Sweet Fabric:
the date

I'm quite fascinated by still life.

I went to the library & did a bit of research recently. Not content with the traditional symbols I made up my own & have made his & hers portraits.

Have a cracker weekend.

PS: The subjects of these portraits are still very much alive & kicking.

from under the house.

The poster was designed by my aunt for the production when she was at school.

It made me smile so I gave it a very light press & framed it (Ikea style) & I've put the poster above The Date's side of the bed.

And another thing...The Date went to school at Carey & I went to school at Strathcona.

Today I've dragged all my bits and pieces outside to enjoy the kiss of the (fairly rare at the moment) sun.

I've got the new issue of Mixtapezine & I'm looking forward to reading it and doing a bit of mixtape inspired craft too. Just the ticket really...ignition from other people. Maybe something in Mixtapezine will spark a little crafty flame for you too.

Buy it here.

PS: There's an article by me & a music review by The Date.

I loved reading Nan's post on The Frenchman & so I've put together one of my own. I confess I've not received questions about The Date. Hailing from suburban Melbourne doesn't really conjour the same romantic ideal does it? I do know that he's won over more than a few of you with his taste in music.

Where did you meet The Date?
The Date & I have known each other for 25 years! We met when I was in Year 7 & he was in Year 10. Our family homes were about 2 kilometres from each other. In those days he made himself scarce when I was in the house because he reckoned I was way too loud and annoying. We've been together for 19 years...more than 1/2 my life.

Does The Date have an accent?
No accent but he is guilty of mumbling and he and The Boy do speak a language that I don't understand. They speak in tongues about all manner of sporty things.

Is he a romantic?
Nup, but he is thoughtful. He makes lunches, pretty drinks, brings me coffees & is very kind about being the "crap courier". To be truthful I don't think I respond that well to romantic gestures anyway.

Would you recommend The Date (local) as a life partner?
Yes I absolutely would. We've grown up together, so very different from when we met and so very much the same. The Date is pretty cruisy. He's my very best friend, a really good person and an amazing parent. If you can snag yourself a version of him...hang on tight...they are pretty hard to find.

& today he won! (convincingly...9 holes up with 8 to play)

He's the Club Champion. It's been a long time between drinks. He hasn't won since 2001.

The Point Lonsdale Surf Lifesavers got up early today. By the time I got to the club (around 6am) they were packing up their gear. When I hit the front beach (6:10am), the street was closed & they were starting to set up.

It's a great event & this year it was slicker than ever before. I'm not sure the pretty female lifesavers unzipping suits were entirely necessary...

The Date's a golfer - he loves it & he's good at it.

The Small's are mini golfers - they love it.

The annual Mini Golf Tournament resulted in a draw between The Date & me - quite unbelievable but I'll be dining out on it for at least the next ten years.

Date 19 & Me 17 - Way too many (not pretty but cheap) drinks

for 18.5 years.
married for 13 years today.

Happy Anniversary

BUT...

Trace is in her jammies.
Gray is in Perth.
Lizzi is at Wildflower.
& Dave is at the boat.

So the date & I are about to have a pretty drink alone...it's foreign for a Friday night.

I'll be drinking vodka mixed with lime & some lovely ginger beer.

& just so you know - I fear that my Opping luck may have dried up! I visited 4 Op Shops today & I didn't find what I was looking for.

Making this day happy...

having the date back home
coffee with a lovely friend
a nice clean house
the smell of eucalyptus
watching the kids walk down the street to school
neatly folded washing
bulk "crafting" for Thursday Evening (I've posted details in the sidebar if you're interested).

Image story: I've never even had a drag of a cigarette but these holders make me so happy & actually make me consider taking up the habit. This was a gift from a very good friend. Thrifted in Clunes. So happy.

The date has christened himself "crap courier". He reckons everyday when he goes to pick up seriously important mail from PO Box there is some new piece of Kirst crap to bring home.

I've tried to explain the seriousness of the etsy situation but he just doesn't get it.

for a week of baking at Mikes.

It's OK there's only Vodka in the icing (which can, of course be substituted for tap water).

How we love a Capiroska.

Now we can eat them too!

Capiroska Cupcakes
1 & 1/2 cups of SR flour
1 cup of Brown Sugar
1/2 cup of dessicated coconut
grated rind of 1 lime
2 eggs
125gms unsalted butter
1/2 cup of ginger beer
1/2 cup of milk

Preheat oven to 180 C.

Mix dry ingredients in a bowl.

Melt butter in saucepan.

Add melted butter, milk, ginger beer & eggs & mix with a wooden spoon.

Spoon into patty cases & cook for around 15 minutes or until a skewer comes out clean.

Icing
1 cup icing sugar
grated rind of 1/2 lime
vodka (around 1/4 cup)

Sift icing sugar, add lime rind & then vodka (gradually until a smooth consistency is achieved).

Ice & enjoy (just as you would the drink).

The pool table was picked up on Wednesday night.

This space is going to be all mine until the new ranch gets built. Hopefully sometime before I turn 40! (I'm only just on the slippery slope from 35)

BUT... I've got perfomance anxiety, I can only get as far as the doorway. It's tragic.

I need coffee...and then I've got to work...and then I've got to cook & make stuff & chat & drink pretty drinks. Maybe tomorrow.

I'm pretty excited about being able to say that all my Op Shop treasures are going "straight to the pool room". Just quietly I think the date is too.

I think I might cover the door in green felt...tomorrow.

So the event of the year was on Friday night.

I've prepared a little something for Brooke ... not quite the midday movie but almost as trashy - enjoy.

& the sound track...

for Pip xxx

Edit: I've an apology to make. I figured that everyone who reads my blog also reads Pip's blog...

Mixtape Monday is hosted by Meet Me at Mikes. You can join in the official Monday gig if you like - details here.

Thanks also for the glowing reviews - The Date's a goodie & I'm pretty glad he's mine xxx

This is... hosted by Angela. Theme from Jacinta.

I try to keep this space happy. I talk alot about the small things that I appreciate & make me happy. I know I've raved a bit before about the smalls, the date & the extended family. It really is true...love is all you need.

So...what makes me "happy" is 2 date made Capiroska. Chatty, relaxed, giggly... it's a pretty fun version of me.
.

Kristy tagged me. She wants to know 6 things that made me happy today. Actually she wanted to know last week but I was still at Slide Night.

So today these things have made me happy:

1. listening the the small girl on the phone receiving her birthday phone calls.
2. the smalls hugging each other.
3. walking along the street in the winter sun arm in arm with the big girl.
4. the date - he's especially good because he did the coffee run this morning.
5. the smell of eucalyptus oil.
6. the run.

I haven't forgotten the music meme. It's coming.

I won't tag anyone but if you'd like to play consider yourself tagged.
.

This is... hosted by Three Buttons. Theme from Hila.

For our 10th wedding anniversary the date & I went to Lord Howe Island. It is absolutely the most beautiful place in the world. We were sans kids for the first time in 9 years.

We stayed & ate at Capella Lodge - gorgeous.

Never ones to be idle we filled our three days with walking, cycling, snorkeling & we had a guide take us up Mt Gower. I wasn't as fit then as I am now & nearly killed myself trying to keep up with 2 super fit guys. I made it up & back in super quick time & in one piece. The experience makes me think of that piece of sage advice...

"That which does not kill us makes us strong."

Friday Archives with Loobylu.

This was found during the whole love letter episode. It was attached to one of the drivelly, boring, long winded & EMBARRASSING letters I wrote the date during class in year 12. I expect I must have done this during legal studies as the teacher was particularly slack.

It does beg the question "what was I doing with a math-o-mat?"

Sunday Supper hosted by Meet Me at Mikes.

This week is a collaboration between myself & the date.

We usually have pizza on a Sunday night & now that we are using this pizza base recipe it's a quick & easy meal. I know Cam has also had success with it.

Our favourite Sunday night pizza is "Souvlaki Pizza". It's yummy & it forces me to eat red meat - good for the iron levels.

Souvlaki Pizza Topping

2 Tablespoons of good quality pizza sauce or tomato pasta sauce
2 lamb backstraps seasoned with a Greek Spice rub, cooked & finely sliced.
1 good handful of baby spinach
1 Tub of Tzatsiki (or you could make it from scratch).
Tasty cheese

After you have made the pizza base spread the sauce on top & cook in a 200 C oven for 5 minutes.

Remove & top with baby spinach, followed by the sliced lamb, then flick a few dollops of tzatsiki around (be generous - it's yum). Finally top with a bit of cheese & return to the oven.

You probably need to cook it for about 10 minutes.

Enjoy!