the scent of water

If the universe was a sentient being, it would so want you to make these.

 

Cherry chocolate chip cookies.  They are crisp, earthy, tart, sweet, and maybe even a little divine. I made 92 of the wee creatures, and my children rose up and called me blessed.

(I used this recipe, doubled it, and replaced some of the chocolate with cherries.  One day I'm going for Heather's suggestion of dried cherries in a sausage and wild mushroom risotto.  It's officially on my things to eat before I die list.)

These, not such a hit.  Supposedly you just melt some parmesan cheese with sesame seeds and Bob's your Uncle.  They look fine, they just taste so very parmesany. The universe says, meh.

I like books

 

And baths. But mostly books.

One of the unexpected joys I get when visiting bookshops and libraries these days is seeing the published fruit of fellow bloggers everywhere; too many now to name one by one.  It used to just be a small trickle of a few of the more popular blog authors, but now, at least in the sections I look in, you guys are all over the place. 

How fabulous.  I mean, really fabulous.  A publisher turned me down recently, citing the belief that only celebrity authors sell in the genre I was proposing to write a book in.  But she's wrong isn't she?  (Probably not about my book in particular, I have a habit of not waiting until ideas are fully baked before sending them off out into the world, but you can send her angry letters on my behalf anyway if you like).  But in general, she's really rather wrong.

Women like you, like me, have found a way of connecting with each other through these invisible interwebs, of learning and teaching and sharing our respective skills and points of view with whoever happens to be passing by. We have become a truly global village, a uniquely modern  group of like-minded women, and one that has been founded on an astonishing supply of support, respect and goodwill. 

All of which to say, I'll take you guys over the Martha Stewarts of this world any day, and I couldn't be more thrilled about the ever increasing opportunities I get to do so.  Three cheers for you.

I daydream quite a lot.

 

I was quite happy to stick to my metaphorical knitting and just focus on learning to make jewellery for the time being, but then Kirsten's paper crane pattern and Maya's new adventures in spinning got me all yarn-wanty.  That's a word, isn't it?

 

I started making these last year, intending to wear them as protection against the cold southern wind while hanging out my washing (along with, in my imagination, a floaty floral cotton dress whipping gently against brown leather boots, wispy pigtails, starched linen apron and a worn homespun cardi.  There is snow on the hills in the distant background and a man in uniform walks slowly down the long driveway, while a small child watches out the window, face half hidden by a torn lace curtain...)

 

Eilidh has appropriated these for herself as they turned out to be too small for me (I will learn to swatch one day, really I will), which in turn means that another pair are now on the needles so Iona can have some too.  Otherwise life as we know it may well come to an end, and that's not something I am keen to be responsible for.

If you want some for yourself, the pattern is here.  They really are very pretty.  As is this new-to-me blog, Greedy for Colour.  With a name like that, how could I resist a visit?

Not my house.

Though it could have been.  It was for sale when we moved here, and it was exactly the sort of house that my heart was asking  me for.  But the practicalities (too small, too cold, too old) argued me out of it, and we went renting instead.  Sorry, heart.

Ms. Cleaver commented in the last post how smart it is to use one cut of meat for several meals.  I already do this for chicken (I can get beautiful organic chicken from a store nearby), a roast for the first meal, often a risotto for the second (a glass of wine for the pan, a glass of wine for me - so civilised) and I am just learning to make a decent stock from the carcass.  Not easy for a one-time vegetarian.  (Yes.  I totally was.)  Di also linked to this post on how to cook cheap cuts of meat. I'm sure my grandparents knew all this.  It would have been great if they'd left me with a recipe collection or two, though a good second choice would be moving to the french countryside...

This soup was made from a homemade stock - I saute an onion or two in olive oil, then add in whatever else I happen to have on hand.  I sometimes add in cannellini beans too and last night I thought that a sprinkling of parmesan would have lifted it from a nice meal into a gorgeous one, but alas I was out.  This is how I cook.  Add stuff until it tastes great.

I try to keep a small selection of growing things on my patio (we are garden-less) but I fail miserably at it.  Herbs I can do, except I often buy baby ones and use so much of them so quickly that they never quite recover.  Bad lady.  My kids get an over-the-top thrill out of seeing even a sprinkling of parsley we've grown ourselves over the top of a meal.  It seems to give them some kind of idea that we are eco-warrior culinary genius types, and I am more than happy to uphold the illusion.

New challenges, belated announcements, and a question you should never ask yourself before breakfast.

I bought my weekly fruit and veg a couple of weeks ago from a retired gardener who runs a little street stall with his neighbour.  Gorgeous stuff.  All the family got to choose whatever produce they wanted, which in the girls' case meant tons of fruit, Warren chose silverbeet, and I loaded up on heirloom tomatoes.  Nathan abstained.  He's not a fan of raw things.

Our income has dropped to levels where I need to be careful what I buy and where.  Food's expensive in N.Z., good food astronomical.  And I love good food.  So, my challenge to myself over the next couple of months is to explore more ways of feeding my family good food, real food, within a limited budget.  I am certain it can be done, and I'm looking forward to it.  Hints, tips, and recipes welcome.

I keep forgetting to say that Tara of the wonderful Eyeblog was the winner of the photo prints a few posts back.  It's such fun giving away stuff, that I checked through a few more garage boxes in case there was anything else hiding in there that you could have.  Unless you're a fan of worn shoes and broken toys, no luck.  Oh well.  Another time.

Did you know it was the equinox today?  Happy equinox.  Amy and I have decided to explore the differences in cultures/hemispheres/ways-of-being between us with a collaboration of writing and photography (one week my pictures, her words, next week her pictures, my words).  We thought the equinox would be an excellent time in the year to begin, and what do you know, an excellent name for a blog too.  First entry is up here, so go and check it out if you are so inclined.

I was in the kitchen early this morning, having muddled my way through nothing much in particular.  Megan, I said, are you really so very useless?  Yes, I replied, I do think that I might be.  Then I spent one whole entire day changing the look of this blog in a very slight and uneventful manner.  I added links in at last, though no doubt I've forgotten a quadrillion people I really shouldn't have.  If that's you, please let me know.  And sorry.