mug shots

because we're always drinking over here and can you flick the jug while you're up?

Glen Shuker mugs from C4 ...Good digs when you need a hit of coffee with kick, great aroma, full body and flavor. Housed in the historic John Burns and Co building (which was formally a hardware store) the utilitarian 3 story brick and steel beam warehouse is typically spacious and industrial. Good beats. Nice folk. We like.

Amanda Shanley ceramic mug from The Nationalwhere there's always an exhibition showcasing new works by some of our countries most talented contemporary jewellers and craftspeople. Carolyn is the passionate owner/curator who is always more than happy to enthuse about her range.

The bean boys posing on Dads birthday mug. Any photo you like can be made into mug art at Kroma Colour 199 Litchfield St $20 a pop. cheap.

mending pile

Am I the only one who saves up all the off cuts from the elastic and sews them together when I am desperate to finish the school boys uniform?

Said uniform. Grey. And its a mufti school. Don't say its sad. Its easy. Practical. Loving.

Kindy boy gets some new get up too. Dark green denim Donkey Pants and another Beanie.

Patches on play pants. Apparently needing fruit to make it look more photogenic.

There is still a small mountain of a mending/finishing pile to conquer yet.

a new passion

Mmmm mmm this is so where its at. Sourdough. Pain au levain. Boules. A pet of a starter that lives in a crook pot which I feed, inhale and contemplate on everyday. Most days or at least every other day I knead away, shape, rise, coat in rye flour and keep a watch full eye over its burgeoning state. I went away for a long weekend and it had to be babysat. When I came back it was still vigorously bubbling away and I missed it so much that I made 3 boules back to back. I now go about my days with a tell tale smear of gluey white blobs from the dough that somehow evade my apron and turn crusty on my clothes and hands. The tart crust is a little cheesy in flavor and sweet mother its amazing with pesto and hummus or toasted in the mornings with that peanut butter. I aint ever gonna stop.

this years tree

Its made from driftwood we collected at Pines Beach. We made it by drilling holes in the center of the driftwood pieces and slotting them over a metal rod. The rod has to be fairly rigid so it wont waver and we used a bigger piece of chunkier driftwood, a washer and a nut to secure it to as a base/stand. 

It helps to consider how wide you want your base and at which height you want to taper it to a point. Then its really just a matter of collecting enough different lengths and some extras to stack your pyramid. I think the curved pieces look nice pointing upwards and that way they also hold the decorations better. I'm planning on ceremoniously burning it on the fire on New Years Eve!

A couple of years ago my Mum started a new tradition in our family of going to Ballies and buying the kids and I a new decoration each. It's my december highlight.

...there was that one year tho when I felt utterly justified in calling management to notify them that their Santa was a reticent sleeze bag with no imagination and had been making eyes at all the mummies! Yes, I got Santa Fired!

Oh and last years tree... 

Harakeke flax stalks spray painted white.

...think I might be stretching it a bit to come up with a new one every year. Any ideas?

xmas exhibition

Down at Under The Red Veranda there's some mamaG homemade adorning the walls. 

The kids were placated with gingernuts and the mister was called in from work nearing zero hour for a timely outing. There were too many late nights to mention. 

Thank you loving supportive family. 

Running until the end of the month. The stocking were such a pleasure to make I struggled to let them go. Oh and glad tidings and all that jazz.

vintage sunhats

Grandma had these sheets that were then given to my dad and used as drop sheets!  Thankfully there is only a few dribbles of white paint on one. I snaffled them and turned them into kiddies sunhats. They have been selling well. Actually my friend Jess used to use similar sheets to make beautiful journal covers which I won one year as a secret santa gift way back when we were in a craft group together. The model was not happy to be playing Holly Hobby.

On another day tho, miss twinkle was happy to be playing beach babe.

favourite things

From now on there will be regular postings showcasing the various 'favourite things' that I have in my life. They will be things that I cherish daily and feel I couldn't possibly live without in order to qualify. Suffice to say, they will be accolades of relatively superficial things, things I could live without in theory, but in reality would flatly refuse any suggestion to do so, as their pleasures and joys are too great to go without.

First up for this week we have.. this will be a contentious one.. some of you will shriek and cringe... be warned.. but there is cuteness...

Insane amounts of this particular peanut butter. Not just any will do. It has to be Pikos's own special blend of organic peanuts (no other ingredients) roasted with their skins on to a chunky consistency. And it has to be smeared on in an almost half inch thick spread. With butter.

Twice daily at least. Toast, cruskets, crackers, in the groove of celery. The whole family is hooked. This jar lasts us a month and costs as shown $14.20. We used to get a dollar refund on the jars but without expressing anger and getting political that doesn't happen any more... But we still luuurvveeeee it. A lot. Actually given a bigger budget I would have almond, and cashew butters too. I think this kind of nutty protein is vital somehow for my constitution. Dont get me started on Tahini.

Miso soup. 

Salty. Refreshing. Uplifting. Better than another coffee or if its too early to drink.

Pretty bowls optional but recommended.

Supermarket bought individual packets or the tubs of Amano miso from Piko are the ones I use. Granted I don't know enough about miso to claim to be a connoisseur but I have tried the various Amano varieties, both red and white and they all hit the spot.

The kids are getting their heads around it slowly. The seaweed still spooks them out and its a hot drink that doesnt go down as well cold.

Lastly (they wont always be food related)...

Dark and strong doesn't last long.

Eat at room temperature. Be stealthy and hide it in your nicker draw if you must.

Richfields is one of my favourites. The squares are easy to snap with fingers, and its silky on the tongue. Whittakers is a bit too dry for me. Green and Blacks a close second.

And then there's serious boutique varieties. Mr bought me a set of darks from different cocoa plantations, which made for subtle detectable differences, gorged slowly with great awareness. That was truly ambrosia.