~
We spent yesterday with my parents who live about 3 hours drive north of Sydney - in Tea Gardens/Hawks Nest. This will be my last visit with them this trip. It is always really, really tough saying goodbye to them as the thought is always in the back of my mind that this might be the last time I see them.
Their little town is sandwiched between the Pacific Ocean
The river is also lovely and clear....
The pelican was hoping we had some fish for him - he was disappointed.
Frequently, I will fall madly in love with a piece of furniture that leaves even my closest friends & allies scratching their heads in confusion. Such was the case with my new desk. When I first showed it to my husband, I could tell he was skeptical, but knew better than to say so...When the glimmer is in my eye, just back away.
It was love at first glance on Craigslist for me:
So I contacted the owner to arrange a viewing. We had several conversations over the course of a few days while attempting to fit our schedules together and I learned that the desk had belonged to his mother and he had the pity-able task of sorting out her belongings. I told him that I was a furniture maker and would take really good care of it...that I wasn't sure if I would refinish it, or leave it alone, but either way it would be loved. In a small way, I think these exchanges may have been a bit therapeutic for him, as I sensed he was perhaps a bit choked up on the other line.
I should mention, in addition to being incredibly kind, he was also extremely fair with the price ($45 for desk, chair, & mirror) and generously offered to deliver it to me for free.
So yesterday, when he showed up, it was an easy no brainer. I saw it on the truck, knew it was love, handed him the money, and brought it in the house. It was a little dirty from being in storage, but a little simple green & elbow grease was all it took to clean up nicely:
While pulling out one of the drawers, my husband discovered hidden treasures had fallen into the back of it. I couldn't believe it - a beautiful desk AND hidden treasure! I had hit the jackpot. The best things we found: an antique bottle opener, stolen from a San Francisco hotel called The Raphael; a porcelain lid to a tiny box (this must have made her CRAZY trying to find it); an old silver swiss army knife? or nail cutter?; and best of all - a tiny gold skeleton key with a #2 on it.
Doesn't that just peak your sense of wonder & adventure like crazy???!!!! WHAT on earth does that key open and HOW will I find it?
Well, those questions may have to go unanswered. I plan to call the man today and offer him what I found...but I'm REALLY hoping he doesn't want them back, because I love them so much! I would like to keep them with the desk, either displayed behind my computer or in a shadow box on the wall. Each item has so much history and so many secrets to tell...If I am allowed to keep them, I know they will provide endless inspiration and possibly good luck while spending long hours feverishly writing at this desk.
Seattle: Two months ago, a guy killed 2 police officers, sitting in their car. Rather... he executed them by shooting them in the back of the neck on one, and blasting the face of the other. Horrible. A week prior he had set some police cars on fire, and set up a bomb in hopes that the fires would draw enforcement to the scene (meaning... more to kill). The bomb didn't go off, or he didn't get it set up or soemthing like that. They found that guy and he's facing charges.
Tacoma (about half an hour south of Seattle): One month ago, 4 police officers were killed when a parolee from Arkansas walked into a coffee shop, and fired on them while they were gearing up for their shift. He was found and shot. 7 friends and family members are being prosecuted for helping him evade police for a week after the shootings.
Tacoma (about half an hour south of Seattle): Last night, 2 police officers were shot when they were ambushed. The dude is dead. He was hiding when they came in the residence, and he shot them both. They fired back at him and he's dead. They are still alive as of now, but both in critical condition. I guess the family didn't know what the guy was up to though and they helped save the cops. That's the only light I see in all of this.
It's just horrible. It's like the bad guys around here have suddenly come to the conclusion that the cops are no longer 'untouchables'. That the cops are the enemy. And they're setting them up, all over this area, and killing them. If you're a family member of a cop, it's like you're sending them off to war these days.
It's horrible. And very sad.
May you find joy in the little things around you.
I wish all my Vox friends and acquaintances all the happiness and comfort that could possibly come to you, whether it be in family, feasting, furry friends, or a simple mug of hot chocolate or the smell of pine boughs.
Love to you all,
Laurie
Oh yes, I understand she has plans for ski pictures and such soon. But the woman has so much booze in her blog. When Cimmy stumbled across this I couldn't help but think of her. Not like I'm suggesting she's gotten that snockered, oh no. I have no idea. Merry Christmas, Daisy!
Fay McKay's famous "The 12 Daze of Christmas":
"Below we give the black list of States, showing the limit at which fathers, brothers, and husbands have placed the age at which a little girl may consent to her ruin."
Originally appeared in: The courier-journal. Louisville [Ky. : Louisville Courier-Journal Print. Co.], 1895 March 27.
Use this as a much desirable alternative to fruitcake! It uses candied fruits, too, but... it is NOT fruitcake, OK?
Two disclaimers:
- This is written for 1.5 and 2 lb. bread machines
- I do not think making the glaze from soynog would be a good idea. Fortunately, it is quite tasty sans glaze.
Ingredients (2 lb. amounts in parentheses)
1/2 C. (3/4 C.) canned or dairy eggnog
1/4 C. (1/2 C.) water
1 egg
2 T (3 T) butter or margarine, cut up
3 C. (4 C.) bread flour (all-purpose works fine)
2 T. (3 T.) sugar
3/4 t. (1 t.) salt
1/4 t. (1/2 t.) ground nutmeg
1 1/4 T. (1 1/2 T.) active dry yeast or bread machine yeast
1/3 C. (1/2 C.) mixed candied fruits and peels
Select loaf size and add ingredients to machine according to the manufacturer's directions for your machine. Bake on basic white bread cycle.
The eggnog glaze is made from 1 cup sifted powdered (confectioner's) sugar and about 1-2 T. of eggnog, whisked together. It should be of a "drizzling" consistency, according to the book. If Purplesque can manage this with soynog, I guess I'll be damned. I'm not sure of the other substitutions; I'm guessing the egg has to be replaced with oil and I'm assuming coconut oil (which is butter/margarine/shortening consistency at room temperature from what I've been told) or vegetable shortening would be the substitution for the butter or margarine. I'm sure I will get a reply stating what worked for a vegan adaptation.
For all those early travellers (is such a thing possible this year?) - In those famous words ...
Best Wishes from Mr FD, and more importantly, Best Wishes from Flamingo Dancer!
I was following a mother with a small child sitting in the shopping trolley around the supermarket aisle. The little girl, about 3 or 4 years of age, was singing "Jingle Bells" as her mother shopped. Mum stopped and said "That is some very nice singing that you are doing"
The little girl replied very seriously, "Yes, it's a gift!"
I looked closely at the little girl, wondering if she was a Flamingo Dancer relative, but couldn't see any family resembelance. Love that attitude!
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