my new phone ...

so I recently got a new phone and decided on the iPhone

... one thing I especially like is the camera, not that the quality is in any way as good as my camera but that I have a camera with me where ever I go!

So here are some photos I have taken ...

You can be out & about and take a photo of gates that you might like at your house ;-) This was at the Robin Hood Hotel at Norwood.

Or light shopping at Decor Lighting on the Parade

Or having a lovely bottle of bubbles at a friend's house

Or capturing the sunset at Cockaleechie tonight!!

Yes it is a great feature of this phone!! Now I have seen peoples' photos in the Hipstamatic App and I am interested in getting that but first I need to download my iPod songs on to the iPhone (even maybe the Christmas ones ;-))

Boys room decorating ...

I have been looking for a large map of the world ... I have just put in an order for this one!!

Bought from My Bearded Pigeon!!

Our living area ...

Our dining table is basically in the same spot as before the changes ...

We need something in the corner at the back left ... maybe a book case or something ...

Excuse the ironing board!!

We need something where the ironing board is for the telephone etc

And a low coffee type table between the fireplace and the lounge ...

And something where those two chairs are!!

And some pictures on the walls would be good!!

Any suggestions appreciated!!

This is our old kitchen just before demolition ...

gorgeous modified t-shirt ...

Tutorial from All Things Heart & Home blog.

today you were adventurous ...

catch!

just so relaxing ...

in the last week ...

Our darling Lachlan celebrated his 8th birthday ...

we had been away and arrived home on his birthday so my wonderful friend Jeannie had him for a 2 night  sleepover, made a custom made ice cream cake, dished out our presents and had us for dinner when we got home!!

The house is on the home straight ... this week the verandas are looking like verandas ... pity we didn't have the gutters on for the 80mm of rain (so far) that we have had today but I am sure there will be plenty of time for the gutters to run water and the tanks are probably full anyway!!

Once the builders have finished a big tidy up is needed and then to start thinking about what to do with the garden!

I finally used this beautiful cup & saucer that Amanda gave me for Christmas!

Isn't it beautiful!!

Also ... with no photos ...

• Hannah has returned to Kindy and loving it so much
• the boys have been as busy as ever ... playing cricket, playing handball in our soon to be bedroom (because it's empty and hasn't been painted yet it is a perfect room to do it in!!)
• more Escape2Create retreat planning happening
• as I mentioned before 80mm of rain so far today ... water every where!!
• have Tommy Rough Laksa for tea tonight ... yum!!
• 2 days of work - got very wet today getting in and out of the car!!
• 3 sessions at gym ... oh boy I need it and have found the long break means it is hard to maintain the momentum!!
• enjoying the new kitchen ... still moving stuff into it and finding a place for everything
• cleaned out the disgusting pantry yesterday ... eeeewwww what a mess ... but now it is nice & neat!!
• hope to get into the scrap room soon and achieve something!!

chocolate truffle tart ...

How good does this look???!!!

Recipe at the Gourmet site!!

More on Books ...

Well I started reading ...

but I haven't got into it very much yet! I will go back to it though!

So when I went to the library today to discuss a book that had been very overdue - eeekkkk ... all sorted out ...

I saw this Chick Lit on the "new books" shelf ...

I don't think I have read any of Sophie's books before but I can't be sure, I know I have looked at them before!

And every now and then a little chick lit is good so I am a few pages in and having a laugh so I think it will be a good one!!

Zucchini & feta tart ...

This looks yummy ...

Source

Recipe copied from the Messy Cook blog

Zucchini, Pesto and Feta Tart

1 sheet puff pastry, thawed (if frozen)
1/2 cup pesto
2 shallots, thinly sliced
1 large zucchini, thinly sliced
2 tbsp good-quality olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste
1/2 cup crumbled Lemon Fetish feta cheese
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 egg, lightly beaten
1/4 cup fresh basil, finely chopped
Zest of 1 lemon

Preheat oven to 400F. Line a 9"x12" baking sheet with parchment paper.
On a clean surface lightly dusted with flour, roll out the puff pastry so that it's just slightly bigger than the prepared baking sheet. Careful transfer onto the baking sheet, folding the edges back in to create a 1/2" border. Spread the pesto onto the pastry, leaving the border untouched.
In a large mixing bowl, toss together the zucchini slices with olive oil, salt and pepper. Arrange the slices on top of the pesto layer, overlapping them slightly as you go. Sprinkle with crumbled feta and grated Parmesan.
Lightly brush the edges of the tart with beaten egg. Bake in preheated oven for 20-25 minutes, or until the pastry is puffed and golden, and the zucchini are just starting to brown around the edges.
Let cool for about 5-10 minutes before serving, adding a scattering of chopped basil and lemon zest at the last minute.

Inspiration for the kids bedrooms ...

After my two trips to Ikea this week I have some of the elements that I have been wanting to decorate the kids' rooms with ...

Here are the photos I have been using as my inspiration and some of the things I have bought ...

A reading canopy for Hannah's room with an old white cane chair under it ... I bought one from Ikea

Source: Country Living

This is the canopy I bought for Hannah ...

Source

Behind the Expedit in the boys room a large map ... I just need to find one!!

Source

Maybe a globe or 3 in the boys room ...

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I bought 3 of these lamps from Ikea - one for each of the boys to give them some light when they are in bed!!

Source

I have a light shade like this to decorate ...

Source

I have seen these banner curtains at Ikea and haven't decided about them yet ...

Source

I also like this idea ...

Source

Once Hannah's room is re-arranged to be for just her I think I will have the Expedit under her higher book shelf like this and I need to find a wire hanging thingo like this (I do have a heart shaped one already) and then have her reading chair and canopy to the right ...

Source

There are so many sources of inspiration on the net - I have really enjoyed looking for ideas lately and saving them on Tumblr and Pintrest!!

And I really want to make a banner for Hannah's room ...

Source

technology hey!!

In the car ... husband driving and I'm on the laptop / internet!!

Who would have ever thought that was possible!!

Can't wait to get home and

1. see the birthday boy, Lachlan is 8 today!!
2. catch up with the boys
3. have dinner with friends
4. put the Expedits together tomorrow
5. unpack the other goodies I bought at Ikea and a few other little spots
6. get back into a normal routine!!

great quilt block ...

Via Diary of a Quilter

Lolly boxes ...

A free download over at lilmagoolie

lovely colours and kids craft!!

From Pink and Green Mama!

No knead bread ...

Wow this looks yummy ... recipe here!

this last week ...

Sunday was spent at Farm Beach ... a truly wonderful place

Funny story behind this photo ... I was clicking away and the kids were laughing a lot ... nothing unusual ... but then it came to light that John was flashing his butt ... that is why they are laughing SO much!! I could post a series of photos but I wont ;-)

I just love the facial expressions ... truly genuine and beautiful! Thank John for the butt flash!!

Tuesday was back to school day ...actually this was Wednesday when Hannah had her first day at Kindy ... I love that Rohan is holding Hannah's hand!!

Thursday Hannah had her first swimming lesson for the year and absolutely loved it ... with a group of gorgeous girls!!

Today I finally cut up my fabrics and traced out the stitchery for Vignette by Leanne Beasley ... can't wait to start stitching this!!

Yesterday when we went to PL Rohan chose a Buzz / Woody costume at Kmart and has had a lot of fun with it since ( and so has Hannah!!) ... so here is Woody and the fairy!! Very cute!!

cute felt flowers ...

love the felt flowers on this wreath  ... check out Me Being Crafty blog

Reading ...

After reading the Millenium Trilogy by Stieg Larsson I was after a lighter read.

I bought this book at the Melbourne airport on our way home from our trip to see the Eagles play!!

I enjoyed it ... the descriptions of food were wonderful and an interesting journey for the main charecter.

I would agree with the following review from ACR ...

I enjoyed reading this book.  The research is impeccable – or from reading the author’s biography, perhaps it is born of personal experience from his cosmopolitan life.  While this is his first novel, he seems to have been a writer for most of his career.  My only quibble is that while the first two thirds  have a larger than life, rumbustious style, towards the end of the book there is a complete change of mood and from time to time I had to remind myself that I was reading a work of fiction rather than a serious biography of a top chef.  I wonder whether the scope was a little too broad and whether the book wouldn’t have been better concentrating on the French village phase, perhaps as Joanne Harris did in  Chocolat.  However, The Hundred Foot Journey is a very fine read by anybody’s standards and held my attention throughout.

Now what to read next ... I think another lighter style book ... maybe Jane Green

Not sure what else I have in the pile next to our bed ...

I read Catherine's first book Petite Anglaise a while ago and enjoyed it

or

I really loved Julie's first book Julie and Julia so bought this one on line a few months ago.

or

Many years ago I read Frances's first 2 books and really enjoyed them so maybe this will be first on the list!!

This afternoon & tonight ...

went to Port Lincoln to pick up my new phone and then had dinner at the Lincoln Hotel ...

photos taken on my new phone ;-)