Wednesday 29 February 2012

Day 29....Something You Listen To...


I love Sports Radio....I listen to SEN in the car on the way to work....and now that AFL Football season is just about here, the radio will be on most weekends....as I'm usually knitting I find that listening is easier than watching....although if the TV is on, I tend to just listen to it rather than watch.

Apologies for no Day 28....the topic was Money....thought it was boring and who likes to talk about money....not me!!
































That's it for February Photo a Day....I won't be joining in on March, so normal blogging will return.


thanks

vicki

Tuesday 28 February 2012

My Night With Marilyn.....

A quick post before I head off to bed...It's been a knit free night tonight.  A bite to eat with a good friend and then a movie....My week with Marilyn.  What a fabulous movie and if Meryl hadn't been in the race this year for the Oscar....Michelle would have won hands down.  If you haven't seen this movie, it really is just beautiful, and such a great cast....I did leave the cinema feeling a little sad, the ending did make me wipe my eyes but a must see I think.

I always head over to the Sun Theatre in Yarraville....it's an independent theatre that was done up 10 or so years back, and I love the old art deco vibe of the place.






























One other thing that is great about Yarraville is the council have created a "Pop up Park" outside the cinema in the street.....It was created at the start of the month and will be in place till early April....apparently its been a real hit with everyone, and they've had bands playing, dancing....great way to bring the community together....and it looks so colourful and cheery....although tonight was a bit overcast so everyone was indoors!

































Anyway I'm off to find something to settle my stomach....Thai Red Curry and Chocolate covered raspberry licorice is not a combination my stomach is happy with. Night


Vicki x

It Maybe Time To Rest Pinterest Or Possible Face Arrest?


Just before I head out the door to work....here is a great article about Pinterest.  I think with this in mind....and one of those people that don't get too bogged down in the fine print....I wish I had read the fine print and the term of use a bit more clearly.  Might be time to down those Pinterest boards tonight.

Here is the link to the article, courtesy of DDK Portraits.

Let me know what you think.

Vic x

Monday 27 February 2012

Day 27....Something I Ate.



Lunch today.....I'm home from work due to car problems, and a case of getting soaked by torrential rain whilst attempting to get to work with no car....but that is a whole other story. 

So lunch....chick peas, white beans, radish, celery, beans, avocado and a can of Italian tuna in olive oil....all mixed together.....and a touch of lemon juice....it may not look much but it was delicious.































#febphotoaday


vicki

Sunday 26 February 2012

Day 26......Night



Night has fallen and the street light that is in the backstreet behind my apartment is on.....it's 8.36pm and the cool change has come in after 3 really hot days....the rain has started which will only make things muggy and humid....but any change is a welcome relief.





























#febphotoaday

vicki

Let's Hear It For The Boys......



I still have so many WIP....works in progress, but I picked up two different projects this morning and did a little work on both.

Crochet Baby Bullseye Blanket for a little guy.....merino, silk, cashmere and alpaca.....absolute luxury.
































And this new little hat .... also for the boys....it's a peaked hat with earflaps, converted from an old 1960's pattern.  The writing of patterns back in those days was terrible, I'm having major problems with this pattern and so I am virtually re-writing it as I go....I'm also writing a larger size as I knit this one.  Anyway I'm putting it down for now as I have a major headache and I've pulled out that many rows and restarted 4 times, that if I don't put it down.....I may just throw it at a wall.  My hats are meant to be made with love, but at this moment in time....there ain't no love here!!
































And one other item I've pulled out is this Chevron Blanket, so it's getting a go again as I do love it....it's just that I find knitting blankets a long process, so my choice is to always crochet them instead....but as it's started it deserves to be finished.






























But for now, I have two more hats to complete for a magazine that has approached me for some dover & madden knits for a Winter edition.  If they make it to print I'll let you know when and what magazine, but for now I'll just keep it under wraps.


Enjoy your day.

Vicki x

Saturday 25 February 2012

Day 25........Green



My favourite colour is green....Laneway with Virginia Creeper.  This laneway is just behind where I live, the colour of the creeper changes according to the seasons....This photo was taken a couple of weeks back on a walk, but I passed it early this morning on my way to buy some milk and there was the slightest hint of red appearing....I think Autumn is just around the corner....although it's going to be a stinking hot 38c in Melbourne today....first really hot day since January!!










































 West St Kilda.

#febphotoaday




Friday 24 February 2012

Day 24....Inside My Bathroom Cabinet



I love to indulge in good skincare....if it's good enough for Cate, then it's good enough for me.  My bathroom cabinet stocked with SKII goodies....best thing I did for my skin was changing over to this treatment....expensive but worth every cent.  Amongst other goodies...I spread my skincare across, The Body Shop, Aesop and Proactiv....and I have a stash of Chanel perfume up the back, No 19, No 5 and Coco...makeup it's Laura Mercier and Clinique.....and I didn't photograph the bottom of the cabinet, because toothpaste, deodorant and shower gel aren't really that exciting!!






























#febphotoaday.

vicki x

Thursday 23 February 2012

Day 23.....Your Shoes


I really couldn't decide here.....I have spent all my non work time in my absolute favourites sandals....Saltwater Sandals....I do wear them a lot.  The other addiction I do have is to boots.  Living in Melbourne, we have a lot of boot time....my favourites, Aubergine Riding Boots by Boden....they are a few years old, and I'm kicking myself I never purchased the olive green!












































#febphotoaday


vicki x

Wednesday 22 February 2012

Cash Is Back.......



It feels like an absolute eternity since I have knitted a Baby Cashmerino Earflap Hat....now just known as "Cash".....this colour combo is new and I'm loving that it can work for a girl or boy....buttons or flower, you choose.   Anyway it should be coming up shortly in my Etsy store.....I've had to push a few things back including these hats....I've been asked to submit 3 little knitted hats for a magazine feature and I couldn't be more pleased.....I'll tell you more when I know some more....all I know is that they have to be knitted and delivered by next Tuesday.





















































Baby blue, Putty & a little bit of Red.


Ps...One other thing....the very talented Roberta over at Rowantree Design has got a wonderful giveaway going on.....Her beautiful collection of baby and toddler clothing is a traditional treat for your eyes....everytime I look at the beautiful little pieces she makes, I think of Princess Mary of Denmark and her little clan ...Baby clothing how it should be.


Vicki x

Day 22....Where I Work



Well I could show you a picture of a big square 10 storey building, which is my full time day job....but as far as I'm concerned this is where I work....Excuse the mess!!  I normally clean up after myself most nights, but things have gotten a little untidy of late.

dover & madden is the job I love so therefor this is where I work....sofa facing the TV.....Hopefully I can make it more of a full time reality sooner rather than later, but that's probably a whole new blog post!!
































St Kilda #Febphotoaday.


Vicki

Tuesday 21 February 2012

Day 21....A Fave Photo Of Me.....



I hate having my photo taken.....but if I had to come up with a favourite photo of me, this is probably it.  Taken by a work colleague when she was trying to get me to act natural for a photo she had to put on the company website....I had just gotten back from a long overseas holiday,  I was rested and relaxed,  I was happy in my job, happy in life.....If only we could turn back time!!











































Day 21 #febphotoaday.

Monday 20 February 2012

Day 20......Handwriting



I used to love writing....now I just find it slow and laborious.....and I guess it is one of those things the less you use it the harder it gets....although there is always something nice about a hand written note.












































My handwriting.  #febphotoaday

vicki x

Sunday 19 February 2012

Day 19......Something I Hate To Do....



Something I really hate to do is my business accounts....although I now have a system in place that allows me to spend about 5 minutes a night keeping track of everything....I must admit things are on the slide, and here lies January's receipts awaiting accountability!!




























Taken 7.18pm 19th February 2012


#febphotoaday.

vickix







Dimples.....



Ready to ship Daffodil Yellow Dimple Hats in my Etsy store now.























































Thank you to Anna from Rummey Bears for the great picture of little Rosie wearing her little Dimple Hat.



vicki x

Saturday 18 February 2012

Day 18......Drink



My favourite drink is tea.....milk and no sugar.  Milk must go in first, and as much as I love loose leaf tea, I will use teabags, but I always use a tea pot....tea just tastes so much better made in a pot.






























Taken Dec 2011

#febphotoaday.


vicki x

Boys In Their Toys.....

As promised here are some more photos of dover & madden hats by Joy Wright Photography.




Emmett in his "Emmett Hat" in Silver Grey.



























































Next, Lumiere Earflap Hat.









































And lastly Kitty Kat Hat in Vintage Fuzzy Wuzzy Yarn.











































All these little hats are currently available in my Etsy store....there will be more of these hats coming in different colour variations shortly.

Enjoy, and could you just squeeze those little cheeks.


vic x

Friday 17 February 2012

Hello....Is It Me You're Looking For?

Hello, and apologies for disappearing.....My computer blew up!!  Quite distressing for those it has ever happened to....but to cut a long story short, my hard drive was ok, and all my data retrievable.  I have a brand spanking new computer that is so quiet unlike my other one that was like being on the runway at Heathrow with planes revving up every 5 minutes.

Once I'm organised and back in the land of the interweb and find all my settings and bits and bobs, I'll finish the Feb photo a day.....bit of catch up there and I'll be blogging back soon.

For the time being thank for sticking around

Vicki x

Saturday 11 February 2012

Day 11..... Makes You Happy



Apart from the obvious things that makes me happy, family, friends, knitting ......One thing that I just love is freshly laundered bed linen, fresh from a service wash....it's the simple things in life that sometimes put a bigger smile on my face.






























Taken December 24th 2011.

#febphotoaday

Friday 10 February 2012

Day 10.....Self Portrait



Self Portrait.....or portrait of self.....anyway it's me!










Taken a few weeks back.  I would have snapped a new one today but I didn't feel like it!

#febphotoaday.



Vicki x

Thursday 9 February 2012

Day 9........Front Door



I very rarely use my front door....so here is my back door instead.  I  live in an older style apartment that has a door directly outside rather than going into a foyer or a stair well (that's the front door)....so this is the reason why I love my back door....and I love sitting on the back step with a cup of tea, catching the sun and watching the world go by.








































St Kilda, Melbourne.  Taken today at 6.10pm.

#febphotoaday.

Vicki

Wednesday 8 February 2012

Day 8....Sun


The Sun....burning at its brightest.





Docklands, Melbourne.  Taken at 11.55am

#febphotoaday.

Tuesday 7 February 2012

Monday 6 February 2012

Day 6.......Dinner



Dinner....well late lunch or early dinner, whatever!!  Rye Toast, hommus, avocado, wild rocket and tomato.




























St Kilda, Melbourne.  Taken at 5.34pm.

#febphotoaday.

Vicki

Sunday 5 February 2012

Thank You

I just wanted to say a big thank you to all of those that have popped by my blog....from my first post on the 25th September 2011 up till today 5th February 2012, I've had 5012 views on my blog.   I'm over the moon, sometimes you wonder if you're ramblings are of any interest to anyone else apart from your own family....and they have to pretend to like it....but I'm humbled that others would be interested in the comings and goings of my life....I guess the other thing I'm so surprised by is how far and wide people have popped in from....Guam, Zambia, Russia, Austria just to name a few places.

Anyway I'll try and keep you entertained, I'm more of a photo taker than a talker, but I'll do my best, and don't forget all comments that you leave are always read and cherished.














































Thanks a million.

Vicki x


**Photo courtesy of Peta Mazey Photography, Wellington, New Zealand.  Baby Cash Earflap Hat.

You Say Tomato, I Say Tomato.....


At the moment I'm not feeling the best, I have shocking withdrawals from giving up caffeine, sugar, dairy etc etc I feel like rubbish, but short term pain for long term gain....fingers crossed.

So for lunch I felt like I really needed something yummy, colourful and flavoursome that was going to hit the spot....and it did.

This tomato salad is my go to salad all the time....I vary it a little depending what is in the fridge, but the basis of tomatoes, chickpeas and red onion never changes.  I just took 4 to 5 of four different types of cherry tomatoes, red, yellow, orange and the slightly purplish ones....aren't they pretty.




























Chop them all in half and throw them into a large bowl with a medium size tin of rinsed chick peas, two sticks of chopped celery and half a red onion diced.




























 

Into that I add around 3 tablespoons of olive oil, the juice of half to1 full lemon depending on taste.  A half teaspoon of sumac which should be available at all supermarkets, salt and pepper to taste....mix it all together and then taste it just to see if it needs a little more salt, or lemon....depending on what you like.  This salad is best made half a day ahead as it allows the flavours to develop and remember that tomatoes always taste best at room temp, so I always pull this salad out of the fridge half an hour before serving....and lunch is served.....with a little poached chicken fillet and a huge glass of water to try and dilute my headache!


Enjoy

Vicki




Day 5......10am



10am......heading back to bed, feeling unwell.







St Kilda, Melbourne.  Taken at  9.51am as I intend to be back in bed by 10am or thereabouts.

#febphotoaday.


Saturday 4 February 2012

Day 4.......A Stranger



Strangers in a Park





St Vincents Gardens, Albert Park.  Taken 3rd February, 11.36am.

#febphotoaday


Vicki x

Friday 3 February 2012

And The Winner Is...

Thanks so much for entering my little giveaway...I do love to give away a little hat and see it be put to good use.  The winner this time out of 66 participants is



























Entrant 61 is

Mietta from Hervey Bay Queensland.

Mietta could you please email me at victoria.oc@optusnet.com.au and we'll organise your hat.




Thanks again everyone and see you in April/May for the next giveaway.


Vicki x






Baking Stuff.....Banana and Walnut Muffins.

I love baking....cakes, biscuits, bread, muffins....the sweet stuff.....don't like cooking the main meal stuff that much though.  Anyway you won't find any of those fancy schmancy macarons or fairy cakes around my crib....if it's rustic it's on the menu, so that's why these muffins are loved so much around here.

I can whip these up in 5 minutes, and then 20 minutes cooking time, and they can be on someones table still warm within the hour.  No dairy and no eggs, but they do have walnuts....At times I have substituted those out for raisins or sultanas, but they're never the same in my opinion.  These can be frozen for later....but they never really last that long to make the freezer.

The recipe isn't mine, it comes from "The Liver Cleansing Diet" book.....great diet, even better muffins...anyway too good not to share.


5 very ripe bananas
1/4 cup light olive oil...you can use walnut or macadamia oil also
1/4 cup honey to a 1/3 cup of honey depending on sweetness...I don't like them too sweet so I go 1/4 cup
1 teaspoon vanilla extract...the good stuff not the essence
2 and a 1/4 cups plain wholemeal flour, or you can substitute gluten free flour
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
3/4 cup chopped walnuts
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 teaspoon baking soda

Preheat oven to 175c or 350f,  Lightly oil a 12 cup muffin tray...I use non stick pans and as these muffins have oil in them they have never got stuck for me. Mash the bananas, then add all the wet ingredients together and mix.....then I add all the other dry ingredients into the wet apart from the flour....I do this last because sometimes I only use 2 cups of flour....I leave out the last 1/4...the mixture should be a little sloppy but not over dry.  Spoon into the muffin tin and bake until golden brown, so around 20 mins....Serve warm, if they last that long.

These muffins are a very healthy choice considering what you can normally find in a shop bought muffin.  These have no sugar, no added fat other than olive oil and that's a good fat, wholemeal or whole wheat flour with lots of grainy bits in it, bananas, walnuts for heart and liver health....too good not to enjoy and I have a vegan friend who loves the fact that these are something they can enjoy.

PS I'm a banana freezer...soon as those bad boys start to spot up....they're straight in the deep freeze.  They're slimey when defrosted, but soooo good for any banana baked goodies.


Note added 27th May 2013.  Have tried substituting the olive oil or macadamia oil for organic coconut oil....if you try this you will need to make sure the oil is around half a cup when liquid....remembering coconut oil solidifies when cooled....you'll notice that the batter is more dough like rather than cake like, but the muffins turned out just fine albeit with a slightly coconut flavour....I also added chia seeds around 1/4 cup as another element.  Vicki x







Enjoy

Vicki x