A day for Hayley.

I spent *a lot* of the day thinking of a dear, dear friend: the stunning, statuesque Hayley who is celebrating her 30th birthday today, too many miles north of where I am. This is her the day after my Colours of the Wind party, looking gorgeous, as only she can post-wild-party.

Love, and much more, to come when we're next together Ms. R. xoxo,

New dawns.

Oh it's Friday!

Yesterday was a bit wild with back-to-work crazy workness but then, of course, blissfully topped off by the incomparable Bon Iver.

But it's a long weekend here in Melbourne so lots of languid recovery time.

Tonight I'm having a crazy delicious dinner with Sarah and the gang. Then it's passata making time with team Ro in a butter factory! AARGH! Before some more Olinda love on Sunday and Monday.

Why don't you spend some time reading something new over the next few days? I will too. Then we can trade story stories, ok?

Another birthday.

Last weekend I spent part of my birthday driving from Australia's capital city, Canberra, to my folks' place via Victoria's High Country.  We stopped briefly at the Tumut Dam where I snapped this quick pic.

So, as I celebrate one week of being 29 my darling friend Sarah is celebrating her own birthday today. 

We're going to have an afternoon tea with a special Women's Weekly birthday cake cooked by her mama. Oh my goodness. What do you think it could be? A typewriter? A castle?  Perhaps the classic caterpillar. I'm forecasting a sugar coma.

Happy Sunday! 

Monday, darling Monday.

Oh, hi. Happy Monday.

Did you have a wonderful weekend?

Mine was marvellously jam-packed.  After my pizza adventures with Sarah, Andy and Whitty on Friday night I had a relatively early night and got up all sparkly for yoga before I visited my newly-married friend Chellis. I was more than slightly jealous as she showed me picture after picture of her beautiful Fiji honeymoon. 

Then on Saturday eve I cooked up a scrumptious soba noodle salad for the MMs before heading out to see Melbourne band The Tiger and Me. It was a bit super-fun.

And yesterday was all about family. We celebrated my darling aunt Maggie's 60th birthday with an all-in lunch extravaganza. It was filled with joy and laughter and WAY too much food. I'm still full.

So. Today I'm going to tinker, of course, and drink tomato juice in backhanded support of my little lone fruity-vegetable babyfriend desperately growing strong on the balcony of my ladypad.

I hope you had a lovely weekend and are having an even lovelier start to your Monday.

Pizza Friday.

Hello frolickers.

Well, in Australia (or at least Melbourne) summer has well and truly arrived. This morning I spied my first baby tomato, peeking out from under its leafy cover as I stumbled out onto the balcony with my morning tea in hand. And boy, is it heating up. It's positively sweltering some days.

So, to celebrate summer and all its deliciousness I'm heading out tonight for homemade pizza and beer at Sarah and Andy's house.

As I'm munching away I'll no doubt be thinking of last Sunday's other pizza adventures: a visit to Ballarat to enjoy a special pizza feast cooked by my mate Ro from Whole Larder Love.

And to continue the theme...if you haven't caught Ro's five-part online cooking series on ABC Online you MUST. STAT! In fact, today's final recipe is a smoked trout pizza...

You can view the videos here.

Go on, hop to it.

Happy Friday, friends.

Spooky Soiree.

Hello little darlings.

Tonight I'm going to visit the MMs in their new pad out in the hills on the outskirts of Melbourne. As I haven't seen it yet I'm imagining it to be like the rad-yet-creepy McPike Mansion in Alton, IL. Sans spooky spirits of course. One can hope, right?

We will wear black tulle and deep burgundy lipstick while we read poetry and drink shiraz out of crystal goblets. 

Have a happy Friday eve, ok?

(source Black Doll via The Wayfarer)

Rain.

Good evening thinkers. Well, Melbourne's sunshine glory-days were but a memory today - instead there has been a constant, heavy sprinkle of rain.

And I have absolutely loved it. 

I've spent the day tinkering...my absolute favourite thing to do.

I baked a rhubarb and cinnamon tea cake.

I watched some episodes of the wonderful Man Shops Globe and fantasised about the day when Keith and I will be friends and go on shopping trips together.

And I've been blogsearching and researching. My bookmarks buttons have been severely overworked. The bonus being that you'll see the spoils of my researching in the coming days and weeks. Lots of new discoveries!

Tonight is full of red wine and jazz. A bubble bath and book eve. Or a late-movie-with-a-lover night.

Wear a full skirt or bow-tie and frolic my loves. Whether it's raining or smiling sunshine in your land.

Cheeky Fridays.

Oh dear ones this weekend is going to be so cheeky. Don't you think? The weather in southern Australia has been just glorious so I'm hoping it continues all weekend.

Tonight I'm going to hibernate in the ladypad and try to organise some of the chaos that comes with a move. I've discovered that I'm a hoarder. I'm also a really good spring cleaner but my habit seems to be to HOARD then 6 months later CULL. Then HOARD quickly again. Then CULL. You get the gist.

Tomorrow I'm going to go for a lovely long walk and a cuppa with my friend GG. And perhaps try to find the perfect dining table for the nest. And perhaps some lovely chairs like the two pictured above for my balcony. We'll see.

Then it's an action packed Sunday starting with brunch with Lady C, Sue and the MMs before hitting MarkIt and a special showing at the secretive Gallerie L'Orientaliste.

It's going to be just swell. Might just be jumpsuit time again. It's that exciting.

Giggle a little bit this weekend, ok?

p.s I took this pic at the glorious Greys Court National Trust residence in England. Beautiful.

Weekend sunshine.

Have a dreamy weekend.  I'm going to eat ice-cream.   Toodles.
(pic via villarick)

Glorious Sundays.

Today was an absolutely glorious day. Full of beautiful spring sunshine, the constant calls of birds flitting about the trees (including kookaburras, thrushes, bowerbirds). It was lovely.

We hosted a lunch party in the garden; full of lovely fresh food, delicious beverages and giggle-filled conversation.

Right now I'm eating gluten-free mandarin cake and smiling quietly.

I hope your day was filled with laughter and love, whether you're enjoying fall or spring.

I Heart Spring.

Happy Friday lovers.

Miss Spring, I'm so glad to see you. Isn't it just glorious? She has been sneakily peeking her head over ole man winter's shoulder and has now stolen the spotlight. Welcome to the stage...

So, in honour of her grand arrival I'm going to have a love-filled weekend in Melbourne which has cheekily taken the mantle as the world's most liveable city.

Tonight, I'm going to my first game of Australian Rules Football since my homecoming. I'm taking in my heart the words of some of my former (briefly) adopted countrymen, "clear eyes, full hearts, can't lose." Bring on the hot chips.

Then, I'm going to stalk my friends Sarah and Andy until they make me another tom yum cocktail, which has quickly become the signature drink at their little terrace.

And I'm going to take lots of Melbourne photographs. I had a ball chasing numbers around Elwood last weekend (which you'll see next week) and so I'm looking forward to doing some more exploring.

You know what, I just might wear a jumpsuit.

Whatever you do, I hope your weekend is heart-filled.

(p.s. I took this pic at the stunning Long Track Pantry in Jugiong just off the highway to Sydney. Scrumptious.)

Have yourself a Graceful weekend.

My loves, spring is in the air.

It's so, so glorious, I can smell so much promise of an amazing summer.

The cherry blossoms are blooming everywhere, bringing so much happiness.

So, this weekend I'm going to channel Grace. Lightness, joy, laughter and quiet excitement.

I'm going for a long early-morning walk with my darling friend, Sam, tomorrow morning.

Then to a beautiful-sounding cafe called Robyn's Nest in Elwood in the afternoon...

Before seeing one of my most-loved people, Jess, in the evening at a birthday party.

I speak to Jess on average, oh, four times per day. She brings daily joy to my life; and that of many others. And I haven't seen her for nearly 6 months, a long time sans face time with a dear one.

Hence the smiles. And the joy. And Grace.

Have a glorious time yourself. Pick some blossoms. Make a tea cake. And call a friend who you cherish but don't call enough.

High Country Party.

I went up to Victoria's 'High Country' last night for a rollicking dress-up party.  I went as Snugglepot from Snugglepot and Cuddlepie.  No, you can't see pictures.

During the day I went to a local country footy match, helped to drape streamers, and tried to rug up against the cold.  It was heartwarming.

I hope your Saturday eves were also filled with joy.

(pic via ExploreOz)