Mystic Kitten

I spotted this blackboard wisdom at Jeanneret Wines in the Clare Valley today on a tour around the valley with the purpose of restocking our dwindling wine rack. After what feels like an eternal winter the pickings are looking slim & we agreed it was time to go & grab some of our favourites.
 
The cellar door at Jeanneret is probably our favourite of all cellar doors. A few kilometres up from the famous Skillogalee it is a little haven hidden away where the romance fills the glass because they have learned how to bottle beauty. The roads are rough but the view is beautiful & serene. I am in love with this little gem & if fate ever smiles my way with a lotto win this will be my first point of call.
 
Now the guy who runs the cellar door is known to some as Richard, but to those of us repeat offenders we know him as Dickie. He is a splendid fella & chatting to him is just as special as the wines he (liberally) pours for tasting. The feeling here is that you are welcome – take a seat. Sit by the fire & enjoy your tasting – once you get to the Rank & File Shiraz this is exactly what you will want to do & you will want to savour every drop.
 
Another resident of this little establishment is a sly cat who we refer to as ‘Sink Kitty’. He is the second incarnation & is a healthy vintage of 19 years. He lays about in the old sink by the window where he can keep an eye on newcomers & likes a pat & a piece of cheese. His predecessor lived a long 27 years & you would be correct in thinking maybe they have the key to a long life out here. Good wine, good cheese, a small forest of gum trees, glorious vines & an attitude that kicks the ass of any other winery in the region.
 
We bought as much as the plastic would allow – but not so much we won’t have to come back just as soon as the season changes. I am already looking forward to our next adventure at Jeanneret…

Strawberry & Lemon

Finally found my favourite Schweppes Pink Lemonade & bought every bottle they had in the store… Now I just have to convince them to order me a whole case 🙂

I remember this as a child & it tasted like magic to me. My first sip was like being 6 years old again – only with the power to drink as much of it as I liked. 🙂

Autumn Cravings

I am craving oranges.
Or maybe it’s orange cake.
Must find a good recipe…
And then make it look like this… OMG. Why don’t we have 24 hour supermarkets here?

It’s raining outside, finally. It’s been an annoyingly summery 28 degrees all week & now it’s the weekend it’s cooled down & here comes the rain. My roof is leaking again though. The roof is leaking & the shower drain in blocked in my bathroom, water everywhere. I am sure there’s irony in there.

It would be nice to have a slice of orange cake to make the day slightly more zingy and fruity fresh.

Nothing Else Matters

I walked out into the kitchen & told Corsmor we are pregnant this morning. It is very, very early but it was a certain positive. He held me tight & his happiness filled me with hope.

We took a short walk in the forest & went blackberry picking. As Corsmor ate handfuls of berries, his hands stained burgundy, he nicknamed our baby ‘Pip’.

This news we have waited for does not feel real – but I am filled with joy & it does not leave my mind for a minute.

I am tired & calm & it is the end of a very surreal day.

I feel as if we are beginning something. Something that is truly ours is happening. It is life.

So close no matter how far
Couldn’t be much more from the heart
Forever trusting who we are
And nothing else matters
 
Never opened myself this way
Life is ours, we live it our way
All these words I don’t just say
And nothing else matters
 
Trust I seek and I find in you
Every day for us something new
Open mind for a different view
And nothing else matters
 
Never cared for what they do
Never cared for what they know
But I know

D&M Cafe, Angaston

Had a lovely breakfast with Corsmor at D&M in Angaston this morning. Love the art on the walls, so funky.

Pumpkin Love

Had a wonderful Pumpkin Soup for tea made by my dear husband, with my Mum’s awesome recipe. When I got married Mum gave me a hand written book full of all the favourite recipes created by the women in my family. Slowly we are making our way through the book & adding our own touches & new recipes. One day I hope to pass it on.

Winter Warmer

The rain has started falling. Lucky we are inside with our curry 🙂

 

Butter Chicken

Many hours spice shopping, 4 hours cooking; Butter chicken is happiness. I finally cooked something Corsmor enjoyed.

SGP

Awesome Scallop & Green Pea Pizza at Fig22. I know, it sounds weird but it is yummy!!

5 Screens

A fantastic day, got the best news!!! Celebrating with champagne, good food & good company!! — at Fig22 at The Wheatsheaf Inn Gawler

Raining Valentine Dreams

I had a wonderful weekend. Corsmor took me to a restaurant in Adelaide called ‘Sparrows Kitchen & Bar’ where we had a magnificent meal; the duck doughnut was a definite highlight. We watched the summer rain fall over Adelaide & discussed moving to Sydney – I am sure it was a dream.
 
Saturday we milled around at home & spent the evening in bed… we’ve still got it despite being old & married… It was nice being so close to him.
 
Sunday we went off to the Gepps X Markets – we picked up  some veggies for a Jamie Oliver curry we are going to attempt – I am sure it will be a failure but it will be fun trying to get there. We saw the Love Shack crew down there with 2 giant watermelons. Made me laugh, Leo has not changed.
 
Australia lost the cricket which ruined the weekend for Corsmor a bit. It was a pretty boring game but I sat through it despite wanting to strangle myself – & the Aussie Cricket Team.
 
Corsmor is at training this week for some kind of truck licence – he’s had a lot of training through work which is great but so many of the things he talks about weigh on my mind, his new career is a bit scary to a wife… I never really know if he’s happy there – I’m not even sure if that matters to him the way it matters to me. I guess we all complain about all sorts of things but at the end of the day we end up going back there don’t we. Or are we just masochists?

Sector 2 & 3

There’s a knack to all this life suff you know. Violet has the recipe. Once you get your life in order and start to pop your head up around the world there are a few things that happen to you.

1. You find friends you thought you’d lost (great thing!)
2. The people you thought should be the most supportive start finding new ways to put you down 3. People come out of the wood work and start wanting a piece of it. People who should know better.

Bothering me are particular is points 2 and 3, though Violet insists they are essential to the recipe.

Point 1 tends to take care of itself, no souffle there, no perfect measurements. Those last 2 though there is no one to trust in those sectors and it is not even worth trying. If it is not being done their way or in a way that benefits them they will spit chips. You’ll find yourself thinking “how can I please them?” WRONG!!!! Ding Ding Ding Time Out!!! Don’t fall for this one.

The sad truth is that even those you think are most close to you will try to sway your way in a direction that best suits them. Believe me, it will not be of benefit to you. Here is the cream on top – if it is not of benefit to you and your growth and you are happy where you are then it is worth the pain of telling them to go bake themselves in an oven somewhere.

Speaking of which Violet left the buns in the oven too long, dinner will be interesting, I will have to go and sort this mess out, yet again another kitchen disaster.

Current mood: determined

Garden of Unearthly Delights

Chewy, Chesty & I made our way down to the Best of the Fest (www.neilwardpublicity.com.au/BESTofFest.html) at the Adelaide Arts Theatre last night. 3 comedy acts for the night, though I am pretty sure the 2nd guy, who looked more like an ageing criminal from Trainspotting than your average stand up, would have been totally screwed without the audience heckling shit at him all night. Picked up his Geordie accent as soon as he opened his mouth & wondered what a night we would be in for…
 
Last guy was better, from the US but still he was a little scared of the audience, considering it is well known us Adelaidians are all serial killers & eat hitchhikers for breakfast, not to mention gay US comedians who make fun of our footy game…
 
Tripped it on down to the East End where the Garden of Unearthly Delights (www.gardenofunearthlydelights.com.au) was set up for the month. Chesty noted it was more a contest for who could look the weirdest while still standing than a festival… Beautiful lights everywhere, that’s what captured me. Being the space cadet I am I couldn’t help but stare into the purple & turquoise trees while we tucked into a cone of hot chips appropriately smothered in tomato sauce & mayo.
 
Chewy bought some horrid looking savoury pancake, ate the whole thing – not that I am surprised – but it did make me wonder how he could put that in his mouth but has such trouble with the good old tomato.
 
Finished off the night with a latte  in a little cafe,good end to an interesting evening…

Garden of Unearthly Delights