the everyday calm...

Following the holidays and some lovely unpredictability, we're back into 'it'. Since then, I've been mulling over how to capture 'that holiday feeling' into the everyday week.  I realised its not necessarily the holiday I'm seeking, I quite enjoy my home and work routine, rather it's the feeling I get when everything feels calm and well....good. I feel a little more like the person I strive to be.

After a few more daydreaming minutes watching Nora roll around in the sand I'd come up with a condensed list of what gives me shrills on the inside...

- finding a beautiful jacket

- a lingering breakfast

- omitting the worry and enjoying my child/family
- walking through any market
- dining with an incredible group of people
- trying something new
- drinking tea out of a fancy teacup
- enjoying fresh and delicious food
(with no afterthought other than "ill be eating that again")
- making something beautiful

- listening to a song that curls me into a reverie
- when lunch with friends turns into dinner
- walking into a cafe or shop and thinking "they've got it!"
- growing something from scratch

Obviously finding and buying a beautiful jacket is not going to make it's way into my 'everyday' (sigh). However, taking time to drink tea out of a teapot and growing/sharing with family and friends are all things that can be somehow incorporated into our everyday.

Life is far from monotonous, we* sometimes just forget to include the things that makes us quiver. laugh. wonder.

What makes you feel calm?  Do you bring those things into your everyday or save it for the holidays?


*and by 'we', I mean 'me'...

carry on summer...

Nora and I met up with a dear friend today for some coffee (to attach the drip) and a trip to the beach.

A constant fun-filled activity that we take advantage of at least two or three times a week. Time gets lost when we're hiding our toes in the sand, squealing and jumping waves.

There's nothing like hanging on to summer holidays...

a month of sundays...

JANUARY:

relaxing - oh the posture of the young...

my two little dickie bird peaches...

nostalgia at the park...



 

Sunday is a special day for us. We reflect, serve, support and enjoy on this day. It's important...

Feel free to join me.

A Month of Sundays - October

grateful - 4,5/52...

Last week, I was so busy enjoying my family after our short separation that I forgot to do the grateful post - too busy being grateful I guess...(blurgh!)

So for this week and last, I am grateful for my little family and the non-stop (mostly) joy they bring to my life.  We've had the best reunion.

I am so blessed and forever thankful.

*I"m sure a few bloggers are doing this also.  Please feel free to join in!

gypsy eggs...

My sister and I had brunch last week during my 'incubation'*, at a lovely cafe in Willunga. My Eggs a la Flamenca were completely delicious!

Yummo...

I'm changing up my meal plans (again) and decided to find my own recipe for eggs a la flamenca. The recipe I used and adapted turned out to be called 'Gypsy Eggs' - how appropriate.

The final product...

RECIPE:  GYPSY EGGS (inspired by Delicious Magazine)

1 tbs olive oil
2 chorizo, thinly sliced
1 potato, thinly sliced and cut into 2 cm pcs
1 onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
2 x 400g cans chopped tomatoes
300 ml chicken stock
1 tsp smoked or sweet paprika
1/2 tsp chilli flakes
1/2 cup frozen peas, thawed
4 eggs
some chopped parsley OR basil leaves
ciabatta OR sourdough

Step 1:  Boil potatoes for 5-6 minutes until just tender. Meanwhile, heat the oil in an ovenproof frypan over medium heat.  Add the chorizo and cook for 2 minutes, stirring, until beginning to crisp.  Remove and drain on paper towel.

Step 2:  Add the boiled potato and and cook for 2 minutes. Remove and add to chorizo.  Add onion to the frypan and cook, stirring, for 2-3 minutes until softened.  Add the garlic, tomatoes, stock, paprika, chilli and fried chorizo and potatoes, reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for 15-20 minutes until the mixture has thickened.  Season with salt and black pepper.  Add peas for final 2 minutes until just tender.

Step 3:  Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 180 C.  Make four indents in the pan, then crack an egg into each indent.  Bake in the oven for 10 minutes or until the eggwhite has set but yolks are still soft.  Sprinkle with parsley or basil and serve immediately with bread.

(tomato mixture can be divided into separate baking dishes if preferred)

Enjoy...



* Incubation Explained

project update #2...

I was hoping to get a few updates in prior to the final renovation week but it just hasn't happened that way.

So here we are...

1/3 Bathroom Renovation:

During the first week of January my lovely Father came and removed as much of the old bathroom as possible so we could get moving on the project.

It's amazing what you find when demolishing and I was hoping for something cool and vintage (Bah!) instead we got hundreds of dead snails. That's right, snails - it was disgusting...

Instead of making this project update last the duration of Abraham's existence, I'll split it up and do a sole bathroom reno update.


2/3 Veggie Garden:

Unfortunately, the plans we envisaged for our vegetable garden has not come to 'fruition' since we are most likely going to rent out our little beachy abode in the next couple of months.

I know, I know. We have a brand new bathroom - WHAT WERE WE THINKING???

However, we pulled an amazing amount of peaches, a handful of nectarines and our fist apricot off our trees this year!

Anyhoo, I hope to produce a more portable veggie garden for our future home(s). I'm going to Pinterest the heck out of transportable gardens and provide you with some wish-list-pics for the next update.


3/3 Creative Projects:

Some great projects, if I do say so myself, made over the festive season...

Felt Christmas Tree for Nora

Stocking's for Joel, Nora and I

and a cute, slightly fuzzy, bow-tie onesie for my future nephew

There it is...

grateful - 3/52...

A few friends have started a 'Grateful Project'* on Instagram in 2013. I'm a few weeks late but I thought I would join in here on a weekly basis.

This week, I'm extremely grateful for a generous, sensitive and loving family. I've had to have some treatment which means I cannot see Nora for 10 long days. I'm staying with my parents while Joel cares for Nora.

the lovely surprises that keep arriving...

Here's hoping this project will keep me positive and grateful for my blessed life!



*I"m sure a few bloggers are doing this also.  Please feel free to join in!

back on board...

Phew! That month...ahem month's flew by with no time for lazily entering thoughts into the computer (?!).  I obviously have no excuse other than a little too much indulging and participating in wonderful Christmas juju.

Evidence.

It has given me time to reflect and enjoy as well as plan the bathroom Reno which is happening right now! Photos to come...