After a fairly tumultuous year, we’re having a gentle time.
Small Man finished school last week and has three weeks to go before the final HSC exams. He’s studying hard, but not too hard – I can hear him playing a computer game as I type this. I think he’s got the balance just right.
A few weeks ago, he threw himself into a wind tunnel with gusto. He’s completely hooked on indoor skydiving and is keen to learn more. His skills and control are constantly improving – he can now move in almost every direction at will. When his superpowers kick in, he’ll be ready to take off…
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We’ve been spending lots of time with my Mum, who is doing very well. She’s become a wiz at WhatsApp, which lets us keep in touch all day long. We’ve also been catching up with old friends, including Nick and Mary, who cooked us a delicious Greek meal last week. It’s a joy to spend time in such easy, comfortable company. The food was amazing and I loved the tablecloth…
Kitharaki sto fourno…the lamb was so tender it cut with a fork…
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On Wednesday night, we had dinner with dear friends at Bistro Cocotte. Cliff and Kathy are celebrating the 20th anniversary of their café this year, so we shared a bottle of 1995 Yarra Yering pinot with Jay’s truffle brie fondue. It was a sublime pairing…
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The knitting continues, and sample cards arrived from Bendigo Mills (is there anyone who doesn’t love samples?)…
My latest project is a Chinese wave dishcloth (instructions are here)…
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I picked up a packet of sustainable mussels from Boston Bay in South Australia. They were just $5.99/kg and I cooked them in tomato, white wine, garlic and onion, and served them with freshly baked sourdough. The leftovers made a delicious clam soup the following day…
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The very gorgeous Fiona from Tiffin Bite Sized was in town for the day and was kind enough to spend it with me. We had a blast! (As an aside, I’ve just noticed how silver I’m getting in the photo below..ah well…)
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I’ve been cheerfully tempering batches of chocolate, including these dark chocolate ginger pieces for Aunty Marty…
A large batch of chocolate coins, Spanish doubloons, clockwork pieces or whatever else they might look like to you…
The chocolates above were shaped in my ma’moul moulds. These were made in Syria and are probably irreplaceable now. It’s incredibly sad to reflect on what the people who made these moulds might be going through now…
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It’s a birthday weekend! This plate is for my lovely friend Luca who turns 16 today…
…and a jar of baby choc chip cookies and musical chocolates for Not-A-Baby-Anymore Grace, who is four today!
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Folks, I’m sorry to be posting two catch up posts in a row. I’m not online very much at the moment, but I do miss you all, and I just wanted to touch base. Hope you’re all well and having a gentle time too! ♥
Fig Jam and Lime Cordial 
Your molds look beautiful. No wonder your chocolates look gorgeous! The chocolates look too good to eat. I love sample cards! Your dishrags look lovely.
We’re trying to get ready for winter. A few more weeks and we might get snow.
Lovely to hear your news. I love those ma’moul moulds. Have been thinking of you and your mum xx
Wow Yarra Yering Pinot is one of my favourite reds of all time. I actually have a couple of 1998 bottles in our basement but figured they’d be corked – great to see the 1995 was good. Awesome to hear your mum can use WhatsApp, Mamma Rosa are still trying to master a basic text…..there’s hope yet…..
I second your thoughts about the ma’moul moulds, Celia. I’m glad your having a gentle, if busy, time. Life in this ‘connected’ world spins ever faster.
Gorgeous post Celia. i bet that Yering Pinot went down well- nicely saved! Best wishes to small man for the next few weeks: he can breath a big sigh of relief when they’re over and hop back into that skydiving machine.
My gentle time here is about reconnecting with the daughter of Priscilla,—thankyou kindly. She s called Sorella ( the sister ) and is behaving so well. My bread this time around is even better- when I have a spare moment, I read bread books. The hum of a lawn mover in the background is the Spring signal. Time to plant.xx
Lovely to hear your mum is doing well and glad you and Fiona caught up. As I am hoping to move to Brisbane next year I am always keen to read her blogs (and have just made her peanut butter and ginger biscuits. Good luck with the HSC…Pleased those days are behind me.
Great job Pamela! Can’t wait to get you up here : )
I have just joined you. I love your posts, spent ages reading the older ones last night. I love those moulds and cant wait to try some of your recipes.
You make such beautiful chocolates! My tempering is always a hit or miss.
I love that tablecloth, too! Linen? The handwork is gorgeous…
Do take care, oh, don’t fret over the silver, we have earned those lovely sparkles in our hair. Count each one as a whisper of wisdom learned.
chocolate and good company is just what we all need – and you are wonderful in your generosity – always gifts in your kitchen and lovely that they go both ways
Silver? You? oh, dear… you don’t even know what silver can be like…. I now count the number of dark hairs on my head, it’s probably 95% gray (sigh)
loved the title of your post…. I hope times will be very gentle for you from now on….
Hi Celia, I’ve occasionally bought the Boston Bay mussels for $9.99 and thought they were a bargain, but wow, $5.99 – that’s ridiculously good value. It’s so easy to make a delicious meal with them – I don’t know why more Aussies don’t eat them.
I love your post and enjoy reading them all.
I love reading your catch-ups Celia, so don’t apologise for them. Glad to hear that your mum is doing well. And impressed with the knitting. When I get home from this trip I want to get knitting some of these dish cloths. Guess what everyone is getting from me for Christmas this year! (Won’t my kids be thrilled. ;-) )
What silver?!!!? It’s salt and pepper, darling, and there’s very little of it. Glad to know you are taking things gently. And how fab that Fiona visited xxx
I love your snippets Celia, especially those chocolate birthday gifts x
I’m glad you’re having a quieter period after a turbulent year. Good luck to your son for his exams and I admire his balanced approach to studying :)
Thanks for touching base Celia. I hope the exams are not too taxing. I too love samples the Bendigo Woollen Mills the bamboo yarn knits up beautifully. Much care and strength to you and your Mother.
Still so much happening in ‘gentle’ times. Pleased to hear your mum is doing well, I’ll have to check out that app for my M.I.L. The level of detail in the ma’moul moulds is amazing and that dishcloth looks beautiful. Very important life skill small man is learning, balance is so often overlooked. :)
Celia, seeing your and Fiona’s gorgeous smiley faces has made me smile, looking good ladies! xx
Looking forward to celebrating the 20th anniversary of our friendship, thanks Pine Bluff
Oh Celia, my heart bleeds for the Syrian people. If you an Fiona were of the same ethnicity you would look a lot alike :)
Lovely to hear from you and read how life is going xx
I’m late….we have been driving to Spain and arrived last night (very tired :( ) So good to see what you have been up to…and don’t you know silver is the new black?!! I have a tablecloth very much like your pals one. Trouble is I forgot it was on the table when I was doing some dress making and cut a slit in it …. now I place things strategically on it as I can’t repair it and can’t throw it away! Love the choccy moulds and I share your thoughts xx
You and Fiona look like sisters. Glad life is settling into a nice steady gentler routine for you.
Your site Celia is the most beautiful and interesting I have seen. I am new at this and your content inspires me so. Love the Syrian moulds. Yes, we are thinking of them and welcoming them into Toronto.
Joan
I think of you often and all the things you’re juggling. I’m glad you’re knitting and making chocolates and watching skydiving. Those breaks help keep things gentle. xxoo
lovely as always, Celia…enjoy the gentle times x
I love the term “gentle times,” Celia. I think sometimes we don’t fully grab the opportunity for those times of soul-rest when they’re offered. So good for you for just acknowledging that this is the time you need to embrace the rest as much as you can. Sounds like you’ve had times with good friends, and how delightful that your mom is finding even more immediate ways to stay in touch. Good for her! So good to read an update!
Enjoy every moment of your gentle time, Celia
I’m glad you’re taking time to care for yourselves and your mum sweetie. Finding the right balance is so important and can be so hard. Good luck to Small Man, what are his plans for next year? Xo
Lovely post and thanks for the video of skydiving. I wonder if there are places in the US? it looks like a lot of fun.
You’ve been through a lot, I’m glad you are taking care of yourself.
Yes – it’s a lovley photo of us. We were obviously having a grand time of it. Thanks for the hospitality and battery re-charge. My hips don’t thank you for introducing me to Paesanella. xxx
Hi, Celia as usual lovely pictures, yummy goodies and thumbs up! to battery re-charge:
May I ask you a little favour?
My son is crowfunding for his Olympic dream, in my blog there is the link and as he needs some sharing and you have a big audience….. if you can share the link I´ll be so happy, if you cann´t ..it´s ok too.
Thanks and regards
http://ale-ligeradeequipaje.blogspot.com.ar/
PD: If you think it isn´t appropriate, please delete my comment.
Ale, of course! Good luck to your son!
I’m sure you certainly need a more gentle time. I’m pleased to hear your mother is doing well and that she is able to keep in regular contact. All the best to Small-Man for the upcoming exams. I’m sure he’ll do really well and I can’t wait for you to tell me his super-powers have arrived xx
It’s so nice that you’re able to spend some time with your Mum and that she’s doing well. You have had quite a year though and it’s always to catch up on reading your posts (I’ve got a lot of catching up to do myself).
The most incredible thing is that as I looked through your photos, that tablecloth under your Greek meal is EXACTLY the same one that my daughter bought me while she was in Greek on her honeymoon. I love it too!
Oh – mussels…boy do I love mussels!
always beautiful chocolates Celia, and I reckon you rock any silver tones. xx
Yo always seem to be busy. Glad you can enjoy life and especially family along the way.
those moulds are so beautiful! My grandmother had similar moulds I’m sure, when I was younger. I know she had really old hand carved wooden stamps for the tops of the bread she baked for church. Must track those down!