pond partaken. 


Oh and getting crafty...
Actually embarrassed at how long it had been since i'd had my sewing machine out!!
So i stumble upon this. http://www.leethal.net/zine/?p=1344
And decided I could actually manage cutting up an old T-shirt and sewing it into a bag. You know, inch my way back into sewing machine madness. Kind of altered the pattern that this website said though. Not one for rules.


So i find a ridiculously big Leunig shirt... Which, for obvious reasons.. couldn't be thrown away. 
Sewed up the bottom, snipped the sleeves... instant eco bag! 
Took her for a road test today... Big hit at the veggie shop. Super strong!

So sitting in front of the fire, Last day of holidays. Means its back to Korowal, back to the chill and teacher mode. Embracing the resistance of it all. Working with it. 5 weeks to go. Bring it on. xo 

Vegetables from Outer Space.

Recent adventures into obscure food has seen some interesting cooking!! She who is Pearl, whisks away from Winmalee to far off lands of vegetable unknowns...

Intergelatic concoctions!

My first love. Brought to me by my mother... Has been my dear Kohlrabi

Purple and bulbous, with protruding tendrils of vegetable fun

My Meegan asks " what are you eating..? Sounds crunchy!" Boy howdy... Crunchy and delicious it is!

In its raw state ( my pref)... It has the texture of an apple, but the taste of.... red cabbage?  They are related by the way. Also good grated ( like coleslaw), Sauteed in coconut oil, or roasted. Use like carrot sticks for dips, serve in slices for topping with feta and sundried tomatoes... (as usual, it fulfils my absolute need for things to put slightly more runny things on; Homemade pesto anyone?)

The leaves can also be juiced for maximum frugality of resources and some very green power.

Next comes todays new comer. and inspiration for this post.

Celeriac.

I saw it and was instantly attracted to its hideous yet alluring configuration. The stranger the better in my books. ( or my plate i should say!)

How is this from this planet!? Eyes and tentacles...
This is food of the extra terrestrial realm. Mmmm tasty tasty E.T realm.

No one in the shop could tell me with 100% accuracy what it tastes like. One man said potato, one girl said celery. There is ALOT of difference between the taste of a potato and celery. So i am fairly keen to experiment at whim and see what old Mr C can do for me. (a future post perhaps?)

A-hah! On further study, I fine the potato celery combination works beautifully. It does taste and grow similar to celery... Yet, provides a low starch alternative to potato. Mash, fry or boil... A healthier and more fun alternative to high carb root vegetables. My new best friend this winter. Oh celeriac... you and your ugliness will frequent my plate.

Further experiments will motivate new posts.

From space, with love.

xo

Lissanthea J Taylor

An ode to my beautiful sister.

An inspiration.

not just for me.

but for you swell.

She says and does great things.

Keeps me on my toes... to do better, see better and be better.

She won't let me rest on my laurels, won't let me sink beneath the waves of commonplace... but keeps me fighting. Keeps my sparkle alive... 

Always fighting, challenging and seeking that one step higher. 

I've spoken of 10 thousand girl before; and now Miss Lissanthea shares her history, wisdom and insight into the world of moolah... this potentially petrifying/ potentially liberating world.

http://www.10thousandgirl.com/2011/03/29/this-stuff-is-for-you/

Enjoy.

xo 
This is also an experiment to see if she checks my blog or not!

Better than sliced bread...

...Pretty obvious that sliced bread, actually bread in general isn't much my cup of tea. Try some nutty little amazing!!




[First and foremost. May I add that... this is not my own creation.
The ever beautiful David, Luise and Elsa have trialed and tested this wonder for us over at Greenkitchenstories.com]

Yet I post this in my own manner. Because so many people have asked me for the recipe. Because it rules. and Because I like posting little bits of fun.

so. You'll need.

2 cups of Nuts. (I used almonds, sunflower, pepitas, and linseeds. But any would suffice!)

1 egg.

2tbsp water.

1 tsp salt.

Num num num sprinkles: Salt/pepper, nigella seeds, sumac, mixed herbs, sesame seeds...What ever you wish!

Nuts!

Prep O.v.e.n at 180 degreeeees.

Put the nuts in a food processor and go Chop chop chop. So they make little tiny nuts = flour.

Transfer into a bowl and add the egg. mix around and add the water if needed ( some eggs are BIG and don't need it) 

Should have a nice firm dough. Divide into 2 or 3 balls. 

Roll out with rolling pin... hmmm 2mm maybe. Yes, I'm very scientific!

(sometimes it sticks to the rolling pin. Cover with extra sheet of baking paper)

Spray with water, add Num num numbs...roll over again to press into dough.

Flat nuts.

Cut into bite size squares.. 

Turn o.v.e.n down to 150. bake bake bake. Keep watch on them...

15 minutes should be premium.

Take out of o.v.e.n and let them go all dry and crunchy.

and then try try try not to eat them all.

so so good.

Such a whole food. Nuts and an egg. perfect!

Make some guacamole, invite some friends over.. and you've got a party!

Lazy saturdays... Making nut crackers to Bonobo.

("for distance we create whimsy to battle the odds"-O) 

Just chillin' 

xo

Quirky Containers.

On resisting a darling little antique colander full of succulents today ( hoarding tendencies on off mode)... Decided to honour some of my self-spawned oddities. 

Always reminds me that growth wants to happen!

Yet on the same note... I am a fan of ye old succulent. Need less drainage = Harder to kill = Less heart break. </3

Not even slightly taking ownership of this piece of beauty. Twas a present from a dear friend, whom is off finding various parts of himself around the world. 

An old memory: my Nanny Mac's donkey and cart planter. Marrickville markets found me my own miniature. Just for nostalgia.

Hey herb garden! You are so fine. 

My lust for vintage drawers right now is gaining momentum. Kale for winter is sprouting in a beautiful drawer i found in my daddy's shed. But thoughts spread to a whole chest of drawers... blooming, edible and bountiful.
Thinking of abundance today. The markets provided me with a sense of all the things I didn't need. 

Oh... except a little red bus.

ps. LOVE is for my Miss Marlie. Whom gives amazing house warming niceties in the form of scrabble fun.

Postal boxes and messages of hope.

Tomorrow marks week 3. Operation High School Teacher.

and after fighting off a stress induced cold.

...Am fighting fit and ready to start a new week.

5 more fun outfits.

5 more pairs of crazy earrings

and 5 more adventures up the mountains.

Until the weekend brings new beauty and respite.

So each day, as Joyce and I tra la la to Big school; no matter how groggy or sooky I am, I drive past this...

...And smile. 

My little yellow ray of postal sunshine.

Keeps the grey mountain gloom away. 

and the "petrol-metre half-full" mentality up.

Now this is me merely showing off: this is my little office space.

Instructions for the first day of school: "Bring a hat and a cup for tea." My kinda school.

The kids eat herbs from the flower beds. On fridays we learn to make mens shirts into all sorts of crazy clothes. I've started my classes with small meditations and yes, the canteen rules. and yes, it uses the spinach from the school garden :)

How's this for a playground = wonderland ... wander land?

Much love to all my beautiful creatures out there.

Thoughts are with my old housemate; recently diagnosed with MS. 

A strong little cookie.

All my love Jamie.

xoxo

"May the road rise up to meet you
May the wind be always at your back
May the warm rays of sun fall upon your home
And may the hand of a friend always be near."- An Old Irish Blessing