The easy way out...

I try not to re-blog other peoples posts, but I just can't stop staring at this amazing installation. So simple, but so cool:


From here.

Exciting new feature!!

Some time ago I wrote a post about how I like reading and I wanted to catalogue the books I read (as I already keep a list, I wanted something more formal). Anyways, Matt came up with the idea of setting up a tumblr account where I can keep a record of the books I read and even write a few words both for myself and for anyone who's interested (because I know there must be thousands of peeps out there who are desperately wondering what I read).

So without further ado, I bring you Books I Read.


If you are so inclined, you can pop over and have a look - it is up to date, but there are holes, so if, say, you wanted to know what I was reading at this time of year in 2007 you would probably be out of luck. To find out more about a book just click on the picture. You can even add it to your reader.

And because he is amazing, Matt made a bright red button which you can see over to the right of this post for a quick and easy link. Awesome.

Enjoy! Or ignore! Your choice!

Jeepers

Where did the last two weeks go? I can't believe it's been that long since I posted... we are re-doing our bathroom, and so things have been a bit full-on around here and I guess I just haven't been up to much that's worthy of posting about...

How about these peonies? Are they worthy? They are definitely pretty...


...and although they're lame, they'll have to do...I haven't even baked anything in the last few weeks. Oh man, I have to get a more exciting life!

Bonus public holiday...

Today's public holiday snuck up on us...so we had no plans, the weather was amazing and we went round to visit friends (and check on a poor dog's sore paw).

I baked French sable biscuits, and we sat on a blanket in the sun and had a few cups of tea...



..before moving on to some wine...


The highlight of day however, was the generous offer of a full pedicure (including massaging foot spa) and polish, which I graciously accepted (I am a foot maniac - I love having my feet pampered). We went for barbie pink polish, and boy do they look special. I took a photo but my feet are actually too fugly to post out in the blogosphere for everyone to see...

Apple sauce..

I used the same blog title last month when talking about the applesauce cake I made. But this is different applesauce. This is actual proper apple sauce.

I have made this a couple of times before - in actual fact it's an apple and garlic ketchup. It's really strongly flavoured and good with sausages, or quiches or other savoury things.

In the past I got the apples from the garden out at Sefton, I never knew what variety they were, but they were green and they weren't Granny Smith.

This year I drove out to Marshlands Rd and found a place selling some green apples that weren't Granny Smith, but looked kind of home grown and heirloom-y (unlike the shiny bright ones you see in the supermarket) so I picked up some of them.




It has never been a very thick sauce - more like a Worcester Sauce, but for some reason (was it the different apples?) this year it is extra runny. Tastes good, but far too watery. I may have to cook it a second time and see if I can thicken it with something.

Anyway, it made the house smell like vinegar and kept me occupied on a rainy afternoon this weekend.

Orchid loveliness

This orchid is from a plant of my mother's. She has had the plant for something like 25 years and it has only flowered twice.




Orchids are crazy beautiful.

Okay, I'm going out now (they're about to feature Elton John's Yellow Brick Road on the radio, but I must. tear. myself. away)...

Indoors when I should be outdoors..

Baking day today, so I whipped up a date and walnut loaf. I bit mundane, but pretty delish, and it will last a few days which is good - we have a house guest coming tomorrow so it's always good to have baking in the cupboard.




Yes, I like butter. Lots of it.

Anyway, it is not only sunny, but actually hot outside. I am planning on going out for a walk this afternoon, but Radio National keeps playing some excellent music (I'm listening to Rod Stewart's Maggie May right now!) and I am finding it difficult to get away. Don't you hate that?