Five Things I Love

March 3, 2011 by Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

I love my neti pot.

I use it several times a week to keep allergies and sinus problems at bay, and it always leaves me feeling sooo much better.

For the uninitiated, a neti pot is a device used to irrigate nasal passages by pouring a weak saline solution through them. It takes a little getting used to at first, but in our family of hayfever sufferers, it’s an invaluable tool. If you’re interested, do have a look on YouTube where there are several videoclips of the pot in use (I’ve opted to spare you from the direct link here – it’s not exactly the most appealing viewing!).

A word of advice though – don’t let your husband use it for separating the fat off gravy, or it will never be quite the same ever again. Sigh.

****************

I love David Attenborough wildlife documentaries.

Oh, how I love these! We have almost every series he’s ever hosted or narrated, and many a bad day has been cured by an hour or so of marveling at the natural world with Sir David. And it doesn’t seem to matter how often I watch an episode, there’s always something new that I missed last time, or some detail I’ve forgotten, and each and every time I’m blown away all over again.

My current favourite series is Planet Earth, with its groundbreaking cinematography and astonishing breadth of material. I found an excerpt on YouTube:

A tip for fellow Aussies – many of these dvds are now on sale at Amazon.co.uk at massively reduced prices. I believe the UK, like Australia, use a PAL system rather than NTSC and therefore the discs should be compatible with our local dvd players (but please don’t hold me to that, as we have a multi-region player, so I can’t be certain).

****************

I love my industrial sewing machine.

In a tale reminiscent of a Thomas the Tank Engine story, we saved it from scrap and had it repaired, and now it’s living a happy and productive life in my sewing room. It’s over 40 years old, but still happily chugs along, powering its way through heavy duty fabrics and anything else I throw at it.

It’s a straight-stitch only machine, which back tacks at the beginning and end of each line of stitching, and then, best of all, automatically trims off the loose threads. I’ve used it to sew everything from giant kites to vinyl beanbags to children’s clothing, and it’s never let me down. It’s produced over 500 beanies for charity, pieced together a wetsuit from scrap neoprene, and sewn leather handguards for all the French horns in the school orchestra. The last repairman who serviced it told me that it would probably outlast me!

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I love Splayds. So much so that I have a box set aside for each of my sons when they move out of home.

A dozen of these clever and aesthetically pleasing eating utensils live in our kitchen drawer, sharing space with the more mundane cutlery. A shiny splayd makes eating dessert a special affair!

And since we’re big xkcd.com fans, it seemed apt to post their splayd (spork) strip here…

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Finally, I love my Panasonic Lumix camera.

I’ve previously blogged about my pocket Lumix, but this larger version is my everyday camera. It takes almost all the photos on our blog, with the exception of pics shot when we’re out and about.

My larger Lumix is an SLR with a fixed zoom lens, autofocus, an adjustable white balance and an ISO range between 80 and 400. It’s now nearly eight years old, and I use it every single day. Compared to newer cameras, it’s old and clunky – even the little pocket Lumix is lightyears ahead of it in terms of functionality. Plastic bits are starting to fall off the back of the unit, there’s flour caught in the crevices, and the rechargeable batteries are near the end of their life, but I’m resisting the urge to upgrade. It’s been such a loyal worker for so long, I’ll just use it until it can’t do the job anymore.

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Tell me, what are some of the things you love?

Posted in Cool Things, Musings | 68 Comments

68 Responses

on March 3, 2011 at 12:28 am Kavey

Your post reminds me how much we have in common!

I adore wildlife documentaries, and David Attenborough is one of the top five people I admire and respect and would love to meet…

XKCD is fantastic and it’s always a good day to have it pop up in my RSS feed.

I had severe hayfever as a child, and although it’s not AS bad now, it can still get the better of me. I shall try a neti pot thing.

I love photography, though I don’t use the same camera. I do have a DSLR but my little pocket point and shoot Canon s90 is a godsend for blogging as it lives in my handbag!

I’m not very good at sewing though!

The splayds look mighty fine!
- on March 3, 2011 at 6:49 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Kavey! Don’t forget we both love eggplant pickle too! Hahaha…
  
  Isn’t xkcd hysterically funny? We ordered t-shirts from them a couple of years ago, and Big Boy wore his “Code Compiling” shirt to school on mufti (casual dress) day – and was mobbed by a group of older boys… :)
  - on March 3, 2011 at 9:24 pm Kavey
    
    I should get Pete some T-shirts!
    
    Occasionally, there’s something too science or computery for me to follow, and Pete explains but most of them, I just love!!!
on March 3, 2011 at 1:10 am norma

I just love all these things…especially the utensils
- on March 3, 2011 at 6:50 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Hi Norma, if Pete would let me, I’d serve every meal at dinner with a splayd! :)
on March 3, 2011 at 3:09 am sallybr

I love when something happens that is just right. Like picking a book to read in a bookstore at the airport, and realizing it’s exactly what I needed to read in my life at this very moment.

The book is called “Buddhism, Plain and Simple”
- on March 3, 2011 at 6:51 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Serendipity, Sal! Hope you had a good flight!
on March 3, 2011 at 3:13 am Marilyn

C! I just bought a Lumix DMC-2S5 and it’s spiff. I’ve never had my very own camera before and I am delighted.

I love my computer. It’s a iMac with a screen the size of a TV. (Great for designing double page spreads)

I love my ukelele that my wonderhub made me for Xmas. He gave me a case for Valentines = awesome.

I love Derwent drawing pencils, Dahl scissors and my Tombo pen.

Oh, and the internet. I really love the internet. <3

Maz
- on March 3, 2011 at 6:54 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Maz, the pocket Lumixes are brilliant, aren’t they? I took the photo of my big camera with my little one, and I don’t think you could pick the difference, at least not on the screen.
  
  I have a set of Derwent colouring in pencils (72) that I love, although they’re not in number order anymore, and that bugs me a bit.. :)
  
  And here’s my fave ukulele clip!
  - on March 3, 2011 at 11:54 am Marilyn
    
    ROCK THAT THING! Wow! that was inspiring!
    
    Right now I’m working on “Pineapple Princess” but this is my favorite….
on March 3, 2011 at 3:19 am Debra Kolkka

I’m prepared to love that blue neti thing. I get hayfever too. I love my Bernina. I have had it since I was 12 and it wasn’t new then. It is an old metal frame sewing machine, one of the first portables, although it is quite heavy. It must be about 50 and I think it will see me out. I LOVE David Attenborough – anything he does. I love my great big boy, who will be 38 soon. I love my house in Italy. I love my life.
- on March 3, 2011 at 6:57 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Deb, I love your life too! And I love reading about your adventures in Italy, and looking at all your fabulous photos!
  
  Your old Bernina sounds great, although they did have an interesting definition of “portable” back then! :)
on March 3, 2011 at 4:59 am sandy

I love my book collection. I know that borrowing from the library is a greener option, but i like to bookmark the good parts and read again later.

I like to collect coffee mugs. I buy one on every special occasion. I have birthday mugs, anniversary mugs, important epiphany mugs…

I love my heavy duty blender. Chutneys, Indian idli batter, i can just about blend anything in it.

I too love Planet Earth. Attenborough’s voice is so comforting. I enjoy watching Anthony Bourdain’s No Reservations. He’s snarky, intelligent and combines travel with food. What’s not to like, right? I particularly enjoy the rustic, home cooked meals he covers.

I hope to buy a sewing machine soon. I want to make decorative buntings for friends and family this year.
- on March 3, 2011 at 6:59 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Sandy, coffee mugs! That would be a very fun collection! Here are some of the things I collect – it’s a bit of a disease, eh? :)
  
  David Attenborough – when I can’t sleep, his voice can lull me into blissful slumber.. :)
on March 3, 2011 at 6:00 am Terri

Hi Celia,
I am receiving two of your emails on each occasion. I wonder if it is happening to anyone else.
I love your site.
- on March 3, 2011 at 6:25 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Terri, thanks for letting me know – it’s been happening to me too. I think it’s a wordpress glitch, hopefully a temporary one, I’ve only had it happen the last couple of posts. Will email WP support and see what they say. Thanks for reading! :)
on March 3, 2011 at 6:17 am Sophie33

I also have a lumix panasonic camera, but a digital one DMC- G2!!

I love mine to bits too! Your spoon aka forks look so lovely & they are real silver, no?

I also love all of the books & documentaries of David. A.

Thanks for sharing these things with us! What a lovely post, Celia!

I am using your book clips a lot, these days!
- on March 3, 2011 at 7:01 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Sophie, the splayds are stainless steel, but a very shiny one, which means they go straight into the dishwasher and come out looking brand new! Glad to hear you like the book darts! :)
on March 3, 2011 at 6:42 am cityhippyfarmgirl

I love anything ayurvedic related so that neti pot has got to be a good thing… haven’t been brave enough to give it a go though.

Mr C and I were commenting just the other night that it will be a dark day when Sir David leaves this world. A magnificent man.

I love the inquistive questioning minds of little people. Every day they make me stop and think with something.

I also love Whittakers Dark Almond (62%)… I blame Mr C entirely.
- on March 3, 2011 at 7:03 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Your Mr Chocolate is a lovely man, B, so what if he’s hooked you on his chocolate drug of choice? :)
  
  I don’t think Sir David will ever leave. He’ll be on our screens long after he’s gone!
on March 3, 2011 at 8:24 am Manuela

Hi Celia!

Lovely post! I think your sewing machine is awesome! I have a Janome sewing machine that I use a lot. I have dreamed about getting an industrial sewing machine, but haven’t found an affordable one yet.

The splayds look nice. They are probably very handy.
- on March 3, 2011 at 12:49 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Manuela, the guy who came out to repair my machine told me that industrial machines are now about half the price they used to be! Of course, it’s still thousands of dollars, but closer now to $2k rather than $5K!
on March 3, 2011 at 8:39 am Tracey

Finally, someone else who loves splayds!!! My husband can’t understand my love of splayds….think I now have 3 or 4 sets. And I LOVE using them…..
- on March 3, 2011 at 12:50 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Splayds!! I love them desperately – I wonder if it’s an Aussie thing? :)
on March 3, 2011 at 9:11 am Choclette

David Attenborough is a true star and we have his books too. Your netti pot is still something we have on our list to acquire for CT. I’m envious of your splayds, can now see why you take such good photographs and am in no way envious of your sewing machine – I hate sewing!
- on March 3, 2011 at 12:51 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  So many DA fans here! That’s nice to know! Surely you can get splayd-like things in the UK, Choc? :)
on March 3, 2011 at 9:37 am Amanda

We are a household of hayfever sufferers, but I doubt that I could coerce any of them into using that pot!
I love my Thermomix, the Breville tea-maker that The Husband bought me for Xmas, my Kindle ( I really love that), the chooks and chocolate.
Not necessarily in that order.
- on March 3, 2011 at 12:51 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Oooh A, a kindle! I’ve never even contemplated getting one. Can you download all the US books, or are there some that are regionally limited?
  - on March 3, 2011 at 5:56 pm Amanda
    
    Some publications are not allowed to be sold here – because of our restrictions, I think, not theirs. I bought it to try and cut down on my reading expenses, but all it has done is free up more cash to be spent on cookbooks! I don’t mind at all, but The Husband still sighs when he sees the credit card statement.
    Having said that, it is a wonderful device, takes up very little space in my handbag and makes reading even more pleasurable – if that was possible!
    - on March 3, 2011 at 7:28 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
      
      Cookbooks…they’re a collecting disease unto themselves, aren’t they? :)
on March 3, 2011 at 10:02 am Yvette

Celia, a post which made me think…
I love my trinkets and material things of home which express my love of vintage and victoriana, linen and lace,china,anything white.
I love the comfort and security of a home and I’m missing all of that at the moment.
I love my two worlds of different styles and customs and torn between the two.
My journal of where I write, secret and silent.
My blog where I express my self, create and photograph the things I love sharing with friends.
Thanks for sharing your loves and my moment of reflection! x
- on March 3, 2011 at 12:52 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Yvette, thanks love, I can see all your vintage and linen and lace in your photos! So pretty! :)
on March 3, 2011 at 10:16 am Vita

I LOVE MY SPLAYDS. Most people I share them with think they are totally daggy (my ex MIL GAVE me hers, she hated them so much) but I just think they are awesome.

I love my mums old sunbeam mixmaster. Its dying a slow death but it must be 50 years old. Might just have to replace it with a Kenwood sometime soon.

I must pull my sewing machine out of storage. There have been a ton of times in the past few years that I could have used it. Will dig it out soon.

I really really love the internet and my iphone

But mostly I love my daughter…
- on March 3, 2011 at 12:53 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Vita, maybe we should get t-shirts made. “I LOVE MY SPLAYDS” and then a photo of them on the front. :)
on March 3, 2011 at 10:33 am Mariana

Oh my. You’ve hit the spot with this one.

My hubby and son constantly have hayfever attacks when they either go slashing or weeding or spraying on the farm. I need earmuffs because their sneezing is sooo loud it drives me crazy. Shall pass the neti info on. Thanks.

David Attenborough. Are you kidding!!! We ADORE him in our family. We often ask who on earth is ever going to replace him. The answer is always the same. Noone. He’s irreplacable. He’s a living treasure and that voice. So soothing, so caring, so passionate. Did you ever see the interview with him on Andrew Denton – about two years ago? It was mesmerizing. He was clearly born to follow this path. He actually began to talk a lot about world population concerns, food. agriculture, environment and climate. He’ll always be remembered for his love of animals, but these other issues were troubling him. The world needs him.

I have an early 1970’s pfaff sewing machine. Runs like a dream – solid as a rock.

I have a set of splayds bought sometime late 70’s early 80’s. They are enclosed in a red velvet container. I finally began using them last year. Turning 50 made me question the value of things and hoarding. Not worth it. I love mine.

I have a G7 Canon digital compact camera. It’s only mine because everyone else in the family has their own updated versions. I’m very, very happy with it.

Like I said – you really hit the spot with me this morning – especially with DA. Cheers Mariana.
- on March 3, 2011 at 12:54 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Mariana, yet another DA fan! Wonderful! I think one of his dvds gets an airing in this house every day! :)
on March 3, 2011 at 11:16 am David

Hi C,

I love this site and the passion you bring to it.

You will be glad to know that a friend of mine has found your site recently and has already made her way to amazon uk for a couple of cookbooks and has been inspired to dust off her romertopf and start using it again.

Your influence spreads far and wide!
- on March 3, 2011 at 12:55 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Cheers, Davey. Please don’t blame me if you end up re-mortgaging the house to buy cookbooks on Amazon. :) xx
on March 3, 2011 at 1:52 pm Mrs Bok - The Bok Flock

I love David Attenborough!! He is one of my faves too.
- on March 3, 2011 at 7:28 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Mrs Bok, he’s just fantastic! I reckon he’d probably love our chooks..hahaha
on March 3, 2011 at 4:21 pm thecompletecookbook

Celia, I absolutely love these posts! It’s wonderful to learn more about you each time.
Five things I love:
*My electronic kitchen scale – not sure what took me so long to own one.
* The wonderful seedless grapes that I bought yesterday – I can’t often find them here.
* The fabulous breeze that blows through the heavily hot kitchen when I am cooking.
*Having my kitty children sit and watch me while I cook.
*Knowing that I will be treated with a breakfast out on Saturdays.
:-) Mandy
- on March 3, 2011 at 7:29 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Mandy, thank you! I have to agree, I have no idea how I managed as long as I did without kitchen scales. I reckon I use mine every other day! Loved your last Saturday breakfast post – what a view! :)
on March 3, 2011 at 5:21 pm Anna Johnston

Love a good splayd myself sweets! :)
Also, crazy in love with my berkies (shoes) they are funky and so comfy. I love my wok, it goes everywhere with me, and my little black dress, I love my IPhone, IPad & IMac, and I love writing, sharing my knowledge with the world. :)
Great post Ms C. xxx
- on March 3, 2011 at 7:30 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Splayd! Splayd! Splayd! Oi! Oi! Oi! :)
  
  I’m impressed girlfriend, you travel with a wok? :)
on March 3, 2011 at 5:25 pm InTolerantChef

Splayds are many splendid thing, what can’t you do with a splayd?(except eat soup) They are so handy for gravy and sauce laden dishes, peas sit in them better, and they are cute. What more could you ask for?
I shared some of the things I love on my post “beauty spots’ recently, but I also love YOU Celia! Thanks for sharing the love.
- on March 3, 2011 at 7:33 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Becca, I LOVED your kitchen! Especially your “Bite Me” spoon – I reckon I’ve told five people about that.. :)
  
  Lots of love to you too, dearheart! :)
on March 3, 2011 at 5:46 pm Claire @ Claire K Creations

I love your list!

Here’s what I love (I’m going to restrict it to my kitchen though).

I love my Kitchen Aid mix master in all its shiny glory.

I love my Vita mix blender for all the goodies it whips up for me.

I love my Chef’n veggi chopper for cutting up onion so I don’t cry.

I love love my cryovac machine for sealing things so they don’t go stale and for vacuum sealing all my meat after my big shop ups at the Super Butcher.

I love my wooden spoons for all the things they help me whip up on the stove.
- on March 3, 2011 at 7:34 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Claire, the vacuum sealer (ours is only a cheapie) is pretty invaluable in our house too! And I really do need something that will let me chop up onions without crying. I thought I had that sorted, but he grew up and decided he wasn’t going to let me boss him any more. :)
on March 3, 2011 at 6:46 pm Marilyn

Ok, I have to admit, I’ve never even heard the word “Splayds” until today. I know what “sporks” are, but here they are plastic things that you can only get from buying food from a drive though.

That said, I find myself wanting to get me some Splayds. Think of it, less washing up… a multitasker! We like! And they come in a cool box too. The mencats would be all over it!

I’d have to say that in the kitchen, my favorite things are… my cast iron skillet, my Shun knife, my farm sink, and the hardwood maple countertops that the hub salvaged from the rocket labs. (they were work benches and are three inches thick.)
- on March 3, 2011 at 7:36 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Maz, I would send you a set of Splayds, but the shipping would be horrendous! Surely they must sell something similar in the US? They really are very cool.
  
  Listen to me, carrying on about cutlery. Sigh… :)
on March 3, 2011 at 8:54 pm Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella

ROFL Pete used your neti pot for WHAT? :P I tried to buy one but most places had no idea what I was talking about. Or perhaps I was looking at the wrong places. I remember them being on Oprah and I really wanted to try it for my sinuses. Now I use the nasal spray for flights and that is pretty good.

OK so when did this become a nose blog? :P
- on March 3, 2011 at 9:01 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  I don’t want to talk about it. I had to put it in the dishwasher to get the lamb fat out of it, but I could still smell it for weeks after (I was pouring it through my sinuses, after all). And the lid didn’t fit properly after it had been in the machine either. ;-)
  
  You can buy the plastic neti pots like the one I have at most chemists these days, along with the saline sachets!
on March 4, 2011 at 2:14 am Roz

I loved reading your post and everyone elses – glad I did not comment immediately so I could read them. I love my cookbooks and lots of other inanimate objects (the newspaper once did a story about my loved things) – but best of all I love my husband…
- on March 4, 2011 at 8:46 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Roz, you have such an artistic eye, and so many gorgeous things! Glad you enjoyed the post, it’s been fun reading what everyone else loves too. :)
on March 4, 2011 at 5:52 am Peter Bryenton

Flour caught in the crevices: good, it’s a grand old workhorse of a camera.
- on March 4, 2011 at 8:44 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Aaah, it’s such a pleasure to use too, Peter. The newer one does a better job with white balancing, but the old one is still quite good, and so consistent after so many years. When I finally do replace it, it will be with an updated version of the same camera!
on March 4, 2011 at 7:09 am heidi

I love my teapots- ALL of them- and the cozies that I wrap around them.
I love my books.
I love my baskets- I have ever so many different kinds and sizes and shapes and colors.
I love my treen pieces- especially the homemade rolling pins.
And I love my large pottery bowls- they are old and show their age, but that just makes me respect them more.
(I have a neti pot – but our relationship is rocky and not ongoing- I really enjoy DA- but not Love! My sewing machine scares me. I’ve only experienced plastic sporks but I can imagine having feelings for splayds. And my camera and I have a problem with communication.)
- on March 4, 2011 at 8:43 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Heidi, you really do have the most gorgeous collection of teapots! Just beautiful! :)
on March 4, 2011 at 7:21 am Gillian

Things I love my frother, my rachel allen mugs, and copy of Bittersweet and SkyPlus (record straight from telly!)

But I want those Splayds!!
- on March 4, 2011 at 8:42 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Gill, our little frother is a treasure – cost $4, uses batteries, and lasts a couple of years before dying. Small Man uses it every day to mix up hot chocolate! :)
on March 4, 2011 at 7:31 am Sally

Well , I have to hand it to you, it’s brave to start a blog post that is usually about gorgeous food with a thing you irrigate your nasal passage with! I did read to the end though. Entertaining as always – if a bit of a curve ball!
- on March 4, 2011 at 8:41 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Hahaha…I’ve blogged about everything from Italian playing cards to cowboy boots, Sally, with the odd very gross Korean pickle thrown in for good measure. :) Thanks for reading to the end! :)
on March 4, 2011 at 7:58 am Nazarina

Hello,

I & almost the whole of Colorado can so relate to your neti-pot in more ways than one. Allergy season will be here pretty soon !

Your sewing machine reminds me of the days when my Mom would be hard at work trying to juggle just all kinds of projects! I can tell that it brings you great joy!
- on March 4, 2011 at 8:38 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Nazarina, thanks for stopping by! I can imagine it must get very sneezy in Colorado in Spring! :)
on March 4, 2011 at 8:53 am Joanna @ Zeb Bakes

I love squeaky toys, my fleece blanket, my chewy stick, chicken and sardines xxx
- on March 4, 2011 at 9:26 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Zebedee, do you like chasing live chickens, or eating cooked ones? :)
  - on March 4, 2011 at 10:40 am Joanna @ Zeb Bakes
    
    ahem… all of the above… woof!
on March 4, 2011 at 10:31 am Soy

I love eggs and my mandolin from Japan ( not been there yet). Love your splayds, been meaning to get some for our household 8)