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So, if you were a mom and you decorated amazing cakes for not only your own kids but other people's kids, wouldn't you love it if your birthday cake had gummies and sprinkles and blue sharks? Our niece Louise sure did. She was delighted at this cake baked and decorated by her husband and kids. A cake made with love always wins.
Happy macro Monday.
xo
Kath
Visit Lisa and all our other friends for more awesome macros!
The birds are fighting over the suet ball in the garden and I'm watching them make themselves bigger by flapping their wings at the other diners. Perhaps it is the true meaning of "fight or flight", they're flapping to fight but also poised for flight.
We're going out for dinner to a friend's tonight, we haven't seen them in absolutely ages and I'm wondering what she's will serve, she's a fantastic cook and I'm always delighted. I doubt she will serve chicken wings.
As often happens, our calendar hangs quietly in the kitchen, nothing much on it, a few birthdays and the occasional doctor's appointment and then it fills up with exciting prospects, invitations to dine.
Last Thursday we were invited for a casual dinner of Chinese food and I remember thinking that it was a great idea, a few people getting together on a Thursday night to catch up and enjoy each other's company. When we arrived, the door was flung open to a warm and inviting kitchen filled with the most amazing aromas. Our friends had company from Australia and Paul happens to be a chef. We dined on eight amazing courses, steamed red snapper, pot stickers, beef, curries, hoisin chicken, chinese sausage, I can barely remember it all. We stood at the kitchen island, sipping robust red wines and chinese beer, pestering Paul with questions and tasting things before they were served. I had never eaten a fresh water chestnut and will never again choose those weak, crumbly canned ones. The evening ended not with green tea but Australian tea which delighted me.
Over Christmas we visited friends in Montreal and she shared with me tea she had bought in Paris. And now I've had tea from Australia. When people ask now, would you like tea or coffee? I think I shall always answer "tea, please" because you never know what treasures may be hidden in their tea tin.
Every week is a good week, but it's especially good when what you thought was going to be a great evening turns into a fantastic evening complete with private cooking class. I am now desperate to drive to the City and go to one of the big Asian stores and fill a basket with new things to cook.
Have a very happy Sunday ...
xo
Kath
xo
Happy Friday, from the girl at the desk, not the girl on the beach.
(photos courtesy of the beach sister's photo album - hey if you're not here to watch your stuff, I'm going to play with it - I'm wearing one of your sweaters, I borrowed your makeup and hairdryer and I went in your room while you were gone, nyah nyah).
Kath
Margie hadn't done macro Monday in a while and I don't think we've done Love Thursday lately either.
I guess this is an extension of yesterday's post, it's just so nice to be happy with the simple things.
Happy Love Thursday.
xo
Kath
surprising friends
happy tears
family dinners
braised short ribs
delicious wine, fresh bread, cheese
music playing
books half read
journals half written
the ability to give
helping
remembering when all is forgotten
counting your blessings
xo margie
simple things, hosted by soul aperture
I love spending time in antique stores, looking at the beautiful old things, wondering what their story is. Who owned this set of five beautiful jugs, each one slightly smaller than the other? Someone obviously cared for them, because they were in perfect condition. But, I wonder were they used, or just kept behind glass doors, simply to look at?
I have an imaginary cottage. I decorate it when I'm in antique stores. I have spent thousands of imaginary dollars on the neatest things. I wish you could see it, sometimes it is very cabin like and rustic, those jugs and that tin would sit on the rough counter. On a whim I will do it over with turquoise and pink vintage, melamine dishes and aluminum tumblers coloured like the rainbow. Sometimes I do it with mid-century modern changing it into a chalet, a place to go in the winter. I love my imaginary cottage.
xo
Kath
Edited: FOUR there are four jugs not five. I can't wait to get my new glasses ;-)
i haven't done a macro monday post in a long time. this weekend we went to atwater market in montreal. what a feast! quebec cheeses, the closest you will come to france on this continent, lamb shoulder braising in my oven as we speak for the swankiest shepherd's pie ever, and orchids, flower vendors abound.
i love an orchid. a face only a mother could love. an or'kid. tell me that this isn't a demanding, self centred flower!! an or'kid if i ever saw one. beauty in it's raw, angry face. keep looking at it, drinking it in and you will see the beauty of a young kid.
xo margie
new orleans, you will rock the super bowl.
my favourite team, playing in the super bowl
on my birthday.
oh yeah.
Sometimes you have to borrow something from someone. Usually you ask first, I am not asking today because I don't want to interrupt her Sunday and also because she is such a beautiful person that I know she would say, "Yes, of course! And come get a hug while you're at it. Now that you're here, let's have coffee. You look like you need to sit at my table and rest a bit." And then she would feed me something fresh baked from her kitchen. She would lend me a book that she knows I need to read. That friend is of course, Christina at Soul Aperture.
Christina posts these wonderful poem lists of her day from time to time and I am borrowing this so that I remember all day long to just do one thing at a time. Today will be this:
Slow, real slow
Oatmeal with sweet raisins and crunchy almonds
Hot fragrant tea in a snow white mug.
Lavender scented hand cream that reminds me of my summer gardens.
Sitting cozy with a new book that will transport me to a different place.
I will remember to bury my face in the towels, hot and fresh from the dryer before I fold them.
Lasagna from scratch. The steam rising from the pot of boiling noodles spreading the scent of simmering tomato sauce and roasting peppers through our home.
Sharing a day with my love.
Simple, simple, simple.
xo
Kath
i have to laugh, ouch! kath and i are truly "queen of the road" types. we have so many posts titled road trip it's ridiculous.
yesterday andy and i made a hasty decision, we booked a hotel room on the internet, put charley in the car and headed for montreal. time to see those babies!!
have a great saturday!
visit kath today over at vision and verb.
xo margie
