What's going on?

This is what's going on here at the moment.  How about you?

Apologies for the radio silence.  I've been Tumblr-ing a bit over here, and you can follow my ramblings on Twitter here.

First sourdough.

I've made things with yeast for years, but this week was my first foray into the world of sourdough.  Ta da!

My first loaves were misshapen and a bit overcooked, but the crust was crunchy, the middle was soft and chewy, and the flavour - yum!  

I'm definitely a convert.

(Photo by Jem, because I couldn't figure out how to change the settings on his fancypants camera)

Good Dog

Jeremy found this picture book today whilst rearranging our (many, many) books.  It's one I wrote and illustrated when I was in Prep, 22 years ago now.  (!!)  It's a cute keepsake from my childhood, and so I thought you might like to see it!

Good Dog.  by Elizabeth Clark

Once upon a time there was a good dog. name (sic)

She didn't chew the Mayor's pants or bark at 

Miss Barrett the teacher and she always ate 

up all her dinner and she never pulled at 

her leash.

One day she had puppies.

Her owners were very surprised.

When the puppies were older they got names.

One was called Barny, another was called Silky 

and her sister was called Milky.

At first they could not see.

Then when they were older they could see a little bit

Silky was as soft as silk

Milky was the colour of milk.

Barny liked to sleep in the barn.

The puppies liked to play together but

after awhile they got into fights.

So their mother had to get them apart

So they obeyed her and played nicely.

(with thanks to my handsome book-stand, Jeremy!)

2012

I have plans for 2012.

In 2012 I will pay off my bank loan!  This is special since once that's out of the way, I'll be able to start saving.  I have so many things I want to do, and to be financially free is the beginning.

In 2012, I'm travelling.  A seaside holiday in March, a trip to Kakadu in July.  It's been nearly 20 years since I was last in Darwin, and I'm excited to see how much I remember, and how much it's changed since I was 8.

In 2012, I will keep gardening.  In the three months since we've moved to a new house, we have done so much work on it, and it's only the beginning!  Right now we've only got lettuces, but soon the broccoli will be ready to harvest, and the tomatoes, and the beans, and pumpkins and zucchinis.  !!!

In 2012, I am going to see some music.  PJ Harvey this month at MONA FOMA, and Justin Townes Earle in Melbourne in April.  I hope there'll be more shows, and I hope I discover some new bands, too!

In 2012, I will spend time with my family and my friends.  My mama and her sister are visiting in couple of weeks, and I can't wait to see them.  I'll make time for coffee dates, and for long phone/Skype conversations with friends further afield.  I'll also take the time to remember and honour friends and family who are no longer here.

In 2012, I will cook and eat delicious food, in delicious company.

In 2012, I will keep driving and working towards getting my license.

In 2012, I will be kind and generous, thoughtful and considered, peaceful and joyful.


New Years Rulin's by Woody Guthrie, shared with me by my mother-in-law.

Things are happening here.  New house, new seasons, birthdays.  I feel restless and carefree, and I love how the warm breeze feels on my bare skin.

This is the view from my new bedroom window.  I can't see the water anymore but the sun setting over the hills is just as pretty.

Ma & Pa

This afternoon I was poking around on the internet and came across some photos of my parents that I'd never seen before.

They were taken before they married, when they were at university together.  It's always weird to think of my parents having lives before my brothers and I came along, so it was wonderful to catch a glimpse of their former selves.  My mother looks so cute with her perm, and I love the way she's looking back at the photographer.  The man next to my father with the fantastic handlebar moustache would be best man at my parents' wedding a couple of years later, and he and my parents are still close friends today.

I'm going to print these pictures and stick them up, I reckon!

Mt Field.

Today we went up to Mt Field National Park.  We had intended to drive to Lake Dobson and walk to the Tarn Shelf, but it was snowing heavily and the road was slushy and boggy.  Oliver was worried his little car wouldn't make it, so in the end we parked by the side of the road and walked.  

It was wonderful!  Though cold and snowy, we were rugged up, and tt was quiet and peaceful, with only the wind blowing through the treetops and the occasional car.  We didn't make it to Lake Dobson, but we have plans to go back soon with a 4WD - and a boogie board for sledding!

(Can you believe this is my first post in nearly 6 months?  I wonder if I have any readers left!)

Ouch.

Today I set out to make apricot jam and got five stitches and a tetanus shot instead.  Be careful with knives, everybody!

This photo accurately sums up my current mood.  I am lonely and my thumb hurts.  But my own woes pale in comparison to the other events of the day.  Thinking of you, Christchurch and Libya.

J.

It's no secret that I'm missing my sweetheart like crazy at the moment.  For those of you who've just tuned in, my boyfriend is currently in the middle of the Bass Strait, on a yacht that has spent the past two weeks sailing down the east coast from Sydney.

I hope to have him home safely by the weekend, but for now I've been amusing myself with the (very many) photos I have of him making stupid faces.  I hope you'll let me indulge my loneliness for a minute or two by sharing them with you?

And, lastly, a nice one, to prove to you (and reassure my parents that their grandchildren will not be terrifyingly ugly) that he really is as handsome as I say he is..