This week

The past week and a half has been so chilled out, I am a bit excited that this is what I have to look forward to now that Thaw is no longer my responsibility.  I really feel a lot more relaxed and happy. I have really enjoyed being able to spend "quality" time with my girls, and have time for other important things that needed to be done. Here's a snapshot of the last 10 days...

Kim x

Fantastic cubby constructions

Enjoying cake mix.... yum

Picking berries from the Hawthorn bush for sauce-making

Sitting on the bus with an excited Helena on the way to the Fire Station

Watching her hold the big hose

Visiting the Museum with cousin Charlie

Enjoying cupcakes from the Farmers Market

Picking up pine cones with Dad

And walking through the fairy garden

a little less embarrassing

Finally I have got the pick-up looking semi-decent. All the stickers are removed (sorry Shaz) the unnecessary bullbar, lights, Tarzan horn, canopy.....all removed. And I even replaced the '4 Horseman of the Apocalypse' exhaust with something a little more 'Driving Miss Daisy'.

It's now at the shop getting the RWC inspection. Which will no doubt give me the fright of my life. But there's nothing like living eh!

Then it will be ready for foraging trips, fishing adventures and man trips to hardware stores....arh arh!

Stateside, The home of cliche

Our house has been a little busy lately and not necessarily in a bad way. We've been sick with colds and broken bones etc but we certainly haven't let that get in the way of doing things as a family. it's been a good thing working from home for three weeks. I've never spent this much time with the girls. But that will change for a few weeks as I'm off to New York for a working holiday next week. I'll love being in a new city but I will miss the family especially having spent so much time with them of late. But it is going to be a great adventure. Although I must admit I am a tad nervous. America has produced some great things and not so great things. I'm sure the experience will be life changing in some way. I shouldn't have written that...I sound too grown up and smart and stuff. Completely not me.

Anyways, I have this wedding to shoot in Central Park this time next week for a Sydney couple who are just super sweet and lovely. They've given me a real opportunity to be more creative with the images which I feel very liberated about. But not too liberated...if you know what I mean...huh huh?

After the wedding I have just over a week to do my own thing, coke, hookers that sort of thing, mixing with 'the people'. One of those free days will be spent at Sylvester Manor, an organic farm out in the Hamptons on Shelter Island. On this historic place they run a great organic farm, and I'm getting a guided tour with the operators and take some pics....the place looks amazing, and I can't wait to meet the guys running it. A day away from the hustle and bustle surrounded by veggies and people who love to grow things is my kind of paradise. Well that is apart from the coke and hookers.

Correction....

Let's just make it perfectly clear......'The Ugly Beast' is a work horse....nothing more nothing less. And all the bogan paraphernalia is coming off! That includes the bullbar, lights, stickers, Tarzan horn etc. This is what it will end up looking like. I really wanted to do before and after pics but Kim beat me to it! Ouch!

New beast

Ro and I have purchased a new beast. And yes, that is exactly what it is. Ro decided he needed a pick-up for all his fishing trips, picking up stuff that you need a trailer for, and taking things to the tip, etc.  So he started shopping around.  He has wanted an F100 for as long as I have known him. This one was at a bargain price. I wonder if you can imagine why? Some photos below might give you a hint...

An excessive amount of lights, mudflaps, aerials and stickers perhaps...

I mean the stickers were very tasteful...

What the....?

This one needs no explanation...

My personal fave...

Oh so many to look at, where do you begin?

Oh, the irony!

Busy, busy

Finally we have got the magazine off to the printers today, so we have finished our last issue of Thaw! It seemed to take forever to get this one done, but I am happy we took the time to make this one a good one to finish off on.

On the home front, we have been working on some other fun stuff too...

We have hung our ham.  This is our first attempt at jamon, (Spanish dried ham).  It will be a bit like prosciutto - if all goes to plan. It has been in salt for 8 days, (this is me getting all the salt off) and now needs to hang for about 6 months. 

We are still processing the olives that Ro picked about 2 weeks ago. About 20 more days.

I am in the process of making a crocheted elephant for Tia. My first attempt at a toy. Just needs ears, eyes and a tail.

Kim x

Great plans

This week - oh dear, what a week! Recently Ro and I celebrated our wedding anniversary, but we didn't do anything special, so we decided to do something this weekend.  We had big plans - a romantic getaway to Dunkeld, with a booking at the restaurant for a 10 course degustation at the lovely Royal Mail Hotel - for Friday night.  The kids were all excited about staying at Pa's and we were excited about the idea of peace and quiet, gorgeous food, a sleep in and room service breaky in bed. Doesn't that sound delightful! Well....... who decides to break his foot the night before? Ro. That's who.  So what's the sensible plan? Cancel plans. Do I sound bitter? Ok, so I was a little disappointed.  But then, I really am over it now.  Really I am....boo hoo...

Good news - Ro is doing OK now. There's nothing like a little wine to cure what ails ya. 

The funniest part of this whole thing is that the next day, when Ro came home from the Doc's, hobbling around on crutches, our little dog Peggy decided she had an injury too.  All day she walked around on three legs, with her fourth in the air, never touching the ground. We actually thought that she had an injury, until we realised it happened the moment she saw Ro on his crutches. She wouldn't even jump up on the couch for a cuddle, we had to lift her up.  Otherwise she would have to put weight on her back leg - ouch! Hehee. She miraculously came good the next day. Thank goodness.

Kim x

Plaster Caster

So I was like standing up and then I was like......not.

Now I have to wear this stupid plaster and hobble on crutches for 3-5 weeks. I am struggling with being dependant on people. But the good thing to come out of it all is that Kim knitted me a sad face sock monster to cover my exposed toes. What a darling nurse she is.

Love is a new pair of Uggs

In my relationship with Rohan we each have our roles.  There are many different jobs and tasks within our household that need doing, and we pretty much know who does what.  When it comes to money Rohan is the one who spends it (wholeheartedly and without hesitation), and I worry about it (and try not to spend too much). It's just the way that it is.  So when I got upset the other day, and told Ro that I was frustrated with the way he spends, and pointed out the fact that I hadn't even bought myself a decent pair of slippers for Winter yet, he took one look at the state of my old ones, and decided it was time he did what he does best and spent some money.  He knew I wouldn't go and do it, so yesterday he shopped and last night he came home with a new pair of good quality ugg boots to replace my old ones. Gotta love him. My feet just don't know what hit 'em.  They are so warm and toasty I had to take them off occasionally last night to cool my feet down.  Aaah, delicious! It's the small things. 

Kim x

Can you tell which ones are the oldies?

Los campesinos desayuno (Peasant's Breakfast)

Last May I was knee deep in house renovations. It was cold lonely work. So a wedding job in Dunkeld was a welcome respite for my plaster and paint covered hands. The clients I photographed that day have turned into great friends who I stay with for every wedding job I have in 'Dunkers'. And to make things even more interesting Conchi and Clinton (pronounced Clint-tone) share a passion for great food and wine. Conchi like myself has a Spanish background and it seems she has the innate ability to cook amazingly delish food with what ever she has in the stores. Conchi's Saturday peasant style meal was a late night supper to comfort the most restless of souls. I was so impressed with her side dish of chickpeas with tomato and herbs, and all my ooo's and aaarrr's convinced Conch to give me the left overs for my morning Kombi breakfast. What a darling!

Since then I've made two versions, one with Borlotti beans and one with Chickpeas, both incarnations are equally delish. It's a simple rustic dish, with as much garlic as you desire, whatever fresh herbs you like (Rosemary, Parsley, Oregano or Thyme), some Spinach, Borlotti Beans or Chickpeas and a tin of diced tomatoes. Heat olive oil in the pan, then add chopped garlic (I use 4 big cloves), then in with the beans and tomato. Simmer and then add you herbs and pepper to taste. Best served on crusty toasted bread, I used 2 day old Sourdough left overs......so yummy and crunchy when toasted.

It's the best winter comfort food, breakfast, lunch or dinner.

So thanks to my Spanish friend Conchi!

Ro

I love these kids!

The view from the Kombi looking north to Mt Sturgeon. A photo taken with an iPhone does it no justice.

Every time I stay at Conchi's she is miffed by my determination to stay in the Kombi. But waking up to a view like this is just perfect. Although it wasn't warm.