Love

Three of my favourite photos that Kate Berry took on her visit.  I'm so in love with these photos.  Kate is such a gifted photographer.  I'm so thrilled Kate, you are so clever.  Thank you so much. x

See more of Kate's gorgeousness here.

Taking over the kitchen

I love it when guests take over the kitchen.  I really do.  I love the sharing and talking, the tasting and the excitement of eating something new when people come in the kitchen and cook.

On the weekend there was plenty of that.  Foraged mussels steamed with garlic from the garden, just-caught fish, steamed and stirred through just-picked garlic scape soup.  Slow roasted juicy pork ribs from a friend's pig and fresh new pink eyes fried crispy in a pan, washed down with cider from down the road and gin from across the peninsula. Food we had grown, caught, foraged ourselves, or knew who did, was prepared, shared and eaten.  It doesn't get any better than that. I love that.  

There was also a dog named Henry, I think I loved him the most.

Eating the problem

Having worked in events on and off since 1994, you would think by now I'd have figured out how to avoid the sleepless nights and the relentless butterflies I feel.

But, no, I'm still a wreck, and lie awake at night tossing and turning as I worry about the minutia and the butterflies flutter stronger than ever.  But I do feel incredibly excited at the same time, which makes any negative side effects seem a trifle.

Tomorrow sees the opening of MoMa. The second season of the Mona Market and by golly it's going to fab.  Since October I've been working with an incredibly talented team to create a market that is like no other.  Delicious food unique to MoMa, beautiful things created by talented people and naturally, cheerleaders. Tomorrow's market will have it all.

But the biggest highlight of all for me is this guy, coming to tell people about wild rabbits, which fits perfectly within the market's theme of "eat the problem." I am super excited about that.

The market kicks off at 11am and finished at 4pm. Rohan's demo will be at 12.15 and he'll be signing books too.

Oh and there are teepees, beautiful teepees, like the one pictured above.  And tacos, real tacos, made by hand using masa harina.  I'm excited about those too.  And I'm hoping after a taco those butterflies settle right down. Or two.

All is calm...

Goodness, there are so many things going on at this time of year, I need to take a moment to stop and notice the quiet, beautiful, times around me.

This week, Hugo graduates from early childhood to early primary.  There will be a ceremony with capes and crowns and rose petals, and no doubt lots of tears from this mama.

Elsa turns TEN.  That, I find hard to believe. 

There is Christmas and the associated elving, oh and that market, so exciting.  Then there is garlic to harvest, late summer crops (still) waiting to be planted, a green house to irrigate.  We have lovely guests coming to stay this weekend too. 

In among the busy, the tinsel, the rush, I'm trying hard to remember to take a moment, to relish the quiet times, to notice the pretty and most importantly, to squeeze my not-so-little babies a little tighter.  

I hope you are finding some calm and bright in your world. 

Backyard bliss

On Sunday, with the boys at home feeling poorly, Elsa and I hit the road to visit friends.  Afternoon tea was served on the verandah, but I couldn't help but wander through the amazing garden, a working garden, an inspiring garden and take a hundreds of snaps.

Motivated by clever border plantings, espailered fruit trees and rows of flowers for cutting, I spent the evening dreaming and planning on how I could achieve a garden as beautiful as this one.

Sometimes I get frustrated that I don't get things done fast enough in the garden.  For every one job that is crossed off the top of the to-do list, another three appear at the bottom.  I take great comfort visiting gardens like this, a work in project of some forty odd years, encouraged by the fact that I'm still on track time wise...