Puffing Billy

I thought I'd introduce you to a special friend of mine. His name is Puffing Billy and he is a restored steam train that huffs and puffs his way through the forested hills and valleys of our mountain home. He passes noisily through our village several times a day to the delight of any one who sees him, bringing with him tourists from Melbourne who sit on the open carriage windows with legs dangling, grinning and waving at passers by.  He is a wonderful part of life here in the Ranges, I can't imagine life without him!

Flower Inspiration

I always think fresh displays of flowers finish a room but I am utterly hopeless at arranging them.  I like the informal, effortless look but struggle to achieve it! 

Then I discovered Scarlet and Violet, what more inspiration could anyone need! 

Wonderful White

I adore the simple decor of a white room. A white room filled with beautiful textures and natural splashes of colour in the form of aged timber or old leather is a sight to behold. 

via beachstudios.co.uk

Divine Raspberry Tart!!!

I've been watching Masterchef Australia with increasing amounts of enthusiasm and now I can't miss it! I  made their Raspberry Tart yesterday and it was absolutely divine so I thought I would pass on the recipe. You can watch the video here. Try it, it's the simplest recipe!

2 1/4 cups flour (plain/all purpose)

1/4 cup icing/confectioners sugar

125g(1 stick) butter

2 eggs

450ml thick cream sweetened with a little icing sugar and vanilla

350g raspberries

Blend the flour, butter and sugar in a processor briefly until crumblike or rub in by hand, add the eggs to make a soft pastry and chill for 30 mins. Roll out to fit a tart or flan tin, I used a 30cm loose bottomed tin. Prick the base with a fork and bake blind for 15 mins at 180c.  Allow to cool completely.  Whip up the cream  to soft peaks, add the sugar and vanilla and pile the raspberries on top.  So simple yet soooooo delicious!

Apply to face!

I have been tagged .......

I have been tagged .......

I've been tagged by my fellow pom Kim from slinkymalinkicat! Bless you my child!!

I've been Tagged

What is your current obsession?

Encaustic art, I think I must start painting again!

What is your weirdest obsession?

Spicy food, pickled chillies, in fact anything pickled, weird stuff like that!

What are you wearing today?

My fave jeans,  a t-shirt, a black sweater and a long olive green cardi! (it's really cold here in Melbourne)

What's for dinner?

One of my favorite recipes from the Moro cookbook, a tomatoey, aubergine and mixed spice concoction!

What is your favourite book?

Middlemarch by George Eliot

What's the last thing you bought?

Some beautiful linen cord

What are you listening to right now?

Raucos parrots, laughing kookaburras and Puffing Billy, the wonderful old steam train that passes through our village.

What is your favourite ice-cream flavour?

Lemon sorbet

What do you think of the person who tagged you?

Kim is a lovely, friendly and kind person, I think we have alot in common, which is probably why we get on so well!

If you could have a house totally paid for, fully furnished anywhere in the world, where would you like it to be?

The Cotswolds, England

If you could go anywhere in the world for the next hour where would you go?

To visit my mum in England, I haven't seen her for 2 years!

Which language do you want to learn?

I'd love to speak fluent Hungarian, my father in law is Hungarian and it is a beautiful language, but horribly difficult!

Who do you want to meet right now?

My family in England!

What is your favourite colour?

Green, no blue, no green!

What is your favourite piece of clothing in your own wardrobe?

A long parachute silk skirt with a slight puffball hem, in a linen colour, it's so beautiful!

What is your favourite magazine?

I always buy British Country Living to remind me of home, but I love Australian Country Style .

If you had a £100 now, what would you spend it on?

Art.

Favourite artist/s?

 I love alot of etsy artists, I have some wonderful pieces from Emily Martin and  Jon Carling

Do you admire anyone's style?

I like free, independant easy style

Describe your personal style?

Relaxed, understated and simple

What are you going to do after this?

 I'm going to buy some damar resin and some gesso!

What are your favourite movies?

Little Miss Sunshine, Roman Holiday, Romeo and Juliet

What is your favourite fruit?

Raspberries

What inspires you?

Kind people and beautiful art and food!

What music do you like this week?

My daughters make me listen to the most dreadful rubbish (I'm turning into my mother!) So I'm liking the sound of silence! Well  actually, the parrots and kookaburras.

What is your dream job?

I have it, to create things, but I would quite like to be a food writer!

What is stopping you?

Not sure, maybe thats whats next!

If you could change something in the world to make it a better place what would that be?

I would like to make it a place where children and animals don't get hurt.

Who in history would you like to meet?

Queen Elizabeth 1st 

The rules:

1. Respond and rework; answer the questions on your blog, replace one question that you dislike with a question of your own invention, add one more question of your own.

2. Tag eight other people.

I am tagging:

I'm working on it!

Gigi a la Maison

Here's a tiny peek at one of my favourite shops, Gigi in South Melbourne. They always have a wonderfully eclectic mix of vintage, antique and new finds, many direct from France. Always something irresistable!

Wonderful Wallpaper!!

I absolutely adore this wallpaper from those wonderful people at kindred spirit. I have had this  gorgeous design from artist Fifi Lapin on my desktop for at least a week, which is incredible! Go get yourself one!!

I am just loving this!!

From  sbarao

I made some soap today!

I wish you could smell this soap,  one has the lavender drenched smell of summer, the other a spiky peppermint wake up call. Can't wait to use it!

Gorgeous Encaustics

I've long been a fan of encaustic art and have dabbled with it myself.  A little while ago I discovered the work of Edinburgh based Natasha Morton on Etsy, an incredibly talented artist who uses many different types of medium, not just wax. 

 I love the contemporary feel of her work and thought I would share  a couple of her pieces with you

Trip to Brighton Beach

Well, finally my blog is up and running and here is my first post!

Today was the 1st sunny day for a while , so we took Hamish McDuff, our Bearded Collie to his favourite beach at Brighton. He thoroughly enjoyed himself, paddling and playing with the other dogs. His day got even better when we went for breakfast at Pantry and the waitress bought him his own rather large, bone shaped biscuit! It didn't stop him trying to steal my bacon though!! He'll steal your latte given half a chance too, this must be a Melbourne dog!