Fresh Laundry by Chiots Run via Flickr
See-sawing stockmarkets, sovereign debt out of control and and rioters in the streets. Not the best of weeks was it? I'm not really in any position to fix the worlds larger problems so I've been sticking pretty close to home this week and trying to take more notice of the changes happening in my own backyard.
I've been reading a very interesting book called The Comfort of Water by Maya Ward which chronicles her walking pilgrimage up the Yarra River from the port of Melbourne to its source up near Mount Baw Baw. In it she mentions how the local Wurundjerri people recognised not four but six or seven seasons. This makes a lot of sense to me. I think 'Early Spring' has definately arrived. Not only has the weather been a little warmer lately but there is lots of cheery golden wattle blossom about as well as the more European prunus and cherry blossom. I haven't had a chance to take any photos but I don't think I could top Sophie's images over here. (I haven't seen many wombats about but I'm sure they're out there doing their thing! )
Even closer to home I've been on a bit of a health kick drinking lots of Madame Flavour Green, Jasmine and Pear Tea. I love the pack and the little silk pouches that hold large tea leaves. I think it's also lovely that it comes with a little letter from Madame Flavour letting you know that you can use each teabag three times. What a generous spirit!
We've also been enjoying this delicious Raw Broccoli Salad found over at Stonesoup. The great thing about this recipe is that there is rarely a time I wouldn't have all these ingredients in the house. I was a bit unsure about all that raw broccoli but it was really quite delicious and it was so simple to make that I made the kids do it! We were playing cafes anyway and they often make weird and wonderful (and sometimes inedible) flavour combinations so this made a welcome change. I love Stonesoup's five ingredient philosophy but in Bella's world more really is more so she added some baby spinach leaves and marinated fetta with great results. We'll definately be making this one again.
Raw Broccoli Salad via Stonesoup
Let's hope things settle down a bit this week and that certain members of the global community step back and take a good look at themselves.
What a lovely post Caz. Spring is one of the best seasons, so optimistic. It's still summer here but we've both had days when we felt that autumn was in the air...another of my favourite seasons...That's so interesting about the six or more seasons...in the UK it sometimes seems like we have 360 seasons! We get such a variety of weather from day to day!
ReplyDeleteI haven't heard of 'Madam Flavour' teas...I love the idea of the silk pouches, and the whole leaves...I drink tons of green tea...the salad looks good too...I'm eating lots of baby spinach in salads at the moment too...
Like you I'm reading a number of books at once...for some reason I can't put down 'Along Came A Spider' by James Patterson, I 'm completely hooked...I have just found my copy of 'The Poisenwood Bible' this morning...I new I had one but couldn't remember where I'd put it...can't wait to start that too, I just want to spend my time reading them all...not enough minutes in the day...
The wattle has been lovely this season. It's in flower on the train commute I take into the city and at the times I travel the light is at its best to make it glow.
ReplyDeleteA friend gave me a herbal brew at work last week and I must give her some cash to pick me up a box of it when she's next at her deli. It was delicious.
Thanks for the sweet words Caz!! Even the blossom in the big sydney smoke is starting to come out now. It makes me so happy! *s*
ReplyDeleteEarly spring is a lovely time of year ... sometimes focussing on the home and those around us is the best kind of thing to do.
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OOh I love the changes to your blog...it looks lovely and spring like...
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ReplyDeleteGlad you like the new look - it's a bit of a work-in-progress! I don't have a proper header yet but I have a friend who has offered to help me spruce things up a bit when she finds some time so I'll do it then. I've been having a lot of trouble with formatting not saving (hence all those weird gaps between paragraphs) and the font size was just too small so I've upped it quite a bit (too much?).
Sounds like you're doing some great reading. I still have Lacuna beside my bed working its way up the pile! I know what you mean about reading thrillers. Sometimes I really like to get lost in a really pacy, action-filled story especially if I've been reading non-fiction for a while...
Katie, Sophie and Tracey.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing my enthusiasm about early Spring. It's nice to think that we're all watching the wattle bloom together isn't it?
Sitting under the verandah at Schwerkolt Cottage the other week, I really stopped to appreciate the lovely flowers that had just come out and the beautiful birds around me. I even sometimes have a small possum having a snooze in the vines near me. More sun soon would be most appreciated.
ReplyDeleteSounds lovely Helen. Glad you were able to take advantage of the warm break in the weather. Wouldn't be much fun on a rainy old day like today!
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