via a desert fete

Oh yes, I am no where near having a white Christmas here in the southern hemisphere, particularly as I'm currently nursing a little sunburn, but I couldn't resist this gorgeous image found via a desert fete.

Well, I hope you had a very Merry Christmas?

I would normally would excuse my absence by saying that it's been frantic, but finally the opposite, it's been nice to slowly wind down the year.

For Christmas, I refrained from getting all flustered (as I have in previous years) stayed calm and pulled off a relaxed lunch for my loved ones in the back yard. Let's hope I keep this in check for next year..

yes still here

via absolutely beautiful things

The festive season has got me in a tizz. Should make more of an effort being that it's our 1st Christmas in the new house but I have just re-hashed last years deco's. And I'll be wandering around aimlessly at the last minute in search for my Kris Kringle gifts.
Festivities kick off this weekend; the work party do tonight, late lunch and drinks with the girls on tomorrow and JD's extended family get together on Sunday. Have a good weekend!

happiness is in a slice of cake

As mentioned here is my hodge podge attempt at cake flags, forty minutes of ganache -ing resulted in this. Oh well, it tasted better than it looks.

ask and you shall receive

A glorious weekend of clear skies and sunshine.

We ventured to a local farmers market and bought some fresh produce ; crisp asparagus, home made porcini ravioli, locally smoked trout, vine ripened tomatoes, a bundle of purple organic garlic (I am a selfish garlic feine), broad beans and these native flowers.

Much time spent in the garden, trimming trees, clearing dead fern stumps along the side of the house. Our first magnolia flower bloomed. And the herb garden is going crazy, much thanks to the weeks rain.

I'm going to attempt a Herriott Grace style cake for JD's sister's belated birthday celebrations. Wish me luck.

hello summer, are you here?

via oh joy

What strange start to the summer it has been. Hot cold wet sunny muggy rain.

No major plans for the weekend which I am rather excited about. Perhaps an attempt to get into the festive mood I know I'll regret not being more organised this year..

Hope you have a lovely weekend!

wish list : the tolix

via seesaw

I've been eying of some tolix chairs forever. In that time they seem to have crept into every Melbourne cafe - Done to death but still I love them so. I was thinking of some extra chairs for outside... Hmmm, perhaps the stool for the spare room lamp table. Oh decisions. Fads fade but true love is forever.