Spring is here! October 4, 2008
Posted by Sarah in beef, food, markets, organic, venison.3 comments
This whole week has been hot hot hot, so I was looking forward to getting down to the Pyrmont Good Living Growers Market this Saturday. Sadly we woke this morning to find that it had been raining all night! A quick check of the weather made my mind up for me. I wasn’t going to miss another of these markets just because of a little rain.
We arrived later than we normally would, so that meant that we had to deal with a few crowds. A lovely bratwurst on a soft white roll with caramelised onions and homemade barbeque sauce from Eumundi Smokehouse made the headache from the night before’s overindulgence subside.
You know its spring when you see asparagus and broad beans. The asparagus was picked yesterday morning, and it still had the soil it was grown in clinging to it. Lovely!
The aroma of mangoes and strawberries from the kitchen table, the promise of delicious meals all weekend, lets just say I’m glad we braved the weather this morning.
We also purchased Venison, Organic Free Range Pork and Pasture fed beef.
Happy weekend everyone!
Tote bag for Helen August 7, 2008
Posted by Sarah in bag, fabric, gift, home made, sewing.1 comment so far
I made this bag for my beautiful friend Helen. I got the pattern for it from this book.
I used some lovely fabric from here for the outside of the bag. The strap was made from some of my stash fabric, as was the lining. I made a little pocket from some cute floral cotton that I picked up from a thrift shop about a year ago. The little bows came from Mum.
I found the pattern really easy to use, and have since made more bags using the same principal.
If love were a fruit May 27, 2008
Posted by Sarah in dining in, food.1 comment so far
If love were a fruit, to me, it would be a quince. I adore quince. I get a thrill of seeing them appear at the markets for the first time each Autumn. I am bewitched by the gentle scent that they fill my house with when they sit quietly in the corner, observing, waiting for their moment. Quince – I get a kick out of you.
I cooked these quinces gently in a 140 degrees celcius oven for 2 and a half hours. They were cooked in a mixutre of reisling wine, sugar, star anise, peppercorns, and a couple of jars of syrup leftover from the last time I cooked quinces.
Knitting needles May 22, 2008
Posted by Sarah in knitting.2 comments
Whilst on my walk home today I stopped in at a store that I pass everyday called Dust. It’s a tiny store selling all manner of old bits and pieces. I was actually there looking for a reading lamp, but then I happened upon this amazing box of knitting needles.
I thought that they were quite expensive, for the $45 asking price, but then when I started to have a good look through the box and found these beauties I knew it had to come home with me.
The woman in the store told me they came from an estate sale of a 93 year old woman, and that the box of needles was one of her favourite things in the store.
I love the bundles of dpns – the way that she has so carefully tide yarn around them to keep them together really reminds me of my own grandmother.
And look at the writing on the backs of these packets of dpns – “with specially tapered points which will not injure the fingers.”
Flower broach May 22, 2008
Posted by Sarah in flowers, home made, knitting.add a comment
I knitted up this little flower while watching a movie one night at home. It is the same pattern that I used to make this one. I sewed a safety pin on the back, then stitched a little piece of felt over the pin to hold it on securely. The button is one of Mum’s old ones from her collection. If i make another I will attach the pin higher on the back, because the petals tend to flop forward when I wear it.
Being loved May 17, 2008
Posted by Sarah in flowers, gift.add a comment
The last few weeks at work have been really exhausting, and I haven’t been my usual self. Last night we had an impromptu gathering of friends at our house, and Joh came home with this beautiful bunch of flowers for me. Spontaneous gestures of love really do make the world of difference. Thank you Joh, you really know how to make a girl feel special.
Pats lacy scarf May 14, 2008
Posted by Sarah in Uncategorized.add a comment
This is my latest knit project and I’m madly in love with it. Its definitely the most complicated thing that I’ve had to make so far. Once I worked out the pattern it was all very straight forward, but next time I will use a lifeline to help when I think I’ve made a mistake. I only heard about these once I started worrying that I had made a major mistake and looked up what to do on ravelry. I found the pattern in a Lincraft magazine.
There is a really beautiful story behind this yarn. The same elderly couple have lived in the house across the street from my parents for at least 30 years. Recently Mrs Davis has sadly been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and has moved into permanent care. Mr Davis came across the road to visit us in August when I was back visiting my parents and he had a bag of yarn with him. He asked Mum and I if there was anything in there that we would like, otherwise he was going to take it up to the resthome for the old ladies. I found three hand wound balls of this purple wool, and one new ball still in its sleeve. I love the thought that Pat has woven leftover bits of a project into balls and had them stashed away for who knows how many years. I’ve been wearing this all the time, and I love that everytime I wear it I think of Pat, even if she doesn’t remember me!
See how the pattern made this beautiful scalloped edge? I love it.
Hand washing May 14, 2008
Posted by Sarah in clothes, fabric, knitting, scarf, wool.add a comment
Takes up most of the living room floor…. :)
Gloria May 13, 2008
Posted by Sarah in mum.add a comment
This is a few days late, but here goes anyway.
Happy Mothers Day Mum. I hope you had a lovely day.
Love from your biggest fan.
Oh Christmas Tree… December 29, 2007
Posted by Sarah in christmas.add a comment
I’m not a fan of fake plastic Christmas Trees. I grew up with the smell of fresh pine in the house over Christmas. It’s about now that the tree starts dropping needles and they get trampled all over the house. I love it. This year I decided to rearrange my wall of postcards into a “Christmas Tree” shape. I love the way it looks, though it is ever-so-slightly crooked.
