Green Food...

Makes my kitchen go round...

Shell xx

Lord, I thank you. For Sean.

 I asked Sean today; "What does it feel like being Five?" and he answered; "It feels like fun!"

Shell xx

Ode to tomato...

It seems not such a long time since we plotted out, and planted our vegetable garden in the spring. When I had only a bed full of soil and seedlings;

Now I am eating almost all of the garden!

And delivering baskets full of produce to my fellow tribesman;

Making lunch, and often dinner of it!

The truth is, tomato, I am in love with your form. Your perfect sweet-ish savoury-ness, your unbelievable colour, your versatility in the kitchen, (not to mention when I'm the garden with your vines and you don't even make it to the kitchen!)

The way you help me celebrate the summer every year, your photogenic quality - with such willingness to pose for me at any given moment!

Yes, I ode this post to you-

Tomato.

Shell xx

Berry Good.

{I wonder, that it's strange I keep showing you all my crockery!?*}

My favourite little chipped green plate.

My {only for delicious hot beverages} Japanese lemon mug.

And today a berry wonderful afternoon tea to fuel the pre-gig munchy singer all the way to diva distinction!

Have a blessed weekend friends, and may your plates and cups overflow with fresh goodies to eat and drink!

Shell xx

Thank you Sunday!

This morning I went out in search of flowering Winter bulbs in my own front garden...

And had the pleasure of putting them, along with some fresh Rosemary, on my {finally} finished kitchen cabinet!

Newly painted, edged, primmed and completed -somedays, things just come together. And today my friend made our kitchen cabinet come together, which then allowed homemade Asparagus soup and Pane' Di Casa to be a worthy reward and christening for lunch!

So today I can smell fresh paint, {wonderful!} sweet Jonquils, hot soup - and between all three, I'm in heaven!

Thank you Sunday!

Shell xx

Question Time!

I was pleased to be 'tagged' by the lovely Emily, to participate in this little questionnaire...  I don't think I've answered one of these things since the internet first began!  But here goes...

What is your current obsession(s)?

Recording new music in my little lovely studio, Tara's new vintage look winter coat {Size 2!} Raspberry Chilli Jam from Jamworks.  Note:  Raspberry Chilli Jam is more of a lifetime rather than current obsession!

What was the most interesting thing you did today?

I got my hair cut, I bought Tara a coat {above}, and I lost my two sisters - in - law in the Canberra City for about an hour and a half - which needless to say was, interesting...

What are you wearing today?

Well, if you must know, this...

What's for dinner?

Roast {Free Range} Chicken; Home grown Pumpkin, potatoes and every good thing!

What would you eat for your last meal?

Perhaps, the above!  Or this...

What's the last thing you bought?

Some marked down fruit salad at the fruit & veg shop {while looking for my sisters - in - law!}  Oh, no, that's not right - it was in fact the new Tori album!

What are you listening to right now?

I can hear the oven cooking dinner, and I am soon to be listening to my new Tori Amos album.

What do you think of the person who tagged you?

Emily?  A breath of fresh air, a vessel of energy, vibrancy and creativity, a true artist, an honest heart, a kindred.

If you could have a house totally paid for, fully furnished anywhere in the world, where would you like it to be?

I think it would be, where already I be...  I am blessed to live in a beautiful place with, and near so much of my beloved family.  So the answer to that question is, at Hillview.

If you could go anywhere in the world for the next hour, where would you go?

Perhaps to England, to walk in the fields like Jane Austen...  Set up picnic, and pick English strawberries.

Which language would you like to learn?

German, French or Arabic, like my ancestors...

What is your favourite colour?

Red, purple, burnt orange, and green.  But, every colour under the sun has it's place and it's beauty to me really.

What is your favourite piece of clothing from your own wardrobe?

I think, my purple dress, or my indian shawls, or my red coat.

What is your dream job?

What I do now really {perhaps just with more money involved!}  Make music from home, be chosen to write the soundtrack for a cool art film!  Do special and important live performances with The Tullys.

What is your favourite fabric?

I think Marino Wool {when made into a bright orange shawl.}

If you had $100 what would you spend it on?

A pair of red suede {or red sequin} winter boots {if only there was such a thing!}

Describe your personal style?

Colourful, cardiganed, swishy skirted dresses, wooden beads, Indian shawls, red shoes, big earrings.  

What are you going to do after this?

Have a cup of tea with my family.

What are your favourite films?

I am not the amazing, eclectic film buff I feel I probably ought to be, however love "Once", "Vertigo", Persuasion", "Sense & Sensibility", "Dear Frankie", "Chocolat"

Favourite fruit?

Pineapple, raspberries.  Is fruit salad a fruit?! - that's my favourite!

What inspires you?

God's creation.  Vivid colour, random acts of kindness, a smile from a stranger, beautiful gardens, brilliant musicians, anything to do with pianos.  Pure honesty.

Do you collect anything?

Strings of wildly coloured beads, cardigans and big earrings.

What are you currently reading?

At the moment I am finding lots of new & beautiful, inspiring blogs.

What makes you follow a blog?

Finding something beautiful, written with honesty, an original point of view, beaming with encouraging words, beautiful photography...

What society would you most like to join?

I would not belong to any group that would have me as a member!  *smirk*

What is one thing you did as a child that you miss doing now?

Playing music, {uninterrupted by children or general responsibility} for hours at a time...

What album changed your life?

Tori Amos - Pretty Good Year

What colour are your eyes?

Green.

I must admit to feeling a little light headed now after finally finishing this!  But I have enjoyed, and I hope you will enjoy it too.  I can see the merit in doing such a thing, already I have befriended a new beautiful blogging soul through this questionnaire, and I hope to meet more.  Bless you bloggers, and thank you for the delight and honour of your friendship!

Songsmith xx

Was Soup...

Was good.

Shell xx

Laksa followed by animated discussion with friends...

Never hurt anybody!

Good for the soul.

Shell xx

On our last day...

We were determined to have a last walk down Orchard Road;

I was compelled to have a photograph with the Hotel's resident grand piano;

We were still full with delicious food from the night before having been taken out to dinner by some beautiful local Singaporeans.

This be, Clare, Luke, Jamie and, Me.

Shell xx

Another few flavoursome food reviews...

(More Singapore..!)

We tried to see everything during our four days in Singapore.  But one of my favourite things was walking down Orchard Road with Clare and picking up a Curry-O from Old Chang Kee - a sort of street-vending, spring-roll-frying, flavour-fantastic Asian food chain which seemed to pop up at every other street corner just when we were feeling peckish...

For $1.10 you can buy the best version of a curry puff I have ever tasted.  Made with real spices, and unbelievable pastry!  There is even sliced boiled egg in there!  Then for $1 you can have fresh lime juice to wash it down.  We could not believe how well and cheaply you could feed and water your self while shopping down town!

We had also been given the big tip that the bast Laksa on the face of the planet was located in Singapore...  So for lunch on Friday we cabbed it over there for a taste test!

It was this tiny little, badly lit, but buzzing place that smelled of chilli and had the promise of awesome food!  Apparently, celebrities from all over the world have been photographed and endorsing the Laksa here.  The walls were covered with pictures of famous Western chefs and newspaper clippings with rave reviews, and some sort of local restaurant award.  Praise indeed.

(This just made me smile).

So I have to say the Laksa was amazing!  A perfect, creamy, spicy nectar from heaven!  That's my review - I will definitely go back!

To walk off all of this good food, we so enjoyed our shopping/exploring.  I became very bold in asking everyone if I could photograph their beautiful treasures on sale for this blog.  I am reliving the enjoyment while sharing it here with you.

I hung my camera out the window at more than one set of lights to capture things I would not ever see in Canberra, or perhaps anywhere!

I was completely, and thoroughly immersed and inspired!

More yet to come...

Shell xx

A Christmas gift.

I rushed out the door early this morning to collect some last minute gifts and a few groceries.  Upon my return I discovered a package in the mail box which made my heart sing!

It contained some beautiful homemade Christmas gifts from a friend I have found here in this blog world.  Many of you may know her as the windhover.  I found her in a paper shop one day, and we began talking instantly about music, religion and the delights of leather bound notebooks...  

I have since discovered, and so enjoyed her artwork and her blog, both of which come from a heart so beautiful.  And just as the Lord would have it, forming this friendship has also served to inspire and awaken my own spirit from a sleep I didn't even realise I was in.  A sleep which wasn't remembering to slow down and just smell all the flowers, admire the leaves, and think about how every blade of grass was placed there deliberately by God.  

This is only a brief explanation of how I feel, but I hope I have been clear.  I just mean that sometimes you can get distracted by all the work and plastic goings on in life, and forget to feed your spirit with love of creation, which in my opinion, is at the heart of all inspiration.

So thank you Windhover.  For the gifts, and for your heart.

*sniffle*

I was also given a firm instruction today, to enjoy my homemade biscotti and gingerbread with lots and lots of cups of tea...

An instruction which I am joyfully carrying out!

Shell xx