I have been, as we say over here, flat out like a lizard drinking.
Sometimes, when life has been crazy busy, it’s hard to remember that bits of it were actually great fun. Here are snippets of some really enjoyable moments from the last couple of weeks…
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The Spice Girl took me to Harris Park in Sydney’s west for a proper Indian meal. We had a plain paper dosa, chicken methi curry, and a goat biryani. It was all fabulous, including the Bollywood movie playing on the flat screen television, and we congratulated ourselves on being quite restrained and only ordering three main meals between the two of us…
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I had a late night text from Johnny at the Cheese Shop to say that they were now stocking Pepe Saya butter. Of course, we then had to make a trip to stock up – and came home with butter, creme fraiche, some guanciale and a six-pack of amazing San Marzano tomatoes…
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I’ve been playing with the Hipstamatic iPhone app, and taking photos of my succulents, using the Americana lens and Blanko Freedom film. I love the soft blue tones of this combination.
The echeverias in Nic’s woven basket have grown quite a lot since Christmas…
I’m going to have to re-pot these ones soon…
Some of the graptopetalums and graptoverias in our old laundry tub have died, but the rest have grown up to fill in the gaps…
This variety came from Nic’s garden, and I’m not really sure what it is…
The yellow “Golden Mound” sedums spread like wildfire and threaten to swamp other varieties – but they’re so pretty that I can’t bring myself to pull them out…
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Summer is officially over, so I’ve pulled out my kickers, both Luca’s Tony Lamas and my favourite pair of Dan Posts (photo: Hipstamatic app, Tejas Lens, D-Type plate film)…
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This little wee thing paid us a visit – he was so cute that I didn’t complain too much about the damage he was about to wreak on our garden…
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Lunch with my gorgeous friend Tania was the perfect way to end a hectic week. We ate at the new Hub House Diner in Dulwich Hill. The food was ordinary, the service pleasant and the conversation rip-roaring – Tania is always so much fun to be with and the stress of the week just dissolved into hysterical laughter. Ooh, and I took another black and white photo…
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Maude came over and borrowed a rock from our garden, then crocheted a cover for it. There’s no rhyme or reason behind it, it’s just pure art. And very Maude…
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Friday night pizza with our old friends Kaz and Bob – this one was topped with sopressa, pancetta, basil and our grilled roasted eggplants…
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And lastly, a photo of this morning’s ciabatta bake…
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How are things in your world?
Are you crazy busy too, or (hopefully) enjoying a period of calm?
Fig Jam and Lime Cordial 
What a great post! Always great to remind ourselves of the enjoyable moments!
Thanks Zirkie! That’s the nice thing about this blog, it helps me remember the good bits of life! :)
All sounds good to me. Life can’t be too bad:)
It’s not, love. Great to chat yesterday! :) xx
All sounds lovely except your “cute” little insect that made me scream out of my own lungs… have I told you I have ZERO tolerance for creatures that jump and attack me at any opportunity? oh, well – I managed to survive the scare and move on to the rest of your post, rewarded by beautiful loaves of bread….
(I went to put the trash in the garbage can last night and a wasp was right underneath the lid – my screaming had Phil rush out of the house to see who could be attacking me with a machete of maybe a chainsaw). I say a little drama keeps a marriage going, don’t you agree? ;-)
Sally, you’re scared of creepy crawlies? This one was just a wee baby, I promise. I’m not sure you’d survive my garden.. ;-)
I love the look of that Indian meal! I love your succulents…and that butter…and the gorgeous little grasshopper. It’s so cute!
Deb, the Indian was great fun and delicious – especially the dosa!
I must learn to read properly – I read that you’d pulled out your knickers because summer was over. I know you’ve had it hot but I thought it was a bit extreme to put your underwear away for the whole of summer.
Have to comment on this comment – it gave me such a good laugh. Celia in her cowboy boots going commando for the whole of winter….go on Celia…do it!!
Yeah right, love, if you’re not careful I’ll “do it” one day when I’m out with you! ;-)
Anne, it really was bloody hot this year.. ;-)
Sounds like you’ve been busy! That rock is very unique. Interesting pictures.
I’m in a rush trying to get my spring cleaning done before all the outside work starts! There’s still some snow, but once it’s gone I am usually outside most of the day!
Manuela, spring should be just around the corner for you! Hope it’s a glorious one! (Don’t work too hard cleaning!) x
I’m not sure what to crave, Indian or eggplant pizza or both. Both!
Greg, I made the pizza with eggplant that had been grilled and frozen a couple of months ago! Made it very easy indeed! :)
Gorgeous pics celia and the eggplant curry looks yummy. Hope you’re enjoying your weekend and it’s a bit slower.
Ali, thank you. The weekend was a nice breather, although we’ve hit the ground running again today…sigh.. xx
Delicious, and lovely clicks too!
Thanks Lizzy! :)
Dear Celia,
I have not been to Harris Park for so long now and that Indian meal looks fabulous and I remember Indian out west is so delicious and great value too.
You are too diligent with re-potting those succulents. Can you come over and re-pot mine please which were due last year?
Chopinand, I’m still a bit rubbish at repotting them, they often die when I do! Luckily the ones that are left behind are all growing up big and strong.. :)
I’m naming that grasshopper Jim-Bob.
Lucas, what’s the rule? ;-)
What a lovely post…enjoy vicariously thru your post the fun parts of your week. Am happy for your joy.
Peace
Siggi
Siggi, thank you for sharing them with me! That’s the nice thing about blogging – now I only remember the good bits of the past few weeks! :)
I thought that read, ‘I’ve pulled out my knickers’ so you had me thinking that in the summer-time you are knicker-free. Yes, Tania is very good value and knows how to tell a good story. That Indian does look very good and your succulents have grown so well xx
Honestly, the number of you who think I’ve gone underwear free all summer. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised.. ;-)
Keep the pet rock covered in caul in the office, should not be seen.
I have had a devil of a time posting comments, have made 3 so far, and still they have not posted, finally by using facebook sign in -it is working. Not sure what is happening but wordpress sign in is not working along with twitter sign in. Bizarre.
Sorry you’ve had trouble Roz – no idea why…
I loved the post, especially the succulents. I am just starting out with these, hope they do as well as yours! Thanks for sharing.
Lisa, I’ve only been growing them for a little while, but I had a wee manic moment planting them like a crazy woman last year. About a third of them died, and the rest have thrived! :)
Life feels always busy at the moment. There’s always something that needs to be done. Your succulents look fantastic! Make me think I should be growing some.
Clare, they’re pretty hardy! Especially the echeverias! :)
It is the time of year to think of boots. I love your kickers! One of my best friends wears them, with great style, more so that I ever could, and I feel like I would be a pale and somewhat lacking imitation of her, but I loved the description of your turquoise dress ensemble :)
ED, I would like to wear them with great style. But I try to wear them with things like harem pants, which is the antithesis of great style, or so Pete tells me. Luckily (or so I’m told), I’m not allowed out of the house when I’m dressed like that.. ;-)
The pizza looks seriously good and your bread always looks amazing, Celia!
Christine, thank you! The pizza was really nice – we’re definitely going to make eggplant pizza again! :)
I am jealous of your Indian and that pizza is stunning. I came home from the farmers market yesterday with some fresh San Marzanos. I did try and grow them last year with limited success so luckily the tomato seller at the market is doing a better job that I.
Tania, we tried growing them too, but have never had any success. How wonderful that you can grow them! My friend Glenda grows amazing tomatoes in Perth – your lower humidity must suit them!
It’s Mad March here in Adelaide and hot as blazes as well! I’ve been killing myself in the heat by attending every day of Adelaide Writers Week. This weekend WOMADelaide is on and we’ve moved into a friends house in town to make life easier for ourselves. They are very, very good friends who live across the road from the park where WOMAD is held, but with a predicted temperature of 38C tomorrow, I’ll be missing the last day and coming home and hiding. I know when I’ve had enough!
Amanda, that sort of heat can be insidious, particularly after a few days of it. I hope you had a nice restful day at home with the airconditioning on! xx
Life is busy- and is going to soon get busier and more delightfull with grandchildren and children coming home for a visit!
Love your kickers- my niece Allyson has a pair quite like yours and a pair of pink cowgirl boots that go with a pink cowgirl hat!
You are very good to your succulents- and they are very good for your camera- lovely pictures.
Your bread and pizza look magnificent- Thing Two and I have just finished up a very busy week, too!
Heidi, I’m so pleased you’ve been having fun with the sourdough starter! Have you made anything new? And I’m even more pleased that the family is about to descend – enjoy!!
[laughing] Yep, my succulents all have to be repotted also: besides Qs on sourdough bread, guess who I’ll think of asking re the latter also ;) ! Yours look great! And I do love that Indian luncheon feast . . .
Oh Eha, don’t ask me about succulents, I don’t seem to understand them at all. I only know that certain types grow here, and others just won’t, no matter how hard I try! :)
Life just disappears with lightning speed these days. There must always be time for giggling and stupidity. ALWAYS. There is nothing better in a week than to get away from what stresses you and enjoy the company of people who share your passions ( oh that sounds a bit saucey??!!). You are a creative little soul and your weeks will always be full.
PS get rid of that cute grass hopper it’ll eat your snake beans
We weren’t being stupid, were we? Well, except for when we were laughing so hard that iced tea was coming out our noses.. ;-) Seriously love, it was so good to debrief and unwind, thank you for finding the time for me! xx
I love the saying! And kickers – hope Pete doesn’t get in the way of them ;) life here is beautifully busy and just now I’m going downstairs to play with two bowls of sourdough. Thank you again xxx
Tandy, you are so creative – I love how you’ve taken a bit of Priscilla and gone on to make such wonderful things with her! Thank you! :)
Love this post. The succulent photos are brilliant. I want to be able to do that. First I need some succulents.
I know what you mean about Tania, what a gorgeous woman she is!
Maureen, isn’t she a hoot? We had fun strutting around Dulwich Hill, I was in my black boots, and she had the most gorgeous red suede ones on.. ;-)
I love how you take time to enjoy the small things Celia.
Thanks Sally, you’re always so kind. Life is all about the small things, isn’t it? :)
Good things are happening at your place Celia! Those boots are awesome x
Jane, I love them to death! Pete has said that I have to stop clomping around the house in them! :D
Love the boots! And now I’m hungry. Hugs from the other side of the world,
Maz.
And to you too, darling! Hope you’re having fun, spring is nearly there! xx
Just prior to coming here, Celia, I was at a blog where everyone was rejoicing at the thought of Spring’s approach. You’re getting your boots and we’re looking for sandals. I know it wasn’t meant to be used this way but the saying still fits, “Vive la différence!”
John, if I had my way, I’d be wearing boots all year round. Wouldn’t have worked in the 46C summer that we’ve just had though! :)
Thanks for the peek into your weeks Celia. If you hadn’t said the food was ordinary I would have been a little jealous of those chips. More beautiful loaves! Your succulents look beautiful.
Claire, I was very chuffed with the photo of the chips, but they were oddly sweet – we couldn’t figure out what the seasoning on them was! And thank you – the succulents have grown so much, I’m amazed!
We drove past Hub House diner-good to know about the food! And you’re going to kill me but I thought I read that you pulled out you knickers! I was shocked and did a double take!
I love that so many of you who know me WELL would assume I’d go commando. Actually, I’m a bit flattered by the assumption – makes me feel less like a nanna. ;-)
As we’d say over here (especially in Texas), ‘Thems some special, go’in to the city boots, girl.’
Doc, thank you! My boots came from Texas! :)
Of course!
Happy busy, even hectic, is good! Sounds like a great week – and way to go in the boots, girl!
Pat, it has been frantic. Things are looking up now, and Easter break is just around the corner! Eeep…better make chocolate! :)
You seem to have squeezed a lot into your week indeed Celia! There does seem to be an obsession here about your knickers though, perhaps some clarification is needed? :) I just adore the rock cover! Pure whimsy indeed!
Ok darling, here’s the clarification. I have worn my knickers ALL summer, but my kickers have been in the cupboard. Time to reverse the trend.
Oh hang on, that didn’t come out right. :D
You’re just digging the hole deeper, love! x
That Indian meal looks fabulous Celia and everything else looks pretty good too. Love your tootling boots. Do you suppose that black and white chippies are less fattening than technicolor chippies:)
Jan, the chips weren’t that great actually, which is why I was very pleased it made such a nice photo. It was good that they were good for something! :)
Friday night pizza looks scrumptious !
Thank you! They were delicious! :)
This is great. Belive it or not I was working on a similar post…love the boots and the butter….
Look forward to reading it, Norma! :)
“flat out like a lizard drinking” my new favourite expression!! and my I could have tucked into that Indian meal alongside you :)
As you said, you’ll have to work on your Aussie accent, Claire.
“How’re ya goin’, mate?”
“Bugger me, I’ve been flat our like a lizard drinkin’…”
:D
Celia I read knickers too :-) Breezy?
Dear lady you have been busy, but good busy it seems!
I’ve decided that I’m flattered that so many of you think I’m hip enough to have gone commando all winter.. ;-)