tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75192771662542887292024-02-21T07:58:54.027+11:00Life At Number 10Loving Life in the SuburbsMelbourne Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00512877501524848674noreply@blogger.comBlogger490125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7519277166254288729.post-70182215839822801532016-12-30T13:27:00.002+11:002016-12-30T13:27:40.578+11:00It never rains but it pours<div style="text-align: center;">
Melbourne's weather has not been very kind of late. Yesterday's deluge hit the city HARD</div>
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I was listening to the radio reports yesterday about all the flash flooding the heavy rain was causing.</div>
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Well, we had our own flash flood....in my Mum's garage!</div>
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MONT says he only went to the garage to see how it was holding up, but almost got washed away when he opened the door.</div>
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Wouldn't have been such a problem, except we've been storing a WHOLE lot of furniture in there that came from my late Aunt's house...as well as some of our own, like that (used to be) lovely cream sofa.</div>
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This was what it looked like outside where the drain was obviously blocked!.</div>
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The Plumber's been called to use one of those drill/probe/snakey things to try to sort out the blockage. Hope he gets here quick!</div>
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There's still water pooling in there this afternoon. Looks like the weekend will be spent emptying the garage and moving furniture so the place can be dried out...and then we'll have to decide what has to be "turfed" and what can be saved.</div>
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<br />Melbourne Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00512877501524848674noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7519277166254288729.post-4666157252590746552016-12-09T16:22:00.000+11:002016-12-09T17:09:48.548+11:00Getting ready for Christmas - Candles<div style="text-align: center;">
Our family Christmas get together is just a few days away now - panicking much yet?</div>
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This year I got the idea of making a special candle feature for the table...and I wanted either brass, copper or black.</div>
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I went with black as soon as I saw these little candle holders at K-Mart. For $6 each</div>
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I bought four of them with the idea of having a very long feature in the centre of the table, but then realised the piece would have to be done in two<br />
separate units to accommodate the outdoor umbrella we have that slots through a hole in the middle of the table.</div>
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Mont had some pieces of timber in the back yard, that would be perfect</div>
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He cleaned them up and then cut them in half....now, how to attach the candle holders to the wood.</div>
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I suggested some little staples that I could spray black. </div>
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He suggested cutting off the bottom cross-bar piece and then slotting the little legs into holes he drilled in the wood.<br />
I wasn't sure because I was worried they would wobble and not be strong enough to hold the candles upright.</div>
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<span style="text-align: center;"> Now all that's left to do is give the wood a coat of dark grey stain, stick the little legs in their slots and see how they go</span><br />
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Melbourne Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00512877501524848674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7519277166254288729.post-39585831516462608662016-11-13T12:33:00.000+11:002016-11-13T12:33:39.851+11:00Banana Chocolate and peanut butter bread - yep you read that rightThis is a recipe from <a href="http://minimalistbaker.com/chocolate-peanut-butter-banana-snack-bread-vgf-one-bowl/">The Minimalist Bake</a>r...but I tweaked it and it's not bad at all.<br />
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If you want the vegan gluten free version, head on over there...this uses just plain flour, olive oil, and regular oats...not the organic kind<br />
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1 egg<br />
3 ripe bananas<br />
3 teaspoons baking powder<br />
pinch of salt<br />
1/3 cup crunchy peanut butter<br />
3 tablespoons oil (olive oil, coconut oil-whatever you prefer)<br />
1/2 cup raw sugar<br />
3/4 cup almond milk (or whatever milk you prefer)<br />
1 1/4 cup almond meal<br />
1/2 cup cocoa powder<br />
1 cup plain flour<br />
1 cup oats<br />
1/4 cup chocolate chips<br />
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Preheat the oven to 180 deg and grease and line a loaf pan with baking paper<br />
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Beat the egg and add the banana and mash through, then add the other ingredients down to the almond milk and mix to combine well.<br />
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Add the cocoa powder, almond meal, flour and oats and stir, then stir in the chocolate chips<br />
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Pour into the prepared loaf pan and bake for about an hour...it should feel firm to the touch and a little cracked on top<br />
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Let cool completely before cutting.<br />
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<ul style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Gentium Basic', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.75px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">
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<br />Melbourne Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00512877501524848674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7519277166254288729.post-47298430131049234452016-09-15T19:51:00.002+10:002016-09-15T20:04:37.743+10:00Savon<div style="text-align: center;">
I've been on a baking frenzy these past couple of weeks. Cup cakes, orange loaves, bread....and now, I've made soap.</div>
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It's the first time I've ever made soap and it was surprisingly easy. </div>
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Much easier and quicker than I thought it would be.</div>
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It is a very basic recipe with just four ingredients: water, caustic soda, olive oil and copha. Yep copha</div>
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It's from the <a href="http://mistahomemaker.blogspot.com.au/"><span style="color: #76a5af;">Mr Home Maker Blog</span></a>, which I've been reading for a little while now.<br />
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The recipe and instructions are<b> <a href="http://mistahomemaker.blogspot.com.au/2016/08/make-your-own-simple-soap-no.html"><span style="color: #76a5af;">here</span></a></b><span style="color: #76a5af;">.</span> He can explain the process far better than I. The trick is to get the measurements/proportions right otherwise it just won't work </div>
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These babies are currently drying out in the spare room....</div>
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All I can say is it looks like it's going to work out fine</div>
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I just have to wait a minimum of six weeks for them to completely dry out. Should be interesting</div>
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<br />Melbourne Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00512877501524848674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7519277166254288729.post-34684736389310248992016-07-24T16:28:00.002+10:002016-07-24T20:34:38.465+10:00Sunday baking with DISH<div style="text-align: center;">
We humans can be strange creatures. </div>
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In a time when cookbook sales are as strong as ever and television cooking shows are rating their socks off...we build apartments that lack a full functioning kitchen...you know, one with a full stove and sink...not to mention enough storage for crockery and cutlery</div>
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Food magazines are also as popular as ever.</div>
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I used to be a regular buyer of some of them... but then I started realising I wasn't actually cooking anything from them, just looking at the photographs. I was also having a bit of deja vu when looking through them, with similar recipes showing up across the different titles.</div>
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Then I accidentally found<i> DISH.</i></div>
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It's a New Zealand magazine and it's fabulous. In fact, for me, it's probably the best of the lot.</div>
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I say I found it by accident because I was just going through a magazine rack one day, trying to find something to browse through while we were away on holidays...and the front cover caught my eye...so I flipped through it and found at least four things I would be more than happy to cook.<br />
I bought that edition and the next ...and then started subscribing.<br />
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<i>DISH</i> comes out every two months, so it's not something that's turning up in your letter box every couple of weeks before you've had a chance to get through all the things you want to make in the current edition<br />
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I can say I have cooked at least one thing from each of those magazines and they have all turned out well...including today's offering,<br />
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It's from the Friday Baking range on the <i>DISH</i> website, put together and photographed by Food Editor Claire Aldous.<br />
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(I didn't have any freeze-dried raspberries, so left them off)<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Lemon Pistachio Cakes</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: "foundersgrotesktextweb" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.6em;">You'll need: 12 friand or other small cake tins greased and bases lined with baking paper</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "foundersgrotesktextweb" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.6em;"><b><u>CAST</u></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: foundersgrotesktextweb, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.6em;">70 grams pistachio nuts, finely ground</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "foundersgrotesktextweb" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.6em;">¾ cup instant polenta</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "foundersgrotesktextweb" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.6em;">⅓ cup self-raising flour</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "foundersgrotesktextweb" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.6em;">pinch salt</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "foundersgrotesktextweb" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.6em;">250 grams butter, soft but not melted</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "foundersgrotesktextweb" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.6em;">1 cup caster sugar</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "foundersgrotesktextweb" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.6em;">1 teaspoon vanilla extract</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "foundersgrotesktextweb" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.6em;">finely grated zest 2 lemons</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "foundersgrotesktextweb" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.6em;">4 large eggs</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "foundersgrotesktextweb" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.6em;">juice 1 lemon</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "foundersgrotesktextweb" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.6em;">1</span><span style="font-family: "foundersgrotesktextweb" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.6em;">–</span><span style="font-family: "foundersgrotesktextweb" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.6em;">1½ cups frozen raspberries</span><br />
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<u><b>ACTION:</b></u></div>
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Preheat the oven to 160°C.</div>
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Combine the pistachio nuts, polenta, flour and salt in a bowl. </div>
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Beat the butter, sugar, vanilla and lemon zest until very light and pale. Whisk the eggs together in a jug then gradually beat into the butter mixture.</div>
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Add the dry ingredients and the lemon juice and gently beat to combine.</div>
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Divide the mixture between the tins and smooth the tops. Dot over the frozen raspberries, but don’t press them into the mixture.</div>
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Bake for about 30 minutes until the tops are firm and golden.</div>
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Leave to cool in the tins for 10 minutes. Run a knife around the inside of the tins to loosen then remove the cakes and place on a cooling rack.</div>
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To serve: Combine 1 cup of icing sugar with 2 to 3 teaspoons of lemon juice to make a runny icing, adding a little more icing sugar or lemon juice if needed. Drizzle the icing off the tip of a teaspoon over each cake.</div>
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Top with crumbled freeze-dried raspberries and pistachios if using, then a dusting of icing sugar. Makes 12.</div>
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They really are easy to make and even easier to eat!</div>
Melbourne Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00512877501524848674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7519277166254288729.post-50843103950394313462016-07-08T19:02:00.001+10:002016-07-08T19:02:41.159+10:00The Sunshine CoastThe sun goes down in Queensland very early in Winter. Here in Melbourne it's still reasonably light around 6pm...but it's a different story up north. By 5pm you feel like it's time for bed.<br />
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The days are mild and sometimes pretty warm ...and the night's are cool and lovely. Perfect for sleeping. We slept with the windows wide open every night.<br />
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We drove through torrential rain. It was so heavy the windscreen wipers were working overtime but still didn't allow us to see the road ahead. When we finally rang the front door bell it had eased a little...and we were greeted with open arms and a very cold, long drink! I don't think I've ever been so happy to arrive somewhere.<br />
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My brother and sister in law moved to the Sunshine Coast some years ago<br />
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They bought a small yacht and sailed up the east coast from Western Port Bay...<br />
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They lived on their boat on Sydney Harbour for a while - near Birkenhead Point - until deciding the 2000 Olympics were going to make life there more difficult than they wanted it to be. So they sailed north. Settling first at Airlie Beach for a couple of years and then heading south to Buddina on the Sunshine Coast, where they've been ever since. Then last year, tragedy.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-5Z6kiHYmW9X0gehy8INZSC_9FeCPC4Fvr26pwlueYnkpKhnUKX3VnEIEGjEjQ0jOufdssP_M_hwfzEjZH7QSyLuYcVJQNqgXUX67otMtN4fHZ_jYWAaDjEYN9HYm6ZiPKC_qVcpxfLmq/s1600/road+trip+2+IMG_4888.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-5Z6kiHYmW9X0gehy8INZSC_9FeCPC4Fvr26pwlueYnkpKhnUKX3VnEIEGjEjQ0jOufdssP_M_hwfzEjZH7QSyLuYcVJQNqgXUX67otMtN4fHZ_jYWAaDjEYN9HYm6ZiPKC_qVcpxfLmq/s640/road+trip+2+IMG_4888.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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The view from the back of their yard is fabulous.</div>
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Sunset is glorious from their backyard</div>
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Their pool is lovely, but unfortunately it wasn't quite warm enough for a swim<br />
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My sister in law still works part time and has a great life on the Sunshine Coast.<br />
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She's decided against moving back to Melbourne to be closer to family. Why would she? She has a life and friends on the Sunshine Coast. Who could blamer her for staying there.<br />
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It's been a tough year for her - and our entire family - but it was lovely being able to catch up and not be worried about shedding a tear while reminiscing....and MONT had a lovely time pottering around in my brother's shed. They had a lot in common - they both love tinkering, modifying and making things.<br />
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Melbourne Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00512877501524848674noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7519277166254288729.post-6606098121557479052016-07-01T21:08:00.002+10:002016-07-01T21:08:20.587+10:00Designer luggage on a road trip? I don't think so...No I haven't been stuck in Dubbo for the past few weeks...<br />
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I didn't get to see much of Dubbo actually. We arrived at the Endeavour Court Motor Inn just after 5pm....and it turned out to be a good choice.<br />
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We chose it because it was on the north side of the city and frankly, we didn't want to do a "U" turn and head back into town and start searching for another place to stay.<br />
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David was a great host..and had a chuckle when I told him he needed to be careful with my "designer" luggage. It was a blue plastic IKEA bag. No, you don't need traditional luggage on a road trip. .<br />
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We walked to the Bowling Club for dinner - better known as SPORTIES. All I wanted was a tall glass of something cold and I almost skulled it<br />
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It was a buffet dinner - OK, but nothing to write home about. We slept very well that night though<br />
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It was still dark and raining steadily when we left Dubbo the following morning...the rain got so hard at times we could hardly see through the windscreen.<br />
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We made it to Coonabarabran and then headed to Narrabri and Moree, where we stopped for lunch. Then after a short break and a coffee...we headed for the border and Goondiwindi.<br />
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A few of our friends were a little surprised we chose to drive to Queensland instead of flying. Well...Mont had promised to do a few things around the house for my Sister in Law...and we also wanted to see how his new (to him) car would go as far as comfort and fuel efficiency would go.<br />
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...and it went great!!<br />
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Mont traded in his Toyota work truck for a Ford Ranger. It wasn't a brand new vehicle but didn't have a lot of mileage on the clock and was still "as new" inside.<br />
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The main difference for us? We were able to walk normally when we got out of the car without looking like we'd been crippled during the drive.<br />
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Our aim was always to get as far as we could without being silly about it. Little did we know we'd make it to our destination that night in torrential rain.<br />
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We headed for Toowoomba and arrived there just before 4pm. Then onto Esk, Kilcoy, Beerwah and our final destination, Buddina, in the heaviest downfall I've ever experienced.<br />
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<br />Melbourne Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00512877501524848674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7519277166254288729.post-90327982325528917022016-06-11T15:46:00.002+10:002016-06-11T15:46:36.968+10:00One Night in DubboWe left home last Thursday...leaving the cold behind us and headed north....up the Newell past Seymour and Nagambie .. crossing the Murray River into New South Wales and stopping at Tocumwal for some morning tea. I'd packed some things so we didn't have to find a cafe. BUT, our thermos failed us. I poured the coffee and it was stone cold. Not sure if it was the thermos or the fact we'd left it in the boot of the car. It was probably 2 degrees when we left home. No wonder it had gone cold.<br />
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After a coffee, we headed towards Jerilderie, past Neranderah and Grong Grong ...then to Forbes and Parkes. The countryside was beautiful, just like the day. It was cold but clear and sunny....for a while.<br />
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We didn't really care where we ended that first day. We were making good time, but the heavy rain made the decision for us. Dubbo it was.<br />
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<br />Melbourne Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00512877501524848674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7519277166254288729.post-80241262569460239982016-05-18T07:44:00.004+10:002016-05-18T07:44:47.554+10:00Hall Table - finished<div style="text-align: center;">
The little hall table I painted is now finished and back in the hallway</div>
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Here it is before the little knobs were put on</div>
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I wanted something a little bit different...and found these at Schots Home Emporium in Melbourne. </div>
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Not something I would normally choose, but hey, they're only knobs and if I change my mind down the track, they can always be swapped out for something else</div>
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So that's another little job off my to-do list, which is damn long but gradually getting shorter.</div>
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Melbourne Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00512877501524848674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7519277166254288729.post-68972514248153860562016-05-12T11:18:00.000+10:002016-05-12T12:15:20.050+10:00A cake with a differenceI was hunting around for a cake recipe recently and came across one for a Red Velvet cake. But when I was looking through the ingredients, realised the only thing that distinguishes it from a regular old cake was red food colouring.<br />
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Sure it looks nice, but I wanted something with a bit more substance. and not not just food colouring. So I found this recipe and it's probably the most delicious and fool proof cake I have ever made. In fact it's so easy I've passed it on to a number of friends...and the proof must be in the pudding - or cake - because they've all reported back that they love it.<br />
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So here it is...<br />
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<b>Chocolate Beetroot Cake</b><br />
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The cast:<br />
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425g can beetroot - drained<br />
3 eggs<br />
1 1/4 cup caster sugar<br />
1 cup vegetable oil<br />
100g dark chocolate - melted<br />
1 3/4 cups plain flour<br />
1/3 cup cocoa<br />
1 1/2 teaspoons bi carb soda<br />
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Action:<br />
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Pre-heat the oven to 180 degrees or 160 fan forced<br />
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Finely chop the drained beetroot in a food processor<br />
In a medium bowl, beat together the eggs and sugar until pale and creamy, then gradually beat in the oil until well combined<br />
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Stir in the cooled, melted chocolate and the chopped beetroot. Then in another bowl, sift together the flour, bicarb and cocoa, then stir into the egg and beetroot batter<br />
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Let it sit for at least 5 minutes. This helps the gluten in the flour to relax and will minimize the cake cracking on the top. Also, the batter will be quite runny. Don't panic, it's supposed to be.<br />
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Pour the mixture into a 25cm cake pan that's been lined with baking paper.<br />
Bake for 45 to 50 minutes - check with a skewer to see if the centre is cooked.<br />
When it is, cool the cake slightly in the pan before removing it<br />
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<b>For the frosting:</b><br />
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I haven't actually measured this when I've made it, so these measurements are approximate.<br />
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Put about 3/4 cup of cream into a heat proof container and microwave for about 30 seconds until it's hot. Put about 100g chocolate melts into the cream and stire until it's melted. Then put 3 heaped tablespoons of icing sugar in and stir until it's all combined. I then pour the icing mixture over the cooled cake and let it set.<br />
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All you have to do now is eat and enjoy<br />
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You can play around with the recipe a bit. Sometimes, I've added half a jar of drained cherries just for something different.<br />
<br />Melbourne Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00512877501524848674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7519277166254288729.post-19675788354553273802016-04-11T19:36:00.000+10:002016-04-11T19:36:04.932+10:00Painting and restoring<div style="text-align: center;">
I've been keeping myself busy getting a few things done around the house.</div>
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The mirror and the decorative side panels from that old wardrobe have been sanded back and given a few coats of Danish oil...and I have to say they look and feel fabulous. More on them later.</div>
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I've also spent some time painting an old hall table</div>
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It's been handed down and around a number of times, ending up with me about ten years ago.</div>
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.I don't know what it was coated in but it was all flaky and awful and had a terrible smell when it got wet. So it was time for a spruce-up</div>
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First, a really good sand and then a coat of tinted undercoat</div>
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Then the first top coat </div>
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The sheen on it is lovely, considering I used ordinary low sheen wall paint. It's the same paint/colour I used on an old chest of drawers and my pine filing cabinet.</div>
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Once the paint is cured I'll put the new handles on</div>
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I got a bit carried away and even gave my kitchen stool the once over</div>
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Although to be honest, it needs another coat. </div>
Melbourne Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00512877501524848674noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7519277166254288729.post-20281525589608423752016-03-26T13:42:00.000+11:002016-03-26T13:42:28.889+11:00Recycling and Repurposing<div style="text-align: center;">
Years ago...in another life and another Victorian town I had a lovely little cottage that I had renovated and lived in for almost ten years.</div>
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Then I got a job offer interstate ... so instead of selling up and moving on, I rented out my little cottage...and it's been rented ever since.</div>
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Unfortunately though some of the old furniture that was left in the house has deteriorated to a point it's no longer useful. </div>
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The main piece in point - this old wardrobe</div>
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Back in 2009 we had to do a major repair at the house as a floor in one of the bedrooms had rotted and was very "spongy". I wrote about it back then<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7519277166254288729#editor/target=post;postID=5484531329889820494;onPublishedMenu=posts;onClosedMenu=posts;postNum=452;src=postname"> here</a>, <a href="http://lifeatnumber10.blogspot.com.au/2009/10/its-looking-better-every.html">here</a> and<a href="http://lifeatnumber10.blogspot.com.au/2009/11/worlds-best-practice.html"> here</a>.</div>
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This old wardrobe was sort of OK back in 2009...a bit wobbly but served a purpose. Not any more.</div>
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It was falling apart so instead of breaking up the three sections and throwing it in a skip, MONT decided to take it apart and save the most important pieces: the mirrored door and the side decorative panels, which are really lovely!</div>
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To cut to the chase here... we've been looking for a mirror for our bedroom for over a year now - we see something we like but then don't follow through for one reason or another. Then I had a bit of a light bulb moment this morning. Use the mirror from this old robe for the bedroom!</div>
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It's now being sanded and cleaned up so it can be hung on our bedroom wall. I'll post a pic when it's done.</div>
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It's so good to be back!</div>
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Melbourne Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00512877501524848674noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7519277166254288729.post-58628949715734650922016-01-25T10:50:00.002+11:002016-01-25T10:50:48.123+11:00Back in the Saddle....kinda<br />
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We're having a break from Number 10 and spending a couple of weeks at our usual campsite at the beach where we're trying to regroup and relax.</div>
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It's a great place on the Bellarine Peninsular...MONT goes fishing when the weather permits and I sit and read and sleep and generally veg out.</div>
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2015 was not a good year for our family. We're hoping 2016 is going to be less eventful, although it hasn't started well, with someone hitting my (parked) car. Not a lot of damage, but as always in these cases, I'll be the one who is inconvenienced while it's being repaired.</div>
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Still, I guess if that's the worst that happens then I'm not doing too bad.</div>
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I've never been one for New Years resolutions. I've never been able to understand the importance of making a promise to yourself on January 1st, when you could've done the same thing on September 16...or July 24th....so, no resolutions for me, but there have been some changes recently</div>
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I resigned from my full-time job in November and am now officially a part-timer and will work two days a week. A better work-life balance, as they say in the classics. There are so many things I want to do and working full-time wasn't allowing me to do them, at least not to the standard I wanted to.</div>
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The events of last year also gave us a bit of a wake up call, so MONT and I have changed a few things regarding our health and fitness. Nothing drastic...we're not training for marathons or triathlons, but we are making a point of being a bit more active</div>
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I plan to get back into "blogging" and start posting more regularly. I may not have been a regular "poster" these past few months, but I have been a regular reader of other peoples' blogs, so I haven't disappeared altogether.</div>
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So there you have it. I'm back. Sorta kinda. </div>
Melbourne Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00512877501524848674noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7519277166254288729.post-56824157165798072942015-08-12T17:25:00.001+10:002015-08-12T17:56:20.284+10:00Life goes onConsidering my rather lengthy absence and lack of posts, one would think Life at Number 10 had stopped.<br />
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It hasn't.<br />
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But it has been a rather awful few months for us around here.<br />
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My (younger) brother passed away suddenly in April. It was a terrible shock and we're still trying to come to terms with it.<br />
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Then my elderly Aunt died. She would've been 102 next month. She was an amazing woman!<br />
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Even at her age she was sharp as a tack, lived independently in her own home, was an avid reader, shopped and sewed and until recently, mowed her lawn and pottered in the garden.<br />
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She was my Mum's only sister and she was my only Aunt.<br />
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I also learned just a couple of weeks ago that a very close friend passed away as well.<br />
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So, as you can imagine, we've been a bit down in the dumps around here.<br />
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But, life goes on here at Number 10. Fortunately, MONT and I are OK...just a bit sad<br />
<br />Melbourne Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00512877501524848674noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7519277166254288729.post-71860472041618454122015-04-01T09:20:00.002+11:002015-04-01T18:20:03.015+11:00Zucchini and Walnut chutney <div style="text-align: center;">
Back in the 1980's a friend and I would get together and spend entire weekends cooking....and some of the things we often made was relish, jam and chutney</div>
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We both had this little gem from Margaret Fulton - Published in 1981</div>
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It's only small but it contains just about every concoction you could ask for, from pickled mushrooms to curry relish and this one - Zucchini Chutney.</div>
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I got thinking about this recipe after reading Kitchen Hand's <a href="http://verygoodcooking.blogspot.com.au/2015/03/countdown-top-ten-vegetables-of-all-time.html"><span style="color: #76a5af;">Countdown: the top ten vegetable</span>s</a> of all time over at <a href="http://verygoodcooking.blogspot.com.au/2015/03/countdown-top-ten-vegetables-of-all-time.html"><span style="color: #76a5af;">What I Cooked Last Night</span></a>, so I hunted out my little book and started cooking</div>
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It's an easy recipe:</div>
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You salt the sliced zucchini to remove the moisture</div>
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Peel the tomatoes by pouring boiling water on them </div>
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Put all of the ingredients (except the walnuts) in a pot and let them simmer and meld together<br />
Put the walnuts in and stir for a minute and you're done.</div>
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Sterilize your jars...I put mine through the dishwasher then put them in a moderate oven for about 20 minutes...and spoon or pour the hot mixture in and seal.</div>
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<b>Cast:</b><br />
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750 gr zucchini-sliced<br />
1 table spoon salt<br />
250 gr ripe tomatoes, skinned and chopped<br />
125 gr onions, chopped<br />
3/4 cup sultanas<br />
1 tablespoon grated orange rind<br />
2 cups sugar<br />
1 1/2 cups spiced vinegar (I used half brown and half apple cider)<br />
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon<br />
1/2 cup chopped walnuts<br />
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<b>Action;</b><br />
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Put the zucchini in a colander and sprinkle with salt. leave for two hours then rinse and pat dry<br />
Put in a pot with all other ingredients, except the walnuts, and simmer and stir until the sugar's dissolved.<br />
Keep simmering until the mix thickens slightly and is all melded together...then put in the walnuts and mix. Spoon or pour the mixture into your sterilized jars and enjoy<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">If you like chutney's and relishes, then I think you'll love this.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Thanks KH...next up, asparagus</span></div>
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<br />Melbourne Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00512877501524848674noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7519277166254288729.post-28060676023990919742015-03-22T15:28:00.001+11:002015-03-22T15:28:10.447+11:00Malcolm Fraser<div style="text-align: center;">
Australia lost another of it's Prime Ministers this past week. It's 22nd to be exact</div>
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Malcolm Fraser was 84 when he passed away after a short illness...and it came just a few months after his great foe, Gough Whitlam passed away</div>
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They may have been great rivals in their past political lives, but both men grew to like each other and when Gough died Malcolm became very emotional about losing his friend</div>
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Vale Malcolm Fraser</div>
Melbourne Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00512877501524848674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7519277166254288729.post-91305993651265836472015-01-26T19:24:00.002+11:002015-01-26T19:24:42.618+11:00Holidaying<div style="text-align: center;">
Mont and I are at the beach for a couple of weeks and while the weather's been a bit cool...the sunrises are magnificent!</div>
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Not that I see many of them mind you....this one was rather nice though</div>
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Melbourne Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00512877501524848674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7519277166254288729.post-23994642212562911252015-01-17T10:45:00.000+11:002015-01-17T10:45:05.068+11:00A long time comingWelcome to my new kitchen...a peek of it anyway<br />
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To be honest, it was finished in November, but this is the first opportunity I've really had to put some photos together and show you what it now looks like<br />
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It's just a peek as most of the photos are on the home computer...<br />
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MONT and I are on our annual break at the beach and I have to say it's a VERY welcome holiday. Part of the reason...no, the main reason my blogging has been so slack this past year is because all I seem to have done is work....and this is the first break I've had since last January.<br />
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Yes, I'm exhausted.<br />
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This year - 2015 - is time for a reassessment of the work-life balance I think.<br />
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I'm always drawn to <a href="http://www.marleyandlockyer.com/"><b>Ness Lockyer's</b></a> wise words that...You only live once...live beautifully!<br />
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My life has definitely not been beautiful this past year so it's time for a change<br />
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I want to spend more time cooking - yes that was neglected BIG TIME in 2014.<br />
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I want to spend more time doing things I really enjoy...and while I do enjoy the work I do, I don't want to do it every darn day!<br />
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Righto...well it's cold and windy and there's been some rain, but I don't really care because I'm on holidays!Melbourne Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00512877501524848674noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7519277166254288729.post-69110584252159804972014-12-24T18:50:00.002+11:002014-12-24T19:17:30.072+11:00Christmas 2014<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful. ~Norman Vincent Peale</i></div>
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That's a nice sentiment, but I think it's pretty obvious Norman Peale wasn't battling crowds at Chadstone or Doncaster shopping centres...or even the fish monger this week....</div>
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It's been a pretty sad time leading up to this (supposedly) joyous time of year.</div>
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Let's hope things only get better as we head towards, and into, 2015</div>
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Stay safe and be happy<br />
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Melbourne Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00512877501524848674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7519277166254288729.post-60219054820959047712014-12-10T08:57:00.002+11:002014-12-10T08:59:43.325+11:00Christmas contrast<div style="text-align: center;">
Christmas is almost with us and yes, I'm stating the bleeding obvious here.</div>
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I've always said I love this time of year, but there have been times when I've realised that what I really love is what this time of year promises...but sometimes doesn't necessarily deliver.</div>
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Anyway....it's a great time if you're not stressed, tired or working...tick, tick tick</div>
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It hasn't stopped me mucking around with decorations around here in time for the annual family get together when everyone heads to Number 10 on the Saturday before Christmas</div>
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For the last couple of years it's been all white and silver around here...</div>
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...but this year I've gone down a different path</div>
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Black is my choice this year - just for a change</div>
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I spray painted the twigs in matte black and put them in a jar with some small rocks, then wrapped the jar in some black hessian. </div>
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The little birds and stars are from<span style="color: #76a5af;"><b> <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/marleyandlockyer">Ness at Marley & Lockyer</a></b></span> - they are absolutely wonderful</div>
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I've got three of these black twiggy trees around the house...</div>
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The entrance hallway</div>
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...and the dining room</div>
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This weekend will be spend gift wrapping all the books and bits and pieces and making sure I haven't forgotten anything</div>
Melbourne Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00512877501524848674noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7519277166254288729.post-29542725080282993862014-11-07T09:46:00.002+11:002014-11-07T09:49:24.773+11:00Paint it black<div style="text-align: center;">
Not a shout out to the Rolling Stones, who are here at the moment...but a little painting project</div>
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While the kitchen renovation continues ...yes, it's still not finished... I've been working on a couple of other things, namely painting some bits and pieces around the house,</div>
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But I've moved away from the old tried and true "white" and instead have moved to the dark side</div>
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The dining room's been painted plain white and I thought I'd do something a little different. Just for a change</div>
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So my old pine chest of drawers are now BLACK</div>
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They are the same colour as my <b><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7519277166254288729#editor/target=post;postID=8482973760505243734;onPublishedMenu=allposts;onClosedMenu=allposts;postNum=11;src=postname"><span style="color: #76a5af;">old pine filing cabinet</span></a> </b>- Bristol Abyss</div>
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You can see the kitchen wall/bulkhead in the background...the plasterer will be here Monday to put up the cornice and finish things off. On Tuesday the skylight will be going in, weather permitting, and fingers crossed the glass splashback will be here within two weeks.</div>
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Once that's in we can get the sink and the gas cook top installed. Fingers crossed it happens soon</div>
Melbourne Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00512877501524848674noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7519277166254288729.post-49768244206339332652014-10-21T17:54:00.000+11:002014-10-21T17:54:17.639+11:00GOUGH<div style="text-align: center;">
Australia's 21st Prime Minister Gough Whitlam died today. He was 98</div>
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Just another politician you say?</div>
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For some maybe, but for me and many others, he was a man who made an enormous difference to this country</div>
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He was only Prime Minister for three short years and while those years have been described as chaotic, they also saw a lot of social change take place in this country</div>
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He was married to Margaret for almost 70 years...she died a few years back and as Malcolm Turnbull said today, at least now they will no longer be apart</div>
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I met him once, way back in the 1990's. he was gracious and funny, while I was nervous and almost speechless.</div>
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Thanks for everything Gough...you made a heck of a difference</div>
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<span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span>Melbourne Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00512877501524848674noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7519277166254288729.post-57996361297924192102014-09-18T16:59:00.000+10:002014-09-18T16:59:48.629+10:00I have a kitchen - almost<div style="text-align: center;">
It's getting there...</div>
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The cabinets have been installed today but I'm yet to have the oven, sink and cook top fitted...</div>
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The stone bench-top gets measured up on Monday</div>
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Am I happy?</div>
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Oh you betcha!!!</div>
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Melbourne Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00512877501524848674noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7519277166254288729.post-5793651084232475382014-08-15T10:16:00.000+10:002014-08-15T10:16:26.115+10:00Kitchen-progress<div style="text-align: center;">
We've come a long way, although these photos may not necessarily indicate that</div>
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Last week we disconnected the sink and moved the fridge out, then got rid of the last remaining bench and got the plumber in to move the pipes to the new sink location</div>
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The builder and MONT then started removing the last of the old plaster board so the plasterer could come in and work his magic in preparation for the painter....who arrived on Wednesday</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6bZrkAiZDDuHobw0KXOwxrNfK1d45nLAB9bcS7gGakKQpszrQD_kryeKPn-SZpOIwJZG4cUJJ64W8pcvz_asDJ2ipa_IEIDFABPsCO7VRzqIU6pmu-Hexef4cADvpFnbkXEZRbTXsMDTN/s1600/kitchen+painted+1+august+2014+IMG_3168.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6bZrkAiZDDuHobw0KXOwxrNfK1d45nLAB9bcS7gGakKQpszrQD_kryeKPn-SZpOIwJZG4cUJJ64W8pcvz_asDJ2ipa_IEIDFABPsCO7VRzqIU6pmu-Hexef4cADvpFnbkXEZRbTXsMDTN/s1600/kitchen+painted+1+august+2014+IMG_3168.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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And this is what it looks like today.</div>
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It's had an undercoat and first top coat. The section where the ceiling meets the walls hasn't been done yet as there's going to be cupboards and cornice covering all of that.</div>
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The final coat of paint will be applied once all the cupboards are in.</div>
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What you can't see is the chaos that is in the lounge and dining room....but a couple of temporary shelves and plastic containers will sort it out. That's what I'll be doing this weekend - culling and sorting.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTRvRPwBgwSijXIofLX0OaKHkf1tqi5yiDwByhGA8Y-kXqtycrvL9bER9LYAlDdvNBgd4NNKKRv1jpw6itSKRNj-56y4VyMabV48v3y6GetJdASd2BwK83LmaXcnunwk27_IZGAsxGfxV1/s1600/kitchen+painted+2+august+2014+IMG_3179.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTRvRPwBgwSijXIofLX0OaKHkf1tqi5yiDwByhGA8Y-kXqtycrvL9bER9LYAlDdvNBgd4NNKKRv1jpw6itSKRNj-56y4VyMabV48v3y6GetJdASd2BwK83LmaXcnunwk27_IZGAsxGfxV1/s1600/kitchen+painted+2+august+2014+IMG_3179.jpg" height="438" width="640" /></a></div>
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Fun and games at Number 10</div>
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<br />Melbourne Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00512877501524848674noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7519277166254288729.post-57730798214782761722014-07-25T10:31:00.000+10:002014-07-25T10:31:39.602+10:00Kitchen...as it happens in real time<div style="text-align: center;">
When you look up the word "demolition" in the dictionary, you'll probably find it reads..."see MONT, Number 10".</div>
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My boy does. not. muck. around!</div>
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As I type... we've gone from this...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb5MNQO2W4u6SsKv7vrSRAswGuGnUJMWIceRKDF3ICeyHNpMoRSXmr0xwt2a6aZaj5IccDYgyq-o5jrGLchemBfQ8jc5fwhFopqaeHckmjW2yLBqlrchZUFyjIy4jN_lNgSRSvFVFyvIYM/s1600/kitchen+progress+1+IMG_3039.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb5MNQO2W4u6SsKv7vrSRAswGuGnUJMWIceRKDF3ICeyHNpMoRSXmr0xwt2a6aZaj5IccDYgyq-o5jrGLchemBfQ8jc5fwhFopqaeHckmjW2yLBqlrchZUFyjIy4jN_lNgSRSvFVFyvIYM/s1600/kitchen+progress+1+IMG_3039.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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To this...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikpX4J6pGaj5-B2pfdihR4c1O1VaYT4clXI_e4FyKbPznntCmEsVKEzg2cpsR_u6yJhdP5zLWMVgJBgc3ilXw1js_H9oW4lkbCktGW1VIQpohqzTl_oGJZMicNbEYYj3pBTRGnXVBKsQH_/s1600/kitchen+progress+2+july+2014+IMG_3047.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikpX4J6pGaj5-B2pfdihR4c1O1VaYT4clXI_e4FyKbPznntCmEsVKEzg2cpsR_u6yJhdP5zLWMVgJBgc3ilXw1js_H9oW4lkbCktGW1VIQpohqzTl_oGJZMicNbEYYj3pBTRGnXVBKsQH_/s1600/kitchen+progress+2+july+2014+IMG_3047.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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...and this....</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf5tSmT-chWtZmMZr-6bXUJKE_ZpFW8Fxcm8_SKoUNy4L2g-KaBvg8UYTydseohut8TOJGOWShCCnxVEWQzacmNt_sLHpOejbnaUvR0_Ojh4BPbCYoYglBTylLLw7VYSz3e4wlkwmzW287/s1600/kitchen+progress+3+july+2014m+IMG_3061.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf5tSmT-chWtZmMZr-6bXUJKE_ZpFW8Fxcm8_SKoUNy4L2g-KaBvg8UYTydseohut8TOJGOWShCCnxVEWQzacmNt_sLHpOejbnaUvR0_Ojh4BPbCYoYglBTylLLw7VYSz3e4wlkwmzW287/s1600/kitchen+progress+3+july+2014m+IMG_3061.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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This used to be the old hearth under the chimney in the kitchen. When I did the first renovation way back when, we just got rid of the chimney and worked around the hearth...Pity we didn't get rid of it at the start.</div>
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Yes... this is where the bench with the cook-top used to be...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilop23qfQ8IIX92ojr6sdq3tCd5m2l30UrIMb2Al8MehxEiqlhBXoKw1qDB6suco-vJu7t1m45jej4uPFd7caAujpDQW3_bbpeN5qTSGwDTSvuYNcZpDzcpLZuxGuaqcx71RbkDN8hEuYX/s1600/kitchen+progress+7+IMG_3064.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilop23qfQ8IIX92ojr6sdq3tCd5m2l30UrIMb2Al8MehxEiqlhBXoKw1qDB6suco-vJu7t1m45jej4uPFd7caAujpDQW3_bbpeN5qTSGwDTSvuYNcZpDzcpLZuxGuaqcx71RbkDN8hEuYX/s1600/kitchen+progress+7+IMG_3064.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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until we ended up with this...</div>
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It's almost ready for the new kitchen cupboards to be installed, whenever that may be</div>
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At the moment we've got a bit of a makeshift kitchen set up on the back deck. It consists of a kettle and a BBQ so we can put a pot of coffee on each morning. </div>
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We haven't been given a date for the new kitchen installation, but I do know the completion date. </div>
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November 1st...</div>
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At least that was my request for the entire project to be finished and ready to go...fingers crossed it's a little bit sooner than that, otherwise we'll be having a heck of a lot of BBQ dinners.</div>
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Melbourne Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00512877501524848674noreply@blogger.com0