By this I mean: friends, food, ferns and falls...let me elaborate...

One of the wonderful things about blogging is you get to 'know' people from all over the place. And if you're lucky, you get to meet them for real J

Such was the case last Wednesday night when I had dinner with Sarah from Molly's Maison and Jane from Life on Planet Baby. Here we are looking surprisingly presentable after a few bottles of wine, lovely Thai food and a great deal of conversation. Jane's car got locked in the carpark we yacked for so long!

And even better, Richard and I were invited to their homes on Saturday afternoon...now that I consider a real privilege. Beautiful pastries made by Jane and India for afternoon tea, and champagne at Sarah's...spoiled rotten we were. I wanted to take photos of their houses but thought that would be stretching the friendship a bit far! Just go to their blogs for that ok?

And then there are furry friends.  I had no hesitation in taking photos of the famous Molly in her natural habitat!  I'm not a dog person at all really, but I've fallen in love with Molly...well honestly, who wouldn't. Just look at her J

The day before this we'd headed off on a bit of a drive and ended up at Russell Falls in the Mt Field National Park. This place was stunning, really serene, and the oldest national park in Tasmania. We didn't have the best weather while we were in Hobart (and yet today it's going to be 36!) so it was quite cool but that didn't matter at all. I'm a bit fascinated by ferns...and moss apparently!

And the food...oh the food! Several kilos later...thanks in part to these delicious things. Without doubt, without a shadow of a doubt in fact, the raspberry danish you can see behind the chocolate thingies was the BEST Danish I have ever tasted.

From this place...

And then there were the oysters! From the Barilla Bay Oyster Farm, a saturday lunch of 30 assorted oysters (for $39...I thought that was really good value) and a wonderful ploughman's lunch that Richard got to before I could take a photo...you think he'd know about bloggers and photo opportunities by now wouldn't you! And as an added bonus, a view over the bay and a glass of Tasmanian wine. Bliss.

The produce at the Salamanca Markets on Saturday morning was also brilliant. We were going home the next day so didn't get to sample any of it, but doesn't it look amazing...all those jewel colours?

And just because I can, I'm going to finish off this post with alpacas. They're furry. They're funny. That fits with the theme right J

all images: a tranquil townhouse

And Monday nights are supposed to be quiet! A very quick post as I get ready to host book club here tonight...I mean last night...

via elements at home

A quick whip around is in order...so no words, just pictures :)

via elements at home

until you get to the recipe of course, then there are words as well as pictures...

via the decorista

well, one picture...

via pink patent mary janes

by the lovely and talented Erin of Erin's Art and Gardens

but I digress...

pretty space

...as usual! You can see I still have my white painted wall thing going on can't you...painters are here next week, yippee! But I like to throw you off every now and again!

via if the lampshade fits

via interiors

via oeke design 

via wicker and stitch

Now for the quickest, easiest, tastiest finger food recipe...mini quiche ...you need the following (I cheat and use ready made):

• 2 sheets of shortcrust pastry
• about 1/4 of a jar of caramelised onion or whatever looks equivalent to one onion (or make your own if you're a smarty pants)
• 3 teaspoons grainy mustard
• 1/2 - 3/4 cup of milk
• 2 eggs
• 125g bacon

Cook the bacon in a little bit of oil until it's crispy, fling in the caramelised onion and mustard and a bit of pepper, and take off the heat.

Cut circles of pastry to fit your tin and put a small amount of the bacon mixture in each case. Pour over the milk and egg mixture, pop in the oven for 15-20 minutes at 200 degrees C, and voila!

via me and my kitchen

And I have to apologise for not doing much commenting lately. My internet connection is playing silly buggers and taking an age to do anything...it's driving me batty!
p.s. the bookmarks were a big hit!
...and there may have been a drink or two in memory of Rose as well...'twas only fitting :)

There was a dinner party here on Saturday night...boy they're a lot of work aren't they! 'Twas fun though :)

This is the dining part of my living room...the tiniest kitchen in the southern hemisphere is where I took this photo from...it drives me batty but I have a cunning plan for some extra storage...once I find a carpenter. I've edited out all the ugly bits...the wall colour, the brown woodwork, the dodgy, boxy fireplace...that will all be gone come 17 December...can't wait!

And because cooking for a dinner party takes so much time and effort I thought I'd get some bloggy mileage out of it! The makings of the marinade for the baked lemon grass and chilli chicken (I used chicken thigh fillets with the skin on...they were delicious). Do you grate your garlic...I never crush...I'm a bit like Nigella that way...but only in that way. More's the pity.

I used recipes from my Annabel Langbein cookbook [The Free Range Cook] that I won at Amanda's blog for the mains and dessert (thank you Amanda...I love this book to bits).  And look, my blueberry cake is just like the one in the book!! I don't think Annabel is quite as messy as me though.

The lovely teatowel is from Thea and Sami...
Richard made the entree...delicious deep fried prawn wonton dumplings with dipping sauce...but because he made them at his place I have no photos...but they looked a bit like this...

There was no way I was going to take photos once people were at my house...they already think my blogging is a bit odd :)
These little potato stacks are from a copy of MindFood...a fabulous NZ magazine...such clever people those kiwis. Mine didn't look quite as good as the photo, but they were very tasty.

The table setting was very simple...bamboo runner and table mats..but the good china and crystal got a run. Actually I use those glasses all the time. The entrée plates are very old Royal Albert, given to me by my friend Chris. Loving my new dining chairs too...and they passed their first dinner party test with flying colours!

The flowers were also very simple...mostly from the garden and some leftovers from work! Small vases, a soy sauce bottle and a water bottle...I would never have done this before blogging began...but I'll certainly be doing it again!

So there you go...it could only have been nicer if you'd been there :)

I hope the week ahead is good to you...I'm going to enjoy looking at the flowers on my dining table...because I sure won't be going outside much...rain forecast all week...sigh.

Hi everyone. Back safe and sound from my brief stay on Magnetic Island and I am happy to report that the...well...the report that I went there to write is well and truly almost done! I am convinced that it's easier to work in a beautiful location...and this may, or may not have been the view from where we were working. 

At the outdoor table...that's Enzo the deaf and blind beagle...in a beautiful 26 degrees Celsius temperature...

Which was not the temperature when I stepped off the plane in Canberra this morning. No, that was a mere 8 degrees! And yes, I know I will get absolutely no sympathy whatsoever. But despite that, I thought you might like to see a few pics of the island...it is a very lovely place, no doubt about that, and I'm very envious of my colleague and friend David and his lovely wife Kim and their family who are happily living their dream there. Thanks so much for having me!

Some of the wildlife...

...although I think there may be wildlife of a different kind when the backpackers descend en masse!

This was the Friday night RSL markets...a funny little collection of food and craft stalls...

A couple of things made it home with me...a ceramic tag and fridge magnet...I really like the messages on them...

...and now I'm going to delight in the very last rose from my garden that graciously hung on until I got back and make this lovely warming paella...and share it with the MGM with a nice glass or two of red...there are some benefits of not living in the tropics it seems. I think these two may  have been pleased to see me as well, just quietly! 

And tomorrow...a day of catching up with you lot...couldn't think of a better way to spend some time! See...I really was working, and I've missed you :)

If you haven't already, don't forget your chance to "bag" a great leather tote! Very bad pun...sorry...just happy to be home! Even though this was rather nice...

I think I was pointed in the direction of Sweet Paul when reading about his new on-line magazine at stylist Deborah McLean's fantastic blog Busy Being Fabulous.
I'm loving this magazine full of beautiful pictures (Paul describes himself as a food and prop stylist as well as crafter...and of course now an author!), great recipes, interviews, craft, wine tips and a few handy hints on entertaining. He's even got stuff for pets...maybe I can loan him the vampire slayer...permanently! I am I think, a bit besotted by his cleverness. Here's a taste of the Spring edition...

Paul also has a blog that you can find here. I'm dying to try the napkins he made by photocopying some blue and white china and transferring the image on to the fabric using some fancy transfer paper. Now that's ingenious!

Someone...anyone... please tell me what's not to love about this fella and his stuff. Apart from the fact that the seasons are all arse about and it's autumn in my part of the world!! Oh, and you can't hold it in your hot little hands (but that's just me and my magazine addiction talking).

all images from the Sweet Paul magazine or blog (links above)