Winter blah!

I'm pretty sure every winter I have a whinge here about this time of year. Last weekend it felt like all the crappy things about winter hit all at the same time, rain (days of rain), no light, cold, colds/flus, and a first - a dog cooped up inside too. Not really fun times. But today the rain stopped and I went and brought the new kveikur by sigur ros at lunch time and everything feels right about the world again. Amazing what music can do for you. (don't let the cover fool you, it's beautiful)

(Hanging out to try so many recipes from Jerusalem)

Tulips for cheering

Winter time is so dull and grey, I need lots of colour around the house for cheering.

The other weekend I wanted to give a few bunches of flowers for gifts so I stocked up on bright pink, orange and pale pink tulips. I love that colour combination. They are on their last legs now, but I think I might re-stock!

Winter

Seems that June has arrived far too quickly for my liking, now it's that quiet time of the year when things slow down, the days get colder and darker and I struggle a bit. This weekend really did feel wintery and I've started it off with a sinus infection followed by a head cold...

I have a few things I want to achieve this winter though and I'm hoping they will get me through: getting better at running outside (as opposed to the treadmill at the gym), learning to make brioche and bagels, knitting and updating the design here. I'm sure there are others.....any suggestions?

In the shots above:
*I started knitting a new scarf
*Bright pink and orange tulips for $10
*Ratatouille made from an Agrarian Kitchen recipe

Friday

Happy friday! It's been cold here lately (above are some pics from the top of Mt Wellington last week) but luckily today was twice as warm as yesterday so I have high hopes for the weekend and some quiet time planned. I hope you all have a lovely one!

Also a new post on Island Menu!

Outside and Inside

Over the weekend it was better to stay inside than venture into the bleak outside. I listened to the new Foals album, it sounds like four different bands I love all in one, I kinda like it.

Angus

I love this boy, he definitely has his own way of doing things, including chasing a stick for twenty minutes in the back garden.

This Weekend

A saturday morning in winter.

Interior Love

Lately I’ve been experiencing a bit of the winter blues, I hate that I spend no daylight hours at home, that it’s cold and that I feel uninspired. So it was very pleasant to see Lotta’s house on design sponge, it’s light and cheerful, the flowers are bright and pretty, and it is everything that I am craving right now.

knitting

....very slowly, but I am enjoying it. I think I'm making a scarf, I hope I'll finish it.

Also I love all the soup recipes in the new donna hay, there are at least six I want to make right away.

Cold

A few more autumn-y/winter shots from around the place. Tonight it is really cold, and I'm guessing snowing on the moutain, I've been sitting in front of the heater practicing my knitting for tomorrow night's class. I have forgotten how to pearl already : )

By the way, Angus hates having his picture taken, you can see the seething irritation in his eyes, so I’ve adopted a back of the head method, he’s so fluffy and soft at the moment with his winter coat.

On my wish list:

So it seems winter has arrived this week, walking to work this morning it was 4 degrees, yuk!
I’m sure I’ve moaned about my dislike of winter before, so I won’t go there today, instead I’m going to post my wish list of goodies to make my home a little cosier.
I'm particularly keen on the blanket and I've ordered the cushion
: )
Staub Cocotte
elk throw
Fine Little Day cushion
Country Road mugs
Ferm Living tea towel
Ikea side table

Autumn/Winter Survival List:

The cold and grey, short days last week made me realise that I am going to need a survival/project list to get through the next few months! Winter is definitely not my friend. Ideally this will include a little bit of a holiday somewhere, maybe a few days in Sydney, but that part of the plan has to wait for now.

Here's what I've come up with so far:

1. Take some classes – perhaps learn to knit and photography classes
2. Organise all my photo’s on my computer
3. Put together a reading list and work my way through it
4. Try to listen to as much new music as possible and that includes old new music (if that makes sense!)
5. Be sure to eat lots of fruit and veggies
6. Get some good hot chocolate and marshmallows for the cupboard - Yum!
7. Make some fabric coasters for my kitchen table
8. Clean out and organise my desk drawers
9. Try to be a bit more sociable, living alone can be a bit quiet in the wintertime
10. Go to see more films at the cinema on cold weekend days

Any other ideas on how best to survive winter? I'd love your suggestions!

On the mountain

I went up Mt Wellington yesterday and it was icy cold. The snow wasn't snow it was ice, and the sun was melting it so that you could hear the cracking and shattering as it fell to the ground. Very beautiful.

Winter Break

Hi there,

So I am back from my little winter break. It was my first proper Melbourne trip for a while (work trips definitely don't count!) and I went with my parents (first trip with them in about 10 years), it was lovely to wander around, visit new shops and take in the warm air and sunshine that we were lucky to have.

We had some amazing meals, including one at Flower Drum which was without a doubt the best meal I have ever had (peaking duck, salt and pepper squid and melt in your mouth szechuan beef). And because we seem to have been drawn into the Masterchef series, we tried The Press Club. It was an impressive restaurant, very smart but relaxing and enjoyable.

I did a fair bit of shopping of course, visited Chapel St Bazaar which was fantastic (where I saw a polaroid I really should have taken and baulked at the price of fowlers vacola jars - $22! There are generally only $2), and so many other shops. I went to the art gallery but the line was so long for Dali and I'd seen an exhibition of his only a few years ago, so I didn't worry in the end.

It was great to get away, definitely much needed. Tomorrow it's back to work and reality , I'm dreading it but resolved not to let it get me down.

Hope everyone had a wonderful weekend.

Catherine
x

Winter Home Wish List

Ok so it's not technically winter here yet, and given that I've worn sandals all weekend it still seemed a way off until today! Anyway I keep seeing all these things that would be nice to make my little flat cosy during the colder months. So here is my (current) winter/autumn home wish list:

1. A nice cosy sheep skin for my chair
2. Placemats (I really love these)
3. Owl softie, just 'cause
4. Book ends, much needed for my side table and I haven't found any decent ones anywhere yet, but these might do the job.
5. Toast goodness! Well a bowl and some napkins
6. Comfy arm chair
7. Books to read in said chair Thrifty Chic and Simply Country
8. Alyson Fox print

I'd love to hear what is on everyone else's list, also not included is some really nice hot drinking chocolate (I've no idea where to get some from). Any ideas?

Brrr is all I can say! It's freezing here and it's been snowing too (not settling sadly). I love watching the snow flakes, even in the dark, they are so magical.

I'm back at my old house this week kitty-sitting while my parents are away, and it's such a funny feeling back in my old room but not having any of my things here. I don't think I've got my head around it quite yet. Am having a lovely time playing with Angus (strips of paper are a winner for even his grumpy self) and lots of cuddles with the ever purr-y Lola.

I've been trying to work on some new ideas for cards lately, and I'm slowly getting there. The inspiration has been slow coming but stumbling across things such as these super cute jars does help. I love the colours of the tops, the pink on the walls is gorgeous too.

Cinnamon Biscuits

It's been freezing cold here but today I discovered a great antidote, hot chocolate and cinnamon biscuits! The combination is brilliant I have to say and they are easy and quick to make and smell amazing.

All you need is
75g butter softened
75g caster sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
175g plain flour
1 egg beaten

Cream butter and sugar add sifted flour and cinnamon and beaten egg.
Roll on floured surface and cook on a greased tray at 180 celcius until lightly browned/crisp.

The Gloaming

I am sitting here and there is the most fantastic winter light coming through my window. It's twilight, or the gloaming, I love that word so much. It is very calming really and so bewitching, I have been sitting back and watching the light through the trees and behind the hills. Such a lovely way to watch the world and appreciate the greatness of it all, and after being in a big city earlier this week, know again why I choose to live here. Because it is so beautiful and unique.
I am finally starting to feel a bit more energised again, I have felt a little flat and tired and now I am feeling more like myself. Ready to create some new work and be inspired.
I hope you are all having a wonderful weekend. Please excuse my ramblings.

Catherine

Friday

Hi there,

I am so pleased that it is friday and I have a day off. It has been such a crazy hectic week and now I can just sit back and enjoy it. The weather is very cold and grey here and it's the perfect excuse to sit and finally do some organising of all my paper and pens and various other bits and pieces I have had stacked in a pile waiting for a new home. In Melbourne I went to Smiggle and purchased some really good folders and boxes, so I have no excuses now.
I promised some Melbourne pictures and in retrospect I really did not take that many. I guess when you wander by yourself it's not so easy (or when it's pouring with rain), but here are a few, including some of the little things I found.

I hope you all have a great friday!
Catherine

Sleepy but Content

Well I am back from my three day non-stop walking tour of melbourne! I tire myself out, I love being there and I want to go everywhere and see everything. If I stop for a while a little voice in my head tells me to make the most of it and keep going!
So I am a little sleepy today.
The Guggenheim exhibition was fantastic, I really enjoy modern art, especially after reading this book a few years ago and getting a better understanding of the different styles and ideas. So I was really excited to see works by Jean Dubuffet (rd's favourite artist and I was impressed), Dan Flavin (whose work is the picture in the previous post, and was a sickly can't-keep-your-eyes-open green on the other side), Mark Rothko, Jackson Pollock and Andy Warhol (although I wasn't so keen on these, it was the Electric Chair series, quite distressing).
It was packed but really worth going to see and after that I sat outside in the slightly warm winter sun, which was fantastic to be out in the fresh air and not stuck at work in an air conditioned building.
I found lots of little treasures on my wanderings and visited some very cool shops, Meet Me at Mikes (yes I visited yesterday but was a little shy to introduce myself) they have the most lovely wares, Douglas and Hope, Empire Vintage, and treated myself at Dinosaur Designs and Kikki.K
Yesterday it poured until later in the afternoon, so I spent some time in Borders reading and had a yum-oh afternoon tea of hot chocolate and a strawberry tart at French patisserie Laurent.It was so lovely to sit somewhere warm and dry in the window and watch the people hurry past with their umbrellas and the rain while I was warm and dry and completely indulgent! That's what a holiday is all about!
(Pictures to come soon I promise)