Spring around the corner...

We've had a wek of beautiful spring weather, blue skies and sun that warms your back...

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I bought new cross-trainer shoes for walking as my old ones were losing their tread and I skidded on the bitumen the other day. After work, I got all kitted up - 3/4 gym pants, fluoro Tshirt, new shoes and my iPod. Away I went, just for 30 minutes. Lovely sunshine!

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This is the lemon, cucumber, ginger and mint water that I am trialling. I steeped it overnight and had a glass first thing this morning. Not horrid to drink so I will drink the rest over the day.

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I made Thai green chicken curry for dinner as thats what huz requested. Deeelicious!

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Hoping to prune a few roses this arvo, but I need to take it easy. My neck is getting better but I am nursing sore muscles from a very deep, deep massage I had on Wednesday. So slowly, slowly 

does it....

Cheers- Joolz xx

 

 

 

 

A bit frosty this morning...

It was a chilly morning here with a light frost... I had to tip some cold water on Bri's windscreen as it was frozen over. Then I parked her car in the sun so it could thaw out and the windows would dry before she headed off on the 50km trip. Mother of the Year, I tell ya! :)

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... but it's going to be a beautiful spring day...
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I cannot work out Mother Nature... both of these Silver Birch trees were planted at the same time, but one sprouts new growth about 3 weeks before the other even starts...

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Bonnie cat was quite happy to sit in my pot in the sunshine...
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Bri and I had pita bread pizzas for dinner last night - I like pizza sauce, lean bacon, onion, salami, olives, mushroom, pineapple, anchovies and I used Lite pizza cheese and sprinkled with ground oregano - yum! Bri had pizza sauce, chicken, bacon, olives, mushroom, sun-dried tomato and cheese.
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Have a nice day,
Cheers - Joolz

There's warmth in the air...

We are on the count down to the end of our Australian Winter - Spring starts on September 1 and it will start then, right?? Well, maybe not but we can all hope! I have noticed the last few days, when the sun is out, that it actually warms the air - there is definitely Spring in the air!
This pic was taken yesterday morning as I was sitting knitting (instead of doing some housework - don't judge me!) - sun streaming in my front windows. So nice after the bleak days we have had ...
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Today we are back to bleak - its raining and it is cold and 10.6C - so much for spring arriving early!
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Last weekend, Gus and I went for a drive to Mt.G to see if we could find a suitable little table to house our 'surround sound' control box and speakers. Success! We ended up just buying a nest of 3 tables and he mounted the box under the smallest one and the speakers will sit on top, behind our lounge chairs, out of the way. Don't worry, we know what we are trying to achieve!

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I made his take me out to lunch, because I am not pushy at all! I had this lovely small barbecue meat lovers pizza...
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and he had the creamy calamari linguine which he declared just perfect!
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I've been drinking a lot more tea lately - Twinings Chai, Dilmah, Twinings Australian Afternoon Tea... its so nice to drink out of a nice cup too.
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Monday night I made Forbidden City Chicken - the recipe is here ...
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Pop it in a zip lock baggie and throw it in the fridge until you are ready to cook it... then bake in a baking dish as per recipe until done.
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I served it with oven baked potatoes, sweet corn and sweet potatoes and a left over green salad. Delish!
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Tuesday night I tried my hand at a Pot Roast. Australian's usually dry roast their meats and vegetables but I thought I'd try roasting in my Le Creuset dutch oven with a little beef stock in the bottom of the pan.
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I need to find a tenderer bit of beef but it was quite nice and the vegetables were lovely and tender.
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Another jug of juice - see how it settles in layers? I give it a good stir before pouring it out so we get all the goodness together.
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It's becoming a tradition - when I am 'home alone' I make Chow Mein for myself ...
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Do you like my 'clothes peg' hinged chopsticks? Cool, eh?
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Another cute dish cloth...
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I finished it last night. The colour is a bit off in this picture. What pattern will I choose next??
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I will finish with these ever so yummy Macarons - just a picture I found on the web. I have tasted real macarons in Paris but I am not sure I could make them - I think the stars have to be aligned just right to have success! I'll leave it to the experts!
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I have another Jubilee cake in the oven (the old recipe) so will have some pics of that once I ice it.
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Cheers - Joolz

Spring at last! ...

(web pic)
Today is the first day of Spring in Australia (Southern Hemisphere) and it looks like it will be a beauty! We have clear skies and sunshine today after a bit of cloud (although it is still chilly with an expected top of 17C)
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A good deed is never lost -
He who sows courtesy
reaps friendship and he
who plants kindness
gathers love.
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Cheers - Joolz