my creative space: one use for a broken teacup!

<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I feel this is somewhat of a fraudulent 'my creative space' this week as it involves nothing more than a bit of glue...but sorry, it's all I've got!</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When I was helping my friend Susan move out of her rented townhouse so that she could go and babysit another friend's home while<i> they</i> were having the annual five month stint at their other place in the south of France...phew, did you get all that? Good. How jealous are you? Me? I'm an unattractive shade of green...</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfzUJ-nHhu-u668Ext1jOnAqQrL7xElShsP1Mlai8yALg9ncn4lpxP1lBe20K0nPlhZsTBHgnFmVgzUgiM-2quwkizhMerpmpmy6SuM7-lBsGyo810vDUrGuMrZtQSTNvPj3CEevJ-vhyY/s1600/cup+with+garlic+tall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfzUJ-nHhu-u668Ext1jOnAqQrL7xElShsP1Mlai8yALg9ncn4lpxP1lBe20K0nPlhZsTBHgnFmVgzUgiM-2quwkizhMerpmpmy6SuM7-lBsGyo810vDUrGuMrZtQSTNvPj3CEevJ-vhyY/s640/cup+with+garlic+tall.jpg" width="520" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Anyway, while the </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://tranquiltownhouse.blogspot.com/2010/06/ive-had-visit-from-chandelier-fairy.html">chandelier fairy</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> and I were helping clean and pack (and to be completely fair, a lot of it had already been done), I accidentally broke one of Susan's teacups...</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8fUG9zV1ivYTfZnYGcR0xJJtrccotbRIw2iMHPtRm22oidzF3AtNkZaVYLxOYKLRD2ukfEiEhG6fEsT6E1gVP4d8eRNHf5hSJOpNV6pEqIBtvG4hjNig_8P99fes0MLkuT7QA6Yxx3lAA/s1600/broken+cup+and+glue.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8fUG9zV1ivYTfZnYGcR0xJJtrccotbRIw2iMHPtRm22oidzF3AtNkZaVYLxOYKLRD2ukfEiEhG6fEsT6E1gVP4d8eRNHf5hSJOpNV6pEqIBtvG4hjNig_8P99fes0MLkuT7QA6Yxx3lAA/s640/broken+cup+and+glue.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">She was very good about it (and quite right since I'd just cleaned the bathroom for her!)...I know you're reading Susan, and I know you know I'm joking :)</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUGs6WeSgGqPY9XRMbkLdB9oASk9JgAOPbSvuN9RPcBW5Oub8Ay_G6bBWmSUz-0FsBqpNdovDqxwOxWsEaYvKWTmUf6-YYmkWF3JT3voJL5xEjAdZkP9pvD6pr66WAAcOdQRMw4OdvqUhm/s1600/cup+glued.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="514" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUGs6WeSgGqPY9XRMbkLdB9oASk9JgAOPbSvuN9RPcBW5Oub8Ay_G6bBWmSUz-0FsBqpNdovDqxwOxWsEaYvKWTmUf6-YYmkWF3JT3voJL5xEjAdZkP9pvD6pr66WAAcOdQRMw4OdvqUhm/s640/cup+glued.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So I took it home and fixed it (but not brilliantly as you can see!) and I'm using it to hold the garlic...ok, so not </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>hugely</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> creative, especially seeing I stole the whole 'garlic in a teacup' idea from the first born's house, but...</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-z_Zd1tvLYkiXsp_1XmDTFYYohs4vBXjDfznQ3YAO_JrV-3YusT4wA_ypod0F2ap2aIGKuXRDDQFlFlBCP1sodTDIRyt2zmOwwHX6ce4h4ZnT6j_30TwfQxeZwA1JQAVaxwGmFUigiWp4/s1600/garlic+holder+tea+cup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-z_Zd1tvLYkiXsp_1XmDTFYYohs4vBXjDfznQ3YAO_JrV-3YusT4wA_ypod0F2ap2aIGKuXRDDQFlFlBCP1sodTDIRyt2zmOwwHX6ce4h4ZnT6j_30TwfQxeZwA1JQAVaxwGmFUigiWp4/s640/garlic+holder+tea+cup.jpg" width="482" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">...at least it's useful again. Gotta love that. From dim-witted clumsiness to garlic holder. Even a chilli repository from time to time. And cheap...really cheap. Friendship still intact as well :)</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For a much more interesting post, you can read about my friend Susan's sea change and see her house by the coast <a href="http://tranquiltownhouse.blogspot.com/2010/07/soul-food-friday-friend-her-beach-house.html">here</a>...and then go and see a whole lot of creative spaces <a href="http://ourcreativespaces.blogspot.com/">here</a>. There'll be more than glue involved I'm sure! </span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">all photos by me</span><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85794/tranquiltownhouse/6aa76c55681784d717c463ecc754d7c5.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>

my creative space: one use for a broken teacup!

I feel this is somewhat of a fraudulent 'my creative space' this week as it involves nothing more than a bit of glue...but sorry, it...

Read more »

guilt inducing sloth...do you indulge?

<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have a confession. I did (and please excuse my French) stuff-all this weekend. Things I should have been doing, didn't get done. I stayed in my pyjamas until after lunch on Saturday and Sunday. </span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUgUBAzPRHpvaG_tzKLbNS2zIjTUhQVnqmy8v5qkO04_Cr9FAaPQw7z35q85JDqP9avQ88_0XP2SJXkXgXwScxtYqQKAZsolRllZ_kLtzyvol8kEegISr85nA918Cn0m3doIJMWTm4dCin/s1600/pyjamas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUgUBAzPRHpvaG_tzKLbNS2zIjTUhQVnqmy8v5qkO04_Cr9FAaPQw7z35q85JDqP9avQ88_0XP2SJXkXgXwScxtYqQKAZsolRllZ_kLtzyvol8kEegISr85nA918Cn0m3doIJMWTm4dCin/s400/pyjamas.jpg" width="395" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://weheartit.com/entry/863302"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">we heart it</span></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I didn't put my washing away, much less touch an iron.</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikcsuwzCVq6ZN4Ry_Cc40vBSSylM9KLTzpW_ogJ9dHUjYnJFVuBpv0G9QBF9I1-ZW-DEppzNW4IG-AFSjP8ZPROLWoEeQkfWwe4d-FvA1kuKTt2Tzs8UpMcdEJpRgUI9SqoqMgHD9y4AwS/s1600/washing+and+chandelier.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikcsuwzCVq6ZN4Ry_Cc40vBSSylM9KLTzpW_ogJ9dHUjYnJFVuBpv0G9QBF9I1-ZW-DEppzNW4IG-AFSjP8ZPROLWoEeQkfWwe4d-FvA1kuKTt2Tzs8UpMcdEJpRgUI9SqoqMgHD9y4AwS/s640/washing+and+chandelier.jpg" width="488" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://weheartit.com/entry/450080"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">we heart it</span></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I really didn't think much about blogging...which I'm trying to tell myself is a good thing...only every now and then...of course ;)</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJAcPtuyye8xLXCdMzWUEFeoRX3MgJkhoa9htAx7V8x7AKlG8L-cHiWcXszjpZJH3heJb64v6n2dd-5Gk_62KLnXp4Nqoft8FRvIUSnJAXHTHUCzEQF_WIV_VIeCGjJTKnYC7JccX0EHhM/s1600/read+books+not+blogs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJAcPtuyye8xLXCdMzWUEFeoRX3MgJkhoa9htAx7V8x7AKlG8L-cHiWcXszjpZJH3heJb64v6n2dd-5Gk_62KLnXp4Nqoft8FRvIUSnJAXHTHUCzEQF_WIV_VIeCGjJTKnYC7JccX0EHhM/s400/read+books+not+blogs.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://weheartit.com/entry/149935"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">we heart it</span></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I didn't go and play volleyball as I promised myself I would.</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9fqpfgVAziYDS1LCl4OSgCcjh7aQOEVmZDCa6cIvfFaszBC58rIUY5feB4bevZno8zVn3awClChD-gxN2phqhdh3vRCX49LSEcObjqZOjME_kZbEOo24KmPR8RZ4DD9yROT-b5HaLzyWX/s1600/Volleyball12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9fqpfgVAziYDS1LCl4OSgCcjh7aQOEVmZDCa6cIvfFaszBC58rIUY5feB4bevZno8zVn3awClChD-gxN2phqhdh3vRCX49LSEcObjqZOjME_kZbEOo24KmPR8RZ4DD9yROT-b5HaLzyWX/s400/Volleyball12.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://images.google.com.au/imgres?imgurl=http://www.brostadbotn.net/images/Volleyball12.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.brostadbotn.net/&usg=__OSOIcHwbOveAD4q1CEBss2Ywy00=&h=480&w=640&sz=75&hl=en&start=0&sig2=Mse"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">google images</span></a></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I didn't do the financial paperwork that I really must do, and I</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> didn't start an assignment that absolutely needs to be started.</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYePOz9gaDHnSP_XgiRHvOkHew_emWvelZxL5PVpKJYtIuOqXj-5tKW7COosnQmIZft2OnavbVgDYP00V-5-7p44oOm1huPthRGwfMlmivSdahxWticIJWfzxMaxgPtRXAGvYnksaW5CFn/s1600/assignment.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYePOz9gaDHnSP_XgiRHvOkHew_emWvelZxL5PVpKJYtIuOqXj-5tKW7COosnQmIZft2OnavbVgDYP00V-5-7p44oOm1huPthRGwfMlmivSdahxWticIJWfzxMaxgPtRXAGvYnksaW5CFn/s320/assignment.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://weheartit.com/entry/651257"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">we heart it</span></a></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I did the barest amount of grocery shopping that I could get away with. And I didn't do a whole lot of other things that I won't bore you with.</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But here's what I did do. I enjoyed the solitude of having the house to myself. The 22 year old was in Sydney for the weekend helping the first born move out of an apartment she shared with a very odd French man and into a house with four other women...in 40 degree plus heat...poor loves.</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh38x5ahp_bbnuBkbiNVoZT_7TxF1tip00FRcONlp16oMwcF8ltuEZbbmpyNd91PUZAwLpQ9FdztLCnTkbQBA77vSDj7-VamfoCNidFADZ2tjxDTYODYCJuLNwEvr_E_uC6KptDNb6tKvEe/s1600/moving+house.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh38x5ahp_bbnuBkbiNVoZT_7TxF1tip00FRcONlp16oMwcF8ltuEZbbmpyNd91PUZAwLpQ9FdztLCnTkbQBA77vSDj7-VamfoCNidFADZ2tjxDTYODYCJuLNwEvr_E_uC6KptDNb6tKvEe/s400/moving+house.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://images.google.com.au/imgres?imgurl=http://www.moretonbay.qld.gov.au/uploadedImages/moretonbay/discover/arts-culture/O'Connor-Ann-Moving-House.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.moretonbay.qld.gov.au/WorkArea/lin"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">google images</span></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I thought about my upcoming trip to New York (thank you so much for the <a href="http://tranquiltownhouse.blogspot.com/2011/02/chinese-new-year-and-some-ny-travel.html">suggestions</a>...please keep them coming). </span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I read. I read lots. I watched old movies. I did a bit more to the Ballets Russes painting. Biting off more than I can chew comes to mind when I look at this...many, many more hours required until it's decent...but I will persevere thanks to some lovely encouragement from my <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/A-Tranquil-Townhouse/128366383865351">blogging/facebook </a>friends!</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2RhJkMNcdq8NcZ0ZT01PonMnf5rOsp9GXkqih-4uoWsW9Csbu7OxIvDRWngJyMtpC4hGD8mlKICCTJgOGKRZqyicMdFnjSo0ZwdZr_UIDtvnd1d6gKQZqyMUSua97gjbVK-iV3C1SCCXO/s1600/ballets+russes+painting+004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2RhJkMNcdq8NcZ0ZT01PonMnf5rOsp9GXkqih-4uoWsW9Csbu7OxIvDRWngJyMtpC4hGD8mlKICCTJgOGKRZqyicMdFnjSo0ZwdZr_UIDtvnd1d6gKQZqyMUSua97gjbVK-iV3C1SCCXO/s400/ballets+russes+painting+004.jpg" width="292" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I went out for dinner with my man on Friday...we had fabulous salt and pepper squid. I made a nice dinner at home for us on Saturday. I went out for dinner at my lovely friends Chris and Terry's on Sunday...I'll photograph their house one day...you'll love it. So, I guess, in effect what I did was stop...and in a life full of constantly doing stuff...enjoy, for the moment, being a sloth. Like the vampire slayer does every single day of her life! </span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM79T112ktLwuc9SqTTgnJAJlEdTfReDS9_2D3NE_7vq04NAqxdp-HBphfA1okrAiedRoccGP1AIDKz2TdKj0tmSAaTouT11hGB-4pluusmmIOLq8bdscb7H7EbGjjqnq_ldSqkdctNtet/s1600/buffy+on+pink+sheet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM79T112ktLwuc9SqTTgnJAJlEdTfReDS9_2D3NE_7vq04NAqxdp-HBphfA1okrAiedRoccGP1AIDKz2TdKj0tmSAaTouT11hGB-4pluusmmIOLq8bdscb7H7EbGjjqnq_ldSqkdctNtet/s400/buffy+on+pink+sheet.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Now I just need to work out how to do that without feeling guilty. Any hints?</span><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85794/tranquiltownhouse/6aa76c55681784d717c463ecc754d7c5.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>

guilt inducing sloth...do you indulge?

I have a confession. I did (and please excuse my French) stuff-all this weekend. Things I should have been doing, didn't get done. I sta...

Read more »

a tranquil townhouse dinner party...

<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There was a dinner party here on Saturday night...boy they're a lot of work aren't they! 'Twas fun though :)</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXDvZ2Hj2mvF6BFPxv4iHeSzZSKC7KDnSBdexTQ25KTEmf9CY_RqZiZcw9pScqQSLgRiy_4Kv9b_Q5SB5oPqNtoOJvTmAhGgnafC7WYjETrhVTOVApFz2-czXbTd2wvtKKYcQU3obiSLvb/s1600/dinner+party+024.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXDvZ2Hj2mvF6BFPxv4iHeSzZSKC7KDnSBdexTQ25KTEmf9CY_RqZiZcw9pScqQSLgRiy_4Kv9b_Q5SB5oPqNtoOJvTmAhGgnafC7WYjETrhVTOVApFz2-czXbTd2wvtKKYcQU3obiSLvb/s640/dinner+party+024.JPG" width="368" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This is the dining part of my living room...the tiniest kitchen in the southern hemisphere is where I took this photo from...it drives me batty but I have a cunning plan for some extra storage...once I find a carpenter. I've edited out all the ugly bits...the wall colour, the brown woodwork, the dodgy, boxy fireplace...that will all be gone come 17 December...can't wait!</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEsnvZvNyiT-M0KElPHRCWjgvXCwyd8DIXHxeJJqRDfb7xq8QcMrSJhKC5Vz75b_82EEKngFjIyC7gGezbiExsU-ojZPCfLWwZLeYBReHyoGQFsAPULD-LZHF2EZQ4fDyhZ1HJJ40zXenK/s1600/chilli+sauce+collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEsnvZvNyiT-M0KElPHRCWjgvXCwyd8DIXHxeJJqRDfb7xq8QcMrSJhKC5Vz75b_82EEKngFjIyC7gGezbiExsU-ojZPCfLWwZLeYBReHyoGQFsAPULD-LZHF2EZQ4fDyhZ1HJJ40zXenK/s640/chilli+sauce+collage.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And because cooking for a dinner party takes so much time and effort I thought I'd get some bloggy mileage out of it! The </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">makings of the marinade for the baked lemon grass and chilli chicken (I used chicken thigh fillets with the skin on...they were delicious). Do you grate your garlic...I never crush...I'm a bit like Nigella that way...but only in that way. More's the pity.</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqEBev5vijf9o06gFGHftGzMFED4ZcOnA5OBDgM7l08Bv29yeApXMijvmrtmK9ZZ_uy_Q5CW2iHbRt89PClQQ9ZvvknYXLEd8iEcgivklYEG83j_DdPjOmecXzIJ8pTDqmnScDYNVJ7nkQ/s1600/The+Free+Range+Cook+cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqEBev5vijf9o06gFGHftGzMFED4ZcOnA5OBDgM7l08Bv29yeApXMijvmrtmK9ZZ_uy_Q5CW2iHbRt89PClQQ9ZvvknYXLEd8iEcgivklYEG83j_DdPjOmecXzIJ8pTDqmnScDYNVJ7nkQ/s400/The+Free+Range+Cook+cover.jpg" width="341" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I used recipes from my Annabel Langbein cookbook [The Free Range Cook] that I won at <a href="http://smallacornsnz.blogspot.com/">Amanda's blog</a> for the mains and dessert (thank you Amanda...I love this book to bits).  And look, my blueberry cake is just like the one in the book!! I don't think Annabel is quite as messy as me though.</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgckjielP-TiCVo0oFuusfLpDLca33-M7cPcaiuGd2KqsFa8rAYFOkNwE13eK_QRQiW54HX3inT76VJb-Svn-1pp7fxBfbZe2WqRn6lNPbrgDobtZ03gu6XiQV_YL0dPf7QHcKSqgiIQ8fq/s1600/blueberry+cake+collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgckjielP-TiCVo0oFuusfLpDLca33-M7cPcaiuGd2KqsFa8rAYFOkNwE13eK_QRQiW54HX3inT76VJb-Svn-1pp7fxBfbZe2WqRn6lNPbrgDobtZ03gu6XiQV_YL0dPf7QHcKSqgiIQ8fq/s640/blueberry+cake+collage.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The lovely teatowel is from <a href="http://theaandsami.blogspot.com/">Thea and Sami</a>...</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Richard made the entree...delicious deep fried prawn wonton dumplings with dipping sauce...but because he made them at his place I have no photos...but they looked a bit like this...</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_7hcYTprwwT7UvxM4Xq1U1bioQNRm-_yY2eboaaSLlxDH5Q9wGkAdfoSYGf-AiGPs_KAhzVMzoR2CB-5sq8z9ZA4JT_VNkfJoPbj6mbuYiW1wtMq2VmcL2_XdggI1tYQOMVUUi9jP-zm7/s1600/shrimpswallows1of1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_7hcYTprwwT7UvxM4Xq1U1bioQNRm-_yY2eboaaSLlxDH5Q9wGkAdfoSYGf-AiGPs_KAhzVMzoR2CB-5sq8z9ZA4JT_VNkfJoPbj6mbuYiW1wtMq2VmcL2_XdggI1tYQOMVUUi9jP-zm7/s400/shrimpswallows1of1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There was no way I was going to take photos once people were at my house...they already think my blogging is a bit odd :)</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">These little potato stacks are from a copy of <a href="http://www.mindfood.com/">MindFood</a>...a fabulous NZ magazine...such clever people those kiwis. Mine didn't look quite as good as the photo, but they were very tasty.</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpP8xKvS94TH9lZAAVgyB_zuC29Qq3v7vhS5R17O1Kt_fR8iTHNx8HSEciKoHAx8FhUoebdAlURFOMC2HTR0tKE2slbo8T9_7Fby_uaA94kRPvr5KdtNZuFvowJTyki250j-IHyfwLeHVr/s1600/potato+stacks+collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpP8xKvS94TH9lZAAVgyB_zuC29Qq3v7vhS5R17O1Kt_fR8iTHNx8HSEciKoHAx8FhUoebdAlURFOMC2HTR0tKE2slbo8T9_7Fby_uaA94kRPvr5KdtNZuFvowJTyki250j-IHyfwLeHVr/s640/potato+stacks+collage.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The table setting was very simple...bamboo runner and table mats..but the good china and crystal got a run. Actually I use those glasses all the time. The entrée plates are very old Royal Albert, given to me by my friend Chris. Loving my new dining chairs too...and they passed their first dinner party test with flying colours!</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNt3CUomWwUgtdnpO_TvuejD1E9b-9sEA5sLzf4w7_arsxAYIJNpjzPHdtg1RZGVv3RLWLxLYc0W7KD369QFhi4Cp1sS1zJTm8UUMgw0JS7zs70wT6ECnKP3_kQ8u3lRyF4PGtWSp6541N/s1600/table1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="534" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNt3CUomWwUgtdnpO_TvuejD1E9b-9sEA5sLzf4w7_arsxAYIJNpjzPHdtg1RZGVv3RLWLxLYc0W7KD369QFhi4Cp1sS1zJTm8UUMgw0JS7zs70wT6ECnKP3_kQ8u3lRyF4PGtWSp6541N/s640/table1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The flowers were also very simple...mostly from the garden and some leftovers from work! Small vases, a soy sauce bottle and a water bottle...I would never have done this before blogging began...but I'll certainly be doing it again!</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZquZFGtoQTR09_qk65pbUbPKsFAt3bRXDPbwUINRi7duIXTJK_-gSxyodDudPRgkvCCXwc2JEz6KUbV7QZkx04eGUtJpmzu-WoZ22bZMSd_pQ5tpY18isdlPbwV_9pUmy8hU0AI-iVAdo/s1600/table2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="522" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZquZFGtoQTR09_qk65pbUbPKsFAt3bRXDPbwUINRi7duIXTJK_-gSxyodDudPRgkvCCXwc2JEz6KUbV7QZkx04eGUtJpmzu-WoZ22bZMSd_pQ5tpY18isdlPbwV_9pUmy8hU0AI-iVAdo/s640/table2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So there you go...it could only have been nicer if you'd been there :)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQdu-ipx3Ip5oND1sPsEPob7VHykILBvue74RPZ4DJb0tkTlUE42AgR8dqXGrA4eTXdsvwDSiPRtuqvN6T1QlvlArI4TnQN8ReBwHhyphenhyphenGPUX6BYBTJyd38uiI4ckaJBaLlbQUH-7HWBKTdJ/s1600/table+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="420" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQdu-ipx3Ip5oND1sPsEPob7VHykILBvue74RPZ4DJb0tkTlUE42AgR8dqXGrA4eTXdsvwDSiPRtuqvN6T1QlvlArI4TnQN8ReBwHhyphenhyphenGPUX6BYBTJyd38uiI4ckaJBaLlbQUH-7HWBKTdJ/s640/table+3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I hope the week ahead is good to you...I'm going to enjoy looking at the flowers on my dining table...because I sure won't be going outside much...rain forecast all week...sigh.</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5p3G9P7RE9Vbg47tJAeiBTAwj1wtZ9ruGL-ES6DgCF4dyLY8K7sC_VPZHNWtTIm_p1f8-tuWSV_8rGOYT8jye5_tGKuX-DO5dfoFAOs824F-wIB0t8sPIT-XhHx_3syawwYBVdspNDIdz/s1600/flowers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5p3G9P7RE9Vbg47tJAeiBTAwj1wtZ9ruGL-ES6DgCF4dyLY8K7sC_VPZHNWtTIm_p1f8-tuWSV_8rGOYT8jye5_tGKuX-DO5dfoFAOs824F-wIB0t8sPIT-XhHx_3syawwYBVdspNDIdz/s400/flowers.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85794/tranquiltownhouse/6aa76c55681784d717c463ecc754d7c5.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>

a tranquil townhouse dinner party...

There was a dinner party here on Saturday night...boy they're a lot of work aren't they! 'Twas fun though :) This is the dining ...

Read more »

soul food friday...on life and loss

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I went to a funeral yesterday. The remembrance of a really, truly, lovely woman who, at 61, died far too early.  As Remembrance Day was being observed in places around the globe, we remembered Rose.</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn0yecJuJBehDwZiT9-IRmR1jLKj-kFG03sHwUCK5-qB6-nZ68IyIQvbtDk0jdyMlT9QL9u_5DZf_WaWymWFhHjng6yWblLXnfCMfl675xj3gZWc8GKOyG6wXpYmJ7MDfACIFZx-hZggJi/s1600/stone+angel+via+jess.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn0yecJuJBehDwZiT9-IRmR1jLKj-kFG03sHwUCK5-qB6-nZ68IyIQvbtDk0jdyMlT9QL9u_5DZf_WaWymWFhHjng6yWblLXnfCMfl675xj3gZWc8GKOyG6wXpYmJ7MDfACIFZx-hZggJi/s640/stone+angel+via+jess.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My friend Jo and I went to see Rose in the hospice last Saturday, in the morning. The cancer had spread to her brain... but she knew us, she smiled when we walked in, she laughed at our lame jokes, and she held our hands when we left. And she died...with her family surrounding her... just six hours later. </span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7wv-7T9S4WqNq7WIkPbFDUkJ4pLHJYsf4-SGV8032zlBM-jrUHkG8Z4ivzGlrZBm3vHCzdxw1R9Rpc9eIlzrhDJg9QqnME_fjeKXX7Z2hEzNyo90vzVq8pQ45Jh6keSajoftb3MSCe_yy/s1600/birds.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7wv-7T9S4WqNq7WIkPbFDUkJ4pLHJYsf4-SGV8032zlBM-jrUHkG8Z4ivzGlrZBm3vHCzdxw1R9Rpc9eIlzrhDJg9QqnME_fjeKXX7Z2hEzNyo90vzVq8pQ45Jh6keSajoftb3MSCe_yy/s640/birds.png" width="638" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have been deeply saddened by this death. Rose and I didn't call each other on the phone or go and have coffee together, but we occasionally facebooked...as you do! My interactions with her happened mostly at family occasions, as I'm lucky enough to be included in this large clan's celebrations...and sadnesses. This I consider a huge privilege and an extraordinary gift.</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie4JVydBhYiNC6fuvfvY31j-8PVfZhK3Cu-koJFAAtQFg1BPt8-cDiiv2EeI7eylNoDh_RwhHMFK-5L_h0xgqMTtWGEXbsfYYN2Vr-hBaoI6BhhN1MjSRW__uClw2iBd41UYBbBdrtU1k7/s1600/roses.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="454" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie4JVydBhYiNC6fuvfvY31j-8PVfZhK3Cu-koJFAAtQFg1BPt8-cDiiv2EeI7eylNoDh_RwhHMFK-5L_h0xgqMTtWGEXbsfYYN2Vr-hBaoI6BhhN1MjSRW__uClw2iBd41UYBbBdrtU1k7/s640/roses.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Through these occasions, and a few weekends away at a wonderful place called Green Cape, and the times before she got ill when she'd come along to our book club which she helped form during a bush walk not far outside Canberra, I came to know Rose. </span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioiouoQN7PgN4BEXPcdTZfNgKg_AeuWLNR7ICALyLhUoeNktiJipi_nphr8yM-C8dC13ZcyvQ1zNiQVKMR7sFjLj1nUEo3BWl7exHYhzvRNKlynb6Vjtk2R_2S7ptF4h4sLhoMOhyphenhyphenn1Af6/s1600/green+cape.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioiouoQN7PgN4BEXPcdTZfNgKg_AeuWLNR7ICALyLhUoeNktiJipi_nphr8yM-C8dC13ZcyvQ1zNiQVKMR7sFjLj1nUEo3BWl7exHYhzvRNKlynb6Vjtk2R_2S7ptF4h4sLhoMOhyphenhyphenn1Af6/s640/green+cape.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When I was thinking about her in the days after her death I wondered how I would describe her. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And the word, among many that came to mind was this...gentle. Rose was gentle. There aren't many people in the world I know that can claim that title. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When you went somewhere and found that Rose was there too, you thought "oooh good, Rose is here". She was a delight to be around. Quietly and unexpectedly wicked, calm, caring...just plain nice. And I have enormous affection and respect for nice.</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbTDShabdsIXCCp-B8mVv9Gsernn22dSafxhZ-FmMjid2OgjhLxrmYn5HPa9LrdPWegDLMQqRk3CzdfuXLMdvIDUavAjOVy_baC6f6G5bKh41KPVG9E1q0vWzC99ZUD119twjqWgLNSX93/s1600/even+the+toughest+days+from+slowlovelife+blog.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbTDShabdsIXCCp-B8mVv9Gsernn22dSafxhZ-FmMjid2OgjhLxrmYn5HPa9LrdPWegDLMQqRk3CzdfuXLMdvIDUavAjOVy_baC6f6G5bKh41KPVG9E1q0vWzC99ZUD119twjqWgLNSX93/s640/even+the+toughest+days+from+slowlovelife+blog.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There's no point is there, in ranting or railing against this senseless loss of a lovely life. To a disease that continues to take people of all ages. To ask why. Because there is no answer. All we can do is accept...once the fighting's done. That's what Rose did with incredible grace. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And donate to find a cure. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> And live our own best lives...she did that too. </span><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85794/tranquiltownhouse/6aa76c55681784d717c463ecc754d7c5.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>

soul food friday...on life and loss

I went to a funeral yesterday. The remembrance of a really, truly, lovely woman who, at 61, died far too early.  As Remembrance Day was bein...

Read more »

my creative space...what I like to call a farmers' market tote

<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My friend Chris and I have been doing a little collaborating...a</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> bit of plotting, planning and putting together. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We've sourced some very large Brazilian coffee sacks, and along with a cunning plan...we have made the first of what we hope will be lots of these...</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwWAZpP9ZREgBOcTjrWnFFiK4L0wrVJLIqjV2v6jgbPgbnMxEg09OLCJUL2ZFAwwQ2t2fCK8a9cW7ani6Asb7jZMNwDpEop8884fNMoBOcTST7TcF3_9gIkj3SZLObTmkc8wMrWKXBzwTh/s1600/coffee+sack+totes+close+up.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwWAZpP9ZREgBOcTjrWnFFiK4L0wrVJLIqjV2v6jgbPgbnMxEg09OLCJUL2ZFAwwQ2t2fCK8a9cW7ani6Asb7jZMNwDpEop8884fNMoBOcTST7TcF3_9gIkj3SZLObTmkc8wMrWKXBzwTh/s640/coffee+sack+totes+close+up.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I like to think of them being flung over your shoulder and waltzed off to the local farmers' market...we have one just down the lane and over the road on a Sunday...</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwcOI4seXK8itc7jKQINEATbgKGF8tP-JjyPO6tTPj9RgtgalVuPo7d2cGXx8d0pJ5VHF1ORPOTpXR4YbYj8Hl0V1_x4-R8tTwUNMS7Wij5fDVI6EiQYavkbrndhRi45bbP5Z4tUydtkWP/s1600/coffee+sack+totes+020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwcOI4seXK8itc7jKQINEATbgKGF8tP-JjyPO6tTPj9RgtgalVuPo7d2cGXx8d0pJ5VHF1ORPOTpXR4YbYj8Hl0V1_x4-R8tTwUNMS7Wij5fDVI6EiQYavkbrndhRi45bbP5Z4tUydtkWP/s640/coffee+sack+totes+020.JPG" width="528" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I guess you could use them for other things as well...a beach bag maybe, or for collecting firewood, but the vision was for veggies of all kinds nestling contentedly in the calico lining. Dead set romantic notion don't you think! Ignore the vampire slayer hogging the camera.</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSzRd2Ia7ZQzXKYm2FUkfHN8UAWekiVDFKFTGH2FtnfMKy7mrm1JnrVMcQya1Mb3KACwIKmT43aYksngajc7zSEUKIDV8wKGhWJB0CT7myDeC_fj7c46nw9ao5k6T9nH9sw54NI-7bktme/s1600/coffee+sack+totes+back.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSzRd2Ia7ZQzXKYm2FUkfHN8UAWekiVDFKFTGH2FtnfMKy7mrm1JnrVMcQya1Mb3KACwIKmT43aYksngajc7zSEUKIDV8wKGhWJB0CT7myDeC_fj7c46nw9ao5k6T9nH9sw54NI-7bktme/s640/coffee+sack+totes+back.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It's a bit hard to get a good photo with the plastic outer...designed to stop the jute coming off all over your good market clobber...</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaLnSEYCs93Twx0RKAw1K80oB0XI_dKQcOD826DupuPrtz5xTqjDH2C3aMNIIAi8yLfRmjOOni9qMhv60KajdI2hDlKyNsJIsR_WhGpUKHOBJYZYEwktRW2VPzhnUAwJPEthLN7tvU3Qmk/s1600/coffee+sack+totes+006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="542" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaLnSEYCs93Twx0RKAw1K80oB0XI_dKQcOD826DupuPrtz5xTqjDH2C3aMNIIAi8yLfRmjOOni9qMhv60KajdI2hDlKyNsJIsR_WhGpUKHOBJYZYEwktRW2VPzhnUAwJPEthLN7tvU3Qmk/s640/coffee+sack+totes+006.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">...or mad cats wanting to sit on it! </span></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_YQPaq2_CmUlkrHSN8hnuPJDORZsLyvZJcflpcTUO3eukyGdU4-ffXcSedaPkAdDuQxv5skgX_bHKxjo1AEXMv8dQfPQjLh8orRX08_fZ_dIL9sm6Y7Bi4kbQyUDbBatIijku-vylo_o5/s1600/coffee+sack+totes+and+buffy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="608" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_YQPaq2_CmUlkrHSN8hnuPJDORZsLyvZJcflpcTUO3eukyGdU4-ffXcSedaPkAdDuQxv5skgX_bHKxjo1AEXMv8dQfPQjLh8orRX08_fZ_dIL9sm6Y7Bi4kbQyUDbBatIijku-vylo_o5/s640/coffee+sack+totes+and+buffy.jpg" width="640" /></a><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">No vampire slayers over at <a href="http://www.kootoyoo.com/">Kootoyoo</a>.</span><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85794/tranquiltownhouse/6aa76c55681784d717c463ecc754d7c5.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>

my creative space...what I like to call a farmers' market tote

My friend Chris and I have been doing a little collaborating...a  bit of plotting, planning and putting together.  We've sourced some ve...

Read more »

my weekend project ~ a babushka painting for a new baby...

<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Nat, a work colleague had her first baby a few weeks ago...Willow Elizabeth...how gorgeous is that. And...get this...she was born at 10 p.m. on the tenth of the tenth, 2010! Now that's impressive timing and I'm sure must be very lucky.</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I wanted to do another 'like no other...' painting like the one I did for a friend's baby boy...that one was cars...you can see that and the explanation for why I went with 'like no other' <a href="http://tranquiltownhouse.blogspot.com/2010/07/my-weekend-project-gift-for-new-baby.html">here</a>. But I thought...perhaps not cars for Willow, so...</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9XYdhXRJQXqQ_Gj9n6lMT2o_4ojbOQcpBRVTAlfUws1ei09hToph0WEhostMyKANtGshlyn5YPgs1CdiIkJqQzTsXNTenrQQQXvueF1-3ACDkPCP6y89KJeEYt1RHHD8M60Q_efLlOrn7/s1600/babushka+painting+009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9XYdhXRJQXqQ_Gj9n6lMT2o_4ojbOQcpBRVTAlfUws1ei09hToph0WEhostMyKANtGshlyn5YPgs1CdiIkJqQzTsXNTenrQQQXvueF1-3ACDkPCP6y89KJeEYt1RHHD8M60Q_efLlOrn7/s640/babushka+painting+009.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">...babushkas this time. Nat likes bold colours so I wanted a reasonable contrast between the first eight and then the ninth...the 'like no other' bushka babe! I hope the first eight aren't too pastel-ly, but the contrast is the point. I started by doing all the similar ones first, after a little trial run...and some lovely feedback from my <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/A-Tranquil-Townhouse/128366383865351?v=wall">Facebook</a> page when I posted the beginnings...thank you <a href="http://therubieplace.blogspot.com/">Tina</a>, Kim, <a href="http://lifeonplanetbaby.blogspot.com/">Jane</a> and Sharon! Oh, and the 22 year old thought it was ok too :)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZul0koT6S-eg74adpBcX3uUeeARSlOED_XpMCEfKjra_AeV6hMXT-6XeEhhxbuPViw7f_GABsATRFfW8bcAfrVjkDlIouKJ-pUnjNEDKvT19PcbpU9gDRSOyATgHeYUMoXxNyg0V28H0o/s1600/babushka+painting+006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZul0koT6S-eg74adpBcX3uUeeARSlOED_XpMCEfKjra_AeV6hMXT-6XeEhhxbuPViw7f_GABsATRFfW8bcAfrVjkDlIouKJ-pUnjNEDKvT19PcbpU9gDRSOyATgHeYUMoXxNyg0V28H0o/s640/babushka+painting+006.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The faces were the hardest bit...I'm sure at least one of these poor 'bushkas is cross-eyed...oh well :)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbFTD2s5Q_iUaWjpC-0n6efzvnyzJamQb7t8jjLWg0qbDOJPm-RxYlvP1oh4vU16cyKPsdWlYm7IP4cngMO9I2RWpqLP3wzlHX12n-PjH_Pu-M4qbJI6uxB5-Ux2fpmjVX3oQW2aFWngy2/s1600/babushka+painting+008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbFTD2s5Q_iUaWjpC-0n6efzvnyzJamQb7t8jjLWg0qbDOJPm-RxYlvP1oh4vU16cyKPsdWlYm7IP4cngMO9I2RWpqLP3wzlHX12n-PjH_Pu-M4qbJI6uxB5-Ux2fpmjVX3oQW2aFWngy2/s640/babushka+painting+008.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But all in all I'm quite happy with how it turned out..just need to frame it now. And I look forward to making some more.  Perhaps butterflies? Different coloured pencils? Flowers? Any ideas you clever blogsters?</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Off to work...don't the weekends fly by, more's the pity!</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'm linking up to <a href="http://www.somewhatsimple.com/2010/10/sys-blog-link-party-with-ribbon-retreat.html">Somewhat Simple</a> and <a href="http://somedaycrafts.blogspot.com/2010/10/whatever-goes-wednesday-37.html">Someday Crafts</a>. Please go and see what others have been up to :)</span></div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85794/tranquiltownhouse/6aa76c55681784d717c463ecc754d7c5.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>

my weekend project ~ a babushka painting for a new baby...

Nat, a work colleague had her first baby a few weeks ago...Willow Elizabeth...how gorgeous is that. And...get this...she was born at 10 p.m....

Read more »

soul food friday ~ friendship, acts of kindness and a break

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwquAM8CNu30L8V-kMANnD74ONmhW6Jfz-3bICNnwYURf_ZeWoaV3dRM3LbcN3JMdZtpzPSlHmOZ_1YX9-_5LFtl5G20ymogYSut34_cauoW2M90QcSP8ownqqjbxZXFHRW7-AevvwuTWg/s1600/kindness_is.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwquAM8CNu30L8V-kMANnD74ONmhW6Jfz-3bICNnwYURf_ZeWoaV3dRM3LbcN3JMdZtpzPSlHmOZ_1YX9-_5LFtl5G20ymogYSut34_cauoW2M90QcSP8ownqqjbxZXFHRW7-AevvwuTWg/s640/0kindness_is.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You hear (or read) about so many acts of kindness in this bloggy world. I hadn't expected that when I started, although I suspect if I'd actually thought about it, it might have gone down as one of those glimpses of the bleeding obvious.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAsZL4mE-Kexe51BgLRlRV1Tw-UEsfYG8hh6zT0yJxunJLjHIWhApHSn62ojxz-bgdD9jnd6XOxlN8vgVkfH107vDrl6aRLPWmHMj6stQYFyux50xtny3d0rvyVKX6VhFs3h8GvjLB1oJH/s1600/kindness.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAsZL4mE-Kexe51BgLRlRV1Tw-UEsfYG8hh6zT0yJxunJLjHIWhApHSn62ojxz-bgdD9jnd6XOxlN8vgVkfH107vDrl6aRLPWmHMj6stQYFyux50xtny3d0rvyVKX6VhFs3h8GvjLB1oJH/s640/kindness.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Kindness is pretty much everywhere. Friends rally when you're glum. I've had lots of 'rallying' in the last few days. From my 'here in my home town' peeps and from my online friends. And that has been so lovely.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And when you're feeling out of sorts it's wonderful to come home and find a package in your mailbox. It puts a smile on your face and makes you feel a bit better.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEXuq-sKB8djaqsyONT0XhvGCEWlP-T_fg7ijvg1wuUZX7xttdwuvN_gQR-pvXlMyZ0lExIeKuSm9v0yrQvUgiS7PWizFOV-ptuaVFjx1JyLAKoHTS-MsUu9ARDnUyUwO93PZZR0G_3723/s1600/you+have+heart+feel+it.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEXuq-sKB8djaqsyONT0XhvGCEWlP-T_fg7ijvg1wuUZX7xttdwuvN_gQR-pvXlMyZ0lExIeKuSm9v0yrQvUgiS7PWizFOV-ptuaVFjx1JyLAKoHTS-MsUu9ARDnUyUwO93PZZR0G_3723/s640/you+have+heart+feel+it.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">this image is via </span><a href="http://chasingsatellites.tumblr.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">chasing satellites</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">...the first born's new tumblr (it's lovely - you should visit)</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The package was from my friend Mary in Canada. She follows my blog and always leaves lovely comments. We met each other 20 years ago when our husbands were posted to the UK. Mine in the Australian Army, hers in the Canadian. She's still got hers though!!! We only reconnected recently through the wonders of Google and a name search! Thanks so much for doing that you guys :) </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You can tell she reads the blog because she knitted me some <a href="http://tranquiltownhouse.blogspot.com/2010/07/gone-all-gaga-over-dishcloth.html">dishcloths</a>!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLw4esjGMrTBxTfJnhgJWLmNw1NeY5NRlWm1aMJk9ZHrpwZBxO3fhSAHOfwGlbf3ApoTdZkgA37FHSKHN_8FpC_666nDq9HsgMdXExFTH65psUV_XeJ3UK-zTW4f88sQlUNy3urc5yMLxY/s1600/marys+dishcloths.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLw4esjGMrTBxTfJnhgJWLmNw1NeY5NRlWm1aMJk9ZHrpwZBxO3fhSAHOfwGlbf3ApoTdZkgA37FHSKHN_8FpC_666nDq9HsgMdXExFTH65psUV_XeJ3UK-zTW4f88sQlUNy3urc5yMLxY/s640/marys+dishcloths.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">...they even came with a colour coordinated card...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhkx3aHznv65uHiqtzSYFHsPRHMr3fCAcjY0L1ZDH4D62323SgIkrN1cMRXA90NLjN7psrhtS0QUK_-VOmxcTcTSRJiLYYYbnWKFlKpP2kiag6DlzYAUAGRgbirrvz_rXNWkhyjb_vdE_K/s1600/marys+dishcloths+and+card.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhkx3aHznv65uHiqtzSYFHsPRHMr3fCAcjY0L1ZDH4D62323SgIkrN1cMRXA90NLjN7psrhtS0QUK_-VOmxcTcTSRJiLYYYbnWKFlKpP2kiag6DlzYAUAGRgbirrvz_rXNWkhyjb_vdE_K/s640/marys+dishcloths+and+card.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">...and instructions in case I want to make some too! Well thank you Mary...I just might do that:)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZN4hBAQT4V-WEFlDvwZLWEVNyuNgd4waRXelr1-piY9AXMMXgmDQQassa2LAv8dQftrwgT2Vlhh006iv_1E__YUu_EvG-jdryfSTAmNM0kzulBnRSNB63OAiwUIVIdwdPxVnfY5OXs9JS/s1600/marys+dishcloth+instructions.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZN4hBAQT4V-WEFlDvwZLWEVNyuNgd4waRXelr1-piY9AXMMXgmDQQassa2LAv8dQftrwgT2Vlhh006iv_1E__YUu_EvG-jdryfSTAmNM0kzulBnRSNB63OAiwUIVIdwdPxVnfY5OXs9JS/s640/marys+dishcloth+instructions.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And last, but not least...thank you everyone for your comments about my blues. I knew you'd understand and I am very grateful. They're still hanging about (blast them to smithereens!), but honestly, I know I have very little to be glum about. Nonetheless, I'm going to take your advice and take it easy for a week or so. I've noticed there are a few others doing that...perhaps it's that time of year!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And when I come back I'm sure I'll be much chirpier (thanks <a href="http://smallacornsnz.blogspot.com/">Amanda</a>, such a good word to be reminded of!). In the meantime I'm going to do some of this...a bit of getting fit..or at least starting the process (because boy do I need to do that!) and spend some time in the garden (if it ever stops raining). Oh yeah, and there's that pesky work to go to as well in between knitting dishcloths ;)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb-rwn6HjwcKbedB33wclnkpwaVwtV9PHdyhRTGtV1ZLEkC_fFRUbePpkUuYwexIgq-_SdkeyYxtINQ7Oa4TbG-kDyuyeNFrwkJedoukWn_wF7sw7soh4mTNNMMUsJlwW8UCdS1CDHh2Hp/s1600/wii+game.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb-rwn6HjwcKbedB33wclnkpwaVwtV9PHdyhRTGtV1ZLEkC_fFRUbePpkUuYwexIgq-_SdkeyYxtINQ7Oa4TbG-kDyuyeNFrwkJedoukWn_wF7sw7soh4mTNNMMUsJlwW8UCdS1CDHh2Hp/s640/wii+game.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I do hope you'll still be around when I come back, because I really do appreciate you. If not, that's ok too. I'll still be blog stalking of course :) And as this lovely picture Jess took last night shows, there's always a rainbow somewhere...very pretty isn't it?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx8QwPtrvA_n7Yr8-JabAUbPivFbuuoefkIxJ7AcXWMRS6RF05oQ7-Hmi5Jhjb-qHQ_Y95avPSMdQUgiLqlHefrw13j4bFhyWzWFh96fuMTsLg1bfeCwbtUC7c1POMzbXa89ruiSnxtB9j/s1600/jess+rainbow+photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx8QwPtrvA_n7Yr8-JabAUbPivFbuuoefkIxJ7AcXWMRS6RF05oQ7-Hmi5Jhjb-qHQ_Y95avPSMdQUgiLqlHefrw13j4bFhyWzWFh96fuMTsLg1bfeCwbtUC7c1POMzbXa89ruiSnxtB9j/s640/jess+rainbow+photo.jpg" /></a></div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85794/tranquiltownhouse/6aa76c55681784d717c463ecc754d7c5.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>

soul food friday ~ friendship, acts of kindness and a break

You hear (or read) about so many acts of kindness in this bloggy world. I hadn't expected that when I started, although I suspect if I...

Read more »